Ch. 33 Princess Zombies
Ding-Ding-Dong!
The school bell rang at the end of the day. The students from the academy had either went to their afterschool activities or decided to head straight home. One particular student was walking along with her friends side by side. They were the same school uniform: Red jacket and a white undershirt with a blue tie, brown skirt with white leggings, and brown shoes. To the left of her was a young girl with short brown hair and freckles on her cheeks. On the right was the taller friend with two small, blonde pigtails on the back of her head. In the middle was none other than the blue-haired heroine.
"So, you wanna hit the shopping district after school?" The pigtail girl asked. "I've been meaning to buy this new product for my hair. I heard it does wonders!"
"Actually my club is having a meeting today so I'm gonna have to pass," the freckled girl replied. "What about you, Yume?"
"Me?" Yume answered. "Well, you see..."
"Oh, I know!" the pigtail girl grinned. "Yume has a date with her boyfriend today~!"
"Sakura, he's not my boyfriend!" Yume blushed. "We just happened to run into each other. I forgot my backpack at school and I ended up missing the last rain home."
"You mean that foreign guy?" the freckled girl asked. "He offered to take you home, didn't he? No wonder you go to see him every day."
"Miki!" Yume flustered. As the girl's approached the front gates, the black haired boy stood waiting with his smartphone. He heard the girls approach and shoved it in his pocket. The girl's stopped before they parted.
"Right, I'll see ya later!" Miki ran off toward the club room. Sakura stretched her arms.
"Guess I should go to, then." She winked at Yume. "You two have fun~." Sakura walked off campus. Yume rushed beside Joseph with her school bag in her hands.
"Hello, Joseph," Yume smiled. Joseph pulled the cell from his pocket. He unlocked the screen and showed it to her.
[How was school?]
He pressed the small, microphone button and held it towards Yume.
"It was fun," she replied. "Thanks for asking." Joseph looked back to the screen. He smiled at her. She smiled back. The two walked down the sidewalk while making delightful conversations. A figure watched them from around the corner.
A trail of blood stretched around the staircase in the lobby. It lead to a doorway going down into the basement. The hallway was dimly lit and small lanterns separated every eight feet of distance. Cobblestone paved the flooring as pipes ran along the ceiling.
Step…Step…Step…
The sound of footsteps came from Flandre as she carried a beaten wolf man from his ruffled neck. Walking beside her was a tired Kurumu with her maid outfit torn apart. Her skirt ripped so her thighs were showing and her upper blouse partially revealed her left bra cup. Her arms and legs had scratch marks and blood streaming across her skin. She pulled as hard as she could to drag the second werewolf along. One had black fur and blue jeans while the other had grey fur and brown jeans. The two were completely unconscious and exhausted.
"Man, these guys are heavy!" Kurumu complained. They finally reached the end of the corridor. To the right was a door made of heavy iron. Round bolts surrounded the outer edge to ensure nothing got in…or out.
"Fuga!" Flandre tossed her wolf into the chamber. He landed flat on his back. Kurumu tossed hers on top of the other.
Clank!
The door closed shut. The wolf men were trapped in the darkness.
Crash!
The last werewolf fell on the lobby floor. Its fur was brown and bared scars from its neck and face. He wore his blue jeans and red belt around his waist. Standing before the front doors was Rai and Riza. Both were completely exhausted with bruises and scrapes all over. Riza had her shirt torn from the sleeves and was missing her left shoe. Rai had his butler vest removed and half of his shirt ripped off from his right sleeve. His left leg was clawed and tattered around the pants with his shoes covered in mud. In his right hand was his scythe concealed in dirt and hair.
"*Huff* * huff*," Rai wheezed. "We're…*huff*…back…"
"Riza…!" Hiro recognized the two. Reiri, Hime, and Jolt were sitting near a dining table in the middle of the room. Jolt had his headband dangling around his right shoulder.
"Pikachu!" Jolt jumped from the table and rushed to Rai.
"My, my" Reiri noticed, "You two look so worn out." The vampire and the princess were enjoying their drinks.
"Are you done as well?" Hime asked.
"Yeah…" Rai answered. He pulled out the hammer from his belt. Blue smoke came radiating out of the head. "It took some time, but we got him."
"But he'll revive shortly," Riza added.
"It doesn't matter," Hime guaranteed. "Flandre, throw him in the cellar with the others."
"Fuga," she nodded. Riza looked to her fallen opponent.
"Hah! You had it coming. Don't underestimate…the Wildman…family…"
THUD!
Riza fell to the floor.
"Riza!" Hiro rushed to her side. "…Eh?"
"*Snore* *snore*" Riza was knocked out.
"A nap does sound good…" Rai inserted. Hime placed her cup on the table.
"Well then," She announced. "Shall we finish this?" Hime removed herself from her seat and walked toward the staircase. Flandre grabbed the wolf by the belt and started pulling him into the basement. Rai picked up Riza by the arm and dragged her onto Hime's chair. Kurumu came out of the bathroom with her skin clear of dirt and scratches. Rai looked over Kurumu, while Kurumu looked over Rai.
"…Nice shirt," Kurumu teased.
"Nice bra," he replied back. She suddenly viewed Riza.
"Is she okay?" Rai looked her over.
"She'll be fine."
Thud!
Her head slammed on the table.
"Good thing she's passed out," Reiri smirked.
"On second thought..." Rai reconsidered, "I should take her to Sawawa." He pulled Riza's arm over his shoulder and dragged her up the stairs. Hiro sat the broom aside and rested on the bottom steps. Jolt jumped beside him.
"Pika…?" Jolt tilted his head. Kurumu cracked her back.
"What the crap is up with these guys?" she asked.
"They are nothing more than mindless lackeys," Reiri conversed with her. "They had the Flame of Life given to them so they would be unable to die." Hiro listened intensively.
"That explains why those guys wouldn't stay down no matter how hard he hit 'em." Kurumu fixed her hair. "I hope they get what's coming to them."
"To think they were hired by the Royal Family."
"No," Hiro didn't want to hear anymore. "That can't be…"
"No, it's true, Hiro…" Reiri assured him. "There are no other members of the Royal Family nearby. They are just disposable assassins."
"Pikachu…" Jolt's ears dropped.
"They'll just keep reviving as many times as it takes to kill their target. The perfect assassins that only Royalty can use…"
"That doesn't matter," Kurumu interjected. "If they keep coming back, then we'll just hit them harder!"
"B-But that's just wrong!" Hiro jumped from his seat.
"Look kid, this is more than just a family squabbling. This is all-out war."
"Oh, but isn't this logical?" Reiri interrupted.
"What do you mean?" Kurumu questioned.
"Hiro will have to become as useful to the princess one of these days too."
"Hime…!" Hiro shook his head. "Hime would never do that!"
"How do you know?" Kurumu asked.
"Well, she may have a bad personality, but she would never…" Reiri lightly pressed her hand on his cheek.
"You're so cute, Hiro," Reiri complimented him. "I like that about you." Her face grew serious. "But think about it for a minute. Hiro, why do you assume you're her first immortal soldier?"
"Chu," Jolt jumped onto Kurumu's shoulder.
"If she did have other immortal soldiers in the past, then why aren't they here anymore?"
"You're saying she used them until their flames died out?" Kurumu predicted. Hiro remained speechless.
"Don't you think the fact that she can be so ruthless is just wonderful?" Reiri smiled. Hiro ran for the basement.
"Hime!" he shouted. Rai came walking down the stairs.
"So, what did I miss?" He asked.
"Nothing in particular," Reiri acted nonchalantly.
Bang!
The sound of gunfire blasted from the basement.
Bang!
Jolt covered his ears.
"Is she really going to keep going until they're dead?" Kurumu asked.
"Knowing her, she might not stop until that gun's out of ammo," Rai stated.
3 days later…
Bang!
The rounds continued.
Bang!
The gang sat near the steps.
"…That's a lot of rounds," Kurumu wondered.
"I thought she'd be done an hour ago," Rai assumed. He looked around the lobby. Jolt was sleeping on the table while Kurumu leaned against the stair frame. "Where did Reiri run off to?"
"The vampire heard some rumor going around town, so she went to check it out."
Bang!
The house became quiet. There was no more noise.
"…Are they—?"
Creek!
The front door screeched open. Rai and Kurumu looked to the doorway. They took their battle stance ready. Jolt awoke from his slumber somewhat groggy.
"Such well-trained warriors," Reiri joked as she entered the house.
"Did you find anything?" Rai asked. Reiri ginned.
"It's one of the princess's brothers, right?" Riza interrupted. She limped down the stairs.
"Riza," Rai stressed. "You're supposed to be taking it easy."
"Ha!" Riza chuckled. "You think a fight like that could take me down?"
"Says the wolf that passed out on the ground," Kurumu recalled.
"Shut up!" The door underneath the stairs opened. Out came Hiro, Riza, and Flandre.
"Fuga," Flandre said. Jolt rushed to Flandre and jumped on her head.
"Pika?" Jolt asked.
"Fuga," she replied.
"The deed is done," Hime assured. Everyone was assembled in the lobby.
"Now that I have your undivided attention…" Reiri announced.
The metallic cart rolled out from the kitchen and into the next hallway. On it was a silver dome lid, a basket of sliced bread, eating utensils, and a gallon of water. The lower shelf contained a cooking pot and a frying pan. The young maid wheeled the kart into the lobby from the east hall.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Mistress," Sawawa smiled. "Dinner is ready." …No answer. "Huh?" The lobby was completely empty. "Mistress?" Sawawa looked around the hallways, but she appeared to be the only one in the mansion. "Hiro? Riza? Kurumu? Reiri? Jolt? Rai and Flan, too?" She pondered. "Where did everybody go?"
A gust of wind picked up. It was nearly a full moon outside. Reiri and Kurumu hovered above a small town hidden between the mountains. They reverted to their appropriate school uniforms, Reiri with her blue long dress and Kurumu in her yellow vest, white shirt, and green skirt.
"This is the place, right?" Kurumu asked curiously.
"Indeed," Reiri smiled. A small bat fluttered beside Reiri.
Squeak! Squeak!
"The place where the princess's brother is. He was seen along with his android. " Kurumu noticed a commercial truck driving on the empty road below.
"I see them!" Kurumu pointed. Inside the vehicle was Flandre at the wheel with Jolt sitting on Hime's lap in the passenger's side. Riza, Hiro, and Rai were in the backseat looking at the small town around them.. The shops were lit and the homes remained open, but no one appeared. Rai returned to his usual attire with his scythe resting on the floor
"There's no one around," Hiro spoke.
"Looks kind of suspicious," Rai added. After another few minutes of driving, they came over a large hill off the highway. Flandre turned off the road and parked onto a grassy hill overlooking the town. At the bottom of the hill stood an abandoned factory; left with nothing but damaged walls and rusted metal. Reiri and Kurumu soon landed by the group.
"You're sure that abandoned factory is the place, right, Reiri?" Hime asked.
"Yes, Princess," Reiri responded. "According to the bats, it's where your royal brother who brought the android is located. It does, however, seem unfit for royalty."
"One of your siblings, huh?" Hiro wondered.
"You think it's the petty boy from before?" Rai asked.
"It's not him," Hime predicted.
"And why's that?" Kurumu questioned.
"We'd spot Flanders from a mile away."
"...Oh yeah," Rai recalled. "He's the one with the iron giant."
"It's someone else."
"Pika?" Jolt asked.
"Looking at what Reiri's bats told her, it's probably the one who sent Duke Dracul and the immortal werewolf warriors. And yet…" Hime lost her train of thought. All she could see was the vision from her past.
The industrial, stone castle was now set ablaze. The impenetrable fortress had been destroyed and came crumbling down under the extreme heat. A swarm of monsters came limping at the castle with their torches and pitchforks. Miles away, watching as her home fell apart in front her, was the black princess with her short, cybernetic maid. She hardly showed any emotion nor fidgeted while resting the sword to the ground. Her hands cupped the hilt. Coming behind her was an armored knight about twice her height with a long cape. He knelt down before royalty.
"Please escape, Your Highness," he pleaded. His army stood behind him in numbers. "They will come here in droves soon. We'll hold them off for you!"
"Don't be stupid!" Hime shouted at her general. "You won't survive more than a few days without me! Parting from me means…"All the knights bowed to their princess.
"Our lives exist for your sake, Your Highness!" Hime stood silent. "It's our honor, as your soldiers, to have been granted the gift of life from you!"
"…All of you…"
"You're Highness, please stay safe!" Each knight rose from the ground. They ran off into the field of battle.
"Fuga." Flandre turned to her master. The princess turned back to her fallen fortress.
"I know," Hime replied. She tightly gripped the sword in her hand. "It's over now." She gritted her teeth.
"And…?" Kurumu asked.
"…It's nothing." Hime snapped out of her trance. Her eyes shifted away in doubt.
"Hime…" said Hiro.
"I could care less about the royal throne, but he's someone I have to defeat."
"Sounds a little personal," Rai interpreted.
"…Let's go." Hime stepped forward.
"Wait, Hime," Riza stepped in front of her. "You stay here with Rai and Flandre. The five of us will go."
"What?" Reiri disagreed. "With a bitch and a courtesan?"
"If you're going to stay with us, you're gonna have to pull your own weight," Kurumu stated. Riza stared down at the factory.
"For all we know, it could just be a trap," she assumed.
"I better go with you," Rai insisted.
"Not gonna happen," Riza rejected. "You're our backup in case something goes wrong. If we're not back in thirty minutes, consider us dead. I'm prepared to get revenge on the member of the Royal Family who killed my brother!" Riza went running toward the factory. Reiri quickly flew after her as Hiro hurried behind. Kurumu winked back and took off. Rai kneeled at Jolt.
"Be careful, Shorty," Rai ruffled his head.
"Pika!" Jolt tapped his chest. He dashed after the group.
Abandoned Factory (Interior)
The place gave off an eerie vibe of solitude and emptiness. The area was in shambles with cob webs gathering in the corners, glass smashed and scattered everywhere, and dust nearly covered every inch of the walls and ceiling. The five marched down a desolate hallway passing the shattered windows with each step. Their footsteps echoed in the silence. At the end of the hall, they reached a vacant room. Moonlight shined from the glass windows on the roof.
"There's no one here," Riza noticed. Jolt rushed in front of the group.
"…Pi?"
Whoosh!
A mighty gust of wind blasted Jolt straight into Hiro. The two were sent flying back down the corridor.
"Hiro!" Reiri cried. Kurumu looked ahead.
"You might wanna rethink that!" she pointed forward. From the shadows came a young woman with long, dark, navy hair and green eyes. A round metal brace wrapped around her neck as a cloak seeped down her back to reveal her red bra top. Her lounge pants consisted of blue jeans with brown leather chaps running down her legs. In her left hand, she wielded a short poleaxe with a blade facing out. Her other arm held a massive gauntlet with four long talons extending to her boots. Riza summoned her wolf fists.
"Who the hell are you?" she demanded.
"She doesn't look like a friend," Reiri assumed.
"Yeah, ya think?" Kurumu's nails extended from her fingers. The girl raised the gauntlet over her head.
WHOOSH!
She swung it down with full force. A large gust of wind went flying straight at the women.
"Look out!" Riza shouted. They avoided the blast.
Crash!
The internal wall became bent and twisted from the impact.
"Th-That's…"
"A sonic boom?" Reiri finished. The girl suddenly flashed behind her.
"Reiri, you idiot!" Riza shouted.
"…!"
Clash!
Kurumu blocked the talons with her claws.
"Nice try, Cowskank!" she taunted. Riza went jumping at her.
"Damn you!" Riza shouted. The girl quickly swung her poleaxe. Kurumu quickly shot to the ceiling by Reiri. As the girl turned back around, she used the thick gauntlet to block Riza's fist. She's fast. Riza pushed against her guard.
"My, my," Reiri said disappointed. "You don't seem too bright yourself, bitch."
Whoosh!
"Kyaa!" Reiri was blasted away.
"Real smooth, Miss Vampire," Kurumu smirked.
"Ha!" Riza agreed. "Like your one to talk!" The girl went charging at Riza. She pushed against the girl's gauntlet. I hate to admit it, but she's strong. From the other side of the room, Kurumu grabbed a lead pipe on the floor.
"Let me show you how it's done," Kurumu assured. She flew high over the combatants.
Whoosh!
Bam!
A long extension grew out from the girl's shoulder and pinned Kurumu's vest to the wall.
"Crap," Kurumu struggled. "What the hell is she?"
"I'm surprised," Reiri smiled. "She's has such amazing skills." Riza held her ground, but continued fidgeting.
"…Pika…" Jolt slowly rose to his feet. He rubbed his head from the rush of wind he received. On the other side of the wall, he saw Kurumu, Riza, and Reiri battling the mysterious girl. "Pika!" Jolt quickly turned to Hiro. He was still unconscious. "Pika Pikachu!" Jolt nudged at his body. Still no response. "Pika…" Sparks began to fly. "CHUUUU!"
BBBBBZZZZZZZTTT!
Hiro was zapped with 10,000 volts.
"AAAGGGHHH!" Hiro quickly responded. He sat up; now aware of his surroundings. "What! What happened?!" Jolt jumped in front of him.
"Pika Pipipi Pikachu!" Jolt flailed his arms as he explained. The two heard the noise coming from the facility.
"Riza and the others are fighting something?" Hiro asked. He quickly stood up. "I…" he nearly toppled over. "I need to go too…!" Jolt followed behind.
"Uuuugh…" a low voice crept grumbled. A sudden chill went through Jolt's spine. "…Uuuuuuughh…"
Ka-chink
Chains were rattling nearby. It came from the double doors to the left.
"Raargh!" Riza threw a right punch, but the girl dodged to the left. Riza tried instead a left hook. The girl jumped back and lashed a long extension right through Riza's right bang of hair.
Whish!
The girl swung her claws at Riza. She quickly kept her distance.
"Your opponent is over here," Reiri shouted. The girl drew her extensions straight at Reiri.
Squeak! Squeak!
A horde of bats fluttered past her extension.
"…!" The girl was thrown off guard.
"Don't take us lightly!" Riza shouted.
Punch!
Riza launched an uppercut straight at the girl. She went flying high up into the air. Kurumu went diving straight at the girl with her right leg. The speed of their descent increased.
Bam!
Kurumu slammed her straight at the ground. The girl was pinned to the floor. Her foot rested on her neck. "Let's see how you like it!" Riza and Reiri both moved near Kurumu.
"Geez, that took too much time," Riza complained. Kurumu and Riza looked down on the girl. Her body suddenly began releasing blue smog from her wounds.
"She's passing gas?" Kurumu asked.
"She's an immortal soldier like Hiro," Riza informed. "If there's one here, then that must mean Royalty is nearby.
"If she wasn't abandoned by her master, that is," Reiri inserted.
"What do we do about this one?" Riza asked. Kurumu kept here footing firm. "If we leave her here, she'll just revive!"
"Mmmm…" Reiri licked her lips. "What shall I do…?" The girl grabbed Kurumu's leg.
"Huh?" She threw Kurumu against the steel wall.
Bam!
"Guhaaa!" Kurumu slid to the floor. The girl rushed over the broken window and disappeared.
"You ain't getting away!" Riza shouted. She rushed for the window.
"Leave her!" Reiri ordered. Kurumu stood back up. "She'll just keep reviving until her Flame of Life runs out. That's a cycle neither of us can beat."
"That's good to know," Kurumu rubbed her sore back.
"What's that?" Hiro asked. He and Jolt both slowly crept near the doors.
"Pi?" Jolt poked his head inside the storage area. There was nothing but old boxes and furniture draped by white clothes. Dirt and rust covered all the appliances as grease stains were tracked all over the floor. In the silence, a heavy breathing coming from across the room. A figure stood against the wall. His clothes were ripped and sullied by blood. The collar around its neck was chained to the wall. Each time it flinched, the chain rattled. Jolt and Hiro backed away from the room.
"I have a really, bad felling about this," Hiro whispered. Jolt started trembling.
Abandoned Factory (Exterior)
Hime, Flandre, and Rai were standing outside waiting for the others to return. Although the town had their building lights on, there was still the suspicious quietness it gave off.
"You think the others are okay?" Rai asked.
"Fuga," Flandre asked.
"Yeah, I hope so, too." Hime remained quiet. "Hmm…?" A flash of light started rising from the center of town. "Hey, is that a fire?" Hime's eyes shot wide open.
VROOOM!
"Move it!" The driver yelled. He pressed the pedal to full power.
PLOW!
He rammed his way through the crowd of civilians. Each one leaving a stain on the minivan.
Gii!
The man driving had a black beanie, his loose orange V-neck, and tattoos on his forearms. His friend sat in the back with his baseball cap slanted to the side and his gold chain around his neck. His baggy, white shirt and brown shorts were stained by his blood.
"Damn…" he complained. "Those things bit me like crazy."
"Damn right," the driver replied. "I don't get it at all. The middle of town's gone completely crazy. Anyways, if we don't get out now—!"
SCREEEEECH!
The van came to a complete stop. The bridge leading out of town had been completely demolished. Falling over the edge would land them into the river. "You gotta be fucking kidding! The bridge is collapsed!" The driver scratched his head trying to plan an alternate route.
"Hauuu…U…Guh…" His backseat ally clasped his own throat; his breathing suddenly guzzled by choking.
"No way…Do we have to go through the city again and take the other side of town?" He asked himself. He looked over his shoulder. "Hey, what should we do, man?"
"A…AA…" The man lost all sense of reason. "GRAAAAAGGHHH!"
"GYAAAAAAHHH!" Blood splattered over the windows.
The undead walked amongst the living. They lagged toward the people and desired to consume their human flesh. Everyone grew into a panic as they tried desperately to escape. It didn't take long for the corpses to overrun the streets.
Zombies…! Hime realized. So, it is him.
"Zombies…" Rai sighed. "…There just had to be zombies." From the bushes hidden in the trees, a butler was watching the chaos take fold. His proper gentleman attire was a casual tuxedo with sleek black pants, a white long sleeve shirt with a black jacket, shined shoes, and a red knot around his neck. His gray hair was well-groomed, slick and swaying left. The only strange feature about him was the red camera lens built over his left eye. It scanned the perimeter.
"Fuga," the butler answered. Standing against the tree was a tall figure with blonde, spiky hair, red eyes, and a black coat with white ruffles around the collar.
"Hmm…" the man chuckled. "This town's become Hell itself." He looked to the night. His smile grew evil. "Hell itself…" He laughed in the shadows.
Everyone was returning from the factory, but they looked disappointed by their failed mission.
"…Sorry, Hime," Riza apologized.
"We took on some bimbo, but she got away," Kurumu added.
"Guys," Rai turned to them. "We go bigger problems."
"Ha?" Riza asked.
"We're going home," Hime announced.
"But we just came back, didn't we?"
"The situation has changed. We need to escape this town at once."
KABOOM!
The commercial truck exploded. Flames engulfed the vehicle.
"Fuga!" Flandre cried.
"Pika!" Jolt gasped. Everyone watched in shock at their only means of leaving.
"My, the truck…" Reiri spoke.
"You said you fought and immortal soldier, right Kurumu?"
"I don't think this is a good time!?" Kurumu replied.
"Was there no one else there?"
"That's right!" Riza shouted at her.
"…I see." Hime frowned.
"You might want to fill us in about the zombies," Rai requested.
"Zombies!?" Hiro cried. Hime turned to them.
"They expected us to attack the abandoned factory," Hime explained. "While you were fighting off the immortal warrior, they released them into town to cut off our escape route. It's actually a simple tactic—"
"Raimundo," Reiri interrupted. "Just now, did you say zombies?"
"Yeah…?" Rai answered.
"The ones who keep infecting more and more people so they become zombies too?"
"As far as Hollywood describes it…pretty much."
"The ones that are forbidden, without exception, for royalty to use?"
"Yes," Hime answered.
"Is there really someone in the Royal Family who would use such horrific creatures?"
"I don't see a lot of difference between zombies and vampires," Riza pointed out.
"You both eat people," Kurumu added.
"Hey!" Reiri disapproved. "Don't think you can classify us vampires at the same level as zombies!" She bowed her head. "Well then, Princess, I will take my leave now." She flew off toward the sky.
"What!?" Hiro cried. "Reiri!?"
"It's disgraceful for a vampire to do battle with zombies. Just the thought makes me sick!"
"Get back here, you bitch!" Kurumu yelled out.
"Damn you Reiri!" Riza added. "Running away from a fight? A free loader you are!"
"Drop it," Hime clarified. "That's how vampires are."
"…Not the ones I know," Kurumu whispered to herself. Reiri looked back on the group.
"Princess, Hiro, everyone…" Rai looked at her expression. She was terrified. "…I wish you the best of luck. Take care of yourself."
The army of seven marched through the streets. Everywhere you turned, there was a zombie ready to attack.
"Uaa…" They moaned. "Uaa…"
Whack!
"Fuga." Flandre swung here large tree at the zombies. The group walked together and kept their defenses on guard.
"This is awful," Riza noticed. "We're already surrounded by zombies." In her hand, she held a lead pipe. Rai gripped onto his scythe while Hiro held his stick. Rai looked to the sky.
"Hey, how you guys holding up?" Rai yelled up to his crew. Kurumu and Jolt were flying overhead.
"Pika!" Jolt cried back. He rested in Kurumu's arms.
"Be careful!" Kurumu yelled.
"I know the drill," He assured.
"If just a little bit of zombie blood gets into your body, you'll be joining them," Hime explained. "That's why I'm forbidding you to fight them hand-to-hand."
"Whatever," Riza replied. "Though it's not my style to fight with a weapon." A zombie snuck behind Hiro and grabbed his shoulder.
"Hyaaa!" It breathed.
"Yaa!" Hiro quickly turned around and swung his stick at them. His footing lost balance when he tripped over Flandre's tree.
Thud!
The tree fell to the ground.
"Fuga…" Flandre's eyes grew blank. "…ga…ga…" She stood frozen.
"Hey, Flandre stopped moving," Riza noticed. Kurumu observed the group.
"What's the hold up?" Kurumu shouted.
"Something's wrong with Flandre," Rai shouted back.
"Her battery ran out," said Hime.
"Hold on a sec! In the middle of this death trap!?" Hime looked around the area. "Do you know how many tons she weighs!? We'll never move her!" Just a few yards away stood a POLX supermarket.
"A supermarket…" Hime pondered.
"Listen when I'm talking to you!" Riza interrupted. She swung at a zombie.
"Riza, let's move it!" Rai consorted her. As the group walked toward the market, they noticed the lights on and a barricade assembled near the entrance. Voices started whispering from inside.
"Hey, someone's coming!"
"Is it a monster?"
"No, they aren't. It's ok."
"How can you say that? My wife was a human just a while ago."
They inspected from the shadows. The princess, biker, schoolboy, and repairman waited in front of the glass window.
"What do we do? They're coming!"
The five started walking away.
"Hoo, looks like they left."
"No, I think they're just going for the back door."
"You idiot! Ah, forget it, just leave it to me…!"
The group came around through the back entrance. Hime walked upfront to the door.
"This is a suitable place to set up a siege," Hime requested. "I want you to let me in."
"Go away," A voice answered back. "We already have too many people…" Riza stepped forward.
"Do you mind?" Riza asked.
"I don't," Hime approved. Riza drew back her arm.
Crash!
Riza blasted the door open. The man fell to the floor. Hime and the others walked past him as they entered into the market. There were rows of produce and food to shelter themselves for weeks.
"Put the barricade back up," said Hime. Hiro took the table while Rai grabbed on to some boxes. "Just place the stuff in front of the door. Zombies lack intelligence."
"Guess that explains why they want brains," Rai shrugged.
"Real funny, reaper," Riza shoved a cabinet with her foot.
"…Hold it!" A man shouted. He wore his uniform shirt and baseball hat. His shirt was tucked into his brown pants. His face looked slum along with the goatee over his mouth. He held his shotgun point blank range at Hime. "You seem to know quite a lot. What are you?"
"Hime!" Hiro cried. Rai stepped forward.
"Listen, compañero," he interrupted. "We need to know if everyone here is alright."
"The one asking questions is me!" The man shifted his gun at Rai. "Answer!...What are you!" Rai held up his hands in response.
"Easy there," Rai assured. "You want to know what's happening. You need to help us out." The man lowered his gun. "Unless, you want zombies attacking us from inside." The man grew silent. "Did anyone get bit?"
"!?..." His expression became worried.
"So someone did?" Hime concluded. The man escorted Hime and everyone into the lobby. Near the barricade were a mother and her teenage daughter in a school uniform. There were two guys, one with casual pants, sneakers, and a buttoned shirt, and the other with flip-flops, jeans, a T-shirt, shades, and a bandanna on his head. An old man rested nearby with his white long sleeve shirt and buttoned pants. They were talking to a man on the floor with a white shirt and red neck tie. He clasped his right arm, hoping the blood to stop.
"What…" the injured man noticed. "So you brought them here after all. Welcome to the shelter; it's nice to meet you." He smiled. The gun man stepped forward.
Click-Click!
He cocked the barrel at the injured man.
"KYAA!" The girls shrieked. Everyone stepped away.
"Wh-What are you doing!?" He asked. The survivors watched in fear of the answer.
"…Is he really going to become a monster?" The gunman asked.
"Without a doubt," Hime responded.
"We can't do anything about it," Rai said.
"W…Wait…" the man begged. "I can't see where you're going with this at all!" Everyone stepped back. "Please…Please, help me! What do I do!?" He felt a sudden twinge in his chest. His breathing suddenly stopped. "Gu…Ga…ka…!?" He choked on his own saliva. Drool seeped out from his mouth as his head hanged down on from his shoulders. The man held his shotgun as steadily as possible. "…Ga…Kaha…Gaga…" He looked up with white pupils. "KOYOAAA!" He lunged forward.
BANG!
The zombies continued swarming the parking lot. Flandre remained frozen in the center of the massacre. Underneath her dress slunk a small extension cord that ran back through the alley and into a socket near the soda machines.
"We'll be out of here in 2 days." Hime proposed. "During that time, I'd like you to let us stay here." Everyone else frowned at her.
"…Do whatever the hell you want." The gunman pulled his hat over his eyes.
"Is everything you said true, vampire?" Sherwood asked. The young princess was having tea with an unexpected guest in her mansion.
"Please," she insisted. "Call me Reiri." She rested her cup on the table. "I swear upon the trust you've displayed me by inviting me, but everything I say is the truth, Princess Sherwood."
"Zombies…So, the rumor is true."
"Fuga," Francesca added. Reiri was surprised. Sherwood stood from her chair and nuzzled Ryu's ears.
"They said that the reason my sister lost everything was because one of my siblings broke the rules and encroached on her territory through the use of zombies." "You've done well. You may leave now."
"Then, Excuse me…" Reiri bowed before her.
"…And Reiri," Sherwood mentioned. "Even vampires have it…a guilty conscience."
On the highest hill, the mechanical butler examined the wreckage let on the town. His master leaned against the tree, waiting for his soldier to report. She soon arrived before him.
"Is that you, Mikasa?" the man asked.
"It is I, Master…" the girl answered.
"You did well to escape unscathed," he complimented her. "You're a tenacious one."
"…Yes, Master."
"Did you meet my younger sister?" He started approaching Mikasa. "My beloved younger sister?" The robotic butler scanned the area. He pinpointed the princess at the top of the market. As the hours rolled by, more and more of the walking dead started growing in numbers. Rai, Hime, Kurumu, Riza, Hiro, and Jolt were watching the wave expand.
"There's a lot more than before," Kurumu spoke out.
"Some say it's because that the body is following the living habits of when they were still human, but it's unclear," Hime hypothesized.
"Hey Hime," Riza interrupted, "Is it okay to leave things like this? What if the situation goes beyond breaking point."
"I don't think there's much we can do at this point," Rai assumed. "We'll need an army to wipe them out."
"Hey, if Busty here can fly, why the hell doesn't she go for help?" Riza demanded.
"You do remember Reiri was the one with the directions, right?" Kurumu recalled.
"It wouldn't matter," Hime intruded. "By the time you had left to find help, it would be too late."
"I can't do anything about it," the man joined the group on the roof. "Landlines and cellphones haven't been connecting since last night…before I came to the supermarket, I saw the bridge at the North-bound Highway fall apart. The guys that ran here from the southern part of the city center said 'It's better not to head south'." He pulled out a smoke. "He said he was gonna make a run for the mountains…that might've been the right choice. Although, since it's countryside like this, there's a high chance to get attacked."
"Hey," Kurumu whispered. "Who's the redneck?"
"The only guy who has a gun," Rai answered. Jolt looked over the edge.
"…Did you know the TV and radio stations are playing the regular programs? Nobody knows what's happening in this town. It's a whole 'nother world here!" Everyone looked at each other. "But there is one hope. I am—"
"Pika!" Jolt pointed to the street. The two men were making a run for it.
"I can't take it anymore!" The spiky haired boy shouted. " If I stay here any longer…I'll get killed eventually!"
"Run to the car!" The bandanna man yelled.
"…Idiots!" The gunman shouted. "It's supposed to be safe here from the monsters! They won't survive for a minute!" It wasn't long until the two were completely surrounded.
"Uwaa!" The bandanna man swung his bag at the zombies. The spiky boy tried punching his way through and made a run for the van. The bandanna man tripped. "So-Somebody! Help me!" The undead were closing on him.
BANG!
A zombie fell back from the impact.
"You idiot!" The gunman yelled. "If you're going, then hurry up and go!"
"Hiii!" The man ran off. The zombie started rising from its feet.
"The monster is…!"
"Genius," Rai yelled out, "Go for the head! Shoot the head!"
BANG! BANG!
The gunman kept firing rounds at the zombies only aiming at their torso.
"Sh-Shit!" He couldn't aim correctly. The two men quickly hopped into the vehicle and drove off. The zombies started swarming over the man.
Click! Click!
He was out of ammo.
"Ha…Ha…Ha…" He huffed. The zombies were approaching. "Shit…I should've left a shot to kill myself…!"
Whoosh!
Rai, Jolt, and Riza leapt in front of the man. The werewolf smashed her lead pipe at the zombies. Rai swung out his scythe, decapitating their heads one-by-one.
"CHUUUU!"
BBBBBZZZZZTTT!
Jolt fired lightning across the wave of corpses.
"Wh-What the hell are you!?" The man asked.
"Shut up," Riza ordered. "Are you going to ask every little thing about the one who saved your life?"
"It kind of comes with the job," Rai added.
"Pika!' Jolt cheered.
"Did you spot her, Franz?" The master asked.
"Fuga," he replied.
"…Mikasa, go back to that hell again. Defeat my sister." Mikasa stood in fear. "What's wrong? Are you not my immortal soldier?" She looked to the ground. His hand started conjuring a rose-embodied flame from his hands. "Come, I'll grant you the Flame of Life." Mikasa stepped forward.
"Mmmm!" The master shoved his flame into her mouth.
The group walked back inside the building. Hiro knelt before Hime as she offered him her Flame of Life.
"Do you hate me, Mikasa?" the master asked.
"I do not, Master," she replied. He grabbed her by the hair and pulled her in.
"I killed you, brought you back to life, and gave you that body. So, how can you still ingratiate yourself to me?" Mikasa didn't know what to say. "You're absolutely shameless, Mikasa. To think you love me so much…" Her fear subsided.
The zombies roamed the lot in larger numbers. Hiro watched with worry through the glass window.
"GYAAAAAHHHH!" A zombie pressed its face against the window.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" Hiro shrieked.
"What are you doing Hiro…?" Riza asked. Kurumu walked along with her.
"There's no way their coming into our safe zone," Kurumu assured.
"Riza, Kurumu…" Hiro felt unsure. "All the people in town have already become zombies, huh…"
"Who knows…" Riza assumed. "Anyway, as long as we're in here, we're safe."
"How long do you think?" Kurumu asked.
"Until sunrise," Hime announced. "Flandre's charging will finish at Dawn. So, we will wait until daybreak and then escape." Everyone agreed to the terms. Kurumu looked around.
"Hey, where are the boys?" she asked.
"They're on the roof," Hime answered. "They'll be on lookout until then."
"Might as well turn in for the night," Riza ordered. "Everyone, lights out!"
On the rooftop, Rai, Jolt, and the gunman were watching over the lot. He offered Rai a smoke.
"Nah, I don't smoke," Rai declined.
"Suit yourself, kid," he lit up another. "You got a name?"
"…Rai. You?"
"Shōn." The two nodded. "So, you thinking of picking up one of those ladies?" Rai chuckled.
"Haven't thought about dating."
"Come on, you can't tell me you haven't been eyeing some of them. I pictured you for the red head type. But hey, that's only my opinion."
"Pika!" Jolt giggled. Shōn cocked the rifle. "You know how to use this?" He handed Rai the shotgun.
"Can't say I have." Rai steadied the rifle as he peered through the cursor at the end of the barrel. Shōn lectured him from behind.
"Just keep your shoulders relaxed. Grip the gun firmly so you can handle the recoil. Otherwise, you're gonna blow your arm off." Rai focused his aim as he pointed the barrel into the crowd. "When you're ready, pull the trigger." Rai lifted the rifle and handed it back to him.
"I'll hold off on that till later." He sat on the awning. "So, what's your story for being here?"
"I was a simple delivery guy before hell broke loose," Shon explained. "Had just finished making my last delivery when one of those things showed up out of nowhere. I saw those suckers trying to attack me, so I made a run for the market. Everyone else was running to try and leave the city." He looked down on the undead army. "You can tell how well that worked."
"and everyone else...?"
"The mom and her daughter were almost dead-meat if I hadn't run in and pulled them to safety. Those two guys who ran away were dragging the guy who was already bit. The last one was the old man; he had some fight in him. What matters is that we pull through together until the very end."
"You sound like a good leader, trying to keep everyone alive."
"Yeah...but for how long?" He pulled out his last smoke. "Eventually, I'll end up with those damn fuckers down there. Then whose gonna protect them? Hell, if I do get bit, I'd rather be a dead man." Rai remained quiet. "Whatever happens, I won't go down without a fight."
CRASH!
Rai, Shon, and Jolt looked over the edge. A minivan crashed through the barricade of the market.
"Not good!" Rai and Shōn agreed. The three ran downstairs.
The vehicle rested in the center of the lobby. Rai and Shōn entered the scene.
"Everyone alright?" Rai asked.
"I'm alright, somehow," The mother replied.
"Thank goodness," Hiro sighed, "Everyone's okay, right?"
"It's too early to be relieved," said Hime. The zombies began entering from the front of the market. "This place is no longer secure."
"Ah—Uaaa…a…" The undead drew closer towards their prey.
"The barricade has…" Hiro spoke.
"Wha…" The schoolgirl trembled. "What is this!?"
"It's Dawn of the Dead!" Rai shouted. "What else do you want to call it?"
"Fuga," said Francesca. Sherwood and Ryu were awaking from their break after traveling for the past hour.
"What?" Sherwood responded lazily. "You say you know where big sis is, Francesca?"
"Fuga." Francesca adjusted her glasses.
BANG! BANG!
"The office…!" Shōn shouted. "Inside there's an office…Run there!" Rai lead the way and drew the door open.
"Everyone, get in!" Rai waved his hand to let everyone in. Riza joined Shōn I battle. She swatted away the enemy with her weapon. Hiro waited outside the doorway.
"Riza…Hurry!" he yelled.
"I'm going now…" Riza assured. She felt a sudden presence enter the area. She looked toward the crowd of zombies. "…Hiro, protect Hime."
"Riza?" Hiro stood baffled. She went running into the crowd. "Riza!" He went for Riza.
"Hiro!" Rai held him back. "Don't do it!"
"Riza is…!"
"She told us to protect Hime! She's gonna be alright!" Rai pulled Hiro into the office. Shōn shut the door behind them. Rai pulled Hiro to the ground. Shōn and the elderly man pushed against the door, preventing anything from getting in.
"This isn't good," Shōn assumed. The moaning and pounding on the door continued to grow. "This door…It doesn't seem like it's gonna hold…"
"No way…" the mother shivered. What in the world is going to happen to us?"
"Riza…" Hiro grimaced. Rai helped him to his feet.
"I'm sure wolf girl will be fine," Kurumu enlightened him. "She's tougher than she looks."
"Pika pi!" Jolt raised his fist.
"Besides," Hime added. "Tonight is a special night."
Mikasa quietly snuck over the awning and onto the roof of the market. Her objective: Kill Hime.
"So it's you after all," a voice called her out. Standing before her was her rival from before. "Even though you can hide your presence, your scent gave you away." She folded her arms. "My name is Riza Wildman. Daughter of the Mighty warrior, Volg Wildman!"
"Do you think you can beat me?" Mikasa asked.
"I'll show you what I can do." Riza pointed to the night sky. Hovering high above their heads was a full moon. Riza brought out her wolf fists. She nudged her finger to fight. "Bring it." Mikasa rushed in. With lightning speed, Riza slashed away at Mikasa's gauntlet. She was thrown back by the force. "You ain't seen nothing yet."
"Damn it!" Shōn pound the locker, leaving a dent in the metal. "We have no rations, no escape route, and the door is ready to be penetrated. What are we gonna do!?" He kept calm for a second. He looked over to Hime. "Hey, princess…If I'm not mistaken, you said we're leaving in the morning, right? You're planning something, aren't you? Care to enlighten us?"
"Hime…" Hiro wondered.
"I had a plan," Hime introduced. "But now executing it has become exceedingly difficult. We need someone to run a suicide mission…" Shon's eyes opened wider. "Right now, that is an absolute necessity."
"AAAAAAAAAAKK!" The zombies went running in.
Pew! Pew! Pew!
Silver marbles went flying straight at their heads. The impact imploded their minds and fell to the ground. From above, Sherwood searched the area for her sister while standing on Ryu, who was sitting atop Francesca. She looked to the supermarket that had zombies swarming the entrance.
"Hurry, Francesca!" she requested.
"Fuga."
Shōn cleared the path as he went running for Flandre.
BAM!
He swung his lead pipe against the horde.
"Get out of my way!" he yelled.
Slam!
"Bastards! Stay away from me!" One came jumping at him. "…!"
Slice!
Rai hacked his body in half.
"Don't stop!" Rai shouted. "Keep moving!"
"Right!" he shouted back. The two went running into the crowd. Rai quickly spotted her.
"There she is!" Rai slid to the ground just behind Flandre. She dropped the scythe nearby. "Alright, Hime said there should be a switch under her skirt." Shōn looked…uneasy as to how Rai was searching underneath her dress. "Just keep the zombies occupied until I find it."
"Got it!" He took his pipe and swung at the undead. The upper half started clawing forward. "Take this!"
Whack!
Rai searched every inch of Flandre for the switch. No, that's not it! Maybe…nope. Is it soft? Damn it! Where is that thing!?
Drip…
Rai felt the blood dripping on his shoulder. He sat frozen.
"GUAAAAA!" The zombie feasted down.
CHOMP!
"GUWAAAAA!" Shōn jumped over Rai just before it bit him.
"SHŌN!" Rai shouted.
Click!
"Fuga."
"Flandre!" Rai said amazed. She looked over to the zombie.
Grip!
She grabbed his sleeve.
"Fuga."
*Toss*
Flandre chucked the zombie half way across town. Rai and Shōn watched with surprise.
"Haha…" Shōn laughed. "This is good, huh. So this doll was the trump card."
"Yeah…" Rai smiled faintly.
"Gu…Gah…!" Shon's body began reacting. "Am I…Becoming a monster…!?" Rai stood from the ground. He turned away. "You have to be joking…Rai…I DON"T WANT TO BE A MONSTER! PLEASE, JUST KILL ME!"
Click-click!
Hime cocked the shotgun at his head.
"Thank you…" she spoke.
BANG!
Jolt and Hiro shielded their eyes. Everyone else watched in horror. Rai did his best to not turn around. He clasped his fist tightly. Kurumu walked over to him and rested his head on her shoulder.
"Riza! Flandre! We're escaping here at once!" Hime ordered.
"Fuga." Flandre picked up the lumber. Rai removed himself from Kurumu and retrieved his scythe.
"…Thanks," Rai appreciated.
"Sure…" Kurumu replied. "Just don't make a habit of it."
Riza wiped the blood from her mouth.
"If that's the case," Riza agreed. Mikasa's body was fuming completely from her body. "see ya, warrior."
Sherwood watched from above until Hime and the escape group approached from the front.
"Big sis!" Sherwood greeted them with happiness. "It's wonderful that you are safe!"
"Fuga." Francesca bowed before them. Unfortunately, it threw off the tower's balance.
"Ho ho…" Hime chuckled. "The one who called you was Reiri, wasn't it Sherwood?"
"Geez…" Sherwood stepped down. "It seems that…big brother has turned up too…"
"Ah…but he was too flashy. Involving the human world this much…"
"Uh…Guys…" Rai looked to the sky.
"That…!" Hiro pointed at the phenomenon. "What in the world is that!?" From the sky above their heads flew a mythical creature with a rainbow body of pure elegance. It's form looking as though it were a massive eagle large enough to cover the entire town. The light was bright enough to bring night to appear as though it were day.
"The royal family…" said Riza.
"What!?" Kurumu disagreed. "It's a giant bird!"
"You don't know? It's a Phoenix. Though, it's my first time seeing one too…"
"Whoa," Rai was astounded. "You mean that's what Hime and Sherwood are supposed to be!?"
"Pika…!" Jolt's eyes sparkled with amazement. Hiro was still speechless.
"What's wrong, Hiro?" Sherwood blushed. "It's beautiful isn't it? That's the adult form of us family members. When we become adults, we turn into the phoenix of perpetual youth. You haven't heard the legend of passing down the flame of the bird of fire and becoming immortal?"
"Ah, I see," Hime concluded. "…Understood, let's obey it."
"In cooperation with the human world, they probably plan to conceal what happened here. Anyway, it looks like they just came to a conclusion." Hiro didn't move. "What's wrong, Hiro?" Hiro's brain broke. "Hang in there! If you think about it, you understand right?"
"You might want to dumb it down for him," Rai rested his arm on Hiro's head.
"That's why we royal siblings kill each other before we become adults…The answer is simple! That is…when we become adults, we become a benevolent and perfect existence that can't kill. That's why there can only be one left. If there wasn't, the country would be disturbed!"
From the hill, the brother watched as the phoenix flew away.
"I don't know if you are the late king or an ancestor, but to come all this way into this world…" he smiled. "If you are here to judge me, go ahead and try!"
Hime is, Hiro thought, Hime is…a phoenix…!?
-To Be Continued-
Flandre: Fuga
Hime: Defendant…Do you have anything to say for yourself?
Wait, I'm on trial!? For what!?
Hime: Did you not assign the main character to put his hand up Flandre's skirt? Kurumu, Jolt, and I have all witnessed the ordeal.
The switch was supposed to be their! I didn't build Flandre! If I did, I would've at least made her taller!
Flandre: Fuga!
Hime: The plaintiff, Flandre, is accusing you of harassment to the third degree, and all characters and material used belong to their respective owners.
Flandre: Fuga
I want my lawyer! Hiro!
Next Time: Princess Terror
Hime: Prepare yourself for the final verdict.
Flandre: Fuga Fuga!
I don't like where this is going...