Scene (V)II
"And you are certain that everything is ready?" Mattias asked his guard.
"Of course, my lord, everything is complete." The guard said. "The ballroom is decorated and complete with snacks, and the guards are stationed at every doorway and window."
"Excellent." Mattias said. "Oh, and I want an extra set of guards trailing Queen Anna when she arrives."
"Yes sir!" The guard said, bowing.
Mattias stood in the middle of his sandstone ballroom, which was shined and decorated to near perfection. Yet he still felt as nervous as the day he had ascended the throne.
If what Emmy had told him was true, then he was willingly inviting a potential mass murderer into his home.
The only bright side was that Emmy was going to be here.
Mattias blushed bright red. He remembered her soft eyes and her long indigo hair as she danced in the pure joy of knowing that there was hope for her kingdom.
He was ashamed to even think of asking for a condition for that.
But he would pay for it by helping her gain her kingdom's freedom. And perhaps later, when it was all over, he would make her his queen.
The doors cracked open, startling Mattias from his thoughts. The nobility from his court, his most cherished knights, and quite a few ladies of marriageable age poured in.
"Okay, you are set." Rosie said, looking Billy over for the final time before they entered the ballroom. "Everything looks good."
She blushed as she said it. Billy was dressed in emerald green knight's armor, a helmet concealing his face from sight. She had to admit, he looked quite lovely.
"Excellent." Billy said, his voice muffled by the helmet. Tron stifled a giggle.
Rosie shot him a glare, and he sighed. 'Watch it brother.' She mentally warned. 'He is risking a lot by coming here, and I shall not have you belittling his bravery.'
Tron snorted.
"Now, come on!" She called, and Tron pushed open the doors.
Mattias grinned as he saw Rosie and Tron walking into the room. They were dressed splendidly, and accompanied by a strong, fierce looking knight.
He slowly made his way through the crowds to meet them. "Ah, Tron. Rosalinda. It is good to see you." He said, giving a polite bow.
Rosalinda curtsied. Tron nodded. "It is our pleasure, Mattias." She whispered. "We are honored to be here."
Mattias narrowed his eyes at them. He wondered if Billy had had the chance to talk to them about the rebellion yet. "I see. And you are willing to aid Queen Anna in her quest for vengeance?"
The knight stepped forward, bowing. "More than willing to do whatever it takes, sir."
Mattias grinned. The voice was muffled, but unmistakable.
"And who is your knight?" Mattias carefully asked. "I have not seen him before."
Tron rolled his eyes. "A recent acquaintance, Mattias. His name is Takashi."
Mattias nodded. "Well, enjoy the party. Oh, and in the future, don't choose Billy's grandfather's name for a fake name. It's too obvious."
Rosie looked shocked. Tron grinned. "Duly noted."
Mattias walked away, smirking. One down, one to go.
Ronan glared at the wall in the carriage.
The one time, the one time, he was willing to go to one of these frilly balls, and he was stuck with a bunch of harrowing disasters that threatened his dignity and his life.
The first insult had been the sandstorm that had sent his men scampering for shelter. He himself had been forced to hide with his top three men in the only tent around: the one Cordelia was getting ready in.
The only part of that he was willing to acknowledge was that he now had a limp.
The second insult was that her shoes were too small. Now, he refused to give her anything else on the grounds that his attendants needed their shoes just as badly as she did.
So, she stole his fine leather boots.
The third and final insult was that she refused to have her hair died a different color. He had yelled at her for twenty ticks on the sundial, but she had violently protested.
So, after several sword fights, two of his soldiers getting black eyes, and a near fatal rolling pin attack (a crazy desert wanderer who thought Cordelia was a flower), everyone had settled for her wearing a pretty lavender bandanna.
Now, they were riding along in his nondescript black carriage, and he was glaring a hole in the wall.
And from the sizzling sound to his right, Cordelia was doing the same.
Although, he had to admit, she did look good in the lavender bandanna and the soft blue peasant gown. And the leather boots did look nice on her-
Wait, whaaaat?
Ronan never fell in love. It was the joke of his kingdom that the day he found a love would be the day the world ended. At twenty years old, he had never loved anyone, and had no intention of breaking that streak.
But as the carriage rolled to a halt in front of the sandstone palace, as he helped Cordelia out, as they walked to the open doors, he had the horrible suspicion that he was falling in love anyway.
"Dear me, it's the end of the world." Rosie gasped. "Is that Ronan?"
Mattias whirled around. Tron shot straight up. "Takashi" spat out his drink.
It really was Ronan coming into the ballroom, looking more bored than he was on wife-choosing days.
Mattias nearly called for everyone to go home. If Ronan was here, then it really was the end of the world.
Wait. Was that a girl with him?
Rosie squeaked. Tron fell backwards from pure shock. "Takashi" choked on his beef.
Mattias was slack-jawed. Yes indeed, there was a girl with him.
Wow. There were no words to describe this momentous occasion.
"Mattias. Tron. Rosalinda. You're all looking well." Ronan greeted.
"Eh . . ." Mattias got out.
"Ow." Tron groaned.
"Oh." Rosie whispered.
"Cordelia?" "Takashi" quietly asked.
"Billy?" Came the response.
"Yes, this is my handmaiden, Rio. And I simply came to scope things out." Ronan snapped, his eyes burning.
Mattias nodded.
So Ronan was considering joining the rebellion?
Praise the forces that be. Why wasn't the world ending yet?
Anna smiled at Brume as the carriage rolled to a stop. "I'm so excited for tonight!"
"As am I, my Queen." Brume purred. "It should be a lot of fun."
"I hope everyone will enjoy my big finale. After all, it was made special, just for them." Anna giggled.
"I am sure they will." Brume chuckled darkly. "It's a real showstopper."
The door to the carriage creaked open. Brume jumped out and offered her a hand. "Shall we?"
"Oh, Anna!" Rosie called out.
Cordelia and Billy stiffened as their sovereign approached. Rosie was visibly tense as she hugged Anna.
Mattias smiled, trying to resist the urge to throttle the girl. "So nice to see you, Anna."
Ronan gave her a nod, as did Tron.
Billy and Cordelia bowed.
"Who are these two?" Brume asked, gesturing to the knight and handmaiden. Thankfully, he didn't recognize them.
"This is my knight, Takashi." Rosie said.
"And my handmaiden, Rio." Ronan supplied.
"Oh, how quaint!" Anna cooed. She and Rosie launched into a conversation about clothes while Brume engaged Ronan in a chat about inter-kingdom politics.
Mattias signaled to Billy. "Where is Emilia?" He whispered, taking care so that Anna or Brume wouldn't overhear. "Isn't she coming?"
"She said she would sneak in and find us." Billy whispered. "But I haven't seen her."
Mattias looked around worriedly. Where was Emilia?
Surely she would turn up. The party had only been going on for fifteen minutes. She would be here.
It was midnight now, and Emilia wasn't here.
Mattias was a bucket of worry that was constantly growing as each minute ticked by.
Where was she?
Even Cordelia and Billy were growing concerned. It was not like Emilia to keep them waiting, they had said. Where was she?
Anna approached him. "Mattias! Can we royals and our servants sneak off to another room? I feel like we need some time to talk."
"Sure, yes, fine." Mattias snapped.
"Good!" Anna trilled. She signaled for Rosie, Tron, Ronan and their respective servants to follow her.
Mattias, his mind numbed with worry, blindly followed her as she marched out of the ballroom and into a smaller parlor room.
"Why are we here?" Rosie asked. Tron watched Anna carefully.
The girl queen turned around and smiled. "Why to talk, of course!"
". . . and that is why broccoli is permanently outlawed in our country." Tron finished.
"Wow." Mattias was impressed, despite himself. "I had no idea broccoli could be used as a weapon!"
"Well, you learn something new everyday." Anna giggled.
"What about you?" Ronan asked Cordelia. "Do you have any stories up your sleeves?"
"Yes, Rio! Do you have any stories?" Anna squealed.
"Well, there is one that my father told me as a bedtime story." Cordelia whispered, her head hanging low.
"Oooh, tell us!" Anna crowed. Everyone scooted closer to listen.
"Well, there was once a savage and ruthless king who ruled long ago. He was not always savage; no, once, he was a good king. But his father had corrupted him so foully that he was utterly unrecognizable. But he got his retribution by slaying his father. Unfortunately, his mother was slain as well."
"He waged a war upon the other kingdoms, conquering as many as he could. Soon, more than all of the nearby continent was under his control."
"They say that this uprising king caused much strife in other lands. Villages rebelled, soldiers turned on their commanders, and even other princes went mad. It was a living underworld."
"A few brave people rose up to try to stop the senseless slaughtering. A wondering dragon rider tried to stop the villagers and was slain along with his dragon. A champion fighter fought for his life before the prince of his land, but was executed. And a warrior tried to settle his discontented vassals, but was subsequently murdered."
"The continent the mad king was attacking was almost completely taken over, all save the capital. There, a king, his sister, and his faithful knight tried to defeat the unstoppable king."
"The forces of the good king and the mad king were locked in combat when the princess sacrificed herself. It was unknown why, exactly, but it turned the battle to the good king's favor. However, it was at an unspeakable cost."
"The mad king's army retreated, and the good king and his knight mourned her death, for they had loved her very much."
"The good king was fraught with anger, and became bent on extracting his revenge for the death of the princess. The knight was greatly concerned, but stayed by his king."
"They eventually tracked the mad king down, and they waged a ferocious battle. The two kings met alone and dueled each other in a special arena. The mad king lost, but retreated, and was never heard from again."
"The good king returned to his army, expecting a glorious yell of triumph from his men. Sadly, the gods looked down upon his thirst for vengeance. So when the good king returned to his army, he found them all slaughtered. The knight, along with the king, were the only survivors."
No one spoke for a minute.
"It is just a silly tale, that is all. No one actually believes it." Cordelia murmured, looking embarrassed.
"Actually, that was brilliant." Ronan whispered. "You are quite the storyteller."
Cordelia smiled.
"Rio, darling, that was amazing!" Brume crowed.
"It was almost like we were all there." Rosie praised.
"You say your father told you this story?" Mattias inquired.
"Your father must have been very creative." Tron murmured.
"Well, the story was lovely, anyway." Anna said.
"Thanks." Cordelia blushed.
"Now then, I have some news." Anna burst out.
Everyone turned and watched her carefully.
"I am sure you all know what happened with my supposed engagement with King Yu."
Nods from all around the room.
"I wish to pay him back for his impudence with war. That is the right amount of retribution for what insult he has brought to me."
Nods, though all but one were forced.
"Can I count on you all to fight with me?" Anna asked, venom hidden behind her smile.
"Yes." Mattias said.
"Of course." Rosie and Tron chimed.
"I suppose." Grumbled Ronan.
"Excellent!" Anna clapped. "Well, I am afraid that Brume and I must take our leave. It is getting quite late."
She and Brume stood up. "Oh, silly me! I almost forgot!" Anna trilled.
She clapped her hands.
The doors to the parlor room burst open, revealing a pair of menacing guards. They each had a manacle chained to their wrists. Someone was bound to them who remained just outside the viewing range.
Mattias blinked. What was this?
"If any rebels or naysayers try to disrupt the war effort, I want you to do this to them!" Anna giggled.
The guards moved forward, dragging the person behind them. They stopped just as the person fell into view, revealing-
Mattias nearly choked.
Oh, no.
No.
Emilia.
She was barely recognizable. Her face was black and blue all over, and a cut on her forehead added a splash of red to the bruises.
Her arms were scratched up, and what looked horrifyingly like a lion bite was ruining her stomach.
The guards dragged the unconscious servant girl to the corner of the room and dumped her there, marching back to Anna after they had released the manacles.
"You can just leave her there; she'll be up and walking by morning." Anna said, clearly oblivious to the horrified looks she was getting. "Ta!"
She marched out of the room, followed by her guards. Brume smirked at them before going after his queen, the doors slamming shut behind him.
No sooner had they finished closing, the room was in an uproar, everyone running for the injured girl at once.
But Mattias got there first.
He swept her up in his arms, trying to assess the damage done to her frail body. "Emmy." He pleaded. "Emmy."
"Em." Cordelia sobbed. "Em. No, Em."
"What do we do? What do we do?" Billy whimpered, clutching her limp hand.
"Ronan." Mattias growled. "Find. A. Healer. NOW!"
For once, Ronan made no objection and sprinted off.
Rosie was flat out bawling, Tron stroking her hair, trying to calm her down. "Who d-did this?" She choked out.
"I don't know." Mattias said. "But when I find them, I'll kill them with my own hands."
Ronan bolted back into the room, a healer woman in his wake. The woman took one look at Emilia and snapped, "Bring her to your bedroom, your highness."
Mattias bounded out the door and up flights of stairs, only half aware of the people behind him. His one and only thought was to get her to safety.
Finally, he arrived at a set of ornate doors, which he kicked down in his haste. His room decorated in soft blue and green hues usually made him feel calm and serene. Now he only felt terror.
The healer came running in, hollering instructions about setting her on the bed. Everyone came rushing in as Mattias laid the pale girl softly on the bed.
No sooner had the task been completed, they were all forcibly booted out of the room and locked out by the stern healer, who insisted Emilia needed peace and quiet. Everyone wanted to argue, but also thought it unwise to fight with the woman who could help Emilia.
So they waited. Tron held a still sobbing Rosie. Cordelia and Billy sat back to back, each clutching the other's hand. Ronan stood off to the side, his face nightmarish with fury.
Mattias paced back and forth, pausing occasionally to look back at the door. There was no word from the healer. What was happening?
"Despicable." Ronan growled. Everyone looked up. "Completely and utterly despicable." He continued. "Why do this? What purpose does this serve?"
"To unhinge us." Cordelia said tiredly. "To scare us into submission, and to chase away any thoughts of betraying her."
"Wait, you mean she's done this before?" Tron asked, incredulous.
"Well, yeah." Billy sighed. "She does beat us from time to time, but never this bad. She usually has a reason, though, to either prove her power or to scare people. In this case, it was both. We're used to it by now."
Mattias and the other sovereigns stared at them.
"Okay, that does it." Ronan snarled. "I'm in. I'll help you, but only if I can kill Anna myself."
"Oh yeah?" Cordelia snorted. "Get in line. Emmy gets the right."
"Why?" Rosie asked.
"Because Anna always does this to her. Well, most of the time, anyway. Plus, Emmy's the one who planned the rebellion, and her family was basically killed when Anna ascended the throne." Billy said.
Mattias blacked out there. For a moment, he could see nothing but red. When his vision returned, his fist was buried in the wall and everyone was staring at him in shock.
The door opened and the healer looked out. "What was that?"
Mattias sighed, withdrawing his fist. "My apologies. How is she?"
"Well, she's a little scraped up, but she'll survive. She's a tough girl. Oh, and she's awake now, if you want to talk to her." The healer reported.
Mattias momentarily slumped with relief. She would be okay.
Billy and Cordelia hugged, and Tron gave Rosie a squeeze. Even Ronan cracked a smile.
"So, do you want to see her or not?" The confused healer asked.
Emilia had no idea where she was.
The last thing she remembered, Anna's brother had been punching her hard in the head. The next thing she knew, a nice lady was washing her face in a beautiful room that looked like the sea.
She was lying on her stomach on an ornate bed. Her arms were bandaged up and her head didn't hurt as much. Now if she just knew where she was-
The door softly clicked open, and someone walked over, kneeling by her and clasping her hand. Emilia squinted. Was it-?
"Mattias?" She whispered, wincing. It hurt to talk.
Mattias smiled, relief on his face. "Yes. Don't worry. You're safe now."
More footsteps echoed through the room, and suddenly Billy's face popped up behind Mattias'. "Emmy?"
"Hey, Billy." Emilia rasped. "Where's Cordelia?"
The lady knight appeared next to Billy. "Right here!"
The pale servant girl tried to smile, but grimaced as pain lanced through her face.
"Easy." Mattias kissed her hand. "You're in my palace. Anna's guards brought you here. What do you remember?"
Emilia shivered. "Well, the last thing I remember is Shingetsu hitting me, and-"
She broke off. "Oh, no! Shingetsu!"
"Who?" An unfamiliar face towered over Cordelia's. "Who's Shingetsu?"
Emilia squinted. "King Ronan? What are you-?"
"Your friend Cordelia convinced me to come." Ronan said.
"Does that mean that Rosalinda is here too?"
"And me!" Tron snapped.
"Oh, right. My apologies, King Tron." Emilia hissed.
"Who is Shingetsu, Emmy?" Billy pressed.
"The brother to Queen Anna." Emilia said.
"Wait, he was here?" Cordelia gasped. "He did this to you?!"
"Yes." Emilia said. "And there is much to tell."
She carefully sat up. "He was there on the ship with Anna. I overheard them making battle plans as to how they would take the world."
Sparing no detail, Emilia explained how they intended to sack the enemy kingdoms. Everyone's eyebrows rose up. Mattias tightened his hold on her hand and Emilia squeezed back, glad for the support.
"This is terrible!" Rosalinda murmured. "What are we going to do?"
'Good question.' Emilia mentally sighed.
"Anna's ship leaves in the morning." The servant girl said. "No doubt Shingetsu will be there. We will sail back to our kingdom with them. In the meantime, you three-" she pointed to the mystified rulers "- muster up your troops. We'll send word of when the invasion is due to start.
Everyone stared at her.
"Wow, Billy was right, you are good." Tron said, impressed.
"Thank you?" Emilia said.
"But what about King Yu and his allies?" Ronan asked.
"You each contact King Yu, the Duke of Sandwich, and Queen Victoria's kingdoms. Tell them that you plan to join them in the fight against Anna, and to be at the ready with their armies." Emilia said
Ronan nodded. "A respectable plan. I like it."
Rosie blanched. "But we can't send you all back to Anna now! She'll get suspicious!"
"Everyone can stay here for tonight." Mattias offered. "Finest suites we have."
"Thanks." Billy slurred. "I could just pass out-"
And he did. He sprawled right on the floor and started to snooze.
Emilia sighed.
Morning came all too soon, and everyone was saddled up for their respective ships.
Ronan cautiously approached Cordelia's horse, where she was checking the straps to her saddle.
"Cordelia." He said.
Cordelia yelled and turned around, the knapsack in her hands whacking him across the face.
Ronan grunted. "Ow."
"Oh, my gosh, I am so sorry, Ronan!" Cordelia gasped. "Are you okay?"
"Yep." Ronan grumbled. "Who hasn't been viciously smacked with a knapsack before?"
"Did you need anything?" Cordelia asked.
"Just . . ." Ronan trailed off. He sighed. How was he supposed to say this?
"Just, be careful . . . please." He muttered, his eyes on the ground.
Cordelia smiled a small smile. "Yes sir."
Rosie approached Billy's horse, watching as he slowly mounted. "Billy?"
The herald turned to her. "Yes, Rosie?"
Rosie blushed. "I will miss you. Please, please be careful with Anna. I want you alive to see your people freed."
Billy saluted. "You got it!"
Mattias helped Emilia mount her horse. The pale servant girl was still a little weak.
"Thank you." She said, smiling at Mattias.
The king felt his heart start to beat a little faster. "You're welcome."
"No, I mean . . . thank you. For saving my life." She whispered.
Mattias leaned up and kissed her cheek. "Always." He smiled.
Emilia smiled back.
Then she and her friends turned their horses and galloped away into the morning sun.
Mattias watched them go. Then he turned to the rulers near him. "Alright. We have work to do."
Emilia, Billy, and Cordelia tiptoed onto the ship, keeping an eye out for Anna or her crazy brother.
"Oh, there you are!" An unpleasant voice boomed.
Emilia flinched. "Master Shingetsu."
The portly Shingetsu stormed up from below deck.
"You three are horribly late! Why, we almost took off without you!" He roared.
"We apologize." The three murmured.
"Darn right you do!" Shingetsu rumbled. "When we get back to the kingdom, you three are in for the beating of your lives!"
Emilia flinched again. Cordelia and Billy cowered in fear.
They could only hope the invasion was to start soon.
"Wow, that is heavy stuff." Droite said.
Yuma and Alit were once again in tears. They sobbed into their sleeves and wailed.
Durbe blinked. "That story sounded so familiar . . .wait. That story-"
Misale gasped. "In South America-
Durbe yelped. "In the past-
"Wow." Haruto said. "I hope everything turns out all right."
"I'm sure it will, Haruto." Chris said.
"Hmf." Thomas grumbled. "I still would have made a better Knight King."
Disclaimer: YuGiOh! and YuGiOh! Zexal are property of Kazuki Takahashi and Shin Yoshida respectively. This is a crazy fan's work.
Thanks to shiningstar786 and senshi moon for the reviews!
(Ghost Nappa is blasting at full capacity.)
Drexal: Holy mackerel! Almost 4,000 words! Tali, what the heck?!
Tali: . . . zzzZZZzzz . . .
Zexal: She is still asleep, baka!
Vector: Better hope she stays that way! The limbo contest is about to start!
Drexal and Zexal: YAYYYY!
Tali: . . . wait, what? What happened?
Vector: Oh no.