[Attention: The phone speech icon has been changed.]
[That is all, enjoy.]
It was morning in the prestigious academy of magic, and a few days have passed from the fight that took place close to Tarbes.
Not many Noble students were currently in the academy, due to them leaving after the declaration of war happened, which caused the Headmaster to cancel classes till further notice.
Not that the fact prevents a very specific group from enjoying the sunny day outside at the courtyard.
Around a table and enjoying a cup of tea each, sits Aristidis, Louise who currently holds the pink ball that is Kirby around her arms happily, Charlotte, Kirche, and Siesta who wears her everyday clothing instead of her maid uniform this time, and who apparently decided to leave the village earlier and come back in the academy along with them the previous days, with Jerry the brown mouse sitting at the part of the table diagonally from her as he enjoys from a plate a normal sized toast, filled with what a toast is usually filled with, and with the maid Cinderella being nearby and ready to serve them, while across the main cast sit two pitch-black, mouthless figures.
The first one is quite short, and he seems to lack any and all facial features other than a pair of eyes, wearing a uniform that consists of a Roman-esque Galea helmet adorned with a large, red brush, an armored fauld resembling a skirt, metal armbands, white gloves, and basketball sneakers.
And as for the one right next to him, she is of average height, long, white hair that reaches till the waist, purple eyes, a violet marking across her nose and cheekbones, possesses a hourglass figure, wears an outfit reminiscent of ancient Egyptian royalty, featuring a golden bikini top connected to a big golden necklace, a semi-translucent purple skirt with a golden belt that has a green gemstone in the middle, and matching purple high heels. [Martian Commander X-2 Marvin and Queen Tyr'ahnee from Duck Dodgers, in all of their pitch-black and mouthless glory.]
"And that is how my endless love for him began." Tyr'ahnee tells them as she looks upward to the side with both hands placed together in front of her chest while reminiscing of the moment she was speaking about just before the start of the episode.
The girls sweat drop at it, while the Commander folds his arms frustrated as he looks down at his tea and quietly mumbling angrily to himself due to the known fact.
Kirche decides to speak her confused mind. "Not that I don't understand the feeling, your highness, but you do understand he is a duck, right?"
The Martian queen raises an eyebrow while turning to look at her. "Your point being?"
"N-Nevermind." The redhead responds while raising her hands forward defensively, realizing how much of an offence that would cause if she kept it up.
Aristidis lift his cup close to his mouthless part. "Love takes many forms, girls. You can't expect it to always be the common and expected kind for everyone." Explains as he takes a sip.
Tyr'ahnee points at him with an upside down hand and a happy expression. "Exactly as the Storyteller tells. Love for people like you and I, can be only the most special kind."
Everyone sweat drops at the way she misinterpreted his words, with a small chuckle of amusement escaping Aristidis for that reason.
"Alright understood, but a question though." Siesta begins curiously as she looks at all the three pitch-black and mouthless people at the table. "Are you sure you are not related in any way?"
There is a short silence for a moment as everyone else just looks at her, till the Storyteller raises an eyebrow. "Wow, racist much, Siesta?"
"Shame." Marvin adds a bit offended.
The black-haired girl realizes herself, and troubled moves her now lifted hands from side to side in front of her. "I-I didn't mean to offend, I'm so sorry!"
Aristidis chuckles while moving a dismissive hand forward. "It's ok, my sweet girl, I know you didn't intend as much. Seriously though, you might want to think your words carefully before voicing them, as to avoid offending someone who is more than likely to take it to heart."
"Yes, dear, I will!" Siesta immediately responds with a nod of her head, wanting to show she learned her lesson so the others she is to meet in the future will not see her as inappropriate.
The pitch-black Storyteller looks at everyone with a kind expression. "Anyway, as you have learned, the official coronation of Princess Henrietta will take place in Tristania in a few hours from now in the form of a small parade, and I hope you are all as excited as I am."
"I sure am!" The pink-haired girl says while raising a hand up to the air out of said excitement for a moment, with Kirby mimicking the gesture.
The Martian queen frowns mildly. "Wait, are you telling me that they are making a parade for the crown, but not for you and your many deeds along with it? You have literally given them everything they could ask for, repelled a great threat to their kingdom, and that is how they decide to thank you?"
The girls look at one another as they realize the fact, and feel concerned as to how Aristidis will think of it.
Aristidis though appears unbothered as he raises his head. "Please. Considering the very things I did for them, earning me the greatest of fames, a parade would pale in comparison. And they definitely understand that, so it is only logical to put their focus at the next most important thing."
Louise and the rest of the girls chat with one another, liking how open minded he is, even if fueled mostly by his pride.
"Maybe, but there is also another thing that I don't quite get. Why did you not continue advancing after beating the enemy's army?" Tyr'ahnee questions seriously.
The Martian Commander begins counting his fingers as he states the following facts to him. "You could easily invade their territory by summoning more troops they will be unable to defend against, crush the said enemy completely, and have their lands as yours."
"The agreement with Tristain was for one battle only." The Storyteller explains. "Now they are on their own, with the extra Tome Soldiers, the Tome Cleaning Crew, infinite resources provided by Atom Eve, chocolate and appropriate for the age recipes, and Iroh with his son Lu Ten posing as personal Tome Bodyguards for the for now Princess, who are more than capable at dealing with possible dangers together on their own." Says while counting his fingers with each of the new things and general help they have, before beginning to stir his tea-cup through slight circling movements. "And you already know how I have no need for more than I already have."
Louise sweat drops. "You just name everything that comes from the Tome Tome-something, don't you?"
He looks at her. "When it comes to me, everything and everyone gets the appropriate way to be called and considered as. Heck, I did so with you all."
That gets Kirche's interest. "In what way?"
Aristidis begins as he points with his cup at each. "Well, you are gorgeous. You are beautiful. You are cute." The first goes to the redhead, the second to the black-haired girl, and the third to the blue-haired girl, with all three of them blushing happily at how he sees them.
"And you, are absolutely adorable!" He lastly says while pinching delighted with his other hand the pink-haired girl's cheek.
Louise gets embarrassed, and upset slaps his hand off her, while proceeding to slap him a few more times on his arm, with him moving it a bit defensively close to him out of amusement. "Stop doing that already, you...!"
After she lets out a groan of frustration, she stops while folding her arms and looking away from him.
The pitch-black Storyteller with a happy face turns againbat Tyr'ahnee. "And there you have it, queen of Mars."
"All I truly care about is focusing on my enjoyable, peaceful days ahead, and on the beautiful ladies sitting right next to me, of course." He says while eyeing them mischievously with the corner of his eye, which causes Louise to blush while still keeping her head looking to the side embarrassed but secretly happy, Charlotte who simply blushes, Kirche who blushes while moving her upper half from side to side with her hand at her cheek happily, and Siesta who blushes and smiles.
"Just like we enjoyed the solar eclipse the two moons offered the day after the battle." Aristidis adds, with a flashback showing the group back at Tarbes, along with all the villagers, using special goggles to look at the said phenomenon at the sky above as it happens.
"It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!" The black-haired girl exclaims the emotion she felt back then.
"After me, of course." He adds proudly.
The Martian queen that moment moves her hand forward in a quick, dismissive manner to supposedly break the flashback as if it was a cloud of smoke, while still appearing rather unsatisfied with his answer. "Back on topic. Why you even think you will have as much, taking into consideration how much of a possible threat you showed yourself to be to the other kingdoms around this world that have definitely learned about that little demonstration of yours just a few days ago? I say conquer the planet and be done with it just to be sure. That is what I would do."
"You're absolutely right, my queen." Marvin nods in agreement with what his queen said.
"I will still let things be for now, see how they move on." The mouthless Storyteller simply responds just before taking another sip from his cup, and then turns with a really pleased expression to Louise. "Oh by the way, let us not forget that incredible snipe Louise performed, which scored her the killing blow upon Wardes! Even Legolas himself was impressed, and knowing the expert of a long-shot that it's he, that speaks at such level that it could be considered I dare say godlike! You have truly turned out to be something amazing, my dear! Bravo to you!"
The rest clap their hands in response, applauding in their own volumes for the pink-haired girl who blushes with a smile.
But then that smile the very next moment turns upside-down into a saddened expression. "Thank you for your good words, everyone, and I am sure it is indeed great what I did back then, but... I honestly don't feel that way about it." Says the last part while lowering her head a bit.
Her friends appear concerned, with the two Martians confused, but Aristidis is mostly curious. "How so, dearie?"
Louise stays as she is for a moment, before deciding to elaborate while looking at him with a serious expression. "After I saw Wardes trying to get away that day, I felt something seething within me. All I was thinking about was the terrible things he did."
Her face then turns into a mix of both serious and mild anger. "I could not just let him go and inflict the very pain I felt to someone else, so I took things into my own hands to be sure."
The Storyteller nods with understanding, with the rest sharing the feeling. "Obviously, and you did well on that, so shouldn't you feel good for it?"
"That's the thing!" The pink-haired girl yells upset, much to everyone's surprise, and then appears troubled as she looks down at the palms of her hands. "I felt good for doing that... I shouldn't feel good for such a thing, yet I did!" Says the last bit while clenching her now tightened fists, with Kirby touching for the moment one of them with his stubby hand out of compassion.
Aristidis raises an eyebrow seemingly confused. "For the exceptional snipe?"
Louise looks at him upset. "For taking a life!"
"Ahh-" He begins upon understanding what she meant, before his expression turns unconcerned. "Well, considering the severity of that man's many misdeeds together, it is only natural for you to feel pleased with taking care of him."
"A-Are you for real with this?" She asks him with great disbelief, never expecting him to be alright with such thing.
"What? It is not like you gleefully celebrated his death like a truly evil person would or anything, right?" The pitch-black Storyteller rhetorically questions, and then elaborates further. "I mean, don't get me wrong, having to kill someone is never a nice thing to do. But when it comes to war and survival, it is completely justified, and in most cases a must. And his case deserved at least as much, so course you will feel good about it." He explains.
The pink-haired girl is unsure. On the one hand he makes a valid point, but on the other she still can't help but feel uneasy at seeing her feeling pleased with one's death as normal, even if that one was someone as despicable as Wardes.
"Now, if there is something you should feel bad for, is about stealing my kill." Aristidis begins, drawing her now confused attention, before leaning a bit closer to and pointing his finger accusingly at her, which makes her lean slightly back while raising both hands next to her defensively. "I was THAT close to do it personally in one of the most insane ways possible, and then your unexpected shot happened."
"I-I didn't know, honest!" She responds troubled.
The rest of the girls, mostly, laugh with a sweat drop at the exchange, but still with some genuine amusement.
Tyr'ahnee on the other hand was confused about something. "Not that I want to interrupt you two, but I will need you to elaborate about what you said earlier, Storyteller. What you meant by saying let things be and see how they move on?"
"I am currently testing a very specific trait of theirs." The pitch-black Storyteller answers vaguely while focusing on his now raised cup, with what he said confusing everyone even more.
"Trait?" Charlotte questions with a raised eyebrow.
The Martian queen raises an eyebrow of her own at him. "And that is?"
He brings the cup close and about to take a sip. "That is-"
Before he completes, the ringtone that is the music Swan Lake, by Tchaikovsky possibly, begins sounding from him, interrupting him, and causing everyone's startled confusion, before he proceeds then to pull from behind him a phone, which shows him Henrietta's name on the screen, much to his curious surprise. "Oh. Just a moment, everybody, need to take this one."
After saying that, he teleports himself instantly at the top of one of the five towers, most likely the Void one since no one really visits it, and presses the button to answer the call and places it on his ear.
(=H-Hello?=) The Princess's voice is heard from the phone, rather awkwardly due to not being used speaking to one of those.
"Hello to you too, our esteemed Majesty!" Aristidis replies happily. "To what do I owe this pleasant, surprise call of yours?"
The scene then moves to the royal palace at Tristania, where Henrietta is seen alone in her bedroom and seated upon the end of her bed, who is wearing a royal dress of white and soft violet colors, but mostly white, and who smiles for being able to use her new phone properly to reach Aristidis.
(=If it is about whether we will come to the coronation or not, know that I will feel quite insulted at the very thought.=) The Storyteller tells her through the phone.
"N-No, nothing like that." The Princess responds with a sweat drop, before her face turns somewhat serious. "I have a serious need for your advice on a specific subject. Are you alone?"
(=Oh-ho-HO! We are playing the role of the unofficial royal advisor today it would seem.=) He says with obvious joy in his voice at the fact. (=No one listens, you may speak freely.=)
She takes a deep breath, trying to fight the anxiety she feels, and somewhat determined proceeds to ask. "As a ruler to another... How do you force the cancelation of one's coronation for some time, without causing any problems to their kingdom as a result?"
The scene cuts back to Aristidis, who appears surprised for a moment, having not expected such a question at all.
It doesn't take him long to connect the dots however, and brings forth his assumption. "Let me guess. You ask as much due to the obvious reason that the moment you become Queen, you will not have the kind of freedom you used to have, which includes the sneaking-out opportunities, since you will have far greater responsibility toward your people and everything of concern. Correct?"
(=Yes.=) Henrietta answers, having great hope in being given a solution to that.
The pitch-black Storyteller stays silent for a moment, his expression neutral. "Could you step toward your window and open it for a moment, please?"
The scene then cuts to the Princess, who is confused with his strange request, but gets up to proceed in doing it anyway. "O-Ok..."
After approaching her window, she unlocks it, opens it, and as soon notices there, much to her startled surprise, standing in front of her the ghostly form of a very tall, muscular, attractive, and serious-looking young man with black eyes, black spiky and well-kept haircut which downturns and leans to his right, and wears an outfit that consists of a white undershirt, a black jacket and pants, and armor covering crucial points such as the chest and joints. [Seiya Ryuuguuin from Cautious Hero, here, even in a sense, to do one of the things he is well-known for.]
Just before Henrietta even utters a word, she instantly receives a strong slap across the face, which forces her back and down onto the floor sidewardly, with her phone being launched upward as a result, and with the ghostly Seiya simply catching it while on its way down.
As she puts a hand on her now hurting and red cheek, he presses a button on the phone, and places it in a standing position right before he pops out of existence.
(=Excuse my manners, but are you absolutely out of your mind?!=) The now magnified voice of Aristidis and full of disapproval draws her surprised attention.
The Princess surely did not expect that kind of treatment from him.
(=Listen. I understand that you feel pressured with everything currently bothering your mind, but you cannot just avoid this as if it was nothing important.=) He calmly explains. (=You have to think of all those people who look up to you. Who depend on you. Who have you in their minds as a benevolent and caring figure. Are you seriously telling me you are suddenly going to turn your back on them for your own selfish reasons? Put yourself into their position, and tell me if you would like that.=)
Henrietta is put into thought about it, and then lowers her head, both frustrated and sad because as much as she hates it, she understands he is right.
(=Also, why would you even think your freedom will be taken, is beyond me.=) The Storyteller tells her, drawing her confused attention. (=Do you forget the fact you were given so much to make life easier in your kingdom? Maybe the extra help you had against your foes? Or what you are doing right now with the phone? Free communication with someone as great as I is not exactly what one would think as an everyday possibility, you know.=) Voices the last part mostly in a lecturing manner.
She thinks about it more carefully, and sees once more how right he is, while also feeling kind of silly for not properly understanding it sooner.
(=Now, how about we leave the utterly nonsensical parts, and tell me what actually troubles your mind, so I may offer you my proper advice?=) He asks, showing his mildly but still friendly willingness to listen.
The Princess stays for a moment longer upon the floor, till she decides to get up and go sit down at the side of her bed while keeping her hand onto her still in pain cheek, leaving the phone standing where it is, her expression now saddened. "I'm sorry for before. To be honest, it is not just for what you guessed a moment ago which was troubling me. It is the war. I remember almost every moment of my day what happened to Wales, and it pains me every time so much..."
She tries to keep her feelings in as much as possible, and continues a bit more focused. "Just like the wise man Iroh, I as well don't want to inflict the very pain I felt back then into others. The thought of ending up responsible for causing such thing is... Please, tell me there is a way to resolve this without any bloodshed." She practically begs him while placing both her hands together before her.
There is a silence from him for a moment, and then Aristidis begins after thinking about it. (=As much as I understand, I cannot offer any ideas that will not result to that. You have their leader, yes, but do not forget that Reconquista is officially a kingdom of rebels, who can easily change leadership if certain criteria exist, and I know from a fact that they do, but will explain no further. Simply know that they cannot be expected to be diplomatic, so beating them into submission currently is your best option if you want your people, family, friends, and your very self to not end up in the worst possible scenario. Because if they win, there is no way corrupted men will not take the opportunity to do the things you are against. Not everyone is good, nice, and benevolent like you and I.=)
That shocks Henrietta, because she understands the ugly meaning behind those words, along with how true that is.
She knows now that she can't just selfishly keep on avoiding the crown, for everyone depends on her to ensure a bright and fair future for all under and close to her.
And if she has to fight for that to be possible, then she shall!
But there is one thing she needs to make sure of.
The Princess looks determined yet troubled at the phone. "I know you said it was going to be for just one battle... But would it be too much to request for your help whenever I feel there is a great need for it, Aristidis? No one needs to know you will still be helping, of course. We can keep it between us, if that is what you want."
(=Quite the greedy individuals we have become I see, especially considering my many gifts to you, no?=) The Storyteller asks, which troubles the Princess even more than before due to how audacious of her this is indeed.
(=But sure, I will indulge you.=) He then tells happily, causing quite the surprise to her. (=You didn't really think I will refuse you, did you? Henrietta, even you must know me better than that now.=)
Henrietta smiles brightly at that as she moves quickly off her bed and forward to crouch, grab the phone, and straighten herself up while looking at it. "Thank you, Aristidis, thank you! You have no idea how happy you make me with this! You and Louise are the only people I trust in this world, and can truly feel safe with."
(=Always there for you.=) Aristidis responds with a small chuckle, liking greatly being appreciated like that. (=I will need you to excuse me though, for we need to close so I can prepare everyone for your important coronation. But before that, tell me, how are things over there with my Tome Personnel, and your infinite resources, old and new at your disposal so far?=)
The Princess moves back and sits upon her bed again. "Your people are doing a fine job at keeping the city safe and in order, the soldiers with the guarding, and the ones with the horseless, road-cleaning carriages and others. So much that we have the freedom to lend a decent number of our own guards to other cities for better protection. And as for the resources, we already get much from trades with Romalia and Germania, especially from our brand new chocolate products. We receive so much income every day, and our people is so well-fed with the food that keeps on growing in the farms all around Tristain, that we can use the gold to fix all the buildings, roads and more that need our care and even nicely decorate them, along with buying/making better equipment for the army, and construct new ships more freely now since the girl called Atom Eve can even make trees grow instantly!" She finishes with much of awe, still in disbelief of the girl's godlike power.
The Storyteller feels a bit amused at that. "Bet most people worship her like a goddess. Which just so you know, she is not. Not exactly that is. Anyway, we will see you at the coronation! Bye~!"
With that, the call comes to a close, and Henrietta is happy for the talk they had.
She can safely say that she feels more confident than ever about officially becoming a Queen.
The Princess puts the phone back into her pocket, gets up, and walks toward her door.
Once she opens it, she draws immediately Agnes's attention who was standing in front of it. "Your Majesty. I hope that means you're- eh, what happened to your cheek?" She then asks utterly confused as she notices the reddish mark upon her cheek.
Henrietta touches it, before remembering slap and smiles awkwardly. "O-Oh that. I was just a bit clumsy, that's all. Anyway, let us move on with the finishing preparations for the coronation, shall we?" Says as she walks quickly forward, with the Captain, and two of her Musketeers that were present on both sides, looking at her confused, right before going after her to proceed properly with the work at hand.
The scene then cuts back at the academy, where Aristidis teleports next to the table he was sitting not long ago, catching everyone's immediate attention, and shows a joyous expression. "Looks like I was being secretive for absolutely no reason. The future Queen simply called to tell me once again how grateful she is about everything I have done for her people, and how obviously great I am in general."
Louise, along with the rest, sweat drops due to knowing how much he enjoys having his ego stroked. "W-Well, at least it was nothing to worry about in the end."
"In any case it reminded me that it is best to get ready to hit the dirt-road, so I hope you are all well and ready." The pitch-black Storyteller says, with Louise, Siesta, Kirche, and somewhat Charlotte exclaim a big yes in response, and then turns to Tyr'ahnee and Marvin. "Want to come along as well, queen and commander of Mars? I am sure you two will make quite the impression to all, especially standing next to me."
"As intriguing as that is, I think we will pass on this." The Martian queen tells while approaching him, and then shows a serious expression while the Storyteller opens his Tome and places it down in front of her. "I am still in the middle of figuring out the one Martian you told me is responsible for Dodgers abandoning me in my wedding day, and I plan on finding them soon, so I can tell them how much I appreciated that."
At the sound of that, the Martian Commander behind her secretly gulps as he brings a hand in front of his mouthless area concerned.
"I do believe a good swim in the acid will be more than adequate, no?" Tyr'ahnee questions in a slightly malicious manner, with Aristidis simply shrugging his shoulders in response, and then walks upon the Tome which pulls her magically within its pages as soon.
Louise then with a bored expression points her finger at the still concerned Martian, who's startled attention is drawn toward her just as soon. "HE did it, didn't he?"
Aristidis pleased nods to her with folded arms. "Spot on, Louise. And all that mostly in the name of love, with the great hatred against Dodgers being a close second."
Marvin's expression turns mildly upset. "Can you blame me knowing him?"
The girls look at each other and being like "Well..." and chattering a bit among themselves, because after hearing from before of what character that duck is, they indeed cannot blame the Martian Commander for that move of his.
Soon after, Marvin steps onto the Tome as well to be pulled magically within the pages like the previous one, as the said Tome closes itself as soon as he does so.
The pitch-black Storyteller picks up his Tome and turns to the girls. "And with that, we move on to our conveniently spacious ride this way." Says while he begins walking and pointing with a finger toward the academy's gate, with Louise, Charlotte, Kirche and Siesta looking to be rather intrigued as they following him.
~One Hour Or So Later~At Tristania~
Just outside of the wall surrounding the capital, at the gate where the increased-in-numbers-for-the-day guards who were performing their duty look at the distance something, while it makes a turn to the side off screen, before it shows a black limousine moving now slowly in front of their surprised faces, till it stops at the point where one of its back-doors is facing them, with two buff men in black tuxedos come out of it to stand to each of the two sides as Aristidis, Louise, Charlotte, Kirche and Siesta come out too to make their appearance, and all of them wearing black sunglasses.
"We are here to look awesome and witness the coronation." The pitch-black Storyteller says seriously, and then with a hand lifts his sunglasses upward and off his eyes with a cheeky expression. "And we are all full of awesomeness."
The pink-haired girl takes off her glasses and looks at him with a sweat drop. "Were the sunglasses really necessary for that?"
"Yes!" All four of them answer at the same time, the Storyteller believing so, while the other three simply doing it out of support to him, and love, with Louise sighing defeated in response.
After that, the scene moves inside, where a specific line of roads through the city is filled with people, and guards who make sure none of them gets too overexcited to move away from the sidelines, as everyone expects the oncoming parade, with our known group, without the sunglasses now, being seen passing through the people, with Aristidis shaking happily the hand of each fan of his that decides to extend it toward him as soon as they notice him, till reaching the front part of the said sideline.
They look from side to side, and then they eventually see the first group of people and part of Tristain's army, as music begins on sounding, and simple but still appropriate fireworks come to display at the blue sky above.
And after just a few minutes of just showing the different, and few, parts of the said army, finally comes through upon her royal open-carriage and under the close protection of the Musketeers, and Agnes their captain, the soon to be Queen Henrietta, who waves with a smile her hand at everyone around as the people exclaim with a great deal of enthusiasm for her.
And they were not the only.
As the carriage was continuing its way, Henrietta becomes surprised upon noticing to the side above one of the sidelines Louise flying while using her magic, indicated by the glowing wand she holds, with Siesta, Charlotte, Kirche and Aristidis flying right behind her thanks to that said magic of hers, while they all wave happily at the soon-to-be Queen, with the Storyteller also using a small, professional camera to take her pictures nonstop.
Needless to say, she was very pleased to see her friends present, with her Musketeers sweat dropping due to how out of protocol this is, but they know better than doing or saying anything about it and simply focus on their current duty as expected.
Not long after, the carriage reaches the final point where an appropriately decorated platform awaits, with her mother Marianne De Tristain, along with the Cardinal, the General, and a few more seemingly important figures next and behind her, are awaiting for the Princess to officially begin, with the former holding the royal crown, which appears rather similar to the one Henrietta wears, with the difference being the three points on the sides and middle being sharper, plus slightly longer.
Henrietta walks up to them, we skip a few generic and unimportant details here to speed things up, and not long later, she is crowned with all honors Queen of Tristain, earning the people's loud applause and the Nobles' respectful approval, which obviously includes the ones present at the platform and responsible for the ceremony.
And after giving her promises to all, mostly about putting an end to the war they are in as soon as possible, which earns her one more applause by everyone, she steps down where she is expected by the very well-known group she calls her friends.
"I'm so happy for you, your Highness." Louise tells her while bowing respectfully, happy with seeing her childhood friend officially taking the throne, with the rest bowing at the same time as well.
Aristidis with a kind expression walks forward while extending a hand for a handshake, which Henrietta accepts. "Once more, your reign may be a peaceful one, during and after the war."
"Thank you all for being here, and for your good words." Henrietta responds with a smile, but then appears a bit concerned. "I am sorry, but could you meet me at my throne room later? There is a matter we need to discuss privately."
The Storyteller and the girls look at each other a bit confused as to the reason for that sudden meeting.
Moments later, at the royal palace, the scene shows our main cast inside the throne room, where only them before the throne, the Queen upon the said throne, and Agnes by her side are seen there.
"What is it that you need to talk with us about?" The pink-haired girl asks, concerned with her childhood friend. "Did something happen?"
The Queen stays silent for a moment, while looking mostly at the Storyteller, feeling oddly troubled for some reason. "You see, it appears that while everyone was in the middle of the preparation for the coronation, Cromwell was murdered in the cell he was locked in, and... The Ring Of Andvari was found out stolen soon after as well."
The girls are surprised to hear that, but Aristidis shows no reaction, as he simply looks at the Queen, with the camera moving from him to her one or two more time.
He then puts two fingers at the bridge of his nose as he inhales out of annoyance while turning around to face the other way. "I don't blame you for this or anything. It is simply what I get for playing lazy and letting others handle the things I am supposed to from the beginning. Fully on me this one. I will make sure to find and take the ring back as soon as appropriately possible."
Henrietta in the meantime was seriously feeling awful for letting him down like that, as she was saying continuously on the inside the phrase "I'm sorry", with the girls feeling bad for her upon understanding the fact.
Agnes on the other hand was tightening one of her fists angry.
Angry with herself for not seeing that coming. She should have expected that someone will try a move of some sort in the palace while most of the guards were away!
The pitch-black Storyteller with a calm expression turns around to face her again. "So, the condition of the body? How did the man die?"
The Captain of the Musketeers turns to him, and recalls the details. "He didn't die from normal causes. It was frankly as if... As if his body was dried out from the inside." Says with some disbelief.
"I see." Aristidis responds while thinking about it with a hand on his chin, with the girls wondering what magic can cause such thing. "Any obvious holes or any type of open, deep wounds around the body?"
Agnes thinks about it for a moment, before simply answering. "None."
The mouthless Storyteller lowers the hand, having already an idea about how this went. "Then we can safely say it was not a water mage who used magic on the water inside his body to achieve that, and that they first took the ring, and then used one of its special abilities to drain his life force through the opening of the cell's door."
Everyone is surprised with him understanding how it most likely went, but also confused about another fact.
"What a water mage would have to do to even be the cause for such death if that was the case?" The Musketeer Captain asks him a bit confused, unsure how that type of magic specifically can cause damage of similar nature.
"A big percentage of the human body has much of water within as a default, and depending by age and overall condition, which is incredibly important for various reasons." He explains. "It is not hard to imagine a knowledgeable water mage to use that to his advantage, and either freeze it or pull it out to cause some serious damage and eventual death."
Now everyone was shocked with what they have heard.
They would never think of water magic being used in such a way. That man has some really terrifying knowledge, that's for sure.
Aristidis turns to Henrietta. "Anyway, we would gladly stay more, but we understand how busy you must be with this recent incident, and most of all the duties that must be taken care of now that you are Queen, so-"
"Oh, actually-" The Queen interrupts as she finds back her composure while remembering something. "There is one more thing."
She gets up after saying that, walks toward a table nearby, and picks up with both hands a small book of dark-brown color, which is tied in the middle with similarly colored belt that has a small golden plate attached upon the side where the book opens.
Henrietta while smiling walks back to where she was, and then in front of Louise, who is curious as to what is this about. "Due to your Void element, it is only logical to give you with this. The Founder's Prayer Book." Says the last part as she hands the said book to her.
The pink-haired girl was both shocked and astonished with what she was just told as she looks at the book in her hands, with her friends feeling the same way.
The Queen continues. "This book has been passed down through Tristain's royal family, and is said to contain spells written by Founder Brimir himself. And now I am bestowing it to you, so you may use it to ensure both yours, and everyone else's safety."
"Th-This is such a honor, I-I-I'm out of words..." Louise trails off, unable to speak her mind properly due to how happy and excited she is to receive something so important.
"Let me see it for a moment." The Storyteller says while simply grabbing the Founder's book off her hands, and much to her soon-after confusion as she turns to him.
He looks at it from every angle, and then opens it, checking each page carefully.
The girls move behind him to check it out as well, but they see all he is looking at being nothing but blank pages, which greatly confuses them.
Especially Louise. "Eh? Blank pages? Why the Founder's-"
"Ahh, I see how it works." Aristidis suddenly interrupts as he gets an understanding on the Founder's book, with the girls somewhat surprised and wondering as to how he did so, and then closes it while turning his head to Louise. "Useful under certain circumstances, but your own personal book is far more versatile and powerful, so for now I will keep this for you, make a properly thorough research on its pages later, and allow you to focus on finishing your own. Understood, pupil Louise?" Says the last part with a somewhat serious face while pointing a finger at her.
"Y-Yes, of course." She responds a bit troubled while standing in an attention-type manner now, not wanting to disrespect in some way her teacher/love.
The pitch-black Storyteller's expression turns happy, and then turns to face with the rest the Queen.
As a few more words are exchanged by them, the scene backs away slowly, till it shows it upon a TV in a dark area, before then showing the black-cloaked man with the M-shaped hood, together with the also black-cloaked but with the expressive white mask Derflinger, who are watching the said scene through the screen while seated upon a couch.
Derf turns his head to his watching buddy. "Quite unfortunate for the Queen what happened, isn't it? But then again, she could probably do better. No wonder your boy looked so disappointed with her after trusting her with the ring."
"Is what I would think too, if it was the case indeed." Kremant tells him while keeping his eyes at the screen.
The white-masked man raises an eyebrow. "Why you say that?"
The black-cloaked man quickly pulls out and brings with a hand in front of his mask a photograph. "This photograph."
Derf takes the picture off the hand, and sees in it a hooded Sheffield appearing to be moving in a carefully through one of the many hallways the Tristania's royal palace has, while a shadow that can be identified as the one belonging to the Red Spy from TF2 is noticed right behind her own, obviously following without her knowledge.
"Oh- Oh..." He utters upon understanding the situation while lowering the photograph as he looks at the screen again.
Kremant shows his filled with sharp teeth, mischievous grin. "Someone has not quite given up on his manipulative ways just yet it would seem."
"Wow... What an as*hole." The white-masked says, both in slight disbelief and in a sense disapprovingly.
The black-cloaked man simply giggles amused at that.
~Hours Later During The Night~At The Academy Of Magic~
"OK, so!" Aristidis begins with a clap of his hands, as the scene shows him inside the known room and right in front of his TV, with Louise, who has Kirby in her arms, Siesta, who has Jerry Mouse on her shoulder, Charlotte and Kirche sitting upon the end of the bed, which is now appropriately larger and brand new to fit the room more, right in front of him. "Forgetting about the ring situation, I am sure you remember how we were informed of the classes beginning again during the next few days, since the Headmaster and the rest of the teaching stuff feel much safer now to conduct."
The four look at each other for a moment, a bit confused since it is obvious they were there with him when hearing about it, and then turn back at him, with the pink-haired girl raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, what of it?"
"Since we have some free time till that day, who is ready for a PROPER Kung Fu Panda Marathon with my good friend Po as extra company?" He asks enthusiastically while moving his hands and Tome to the side to indicate a large, anthropomorphic, black and white Panda that appeared off screen next to him, who wears burlap pants, and sandals with socks, and who is like he said Po from Kung Fu Panda.
The smiling Po waves his hand/paw at them. "Hey, you guys. Ready for a story filled with pure awesomeness and the best Kung Fu action you could ever see?" Says the last part with much of enthusiasm while determinedly punching the air a few times to emphasize the Kung Fu part.
That moment, the maid Cinderella moves right next to him with different colored bottles inside a basket in one arm and different salty snacks inside another in her other one, while winking at them with a smile before adding her part. "And with lots of snacks and drinks to enjoy while at it?"
The girls immediately are more than excited with the suggestion as they look at one another, with the blue-haired girl simply raising her fist before the chest out of said excitement, but with her face not showing it much due to her known stoicism, and barely holding themselves from starting to jump continuously in place from joy, since they know very well how great those TV Marathons of Aristidis are, and can't wait to watch the newest to them story.
And he, of course, is more than happy to entertain them like always.
~The Very Next Day~Early In The Morning~
The morning has just come, and our group still doesn't appear to be tired despite that, as the scene shows them all upon the bed, with Po in the middle and having Louise on top of his big, furry belly, while holding her around his arms carefully, as she holds in the same manner Kirby in her own hug, with Kirche for a change hugging the panda's left arm instead of the Storyteller's, with Aristidis at the right holding Charlotte on top of him into a hug while he holds in one hand a cup with a straw inside, and with Cinderella sitting on a chair close to the bed, all of them having their full attention and interest at the screen in front of the bed, showing the episodes from the Kung Fu Panda Legends Of Awesomeness more specifically.
"Out the way, you-" A voice outside demands annoyed outside of the door as a faint thud is heard soon after there, and then the said door opens instantly, which draws the group's surprised attention, to show Agnes in all of her seriousness entering. "Storyteller and Valli-"
She stops wide eyed upon seeing the group onto the bed in the way they are placed, the black and white bear, which she sees as, and the strange object before them, and can't help but stay frozen there out of utter surprise and confusion, since she expected nothing as crazy when deciding to barge in.
The scene also shows outside for a moment the Playing Card Soldiers being down to the side and a bit dizzy as they slowly get up after having received that earlier push from Agnes for being in her way, and not wanting to wait for them to begin their usual procedure.
Aristidis simply moves his cup and straw close to the mouthless area, and slurps noisily from it as he looks at her.
"Um, I-" The Captain of the Musketeers attempts to speak, but the Storyteller points a finger upward to stop her there as he keeps on slurping from the said straw.
After approximately ten seconds pass, he stops. "What?"
Agnes just looks at him for a moment, before finding her composure back to speak about what she came here for. "Her Majesty has requested for your appearance at the royal palace. It's for something that concerns you, Storyteller."
Upon saying that, the group looks at each other, wondering what is this about so soon all of a sudden, as the scene turns black to indicate the end of the episode.
{To Be Continued}