Author's note: I don't own Dragon Quest IV. This is not going to be the typical DQ 4 story as Tessie did not change her shop from selling weapons and armor to a coin shop. No, it will not be metal king armor for all, but she does want her husband back badly. So she will help them with stuff she's put off to the side.
Battle For Glory
Chapter 1: A Plea For Help
They approached a man fishing at the back of the small ensconced village. Richard bowed deeply at the waist. "Cedric, I have a young woman who fled here after seeing a bunch of monsters gather at the southern edge of the mountains."
The man was balding, but had a crown of greying dark hair. He was tall, coming up at least a head taller than her petite five foot two height. He wore an olive green robe with a tan cloak over his arms. Frowning, he took in her form. "Where are you from young lady?"
She shook her head. "My name is Airlia… I have no home… and on my travels I got lost and ended up in the mountains. Coming around to the other side, being this valley, I saw the monsters in the hills and ran into the forest to try and hide. I stumbled onto this village, and thought you all should know about them…"
He nodded, "She seems harmless enough Richard, but are we sure she isn't one of them?"
Airlia frowned. "Please… I'm… I'm a seer." It was grasping for straws at best, but maybe they were people who would accept that. At least I know the canon plot by heart… it might just be enough…
Cedric stepped back. "What do you mean seer?"
She expanded on it, "I know the hero lives in the area, but I've told no one – nor do they know where I am heading. I saw the monsters, so I wanted to advise you and your people so that we can try to save everyone instead of what happens in my horrible vision… However, there are certain details I'm not allowed to see. The Goddess shields my view from the gender and the names of people, but I can see the ones they are meant to join up with. A dancer and another seer in Endor… A merchant down in Porthrunnel… A princess and her wizard and priest in Mintos and a soldier in Palais de Léon. Together they are to solve the friction between monsterkind and humans. Not to destroy, but to end the cause of the threat between them."
The man gave her a small smile. "Wow, so then my son has a great destiny before him. I believe you young woman. Come, Richard start sending everyone to the basement – we'll be right behind you after I gather my wife and child."
Cedric nodded and started gathering the townsfolk. He led her to the house that she had always seen so many times. It was a simple one story wooden cottage. Airlia gaped in wonder as she walked through the doorway and felt her breath catch when she saw the hero. A name floated to her mind… Alistair…
Cedric smiled, "Airlia, this is my wife Sandra." He indicated a silvery haired older woman dressed in a brown robe with a blue cloak. He then turned to the young man eating his meal at the table. "This is Alistair, my son. Everyone, this is Airlia."
The hero was as amazing as she always pictured him to be. He was stocky wearing a white tunic and pants, tucked into brown leather boots and a copper sword strapped to his back. His thick green hair and blue eyes were beautiful, while his chest was protected by only a green overtunic. Next to him was his shield, well worn already – proving he had just been training with Richard moments ago.
Airlia bowed respectfully to both people. "It is lovely to meet you both… Sandra and Alistair."
Cedric cut the matter short, "It's time Sandra. We're all going to the basement before they come to try and attack us. Hurry."
She immediately dumped water on the fire as Alistair gave a look of confusion, "What? What do you mean by it's time father?"
Cedirc said nothing, grabbing the food from the table as the four fled the house, heading towards the river, and across the small bridge to the storeroom. Fleeing inside into the basement, the chief of the village hit a few stones in time and a doorway opened to a large room. "Inside everyone, quickly."
Once inside, the door shut, seemingly invisible as they awaited the monsters… However, they didn't have to wait long as a roar cut through the silence. Airlia quivered in her leather flats as Alistair held her to him, hoping to give her the strength to remain quiet as they awaited the end of the destruction of their sleepy little village.
Homes were smashed as Richard frowned, but said nothing. After a while, they heard one monster call out, "Lord Psaro! The hero is not here! We must continue our searches! There is bound to be another village we haven't found!"
They heard shrieks and stomps slowly fade as they made their way out of the hidden room and up to the ground level. Looking around, it was apparent that a monstrous horde had come stomping through and trashed everything, going so far as to burn the river, leaving poisonous puddles in its wake. They moved around slowly as Cedric looked at his poor village with tears in his eyes. "They were after Alistair then…"
Airlia nodded, "Yes, now we must go to Endor, it's to the south and west to gain allies. I, unfortunately, am not well versed in fighting or in magic. No one cared enough to teach me…"
The small village began to trek to the south, coming past a woodsman cottage. The trip took a whole day, with the two guards taking shifts through the night to keep watch as Airlia fell asleep quickly near Eliza and Alistair. However, once morning came, everyone continued to trek until they came to a long tunnel. Airlia smiled in excitement as they walked through the tunnel until confetti dropped down and a guard tapped her on the shoulder.
"Congratulations miss! You are the thousandth person to come through this tunnel. As a prize, you have six hundred casino tokens waiting for you at the Endor Casino. Merely tell them that Scott sent you and they will give you your tokens." He said as she blinked.
"Really? Wow…" She looked at Alistair with a small smile. She could help him perhaps if she was as lucky with the monster battle as she had been in her reality. The villagers left the tunnel and eventually came to the giant castle town of Endor.
Airlia gaped in amazement as she wandered down the brick street. "Wow, this place… it's so huge!"
Alistair had a look of wonder while Eliza quickly covered her elfish ears with her hair while Cedric came over to Airlia. "You've never been here before?" She merely shook her head as she walked towards the castle.
"We have to seek shelter for you all while Alistair and I find the additional allies that are here, waiting for him." Airlia said as she, along with the village chief and Alistair went forward into the castle.
The fake seer knew the ceremony was going on, or even preparation for the ceremony – but she had to try for the chief's sake. Going up the main stairs that were at the center of the castle, they found the throne room empty save for that of the minister who smiled at the group. "Welcome to the Castle town of Endor. Unfortunately our King Reginald is presiding over his daughter Princess Veronica's wedding with Prince Regan of Ballymoral to our north."
Airlia nodded understandingly. "I understand, but I seek shelter for a small village that was attacked by monsters. Please."
The minister thought about it. "We have an empty house that was just built. We'd be happy to help if you might consider helping us with a tiny matter."
Alistair agreed readily. "What is it?"
Smiling, he explained. "We gave permission to a merchant to start up a shop. According to his wife, Tessie, came to us pleading to send men out to find her husband. She stopped receiving word on his location about a month ago after going past the last chance saloon. We are unable to send men out at this time because of the growing monster population here. Would you be willing to look for him?"
The green haired man turned to Airlia for some sort of sign. Could he promise something that he might not be able to follow through on. The brunette responded for them both. "We would be happy to find him. I know he'll turn up on our journey… I just wanted to make sure the kind villagers were taken care of while we move about."
The minister smiled in relief. "Thank you. You can seek details from Tessie at the shop near the western edge of town, across from the church. Thank you. My head guard will see to their care."
The three left after the head guard joined them. Returning to the gathering group at the entrance of the castle, Cedric explained to everyone as Eliza turned to Alistair. "Please come back, you're like my brother to me! Please!"
He gave her a lopsided grin, "Of course Eliza. I promise."
The duo went to the shop where a young seer was reading the fortune of a nearby soldier. Going inside the shop they found a woman with long red hair standing there in a leather dress. "Welcome to my shop! I deal in weapons and armor. How may I help you?"
Airlia smiled, "We are going to travel east and the minister told us of your missing husband. We came to find out what we could to help you."
The woman smiled tearfully. "Oh thank ye kind lass. He's been missing for a month or more! Any help is welcomed! Come behind the counter and take a look at my gear and whatever can help ye, please take it with my thanks."
They went behind to find all sorts of equipment. The woman pointed to the cautery sword and a falcon sword. "I've made enough to be able to keep some of the better gear I come across hidden from sight for the ones who would help me to find my husband. Consider it a loan until you bring him back to me. Then it's yours in payment in lieu of gold."
Alistair picked out a suit of dragon mail along with a falcon sword, a dragon shield and an iron helmet. Tessie nodded. "I kept those originally for my husband incase he came about. But, there's been no word…"
The seer that Airlia had seen before chose then to walk in. She was dressed in an orange wrap that went over her left arm, covering part of her yellow skirt. "Excuse me. I heard you were going to look for the merchant, correct? May I tell you your fortune so that maybe it would help you to find him?"
Alistair nodded as he extended his hand. "Yes, that might help. Airlia's a seer, but she can't always see everything. Maybe you can tell me something she can't."
The seer's brown eyes shined in understanding as she turned to the girl. She didn't look like a seer, but sometimes it was better to keep the gift hidden as she pushed away her purple hair from her tanned face. Examining the hand, she gasped. "I see seven – no not seven – now eight bright lights surrounding you, my goodness! You're the hero I have been searching for with my sister. My name's Meena. I'll come along and help you!"
Airlia grinned, "I'm honored to meet you Meena. Word of your talent reached even me where I was. My name's Airlia."
Tessie's face brightened. "Bring your sister here and you both may check through for gear while I give this lass some new clothing."
Meena nodded, "I'll be right back then."
She ducked out to go find her sister while Tess held up a gown for Airlia. "This is a rare spangled dress from the casino. Why not take it upstairs and get changed? My son is outside playing right now."
Airlia went upstairs and slipped out of her leather dress and put the spangled dress on. The dress was dark as night and glittered like diamonds with slits up either side up to the knee for maneuverability. The feathers along the neck she thought would bother her, except it didn't. Dressed, she put her bag back around her waist and went downstairs. She was ever aware of Alistair's eyes on her, as she took in his armor made from green dragon scale and smiled brightly.
Moments later, Meena returned with a dancer with the same purple hair and brown eyes with tanned skin. However, she was clearly a dancer with her bikini top and dancing skirt. On her hip was a dagger while Meena now had a long spear strapped to her back.
Tessie frowned, "I don't have enough of those dresses for the other two, but I have plenty of tokens at the casino. I set up my own account when some couldn't afford to pay me in cash, so they would give me tokens for the casino. There should be enough for you both. Please, bring my husband back to me alive."
Alistair nodded, "We will. Let's go get you some new clothing Meena, Maya. Then we go east to try and find Taloon. I can only hope you two know how to fight as we have to teach our friend, AIrlia, how to."