Saito knew he was risking more than his life with this mission, he was risking his marriage with Henrietta and Marie's future with his if either things went south or if his wife took things the wrong way. As he flew over his country's airspace in his plane, Derflinger was giving the young king directions on where to go; things were going smoothly for them, no resistance in the air, perfect weather, Saito could ask for nothing better right now.
"Say Derf, how long before we reach this place?"
"Given that we are getting a stronger-"
"Save the explanation on how you are telling how close we are please, just tell me." Saito said not wanting his head to explode with an information overload.
"About ten minutes to the north."
Derflinger answered his question as Saito was satisfied with it. In the back of the Gandalfr's mind were a number of things, most notably how he was going to actually get to Louise without cause an alarm to go off. All options he came with ended with him either getting shot out of the air, fighting an army of Dragon Knights or having to walk about five kilometers on foot. His answer came not from his mind or Derflinger, instead…
"Hello dog."
A familiar voice went through the speaker of the plane as Saito shot his eyes to a panel to his left. On the panel was none other than the last person he expected to be able to pick up the channel, his former master Louise.
"You seemed shocked that I am speaking to you." Louise said on the panel as Saito regained himself.
"I am, mind telling how you are able to get onto this channel that is years ahead of this world's technology?"
"Simple, I went to your world idiot."
What Louise just said caused Saito to go pale. How Louise was able to not only enter his world but understand the inventions of it boggled him. The only explanation is that she somehow appeared in France and got someone to help me out but even that is extreme unlikely.
"You must be lying, how were you able to understand the language?"
"Because they spoke mine, we can speak about this when you arrive. Also, you may land on the castle where I am staying."
Louise closed the connection between the two as Saito's answer was basically told to him. A new fear hit the boy of 'If she was able to understand the language of the French, she would have access to the tools, and more specifically the weapons of the world, that let the world progress.' Now more than ever did Saito need to talk to Louise about what was going on and to get her to say yes to his plan.
Saito soon saw the castle Louise spoke of and identified a landing spot where he could place his ride. He circled around the place and saw two men standing where he would be landing. Trust was not something Saito had as he slowly began to maneuver his plane to land. After stopping his plane, He slid the glass panel open and grabbed Derflinger from the back before jumping out. The atmosphere with the three men was so think that you could cut it with a knife.
Saito slowly took one step and another, not letting his eyes off either man with each step. Passing the two men, Saito began to walk normally but was ready for anything. The hallway was just a simple stone one that you would fine in any castle. Ahead of the King stood about five heavily armored guards with what Saito confirmed were muskets.
"She is expecting you King Saito." The head guard said greeting the leader of the country they were in which puzzled the man. Said man opened the door as Saito walked in and closed it himself.
Inside of the room was a stone fireplace with two lavish chairs facing it. A table sat in the center with maps ranging from the entire continent to specific locations of the countries. Pictures of what Saito saw contained the current leaders of the world and in most of them were an X over the leader, the only two that weren't were the ones with Saito along with Henrietta and Vittorio. Over at the two chairs, a cup was placed from the left chair.
"Sit with me." Saito knew it was Louise's voice and as if a rewind of history, he obeyed the girl and sat in the other chair. "It has been a very long time mutt."
"It hasn't even been a few days since you attacked my home." His comment made Louise smile.
"I am glad you at least can remember things." Her insults, although were to be expected from the tsundere, were missing a certain drive that made them really have impact. Saito questioned this but did not say anything. "We have much to discuss, 'King' Saito."
"Considering that the guards at the door I entered had equipment that is ahead of this world, we do indeed." Saito saw that there was a cup on the same table as Louise's which he assumed she levitated.
"Then you noticed."
"Obviously, I would like to know how you entered my world and understood the stuff there."
"Simple, I created a portal to enter it; I could create another one if I wanted to right now. As for understanding, I already told you it was the same language as here."
"You are being quite respectful considering we are enemies right now, what do you expect to gain from this little meeting?" Saito took a sip from his cup and looked the girl in the eyes.
"You have grown, much like me Saito." This beginning slightly made Saito suspicious. "We both know the Pope is planning to exterminate the populace that is following me." Again, Saito was suspicious but he was missing some key word in her sentence to tell what she was thinking. "We both also know he has been holding out on you when it comes to his actually army."
"And you know all of this how?"
"I have spies in many places, one of the many things that need to be done as a rebel leader. Even some of your men are spies under my command."
"Sometime is not right here, she openly told probably her greatest enemy that there are holes in my country." "I see, that would explain how you were able attack my home without raising an alarm until the very last second." Saito said as Louise nodded. "You have to be telling me this for a reason."
"I was wondering when you would notice."
"I noticed when we began talking. What do you want from me?"
To Louise, Saito has grown very much over the past ten years since their little 'argument', not so much physically but mentally he has become far more stronger. To Saito, Louise was hiding something and they both knew it, the only question is if she was going to present it or not. Something else to note is that she indeed has grown physically but to him, it mattered little.
"Fine." Louise began as Saito listened. "What I want is for us to join together against Romalia, more specifically Vittorio."
"Finally, we are getting somewhere." Saito finished his tea and placed it on the table. "Out of everyone you could have chosen, you choose your former home to assist in this matter."
"And you think you can handle this alone idiot, we both know that neither of us can deal with Romalia alone. I have under my command three fully equipped armies ready to attack any nation I choose. Only you and Romalia are not under constant assault from my forces."
"So you choose the one that is least likely to chop off your head at first glance. Then answer this." Saito began but a shiver went down his spine.
"Yes?"
"Sorry, is it because of the remained of your family?"
"Partly so, but I know despite not trusting nobles, you would not harm them without they do something to bring upon your wrath." Lousie said as a chill went down her spine.
"You feel it too huh?" Saito said, getting up from the chair, putting Derflinger in his back and with his right hand, grabbed the handle and slowly pulled the blade out of the scabbard. He let the blade rest in his right hand on the side as Louise slowly rose from her own chair and stretched while grabbing her black wand.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Louise said walking up next to Saito.
"Then it's decided."
Saito said as the sound of muskets going off filled the air and smoke came from below the door the two were facing. Twenty seconds would pass from the sound of sword meeting steel and flesh echoed through the air. Saito began to wonder who was attack the place, his answer would come from a flying door. Saito stood there as the door sailed at him and in a blink of the eye, the door was sliced in half and went in opposite directions without it looking like Saito moved.
Louise gave a chuckle seeing this as a fireball sailed through the doorway and again, Saito sliced through it like butter. Thirty men piled into the room with swords and a few staffs. Saito and Louise knew that indeed these men were some of the elite guard of the Pope, easily identified by the yellow cross on their shoulders.
"Well, well, well, it seems that you were right Louise, The Great and Powerful Pope was holding out on me, you guys shouldn't exist right now with the terms of our treaty." Saito said knowing full well that these men wanted them dead.
"Too bad you won't be able to tell anyone about it." One man said with a devilish grin. Saito pointed to Louise as the man looked like an idiot in front of his men. "Kill-" Said man was stopped by an explosion in the center of the group of men by the witch herself.
"Well, that was interesting; you definitely have improved in your magical abilities Louise."
"And yet I still can't use any of the other four elements. Let me walk you to you plane." Louise said as the two left the charade bodies in the room they drank tea together, not before Saito took a piece of the armor of the soldiers who attacked him for proof. "So, what is next for you Saito?"
"Simple, I go for the head of the serpent. I have five days before he will attack the rebels so I have one day to prepare before I head out for their capital. Now… the only question I have is if he came here for you or me." Saito said as they arrived at his plane. "You know, the original plan was for you to come with me but I have a feeling that won't work out."
"I need to stay here and prepare for war myself. I will arrive at the castle on the fourth day to discuss our plan if you fail."
Oh believe me Lousie, if I fail, I am going to go out in a bang over in that place." Saito said as he jumped into the cockpit of the plane and began to prepare for takeoff. "You know, despite everything that has happened in the past, it was good to see you again on terms where we aren't at each other's throats."
"Same." Louise said as Saito began to move and was finally in the air. "The beginning of the end has begun; the only question is who will emerge from it as the victor."
Meanwhile…
"Now tell me Imrahil, who is Saito going to get?"
Henrietta said as the Captain was basically a deer in headlights. He knew he was basically screwed as the Queen herself came to his bedroom with every single guard in her disposal and surrounded his bed. All the man had in his defense was the sheets he had over his clothes and body.
"Uhh… a friend." Imrahil said as the Queen was not amused with the joke. "Fine, but only if you promise not to harm either him or myself."
"Fine, who is it?"
With a gulp, he answered. "Louise."
What Imrahil saw next was Henrietta's eyes almost shot out of her head, whether out of rage, shock, or some other form of emotion the female gender could conjure up. Imrahil felt like he betrayed his King but he soon found he was currently in more trouble right now than he would wish.
"When is he coming back?" Her voice was so cold it sent shivers down the spines of every person in the room. You could literally see a purple aura imamate around the Queen herself. The night itself was the worst night of his life and he chooses to never hold a secret from the Queen again.
Author's Notes – Well, writers block is a bitch I tell ya. That is the only reason why I have not posted any chapters on ZnT for the past while. Also came the problem of how these two were going to meet.