Note: Here it is! Daemonic Maid suggested that I write more on what's happenning back with Armik... Either way, I hope you guys enjoy it!
Normal POV:
Everything wasn't going well for Takashi. He was beaten up, his daughter was lost out there, and he had failed to save his wife AND daughter.
Takashi slowly stirred awake. His head was still hurting from the beating that he had just been through. But as soon as he regained his senses, he panicked as he recognized the dark environment around him to be the dungeon.
Why did I have to trust that Armik? He scolded himself. Despite the numerous times his beloved daughter, Umi, had warned him, he had disregarded everything she said. Now he was regretting that he did so.
He swam around in the darkness, ashamed to be helpless despite being the King. After his eyes had finally adjusted to the darkness, he saw a faint figure on the ground. His eyes widened upon seeing the figure.
"Aurelia!" he panicked as he rushed to her still figure, unconscious on the gritty dungeon floor.
He breathed a sigh of relief after determining that she was still alive.
"Aurelia, please wake up!" he begged, trying to wake her up to no avail.
He sighed. He dropped down and wrapped his tail around her body. Afterwards, he hoisted her up onto his snakelike body and coiled it around hers securely to make sure she won't fall off. He had to find a way out, but he just couldn't leave her alone. Takashi generally knew that his species isn't exactly a species that can be lifted easily. Apparently, a Milotic weighs 162 kg on average and he was not eager to find out if that was true.
Even so, he still managed to lift his unconscious partner as he explored the darkness of the dungeon.
After much wandering in the dark, Takashi could deduce that the dungeon had a rectangular parameter and a locked door in the northern length. The dungeon was as big as a small hallway, yet he did not find it to be a spacey room.
Carrying Aurelia around had also made him too weak to even try breaking down the door.
By this time, Aurelia had begun to stir awake. She groaned for she felt sore from the thrashing that she was not excused to.
"Ohh... My head hurts," she groaned, "W-what... happened?"
Takashi immediately directed all his attention to his partner.
"Aurelia! You're awake!" he exclaimed.
Then, he immediately proceeded to ask in concern, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, my dear," she groaned in pain, "where are we?"
Takashi shifted his weight in guilt. He hesitated and slowly explained everything to his wife. Aurelia had no choice but to bear the horrible news. She sat on the dungeon floor, frozen with an expression of sheer horror.
"W-what a-about Umi?" Aurelia exclaimed worriedly.
"There, there," Takashi guiltily comforted her," I'm sure we'll find her."
Although his face showed a small smile to reassure Aurelia, he felt quite the opposite in his heart. He was feeling quite guilty on what was now happening, his heart was beating rapidly, he thought it might've just rip itself out of his chest.
What have I done? he questioned himself.
He shook his head.
I shouldn't be wasting time blaming myself, he encouraged himself, What's past is past! For now, I have to concentrate on what I CAN do!
Aurelia had collapsed, too weak to move after that battle and hearing the dreadful news.
"Is that a promise?" she weakly asked.
Takashi didn't want to promise something he was unsure of, but the guilt that stabbed his heart made him feel like he had to do something to compensate for what he had done.
"Yes, my love," he warmly said, "I promise."
Armik was quite pleased. He had managed to seize the throne all for himself when he had said that the King had stepped down and passed on leadership to him before he disappeared. Most of the fools had believed him, though some of the Tribe who refused to believe him needed some "coaxing" from the Sharpedo.
Armik sighed contentedly as he watched the entire span of land that made up the Milotic Tribe, all this he watched from the room that Takashi and his wife had used to occupy. It was all his now. Everything he had ever dreamed of, everything he wanted to own; riches, splendour, all his now.
Yet, he still had one more craving. All of this was nothing compared to his final craving. He wanted a Queen. Only the most beautiful Milotic would be suitable for one as great as him. And that one Milotic he had always wanted for a Queen was-
"Umi," he muttered, an evil grin plastered across his face.
Ikari was amused with Armik's scheme. She had just left him alone with the information on the Milotic Tribe that she was planning to use on conquering it and in one day, he had already seized leadership of the tribe.
Maybe Armik was really going to be of use to her... But that would also make him a top-level threat...
No matter, she thought. She had lent some infantry from the Sharpedo that were so loyal to that lone Milotic.
She would utilize them to do the same to her tribe.
And once I hold power over all these Gyarados, she smiled as she thought, I will eradicate that fool, Armik, and his tribe. His tribe that had SHUNNED my ancestors! I shall exact revenge! But, no... I won't stop at the Milotic Tribe... I won't stop until all these lands are... mine!
She smiled and thought about her plan... It truly was magnificent... But alas, she'd have to wait for Armik to make his move before she can make her first move. But she did not mind.
After all, all good things come to those who wait...
Takashi panted as he slammed himself once more to the dungeon door. However, the dungeon door did not yield.
All Aurelia could do was lay back down and rest after all she had been through.
She looked sad and disappointed with what had happened. This did not make her husband, Takashi, feel any better as he shamefully tried to slam down the locked door again and again.
He suddenly stopped, which caught Aurelia's attention quickly.
"Dear?" she asked, "Are you okay?"
"Shh..." he answered in a panicked manner.
"Someone's coming," he whispered back to her.
The two immediately hid behind each side of the wall around the door. They both knew that this could be their only opportunity to escape.
They shared a small glance at each other as the door slowly started to open.
The door soon opened, but before the two could make a move, two Sharpedo immediately swam out from the door and subdued them, pinning them back to the walls. Armik calmly swam between the two Sharpedo.
"Why good afternoon, Your Highness," he mocked, sneering at Takashi.
"What is the meaning of this?" Takashi angrily scolded.
"Isn't it obvious?" Armik calmly replied, ignoring Takashi's murderous expression.
Takashi scowled at Armik but, Armik completely ignored him and went on to explain everything.
"There were always two things that I desperately wanted from you," he explained while swimming back and forth, "These were your leadership and... your daughter. I have to admit that I originally planned to obtain your daughter in marriage first, and then use her to acquire your throne. But alas, things change... So now, I need YOUR throne... to get my Queen."
"YOU'RE INSANE!" Takashi gasped in horror.
Aurelia could do nothing but sob helplessly in the corner she was being subdued in. She had taken so much physical and emotional stress to the point that she couldn't do anything about her captors, she couldn't do anything to help her husband either.
Armik showed a small sinister grin.
"Oh, enough about me... Instead," he taunted, "why not dwell on why I'm here right now?"
Takashi couldn't take no more. He wanted the one who caused him all this misery to just... disappear!
"TO MOCK US OF COURSE!" he snapped in fury, "YOU PUT ME THROUGH ALL THIS MISERY, SO AT LEAST JUST LEAVE ME ALONE AND GIVE ME SOME REST!"
Armik merely smiled, Takashi's outburst mainly showed anger... But Armik was sensing something else... Was that fear?
Fear, eh? he grinned crookedly as he thought, So he DOES recognize his mistakes. How... delectable!
"Oh... Is it really me who caused you all this misery?" he mocked, trying to play with Takashi's mind.
"It was actually... you!" he continued, "You brought this down to yourself! Your actions brought you down to this one place that reeks of failure and fear. You blame it on me... because you are afraid to admit that it was you all along who caused all this."
Takashi froze. Was it true? Was it really he who had been the root of this?
No! he thought, That can't be!
He closed his eyes, bearing the mental torture. Armik merely smiled, having achieved what he wanted: to break down Takashi's emotional strength so he could get... that.
"Now... Back to the topic," Armik continued, "you are wrong... I didn't come here to mock you... In fact, I have much better plans for you, the two of you to be precise."
Takashi nervously bit his lip. What would Armik want with him, or even worse, Aurelia?
"Listen, Armik," he reasoned out, "you already have power, riches, and my lands. What more could you want with us? Please, spare at least Aurelia from whatever devious plan you have in mind."
Armik chuckled evilly, inhaling the fear emanating fromTakashi's broken personality... Armik enjoyed the fear of others... It made him... stronger.
"I'm sorry to say but," he paused, trying to unnerve the royal couple.
He continued, "You will BOTH not be spared from anything. Umi is now gone because of you now... It's time for your punishment!"
Takashi tried to protest but was cut off by Armik.
"UNLESS!" he continued, "you cooperate with me. I swear, no harm will befall you... or Aurelia for that matter... But if I sense as much as an air of hostility... Aurelia might not enjoy her... punishment, would she?"
Takashi remained silent, eyes full of loathing towards Armik. But he gave in and sighed.
"Alright," he uttered, his will completely crushed.
Armik's eyes twinkled maliciously as he grinned.
"Oh... This is going to be so much... fun," Armik chuckled evilly.
Note: Well, that's all for this chappie guys! I'm still writng chapter 11 right now, but I guess I'll manage it by the end of the week. Please review! Remember, every opinion counts. Sincerely, thanks~