As Rana helps Cattleya put the newly made swords into the basket, Elina and two of her mercenaries are seen spying from nearby, seemingly confused.
"So this is the family who has been supplying the Rebel Army. It's a shame since they have a kid, but the Queen's orders are absolute."
Elina attempts to move further towards the house, but sees Rana heading outide and immediately catching sight of her.
"You are…" Rana drops the weapons he was holding out of shock.
"I had received Intel about you and your family's support towards the Rebel Forces. Anybody who goes against the Queen is immediately considered an enemy no matter how minor the crime is so kiss your family goodbye."
Before Elina could attack, Cattleya and Owen immediately rushed to Rana while holding weapons.
"I don't care who you are, but if you dare hurt my son; you won't be getting out of here in one piece." Cattleya threatened.
"Strong threats coming from a weak warrior. I was hoping this wouldn't have to result to bloodshed, but it looks like I have no choice, does it?" Elina jumps, intending to attack them with her claws.
"Clang!" Suddenly Elina's claws have clashed onto a familiar sword. The next thing she sees is Nathan standing right in front of Rana and his family, protecting them. She turns to see that the mercenaries were knocked out cold, forcing Elina to act on her own.
"Onii-chan!" Rana screams with joy upon seeing Nathan.
"Nathan? No Way!" Elina jumps back and continues to stare at Nathan in shock.
"It's been a while since I saw all of you. This place looks even more disastrous than the one I just left."
"The Queen has been making quick work to make sure that all forms of disloyalty and resistance has been eradicated. She apparently knew about the gathering of the Rebel Army prior to this." Owen explained.
"I see." Nathan continues to stare at Elina, showing obvious concern as Leina on the opposite side.
"I was hoping that the next time I see you, you would become a better person; but looking at the way you are now, it doesn't seem like you have. How disappointing."
"The Queen is also my sister. Do you honestly think I will go against my only family?"
"You don't know if she is your only one. What about Leina? I know she is still alive somewhere."
Elina immediately interrupts. "Don't bring my sister into this! She has been missing for quite a while. How do you know that she is here?"
"If you look properly, you will know that she is a lot closer to us than you think. I can't believe that this is what you have become. You are not the Elina I once knew"
Hearing this angers Elina more than ever as she attacks Nathan without hesitation, only to be blocked again by his sword.
"Don't you realize what you threw away? You actually considered me as a family last time we met and now we are enemies fighting against each other." Nathan continues his attempt to persuade Elina.
"It was a mistake for me to consider you as a family when I found out about your allegiance towards the Rebel Army."
"Why is it a mistake to you? It is almost like you don't even remember me."
"Why do I want to remember my time with the enemy? This is the reason why the Rebel Army will lose, because people like you are too soft."
"Kindness is not a weakness Elina. You didn't become like this until your sister became the Queen. I know that something is corrupting her so I joined the Rebel Army to stop this corruption. I want to believe that there is a reason behind her strict rule."
"Only a weakling would say that. I don't think there is anything wrong with my sister. I just think that you don't want to be controlled."
Unable to convince her, Nathan retaliates against Elina by quickly moving one of her claws out of the way and striking her in the face with his fist, knocking her down. Nathan immediately restrains her with his own body to prevent her from moving. He then takes Elina's stuffed cat out of his bag and show it to her in front of her face.
"You kept this cat like a treasure when I got it for you. You told me you would keep this to remember us by and yet you threw it away as if it was garbage."
Elina takes sight of the stuffed animal and begins to remember all the times she spent with it ever since she got it. Whenever her sister is gone, she would always sleep next to it for comfort, but Claudette pointed out that keeping this toy is a sign of weakness and ordered her to throw it. She reluctantly did so and begins losing her former self as a result.
"I remember now." Noticing Elina's lack of struggle, Nathan let's go of her as she grabs the cat from him.
Elina takes one last look at Nathan and retreats without saying a word while still holding her stuffed cat. Her mercenaries have awakened only to see Elina retreating and they decide to do the same as they find themselves outmatched.
"Maybe I should have told her where her sister really is." Nathan whispers to himself.
"Onii-chan, are you okay?" Rana moves towards Nathan out of concern.
"I am fine Rana, but I am worried more about you and your family. With Claudette's forces appearing all over the place, your home will no longer be safe."
"We knew as soon as Elina showed up in front of us, but we don't know where to go." Cattleya pointed out."
"There is a town a few miles from here being occupied by the Rebel Army. It is also a place where refugees are taken to in order to get away from the war. You should be safer there, but I can guide all of you if preferred."
"Please do. Maybe I can see onee-chan again if I go with you."
"Please have patients Rana. We still have to take whatever we can before we can go." Owen went inside the house and immediately begins packing.
"You better hurry up. I promised the Rebel Army that I wouldn't take too long and it would be dangerous if more mercenaries were to come here at this moment."
"I understand. We better pick up the pace." Cattleya picks up Rana and immediately head inside the house to pack as well.
"I'll stay here to keep watch in case more members of the Queen's Army shows up." Nathan stood outside the door as he continues to stare at the hills while waiting.
As soon as they were done packing, Nathan leads the way back to the lake before taking them to safety. As soon as they reach the lake, everyone becomes surprised that Nathan has brought some followers, though not as much as Airi since his followers are Rana and his family.
"Onee-chan!" Rana immediately rushes to Airi and locks her in an embrace.
"It's good to see you again Rana." Airi does the same.
"Any reason why many of them are in swimsuits." Cattleya asked.
"Most of us just got through a minor battle with the orcs. They find themselves exhausted so we decided to settle here for the time being." Nathan explained.
"I see, but aren't you worried about leaving yourselves exposed in the open area?"
"Like I said before, we cleared some of the orcs here to preoccupy the town. With the Queen's Army retreating due to their presence, the Rebel Army plans to make this a refuge for civilians. Not only are we trying to gather more recruits, we are also trying to retake as many cities as possible from the Queen, that way our army can expand."
Airi approaches Nathan. "Hey Nathan, why did you go to Rana's house without telling me? I could have gone with you."
"There wasn't time for me to alert you. I felt that something was going to attack them so I rushed as fast as I could and I was right. One of the mercenaries planning to attack them happens to be Elina."
Hearing her sister's name got Leina's attention while still being disguised as Maria. "What happened to her?"
"Claudette corrupted her into becoming a ruthless assassin. She no longer shows the humanity she had when we last saw each other as she attempted to kill me as well. She also went as far as to say that it was a mistake for her to consider me to be family, because of the fact that I am part of the Rebel Army."
"You didn't injure her badly, did you?"
"I never wanted to fight her, but I needed to strike her down in order to calm her. I took out the cat I bought for her back in my world and I believe I saw Elina regaining back a little of her humanity. It is too soon to tell as she retreated immediately after getting her cat back. After she and her mercenaries retreated, I told them to follow me to safety, knowing that staying there would only increase their risk of capture."
"So what is the next plan of action?" Maria asked.
"First, we will take them to safety. The next thing is to make a direct assault against the castle. Not only is the Queen's Army a problem, but if we don't step up, the orcs are bound to attack us as well before we can even fight back. We don't have enough to fight against two armies so it is either now or never."
Alleyne becomes concerned. "Wait a minute! You guys attempted to ambush the castle before, but it ended in failure. What makes you think that a direct assault will do any better?"
"Last time we didn't have the right weapons, because I was afraid to use them. It looks like we have no other choice, but to resort to that if we are going to fight the Queen directly." Annelotte told the group.
"Are you talking about the guns used during the war against the Swamp Witch?" Nathan asked.
"Correct. Let's head back to the fortress and unload them."
Annelotte then turns to Rana and his family. "I know this is sudden, but with the situation we are in now, we are going to need as much firepower as possible. Do you mind making more for us?"
"If it helps stop the Queen's mercenaries then that is fine. Take us to the fortress." Cattleya immediately accepted.
After more of the Rebel Army arrives to occupy the town, the group prepares to leave the lake, but before they can, Nathan sees a familiar face falling from the sky.
"LOOK OUT!" Nanael screams as she crashes down into the lake, splashing only Yuit and Vante.
"Why is it only us?" Yuit complained.
"Nanael, what are you doing here?" Airi asked.
"I came to assist you in the war against the Queen. The Chief Angel was pretty mad that the Queen made the Queen's Blade tournament illegal so she sent Laila to join the Rebel Army under my guidance, but instead, she joined the Queen's Army and I am still pissed off about that."
"You are actually joining the Rebel Army just to get a little revenge? Don't you think that is a little too much?" Nathan protested at Nanael's motivation.
"I am also here under Chief Angel's order so don't complain. Besides you are going to need all the help you can get."
"No way am I complaining about that since you are the one who called me and Airi to get here. Come on, let's all head to the fortress."
With Nanael added to the Rebel Army, the group heads back to the fortress to alert Risty of their plan to attack the castle.
"Haven't you learn your listen from the last time we did that? If it wasn't for Nowa, more of the army sent would have been massacred." Risty did not greet the idea with enthusiasm.
"Annelotte revealed to me earlier about the weapons used in the war against the Swamp Witch. We can use it to take down the castle wall while Airi and Nanael can keep watch at the skies."
"Even if such plan could come to fruition, we are still recovering from the last assault. We don't have enough soldiers to fill us in."
"Actually we do." Nanael comes into the room after overhearing Nathan and Risty's conversation.
"I have been in contact with Menace just a while ago. Since the Swamp Witch's castle is still up for grabs; I told her that if we win the war, she could have it. She was very interested in the fortress the Rebel Army has acquired, but since all of you still need it, I switched the offer to something of equal value."
"And she accepted being part of the Rebel Army?" Risty asked.
"Correct, she said she is bringing some of her people from the Amara Kingdom she rebuilt as long as I can keep the promise."
Nathan turns back to Risty. "We can't afford to waste anymore time. It is up to you to decide whether we can attack or not or else we will be facing two different armies."
"Very well, I will take you to the weapons." Risty leads Nathan into a secret storage compartment, but when Risty opens the floor gate; the room is actually a giant underground cave filled with M1 Garands, M2 Brownings, and 6 inch 26 cwt howitzers along with numerous ammunitions stored along with it.
"Why couldn't you have used those for battle?" Nathan asked.
"I have manage to keep most of them out of Claudette's hands with the help of the Rebel Army, but we didn't have enough people to use all of them and it would be problematic if our soldiers get captured and be forced to reveal everything, including this room. If the situation is as dire as you describe it, what choice do we have, but to resort to such destructive weapons?"
"You are right to keep it in hiding, because this won't be enough to break through such strong castle walls efficiently."
Risty becomes confused. "What? If these don't work, what will?"
"We don't have time to gather more recruits from other cities, but we have enough models and metals here to create a new type of weapon."
Nathan takes out a blueprint from his bag. "I had this made during our last stay here. This weapon acts like a more efficient cannon compared to the ones we have now."
The blueprint shows the design of the WWII-era BL 5.5 inch Medium Gun. Risty becomes impressed with the weapon's capabilities.
"I will admit, it looks like it will be effective when fighting against the Queen's Army, but the shells are about 82 pounds and building one would take at least 10 people and possibly weeks to have the finished product."
"That time will be enough. We already have more than 150 blacksmiths working for us in most of the preoccupied towns. Neither the orcs or the Queen's Army will be able to attack us due to the weather pattern that is approaching."
"You are talking about that storm that is coming right? I heard that the strong winds and lightning would last for a couple of months."
"Indeed. Can you gather the blacksmiths to built the first one? I will have Menace and Setra distribute the design once they have arrived."
"Very well." Risty and Nathan take one of the howitzers outside and have the Rebel Army gathered for an announcement.
"All right, listen up. As all of you know, a storm is coming over the area; preventing us, the Orcs, and the Queen's Army from attacking each other for about a couple of months. I took Nathan to the weapons compartment and found out that these weapons will not be enough to break through the Queen's castle. A new design has been made so we need all blacksmiths gathered to built it using the cannons we have now as models and those who would be willing to stay behind to fire such a weapon. Any volunteers for this?"
Several immediately raise their hands, wanting to try out the weapons for themselves while the blacksmiths remain reluctant due to the complexity in the design.
"If we are going to win this war, this has to be made so we better get to work now."
With everyone getting started, Nathan hands the design to Cattleya first. She seems intrigued by the weapon, but still remains reluctant like the rest.
"Are we really going to make this?"
"It should be easier compared to last time since we have a model for it. We don't need to make as many for it, but it is a vital weapon for tearing down walls."
"Whatever Onii-chan needs, we will make it." Rana remains enthusiastic.
Once Nathan is done putting up the design, Airi approaches him. "Nathan, maybe I can gather my lesser spirits to distribute the designs if you like."
"Thanks Airi, but we don't have any copies. We need Setra to pass them because only he can show the designs to others just by looking at it."
"They better hurry before the storm hits."
"We are here." Menace and Setra arrives to the fortress with her men and Risty immediately instructs them to go through some training.
"Menace, Setra, I know that you both have just arrived here, but there is a storm coming and we need this design to be sent to our preoccupied area. Can you do it for us?" Nathan asked.
"I will have Setra get right on it." Setra did as he was told and immediately head out of the fortress.
The storm finally came, forcing all armies to remain indoors until conditions are safe.
Sorry it took me longer to make this, but school kept me busy. Maria happens to be Leina's alter ego in Queen's Blade Rebellion in case some don't know. I also receive comments on my other stories that told me to continue this one. I don't want to have any more comments unrelated to the story you are writing on. Any comments made have to relate to the story or I will be forced to delete them.