CHAPTER 18

Clare and her friends, all accompanied by Officer Clamp the Clamble, have finally reached the Land of Freedom. But already there was trouble. Feral Ones, specifically cats and hawks permanently shifted into their animal forms, blocked the group's path. Clare could not believe what was going on. Later, Izuka showed up with feral red dragons.

"Wh-what?!" asked Mr. Stark in shock.

"Ah, yes, the girl." said Izuka. "Once again, we meet."

"What…are you doing?!" asked Clare.

"Simple! Laguz shifted into their animal forms indefinitely? Hah! It's superb, Clare, my girl!" said Izuka to Clare.

"We have been saying to the characters living in the Land of Freedom that the feral ones are not good for the land's environment." said Rafiel the heron laguz as he walked to the group. Tatiana had accidentally mistaken him as one of White Lily Cookie's angel saviors. Rafiel laughed it off, saying that he was one of the royal heron laguz.

"The royals of the heron laguz have the white wings." said Clare.

"And they prove to be worth a lot in slave trades." said Izuka. "As a matter of fact, I had Devin sell Leanne and Reyson into slavery."

Rafiel was shocked. Even the Potbellies that heard the words were shocked too.

"Why would you do that?!" asked one wild Potbelly

"Well, they say the herons are expensive because they are almost, that's right, almost extinct." Izuka explained. "They tend to fetch quite big bucks around these lands."

"But you had a stranger sell my brother and sister into slavery!" yelled Rafiel.

"And here's the obligatory question for you, old bastard!" yelled Clare. "Where, that's right, where is the Star of Freedom?!"

"Oh, the Star of Freedom?" asked Izuka. "Um….I don't know."

"Come on, surely, you know." said Jonathan.

"I don't!" yelled Izuka.

Clare has had enough of Izuka.

"Clare, where are you going?!" asked Jonathan.

"To find White Lily Cookie!" yelled Clare.

"Wait for us, Clare!" Mr. Stark said as he ran.

Meanwhile, with White Lily Cookie and Elder Faerie Cookie, they were both worried about Reyson and Leanne. The two heron royals, who were sold into slavery by the mysterious Devin lady, were the only hopes not only for the Land of Freedom, but also transforming the Feral Ones back to their normal states using the Galdr songs they sing. White Lily Cookie later sent Mercurial Knight Cookie and Elder Faerie Cookie out to the slave trades to rescue Reyson and Leanne. However, little did the two Faeries know that they would run into Clare and her friends.

When Mercurial Knight Cookie saw Clare and her friends, he asked them to join him and Elder Faerie Cookie on the mission for Reyson and Leanne's rescue.

"What had happened to them?" asked Clamp the Clamble.

"They were taken into slavery by that Devin lady." said Clare. "We have to rescue them!"

"Well, don't get me involved. I'll be at the greenhouse." said Clamp the Clamble.

"...Very well, then." said Mr. Stark.

"Alright, everyone. Follow us." said Elder Faerie Cookie.

Clare and her friends, parting ways with Clamp the Clamble, followed both Elder Faerie Cookie and Mercurial Knight Cookie. Clare hoped that the two would help them find the Star of Freedom and return it to the Central Plaza. However, Jonathan wondered who the mysterious Devin lady really was. Mr. Stark hoped that it wasn't Devin Hampshire, the school principal of Riverton Public School.

The slave trade in the Land of Freedom was considered illegal in White Lily Cookie's Book of Holy Standards. She wanted everyone in the Land of Freedom to be free. Unfortunately the soldiers running the slave trade didn't get White Lily Cookie's message.

When Mercurial Knight Cookie took the first steps into the slave trade, Reyson and Leanne were tied up and chained by the wrists. Rafiel later arrived on site.

"How could anyone treat laguz like this?" asked Clare.

"I don;t know…" said Mercurial Knight Cookie.

A black-shirted boy with a red vest later crossed paths with Mercurial Knight Cookie, accompanied with a black-haired swordsman also wearing a red vest. They were Shulk and Dunban, both of which were from Xenoblade Chronicles.

"What's going on here?" asked Dunban.

"There's illegal slave trading going on." said Mercurial Knight Cookie.

"White Lily Cookie sent us out to stop this illegal action." said Elder Faerie Cookie.

"And we have to get back the Star of Freedom." said Clare.

Shulk turned around, asking about the four people Mercurial Knight Cookie and Elder Faerie Cookie were accompanied with.

"Uh, this is Clare, Jonathan, Tatiana, and their teacher, Mr. Theo Stark." said Elder Faerie Cookie. "They are helping our world get back in shape."

"So these three kids and their teacher were the ones responsible for restoring four out of the five Stars of the Golden?" asked Dunban.

"Yes, we are responsible for those actions." said Clare. "But I was responsible for restoring the other worlds."

"So Jotaro's bold words were told true…" said Dunban.

"OK, stop, stop STOP!" yelled Clare. "Is Jotaro spreading my heroism around now?!" asked Clare.

"Oh, are you mad?" asked Shulk.

"...I'm not mad. As a matter of fact, I'm shocked, but happy." said Clare. "Because troubadours are going to want to sing songs of my deeds." Clare mentioned.

"Now come on." said Mercurial Knight Cookie. "We have work to do."

Mercurial Knight Cookie later went to stop the slave trade.

"Hey!" yelled Elder Faerie Cookie. "Wait for me!"

"Heh." said Shulk. "They can't get enough.. Hey, mind if we join you?" asked Shulk.

"Why, sure!" said Clare. "You can join us."

"Alright, that settles it then." said Dunban.

Clare, Jonathan, Tatiana, Mr. Stark, and now Shulk and Dunban were all headed off to the slave trade. Clare hoped that the Star of Freedom could be returned to the Central Plaza.