III: Attack on Tao
The Ocean Tornado arrived at the shore of the Tao Kingdom as numerous robots were attacking. Before even stopping the vessel, Blaze and Balam leapt onto the shore to put a stop to the attack.
Marine would bring the ship to a halt before rushing to shore to lend a hand drawing her cutlass. "Been a long time since I've faced these bots." She began cutting them down one by one.
Blaze would continue taking out each machine until she noticed the emerald starting to glow. "There's an emerald close by!"
Balam turns to the feline. "Could one of these robots have it?" She would nearly be ambushed by a larger bot only for it to suddenly be impaled with what appeared to be a stalagmite. "What?"
Marine run over to the magpie looking at the damage. "Crickey. I think I know where that came from." She watches as the stalagmite retracts and the robot collapses revealing the King of the Tao Kingdom.
Blaze ran over immediately. "King Quan Kun." She bows her head with her fist in her palm as Balam and Marine do the same.
Quan smiles at them as she returns the gesture. "Good to see you again, Blaze-san. How is your mother?"
"She's much better. She's currently in Sector 313 as a temporary guardian for three lion cubs."
"Ah, yes. The cubs of Marshall Sanders."
Balam would intervene. "You know him?"
"Yes. News of the Chimera Legion all over the Tao Kingdom. Many people see him as a victim."
"He aided in a rebellion against our kingdoms."
"Yes, but he rebelled against what Emperor Cinder did to his home. We sympathize since he did the same to our land before he disappear."
Blaze then looks at the emerald seeing the glow increase. "Quan Kun, are you in possession of any Sol Emeralds?"
Quan Kun would then pull two from his robe. "I always keep them safe with me in the event of an invasion."
"Thank you." She takes both of them. "I'm just glad they didn't do more damage."
"I agree. Strange thing though was that they did not seem to be looking for the emeralds."
Marine looks around the place. "What could they be looking for then?"
Blaze then eyes his palace. "They must have been a diversion."
Balam turns to Quan. "Are there any other robots here?"
Quan Kun was quick to respond. "Just one resembling a shark."
Blaze and Marine looked at each other. "Johnny!"
"Who's Johnny?"
The feline and raccoon made way to the palace immediately as Blaze would inadvertently drop one of her emeralds.
Balam ran to the emerald grabbing it as it glows. "Again?"
Quan Kun walks over to her. "Wow. Last time an Aquila Republic leader had that happen was centuries ago."
"This has happened before?"
"Yes. More specifically when the Aquila Phoenix was spotted."
Balam knew of the legend, but did not have the time to think about it. "Let's go." She made her way to catch up with Blaze and Marine.
Quan Kun would then snap his fingers as a hole in the earth opened. "Always take the scenic route instead of the direct path." He jumps into the hole as it closes up behind him.
