Chapter 6: Holding the Fort
At Fort Alpea, Elincia is talking with Haar, Kasumi and a Crimean soldier.
"So... we're guessing that flare sent up from Geoffrey's troops means Ludveck plans to come for Your Majesty." says Haar. "He's probably marching his troops toward this fortress as we speak. Since it's come to this, I'd like to stick around to help. Let me know if you need me."
"...I see." says Elincia. "Thank you ever so much. Sir Haar... I have one more question. What about Lucia? Have you heard from her? Is she safe?"
"We found a man's body in a village safehouse." says Haar. "We believe he was her messenger. We also found this..."
He hands her a piece of paper holding a thing of light blue hair.
"No!" says Elincia. "This is... This is Lucia's hair! But... How?"
"Well, we assume that Ludveck infiltrated her network of spies and captured her. This is his way of letting us know." says Haar.
"That damned monster!" says Kasumi. "He WOULD stoop to this level!"
"It also means she's still alive, which means we can still save her." says Haar. "Queen Elincia, it's up to you to determine the best course of action."
"He's right." says Kasumi. "As much as I'd love to go out there and save Lucia personally, we need to focus on stopping this rebellion first."
"Y-yes, I... I know..." says Elincia. "Royal guards! Arm yourselves, and prepare to meet the rebel force in battle. I will be commanding you personally."
"Your majesty! But... you are the queen!" says the Crimean soldier. "It's much too dangerous! Please, assign a subordinate to do this duty!"
Elincia firmly says, "I will not. It is my indecision that has allowed the rebellion to come this far. I refuse to run from this problem any longer."
Kasumi smiles and says, "And we'll proudly follow you into the battlefield, your majesty."
"Thank you, Princess Kasumi." says Elincia with a small smile. Elincia looks at the severed bundle of Lucia's hair in her hand and says, "Lucia... Lucia, I'm sorry. Somehow, I promise you... I will save you!"
Afterwards, in another part of the fort, Kasumi is talking to Aiden.
"WHAT?!" shouts Aiden. "That bastard Ludveck knew of our plans and captured Lucia?!"
"I'm afraid so." says Kasumi. "Sir Haar brought back a severed thing of Lucia's hair as a message. Aiden, as much as I will fight beside Queen Elincia, I can't help but feel that we might only be playing into Ludveck's hands. The years I was with my father before my coma, he taught me battle strategies. Believe it or not, my father was a real war hero who helped bring Hazumo to greatness at the time he met my mother. So when I say Ludveck is planning something, you can take that to heart."
"Well, I guess we meet the enemy and bring them down." says Aiden. "My axes are ready to cleave some rebel flesh."
"I better get changed before things get TOO hectic." says Kasumi.
She then changes into her armor in a flash of light.
"Hey, Kasumi." says Aiden. "I've been meaning to ask something."
"What's that?" asks Kasumi.
"Well, I know that armor of yours is magic, and it DOES give you equal parts strength and protection." says Aiden. "But since it IS your spirit in phyiscal form, is it possible you could make it MORE covering?"
"If it had that kind of form, don't you think I would have used it?" asks Kasumi. "And looking at what you fight in, cosisting of an open vest, you're not exactly one to talk."
"I know, I know, it seems hypocritical." says Aiden. "But it comes with the territory of my form of fighting. Not to mention my abs are steel tough."
"That crossbow bolt that hit you there back at Castle Felirae says otherwise." says Kasumi.
Aiden squints at her and says with mock seriousness, "Touche."
As everyone readies for battle, Elincia talks to Nealuchi and Leanne.
"...The battle will begin soon." says Elincia. "I want both of you to promise me that you will fall back if in danger. Understood?
"Fall back, Your Majesty?" asks Nealuchi with a smile. "No one can hold a candle to the speed at which the raven tribe retreats."
Elinica laughs a bit and says, "That's a relief."
Outside where the rebel army has approached, a Crimean rebel says to Ludveck, "Reporting, sir! Fort Alpea's gate is sealed, and they are readying their defenses."
"I see..." says Ludveck. "Lady Lucia must have arranged some way to warn the queen. But alas, even if they were to have all the luck and energy in the world, the Royal Knights would not arrive for two days. In any case, there's no way we can lose, considering that we have a card that has yet to be put into the game."
Back inside Fort Alpea, a Crimean soldier and Lethe rush in while dragging in a servant.
The soldier says, "Y-Your Majesty, dire news! The rear gate is open, and the rebel army is storming in!"
"What?!" says Elincia with fear painting her face. "How could this happen?!"
"I think you'll understand once you question this man." says Lethe as she pulls the servant forward.
Elincia notices the man's clothes and face as she says, "You guard the inner garden, correct?"
"You scum! You helped the rebel army, didn't you?!" says the Crimean soldier.
"Yes. Yes, I did." says the servant. "I did it because it was the best thing for the future of this country. Those Daein murderers killed my entire family, and now the queen bows down and wags her tail at them! It's a disgrace!"
"Silence!" shouts the soldier. "You're the traitor here! Prepare to die."
"Wait!" says Elincia. "Killing this man will do nothing to help our situation. We have to halt Ludveck and his men. They're already inside!"
"I'm going out there, too." says Lethe
"Mordecai will fight for you, Queen Elincia." says Mordecai.
"You can count on me, Your Majesty." says Brom.
"Queen Elnicia, Crimea needs you more than anything, and I reckon you could use my help." says Nephenee.
"My homeland, being ruled by a snobby stiff like Ludveck? Please, I don't think so!" says Heather.
"I've had enough of these stupid rebels! It's time to raise some hell!" says Aiden.
"Thank you, everyone." says Elincia. "I am indeed the Queen of Crimea, and a queen does not hide. Our enemies are fellow citizens of Crimea. But we can no longer sit idle as they destroy the harmony of our nation."
After that, the queen's forces take to the battle, their forces ready to end this farce once and for all.
Ludveck sees this and smirks as he says, "Could our situation be any better? Just look at these fragile defenses... As fragile as the queen's reign!" He then sees Elincia has taken command and says, "...Oh? The queen's taken command? I expected her to abandon her people, turn tail and run for the hills. How preciously naive. We shall have to teach her that being overly optimistic can be fatal."
Soon, as Queen Elincia's forces are readying themselves, a voice calls out saying, "Queen Elincia! I made it!"
Marcia then appears on her pegasus.
"Marcia!" says Elincia.
"Thanks to General Geoffrey, we spotted am ambush on the main road and snuck by on the old highway instead!" says Marcia. "I flew ahead to tell you... and to serve up some traitor pie on my lance!"
Elincia replies, "...Thank you. I'm impressed you made it back so quickly."
"My pleasure, Your Majesty!" says Marcia. "Now, which monkeys do you want fileted before the Royal Knights get here?"
"Alright, the Royal Knights are going to be here early!" says Aiden. "We'll DEFINITELY win when they get here!"
"Queen Elincia! It's time to fight!" says Kasumi.
"Right!" says Elincia. "All units! We hold our ground and ward off their advance! Do whatever you can to keep them from seizing this fort! We have to hold out until the Royal Knights return!"
On the rebel side, Ludveck yells, "All rebel forces! Charge and break down their defenses! Leave none standing!"
The rebels begin to advance.
"Brom! Haar!" says Elincia. "You're some of our strongest! I need each of you to guard a side and hold off the rebels' advance! Brom, you take the right side! And Haar, you take the left!"
"Righto, Your Majesty!" says Brom before he charges forward.
"Time for action!" says Haar as he flies off.
"Lethe! Mordecai! Join Haar in slowing down that advance on the left side!" says Elincia.
"As you command." says Mordecai.
"On our way!" says Lethe.
"Calill!" says Elincia. "Do you have a ranged-tome on you?"
"I've got a Meteor, darling!" says Calill.
"Use that to slow them down!" says Elincia. "Marcia! Help Brom on the right side! But watch out for bows!"
"You got it, Your Majesty!" says Marcia. "Time to eradicate a few skunks!"
"Nephenee! Join Brom and Marcia!" says Elincia.
"Will do, Yer Majesty!" says Nephenee.
"Heather!" says Elincia. "See if you can't flank them!"
"Anything for you, Your Majesty!" says Heather.
"Aiden and Kasumi! You'll both be our trump cards! Try to hold off any approaching enemies that may try to use a shortcut!" says Elincia.
"Right." says Kasumi.
"I'm not use to being a defender, but I guess the Queen has a plan." says Aiden. "Let's go!"
Kasumi and Aiden go to do their task.
"Nealuchi and Leanne, bring up the rear." says Elincia. "You both need to be kept safe."
"You've got it, Your Majesty!" says Nealuchi.
As the fighting gets underway, Brom holds off the forces coming from the Elincia's right while Haar dispatches enemies on the left while being aided by the ferocious attacks of Lethe and Mordecai.
Marcia backs up Brom with her quick lance thrusts and swift movements on her pegasus, and Nephenee using quick and powerful blows.
For Kasumi and Aiden, they manage to catch a few lose stragglers here and there.
Aiden gets into a scuffle with a soldier, but quickly overcomes him with his powerful axe blows.
As for Kasumi, she gets into a fight with a warrior. The anicent princess' quick steps and loose footwork are too much for the warrior's powerful but clumsy swings. The way this guy fights tells Kasumi this guy is a novice. Seeing a wide enough opening as the warrior goes in for a powerful blow, Kasumi's does a dashing slash, cutting the warrior down as she appears on the other side of him.
While busy fighting, Aiden can't help but be mesmerized by Kasumi's fighting style, as each step, dodge and attack looks like an interperative dance in action. Not that Aiden's seen many intereperative dances. He's definitely baffled by how a girl with as big of a chest as hers can move in such a way. Makes him wonder if she's going to be having back pain later on.
A halberdier tries to sneak up on Aiden, but he quickly cuts the fool down thanks in part to his foolish battle cry.
Seeing a couple of charging swordmasters, Kasumi uses her katana to send a small tornado at them that sends them flying away into a wall.
"So how many more functions do you have with that sword and armor?" asks Aiden.
"Considering I'm still learning more, I couldn't really give an actual estimate." says Kasumi.
"Well, just keep up the good fight, runt." says Aiden as he charges back into battle.
"That guy is a piece of work." says Kasumi. "Well, he's got his charms, though I have yet to see them."
Another warrior charges at Kasumi, but she quickly makes her armor and body glow before stopping the axe swing with the back of her gauntlet.
"What the devil?!" shouts the warrior.
Before he gets a chance to counter attack, the warrior gets cut down from behind by Nephenee.
"Thanks, Nephenee." says Kasumi.
"Glad ta' help a friend!" says Nephenee.
"You think of me as a friend?" asks Kasumi.
"Ya' don't wanna' friend?" asks Nephenee.
"No, I'm just... surprised." says Kasumi. "It's nothing. We should get back to the fight."
Kasumi goes to cut down more enemies coming from Brom's side, and Nephenee says, "She's weirder 'an a horse wearin' a tutu."
As a thunder mage tries to attack her, Kasumi builds her spirit while holding two fingers of her free hand in front of her face and says, "Densetsu no kodai no seishin wa, watashi no teki o uchi makasu. Hōsha Hi no Ken!"
Kasumi throws a palm strike and shoots outward a giant fist of fiery energy that slams into the mage, knocking him away and out.
"How did she do that?!" shouts a swordmaster.
"She must be a spawn of the Dark God!" says a sniper.
"Lady Kasumi, were you speakin' in tongues a while ago before ya' did that there fancy light show?" asks Brom.
"Of course not." says Kasumi. "That's my nation's original language of Hazumonese."
"Hazumo-what?!" says Brom. "Nephenee, you ever heard o' that?"
"Why ya' askin' me?" asks Nephenee. "I thought it sounded more like a bad case o' foot fungus."
"I know many Tellians have never heard of Hazumo before, but you two need to do more traveling." says Kasumi.
"How intriguing." says Ludveck. "Seems she can use magic without the need of a tome. Either that, or that peculiar armor gives her such abilities. Once I defeat Elincia and take my place on the throne, I'm going to have to get to know her better."
"What do you want us to do, Lord Ludveck?" asks one of the rebels.
"While our main target is to seize Queen Elincia, I think I shall add one more to those I wish to have captured." says Ludveck. "Try to have a good few of our forces concentrate their attacks on that girl in the peculiar looking armor. I believe her name was Princess Kasumi of Hazumo. I get the feeling she's going to be quite the prize, as if her beauty wasn't enough."
"But I thought you had feelings for Lady Lucia." says the rebel.
"That won't be for much longer." says Ludveck. "Yes, I do think it high time I moved on."
Ludveck continues to watch Kasumi fight and says to himself, "You may fight valiantly for the useless queen right now. But I have a feeling your moral compass will break easily. And if not, I do have OTHER ways around such defenses. Yes, I think you will be worthy game."
To Be Continued in Chapter 7