Mai causally saunters through the main Trogs battleship with a small smile on her face as she whistles a happy tune.
'I wonder what those two are doing?' The princess suddenly wonders right before she starts to skip down the corridor.
She then presses a rectangular white button, which causes the door to slide down only to reveal Jordan in a room with Natalie.
"Oh, am I interrupting the lovers?"
Golden eyes cast towards the young woman when he annoyingly remarks, "Actually, you were. It would be best if you leave, now!"
The Noursaian simply ignores the threat, ambles inside of the room, and admires the raven haired woman, "You really went all out for her, didn't you?!"
A throb of irritation surfaces on his forehead at the presence of the woman in the room only to overhear, "I'll assume that she's almost completely brainwashed."
"But, the mask is pretty freaking cool!"
'How did she figure that out?!'
"I mean...someone who with such a strong constituent wouldn't be so easily taken down, especially someone of Natalie's caliber." Mai merely discloses as she gently taps the golden mask in awe.
"Please leave us alone." The Avatar repeats one more time, except this time he places one of his hands on her shoulder.
She then directs an intense gaze toward him before she reminds him, "Don't forget who helped and negotiated for you to have a room on this ship."
'So this is her true personality, huh?'
"I'm kinda excited to see where and how far this brainwashing scheme will take you." The young woman honesty admits right before she departs from the pair.
'Actually, I can't wait till we give you the boot Avatar.' The princess mentally envisions with a wider smirk on her face as she proceeds to the bridge.
The golden figure waited until the door slid back close before he proceeded to finish up with what he originally started with the captain.
"Now, where were we?" The young man says to no one in particular once his sights return back to a silent Natalie.
The intergalactic dignitary then lifts one of his hands to the edge of the mask, attempts to remove it from her face, and much to his surprise it did not shift.
'What the world?!' Jordan mentally ruminates as he tries to remove the mask once again and just like the first time it did not budge at all.
"I mean someone who with such a strong constituent wouldn't be so easily taken down, especially someone of Natalie's caliber." Mai merely discloses as she gently taps the golden mask in awe.
'What did she mean by that?'
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"Is everyone here, Namikaze?!" Rick promptly inquires from his brunette comrade.
He then quickly adjusts the strap of his shoulder pad while he briskly walks pass his close friend.
"As per request, every single military officer is present and accounted for." The knight discloses as he trails behind his superior officer.
The raven haired male simply replies with a "Good" right before he bursts inside of the main conference area.
Minato and the other soldiers instantly snap to attention at the sight of Rick and Namikaze, who enters inside of the room.
His sights swiftly scan the faces of those who serve under him before he deliberately releases a sigh in order to curb his anger.
"As you all may already know, there was a brief invasion on the Royal Family grounds during the Dance of the Flowers."
"Trogs managed to destroy a good portion of the castle as well as slay some of our citizens as well as important delegates."
"Also, they managed to kidnap one of our own…the Captain of the 245th Battalion, Natalie Andros." Namikaze discloses while he reads the information off the clipboard in his hand.
At the mention of her last name, whispers soon spread throughout the room before Rick clears his throat to cease any additional interruptions.
A picture of Natalie then appeared on the screen, which caused a wave of sadness to hit his body.
'How come I didn't see it coming?!'
"According to Captain Andros file, the individual known as Princess Mai is a highly apt officer within the Trogs ranks."
"Apparently, her specialty lies in Covert Affairs. She would often time change faces to match her assumed identity."
"One thing for certain is, her completion rate is close to 100% whenever it comes to her mission." The orange haired male includes before a picture of Mai appears next to Natalie.
"The last individual is none other than the Avatar himself."
"He was initially a human being from the planet Earth that was chosen to assume the role as the next Avatar after Team Earth won the Oban races."
"Queen Eva, is there anything that I missed?" Namikaze enquiringly poses after he faces both the King and Queen of Noursaia.
Eva, as well as her husband, was still clad in their formal attire when she stands to her feet in order to address the crowd.
"I've known Jordan for a really long time and to be completely honest, I'm not surprised that he would do this, especially towards me."
"I know better than anyone just how obsessively attached to someone he can become. He would do any and everything in his power to obtain it!"
"I didn't even think he was capable of such an evil malicious nature."
"I even openly invited him in to our home so I take full responsibility for what all has transpired."
"And for that naivety of mine, I most apologize." She honestly apologizes before she bows at the waist, which Aikka mimics as well.
"I must accept that burden as well." Rick adds in as he executes a bow at the waist as well.
Namikaze observes the expression of shock that was present on their faces at the sight of their King, Queen, and their leader bow toward them.
"Back to business, we need to locate the Trogs battleship and secure Captain Natalie." He returns the focus back to the situation at hand.
"Excuse me sir," Another random solider appears from the side of the room to announce, "We're getting a transmission from an unknown source."
"Patch it through!" The older knight swiftly orders as the officer sets up the connection and broadcasts it on the screen.
The screen statically displays the bridge of what they presume was the main Trogs battleship since they notice a couple of familiar faces.
Princess Mai stands dutifully off to the side of the Commander's seat while Jordan and Natalie was off to the right of Mai.
Minato tightly clutches his fists from anger after he instantly spots the Avatar out of the bunch.
The Commander's seat then rotates around to reveal a Trog with a slash across one of his eyes.
"Kross! What's the meaning of this?!" Aikka angrily shouts his question once he registers the face with the name.
"Ah, it's so good to see you again Aikka or should I say King Aikka." The Trog, name Kross, jokingly retorts as he focuses his sole sight in on him.
"Cut the pleasantries, Kross! What do you want with Natalie?!" Rick rudely interjects after he watches the Trog play coy with the king.
"Oh you mean," He utters before he calls forth the woman with a golden diamond plate mask over her face, "Your beautiful daughter?"
"I don't know…maybe make her my concubine…or bear my heirs or even marry her." The Trog slyly suggests as he slowly runs his fingers through her dark tresses.
His action earns a simultaneously irate reaction from Rick, Minato and Jordan, "Don't you dare touch her with your filthy hands!"
Kross releases a deep and hearty chuckle from the spectacle in front and behind him. "Since you all put me in such a good mood, I have a proposition for you."
"Since I heard from Mai that your daughter is such a strong warrior, how about we have a duel between your daughter and…that guy?" He proposed before he pointed at Minato since he leapt on the stage and angrily yelled at him.
The blonde grinds the back of his teeth in order to calm his anger down and declares, "Place and time?!"
"I will send all of the information by Mai."
"There shall be no harm to come to her or the deal is off." Kross mentions while he nods his head in the direction of the princess.
"Only if you allow us to add a proposition on our side…" Rick suddenly proposes as he narrows his sight on the Trogs leader.
Kross signals for him to continue on, which prompts him to add, "If we win, you will no longer invade Noursaia."
"Are you sure that's all you want?" He purposely challenges him, which earns another laugh from the Trog.
"…and here I thought you would've wanted your daughter but no you only care about your country! You really have an interesting subordinate, Aikka."
"Very well then, I agree to those terms." He ultimately agrees to the deal before he ceases the transmission on his end.
"Rick, what the hell do you think you are doing?!" The young knight angrily grumbles after he roughly grabs his superior by his collar.
"Minato, put him down!" His master orders after he realizes what was going on between the two.
The young man tightly clutches his collar before he angrily spiels, "How could you put the country's need over your own daughter?!"
"Minato!" His master calls his name one more time before he approaches the pair until Minato rudely interrupts, "No, I want to hear from your mouth! Why?"
Rick simply executes a move so that he presses a pressure point in his wrist, which forces him to remove his hands from around his neck.
"You will do well to watch your tone and remember your position, young man." The raven haired male sternly admonishes the young man.
"We will be on orders until the arrival of Princess Mai. Everyone, you're dismissed." He orders the crowd.
"You really are an idiot, you know that?" Namikaze declares after he roughly hits his student against the back of his head.
"Master..." Minato painfully uttered as he rubbed the spot where the contact was made against his head.
"You really think that Rick doesn't hate the fact he had to make a deal with the likes of Kross?"
"He couldn't risk the lives of thousands for one mere person, even if that person is his own daughter." He firmly declares while he folds his arms across his chest.
"That's the price one must pay if you are in his position." His master reminds him before he diverts his attention to the king. "King Aikka, do you think you can summon Master Canaan to the castle?"
"We will need his expertise and for him to tutor Minato again."
Aikka slightly pauses to ponder over the answer before he agrees, "Yes, yes I can."
The orange haired knight travels back over to his pupil before he demands, "Straighten up Minato. You're about to save the entire country."
"…and if you prove to be as strong as I think you are or better yet can be…then and only then will you be able to rescue Natalie."
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"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" Jordan furiously snaps at the Commander of the Trogs, once he was able to secure Natalie at his side.
Kross merely releases a sigh, rotates his chair around, hones his sight in on him and claims, "Do remember your place as you are a guest on my ship."
"You have no privy to any type of freedom of that matter."
"Besides," He speaks before he opens his eyes to stare at Natalie, "you can't have all the fun now, can you?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Princess Mai hastily interrupts the two while she raises her hand in the direction of Jordan.
"Commander Kross, please do remember that we have our mission at hand." She reminds her superior officer before she then faces Jordan, "Don't forget what I told you earlier."
"You are merely a guest and if it wasn't for your title you would probably already be dead."
"You would do best to return to your quarters until Commander Kross summons Natalie." Mai sternly advises him as she waits until the pair departs from the bridge.
the spyA smirk stretches across the head Trogs' lips before she remarks, "You've gotten better with your diplomatic skills, I see."
"It was only because Aikka had some very interesting subordinates."
"The desire to protect people of a foreign land heavily outweighs your own family bonds." He honestly admits while he chuckles once again at their side of the deal.
"You know, there's one other thing that's bothering me…" The princess suddenly speaks up after she folds her arms underneath her chest.
"Oh…do I detect a sense of jealousy?" The Trog playfully teases her while he tilts his hand in to the palm of his hand.
"You just told the Superior Officer of their military that you would make his daughter either your: concubine, bear heirs or even your wife." Mai furiously jaws about the content of his conversation with Rick Andros.
Kross stealthily reaches out until one of his hands, hooks her belt loop that holds her uniform together before he drags her closer to him.
"I knew you were jealous." He softly whispers as she constantly attempts to walk away from him. However, his hold on her remains firm.
The commander then secures her jaw within his right hand, rotates her head in his direction, stares at her, and declares, "Mai,"
The stubborn young lady finally faces him with a stoic expression on her face before she swipes his hand away from her face.
Mai swiftly reaches for his ear and roughly tugs at it, which forces him to let her go.
"That'll teach you a lesson!" Mai firmly proclaims along with a "huff" as she proceeds to briskly storm off toward her room.
'Looks like I made her mad…'
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Much to his surprise, Rick easily found his way back to his room within the castle that he swore to protect with his life.
"What have I done?!" He irately questions himself after he roughly slams the door to his bedroom close after he opens it.
"I put my duty as an officer first before my only daughter." The raven haired man recalls the pivotal moment in his decision.
"If we win, you will no longer invade Noursaia."
"And here I thought you would've wanted your daughter but no you only care about your country! You really have an interesting subordinate, Aikka."
The older man tiredly plops down on the edge of his bed before he rests his head against the palms of his hands.
'Minato is right! I should've fought to include Natalie in the deal!'
Rick shakes his head left then right, stands to his feet, and drags himself inside of his bathroom in order to splash some water on his face.
"You should've fought for her Rick!" His inner voice breaks the silence while he scrubs the water against his face.
"I did but…"
"You know very well that soldiers don't make excuses. What was your reason?" His inner voice grills once he peers back up at his reaction.
"I have the feeling that Minato will be able to make a breakthrough." Rick honestly admits before he continues, "I just didn't want him to get the big head because Kross pointed him out as her challenger."
"I know he has what it takes as a warrior and he even might assume my role once or whenever I retire."
"You really do have a weird way of showing your affections." His inner voice jaws, which prompts him to smirk at him.
"You are a part of me so you should know better than anyone else how I think."
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Author's Note:
12.13.16 Major editing revision
04.07.17 Minor editing revision