Ch.90: A Lunch with Queen Margo! Ironworks' Strength and Legacy!

"…After we defeated the Bitter Winds Gang as a unit, we returned to the kingdom to celebrate with a heroic dinner! We couldn't bring ourselves to separate after everything we've been through! It was on that day that we became the unbreakable…Team Shatter Star!" Krystal finished proudly.

"Wooow! That sounded amazing!" Gwyn cheered from inside a dressing room, trying out some new clothes.

"The unbreakable Team Shatter Star?" Ella repeated before laughing. "Oh, that's funny."

"Wait, so let me get this straight…you six pissed off like…five gangs and got them to attack the kingdom out of spite?!" Wes exclaimed, also in a changing room.

Ebony snickered. "That was a good week."

Cybil rolled her eyes. "Is that because you're the literal reason all six of us nearly lost our lives?"

"Well, when you put it like that, it makes me out as a bad bunny…which is what I'm going for." She whipped out a bottle of scotch she got from a store on the way and started drinking.

Krystal sighed and facepalmed while Ella laughed behind her paw. "Paradise as a leader, I see."

"Ebony's a good comrade, but I've been wondering if she's responsible for like…half of the trouble we get into." Krystal crossed her wings. "Ebony, you know Hugo's going to be peeved when he sees you drinking."

Ebony swung her arms uncoordinatedly. "I don't neeeeeed a babyssssitter…I can do-hic-whatever I waaant…" she slurred in a maudlin tone. She grinned at Cybil and hung over her shoulder, giggling profusely. "Saaaay, Cybil…I like what you've done with-hic-yourself! Three heads…suit you…"

Cybil deadpanned and lightly pushed her off. "Has it ever occurred to you WHY Hugo tries to discipline you for drinking? You can barely go through one bottle without going full loopy."

"Looooopy…funny worrrrrd…" She collapsed to the floor, giggling madly.

"Do I even want to know?" Wes asked from behind the changing room.

Ella waved it off. "You don't."

Krystal looked through the clothes Ella picked out. "These are some really nice clothes for your friends, comrade. The proper accoutrements for a day out in adventure!"

Ella smiled. "If we're being honest, I've been meaning to update everyone's wardrobes. Why go on an adventure without being stylish first?"

"I'm with you there, sister!" Gwyn pushed open her door and walked out. Gwyn now sported a lime green T-shirt with a splash of purple going diagonally from her left hip to her right shoulder. Over the shirt was an oak colored duster jacket, which possessed some notches inside that could hold her potions like her old sash. She had on a pair of blue pants with an additional holster for her whip. Around her neck was a pair of goggles no different from Cybil's. "What do you think?"

Ella nodded in approval. "Looking fabulous!"

Krystal grinned. "That's a great look for you, comrade!"

"And practical!" She pulled the jacket open. "These notches are perfect to keep some potions on standby."

Ella chuckled as she walked up to Wes' door. "I had you in mind when I picked it out." She knocked on the door. "You almost done in there?"

"Just about." The lock clicked and Wes stepped out. "Not exactly the fashion type, but…do I look good?"

For an adventurer like Wes, Ella picked out a style she thought would look good on him. A purple, camouflage styled jacket with a classic white tank top and a pair of dark gray pants. Simple, yet perfect. The only thing to remain the same was his signature fedora, which he played with a bit awkwardly.

Ella smiled with narrowed eyes and held her chin. "Not bad…"

Wes grinned shyly and looked away. "Heh…thanks."

Gwyn shoved her hands inside her new jacket's pockets. "Not that different, really."

Ella waved her paw around. "Eh, I knew Wes didn't want anything flashy, but I thought the jacket would look nice on him." She patted the sleeve. "Plus, it's super soft."

"And comfy," Wes added, adjusting around the shoulders. "I was worried you were going to make me try on suits or a hundred different styles."

Ella glanced off to the side with a subtle smirk. "Yet…"

"Eh?"

"Oh, nothing." She looked around. "Speaking of which, the others should've gotten back from their shopping by now."

Ebony, drunk on the floor, pointed and giggly said, "There they arrrrre~! Hic!"

Returning from a trip around the weapon stores and armor shops, the guys came up to them with some bags in hand. Tony held up two bags he was carrying. "So, turns out you're allowed to wear armor at the Gelid Peak Tournament! I managed to haggle with the clerk and got ourselves a discount!"

"You sure you don't mean harassing?" Oswald brought up. "You said some colorful things back there."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Only because the jackass was trying to upsell everything on me! A lousy trick like that on a Sapienti is frowned upon!"

Griffin sighed. "He got us a discount, so I just kept my mouth shut."

Flint set his bags down, then looked between Wes and Gwyn. "Wow, you two look great."

"Thanks!" they both exclaimed.

Ella suddenly shoved Flint, Tony, and Griffin into individual changing booths, throwing in their handpicked clothes. "Then you'll love what I have for you three!"

"As long as I can take off this pink jacket, whatever," Griffin grumbled from behind his fitting room.

Ella turned to Oswald. "So, since this is the first time we're entering a tournament, think you could give us some…insider tips and such?"

Oswald crossed his arms. "Well, it's nothing much to worry about. Basically, what you need to know is that the tournament is divided up into two parts. First, the preliminaries where they weed out the extras. This is done with one giant, battle royale that changes with each tournament. Before, it was usually a 'first come, first serve' type of deal. Like this, anyone can fight for a position in the tournament. We have no idea what they're going for this year, but I can guarantee you…it's hectic."

Saffiro leaned against the wall. "Since this year is team battles, it'll work as a five-man team with the addition of one substitute. The substitute can be called in if a teammate were sick, injured, or just generally unable to compete further. If you lose two teammates, you're pretty much stuck with four."

"That's rough," Ella commented.

Wes narrowed his eyes. "So, we need to decide who's our substitute." He gestured to Team Shatter Star. "Who's your substitute?"

"Me," Hugo immediately answered. "Though, I have no intentions of competing." He narrowed his eye at Krystal. "She won't give me a choice, though."

Krystal folded her wings behind her head and chuckled. "Eh, don't worry. All of us will still be ready to compete!"

Hugo sighed, then gasped once he finally saw the state Ebony was in. "Ebony! What are you doing?!"

"Trying to get this last drop out of the bottle!" she complained, plunging her tongue inside to get the one drop that always seemed to stay inside the bottle. "I command you, delicious scotch! Come to me!"

Hugo pressed his hands into his face and cried out in agony. "And you were doing so well!" He groaned and picked her up. "You'll be attending multiple sessions with me until we kick this unhealthy obsession!"

Ebony grinned stupidly. "Will there be scotch?"

"No!"

"Then why would I attend some 'Alcoholics Anonymous' thingy if there's no drinks? Isn't that the whole point?!"

"NO! Those aren't drinking parties, they're…!" Hugo covered his face. "I'm going mad talking to you…"

"Not the first time I've heard that~!"

Krystal looked to Team Ravenfield and sighed. "Apologies for the…poor state of my team."

Gwyn giggled. "Nah! It's fine! You're all funny!"

"I'll try and take that as a compliment," Cybil muttered.

Ella turned to the fitting rooms. "You idiots almost done in there?"

The doors to the fitting rooms opened. First to come out was Griffin, who was adjusting the sleeve on his new jacket. It was the same red as his old one and longer at the waist. Three buckle straps were present on the front, keeping the jacket closed up. He wore a regular pair of black pants.

Tony stepped out and posed for everyone. A new blue vest with a propped-up collar, black buttons on the front, and two sets of pockets on both sides. Under the vest was a long-sleeved white shirt, fitted to his body, along with a pair of black, baggy pants with his scalchops hanging from the sides. Completing the look were the yellow-lensed sunglasses resting on his forehead.

Finally, there was Flint, who kept his signature bowler hat. Since Ella took him for a classier looking guy, she got him a simple black blazer, dark green shirt, and brand-new khaki pants.

Griffin looked himself in a mirror. "I have to say, this isn't a bad look."

Tony laughed and flipped his sunglasses down. "Man, I look good! Wait 'til the ladies get a load of me!"

Flint fiddled with his blazer a bit. "Guess I shouldn't have doubted you picking out our clothes, Ella."

Ella laughed. "Oh, it was nothing. Anything for- you were doubting me?" she asked with a serious glare.

"D-Didn't say that!" he squeaked.

Wes tipped his hat. "Okay, if we're done here, perhaps we should get ourselves a hotel to stay at. Unless you guys already got that covered."

"Nope, not yet," Tony said as he checked himself out in the mirror. "Probably should get started on that."

Krystal held her wing up. "Won't be necessary, comrade. We agreed to take you all out to lunch first."

"Oh, really? Sweet!"

Ella chuckled. "Came as a surprise to us, but it's a sweet sentiment."

Saffiro snapped his claws. "In that case, there's this awesome buffet we can check out. The food is killer~."

Gwyn licked her lips. "Sounds amazing!"

Not wanting to dillydally, the two teams exited from the shop, with Oswald carrying the drunk Ebony on his back. Krystal pointed around. "Now, where was it again?"

"It's down that way-" Cybil pointed out before being interrupted by a surprising chorus of trumpets.

A quick turn of the head and they saw like four heralds down the street, with crowds parting to let them through. Observing their clothes, they were dressed like standard heralds for royalty. They were the queen's messengers, made only more obvious when a knight followed after the announcement. Everyone, including Team Shatter Star, bowed to the knight while Team Ravenfield stared in bemusement.

The knight stopped before the stunned team, then took a knee before them. "Greetings, travelers. Welcome to Ironworks Kingdom, the Kingdom of Innovation. We are honored to have you with us."

Tony whistled. "Didn't know they did fanfare for anyone who came."

"They don't," Krystal whispered as she kept her head low. "He seems interested in you guys for whatever reason."

Ella crossed her forelegs. "Good grief, please don't tell me someone else placed a bounty on our heads."

"Are you perhaps Team Ravenfield?" the knight asked.

Seeing as he was the leader, Wes took it upon himself to step forward and answer, "Yes sir, that's us." He held his chest. "I am Wes Ravenfield, team leader. These five are the rest of my team. Pardon me for asking, but how did you know we were here? Or who we are for that matter?"

The knight removed his helmet, revealing to be a Machoke. "I am one of the royal knights serving directly under her majesty, Queen Margo. She has personally requested your arrival at her castle for lunch."

"WHAAAAAAAT?!" Both Ravenfield and Shatter Star gasped in shock.

"Lunch sounds goooood…" Ebony drunkenly added.

"The queen invited us for lunch?!" Wes shouted. "We've barely been here for two hours!"

"She knows much about you and your team. She has heard the stories and wishes to speak with all of you personally."

Gwyn tilted her head. "Wow…I didn't think news could spread that fast. Are we really that popular?"

"I don't think so…" The team looked to Tony, who had his arms crossed. "Did you say her name is Margo?" The Machoke nodded. Tony looked to the others. "Guys, we happen to know of a Margo…the one we're searching for here…" he whispered.

Flint's eyes widened. "Then that means…that means the Metal Mage…is also the Queen of Ironworks Kingdom?" he quietly gasped.

Ella scratched her chin. "So that's what the status business was about."

The Machoke bowed his head. "The Queen expects your immediate arrival. She has a matter of utmost importance to discuss with all of you. It is unwise to keep her majesty waiting."

Eyes fell on Wes for his input. He gulped, then scratched the back of his head. "Well…gee, um…when you put it like that, how can we possibly refuse? Hehehe…"

Tony nudged his side. "This chick may very well be the woman we're looking for. Might as well take it with a free lunch."

"It would be a bit harder to speak to royalty any other way," Gwyn pointed out.

Wes blinked, then sighed. No matter what, it was obvious they were expected to come. She's just lucky they were looking for her, too. Saves them the trip, at least. Wes bowed his head to the knight. "We humbly accept her majesty's invite."

Machoke rose and placed his helmet back on. "Please follow me." He turned and marched with his heralds following alongside.

The team followed after him, while waving back to the slack jawed Team Shatter Star. "Heh…we'll catch you guys later!" Ella shouted. "Save us a spot at the training ring! We'll be sure to give it a go later!"

Team Shatter Star blinked at them until they were fully out of sight. Krystal closed her beak. "…Well, I didn't realize we made friends with friends of royalty." She grinned and punched her wings together. "Now that's what I call friends in high places! I'm even more pumped to see these guys in action!"

Cybil sighed. "That sounds about right…"

Ebony giggled dizzily and flailed her feet. "We're off to see the Metal Mage~! The wonderful Metal Mage of Odd~!"

"Metal Mage?" Saffiro asked.

"I don't knooooow! Heard them jabbering about it under the breaths!" She poked her ears. "Super sensitive ears!" She held up her bottle and licked the rim. "Mmm…I can still taste the scotch."

"Give me that!" Hugo swiped the bottle from her.

"MY BOTTLE!" Ebony flailed her arms for the bottle.

Oswald scratched his cheek. "First time I've heard the queen referred to as a Metal Mage."

Krystal shrugged. "Eh, could be a fancy nickname. They clearly know her!" Krystal pumped her wings. "Now, how about we get back to training-?!" She blushed at the loud grumbling of her stomach.

Cybil smirked. "Forgetting where we were going, Krissy?"

Krystal blinked, then pointed in another direction. "To the buffet!" She dashed off.

"No way, I'm getting there first!" Oswald made a mad dash after her, kicking his knees up as he ran.

Saffiro sighed. "Those two and their voracious stomachs~."

"Eh, let them be," Cybil said before calmly walking after them with the others following. They didn't have to rush. Cybil was the one with the money. She could make Krystal and Oswald suffer for food for a few extra minutes.

It was unusual for them to be invited into the home of royalty. Actually, none of them were ever in the presence of royalty. Closest they got was a murderous king who wishes to bring down never-ending misery. Granted, probably not the best example. Even so, they felt incredibly honored to be personally invited by the queen herself, even if circumstances made it clear this was bound to happen.

Entering through the castle, they got a good look at the décor. A red carpet extending out from the front entrance up a flight of stairs. Suits of armor standing guard on short pedestals, each armed with a sword. A chandelier hanging above their heads, made from prism crystals that refracted the light. Tapestries hung from the walls, depicting the symbol of Ironworks Kingdom in full glory.

What they noticed about the walls was how silvery they were. They looked like they were made from a rough metallic material similar in appearance to stone. Was this entire castle one big block of metal? If so, made all the more sense why the Metal Mage ruled over the kingdom.

They continued to gawk at the interior, blindly following the Machoke to the dining hall. The closer they got, the more sensitive Wes' nose got. He smelled a fine, delicious aroma that made his stomach bark for satisfaction. He felt his nose almost guiding him to the smell, nearly running past the knight to obtain it first had it not been for Gwyn pulling him back by the tail. He grinned sheepishly at his friends.

Machoke came to a stop, the team nearly crashing into him. He turned and bowed to them respectively. "I hope the accommodations are to your likings." He pressed his hands to the doors. "Presenting the honored guests of Team Ravenfield!"

He pushed the doors open, then the heralds raised their horns and sounded their arrival. Given the command, the team entered the dining hall, then gasped with awe at the spread of food across the long dining table. It was all there, from berries to meat to various drinks to everything that made for a royal meal. Plates were set up for six empty places. Adding to the elegant design, candelabras were lit and presented on the tables.

And sitting at the end of this long table was the Mawile herself, Queen Margo. She was in the midst of getting a napkin wrapped around her neck by a maid when she acknowledged their presence. "Team Ravenfield. So glad you accepted my invitation," she said in a posh tone. She gestured to the empty places. "Do take a seat and help yourselves to the food."

Wes wanted to jump in and gather all the food he could stuff, but hesitated out a of respect. He bowed his head to the queen. "We…thank you for inviting us to your castle as your humble guests." The team smiled and bowed along with him.

Ella's smile was particularly warm for the Umbreon. 'Well, would you look at that. He didn't act out of impulse first. Maybe he's finally shaping up as a-'

"Now onto the food!" Wes rushed to a seat and started placing things on his plate.

Ella groaned, but retained an amused smile. 'Never mind.' Still, she couldn't agree more. She was hungry.

The team gathered to the empty spaces and took their seats. Ella, Griffin, and Tony sat on one side of the table while Flint and Gwyn took their places on Wes' side, with the green Mew parking herself between the brothers purposefully. This allowed her to sit next to her best friend (who she had very confused feelings about) and Wes, who she was still aiming to truly make friends with and help him out of his self-confidence funk like Ella. She even offered a friendly smile to the Umbreon for good measure.

Flint smiled once more at this, as he did enjoy seeing the two getting along more. If things were to ever go places for him and the Mew, he would at least want Wes and Gwyn to get to know each other better. That was the wonderful thing about Gwyn he loved.

Gwyn looked around the table, then groaned. "Aww! No lemon squares!"

Wes chuckled. "Eh, it's not so bad."

"Yeah, they have, uh…" Flint took the first thing he saw and presented it to her. "Blueberry muffins?"

Gwyn took it, gave it a sniff, and bit a chunk off. "…It's good, but not lemon squares."

Flint chuckled under his breath. 'She really loves lemon squares…'

Margo narrowed her eyes, then snapped her fingers. "Cook!"

An Arbok rushed out into the dining hall and bowed. "What can I do for you, my lady?"

"The Mew requests lemon squares. Prepare your finest batch for her!"

"Oh, at once, your highness!" The Arbok darted back into the kitchen.

Gwyn's clasped hands pressed against her cheek as her eyes sparkled with joy. "I'm in heaven!" Flint smiled and patted her on the head.

Tony spun a berry atop his finger. "Going the extra mile to butter us up, Queenie?"

Margo scoffed to herself. "And what do you propose by that statement? I simply invited you folk to partake in a meal with-"

"You can drop the charade," Griffin interrupted. "You may be royalty, apparently, but we know exactly who you are. No one, especially royalty, would invite a ragtag team of complete strangers into their dwelling…unless they had a reason or were setting up a trap."

Margo closed her mouth for a moment, then chuckled as she lifted an empty wineglass. "Thank goodness, I was hoping you all weren't idiots." She snapped her fingers, ordering a Baile Style Oricorio maid out with a wine bottle. The bird gracefully and briskly filled the seven wineglasses at the table before bowing and returning to the kitchen. "But I do insist you enjoy yourselves."

Gwyn lifted her glass and sniffed it. "I never had wine before."

Flint flinched. 'Has Gwyn ever actually consumed anything alcoholic?' He grinned uneasily. "Hey Gwyn, maybe you should just-!" He internally gasped as Gwyn down the entire glass in two seconds.

She set it down and grinned. "Wow! That was amazing! It tasted like grape juice!" She smacked her lips. "Had a bit of an odd taste mixed in, though."

Flint rubbed his temples, internally panicking. 'Okay, her body can neutralize toxins pretty easily. Does…that also apply to alcohol and its effects?' He wasn't worried about alcohol poisoning and was more so worried about how Gwyn would act should she get drunk. The sight would be both hilarious and frightening.

Ella laughed to herself at Flint's inner freak out as she took a sip from her glass like a proper lady. "Mmm…quite refreshing. This might be the first fancy dining experience I had that didn't make me want to fall asleep."

"Heeey!" Wes whined with a sad pout.

Ella rolled her eyes and smirked. "Omitting dates with former boyfriends."

He nodded sharply. "Good." He looked away and blushed a bit.

Griffin swirled his drink and glared at Margo. "Alright, what's this about? Last few temples we went through involved traps being thrown at our faces. Why the welcoming reception?"

Margo scoffed and leaned back in her chair. "Well, I certainly didn't want you making a mess of my castle. Unlike all the others, you're now in a space where any unwanted aversion could cause trouble for everyone. I'm sure my people wouldn't be thrilled to hear intense battle echoing from inside their ruler's dwelling." She sipped her wine. "Besides, I have no reason to put you all through an initial test. I found it a little tedious.

"Benedict graciously informed us of what happened deep in the Snow Zone. I must say, when I first became a mage, I thought the rumors around the Immensus Library were more stories, but…I suppose we all know not to doubt the truth of legends."

Tony glared. "So, you all knew about the library?"

"It wasn't land kept under our control, but we had knowledge of it. We had combed through its archives when we first felt the Shadow King rise from his initial slumber, but the only thing we found of use was not accessible."

"You mean this thing?" Ella pulled out the book parted to her by Jonathan.

Margo's eyes widened briefly before going back to her wine. "Yes, that book exactly." She smirked. "Quite curious. When we couldn't get it open, we thought it was useless. I guess when desperation calls, any odds are possible. The last piece of the library before it was swallowed away in that black void. Hmph…I wonder how long until some traveling reporter discovers the state of that region. We've been trying to keep all on the shadows as secret as possible. Only instances I can recall in recent memory was a large-scale outbreak in Marble Stone City and a small attack in Gale Wind Village, along with minor occurrences here and there."

"It won't matter if someone discovers what happened," Tony brought up, "because we're getting your key and the remaining five."

Margo sipped the last of her wine, then snapped her fingers for a refill. "You've collected four so far. I'm impressed with your progress." She narrowed her eyes. "However, best not to take the journey ahead lightly, young Dewott. Before, the shadows could be fought off. But with the return of their master, there may very well be a shift."

"A shift?" Flint asked.

Margo looked them seriously in the eyes. "How long will those keys remain in your possession? The whole journey? A couple of months? A few weeks?" She glared. "One day?"

Gwyn glared. "Are you saying we might lose the keys?!"

"I want to keep my faith in the prophecy, but there's still a long way to go before the paths collide at the end. You six are fated to battle the Shadow King in an epic standoff to decide all of Fate. After that, the prophecy ends. No telling of a win for us or a win for them. That is why the mages have to push you all so hard. To get satisfactory results."

Ella held her cheek and leaned on the table. "I think you'll find we're more than capable of handling ourselves."

Margo set her glass down. "Perhaps I should remind you of how things work within the Mages of Origin. As it stands, you have five others to face, omitting me. Benedict, Mage of Power. Vernon, Mage of Life. Seth, Mage of Darkness. Cicely, Mage of Time. And Cielo, Mage of Space. With the exception of Vernon, you'll be facing the four strongest mages of our group. That's not something one can shrug off. You all are facing stronger opponents than before and they will push you past the brink to ensure us that you are ready."

Tony crossed his arms. "Okay, we get that much. But that doesn't explain why you would invite us out to your castle if the point is to test us."

"Because I'm not interested in testing all of you."

"Huh?"

Margo picked up her wine glass and sipped it delicately. "We've tested a number of things throughout your journey. The capabilities of each member and how far they're willing to go. Wes, Griffin, and Tony have since proven this factor in their fights. The other side is figuring out the different ways you all can fight as a team. Calder got one covered, Benedict will be next. Therefore, since you'll be taking part in his silly tournament with the added benefit of getting the key, I don't see a point to test your efforts. Honestly, hiding the key for a tournament prize to the ones who actively seek it. Stupid, yet somehow ingenious from a temple or castle."

Flint leaned back. "Okay, we get that much. You want us to make sure we're ready for our showdown with the Shadow King." He glared. "But why not test us? There has to be more to it."

"I figured you or Tony would ask." She set her glass down and clasped her hands together. "Here's the deal. If we're being honest, I have a lot riding on our meeting. More so than the others, because this is more than a test."

"Do we have to put on a dinner and a show, too?" Gwyn asked.

"What-no," Margo answered. "Nothing like that. This is more about me than you."

Griffin raised his brow. "Sounds awfully selfish for someone giving us the test. Do you get something else out of it that we don't know of?"

Margo breathed through her nose and calmly rubbed her temples. "Look, all of you just shut up and listen." She breathed out loud, then leaned back. "I'm sure the other mages have mentioned snippets about me in-between your encounters. I suppose out of everything said about us mages, the one thing you never expected was one of them being a member of royalty."

Tony glared. "Well, now that you mention it, yes. I thought the mages were supposed to stay out of general contact with the world."

"In a sense, it was to protect loved ones. This job is incredibly strenuous under the wrong circumstances. Constant training to keep yourself in shape and to ward off any would-be intruders, or downright kill them if it's called for. However, we here at Ironworks Kingdom have the general advantage. For our land is so well guarded, any attempt to invade us would be dealt with promptly. That's why attempted criminal activity is at an all-time low." She glared off to the side. "Although, there was that incident from around four or five years ago…" she trailed off.

Tony scratched his chin curiously. "Hmm…so, you're saying because crimes are practically bashed into the ground here, a possible threat of a key-napper is just as unlikely?"

"In the general sense." Margo closed her eyes. "Truth be told, the representative for the Metal Key had to be someone of great strength and, well, I was the best candidate despite my status. They felt so long as a powerful leader was around within a powerful kingdom, the key would be best suited for protection."

"You seem young, though."

"Pardon?"

Tony raised his brow. "Pardon my forwardness, your highness, but you look to be only a little older than the bounty hunter over there," he claimed, pointing to Griffin. "Mid-twenties, if I'm right."

"And your point?"

"There's no way people this powerful and secretive just came up with the idea to give the Key of Metal to the most powerful kingdom in Mysto, known as Ironworks Kingdom." He shrugged. "Plus, give what we've heard, you aren't a long-standing member."

Margo narrowed her steely gaze, then offered an amused smirk. "The stories of your perceptive nature reign true, Sapienti. Indeed, this position was given me not that long ago. Perhaps two years ago."

"So, who was the former mage?" Wes asked.

"That would be the former queen, Queen Elinor. She was the old Metal Mage before the title was passed on to me."

"What happened to her?"

"Thing is, she was good in her time, but she hasn't been in top condition in recent years. She had reached her sixties a long time ago and hasn't aged well. Old bones, bad back, all that wonderful adult stuff." She sighed. "My father is still fit, but he wasn't born with magic. He's also been losing his mind a bit lately. They're doing well nowadays, but my royal council made it clear I should take up the mantle as ruler. In addition, I also accepted the role as the Metal Mage."

Ella flinched. "Yeesh…a lot of responsibility thrown onto you."

"It certainly has its sore points, but I take great pride in running this kingdom." She folded her arms over the table. "After all, this is a kingdom all residents of Ironworks take remarkable pride in. We are a landmark of history that stands the tests of time and made its mark in the history books as a symbol of long standing accomplishment."

Gwyn tilted her head. "Actually…I have a question about that."

"Ask away."

"Well, for starters…why is this place so fancy compared to everything else outside the dimension? I mean, I'm pretty sure I saw someone making a weird contraption shooting steam."

Margo closed her eyes. "The history of Ironworks Kingdom is mostly self-contained. To know the full story, you usually have to actively look through history books or live here your whole life." She twirled her wine glass. "And we had to make good on our efforts if we wanted to stand out.

"See, like most things, everything for Mysto changed after the Grand Imperium Age. While we may have won the war, it left everything in devastation. A lot of good people lost their homes and some years partaking in the fight. Many lives were lost and many couldn't return to their old lives. Sickness, infection, trauma, loss of limbs…some just couldn't go back to their old lives. Because of this, the rate of bandit-related crimes seemed to go up. It went from a minor issue to a common occurrence in our day and age."

"Why is that?" Gwyn asked.

Flint explained, "The damage brought down on Mysto slowly had to be rebuilt. It took roughly a hundred years for everything to return to normal…well, as normal as it could get. When Pokémon slowly began to discover their hidden magic, the land became flooded with magic. Not only did we have to rebuild everything that was lost-"

"-we had to adapt to a land unlike what we knew." Margo held her glass to her lips, but lingered on taking a sip. "If I recall correctly, the final battle with the Shadow King took place around the Swamp Zone, the very heart of Mysto. From there, magic branched off and spread. What was once highly mountainous terrain became a wasteland of snow. Ground became craggy and blistering with heat, becoming the Fire Zone. Storms and weather became before frequent, lands became noticeably more humid and filled with rivers…even an entire section of land broke down into a hot desert.

"Things weren't the same as they were before."

Gwyn narrowed her eyes. "And…how did people in that time react?"

"Not well, as you can imagine." She paused for a moment. "Well, that's not completely true. With the addition of magic and teachings from the wanderers, we saw we could use this magic to better our lives. In truth, it helped us discover things about Mysto we had not yet known. Magic has always existed in Mysto. It was just buried under our noses." She sipped her wine. "Some theories suggest the old temples buried underground were part of an ancient settlement when Mysto was first constructed by the gods. Back then, though, they weren't all that common. Ancient religions and beliefs from the past. Magic was an archaic part of history that we adapted into myth. Nowadays, it's common day practice. It feels like the gods brought about their divine power when they first made Mysto into what it is. It would certainly explain the story behind the Idol of Origin."

Wes glared. "Right. The ancient warlock who fought Apollo. He learned about magic way before the Grand Imperium Age was a thing."

"Perhaps before civilizations started popping up." Margo sipped her wine. "Magic was a lot less refined back then, so it didn't see much purpose into expanding for things like combat. It was just another way of life like when Pokémon once were. We are creatures hardened for the worst of battle. Who knows how things would've turned out if magic never became part of our history?"

Gwyn was getting invested into her story as she leaned forward. "What about those who didn't like magic?"

"There's a common belief among just about everyone that needs to be taken seriously. If you don't know how something works, it'd be wise to proceed with caution. For example, say you were battling an immortal being with the power to appear and disappear with seemingly no time passing between the jumps. In the blink of an eye, your arm gets cut off. You don't know what happened. Your first thought is 'This guy is incredibly fast' and yet there's inconsistencies to how that speed works. Destruction upon everything at the same time. How can you counter it if you don't know what it is?

"That, my friends, is the fear of the unknown."

Griffin picked up a piece of bread and bit a piece off. "You're referring to purists."

"Correct. Pokémon who referred to themselves as purists abhorred the use of magic. While before, our abilities have been adapted into our culture, magic was something entirely different. It defied basic concepts of typing. Magic fireballs could hurt Fire-Types. Conjuring matter from out of nothing. Pokémon that can't fly defying gravity's laws. Affecting far more than the land itself. Affecting entire laws of reality that we couldn't break before." Margo huffed. "Purists legitimately felt threatened by this coming era, even those who were born with magic. Outright rejected it from their lives."

"So, what? Did they host rallies to petition against magic?" Tony asked.

"Yes, but it obviously became ineffective. Besides, with the devastation the shadows brought to the world, there wasn't a time or place to be picky about how things should be fixed. The great hero himself, who helped vanquish the Shadow King, made that clear to all who stood by his side in battle. Even so, these purists felt threatened and needed somewhere to be away from the weird magic. In an unfortunate twist, they needed magic to get away from magic."

"Ironworks Kingdom," Flint guessed.

"One of my ancestors proposed this when more on magic was discovered. Hidden pockets of space that can only be opened through magic. They hated the idea, but it would grant them some peace from a world that was rapidly changing. So, we hunkered down in this dimension, taking what was left of our belongings, and claimed this land as our own nearly five hundred years ago. At some point, a ruler was needed, so my ancestor was appointed as king.

"Originally, this land was known as The Anti-Magic Kingdom of the Land. Though, as you can tell, that name and general opinion changed over time. Ironworks became a name that utilized the change for our benefits. There was a lot of ore undiscovered in this dimension, so we mined it out and used it to craft this kingdom. It gets a little bigger each year."

"And since you guys had such a harsh aversion to magic, you thought best to prepare for a possible war to come in the future," Griffin guessed. "Your ancestors, if I'm right, eventually resorted to using magic to improving the military applications faster at the time before soldiers and knights could be properly trained."

Margo nodded. "And thus begun Ironworks' reputation as a stronghold of power throughout Mysto."

"Have you ever gotten into any wars?" Gwyn asked.

"A few, some less major than others. With the shift in land, it did start a few civil wars that eventually branched out into our kingdom. Nothing could compare to the fifty-year devastation brought upon by the shadows, but they were tragic in their own respects. No one wanted to be a part of another bloody war." She sighed, then reached for a biscuit. "Even so, it earned out place as the impenetrable kingdom. We showed them that we aren't a people to trifle with."

"Whatever happened to that purist mentality from early on?" Wes asked.

"Like how most hated things in the past start, it fades. It takes a special kind of circle of hatred to continuously start shit over something. The purist mentality still lives on in the hardcore traditionalists of the present, but Ironworks Kingdom has grown out of that mindset. Granted, we still rely on innovation and expanding technology over the use of magic. I've been through Mysto a few times. Starkly different to what I lived with."

"Wow…" Gwyn awed. "Your kingdom has such a rich history. It's amazing!" she gushed.

Ella groaned. "Congrats, Flint. You turned her into a history lover."

Flint smirked cheekily. "I aim to please."

"Hah…well, it'd be a crime to admit that story wasn't enticing to the mind," Ella admittedly in a posh manner, flipping some fur on her head. "Guess that means you're strong. A queen's strength says a lot about a kingdom's strength. And, of course, there was a point where an ancestor of mine took the role as protector of the Key of Metal. It's been protected by my family ever since."

"Until now," Tony joked.

Margo smirked. "Yes, well…I don't intend to give away that key all that easily. Even so, I want to make this interesting for all of us."

"How?" Griffin asked.

"Before we got off on that tangent regarding my kingdom, I made mention that I'm the most recent wielder of the title in both royalty and mage duty. They wouldn't have allowed me to take up the responsibility if I wasn't capable. Even so…" She gripped the tablecloth, tightly pinching it into her curled fingers. "This title doesn't feel earned. I've heard some comments from Randolph, Vernon, and Seth that I'm the youngest mage they've ever had. It honestly pisses me off three of my co-mages think so little of me."

Ella raised her brow. "You sure you didn't take those…comments a little too seriously?"

"Regardless of the true case, I wondered if I was strong enough to full embrace this title. It's hard to find anyone to challenge since the main goal is to keep these keys a complete secret. I need someone powerful to challenge me." She smirked. "I got pretty excited when Randolph informed us of your quest. Worthy challengers to test my strength. But I couldn't just fight one. I wanted to fight the best.

"The one with the most powerful magic aura!"

"Huh?" the team gasped.

"That's right! A strong magic aura is the sign of a strong opponent! What's underneath the surface, true power hidden within our reserves. It's the magic buried deep inside us that surfaces to its height when it must be called upon. I want to fight the one who has that power inside."

Team Ravenfield stared with wide, confused eyes. It took a moment of composure, but Flint managed to ask, "Um…you want to see which one of us has the stronger magic aura…and fight that person?"

Margo nodded. "Like I said, this is more of a personal matter. While I understand high tier, magical power isn't what defines the best, it really is all I have. I'm not the cleverest strategist, nor am I some master mage. What I do have is high magic reserves. I could fight and take hits for hours. Which is why I want to see which of you has that same potential. I want an opponent I can test my own magic against."

The team shot glances at each other skeptically. "Um…"

Margo pouted. "Just humor me. Look, you're all fairly strong. In the end, one of you will battle me and try to claim the Key of Metal from my possession. I'll even sweeten the deal a bit."

"How?" Griffin asked.

"I'll give you one week of preparation. Whoever's the lucky winner will have the advantage of preplanning and thinking up countermeasures for any possible scenario." She shrugged. "Same luxury would go to me, of course, so it'd be a test of wits and power."

Ella scratched her cheek. "This is definitely the strangest test we've received." She shrugged and smiled impishly. "Eh, whatever. I don't have any magic anyway."

Wes huffed and raised his paw. "I guess we'll accept your challenge. You may fight whoever has the strongest magic aura of us."

Margo grinned. "Excellent." She snapped her fingers. "Segar!"

The Machoke knight entered the dining hall. "Your Majesty?"

"Bring out the orb." He bowed and retreated back to the hallway.

While they waited, Team Ravenfield huddled together. Wes whispered, "Okay, she said the one with the strongest magical aura will get to fight her. Who do you suppose it'll be?"

"My best guess," Griffin started, "it's between you and me."

Tony glared. "Ahem."

"Like I said, it's between you and-"

"Oh! Are you saying my aura's weaker than yours?!"

"That's exactly what I'm saying."

Tony generated electricity through his hand. "Want to take this outside?!"

"Will you two knock it off?" Ella scolded. "For all fairness sake, it's quite clear you three are the strongest out of all of us. I don't have magic, Flint's not a fighter, and Gwyn's not all that experienced."

Gwyn laughed uneasily. "Good thing, too. I'd be pretty nervous if I had to fight her."

"Oh? How come?" Flint asked. "You're great."

"I mean, yeah, but…I never fought anyone this strong on my own. Maybe Callista, but I wasn't really in control back in Ghost Cove Town."

Wes patted her back. "Don't sell yourself short, Gwyn. You're plenty strong."

"Maybe…I just don't think…"

The dining hall doors reopened, with Segar wheeling in a clear orb, set in a golden rack. He parked it beside the team, bowed, then backed away. The team curiously examined the orb, wondering what they were supposed to do next.

Margo graciously explained, "This orb was designed to measure one's magic aura. All of it, from the surface level all the way down to the hidden reserves. The brighter the orb becomes with whichever aura dominates the others, the stronger that aura is. Mine was bright enough to illuminate a pitch black room, like it was graced by a miniature sun."

Flint tilted his head. "So, we just touch it and it measures our auras?" Margo nodded. "Well…here goes nothing." He touched the orb.

Reacting to the presence of his aura, it flashed, then swirled with an orange glow. It was decently bright, forcing them to look away from it.

Margo nodded. "Not bad. You're deceptively strong, Mr. Ravenfield."

Flint rubbed his head bashfully. "I've…always had a decently strong aura. Nothing compared to my brother."

"My turn!" Griffin and Tony shouted, touching the orb.

Their aura easily overwrote Flint's, but they seemed to be clashing with each other inside the orb. It's as if their own auras were stubbornly trying to prove whose was superior. Either way, the light they emitted easily outshined Flint's, making the orb practically invisible.

"Hmm…it would appear both of you are quite strong." Margo narrowed her eyes. "Although, I'm detecting far more from the red aura. Griffin Everfall wins the power tie."

"WHAT?!" Tony screamed.

"I'm not one to boast, but…" Griffin started.

"I will kick your ass on the training field!" Tony shouted.

Wes touched the orb with his paw. His aura was much stronger than Tony's, though it nearly crawled over Griffin's aura, whose natural aggression seemed to win him the power tie. Wes sighed and accepted the loss with more grace. "Well, I shouldn't be surprised. Griffin's pretty strong."

Griffin bowed to Wes. "Your words are appreciated."

Tony rolled his eyes. "Suck-up…"

Ella leaned on the dining table. "Well, I guess Griffin will be your opponent, Queen Margo."

Margo smirked. "Not just yet." She waggled her finger, then pointed straight at Gwyn. "She still needs to test her aura."

Gwyn blinked, then held her hands up and laughed. "Oh no, I'm nowhere near as strong as Griffin. He'd beat me in a second if he wanted to."

"No, no, I insist. This is to demonstrate the magical potential of all of you."

Ella gave Gwyn a light nudge. "Hey, come on, just touch it. Humor the queen a bit."

Gwyn looked apprehensively at the orb, then smiled. "Well, I guess it can't hurt." She reached out and set her hand atop the orb.

It took a few seconds for a reaction to occur. Slowly, a green light poked through the mishmash of aura lingering within the orb. As Gwyn expected, not much occurred, though she sighed in relief for it.

She grinned awkwardly at the queen. "S-See? I told you my aura wasn't all that-" She blinked curiously as Margo placed on some sunglasses. "Um, what are you-?"

"AH! Gwyn!" Wes suddenly yelled.

"Huh?!" She looked at the orb and gasped as it progressively grew brighter and brighter, soon enveloping her and all her friends in a blinding green light. "AH! What did I do?!"

The entire dining hall illuminated with the light of the orb. It was too bright to see, even if their backs were to the item. In a burst of panic, Gwyn slapped the orb and sent it to the floor. A loud crack echoed through the hall, with the light quickly fading along with it.

Gwyn collapsed into a chair and clasped her hands of her racing heart, breathing quickly and sharply. Flint immediately came to her side and patted her back. Meanwhile, Wes, Tony, and Griffin stared at the orb in surprise.

"Her godly aura…" Tony muttered. "Holy shit…I knew she was powerful, but…that was more than just outclassing us as individuals."

Griffin glared at Margo. "You said that orb looks into the magic we manifest at the surface…and the magic hidden in our reserves."

Margo smirked. "The reason you possess so much, Everfall, is because of the curious nature of your Emotion Anima. Able to absorb the emotional energy of anyone you've killed. Rage, specifically. The orb read through the reserves AND what's being kept under lock and key by your limiter.

"But…it pales in comparison to the potential of this young lady." Gwyn looked up, eyes wide with shock, then stared at the queen for answers. "Gwyn Belladonna…you and your team admit you aren't the strongest of your group. Your combat experience leaves much to be desired, yes, as well as your naivety." She raised her finger. "However…you possess untapped power that raises you above that of us mere mortals. The depths of your reserves are so vast, not even you could acknowledge how deep they run.

"You are incredibly talented, but you still have much to learn about yourself. That godly magic might as well be infinite…but it's not something you can easily draw out, I imagine." Margo leaned back. "Yes…in short bursts, you could. When have you used this power before?"

Gwyn's jaw tightened, then she looked away anxiously. "I…I went out of control once…I got really angry at someone…who hurt Flint…next thing I know, I…ended up using so much power that my body felt like it was going to explode. I've never experienced something like it."

Margo nodded. "…That's the side of you that you've yet to discover. Even though you are half-Legendary, you are much more than a mortal. You have a great power buried deep inside you…and you haven't tried to capitalize on it. And with the curious nature of you affinity for plants, you could very well have control of the spectrum of nature itself. You are a Daughter of Mew."

Gwyn blinked, then she clutched at her shirt. "I…I…"

Margo sighed. "You're a rare case. It's unheard of, obviously, but very, very few cases like you ever come up. The Legendaries are immortal. Sooner or later, they may find themselves mingling with us mortals and take it upon themselves to interact with them…such as cases like Mew," she noted suggestively.

Gwyn tilted her head, confused. "What do you mean?"

"YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW!" her team shouted.

"It's usually not the rulers of the world, like Dialga or Kyogre. The mischievous bunch, like Victini and Hoopa, can't help themselves to entertain mortals. Then there's the stories involving Mesprit…"

"We know," Ella interjected with a deadpan face.

"My point is…there've been very few children of the Legendaries in history. Arceus restricted these affiliations because of what it could do to our world."

"Again, we know. The last half-Legendary to be born was a child of Mesprit," Ella said.

"Mew is said to be the lifeblood of us mortals. He is the firstborn of Arceus' power, thus the very existence of us Pokémon came from him. The first of us. He is the ancestor of us all." Margo closed her eyes. "That power evolved when Gwyn was born. Born from a Lilligant and the Legendary Mew, you were granted a natural connection to the earth. You're connected to the earth and the magic that runs through it.

"You could very well have the strongest magical aura in all of Mysto."

There was a mix of reactions from everyone. It wasn't unexpected, but it certainly was a lot to take in. Gwyn wasn't even on par with Griffin or Wes in close combat, yet that said a lot to what Gwyn would be like in the future. It was quite terrifying to imagine.

Margo rested her cheek into her fist. "This is your test now, Gwyn Belladonna. Acknowledge the part of yourself you've yet to realize. That power, if handled by a matured mind, can become the greatest weapon against the enemy."

The team stood in silence, with Gwyn's teeth chattering nervously. There were only two times she can recall fighting in a one vs. one fight, and both of them did involve prior assistance. Was she ready to challenge a mage all by herself? Was she capable of controlling the godly power that rumbled deep inside of her?

Deep in her thoughts, she was barely aware of the tray set down in front of her, holding a stack of yellow, confectionary bars that intoxicated her nose. "Your lemon squares, miss!" the royal cook exclaimed.

Gwyn, face frozen in peril, picked one up and inserted it into her gaping mouth, chewing slowly. She was going to need all the comfort food she could get.