"Ready the port side cannons!" Naomi commanded her navy as they approached Avalor's harbor, finding a small fleet of ships waiting for them. Gervaso joined Naomi at the wheel of the ship where she was preparing to turn the vessel for their first taste of confrontation.
"This is nothing" Gervaso said to her, referring to Avalor's navy.
"Yup." Naomi said confidently in reply. "We should have no problem. The army waiting for you over at the shore looks like it might be a bit more of a challenge" Naomi replied, gesturing to the hundreds of soldiers Shuriki had prepared to stop the attack.
"You just do your part and I'll do mine. I'm not worried about it" Gervaso told her. And he wasn't. He knew that his warriors were more than twice as strong as any adversary they'd be faced with.
Naomi grinned as she got excited about the action. She too wasn't afraid. She was ready to get it all over with, win the day and be back in her old home at the harbor by nightfall. It might have been a bit optimistic but Naomi knew she had the best naval fleet in all of the Ever Realm along with the fiercest warriors she had ever seen.
As she turned her ships preparing to fire, Naomi took notice of her parents following her lead. They too knew that the battle of the harbor would be quick. She then turned her attentions towards her enemy, positioning themselves for battle as well. She counted their ships. They had 15 ships in their fleet to Naomi's 40. Not only that but the Norberg ships were built to maneuver much more quickly than other ships. Not surprising, Naomi was in position first.
"FIRE!" She shouted and a chorus of cannon blasts sounded out across the harbor, crashing through the front side of one of the Avaloran ships. It hadn't even had a chance to turn their canons and already it was taking on water. Naomi smiled victoriously as she watched and waited for her crew to load the next round of ammunition. She heard cannons go off from her mother's ship just behind her and watched the damage that they had done to another of Avalor's naval vessels. The other Norberg ships did the same, each plunging holes into the enemy fleet. The were able to attack before half the opposing fleet were even able to get into ready position.
"FIRE!" Naomi shouted again, finishing off the ship that was before her. The enemy crew began to abandon ship and retreat back towards the harbor.
"HA! Woo! That's one down!" Naomi announced as she nearly danced with excitement over her victory. Two more ships were going down as she did but the fight was not over. The ship that had been following the one she had just sunk was in position and cannon ready. She quickly maneuvered her ship forward so that she could get herself in position to attack first but she wasn't fast enough. Naomi gripped the wheel tight to keep herself upright as her ship shook hard from the rear being blasted with cannon balls.
"Take the wheel!" Naomi ordered her first mate as she let go, needing to take care of the damage before they began to take on water.
"No! You stay here" Gervaso told her. "I'll take care of the holes, you just get us close to the shore"
Naomi nodded to Gervaso, completely trusting that he'd get the job done. She then set her sails for the pier. They'd get there earlier than they planned but it was what they needed to do. She turned the ship towards the shore, getting a glimpse of the rest of the battle. Her parent's ship had taken out a second one and had managed to avoid any damage, Naomi expected nothing less. Some of the other Norberg ships were not so lucky (Or skilled as the Turners). A couple of ships were taking on water and going down fast. Thankfully, she still had fresh ships coming into the harbor. As long as they could get the Fuerza troops to the docks, it would all be OK.
"FIRE!" Naomi shouted as she was once again aiming her cannons towards the opposition. Again, success. "FIRE!" She shouted again quickly, not letting up. This time making sure another ship sunk to the bottom of the harbor.
"We've sunk six ships already, Captain" Naomi's first mate reported. "Make that seven" He corrected as another Avaloran ship went down in the distance.
"The hole is taken care of for now. I patched it up but it won't hold long" Gervaso reported as he returned to the deck and beside Naomi.
"Got it" Naomi told him. "Gervaso, ready your men, we're heading in now" She decided. She signaled to her mother's ship that they were going in and Scarlett passed it along down the fleet. Half of the ships joined Naomi in heading towards the docks, firing off their cannons on the way. The elder Turners remained in the Harbor and would do so until they had complete control.
As they neared the pier, Naomi looked up to the sky. She spotted Luna flying overhead, she had been keeping near during the battle, awaiting her part in the plan. Naomi waved to the jaquin that she was ready and Luna swooped down to the ship.
"The rear of your ship is Not lookin' good Naomi!" Luna reported.
"Well it's a good thing this is our stop!" Naomi replied as she climbed on Luna's back. She gave Gervaso a you got this nod and she and Luna soared into the sky, where Naomi would continue to lead the troops before heading to meet up with the rest of her friends. She looked to the harbor, they had lost at least two of her ships. Her heart sank for any casualties but could see that many had safely abandoned ship and joined another from the fleet. It was the cost of war and she was just thankful that they had the numbers to be victorious. The lives lost on their side would be minimal. She then observed the Fuerza troops lying out ramps to disembark the ship and storm the docks. Gervaso and his troops would be the first and two more ships were only minutes behind.
Gervaso armed himself with his shield, raised his sword and gave the order to charge. The Fuerza warriors screamed out their war cries as they immediately met Shuriki's foot soldiers. Naomi gasped at the barbaric sights of war. Sending a cannon ball splintering into the side of ship was one thing but to see the gruesome results of hand to hand sword fights was another. Blood began to pool on the piers, seeping through the cracks of each wooden plank and into the waters beneath. Men laid dead or dying on the ground as the two armies fought with all they had. More ships hit the docks and hundreds more of the Fuerza warriors came out swinging their swords in full force. Naomi finally saw the ferocity that they were so famous for. Though there were a few unlucky, mostly each of the Fuerza pushed forward, literally chopping down their enemy as they did.
Naomi spotted Gervaso. Though he was fighting along side his men, he barely looked like he was breaking a sweat. He marched on towards the city center and would eventually make his way to the palace. She checked on the progress in the harbor and saw ten of the Norberg ships sailing out and towards the river that bordered Cordoba. Her parents included. It meant that they felt the Harbor had been won and they needed to move on to their next task. This was Naomi's cue that it was her time to leave as well. She and Luna took off, leaving the battle of the Harbor and the city in good hands.
"They're not going to make a move are they?" Mateo asked a bit awkwardly in Isabel's direction. He was a little nervous as they had rode up to the bridge that connected Avalor and Cordoba as he had never actually had to use his magic in battle before. Especially not on other human beings. He was also clueless when it came to military tactics so to say he was out of his comfort zone would be a bit of an understatement. He couldn't wait to get this all over with and meet up with Elena so that they could find Shuriki and defeat her once and for all.
"Nope" Isabel replied. "They won't move until we do and we aren't going anywhere until we have our naval ships for back up" She explained referring to the stand off of sorts that they had found themselves in. When the Cordoban army had arrived at the bridge they were met by an entire regiment camped just on the other side. They weren't going to cross the bridge but they were prepared to defend the moment that the Cordobans entered Avalor territory.
Mateo took a deep breath in, filling and puffing out his cheeks before letting it out audibly. They had been sitting there staring at the soldiers that they would soon collide with. It had been nearly an hour but time felt like it had been standing still. The anticipation was getting to the young wizard. Just then, Migs flew in beside him and Mateo was a bit relieved. Migs was he and Isabel's ride away from the actual combat and towards the palace.
"So... not a lot of action happening here is there?" Migs asked.
"Not yet" Isa answered. "As soon as the ships get here, we'll do our thing and then we can be on our way. How's everyone else doing?"
"Harbor looked pretty secure. The Turners should be arriving soon. Luna has already picked up Naomi. Not exactly sure where Elena is right now but Skylar is on his way to find them. Everything is falling into place" Migs reported.
"Perfect" Isa said.
It was then that they spotted the Enchancia Naval ships sailing up the river. Isa grinned, ready to move forward and finally make her way back into Avalor, this time not in hiding. She'd be returning as herself. Born Isabel of Avalor, Current ruler of the Kingdom of Cordoba, Sister to Elena Castillo Flores the rightful heir to Avalor's thrown. She felt power and security in who she truly was, who she had become and who she felt she was meant to be.
"Hop on Princess!" Migs offered, lowering his front paws so that Isa could climb on. She did and she held on tight as Migs pushed off from the ground and into the air, flying over Isa's people. They watched her and were willing to fight and die for their queen. She inspired them to stand for all that was right in the world.
When the Avaloran army saw the ships headed their way, they were shocked. This was something that they just weren't expecting. They had assumed that the navy would keep to the harbor of the city. Panic began to show in their movements as they scrambled for a new formation, unsure of how to defend against cannon fire. The truth was, they didn't stand a chance. Enchancia's ships pulled up near the bridge and the Avaloran army tried to retreat out of their range.
Mateo stepped forward to the edge of the river bank and took out his tamborita. He shouted a spell and banged his hand on his drum wand as he aimed it towards the flowing waters. A wave swept up and out of the river and poured over onto the enemy soldiers, pushing them back or sweeping them down the river. Cannon fire immediately sounded from the small fleet of ships, barrelling through the lines of their enemy.
"Charge!" The commanding officer of the Cordoban army shouted after getting the OK from his queen and they took off over the bridge just as the water was clearing and the smoke was rising. The ships had given the Cordobans just enough room to get them all over the bridge as quickly as possible.
When they were all finally over the bridge and engaged in combat, Mateo, who had remained on the Cordoban side cast another spell, this time aimed at the bridge. The structure came crumbling down, clearing a path for the ships to continue up the river and ensuring that Cordoba would be safe from any retaliation for the time being. They needed to contain the battle in Avalor and they had done so. The ships would serve as their defenses if need be but as Mateo joined Isabel on the back of their jaquin friend, they could see that there would be little to no action on the river.
"Everyone ready?" Migs asked.
"Lets go!" Isabel answered and the trio headed towards Avalor city and more specifically, the palace.
Naomi was the first to arrive at a secret back entrance to the palace. She and Luna pried the door open and took shelter inside before they could be seen. Luckily, the passage seemed to have gone undetected during Shuriki's reign. She wasn't there long before she heard the door push open again. Naomi held her breath momentarily at the anticipation of who was coming through. She relaxed immediately when she saw Isabel peer around the door, followed by Mateo and finally Migs.
"PHEW! Thank God you two are OK!" Naomi said, letting out a sigh and hugging her friends.
"Is Elena here yet?!" Isa asked right away and anxiously. "Have you heard anything?"
"No not yet" Naomi informed her. "I haven't heard anything from her at all. I just got here moments ago. The harbor is secure and Gervaso is making good progress in the city and towards the palace."
Isa turned to Mateo, her face looking fallen with worry over Elena's safety. Mateo walked over to her and placed his arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure she's fine Isa. She's surrounded by an army. And Gabe would never let anything happen to her" Mateo reassured her.
"Umm Have you ever met Elena?" Isa asked "She has zero regard for her own safety! She puts herself in harm's way all the time! Why do you think Gabe gets frustrated with her all the time? She doesn't exactly have the best track record when it comes to thinking things through... what if she did something rash? What if she got hurt? What if she's..."
"Hey guys! We made it!" Announced a bubbly Elena, just in time to cease Isabel's worries and babbles.
"ELENA!" Isa shouted and ran into her sister's arms. "I was so worried about you!"
"You were worried about me?!" Elena laughed.
"Well yeah!" Isa replied as if it were obvious "I mean, I was worried that you might have tried to do something crazy that would have put you in.."
"Danger?" Elena interrupted. "Isa you know that I would never"
"HA!" Gabe let out with little thought and Elena shot him a 'shhh' kind of look to which he replied with a sheepish and apologetic expression.
"I was fine" Elena told her sister softly. "Look, sometimes I have to put myself out there if it means keeping my people safe and that's what I did. I'm sorry if my actions worry you Isa. But now that you have your own kingdom, you'll learn that you do what you have to do and ... that's what worries me most about you being Queen Isabel. Cause I know how strong you are and how much you care about others. I know you're going to do the same thing. I know that you're going to take risks just like I do and that's ok. Because that's what is going to make you a great leader someday"
"Just like you..." Isa said as she stared lovingly in her sister's eyes, finally understanding the look on Elena's face the last time that they parted.
"I love you Isabel" Elena said sweetly but with conviction.
"I love you too Elena... so much!" Isa said, a tear coming to the corner of her eye as she embraced her sister once again.
They held on tightly to one another both relieved that the other had made it off the battlefields but both knowing that the fight wasn't over and they were about to separate once again.
"We need to get moving." Mateo reminded them all. The group agreed and together hurried through the tunnels and towards Mateo's workshop.
"WHOA!" Mateo gasped as they entered his workshop. "It's completely untouched!" He was overcome with joy as he looked around at everything he had left behind, everything he thought was sure to be lost forever. He then searched around his things and finally found what he had been looking for.
"Here" He said handing a key over to Gabe. "This key is enchanted and can open any lock. You shouldn't have any trouble getting people out of the dungeons.
"Good" Gabe nodded as Mateo began to walk away. He then grabbed his friend by the arm and leaned in close so that Elena wouldn't overhear his concerns "Hey Mateo, you need to keep Elena under control with the scepter. She listens to you. If you tell her to save her energy, she'll do it"
"Ok but... If everything goes to plan, she should only need it to take out Shuriki" Mateo replied, happy to help in keeping Elena safe but a bit confused as to why Gabe was so stressed over it.
"She used it today Mateo" Gabe explained, reading Mateo's face. "She used it a lot and I thought for a moment that we had lost her. She was barely breathing. And she's a fighter so of course she got right back up as soon as she came to but... I don't know how much more she has in her after what she did today. You just can't let her use up her energy before she gets to Shuriki."
"I won't. I promise" Mateo told Gabe with determination, taking some of his friend's worry away. He then turned towards Elena. "You ready?" He asked.
"Yup!" Elena answered, confidence radiating and bringing strength to the entire group. She went and stood by Mateo as Naomi Gabe and Isabel gathered together.
Elena looked at Naomi, her best friend, and nodded to her with thanks. Without Naomi, she didn't know if she could have ever gotten as far as she had. She might still be stuck on the island. Naomi returned the nod, letting Elena know that she believed in her. Elena then met the eyes of her sister. Isa and Elena finally understood each other completely. They had always been so different and now they had found common ground. They were both strong women, natural leaders and two young women who loved with all of their heart and soul. They would do everything and anything for the people that they loved and the people that they served. Unfortunately, that meant that they'd never stop worrying about the other, but they were slowly coming to terms with that. Elena's eyes then drifted to Gabe, who had his eyes on Isabel. He had meant what he said. He wasn't letting Isa out of his sights. Elena's eyes filled with fear for him as her stomach sank with an uneasy feeling. Gabe finally looked up at Elena, seeing the look in her eyes. Elena didn't have to beg him to keep her sister safe, she knew that he'd give his life to do so but she did silently beg him to keep himself safe too. Gabe couldn't reassure her though. All he could do was soften his eyes to her and let her know just how much he loved her. Elena tried to force a smile his way but it couldn't truthfully convey all that she was feeling.
"Good luck" Was all that Elena said as she left three people who meant more to her than anything in the world. They returned the wish and off she and Mateo went to find Shuriki.