15th Festive Moon, 908 – Senbo Capital
Heralded by the king of Senbo himself, a call for alliance was made. As the four western kingdoms worked to preserve their borders, three of the ruling parties were teleported to answer King Talbot's summons in the heavily fortified kingdom. The nature of this alliance, as they all hoped, could change the course of battle.
Yet fear gripped at their hearts at what was to come.
In the case of the Verde Kingdom, having been dealt a crucial loss in the assassination of their previous king, one unfortunate Clobbopus felt the overwhelming pressure of his new position.
"I…I d-don't know about this," Charlie mumbled, shivering as a disguised JoJo adjusted the king's crown atop his head.
"You are going to be fine, little buddy," JoJo assured. "You do not have to speak up for us. Ortwin will be taking care of all of that. You are just here as a formality of strength."
Charlie gulped. "I-I-I'm not ready for this…"
The faux Buneary frowned. Though he was technically king, Charlie was still far too young to assume the throne, thus all decision making had to be handed over to Ortwin until further notice. Under normal circumstances, putting the princess in charge sounded like the better route, but the acting princess wasn't exactly skilled in diplomacy beyond scamming someone into buying seashells painted gold. Charlie's appearance at the meet was purely symbolic.
She patted his head. "I'll be by your side and keep your company during the whole thing. You have nothing to worry about."
Charlie sniffled and hugged the shapeshifter. "Th-Thank you, big sister…"
JoJo nearly melted on the spot. She smiled softly and hugged his back. "Any time, little fella."
As they pulled away, the elderly Noivern advisor hobbled down the hall and approached them. "I see you've helped him calm down some, Your Highness."
JoJo sighed. "Best I could." She glared up at Ortwin. "I get why he has to appear before the other kings, but this still seems messed up."
Ortwin sighed. "Though the four kingdoms act as allies, we cannot show weakness even in our current state. That is why King Visconti has answered King Talbot's summons despite the recent events brewing in his kingdom." He leaned forward on his cane wearily. "It has been a tiring couple of months, but our hopes lie in the success of this alliance. With any luck, we will better coordinate our efforts and win this war."
JoJo looked down at Charlie, who was still noticeably trembling. She glared softly while patting his back. "This better work…"
Castle Talbot War Room
The air was still as soon as the doors closed on the room. The war room had been rearranged, granting all four kings equal space around the rectangular table and a perfect view of each other as they scanned the room with leveled gazes, all but Charlie who awkwardly sank back into his chair.
Ortwin and JoJo stood beside both sides of Charlie while Evangelina floated beside her father, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable. However, a trained eye like JoJo's could detect the calculating demeanor of the royal Frillish, so she kept a close eye on her.
King Gilbert Talbot finally released the breath he was holding and looked up at the allied kings. "Thank you all for accepting my summons on such short notice. I understand you all have prior engagements to attend to, so I hope we may reach a consensus soon."
King Massimo Visconti gulped, getting a hold of his fidgeting form. "I hope so as well. I feel anxious being so far away from the kingdom."
King Wilkin Tetrarch leaned back in his chair and scoffed. "Am I the only one alarmed by the fact the Verde Kingdom's representative is a ten-year-old child?"
Charlie winced from the Empoleon's remark. "I-I'm almost eleven…"
Ortwin struck his cane down, gathering their attention. "I speak on behalf of the young king. He is here purely as a formality. We will not let the devastation that wrought our kingdom bring down our morale." He gestured to JoJo. "And, of course, with input from Princess Penworth."
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and curtsied to the kings. "I look forward to a productive afternoon."
Gilbert sighed. "In that case, I shall start." He cleared his throat before explaining, "With the invasion of the New Chariot Empire, all four of the western kingdoms have been pushed into the defensive. Despite our advanced weaponry, New Chariot proves to be an enduring force. They cannot be defeated so easily. They have incredible training and tactical knowledge on the battlefield. They plan for our counterattacks, and direct combat is almost inefficient without means to disrupt the flow of battle. As such, it would be in our best interests to combine our strengths and coordinate with each other in secret."
Wilkin nodded. "We were unable to properly communicate due to the initial chaos. As long as we maintain a firm contact with each other, that should not be too difficult to implement."
"The issue is merely how we divide up our forces and resources, as well as agree on a plan of attack," Gilbert continued. "With New Chariot having a stronghold over the borders, keeping us separated from each other, our only hope is to rely on any teleportation units our individual militaries possess. We would need a means of keeping up-to-date with each other in real time. I suggest setting up a draft to recruit powerful psychic Pokémon to the cause."
Ortwin stroked his chin. "You wish to utilize potential teleportation abilities?"
"As well as exploit those with mastery over telepathy," Gilbert added. "Much like how multiple teleporters can extend the range of travel and the mass of what they transport with them by working together, the same principle would apply to telepaths. With the right training and equipment, we could develop ways to focus their telepathic abilities to specific targets, such as the heads of individual battalions."
The elderly Noivern shook his head. "Implementing a draft at this time could brew discourse from the people. Not all of our kingdoms' subjects are fit for combat. Besides, implementing a draft to target an individual type of Pokémon could cause outrage."
Gilbert sighed. "It is not a perfect solution, but the Senbo Kingdom does not have many specialized teleporters or telepaths. There simply is not much variety in Pokémon with natural teleportation prowess. The same principle applies to those with a natural Telepathy ability and not a skill that requires years of dedicated mastery. However, I believe pushing for these skills will increase our chances of success. Being able to communicate with each other instantly would give us an advantage in the information side of the war."
Wilkin scratched his chin. "There has not been much sighting of teleportation usage from New Chariot either, so they may not have a dedicated teleportation unit."
Ortwin sighed. "I still have my reservations implementing a draft."
Charlie leaned over to JoJo and whispered, "Big Sis? What's a draft?"
She awkwardly scratched her cheek. "Um, well…it's like a law stating you have to become a knight or at least serve in the knighthood."
"Is it a bad thing?"
"Eh, it's not fun, but…necessary?"
"Oh…" Charlie sat back in his chair, his eyes narrowing sadly. I don't want anyone to be upset.
Massimo, having been silent for most of the discussion, finally raised his fin. "Uh, speaking on behalf of the Echo Bell Kingdom, we will have to withdraw from assisting in the war."
Wilkin glared. "Come now, Massimo, you know your knighthood does not nearly have the firepower to protect itself."
"That is precisely why we cannot partake in this alliance. I am afraid our resources and people are better spent rebuilding and protecting our kingdom. We only have so much military strength, and every bit of it is keeping us from being overrun." The kingly Jellicent shook his head. "I am truly sorry, but the Echo Bell Kingdom cannot help."
Wilkin growled, slamming his wing down on the armrest. "Dammit, you spineless fool! You won't have a kingdom to protect if you keep acting passive like that!"
Gilbert's eyes widened. "W-Wilkin! Please! Show some decorum. We are not here to start fights with each other."
The Empoleon king scoffed. "He knows as well as I do that the Echo Bell Kingdom's situation is purely a fault of his ancestry's lousy leadership. It is a miracle your land has not been assimilated from two centuries of warring. You could have easily stopped those fires from spreading in the capital, but look what happened!"
Massimo winced and covered his face. Evangelina held her arm out in front of her father and glared. "King Tetrarch, I advise you spare my father of your wrathful comments before I speak of the Wick Kingdom's more egregious vices. Need we remind you of your poor dedication to your kingdom? My father at least maintains custody over all his land."
Wilkin scoffed. "The Outlands are out of my control—"
"Because you were too lazy to spare a few dozen knights to wipe out two centuries of growing corruption," she interrupted. "I could go on, you know—that reminds me, where is your dear son, Darby? I am sure he would make an excellent subject of discussion."
"…" The king finally backed down and reclined into his chair. "At least the Wick Kingdom can defend itself, lawless lands or not." He glanced across the table to Charlie and Ortwin. "And at least we still have a competent king left in power."
Ortwin glared. "What befell King Penworth is not up to discussion. I will not allow you to speak ill of his heir."
Wilkin shrugged. "Because of your laws, you left a ten-year-old in charge of a kingdom, even if under your strict supervision. I wonder if the Verde Kingdom even has the power to back up their talk."
Charlie sunk deeper into his chair. "He scares me…" he whispered.
JoJo frowned. Poor little guy. She looked around for a moment before glaring. She leaned in and whispered, "Charlie, ever heard of a game called Ditto Says?"
He blinked through a couple tears. "Ditto…Says?"
As they spoke in private, Wilkin continued on with his rant, "Are we even sure the Verde Kingdom has what it takes to win a war? They cannot even keep their royal family from getting into trouble. Three rulers killed or death by illness, one kidnapped, and the other being an actual child not even born into the family."
Gilbert glared. "That is enough, Wilkin."
He glanced at the kingly Houndoom. "I am speaking practically, Gilbert. The Senbo and Wick Kingdom would do better to combine its forces and leave the rest of the kingdoms to themselves. Any additional help from them would only drag us down."
Gilbert shook his head. "I will not leave my allies in peril just for an advantage, nor do I see them as liabilities or a disadvantage!"
Wilkin smirked. "Come now, even you have had your share of blemishes. You think I am not aware of the scummy things you pulled during your rule?"
"…" The Houndoom winced. "I…"
"You still feel the weight of that little accident that broke out in one of your towns, do you not?"
"…" He turned away, awkwardly scratching his foreleg.
"I do not judge, Gilbert. I am a king who gets things done himself." He proudly lay a wing over his heart. "My son and I will charge into battle alongside our battalions to strike down the enemy, and we hope to be joined by the militaristic might of Senbo."
Ortwin glared. "Do you have something you wish to share, King Wilkin?"
He chuckled softly. "Do not mistake my proposal as an act of war against the Verde Kingdom, but recent events have swayed judgment. Your military's effectiveness differentiates depending on whether or not the Foresters decide to go on a robbing spree. In fact, you have been needing their help, as I heard."
"Where did you hear—"
"Information is not difficult for me to acquire, Mr. Vetzer. The Wick Kingdom needs to stay on top of these issues. So then, why should we rely on the Verde Kingdom when they cannot even defend their own territory without being aided by their own villainous neighbors?"
Ortwin struck his cane down. "See here, King Wilkin, I will not stand for this slander on my kingdom's good name. There have been some rough patches of late, but we still remain strong in the face of adversity. You and your callousness could learn a thing or two about cooperation as you so readily await to enter combat."
Wilkin smirked. "Can you blame a king for prioritizing his kingdom's safety?"
"You cannot even keep your own territory in check," Evangelina mumbled.
Wilkin shot a glare at her. "I do not believe you were permitted to speak, Princess Visconti. You are not even the heir to your kingdom."
She smirked. "And I would still run yours far better than the Tetrarch family could ever achieve."
"Perhaps you have something you wish to share with us—"
"Enough!"
The three kings, Evangelina, and Ortwin jolted up as Charlie stood up in his seat. He glared across the table, though he seemed to be trembling with beads of sweat dripping down his face like he was nervous. Regardless, he looked around at the three kings with the fiercest glare he could conjure.
"We did not come here to bicker amongst ourselves over failures and mishaps. We came here to establish an alliance to save West Virdis. Whatever guilt or burdens you carry do not apply to this meeting. The results of this war matter first and foremost, and I will not hear another word of this malarky until we get back on topic!"
Everyone stared at the child in shock as he plopped back down into his seat, arms crossed firmly. There was a shared sense of astonishment in the seemingly inexperienced child's commanding tone, enough to rattle them with disbelief.
"Dang, the kid has been king for over a month, and he is already talking down to grown adults," Evangelina commented.
"Uh…indeed," Massimo mumbled, pulling awkwardly on his cloak.
As everyone tried to wrap their heads around Charlie's apparent outburst, JoJo had to withhold her snickering while faced away and leaning back against the Clobbopus' chair. With some subtle adjustments to her vocal cords, mimicking Charlie's voice and projecting it across the room was mere child's play for her.
Alright, enough of this political crap. Time to do what I do best: make a convincing sale~.
With the meeting unfolding in the war room, Matthias and Gaufroi stood guard outside the doors, alert and ready to act in case of an emergency. They could hear the murmurs going on behind the walls, from the disagreements to the shouting. Nothing that required their immediate intervention, but hard to go unnoticed.
Gaufroi closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I should be back out on the battlefield leading my battalion. I can't stand leaving my duty unfinished."
Matthias glared. "You've been fighting for long enough. Consider this a break."
"I don't need a break. I need to end this war."
"Hmm…" The Infernape knight glanced off to the side. "This must be bringing up old memories for you. This isn't the first time you've crossed blades with New Chariot."
Gaufroi scoffed. "Some memories are better left buried. The war wasn't kind to me during those days."
"…" Matthias gripped into his arm tightly. "I'm starting to see that for myself. This is the first war I've properly took part in. The devastation, the loss, the weight…"
"It's not a feeling one grows accustomed to so readily. It's like a scar. It'll fade, but it'll always be there." The old Ursaring placed a hand over his chest. "I'm nothing but a canvas of scars. I should've been killed a long time ago, yet I still walk to serve my kingdom. I swore to keep fighting even if my death is imminent."
"…" Matthias sighed.
"Something on your mind?"
"…The Blackfire Clan made an oath of allegiance to the Penworth crown. I swore to protect the royal family no matter the cost." He covered his face, hiding his clenched scowl. "The queen dies of illness, the princess was kidnapped and labeled missing for nearly a year, and now the king is assassinated even after the protection I gave him. And even though I couldn't prevent it, the assassination of Prince Quentin stung our family pride. I felt my master's pain when he brought back the tragic news."
Gaufroi nodded softly. "You feel responsible upholding your family's legacy?"
"I am the last of my clan. If I cannot honor what we swore to protect, then I have no right to call myself a knight." He glanced warily at the doors. "Though that young Clobbopus isn't blood related, he is still my responsibility. And with the princess back under our protection, I need to do all in my power to maintain the last of the Penworth name."
"…" Gaufroi let out a gravelly chuckle. "You're no different than me, Sir Matthias. I'd lay down my life for the protection of the Talbot family." He glared softly. "I pray you never give us a reason to cross blades."
Matthias scoffed. "I would incinerate the Senbo Kingdom if it were to pose a threat."
"And I would level the Verde Kingdom for the glory of Senbo."
"…"
"…" Gaufroi smirked. "But such thoughts are beyond us now. We are to be allies, and that's all that it shall be."
Matthias nodded. "Agreed."
"What touching sentiments before us." The two captains lifted their gazes and took note of the captain of the Wick Kingdom's knighthood: Sir Fulburtus. The Beheeyem floated above the duo with a lazy demeanor. "It's almost frightening how casually you two speak about genocide. Two hounds willing to plunge the world into Hell for the sake of their kingdoms."
Matthias glared. "What are you getting at?"
Fulburtus laughed. "Nothing to concern yourselves over, I assure. I just prefer a more elegant solution to ending battles. You two have the power to wipe out a small region, I'm aware, but it takes more than brute force and brawn to win a war. You are still mortal men."
Gaufroi withheld the growl rumbling in his throat. "Seems our prior discussion hasn't yet sunk in with you."
"You're a startling efficient chess player, I'll give you that, but a mere boardgame won't change the facts." Fulburtus waved it off. "Still, not use in pointless trivialities or hostility. We are to be allies in this war, so we should act as such. I only swung by to see if any progress was made in the meeting."
"It'll be a while…" Matthias grumbled.
Fulburtus bowed. "Hmph. Then sorry for bothering you. Take care." He teleported out of the hallway.
Matthias shot an even glare at Gaufroi. "What was that about?"
The old Ursaring narrowed his eyes. Given all they learned about the Wick Kingdom and its rulers, he couldn't help but wonder if the arrogant knight was eavesdropping on them. Someone who can readily spy on anyone without a hint of detection could prove to be a nuisance.
Perhaps Fulburtus was keeping tabs on…potential concerns for the future.
"…I suppose he was still riled up about me nearly beating him in chess."
Though still the eldest acting prince of the kingdom, Erasmus was omitted from partaking in the meeting, which was frustrating given the imposter princess had full permission to oversee everything herself. Instead of sulking over it, Erasmus waited out in Dimitri's room alongside Serell and Rikmai as he impatiently drummed his digits against the bedpost.
Dimitri, still looking weak, was able to lift himself up against his pillows and glare at his distressed brother. The treatments administered by Brinley and Shade slowly eliminated the poison from his body, at least enough to where he was safely out of critical danger.
"Will you cease with that incessant tapping?" he grumbled. "You are giving me more of a headache than I already have."
Erasmus sighed and ceased as ordered. "A thousand pardons, dear brother."
"I get that you want to give your input, but Father is still crossed with what happened at the party." Dimitri glared. "I still cannot believe you have been hiding an affair from us this entire time."
The eldest son sat up and rolled his eyes. "It was not an affair exactly. I was just secretly courting a commoner and rejecting potential spouses." He glared at his brother. "Do you have a problem with my choice?"
"I take issue with you dating a thief more than I do with dating a commoner." He sighed. "Then again, those same thieves are the reason the reaper has not claimed my neck, so I am in no position to judge."
Rikmai propped herself up on the bed. "Oh, Adenine is such a sweet girl! You'd love her! You should see how cute and loving she and Erasmus are when they're together—oooh, it's so romantic!"
Serell rolled his eyes. "Projecting much?"
"Oh hush."
"Someone's got to pull you back down to earth while Linota's helping out on the eastern border."
Erasmus massaged his temples and groaned. "I wish to contribute somehow, but I cannot do more than offer moral support to the knights and rally the people's spirits. I almost consider joining the battlefield myself."
Dimitri glared. "Father would not approve of that."
"Oh, what harm will there be? I have been knocked off the throne, and you will recover soon enough to ascend it yourself. At least I can make some meaningful contribution out there. The Senbo Kingdom has always strived for self-reliance and perfection…for better and for worse."
Dimitri's expression fell into a glum stare. "I take it you have been looking into the circumstances that led to Boldvale's destruction."
"…" Erasmus sighed. "The hardest part of looking at our past is considering the mistakes we made along the way. I shall confront Father over it when the time is right, but now is not the time. I must consider our actions…as well as a greater problem in our halls."
The younger Glameow scowled. "Oh yeah, how can I forget? That rotten piece of shit is in our home—" Dimitri tried to rise out of bed, but broke into a fit of coughs and collapsed back against his pillow.
Rikmai reached over and helped him lay down. "Easy, Your Highness. You are not in the best shape to be moving."
"How can I rest…ack, rest knowing the Tetrarchs are in our home again?" Dimitri growled. "After what he did to Vanessa and—"
"Best to keep your voice down, dear brother," Erasmus warned.
The younger cat sighed and finally reclined back into his pillows. "Please at least tell me extra precaution has been taken."
Erasmus nodded. "I ordered all the maids to work in pairs during the Tetrarchs' visit. After Dr. Shade explained to me how Darby's charms work, the maids will be able to keep watch for each other while avoiding eye contact with him. As long as they focus on their work and limit engagement with him, they will be fine."
Dimitri breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness…"
Rikmai growled. "I don't know what I ever saw in that creep. He's not that hot!"
Serell rolled his eyes. "Uh huh, sure."
"Silence!"
Dimitri scowled. "Still, what are we going to do about him? With all the trouble he has caused of late, we cannot let this go unnoticed by Father. He needs to know."
Erasmus tapped his chin. "Even if Father takes our word, we cannot risk the ire of the Wick Kingdom at the moment. We would need to—" His ears twitched, picking up on a noise approaching the room. An even glare formed over him. "Speak of the devil…"
"What?!" Dimitri hissed through clenched teeth.
Erasmus raised his paw. "Everyone act casual, and stick to our story," he whispered. Right as everyone settled down, a knock sounded off the door. "Enter."
The door swung open, and the object of their ire himself sauntered into the room with a charming grin. "Ah, there is the Talbot princes. I figured you would all be here."
Erasmus forced a friendly smile. "Hello, Darby. Fancy seeing you here."
"Oh, I just had to. I wanted to check in on poor Dimitri." He approached the cat's bedside and grinned. "You are looking well, my friend. How is your head?"
Dimitri, feeling his façade slipping, turned onto his side to hide his growing scowl. "I have been better…"
With the Tetrarchs' arrival, the Talbot siblings and their close peers shared in an agreement. As far as the rest of the castle and kingdom was concerned, Dimitri had no recollection of what transpired leading up to his injuries or the poisoning. Though it ate at their guts to act friendly at the slimy prince, the warring state of late didn't allow for bitter feelings to take over.
Thankfully, Darby bought the lie. "Oh, that is most wonderful." He turned away from them, sighing dramatically. "What a shame what those horrible thieves tried to do to you. I swear, my friend, I will bring them to justice to avenge you. You have my word."
Dimitri dug his claws into the mattress and bit down on his blanket. "Thanks…"
Sensing his brother's discomfort, Erasmus hopped off the bed and guided Darby aside. "My friend, we appreciate your company, but what brings you here? I figured you would join your father in the war room."
Darby waved it off. "Bah, I thought I roam a bit and see how the old castle was doing. I must say, the Senbo Kingdom works fast with repairs. A lot of the damage I remember seems to have been erased." He scowled. "I still remember seeing my own blood splattered over the walls after my encounter with that homicidal Pikachu. What boorish behavior he possesses…"
"Mhmm," Erasmus hummed half-heartedly before smiling. "Yes, the Senbo Kingdom has a belief of working efficiently. The brightest of the brightest, as you can imagine."
"I concur. Quite a marvel of work ethic." Darby folded his wings behind his back. "Though, speaking of which, my aimless roaming did have a destination in mind. Specifically, I came to speak to you."
Genuinely curious, Erasmus raised his brow. "Go on."
Darby gestured out of the room. "Perhaps we can stroll around the castle and converse."
Erasmus closed his eyes and smiled. "Well, that would be positively delightful." As delightful as a nail being hammered into my claws. "Rikmai, Serell, do look after Dimitri in my absence. I will be back shortly."
They bowed. "Of course, Your Highness."
Erasmus gestured into the hallway. "After you, Darby." The Prinplup nodded in thanks and let himself out. With a brief scowl washing over his expression, the cat prince followed close behind, shutting the door with his tail.
Castle Talbot War Room
After all four ruling sides had calmed down, Charlie took a deep breath and continued with his speech. "I may be an inexperienced child, but I know a thing or two about hardship. I was once a homeless child making his way through the sad, lonely streets. Just thinking of what my fellow villagers are going through makes my heart ache, yet all you three can bicker about is your own vices."
Wilkin glanced at Gilbert and whispered, "When did the kid become so eloquent?"
Gilbert shrugged. "I…underestimated the Verde Kingdon's education system, clearly."
Evangelina glared suspiciously as she listened to the two men's whispering. "How puzzling, indeed…"
Charlie pointed between the three kings while JoJo continued with her projecting voice. "We each have skills and experiences that will make help us on the battlefield against New Chariot. As such, we must put aside lingering decades of rivalry to finally put our treaty to the test. We are West Virdis, and we will drive out these heartless invaders until we see a shining new dawn bless on the morning of victory!"
"…" Gilbert took a deep breath and straightened up. "I cannot believe I am saving this, but the child makes a compelling point. I did not call this meeting to bicker. We are here to work together and drive out our invaders. No more talk of the past or our vices. We must take action, and fast."
Wilkin sighed, bowing his head in apology. "I concede. I will gladly fight alongside all of you."
Massimo narrowed his eyes. "As much as I was moved by this young man's valor, it does not change my original statement. I am afraid the Echo Bell Kingdom cannot afford to spare its manpower. Our military simply does not match up to the strength of the rest of you."
JoJo whispered something to Charlie. He nodded meekly before rising up and going along with the shapeshifter's antics. "Is there no one you can spare to help in the efforts? Anyone who could prove a boon to this alliance?"
"Well—" Massimo tried to say until his daughter floated forward.
"My father's efforts are better suited to running the kingdom directly," Evangelina said. "We cannot spare our strongest knights to fight in the fields of combat." She glared around the table. "That said, I do know someone who would be beneficial to this alliance: me."
Gilbert raised his brow. "You, Your Highness?"
She bowed to him. "I have been assisting the Echo Bell knighthood with stratagem and tactics to throw New Chariot off their rhythm. You may refer to any one of the knights under my command, and they will fill you in on the battles that were disrupted or avoided with my genius forethought and planning. I can act as a strategist from behind the battlefield." She smirked. "As for your teleporter and telepath plan, I can even assist in recruiting some potential candidates for the position. I can be quite persuasive."
The Houndoom sighed. "That would be appreciated." He turned to Charlie and Ortwin. "What say you, Verde Kingdom?"
Ortwin looked down at the young king, still baffled by his apparent boldness. All Charlie could muster on his own was a simple nod, encouraging the elderly dragon. He sighed and glared across the table. "I suppose with the king's insistence, I will see to recruiting the psychic Pokémon of Verde to lend in this plan. We will need to work on coordinating and dividing up our forces, however."
Wilkin glared. "I may be able to provide some extra support of my own."
"How so?" Gilbert asked.
"Let us just say I have special connections with dangerous people. The details are not important, only that they will serve us well in the battle."
Gilbert nodded and turned to Evangelina. "Once we have properly set up the telepath unit, you will assist in sorting through the individual battalions and proposing strategies to advance."
Evangelina bowed. "I would be most honored to partake in this scheme."
Ortwin bowed his head. "And the Verde Kingdom will do all it can to provide resources to the knights. Much of our farmland has been destroyed, but we may be able to recruit diverse Grass-Types to alleviate that issue."
Gilbert smiled. "I am glad to see we are all coming together. I promise you, with our combined forces, we will trample over these invaders and take back our land. Mayhaps we will once more sleep soundly through the night."
Wilkin raised his wing. "For the Wick Kingdom!"
Massimo and Evangelina raised their fins. "For the Echo Bell Kingdom!"
"For the Senbo Kingdom!" Gilbert exclaimed.
JoJo and Charlie raised their fists. "For the Verde Kingdom!"
Gilbert glared determinedly. "With the western alliance, we shall take back our kingdoms and crush the New Chariot Empire for all it deserves!"
"My, what fine displays of beauty that befall before my eyes~."
"Uh…terribly sorry, we have work to do." The Fletchinder and Maractus maids excused themselves, keeping their heads down, and moved past the two princes as they carried along with their walk.
Darby frowned. "Well now…"
"Something amiss, my friend?" Erasmus asked, hiding his irritation masterfully.
"It is the darnedest thing. That is the fifth time since I got here that your staff brushed me off. I was only trying to start up conversation. After all, I cannot help if visions of beauty wander into my sightline." Darby stroked his chin. "Hmm, what do you suppose has them acting so shy?"
Erasmus rolled his eyes. "Darby, I informed you before that you should not be bothering my staff while they are working. They are simply stressed because of the war going on."
He sighed in defeat. "Oh well, I suppose it cannot be helped. Perhaps I will take comfort in the attention of my staff back home."
That nearly made Erasmus throw up with vitriol. He didn't want to imagine what Darby had been doing to his own castle's maid staff. Those poor girls. Ugh. Keep it together, Erasmus. Do not start anything. Yet.
"So, Darby? What was it you wished to speak about?" Erasmus asked, hoping to gear the conversation away from…unpleasantness.
Darby folded his wings behind his head and laughed. "Ah yes, almost slipped my mind. I was wondering if you would join me for a spot of fun?"
Erasmus raised his brow. "Pardon?"
"A prince's duty can be so droll, and sometimes you wish to partake in the action of war. My father always enjoyed assisting that scruffy Gumshoos fellow on his mercenary work, so I figured you and I could take part in this war, too."
Erasmus glared. "You are asking me to fight on an active battlefield? For fun?"
Darby smirked. "Why not? Our enemy does not deserve kindness or forgiveness. They brought their war to us, now we fight back for as much as it is deserved: a waste of time, but good sport for practicing my sword skills."
The cat scowled. "Are you actually suggesting going onto the battlefield for the pure thrill of killing soldiers?"
Darby frowned. "I do not see the issue. New Chariot does not deserve pity or respect. They intruded onto our land."
"Killing in defense of our kingdoms is an entirely different matter compared to killing for sport. Where is the honor in that?"
"Honor?" The penguin threw his head back and laughed. "Who cares of honor at times like this? New Chariot has brought a slew of problems to Virdis for generations. It is as much as they deserve. My talents are wasted acting behind the castle. I choose to defend my kingdom with my own blade and fight alongside my fellow soldiers."
Erasmus glared. "You would be putting your life at risk."
He laughed it off. "Nonsense. I would not go into battle thinking I was in danger. I have a personal safety net."
"What…safety net?"
Darby shushed him and snickered. "That is my little secret, my friend. Still, if you are with me on the battlefield, we can combine our efforts and wipe out New Chariot together."
"…" Erasmus narrowed his eyes at the floor for a moment. "Is that so? You wish for us to work together in battle?"
"I had a great time on our last excursion, so why not? I say we welcome the unchecked chaos and enjoy the thrill of battle!"
"…" After a moment of contemplation, Erasmus smirked. "You know what? You have convinced me. I suppose I could join you on the battlefield. Might do some good to freshen up my clawmanship."
Darby laughed, patting his fellow prince across the back. "That is the spirit, my friend!"
"It would be nice to get out of the castle, at least. Besides, if anything happens to me, Dimitri is already set to take the throne." He bowed to Darby. "Speaking of, I should go and check on him again. Take care, Darby."
"And you, too, Erasmus." Darby bowed as the cat prince turned and walked back down the hall. As soon as he was out of sight, the penguin released the breath he was holding and straightened up. "Well, that did not take as much convincing as I feared." He continued along his way, whistling openly.
What luck I have been bestowed. Dimitri does not recall anything of my actions, and I managed to get Erasmus to join me on the battlefield. If all goes according to plan, I should be able to convince him to side with me and assimilate the Senbo Kingdom with Last Autumn. He smirked, snickering through clenched teeth. This will earn me favor with the old man, and I will finally get my wings on that sacred treasure I have been promised.
Erasmus burst into Dimitri's room, startling him and Erasmus' knights as they played a round of cards on the dark-furred prince's bed. Rikmai tilted her head, noting the mischievous twinkle in Erasmus' eyes. "You…seem elated for someone who had to spend a fraction of a second with Darby."
"He's not charmed, is he?" Serell mumbled worriedly, but paused. "Wait, it only works on women."
Erasmus shook his head. "Fret not, my elation is of a…different matter."
Dimitri sat up. "Alright, what the hell are you plotting?"
Erasmus smirked. "Darby just invited me to partake in the war with him."
Their eyes widened. "He did what?!" Dimitri exclaimed, causing him to double over in a coughing fit. "Oh gods…!"
Serell helped Dimitri onto his back before turning to Erasmus. "Are you nuts?! You can't just go out and fight New Chariot! Your father will freak out!"
The eldest prince nodded. "I understand your concerns, but I have reasons for wanting to join Darby."
Rikmai narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "What do you mean? What are you plotting?"
The prince's smirk stretched wider. "We are going to use this war…to overthrow the Wick Kingdom and assassinate Prince Darby."
Meanwhile…
With the rest of the region in turmoil over the recent developments, Last Autumn had to step up its plans to counter the looming threat that was New Chariot. Assignments were given out to active members of the council and those under Last Autumn's command to steady the flow of conflict until they secured their reign over the land once again.
Though the devastation was grim, in a morbid sense, Terrowin bet on the success of this war furthering his goal.
The rejuvenated Sceptile stood before his chamber's mirror, smoothing out the wrinkles in his attire. He dressed in a black buttoned-down shirt, autumn red vest, and brown trousers. He gripped his newly formed, wooden arm by the wrist and loosened the twisted congregation of roots until he could move it with greater flexibility. He traced his normal hand over the root-like scars covering the left side of his face.
As he stared into the mirror, he grimaced as he saw one of the scars growing a fraction of an inch longer. "Every day that passes, my body rejects me a fraction more."
"Are you sure it's wise to be entering the Subterra Kingdom in your condition?" Terrowin glanced over his shoulder, acknowledging the noble Aegislash floating off to the side. "King Obsidian lives within the land they call the Underworld. I've heard the heat gets unbearable at those depths."
Terrowin sighed and turned back to the mirror. "My body has grown accustomed to intense heat thanks to the power I've been absorbing from Logos. It's made my technique stronger…for better and for worse. I shall survive, Victor."
The Aegislash glared. "The Subterrans aren't exactly a reasonable people, Terrowin. You plan to ally them to your side. What proposition could you offer that would garner such a treaty?"
"I have my ways. I'm familiar with King Obsidian, thus I know the best way to persuade him." He glared at his wooden arm. "Besides, all we need from him is access to the magma pits and his blacksmiths. They'll be helping us with my latest project. A countermeasure in the event we need to start taking drastic measures ourselves."
"For the Foresters?" Victor assumed.
Terrowin nodded. "They've been quiet as of late. They're crafty. We need to keep a close eye on them whenever we can." He sighed and finished smoothing out his attire. "Thank you again for taking time out of your schedule to help me with this endeavor. I hope I didn't pull you away from any important matters in Senbo."
Victor shook his head. "Nothing that required my attention. Though, if you haven't heard, the four western kingdoms are banding together to focus their forces against New Chariot as we speak."
"Hmm, good. That may do us some good. With Roscoe's return from Verde, we've lost our only connection to the kingdom. Only Wick and Echo Bell, to an extent, are under our command."
"What of the eastern kingdoms?"
"We've run into a bit of a problem trying to persuade King Tadhg to our side, according to Lord Blackwood. Though, with some luck, we might be able to turn the Algus Kingdom to our side, though we're still working on that."
"Hmm, very well." As Terrowin finished smoothing out his vest, a knock sounded off his chamber door. "Enter."
The door opened, and Roscoe stepped through, donning armor and an autumn-orange cloak over his shoulders. He bowed to the Sceptile. "Master Terrowin, your guests have arrived."
Terrowin glared. "Thank you, Roscoe. Let them through."
The Lopunny stepped aside and bowed for his guests. Entering the room were Terrowin's loyal enforcers: Harriet Chernocke, Alban Kyllyngworth, and…surprisingly, Itzal Abasolo. They entered the chamber and knelt before the Sceptile loyally.
"We await your command, Master Terrowin," they said in unison.
Terrowin nodded. "Rise." The trio stood, all but Itzal looking him in the face while the Gourgeist seemed to keep his face hidden under his top hat. Terrowin approached Harriet and asked, "Count Victor informed me of your efforts in the Algus Kingdom. How are we on pushing along Project Talos?"
Harriet glared. "Plans are moving along apace. We'll have plenty of the binding agent prepared in no time. We only await the construction of the golems."
"And we have plenty of reinforced elementium ingots prepared. Once we've secured an alliance with Subterra, we can get to work on the project." He then narrowed his eyes at the Mienshao, who remained unphased in his presence. "There is still…issue I take with how you went about completing your assignment."
Harriet bowed her head. "It was purely out of self-defense, Master."
"Hmm…" Terrowin stepped aside and approached Alban. "How has the war progressed on the battlefield?"
The Toxtricity glared. "New Chariot's forces have slowed down in their advance over Umbra Clock. They're focusing most of their attention on the west."
"Hmm. I need you to oversee the battle in the west. Should any harm come to our allies, you have my expressed permission to act accordingly. Do not engage unless the heirs or their home capitals are put in danger. Annihilate the New Chariot Empire as you do so."
Alban bowed. "I'll leave no survivors."
"Prioritize the safety of the heirs first and foremost." Finally, Terrowin approached Itzal, who remained calm under the Sceptile's gaze. "I have a special assignment for you, Abasolo. You will be contributing to the success of Project Talos personally. Your Scarlet Flame, a despicable amalgamation of twisted desires, will be used to win the war for us."
Itzal smirked and bowed to him. "Fantastic! It would be my utmost pleasure, Master Terrowin."
"You will assist Cain and Bridget to conduct experiments on the Scarlet Flame. We need to measure the potency of your power." Terrowin glared. "Speaking of, you mentioned empowering one of your former subordinates with the same flame."
"I did, Master. Iris Adesso, my successor."
"Hmm, we may have to look into breaking her out of prison just in case." He shook his head. "We'll look into that later. Your destructive flames will be put to good use soon enough." Terrowin's glare hardened. "And I hope we won't have any more outbursts coming from you."
"Of course not, Master Terrowin. I would never dream of betraying you." Itzal lifted his head and tilted his hat up, revealing the soft silver-blue glow reflecting off his eyes. "I dedicate the might of my abilities to the success of Last Autumn."
"…Good." He turned away from the trio. "That is all. You are all dismissed." They bowed once more and exited the chamber.
Roscoe glared. "I still can't believe you actually did that to him."
"Itzal was too much of a danger. It was absolutely necessary. I did nothing more than the bare minimum to get him to cooperate." Terrowin sighed, turning toward his mirror with a firm glare. "I prefer to handle these matters with decorum. I won't need Logos' power to persuade King Obsidian to our cause."
Roscoe sighed, but bowed to him. "Of course, Master Terrowin."
Victor stretched his arms before saying, "Shall we get going?"
Terrowin flexed his wooden arm before nodding. "Let us descend to the Underworld."
