DISCLAIMER I DO NOT OWN BROTHERS CONFLICT IN ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM
Ema didn't say anything as she felt Robert's tight grip on her arm, leading her to whatever evil plan he was hoping to do that also apparently included one or more of her brothers. How she wanted nothing more than to grab Robert by the arm and fling him to the ground, much like Chrissy had with her attacker at the reception.
She looked out of the corner of her eye and saw Juli on her shoulder, looking equally mad and on edge.
"Juli," she whispered.
"Ready for an attack?" Juli whispered back, getting ready to launch himself.
"No, I just wanted to ask, if need be, you can help my brothers, right?" Ema asked.
"You want me to help one of thoae wolves?" Juli moaned.
"Please?" Ema begged.
"Fine, I'll try, but you're my first priority in a crisis!" Juli agreed.
"Thank you," Ema said.
"No talking back there!" Robert ordered, "you try anything with your little rodent and I'm having squirrel pie for dinner!"
Juli hissed at him.
"I mean! I will cook him and eat him if he tries something! I'll even make you eat a piece for giggles!" Robert warned.
"Sorry," Ema said softly. She felt a tighter grip on her arm.
'I bet if Chrissy was here, she would have broken his hand by now!' she thought.
Tsubaki kept staring at the man still pointing a gun at him. He tried looking for an opening or something to either get out of the way or to subdue the gunman.
Bea sat on the couch also trying to figure something to get Tsubaki out of herr or take out the gunman and his cronie.
She was suddenly distracted by the slightest tapping sound coming from the window. She carefully and casually turned her head to look and see what was making the noise.
"A squirrel?" she whispered out loud.
"What?" the second gaurd snapped.
"Uh, I thought I heard something weird comimg from the window," Bea said, trying to remain cool.
"The window?" the second gaurd said as he walked over to it.
"Yeah, but you probably shouldn't mess with it," Bea tried to advised.
"Yeah, whatever!" The gaurd said as he opened the window, "what's going on out here..., AH!"
He stumbled back crazy as a squirrel attached itself to his face, scratching and pulling at his hair.
"What the hell?!" the gunman shouted as he and Tsubaki turned and looked at the commotion.
It was then they and Bea all heard some more chirping and and saw two more squirrels dive bombimg into the room with determined looks. All the while a third looked like it was giving a whistle before jumping in as well, followed by at least 8 more squirrels. Five more went and joined the first in attacking the second gaurd while the other six charged at the gunman.
"Whoa-whoa-whoa! What the hell!" the gunman managed to shout before he too became overcome by squirrels.
"Whoa," Tsubaki said as he watched the carnage. "Never thought I'd actually cheer on squirrels attacking!"
"Let's go!" Bea shouted as she grabbed Tsubaki's hand and pulled him to the door.
"Where do we go?!" Tsubaki asked, "I should go look for Ema!"
"Oh, I don't know," Bea said, "we're in no condition to take on Robert and his other men. I suggest we find a place ro re-group and find some weapons to take him on!"
"Lady Bea! This way!" the two suddenly heard one of Lady Lilac's grandsons call out.
"Owen?" Bea said.
"In here quick!" Owen urged gesturing to his room. Bea and Tsubaki decided to trust him and follow him. Insides was Lady Lilac and Andrew, with Andrew feeling around the walls.
"Are you sure it's in here Granny?" he was asking.
"Of course! You think my father wouldn't take precautions for situations like this?! We're going to have to use them now that there's a war!" Lady Lilac insisted.
"What's going?" Bea asked.
"Great-Granny insisting there's a secret passage or something. She's having Andrew look for it to help get you guys out of here!" Owen explained.
"Really? Nice!" Bea said.
"Don't worry dear, your auntie will protect you from the Nazis," Lilac said.
"But I have to help find my brothers and Ema!" Tsubaki tried to insist.
"Don't worry, I think the palace gaurds are on to what's up, and issued a Code 69. Plus Great-Granny is having us help where need by, like right now," Owen said, "it's almost like she knew what was about to happen and that's why she insisted on coming!"
"What?" Tsubaki and Bea said right as Andrew suddenly called out.
"I think I found it!"
He pulled back at a painting to reveal a complete hidden hallway.
"Whoa, cool!" Bea said as she observed it.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Tsubaki asked.
"Elaina, you tell your boy toy your grandfather made sure they were safe beyond all reason!" Lady Lilac snapped.
"My grandfather, right," Bea said snarky.
"And besides your father had them inspected and made sure they're in tip top shape in case of emergency evacuation!" Lady Lilac added.
"Yeah, but, now?" Tsubaki whispered.
"Don't worry, just stay straight and you'll get out in no time," Lady Lilac said.
"Outside?" Tsubaki asked, "could they also lead us to other parts of the palace?"
"Oh course, but right now you need to evacuate with Nazis invading and all," said Lady Lilac.
"Sure," said Bea.
"Here," Owen said handing her a flashlight, "so you can see better."
"Thanks," Bea said before has started walking into the tunnel.
"And if you want," Andrew also said, as he held up a gun for Tsubaki. "Granny had us bring our whole set, only we didn't know why at first. Now it seems there's a purpose."
Tsubaki looked reluctant to the idea of taking the weapon.
"You don't have to take it if you don't want to, just be extra careful," Andrew assured him.
"I gues I'll take it for now," Tsubaki decided as he carefully took it.
"Hurry, before they come looking for you!" Lady Lilac suddenly ordered loudly, "protect my niece young man! She maybe be second in line but she's still an heir to the throne!"
"Don't worry I will," Tsubaki assured her as he finally walked into the tunnel after Bea. They both watched as Andrew and Owen shut the door behind them.
"Well, let's get going," Bea said as she hurried along. "Once we get outside we maybe try and figure out a plan." However she noticed Tsubaki wasn't following. Instead he was looking around the hallway, noticing the different routs in and around them.
"Tsubaki?"
"She said these tunnels go all over the palace, right?" He asked.
"You want to go find and rescue Ema, huh?" Bea asked.
"Or my brothers. They said they're in danger too," said Tsubaki. Bea shone her flashlight down a few of the the other openings.
"Well, what do you want to do then? Because we can't just stay here," she pointed out.
"Right," said Tsubaki, "I guess the safest bet would to at least follow the way the Lady said, straight. Maybe that way we can see how many openings and or figure out the how this thing works."
"Okay," Bea said as she patted Tsubaki's shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll help save Ema and your brothers. I promise."
"So what made you want a career in politics?" Masaomi asked Erica.
"I guess I just like the idea of being charged. Being in control. To know I had a say in how something happened," Erica said, "Kind of comes from being a middle child of 8, especially when your parents are divorced and you're the one that has to go in between homes all the time."
"Ah, that must of been tough," Masaomi concured.
"Eh, at least no went out of their way to treat me bad, other than the standard sibling rivalry and standard family drama," said Erica.
"Oh , I'm well aware of all that," Masaomi agreed. Both he and Erica shared another smile, until Masaomi happened to look over Erica's shoulder to see the butler who had waited on them returning with a tray of water. He also noticed a few men in the background watching them.
'Who are they?' Masaomi thought.
"Good news, the chefs are preparing a delicious meal for the two of you and it should be ready in twenty minutes or so," sais the butler.
"Oh good," said Erica.
"Yes," Masaomi said, even though he was paying more attention to the two spectators off in the background.
"Something wrong Master Masaomi?" the butler asked.
"Is there a reason those men are watching us?" Masaomi asked cautious.
"Hmm?" the butler asked as he turned around. "Oh, them. Come on over gentlemen."
"Well so much for plan A," said one of the men as he and his partner came out of their hiding place and walked towards the couple.
"That's okay, we can try the direct approach," said the other man, as both reached into their jackets and each pulled out a gun.
"What is going on here?!" Erica asked in a panic.
"What are you doing?!" Masaomi demanded as he stood up.
"Easy sir, there's no need for violence," said one of the men, "these are a mere precaution. We just like you to come with us."
"Do I have a choice in the matter?" Masaomi asked.
"Oh sure, of course," said the leader as he came closer, "you can chose to come willingly or by force. Take your pick."
"Hey you have no right!" Erica started to say.
"Hey shut up bitch!" the second man snapped pointing his gun against her head.
"Hey now, we're trying to do this peacefully remember?" said his partner.
"Well I can peacefully shoot her in the head no problem!"
"No, no, I don't want to resolve to violence with this unless it's absolutely necessary," the leader kept insisting.
However neithe he, his partner, or the butler noticed the newcomer sneaking onto the terrace. Nor did they see him picking up a chair.
They only barely started to notice as the new comer swung the chair at the butler, knocking him down!
"What the hell?" the leader shouted as he barely noticed the butler fall over when the new attacker charged at him with the chair causing him to fall down as well, pined down by the chair.
"Hey!" the partner started to yell looking away from Masaomi for a brief second. It was then Masaomi took full advantage and grabbed a chair as well, using it to knock the second guy out as well.
"Dave?!" the leader called out still under his chair.
"Shut up!" his attacker ordered.
"Alex?" Erica said in shock. "What are you doing here?!"
"Heard these goones going on about going after the princess' brothers," Alex explained as he kept the other man pinned down, "figured I should stick around in case things got messy and needed help."
"Well it's a good thing you did," said Masaomi, "thank you. But what was that about going after the princess' brothers?"
"Just what I said, they're coming after you guys! Why and what they're planning on doing to you, I have no clue. But I doubt it's good," said Alex. He looked down at his captive. "You want to share anything?"
"Not particularly!" the man snapped mad.
"Then you're of no help!" Alex declared as he punched the man out.
"Was that neccisarry?" asked Masaomi.
"I'm not a interrogator," Alex said casually, "you should get out of here thoug."
"I got to find my brothers!" Masaomi insisted.
"How are you going to do that with all these assholes running around trying to kill you?" Alex asked
"I don't know, but I have to find them! And Ema!" .
"What's that?" Erica suddenly asked as all three heard a squeaking sound and also noticed a part of the outside wall opening just a bit and Tsubaki and Bea walking out.
"Tsubaki!" Masaomi shouted as he ran to his brother.
"Masa!" Tsubaki shouted sounding relieved to see him. "Thank God you're alright!"
"You too! Do you know where any of the others are?" Masaomi.
"No, but we're all in trouble!" Tsubaki started to say.
"Yeah, I know," Masaomi said looking back at his three attackers.
"Oh damn!" Tsubaki muttered looking at the three scatterd bodies.
"Why don't you 4 get back inside this tunnel thing and find a place to hide or something?" Alex suggested as he tried ushering everyone in.
"We can't do that! We have to find our other brothers! I know Wataru's over at the stables! And I think Azusa's there too! And Subaru's over at the gym practicing!" Masaomi insisted.
Alex looked around with a sigh, "look, these goon guys don't know who I am. I can probably go find and help your brothers without suspicion okay? You guys got to stay safe for now!"
"Maybe he's right," said Tsubaki, "these tunnels go all over the palace. Maybe we can use them to go around and find if any of the others are inside."
"Okay, okay, I guess," Masaomi agreed reluctantly.
"If I find any of them, I'll send them through this tunnel thing too," Alex assured them.
"Thanks," said Masaomi, "Erica, are you coming? Erica?"
Everyone looked back to see Erica busy using both the goones and the butler's jackets and belts to tie the men together in some unusual ways.
"Make it harder for them to go after anyone once they come to," she explained as she also took the goons' guns.
"Clever," Masaomi praised.
"Now get in there fast!" Alex once again ordered. The four hurried inside.
"And don't worry, I'll try and find those other three brothers!"
"Thank you!" Masaomi told him.
Alex nodded, "I hated loosing my brother. I wouldn't want to see anyone else suffer like that."
Masaomi and Tsubaki both nodded before they disappeared into the tunnel with Bea and Erica and Alex shut the door-wall behind. He then hurried off towards the stables.
'No one's going to lose a brother today! Not while I'm here!' he thought.
"Okay Wind Storm, I think we've had enough," Wataru declared as he managed to get off his horse. Wind Storm nuzzled him with his face. Wataru giggled.
"I love you too buddy," Wataru said as he patted Wind Storm's neck. He then grabbed Wind Strom's reins to lead him back to the stables.
However, Wataru stopped in his tracks when he saw two strange men walking towards him. Something about them suggested they weren't nice.
"Hi buddy," one said, "having fun?"
"Sure," Wataru said as he tried stepping back , a little behind Wind Storm.
"Hey, how would you like to come have some fun with us?" the other asked.
"No, sorry, but my brothers always said never to talk or go anywhere with stangers," Wataru replied as he tried hiding a little more behind his horse.
"Oh we're hardly strangers, we work here at the palace. Now come, we know something really fun to do.".
"No!" Wataru insisted.
"Look kid, you either come with us or..."
The two goones and Wataru were suddenly surprised when Wind Strom reared up on his back legs with a loud neigh. As he came down, he planted his feet right down in front of the men as though he was guarding Wataru from them.
"Is it just me or does this horse look mad?" one of goones asked.
Wind Storm snorted and stomped his foot, as though he was getting ready to charge at the men.
"Okay, easy there boy," the second gaurd tried to calm Wind Storm down.
"I'll see if I get around him, get to the boy," his partner said as he slowly tried sneaking around Wind Storm. Wind Storm however responded by rearing up on his hind legs and then planted himself down in front of the man.
"Whoa!" the man shouted as he stumbled back.
"Okay, this horse is causing us nothing but trouble! What do we do?" his partner asked.
"We could take out the horse I guess," the leader replied as he reached inside his jacket.
Wind Storm reared up again, neighing loudly and when he planted his feet down again, each front hoof landed on one of the goones' own feet.
"Ah!" both moaned in pain.
"Damn it!" one shouted mad.
"I think it might be broken!" the other screeched as he tried walking on it.
"Wind Storm, are you ok?" Wataru asked.
Wind Storm looked back at his friend with what looked like a serious expression and then knelt down. Almost as though he was trying to get Wataru to climb back on him.
"Um, okay," Wataru agreed as he climbed back up onto the horse.
"Hey, what are they doing?!" one of the goons asked as he noticed Wataru mounting his horse again.
Wind Storm neighed at them one more time before running fast away.
"Whoa Wind Storm! Whoa!" Wataru tried to steady him. He had never seen Wind Storm take off like this.
Wind Storm however didn't stop. If anything he seemed to be going faster, running towards the fence.
"Wind Storm?!" Wataru shouted as they near the fence. Suddenly Wind Storm leaped up into the air and managed to jump right over the fence.
"Whoa!" Wataru shouted as he flew and came to a steady landing with Wind Storm outside of the chorale.
"Ah, damn it!" one his attackers shouted from still inside the gated field. Wataru looked back and saw the two starngers limping as fast as as they could across the field.
"Come on Wind Storm, let's get out of here!" Wataru said to his horse. Wind Storm grunted as though agreeing and took off running.
However he stopped when a new man came running up looking around.
"Whoa, you okay there kid?" he asked, "you one of the princess' brothers?"
"Maybe," Wataru said a hostile. The new man didn't look as bad as the ones back in the field, but Wataru didn't want to take any risks.
The man pulled out badge from his pocket and showed it to Wataru.
"My name's Alex Mayter, I work at the House of Council. I work with some of your brothers' friends, Erica and Hannah. Erica's with your brother Masaomi and I think another brother, he has like white hair? They went hiding in like some sort of hidden passage way within the palace walls," he tried to explain.
Wataru looked at him a little skeptic. Wind Storm almost seemed to be sharing the same look.
"I told them I'd come find you since there's a few evil men trying to find you and your other brothers," Alex continued to explain.
"Yeah we know," Wataru said looking back out to the feild where his attackers we struggling to move.
"Oh wow," said Alex, "look, if you go to the terrace, there's a part of the wall that opens up. I left it just a smidge open just in case. You go find that and get inside. You'll find Masaomi your other brother and Erica and Lady Beatrice in there, okay? I'm going to go find some of your other brothers. I promised Masaomi I would."
"Which ones?!" Wataru asked worried.
"Azusa and Subaru I think he said. Look just get to the wall! Get yourself safe!" Alex ordered.
"I am safe! I have Wind Storm! He protected me against those men!" Wataru insisted.
"Okay, but I promise your brothers I'd make you're safe! Don't make me be a promise breaker okay kid?"
"Well, alright," Wataru agreed as he made Wind Storm move towards the terrace. He looked back around at Alex looking around the stables.
"What do you think Wind Storm? Think we should maybe try to help by patrolling the grounds? It's what a real knight would do, right?"
Wind Storm once again snorted in agreement.
"Let's go! We're not afraid!" Wataru cheered as he turn his horse around back to the stables.
Iori and Jane ran down the hallway fast holding hands.
"I always knew Lord Robert would try something like this, but I didn't think I'd have to witness it! Let alone be a part of it!" Jane cried scared.
"I'm sorry Jane. I wish I didn't have to bring you into this!" Iori said sadly.
"I didn't say that I had any regrets!" Jane replied. "I'm with you till the end Iori!"
"Thank you," Iori said a little softly.
"I think they went down here!" a loud voice suddenly shouted.
"Is that them?!" Jane asked scared, gripping Iori's hand tight.
"I don't think I should have left Louis!" Iori muttered, "who knows what they're doing to him!"
"But we can't go back! Those other guys are right behind us!" Jane cried.
"You're right!" Iori agreed reluctantly. "Let's keep going! We need to find Richard or another gaurd."
He kept pulling Jand along not sure where they were fully going. They could still hear ther pursuers behind them trying to catch them.
"Where do we go?" Jane asked as they came to the top of the stairs.
Iori looked around. "Uh...,"
"They're they are!"
Jane gasped as a man came up the stairs fast. Iori grabbed her hand again and took off fast.
"You won't get away from us!" he shouted as he and his partner ran after them.
Iori and Jane ran and ran suddenly have their path blocked by two new men.
Iori came to a sudden stop.
"Okay guys, that's far enoug," one said as he and his companion pulled out a gun each. Iori was scared at first until he realized the new men were walking around him and Jane and pointing their guns at the men chasing them.
"Get insdie that room, you'll be safe there!" one of the men ordered.
Iori and Jane decided to dash in where they saw an old lady in a wheelchair rocking back and forth. She looked at Iori and Jane.
"Who are you? Are you one of Katherine's boys? No wait, I know this young woman. Your Iris' daughter aren't you?"
"Huh?"Jane and Iori asked.
"Okay, in there!" Iori and Jane lookrd behind them to see their saviors forcing their attackers into the room at gun point.
"Oh good work boys. You caught some of those Nazis roaming around the palace," said the old woman.
"What is going on?" Iori asked.
"I'm assuming your one of Princess Ema's brothers?" asked one of the saviors, right as he and his partner knocked the captors out.
"This is Lady Lilac, one of her older relatives and we're her great-grandsons Andrew and Owen," said the other.
"Oh," Iori said, still a little confused.
"Follow us," Owen advised as he went over to a picture and pulled at it, revealing the secret tunnel.
"Whoa, no way! I always these were just a myth!" said Jane.
"Myth! You're great-grandfather worked hard to make these and your grandfather kept them in shap!" Lady Lilac snapped.
"What?" Jane asked.
"She must think you're a daughter of one of Queen Katherine's sisters, Elaina or Iris," Andrew explained.
"Of course she's one of Iris' girls. She has that look," said Lady Lilac.
"Anyway," Owen said, "if you use this you should be able to get out of here safe. We were able to help your brother Tsubaki escape."
"You help Tsubaki escape?" Iori asked, "do you know anything about my other brothers?"
"Afraid not, but we're keeping our eyes open," Andrew assured him as he handed Jane a flashlight.
"Here, you can have this too," Owen added offering Iori a gun.
"I don't know if I can take that," said Iori.
"I can, I'll take it to protect you!" Jane said as she handed Iori the flashlight and took the gun for herself.
"Thanks, I guess," said Iori as he headed into the tunnel, "let's go! Hopefully we can find Tsubaki at least."
"We'll do what we can here," said Andrew.
"Thank you, good luck," said Iori as he and Jane hurried in.
"You as well," Owen called back as he shut the door. He looked down at Andrew who was securing the two goones.
"I hope the gaurds can help get things under control soon," he said.
"Relax boys! Nazis do not intimidat Elence Royalty!" Lady Lilac assured him, "my brother stood up to them! Katherine did too! It's in the blood. Good will overcome!"