Tales of The Multiverse
Chapter 14
The Dragon Ninja, Demon King, and the Spy
As most of the conversing was going on with everyone else presently, Vicki Vale was wandering alone on her own, basically coming to grips with the fact that she may not even be able to get back to her own home and reality, but more so starting to question herself on if she even wished to go back. As much as it was her home and so on, and it was where her career was, at this point going back essentially felt like a death sentence just waiting to be carried out. Not the most thrilling of propositions to say the least. However after awhile of wandering, Vicki had roamed rather deep into the town a ways, finding herself in an eerily lonely part of town, sending some mild shivers up her spine a bit.
"Sheesh…reminds me of when I was stuck in Arkham City…it was lonely and empty, save for the gangs that freely roamed free inside. What a royal mess that was, but that's putting it exceptionally mildly," she remarked to herself as she continued along, although her eyes nervously darted about before jumping and letting out a mild squeak of shock when she heard a loud clattering and banging from nearby, making her dart to a corner and ducked behind a dumpster, slightly peering over it to see some what she could only describe as goons heading into a warehouse after having knocked over some trash bins.
"Why don't you be more careful?" one muttered.
"Not my fault they were stupidly set by the door" the other retorted as they all went inside. Vicki's curiosity was raised a bit.
"I probably shouldn't snoop by myself…but if need be I can just get the help of the others. I hope," Vicki commented to herself quietly before she carefully made her way through the alleyway and towards the warehouse as the door was closed. She cautiously approached with very gentle steps while slightly hunched over before heading off to the side, seeing some stacked crates, she picked up a smaller one and placed upon one of the larger ones and gingerly climbed upon it before then moving the smaller one below a window and used it as a stepping stool to get a little higher and peer inside, not wanting to risk climbing into the building at the moment. There was a small cracked hole in the glass so it provided her with a means to listen in.
From what she was able to see of the interior though it was mostly dimly lit, and was comprised of tons of old stacked boxes and the like, some serving as chairs and tables. All of the thugs inside looked like your typical grunt and murderous cutthroat. But then there was the man himself, the Joker, his pale skin offset by his green, flat yet curved and pointed hair. His face very angular and sharp, and had a rather long nose as well. And of course dressed in a bright purple suit with white gloves, a small carnation on his lapel, and his rather pointy shoes. Oddly enough while he did bear a strong resemblance to the Joker she knew, he looked…oddly cleaner, well kept, and, in a word, far less grubby and actually looked like he cared for his appearance, since when he grinned his teeth were very very straight.
"Well gentlemen, it seems our little scientific egg has decided to fly the coup," he stated, and upon hearing his voice it sounded similar but yet not identical to the Joker voice she knew. At least, not in the exact tone but there was no doubt it was still a version of Joker. "So therefore our little scientific advantages have now plummeted. Not that it matters, it didn't even seem remotely up to snuff when going head to head with that new kid group. And that bothersome blue rodent arch nemesis of his, wasn't even anywhere in sight! But ohhhhhh, that actual blue boy. Now he's a problem like the rest of em."
"Blue rodent?" Vicki whispered.
"Actually aren't hedgehogs mammals?" a goon asked.
"Potato patatoe at this point, don't matter, our scientific friend and go deal with that Sonic on his own. Though I will miss that fabulous mustache of his, and his iconic grin on his machines but that's besides the point," Joker said as he went to a table and slammed a hand onto it. "We're miles away from Gotham, and yet Batman has managed to find us!" he then angrily flicked a can off of it, right at the window towards Vicki. She gasped as she stepped back and leaned slightly as it busted through the glass, and she just avoided it, however the heel of her boot slipped off the edge of the crate while her other leg was still in the air.
"Ahuh! Eh! Huah!" she quietly yelped as possible to try and keep from screaming, as she waved her arms feverishly and wobbled unsteadily while her leg quivered a bit, and her feet slanted a bit as she tried to regain balance, and even stand on it's toes and set her other leg back down. But it was too late, she began to careen backwards, prompting her to shut her eyes and scrunch up her face, bracing for impact to try and not make any verbal noise upon hitting, hoping for at most a dull thud upon the crates behind her. Down she went as her legs went into the air. ~*CKRWUINCH*~ Sadly her landing wasn't as quiet as she wished, since as her back hit onto the outer half of the crate, it broke beneath her and she continued downward at an angle, semi rolling and busted through another crate before then finally hitting the pavement, while not as hurt as she expected as she basically half curled into a ball, her arms spread out and her legs sorta spread in front of her face.
"The heck was that!?" a goon protested.
"Someone was spying on us! Go get em!" Joker ordered. Vicki's eyes widened upon hearing this, as she rolled onto her knees and then righted herself, semi disoriented but quickly scrambled to her feet as she ran for another alleyway as she hurt the door burst open, and over half a dozen footsteps tramping on out.
"It's a dame! Get her!" this set Vicki's already fast beating heart into overtime as she dashed as fast as she could, she'd wildly swing her arms, managing to bash over a few trash cans and cause a domino effect in her wake as she saw a metal meshed fence in front of her. Not even wasting a second she leaped as high as she could, grabbing hold near the top and pulled herself up, managing to hook one foot and used it as leverage to raise herself higher, quickly raising her other leg upon the fence she then sprung from the top and landed atop of a parked car, but slipped and landed on her side and slid onto the hood unintentionally, but rolled with it and got onto the ground and resumed her dash. She went down the sidewalk a bit before then turning and darted across the street, it was honestly horrifically vacant at the moment, which was terrifying her as no one was around. She darted into another alleyway and skidded to a halt as she saw a fire escape, and noted a nearby closed dumpster.
She wasn't sure if she could do it but she climbed onto the dumpster, and took a quick run up and leaped, managing to catch onto the lower rung of the ladder and swung back and forth for a moment before quickly scaling up it, really feeling her adrenaline pumping, but by the time she scaled the top and darted up the multiple level staircases and got onto the roof, she began to feel herself tire down a bit. But regardless she kept going, despite heavily panting by this point she sprinted across the rooftop towards another, and not even taking time to think, leaped over the gap. It was crazy, but she was so desperate to get away she wasn't really thinking, or taking into account her own limits, reach she realized when her waist slammed into the ledge.
"GYUAH! AAHHHH!" she fearfully yelped as she almost slid off but managed to grip the inner ledge of the roof's rim, by then her lungs started burning as she really became to feel fatigue, but after a frantic scrabble managed to pull herself up and roll onto the roof, heavily panting for a moment as she hobbled towards a skylight, mainly wanting to be away from the ledge and catch her breath in relative safety. She took a look back to try and see if she was being pursued still after all that, and went to lean against the skylight, only to feel her hand slide and her body lean still to where she began to fall, a brief sharp gasp left her lips as she realizes the window she tried to lean on wasn't secure and simply opened when she pushed against it, making her plummet into the room below. "GEH!" she cried as after a frantic flail she managed to grab onto a rafter to momentarily stop her fall, but by this point she just couldn't hold and her hand slipped, and down she went, busting through a desk below and hit the floor. She blacked out from the impact and blinked hard a few times, seeing it was still night above her as she lay there for a moment, feeling agony through her body. She groaned in pain as she shifted a little, amazingly nothing was broken but she was still not in good shape.
Not sure if she was even still remotely safe she slowly rose up and walked through the room, seeing signs there was some sort of activity although the place seemed otherwise abandoned. Still she hobbled through a door and made her way through a wide hallway for a bit. She then paused when she heard soft steps approaching from the dark, soon seeing a tall slender woman wearing essentially a black business suit step out from the shadows. She had a black jacket, short black skirt, black heeled shoes, a white blouse with a caller, and a blue pendant at the neck. Her hair was long, brown, and professionally done up, and had the most piercing green eyes.
"Wh…who are…" Vicki tried to ask until she saw the woman raise her hand, holding a gun, aimed in her direction.
"Don't, move," the woman ordered, and Vicki felt her body lock up in a trembling fear, her mouth slightly agape and her eyes wide with terror, unable to resist the command at this point, but then saw the woman's finger on the trigger moving.
"Plea*" ~*BLAM*~ Vicki tried to plead with the woman, fearful for her life, but then flinched when the gun fired, her body no longer trembling but still very much locked in position. She thought that was it, but then her eyes slowly eased from their wide terrified expression, as she noticed no new pain was in her body, but then they glanced to the side as she heard a faint shuffle behind her, and then turned just a bit more to see a thug stagger back and groan before then falling to the floor as his weapon clattered away, he was about to get her from behind. "Y…you saved me…" feeling her heart in her throat for a minute, she realized why the woman told her not to move. But then her attention turned to behind the woman, whom also turned completely around to face the horde of goons that lined up behind her.
"Put down that gun doll, you can't shoot all of us," one ordered.
"Be that as it may appear, I strongly advice you all surrender, if you wish to live. You're so low on the food chain it's pathetic," she ordered back.
"Wha…ok lady, you're dead!" but before anyone could move, there was a quick gust of air, and a swift swooshing noise as Vicki saw a brief glint of light go through all of them, and then a shadowy figure was crouching with it's back to them, a blade sticking out of a sheath, before it then clicked back inside, and blood gushed from them all, and down they went in an instant. Vicki stared at this scene before her as the figure rose up, and she lost the ability to stand as her knees knocked together, her feet spread across the floor as she then landed on her butt, holding herself up with her arms. The figure was a tall, muscular male ninja, dressed in blue, with only the bridge of his nose and eyes visible, and his arms were completely bare, save for the bandage style forearm guards on his forearms.
"Hm. These guys were hardly worth the effort, not to mention so recklessly lined themselves up in a row like that," he remarked.
"I figured as much. However they'd have torn this poor woman apart if we gave them the chance," the woman said before they turned to face Vicki, whom was just very stunned and trying to comprehend everything before the pain in her body finally got to her.
"Th…the Joker…warehouse…got to…stop him…" Vicki groaned before falling limp, passing out.
"Irene, stay with her. I'll check it out," the ninja said.
"Of course Ryu. It should be safe now," Irene said as she knelt beside Vicki, while Ryu then leapt out of the building, rapidly scaling a wall and darted across the rooftops, spotting the warehouse with the busted crates, but then spotted several tire tracks, and moved a bit further to see a dust cloud in the distance out of town, everyone that was in the warehouse bailed in the time Vicki was being chase.
"Gone already…a Joker huh?" Ryu mused as his eyes narrowed. About then though he heard voices nearby on the street.
"I coulda swore I heard a gun shot," Selina said as she had her mask off, while now wearing a brown cloak of sorts over her body.
"It's bizarrely quiet. Where did everybody go?" Jackie asked.
"More over, where's your companions?" Nei asked.
"They should be around here, shouldn't they?" Tails asked.
"Maybe they're in trouble if that shot's anything to go by," Sonic said.
"Jack? Peter? Gwen? Vicki?" Selina stated calling, before they all yelped upon Ryu landing before them.
"I believe we just saved one of your compatriots. Also, we need to talk," he stated. Everyone was left a bit dumbstruck before they saw Irene carrying the unconscious Vicki out of a nearby building.
-Elsewhere-
"So you won't be joining us?" Mega Man asked as he stood within Selen's technical office.
"I possibly will at some point but I can't come along now. If anything you should try and get into contact with the space pirate captain, or my sister's two daughters as I mentioned. Before my sister suffered her transformation, she had given birth to twins. Maetel, and Emeraldas. Although apparently according to rumors I've heard, not only has Emeraldas become a queen among the space pirates, she had a daughter herself somewhere. To be frank, my duties will be to try and find this daughter before Promethium learns of her," Selen replied.
"If…it's not too much to ask, what was your sister like before her transformation?" Lucia asked.
"As I eluded to earlier, she was once a very kind and compassionate woman. The most open hearted individual you would ever meet. Yayoi Yukino was her earthly identity, Queen Millennia her true title. Although apparently "Olivia Snow" came up as an alias once somehow," Selen replied. "But regardless, while she managed to save earth, our planet, still went adrift to the cold harshness of space. The mechanization of herself and our people…was to try and survive the eternal winter. Although Maetel and others managed to save the planet, my sister is overcome by the Promethium persona. I have to wonder if my sister is even still in there anymore. Regardless, you must all be on your guard. I suggest you make way to depart, as must I." And with that everyone left the building and made their way back into the city.
"Well that was certainly something," Regina remarked as they marched.
"It…was an awful lot to take in all things considered but…I at least have some context to that nightmare I had," Jennifer stated.
"It's unusual you would have that specific a dream but then again, I'm likely not one to talk," Annet said.
"So, where do we even go from here? Usually we have some sort of leads to follow up on, or someone has a bit of a clue to what to do," Deedlit said.
"Well if we know anything from our luck, if we don't hear about something, trouble usually finds us," Throttle replied.
"That's hardly encouraging," Gwen quipped with mild exasperation.
"Well we are speaking from experience darlin, so you can trust us," Vinnie replied as he went to put an arm around her, only for Gwen to put a hand upon his face and shove somewhat firmly to get him away but not outright floor him.
"Spare me, "Mr. Casanova."," Gwen said sternly with a heavily annoyed expression.
"Awe don't be like that!" Vinnie pleaded with false innocence.
"Oh drop the act! I swear, if you try and put the moves on every sweet face and "hot babe" we come across, I'm gonna tie that tail in a knot!" Gwen protested as she jabbed an accusing finger at him. Lila meanwhile looked over at Annet and saw her expression was that of bearing a heavy heart.
"Annet? What's the matter?" she approached and reached out with concern.
"I'm sorry just that…well…after hearing about Yayoi I…couldn't help but be overcome with sadness…as well as thoughts of what might become of me if I had to lead a nation or kingdom," Annet replied.
"Now where did that come from?" Jack asked in shock.
"Huh? How do you mean?" Annet asked.
"You entertaining thoughts on potentially being a leader. It was just surprising is all," Jack replied.
"To be frank I'm not sure why I thought of it either. Just that suddenly I thought about people not having a leader to look after them, to guide them By all accounts Selen is a ruler in hiding for the moment although I…I dunno…" Annet's mind seem to be racing with a million thoughts she was getting a bit overwhelmed but about then suddenly Deedlit's ears twitched.
"You hear something, Deedlit? Wait…" Modo paused after seeing her ears twitch as she stopped to listen, and he started to hear it as well.
"What is it?" Jill asked.
"It…sounds like a fluttering, whirling noise it's…hard to describe…" Deedlit replied before she saw an unusual sight as she tracked the sound. "Huh!?" everyone looked over and saw it as well, a two tailed fox with red shoes was flying in the air, appearing to be looking around before spotting them, and quickly let out a tweet sound. A split second after that a blue Hedgehog zipped up to an abrupt stop to look and see them as well.
"What is going on with this picture?" Link asked, a bit stunned to see this as everyone else was. But it was about then their other companions showed up along with some newcomers as they carried the unconscious Vicki.
"There you guys are!" Fernandez exclaimed as Tails touched down nearby.
"Wh…what happened to Vicki?" Batgirl gasped.
"She took a nasty fall from what I heard, I healed her but it'll be awhile before she wakes back up," Nei replied.
"Now who are you?" Deedlit asked as everyone's attention went to Nei a bit, as she had a pretty striking appearance, not just in attire either.
"My name is Nei."
"N…Nei? A…as in?" Jennifer stuttered as she realized Nei did look a bit familiar.
"It's alright," Selina said as she put her arms protectively around Nei. "She's not like her sister. I learned that much myself."
"Is that all?" Batman asked, which made Selina give him a mild glare before closing her eyes to resume.
"She and Neifirst hail from the Algo Star System. They're very much twins, but beyond that they couldn't be anymore different from each other. Polar opposites of a literal degree," Selina stated.
"That much can be determined just by looking at her honestly," Mega Man said.
"I'll say. Where as Neifirst comes off as cold and precise, Nei here seems warmer, shy, and well," Spider-Man paused.
"She seems more nervous from what we've seen but, don't let us frighten you," Jack said. Nei seemed to cuddle up to Selina a bit, and it was very evident to mostly everyone, even those who hadn't been around Selina that much there was a very firm connection that had been formed between these two.
"So who are you guys?" Carrie asked as she approached the newcomers slightly.
"Sonic The Hedgehog, fastest thing alive, at your service!" he saluted.
"Tails Prower."
"Prower?" Charley chuckled in confusion.
"…My real name is Miles, I hate it," Tails stated in annoyance. There was a bit of a stunned silence as they all stared.
"…OOOOOWWWWWW!" Charley moaned in utter agony as she was the first to catch on.
"Yeah I'm gonna go against my convention of using proper names and stick with Tails," Annet remarked.
"I'm afraid I don't get it," Deedlit said before Throttle firmly clamped a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeaaahhhh we'll explain it to ya later, so just stick with Tails," he stated.
"Fair enough…" Deedlit said a little nervously.
"To finish introductions, I'm Irene Lew, and this is Ryu Hayabusa, of the Hayabusa clan."
"Sonic and Tails technically saved my life from Eggman, and Irene and Ryu saved Vicki's life from Joker's henchmen," Selina said before her eyes widened for a moment. "DON'T LOOKING FOR THE BODIES!" she quickly shook her head.
"B…bodies!?" Jennifer yelped as the color faded from her face.
"Jennifer, you gonna be alright?" Helen asked as she quickly put her hands on her for support.
"I will be…just give me a sec," Jennifer replied.
"Considering Ryu is obviously a Ninja, I'm willing to bet he made short work of them," Jill said.
"Ninja's are good assassins after all," Regina added.
"I appreciate the flattery but we could use a little bit more information as to what's going on," Ryu replied.
"Well, Sonic and Tails here are actually adversaries of Eggman. And even know about the Chaos Emeralds. And how to use them," Selina said.
"To a degree we do. Not only can they grant immense power, but they can turn me Super," Sonic stated as he poked his chest with his thumb.
"Super?" Mega Man asked.
"Hmmm. I wager in truth anyone can turn Super. It's a transformation that makes us invincible more or less, increases our speed and power, ect," Sonic replied.
"Which makes me have to ask, can you, harness a single Emerald's power?" Selina asked.
"Well…we never actually tried. I know they can super charge most machinery, I used one to power up one of my custom planes, temporarily mind you. But we never really actually quote unquote harnessed a single Emerald's power into ourselves. If that's even possible," Tails replied.
"It could be, but I wasn't able to harness anything when I only collected six the first time around," Sonic commented.
"Well, I sorta tried except it simply just zapped me. Gave me a bit of a technical buzz but that was it," Selina commented.
"It shocked me when I first tried to pick one up, so I wasn't even trying to harness it's power," Jennifer stated.
"Now that's peculiar. They've never done that before," Sonic said.
"Considering what's going on, they're potentially all out of sorts, that's just a theory mind you," Tails said. "But, maybe it's now possible to trigger some sort of transformation from a single or handful. Likely not a full on Super mode, but technically something still, if we can learn how to do it."
"So what's you story?" Lila asked Ryu and Irene.
"Former federal agent. Me and Ryu have a bit of an extensive history of battling evil in all shapes and sizes," Irene replied.
"The current events got our attention needless to say. We've been dispatching various mechanical underlings of late that were hunting for the Emeralds, and Annet Myer here," Ryu added.
"Everyone's been after me lately…" Annet sighed.
"I did get an idea," Link said.
"What's that?" Mega Man asked.
"We should check up on how Hyrule is doing. We've been away from there for awhile, we should see how things are and maybe we can uncover something there," Link replied.
"Hmmm it'd be a bit of a journey to get there, but it's the best we can go on," Jill said.
"A bit of a road trip I see. Well, let's hop to it then," Sonic said, about then Tails looked up when Jennifer approached.
"Hm? Yes? What is it?" he asked.
"I'm sorry but, I can't resist anymore!" Jennifer replied before giving him a firm hug.
"AGH! Not again!" Tails protested as he frantically waved his arms.
"Oh come on, the girl needs emotional support," Regina quipped.
-In another world-
Inside the walls of castle Nottingham, several guards were stationed about while the two buzzards patrolled around the grounds. On the outer wall, along the small river bank a small boat carrying the crew that was ready to make a rescue, not just of Friar Tuck, but of the entire populace. Quickly placing a ladder everyone scaled and peered over, seeing the hangman's noose setup, several of the rhino guards blocking a door, several of the sheriff's archers patrolling the upper walls, and the two buzzards around the sheriff outside of the dungeon. That being their target, everyone that was light footed leaped over the wall onto a wide ledge along a wall to their left, while Little John had to more awkwardly step over, partially knocking some stones loose, making a little bit of a crumbling noise, and while it made the archers look around there was no alarm sounded. Baraluda took point as they went along, prompting her to leap down onto the straw roof of a stable and partially glide with her cape to the ground, although it wasn't that far of a jump, Looda and everyone else carefully got onto the roof and climbed down and hurried along, Robin Hood taking point for a moment as they approached a corner near where the dungeon entrance was, but paused and pressed up against the wall as the one buzzard guard with his crossbow came walking by.
He looked around suspiciously but kept on going, relieving them a little bit as they peered around, taking stock of the situation, the one known as Nutsy carrying a pointed axe spear was approaching a wall that had a brush on the other side, which gave them a good idea as they slipped over the wall undetected and went about to where he'd end up. When he did stop to turn around, Little John was reaching to just about grab when he started hollering.
"One a clock! And alllllls wellllll!" and with that the clock tower then chimed the hour. Most of them were amazed he had the time that down pat. The sheriff was attempting to sleep in front of the cell door on a small stool but was awakened by the yelling.
"Nutsy, you better set your brain ahead a couple of hours," he said groggily as Nutsy trotted over.
"Yes sir! Ah, does that mean eh, addin, or subtractin?" Nutsy asked as he counted on his fingers.
"Ah let's forget it," the sheriff replied with a mildly annoyed hand wave.
"Yes sir, sheriff sir!" Nutsy marched back off.
"Nutsy, how can I sleep with you yellin "all's well" all the time?" the sheriff asked as he tried to drift back to sleep as the other guard walked back up.
"Sheriff, everythin ain't alllls well! I gotta feelin in my bones that there's gonna be a jail break any minute!" he exclaimed as he looked around, unaware he basically pointed his crossbow at the sheriff's face.
"Crimenelly Trigger! Point that pea shooter the other way!" he protested as he carefully moved it aside.
"Don't you worry none Sheriff, the safety's on ol Betsy!" Trigger replied as he lightly patted his weapon, only for it to let loose, making both jump and duck as the bolt went bouncing around rapidly for a bit.
"What in tarnation you tryin to do you bird brain!?" the sheriff protested before clonking Trigger on the head.
"Jus doin my duty sheriff!" Trigger replied.
"Ohhhh you and that itchy trigger finger of yours!" the sheriff grumbled. About then Nutsy went back to the wall, about to make another report, only for Baraluda's hand to clamp firmly over his beak with a honk and quickly whisked him over the wall before he could even turn around. The noise while subtle, was enough to make Trigger whip around on edge.
"Hey, you hear that?!"
"Sure did Trigger! Something's funny goin on around here! Come on!" the sheriff replied as he started to lead. "You cover me." he ordered as Trigger gladly followed behind him. However they only took a few couple of steps before he partially stuck him in the back.
"Wait a minute! Uh is the safety on ol Betsy?" he asked nervously.
"You bet it is sheriff!" Trigger replied as he gave the confident pat again, thankfully no bolt fired this time.
"That's what I'm afraid of, you go first!" the sheriff ordered as Trigger took point and they pressed on for a moment before being at the doorway to the small courtyard everyone had gathered in as Robin was putting on the disguise. "Alright you in there! Come out with your hands up!" he ordered as he drew his sword.
"Yeah reach for the sky!" Trigger added.
"Just you watch this, "preformance" partner," Robin Hood remarked as he added the finishing touch to his look to resemble Nutsy.
"Mind yourself Robin," Looda said with concern. And with that he walked into the open, and did Nutsy signature stomp with his weapon.
"Jeeeosphet Trigger! Put that pea shooter dowwwwn!" he said, doing his best impression with a second stomp of the weapon.
"Awweee shucks, Trigger, it's only Nutsy," the sheriff sighed in annoyance as he put his sword back. "And crimenelly get back to your patrol! On the double, get!" he then almost booted Trigger as he quickly started running off.
"I'mma gettin I'mma gettin!" he replied.
"That Trigger, he's gettin everybody edgy! Nothing's gonna happen," the sheriff grumbled as he was heading back to his chair, Robin behind him as he gave everyone peering around the doorway a confident wink of success. "That fat friar's gonna dangle at the gallows come daybreak." he then yawned as Robin Hood then helped him sit down on the stool.
"Friend, just sit yourself dowwwn kinda cozzzzzy liiiike," he said as he went about making the Sheriff comfortable.
"Well thank ya Nutsy," the sheriff said very tiredly.
"Just close your little eye bowls," Robin Hood replied as he closed the sheriff's one eye and made it close the other. "The sand man's a commin!" he did the finishing touches on making him comfortable and the sheriff quickly drifted off to sleep as Goeniko sneaked over, seeing the key ring on the belt, she took hold of the keys themselves to prevent them from making any noise as with a quick flick of her other finger she sliced part of the ring off with a mild tink. With that hole she was then able to slip the ring off the belt without any fuss. Taking a few careful steps back towards the door she went about unlocking it, and managed to slowly ease it open. Once there she motioned for everyone to come along which they did, Goeniko, Riku, Kairi, Looda and Little John heading inside, while Baraluda and Sora stuck with Robin Hood. Thankfully with Goeniko having the keys on her they were able to easily discretely close the door and head up the spiral staircase, passing by a door fairly quickly with a sign on it.
"Death for treason?" Looda asked in a bit of surprise before they quickly went about unlock it, finding Friar Tuck inside.
"Little John? Looda and the others? It can't be!" he proclaimed in shock as they hurried over.
"Shhh, it's alright Friar," Looda said as Little John unlocked his shackles.
"We're getting you out of here," he said.
"Thank God! My prayers have been answered," Friar Tuck said.
"Well it's not like we can just leave you in here, what kind of people would we be?" Sora asked. About then they made their way to the top of the tower and came to a circle room where the entire populace was kept, and they quickly went about freeing them all.
"I'm ready! Where's the bad guys!?" the little boy rabbit with a bow asked as he was about to charge off until Friar Tuck stopped him.
"Take it easy son!" he stated.
"Well his spirits haven't been dampened any," Goeniko chuckled. About then the bard rooster took a peak out the window of the cell and quickly motioned for them to come over, and much to their amazement, especially Looda's they saw Robin Hood, Baraluda, and Sora managing to scale up the stones onto a small ledge, and then shimmying around to the front below a large balcony. Robin Hood spun a hook on a rope around and tossed it, latching onto the balcony securely Baraluda and Sora took hold of the rope as they partially swung up and quickly scaled upwards, getting onto solid footing they peered inside, much to Baraluda's shock as Prince John's bedroom, in a lavish bed, with Sir Hiss in a craddle at the foot of it. But more over, besides the fact the room was chock full of bags of gold and money, was the positioning of this room and balcony that got to Baraluda as she realized it overlooked, well, the dungeon. Peering out she saw Looda and the others looking through the top window of the dungeon.
"This is a morbid view!" Baraluda whispered in disbelief before they perked up and looked up in surprise.
"Robin Hood!? No I'll get even, I'll…..get…." Prince John protested in his sleep, making her and Sora sigh a little, half afraid he somehow woke up. Everyone cleared the jail cell window as Robin Hood leaped onto the balcony, and fired an arrow right down the window, with an arrow going along with it. It sailed into the room and stuck into a wooden post that had a metal loop on it, and Little John promptly pulled the arrow loose and pulled it through the loop, hurried to the window and fired the arrow back.
"A pulley system?" Goeniko asked as she saw the rope technically in action as it sailed back.
"I'll be!" Looda said in astonishment. Baraluda and Sora watched the arrow return in an arcing fashion but sailed straight into the room and struck into the post above Prince John's head a few feet, where Robin Hood had secured the other end. While it jostled him awake for a moment, Prince John simply fell back to sleep in a grumbling fashion as they went about tying the two ends of the rope together and went about putting the bags of gold onto it and started sliding them along through the air. With two extra hands, they were getting a lot more gold out and into the dungeon where everyone was removing the bags. Needless to say through, Prince John's childish noises in his sleep didn't amuse the trio as he tossed himself over. But they looked over after a bit as he started laughing and they realized why as he put his foot where Sir Hiss' snoring tongue was brushing against it. Not wanting to take a risk at all, Baraluda gripped the cradle and slid it away just a few inches and made sure it didn't rock at all or shake. She sighed through her nose a little at that little crisis averted and went about resuming tying the bags to the rope.
"Heh heh heh! Praise the Lord and pass out the tax rebate!" Friar Tuck proclaimed as they handed bags of gold to everyone.
"We need to get a lot of these bags down, let's get going," Riku said as they had been at this for a good while as there was so many bags to transfer. Everyone hurried down the stairs as Little John then carefully opened the door by the sleeping Sheriff and peered out, but then looked up in alarm to see one of the bags was a bit worn at the bottom that was still coming in and it started to drop some coins, a few of which hit the sheriff right in the face, waking him up to look in surprise at the bags being carried directly over his head. Before he could do anything though Little John grabbed him and whisked him inside. There was a bit of a ruckus afterwards that got Trigger's attention, but by the time he came around, Little John was already in disguise as the sheriff in his chair.
"Sheriff n…now don't get your dander up, but I still got a feelin that a…!" by the time Trigger noticed the Sheriff wasn't the sheriff Little John already had him by the neck.
'Come on! Get goin!" Little John then motioned as everyone got out of the dungeon, care to avoid the sight of the guards and archer patrols, about then though the bells started tolling three.
"I didn't think we were at this that long!" Sora said.
"Right but without this money, life can't really return proper to those people," Baraluda said. Robin Hood retrieved the last bag on the floor but realized there was one extra bag under Prince John's pillow. He did carefully tilt it up and retrieved it but the act of dropping down mildly agitated him that he started sucking on his thumb again. Sora shared Baraluda's display of disgust at this childish scene, but as he was about to open his mouth saw Hiss wake up and look over at Prince John in annoyance before attempting to fall back to sleep. However as John turned over it revealed he had one last back under his arm. Baraluda saw this and mildly pushed Sora forward to help as she went to check on the situation outside while Robin Hood raised Prince John's arm slightly, to Sora could pull it out without needing awkwardly pull the bag out otherwise.
With that they both ran for the window as Baraluda leaped out first taking hold of the rope as did Robin Hood and Sora afterwards, making the rope slide a little faster, however the act of rushing by got Hiss' attention, and while he didn't say anything, instead quickly acted to bite onto one of the last bags and quickly go with it, wrapping his lower half around Prince John's foot and somehow managed to rapidly drag him along with the bed. Hearing the yelling made them look in technical disbelief when the bed slammed into the balcony and almost pulled Prince John entirely out and stopped the pulley system momentarily. But the remaining few inside to get the last of the bags were having none of this and pulled even harder.
"Guards! My gold!" he shouted.
"Oh for crying out…"
"MOVE!" Baraluda cut Sora short as she started scaling across the rope rapidly to get to the window, Robin Hood and Sora not far behind her as arrows were flying and sticking to some of the bags, a few pierce through her cape before she managed to slip through the bars of the window followed by her companions. After one last heave through Prince John's nails tore through the edge of his bed frame and zipped through the air only to bash into the bars of the window, Hiss finally letting him go as he fell to the ground below. He looked up to dismay to see everyone leaving the jail carrying all of the bags of gold in a hurry to get away.
"Oh no! No no no no they're getting away with my gold!" he protested as he got up and ran to the door, slamming it shut the last two of the bunny children just made it out so no one was trapped inside. "Guards! To the jail!" he called for the rhino guards to start charging squarely for the jail alone.
"Rhinos, stop! Cease! Desist!" he protested as he realized he made a mistake only for them to plow him and the door out the opposite wall.
"Everybody this way!" Robin Hood called as he lead the escape charge.
"Move or lose it people! Come on!" Goeniko beckoned as she ushered people along before looking up in alarm as the archers above finally started firing, prompting her to quickly warp backwards and turn around in a rapid bolt. "For an early morning jog this wasn't what I had in mind!"
"How can you joke at a time like this!?" Looda asked as everyone had to duck and jump arrow fire, the turtles having an easier time since they simply had to tuck in briefly and the arrows would loudly bounce off. Robin Hood promptly aided the boy rabbit who was taking a shot by firing his own at a trio of running archers coming their way, nailing their hoods and sticking them to the stable. Meanwhile the gator was waiting in a doorway to strike down an old owl couple, only for not only Friar Tuck to scoop then up speedily into a wheel barrel and get them to safety, but also Riku to deflect the ax and boot him away. It was a face paced run, more so when a rhino guard joined the fray to try and plow into a bunch of them, only for Goeniko to put her palm against his axe with a flash, freezing him for a second as she then grabbed him by the caller and threw him over her should with a single hand in a hard slam to the floor. She warped away again as a horde was approaching them, but Little John and Robin Hood were on the job, as Robin Hood removed the ropes holding wine barrels in place while Little John lifted the front end of the cart they were in, making all of them roll out and bash into the rhino guards, getting them off their backs.
"Well that takes care of those guys," Sora remarked.
"And not a moment too soon," Looda said as she aided in lifting people onto the cart as Little John got in the front. It was a pretty large cart with room for everybody.
"That's everyone, get going!" Robin Hood stated as he rushed to the lever controlling the draw bridge, pushing it down and releasing it, making the bridge swiftly and loudly fall to the ground, granting them passage out of there.
"This ain't no hay ride, let's go! Hoooooo!" Little John hollered as he pulled the wagon as Friar Tuck, Sora and Riku pushed it from behind, giving it a fair good bit of speed as they ran across the wooden bridge, Kairi and Goeniko holding into the sides given it was full while Robin Hood, Baraluda and Looda followed alongside it.
"Onward to Sherwood forest!" Friar Tuck exclaimed as they began to enter the woods.
"No! Stop! My baby!" the old mother rabbit exclaimed as she realized her youngest was left behind, still in the castle courtyard.
"Mommy! Mommy wait for me!" the young rabbit called as she ran, but couldn't move very fast given her size. This prompted Looda to turn one foot as she slammed it on it's heel and turned right around, Robin Hood skidding briefly before he was able to follow her back to the castle, as Looda had a good head start with how fast she was. A few of the archers quickly took aim as they reentered the courtyard, Looda quickly getting onto her knees and slid towards the child before swiftly taking her into her arms as she then spun around, holding the child close as a few arrows hit the ground ahead of her, while one stuck her in the upper arm as Robin arrived but quickly turned right around as he took Looda and pushed her ahead to get the child to safety first. Baraluda reentered the courtyard but remained near the gate as she drew her sword and fired a few warning shots to try and deter anymore arrows as the two made their way back, Looda ahead of Robin a fair bit due to her dashing madily as the gate began to quickly drop down while she zipped past her Queen, whom looked in alarm as she saw the gate coming down. While Looda's body cleared it, the pointed bits of the lower portion of the gate pierced into her cape as it pulled it taught around her neck.
"GHUAL!" Looda yelped, as the gate swiftly yanked her down as her back slammed up against it from the inertia, her legs shooting forward and upward from the momentum as it slammed shut, sealing Robin Hood and Baraluda inside. "UGN!" Looda hit the ground with a thud, the impact making her helmet bounce off and into the water while her legs plopped onto the ground as Little John and Sora came running, thankfully she managed to keep the child safe in her arms, but Sora stared in shock at the arrow in her arm, it's arrowhead was barely even a quarter of the way in and that the wound wasn't even bleeding.
"Get going, you three, don't worry, we'll be alright," Robin said as Baraluda quickly stuck her sword through the grating and poking it into Looda's cape, burning a portion of it off, releasing her as she swiftly rose to her feet the second she was free, the motion making the arrow fall out and ran back for the wagon with the others. Sora couldn't help but look on in shock as there was no blood coming from the wound, however before Robin Hood and Barluda could turn around, they heard the distinctive sound of a horse's whinny followed by it's snort and a few clops of it's hooves. Looking in surprise there was this tall black horse, armored, and a rider unlike any they had ever seen. A large man with orange hair, garbed in brown, black, and white clothing, with black armor pieces and golden bits, white cloths around his forearms and shins. But more over his greenish looking skin and very long face and nose. In his right hand was a long spear like weapon, but it was three pronged like a trident but the points were more spread than all forward facing. Everyone that would've been atop them by this point, kept way, waaaay back. He grinned menacingly as he let out a low chuckle, before waving his left hand in front of his face and his head shape had receded a bit, but now there was barely any face at all, except for the upper half of an usual horned skull, and soon an other worldly yellow glow emanated from the sockets.
He then made the horse pull back as it then levitated into the air.
"Robin, go!" Baraluda ordered, and he didn't object as he quickly scaled up the iron gate to make his escape, as much as he didn't want to leave her, he trusted Baraluda's call on this as she stayed to face down this unusual foe. She took a few cautious steps forward as she held her sword out, eyeing this new foe carefully. The fact it really did not belong here was evidence enough that it was perhaps the leader of the band of monsters that attacked the archery tournament. Suddenly the layout of the place changed around her as she found the area had taken on a circular arena, with paintings of forest paths, all identical on the walls as the horse then dove into one of these with a portal distortion, the rider then letting out a much lower different laugh than before as it galloped down into the path and vanished. "What kind of sorcery and black magic is this?"
-Outside-
As everyone got the cart into the woods, suddenly two giant white wolves with red eyes rose from the ground, letting out a loud howl before looking at them menacingly.
"Whoa! Who are these guys!?" Sora yelped.
"They sure don't look friendly," Little John said.
"Get everyone out of here, we'll deal with them," Goeniko ordered as Little John, Kairi and Friar Tuck took the cart off into the woods away from this conflict. One wolf went to go after them, only for Looda to swiftly kick it in the side and send it bashing into a tree and fall limp momentarily, unable to really stand straight once it did manage to get up. That raw power, while Sora didn't doubt Goeniko could deliver a similar kick, or Baraluda for that matter, the fact that it looked like it was on it's last legs already made it very apparent that Looda wasn't entirely what she appeared to be. Still he and Riku charged the other wolf, surprised it managed to block with it's talons making them jump back as it swiped at them both and tried to run circles around them, but they with two of them, more so three as initially Sora would try and hit only for it to defend, but then have Riku strike from behind, causing it to flip away, run, Riku taking the charge, Sora then striking from the other side, but Goeniko then warped in with a firm kick to it's face, making it skid across the ground but it was still raring to go. Meanwhile Looda's wolf finally recovered enough to charge at her, but she evaded it's swipes carefully, and while it back flipped over a swiping kick, it then lunged at her, only for Looda to swiftly raise a leg up, bashing it in the maw and causing it to lurch back and burst into dark color flames as it faded away.
"Guys, when I deflect it's next attack, strike!" Goeniko ordered.
"Roger!" and with the wolf charging her after she made it focus on her, Goeniko did her deflecting parry move that caused the beast to freeze, and in that instant Sora and Riku struck it from both sides at once, and Goeniko swiping her fingers in two quick slashes, finishing with a double downward slash, finishing it off as it howled while burning away as well.
"Whew…well that was a surprise," Sora said.
"My queen!" Looda yelped after looking over to the castle's direction.
"The castle!" Riku exclaimed.
-Earlier-
Baraluda snapped to attention when she heard the galloping of hooves, but was alarmed when she saw multiples of the same being riding down the path on several of the paintings. She quickly realized they all can't be real, most of them had to be fake. However when she saw most turn, and hearing a warping distortion type sound, she whipped around and fired a beam from her sword, hitting her mark as the horse and it's ghoulish rider were starting to come out. The horse cried in pain as the rider was thrown off due to how much damage her blast inflicted, but the rider flipped over a few times and was then levitating, and it was weird as his legs were bending weird at the knee, at least it looked like it was he hovered back and forth. Her eyes narrowed as it let out it's low laugh again, before giving it's weapon a quick twirl, the end of it glowing before it launched an energy sphere in her direction, making her leap to the side and fire her own blast, but it weaved aside easily. She eyed it for a few seconds before it did a different twirl of it's weapon, making a crackling noise as it then charged down at her with a firm thrust. This was perfect, as it essentially made Baraluda face against her fatal move mistake, as she expertly weaved aside it, while then striking it's abdomen, causing it to fall to it's knees crying out in pain, stunning it as it surged with power.
Taking the opportunity she struck this phantom like being several times in quick succession, her weapon putting holes and deep grooves into it, before it then spun away in a brief flash, clutching itself as it glared at her.
"That blade…it may not be evil's bane…but I swear it's a million times worse! Very well, you won, I shall go, but you won't get off that easy!" it stated as a vortex appeared behind it and it then went through, but as the world faded to a reddened sky, Baraluda yelped as she nearly fell backwards, she was on a drastic slope, but she caught a glimpse of a flag, making her leap for it and grab a hold of it and look around in surprise, finding herself atop of the castle as fire was rising up from below her, clearly something had happened while she was dueling that apparition, but looked in shock when Robin Hood quickly got onto the same peak and looked just as surprised to see her as she was to see him. There wasn't much time for words as the flames were drawing closer. But looked in alarm upon hearing Prince John's voice ordering them to be shot. As arrows started to fly was about when Little John, Looda, Sora and Riku, Goeniko and the boy rabbit showed up at the water's edge and looked up from the brushes to see Robin Hood jump and Baraluda dive into the water, frantically starting to swim away as arrows continued to hail down at them before they went under. Needless to say there was a tense moment before Robin Hood's hat surfaced with an arrow through it, followed by Baraluda's helmet, while with no arrow in it still drifted down stream.
"Oh no…" Little John said, looking a bit distraught.
"Those arrows didn't look anywhere near them though…am I wrong?" Sora asked.
"My Queen…" Looda held her hands to her face in terror before shaking her head, removing her helmet firmly she stepped into the water as she ignored the glee of Prince John above, but before she could take any further steps to be where she'd be past her boots in the water she stopped.
"Wh…what is it Looda?" the rabbit asked.
"G…guys…what are those?" Looda asked as she pointed, seeing what looked like little sticks moving in the water, coming towards them. As they got nearer and they all peered closer, they were two hollow weeds that grew in the water, but still they by all means shouldn't be moving.
"Saayyy…" Little John got on his hands and knees near the water as one weed went around Looda and got right in Little John's face and sprayed water right at him. "H…hey what's the big idea!?" he protested as Robin Hood surfaced.
"He's alive! And not hurt at all!" Kairi exclaimed.
"OPH!" Looda yelped as she was so distracted failed to see the other weed coming right at her and something bashed her in the shins, almost making her fall over. Baraluda surfaced while facing away, as she was swimming on her back under the water, but snorted and coughed a little as bumping into Looda startled her. "My queen! Oh my goodness you frightened me so!" Looda quickly picked her up by her arms very easily, despite being soaking wet and the extra weight of her cape.
"PPHH! Cauh…Looda you startled me!" Baraluda coughed and huffed a little as she parted her hair out of her eyes, but was otherwise fine.
"Y…your majesty!" Looda chuckled after getting a good look at her like this after allowing her to turn around.
"Wha…what's wrong? What's funny?" Baraluda asked in confusion.
"Your hair! It got smoothed out from getting so wet, you almost look like Emeraldas!" Looda replied, which made Baraluda's eyes widen a bit. She then whipped her head about to try and get some life back into her hair, only for it to whack Looda a couple times. "Hey! Take it easy you hair is real long ya know?" she protested but was mildly amused by this. The others had helped Robin Hood out of the water as that went on.
"You scared us half to death with that stunt," Kairi said.
"You and me both, but it's pretty much over now," Robin Hood replied.
-In another world-
"It'll be a bit of a drive, but surprisingly according to Ryu's information, Joker went in this direction. If we can take care of him before we get to Hyrule, well, all the better," Spider-Man said.
"The sooner we take care of him the better," Mega Man said. Everyone was driving along the road which was a real long stretch, going on for miles and miles. Thankfully everyone was able to be more comfortably dispersed with the help of the large van Lila had. About then though Vicki finally started to awaken on the floor of said van.
"Hey, ya feeling alright?" Annet asked.
"Y…yeah…I feel a lot better now actually," Vicki replied as she sat up.
"Good to know my magic is still good," Nei commented, which startled Vicki a bit when she saw her, but realized she looked like an elf so didn't question her appearance too much. But she then recalled what happened and saw Irene with them as well.
"Good to see you're alright. I was a bit concerned but, well, Nei here fixed you up good," she said.
"Alright…but uhhhh…where we headed? What's going on?" Vicki asked.
"We're headed for Link's home, the Kingdom of Hyrule. But we're going to see if we can take care of Joker along the way," Deedlit replied. "And…well, sorry we couldn't stay longer so you could meet Selen but we're on a bit of a time crunch."
"I can't say I'm thrilled to go after another Joker but…well, we see to be a bit more fit and able so hopefully it goes well," Vicki remarked. "Was hoping to never have to deal with another in general though…"
"The one in your world died?" Annet asked.
"Yeah, died technically of a poison. We cremated his body as a result. The fact there are other versions is…really rather nightmarish," Vicki replied.
"I'll bet it is," Lila said. About then Nei noticed Annet looking down again.
"Annet, what's wrong?" she asked.
"Just…well, I'm worried about their missing companion, Hannah Dundee. I hope she's ok," Annet replied.
-With Hannah-
Hannah was sitting at a campfire by herself as she sat with her shins crossed, knees semi apart and held her arms as she looked rather forlorn as her mind was elsewhere. However her head jerked up when she heard steps specifically coming in on her position.
"Ambassador Hannah Dundee?" a young woman's voice asked which made Hannah whip her head over to see the long green haired woman dressed in bright blue short sleeved tunic of sorts, with a long skirt in the front and back, but wide open on the sides more or less putting her bare legs on full display depending on how she's standing and such, along with brown boots secured a the top with a black ribbon, and big black fingerless gloves with an eastern looking thing blade holstered on her hip. Her eyes were also their own nice shade of green as was her hair, her gaze had a soft and gentle disposition, more so coupled with her expression and demeanor. "Sorry, just you looked like you could use a little company. Or did you want to be alone?"
"No no it's fine it's fine I'm just, overwhelmed at the moment," Hannah replied. "So many things going on if I'm a bit tense...I apologize...w...who are you?" she tried to make the conversation friendly.
"Lyn. Lady Lyndis to be exact but, "Lady" never really sat well with me," she replied.
"Would calling you Lyndis once in awhile be ok?" Hannah asked.
"I suppose so," Lyn replied.
"I don't suppose this is just a friendly chat?" Hannah asked.
"No I suppose it isn't," Lyn replied as she walked over and side stepped a little to sit besides Hannah, crossing her legs and her hands at her sides when she did so. "To be frank, while I know you didn't lie to us, I got the feeling you still weren't entirely forth coming with all the details."
"That is true...but I only did it so what I had to say in a way so that you could understand it, regardless if you were picturing it exactly how it precisely happened or not," Hannah replied. "Since otherwise, the events I described likely wouldn't mean anything to you if I told you how it exactly happened, all the names and such."
"You have a point. Although I wager we'll get the full story eventually?" Lyn asked.
"Eventually, as I'm sure you'll come to understand a lot of things or at least know them enough to comprehend but that's kind of besides the point," Hannah replied. "Why are you asking me?"
"Well to be honest, to explain, I was noble born at birth. But once my parents died, I was alone and essentially lost, not knowing where to go and what to do with myself," Lyn replied. "That changed once I met my grandfather. I learned more of who I was and my heritage...as strange as it is to me, while I'm still me, I have more to myself than I initially thought."
"I wouldn't have fancied you a noble but then again...I don't have that sixth sense Mega Man seems to have on picking up royalty," Hannah remarked.
"Really? Well if we meet this Mega Man, don't tell him, I want to see if he'll pick up on it or not for myself," Lyn chuckled. "But that's besides the point. Really, I brought that up is because to be quite honest, you have that same lost expression and air about you. A deep sense of longing."
"Is...it that obvious?" Hannah asked.
"Well true you do put on a decent disposition when around everyone, but when alone you really look more than a bit dower," Lyn replied with a chuckle. "But in all seriousness...seeing you that way, makes me a bit sad. Not because it reminds me of my past, but because it's sad to see someone so lost. So...can you tell me what's wrong?"
"To be honest it's because...I don't know my family. Like you I'm an orphan and...well...I've had a ton of revelations on what my true origins may be and I don't know whether to be excited or frightened...although I'm honestly more frightened. I'm apparently some type of sorceress but...the daughter of what? Whom do I serve?" Hannah asked. "What were my family's goals and desires for me? What am I ultimately to do? I...I'm at a crossroads Lyn...while I'm sticking or rather running back down the path of what I know and who I've grown up as I...I...I know I'll eventually have to truly decide...to know who I truly am and my purpose...I...I can only hope I'm like you Lyn. Sure not being used to being royalty is one thing but...you're from a good and noble birth...I don't know if my blood is as pure as that..."
"It may not mean much but," Lyn paused as she put a hand on her shoulder. "Just be Hannah Dundee for now. It's more you than this mystery woman we know nothing about."
"Fair enough although I do have to ask something," Hannah requested.
"Sure. What's on your mind?" Lyn asked.
"What can you tell me about everyone here?" Hannah asked.
"Everyone? That's a lot to go over," Lyn laughed.
"Well, I suppose those whom you find the most interesting," Hannah said.
"That should be a bit more precise. Well, we all come from our own kingdoms, realms. And evidently other worlds and times if I understand things right," Lyn replied. "Well, Marth and Caeda are a very noble prince and princess of their respective kingdoms. Marth is kind, caring, pretty humble and well, obviously a looker if you're any judge." she smirked coyly.
"Lyn!" Hannah protested as she elbowed her a little.
"Oh come on! Live a little! You literally fawned over him the exact same way any commoner woman who grew up on old fairy tales of dashing noble princes would react at finally meeting one in person," Lyn laughed.
"I what!?" Hannah protested as she clinched her hands into semi fists and held them close to her chest, she tried to look furious and sound angry but sounded more embarrassed and stunned.
"You're clearly a woman whom while able to rough it out, can't help but fall in love as soon as you meet someone who's a whole lot nicer to you and they aren't even deliberately trying to please you," Lyn retorted as she poked Hannah's nose, who's face went bright red as that information sank in, making her turn away, and firmly put her hands on her lap.
"Who says I'm in love!?" Hannan quipped.
"You're good at telling an understandable tale, but are a terrible liar," Lyn calmly stated.
"Is…there a point to all this?" Hannah asked honestly a bit flustered.
"Can't entirely say but it's clearly working," Lyn replied.
"What are you two talking about here?" Caeda asked as she approached, having sorta heard things get loud and saw some motions over where they were.
"Oh just trying to have a normal conversation, make Hannah feel welcome," Lyn replied, while Hannah was attempting to hide her red face from Caeda for a bit, at least until she felt she was no longer flustered.
"It was sounding a little heated near the end," Caeda remarked.
"It's fine, really," Hannah stated, having composed herself and wanted to try and change the subject.
"By the way, Caeda. Why don't you tell Hannah about your relationship with Marth a little?" Lyn asked coyly.
"P…Pardon!? Wha…what business is it of yours to ask that!?" Caeda protested, a bit stunned by this.
"What's with you putting people on the spot?" Hannah asked equally as stunned.
"Well to be fair, a lot of people technically try and trip me up and put me on the spot. So, I've kind of developed the habit to do it myself," Lyn replied cheekily.
"Some habit," both muttered.
"But fine, I suppose I may as well," Caeda said.
"You sure?" Hannah asked, a bit surprised.
"Well, no sense in keeping secrets really. I live in the neighboring kingdom next to Marth's. We've known each other for quite some time, and well, we do have plans of joining our two kingdoms. Provided once we settle matters in our homeland once we get back," Caeda replied.
"Oh my that…does sound rather romantic…" Hannah sighed as she rested her cheeks on her hands.
"Ohhhh I get it, you were just trying to cheer Hannah up!" Caeda whispered.
"Of course, she was so down I had to do something, even if it involved teasing," Lyn replied.
"That reminds me, Hannah. You're from a place called Wassoon, right? What's your country like?" Caeda asked. "I assume Lyn told you how she initially grew up on the plains?"
"Actually I didn't tell her that part. But it's true, I was a nomad, I spent my initial years growing up on the plains and wilds. Wide open grassy meadows with wild flowers as far as the eye can see. If possible I'd like for you to experience them," Lyn said. "Although I must admit I am rather curious of your homeland myself, what's your country like? From an ambassador to an interested noble you can say."
"Well it's not really a country and being an ambassador is a bit of a lofty title. As I said I wasn't really ambassador by choice, and while I'm sort of a diplomat, or politician you might call I'm…well, the meaning maybe lost on you but I'm really a scientist. And truthfully Wassoon is just really a settlement in the salt marshes," Hannah replied.
"Salt marshes?" Caeda asked.
"A marsh is another name for a swamp. So…in other words your home is in a swamp?" Lyn asked.
"Yeah. Really I'm more of a commoner. Not at all like you two, I'm more of, by all accounts I suppose in your terms, a major study. A seeker of knowledge, alchemist and medical woman," Hannah replied.
"A commoner maybe but you're so well studied! And well, pardon me for saying so but you're honestly rather beautiful Hannah, someone of your knowledge and skills are suitable for any court!" Caeda proclaimed.
"Caeda! I was only trying to cheer her up, don't inflate her head!" Lyn stated.
"Well, umm…besides my home, the area I ventured to recently had many exotic locations, tropical jungles, desert fields, some wide open fields although I wouldn't quite call meadows but were still grassy wilderness. Just that well, while you may want a peaceful walk you do have to go arm. Sadly while I no longer have my crossbow I…!" Hannah was stunned as it took until now for her to realize it, her second belt that rested loosely on her hips was gone.
"What's wrong?" Lyn asked.
"M…my second belt…I just realized it's gone," Hannah replied.
"A second belt?" Caeda asked.
"It must've been removed when I was taken captive. It held my medical equipment as well as my knife," Hannah replied.
"It seems like you and Celica might get along well," Lyn remarked.
"H…how so?" Hannah asked, confused.
"Well, neither of you seem to really like fighting, but you both have your unique claws," Lyn replied.
"I will admit, I am a bit of a crack shot. But not sure if I'd be used to just any crossbow or whatever," Hannah commented.
-In another world-
Haman was presently in a fairly large lavish room with a big round crystal look table as a woman with long blond hair and blue eyes entered. Upon her forehead was a circle encrusted with several small pink gems, dark brown shoulder pads and a breastplate, large brown knee pads with pale gems, a brown belt with some beads on the right side, lighter brown wrist bands and even brighter brown boots. She was carrying a brown leather belt that had several pouches on the right side, partially wrapping around to the back, with a holster on the left and a few pouches behind it. They didn't form a complete circle, as there were about four in back, one in front and one at the side, making about 6 pouches in total.
"Barring being able to bring that wrist band, as it's being studied, this is all of Hannah's personal effects," she said as she handed the belt to Haman.
"Thank you, Sayaka," Haman said as she carried the belt to the table and laid it out carefully. She checked the holster first and to her surprise didn't find a gun as much as she found a survival knife, and checking the other pouches found several different types of medical supplies and equipment, as well as seemingly some leaves and herbs and plants. "Hannah didn't have much in the way of actual personal effects does she?"
"To be fair most more personal effects would be more of a burden unless really small," Neifirst said as she entered the room, making Sayaka turn and bow while putting a hand to her chest. "Taking up investigative work I see."
"Well, I figured I better try and maybe do something to make up for the fact she escaped. Although sadly none of this stuff really tells us anything beyond her being prepared," Haman said. "And well, medically proficient."
"That's about the best I could've asked for really. Frankly I didn't expect you to find an important clue, it'd have been too remote, while not impossible," Neifirst said.
"Was there anything you wanted to ask me?" Haman asked. "I assumed since you came here."
"Merely to see what you were doing. When I saw Sayaka head to the storage area and retrieved the belt I was wondering what it was for," Neifirst replied. "Although I should be heading out soon my child. I have work that needs to be done."
"A…alright," Haman said before hugging her, to which Neifirst returned the gesture, as Sayaka smiled a little at this. Meanwhile in the town outside of the large palace, Volcana was roaming around the streets, hands in her pockets as she was going about a bit aimlessly, her mind wandering a bit as she pondered what to do. Her failure to bring Hannah in was bugging her a bit, and although Neifirst wasn't displeased, Volcana was. But she came around when one of the citizens approached her.
"Ms Volcana?" he asked
"Yes? What is it?" she replied
"We have an outsider here," he stated, and this made Volcana raise a very curious brow.
"An outsider you say?" she asked. Meanwhile at the bridge, a woman was standing at the edge of it to look up at the palace. She had short feminine blond hair and brown eyes, her bangs parted to the left while wearing a green head band, she had a green jacket, short skirt, a brown belt and knee high leather boots. As well as having a reddish back over her shoulder. As she gazed up at the palace it had a very grand entrance, with a few different animal statues, such as birds, wolves, lions and the like. While standing there her glances revealed there was no cameras in sight, however she failed to catch the cleverly hidden lenses, placed into dark corners, crevices, and even into eye sockets that concealed them more. All of which trained on her, zooming in, panning up and down slowly, gathering a lot of details and information as they monitored her very closely.
She gave one final look around, and turned at the hip to see if anyone was watching, which to her eyes revealed she was alone. Proceeding across the bridge with a refined gait, she turned to one side and made a quick little dash, knowing she couldn't enter through the front doors, she came to a window above her and reached into her back, pulling out a rope on a hook, she twirled it and then tossed it to the sill and managed to hook on. Making sure it wouldn't slip she carefully put her feet on the wall and started scaling upwards and climbed onto the ledge, and to her surprise found the window was open when she pushed on it. Quickly putting the hook and rope away she carefully climbed down to the floor and shut the window, finding herself in a long corridor she began to walk down it cautiously. She would partially test doors as silently as possible to find if any were open, and not to alert anyone on the other side. Most were locked, but she eventually opened one and found it led to a very busy lab as she peered through the crack. She was about to leave when her eyes fell upon several monitors that began to display, what she could only describe as giant battle machines. Vehicles that had, well, legs, and seemed to be armed to the teeth, although she wasn't able to make out all the details she took out her camera and took a few photos after zooming in, and well from viewing the pictures she took in closer detail sent some shivers down her spine for some reason. Shutting the door she hurried down the corridor to find another room to visit, soon opening a door to what appeared to be a grand library.
This naturally made her curious as she walked inside and looked around, the room was several feet tall and the shelves were crammed with all sorts of books. Unlike the corridor and exterior of the palace that had pale colored floors and walls, this had a more natural bright wooden look although it wasn't using real wood. She looked around curiously as she pondered what her next move should be, until she tensed upon hearing a glass make the clunking sound of being set down, and saw a rather stunning woman with very long blond hair, which covered one of her eyes sitting at a piano, garbed in blue as she set a drinking glass down.
"I doubt you're here to hear my singing or see a performance my dear, so what're you doing here?" she asked.
"Oh…a…are you the owner of this estate? I'm from KTV. And I'm here for an interview for a story?" she asked.
"That would be great," Haman said from behind, making the woman turn around to see her. "Except my mother didn't order an interview. Get this intruder!" she firmly pointed, making the woman grimace in fright and start to run as she realized her cover was blown, however she gasped when something wrapped around her ankles, pinning them together as she wobbled. Looking down she saw a corded whip wrapped around them from behind, holding her securely. She was only able to mildly fidget in place when an electric current quickly passed through the whip.
"AIIIIEYYYAAAHHHHHH!" she shrieked as the current traveled up her body, making her lurch back and twitch a but as she was continuously shocked for a bit until it a abruptly stopped, her scream trailing off to a groan as her eyes closed and her arms went limp. Her legs gave out as she fell to her knees, and then onto her side and back with several thuds and thumps before the whip uncoiled from her legs and retracted.
"Well well, Holly White," Neifirst said as she came to the room and looked at the unconscious woman on the floor. "I was wondering when you'd show up, although I was expecting you elsewhere, not be able to find your way here. Good work Electra." she then looked to the other woman, who was wearing a blue one piece, a fancy shawl over her shoulders, opera gloves, heeled boots and dark fishnet stockings.
"I got the alert and decided to wait for her. I must admit I'm surprised this spy found her way here," Electra replied.
"So, what are we to do with her, mistress?" Sayaka asked.
"She is not to be harmed, we'll transfer her to one of our other bases, but not quite yet. In the meantime, perhaps a mild test subject for traps? If there's time for that," Neifirst replied. "Remind me to thank Volcana and the citizen who reported her presence."
-In Sherwood forest-
"So you're not coming with us?" Sora asked.
"Like you, we can't stick around here for the wedding as much as we'd like to see it, but with the return of King Richard immanent we're no longer needed here. But we have our own duties to perform," Baraluda replied. "I will say, having been here and doing these deeds alongside you, I believe I've come to understand Emeraldas better. But that's besides the point, I suggest you be cautious in your travels. That, phantom I faced during our escape of the castle. We haven't seen the last of it, but from where it and it's cohorts truly hail, I have no idea."
"Thanks for the warning, but I have to ask something of you and Looda," Sora replied.
"And what might that be?" Looda asked.
"I saw you took an arrow and it didn't even phase you or draw blood. So I have to wonder…well, what are you?" Sora asked.
"…what I am does not really matter does it? I am loyal to my queen, and always shall be. What I may or may not be is irrelevant, human or non human," Looda replied.
"I wish you well Sora, be safe in your travels," Baraluda said as she and Looda turned around and walked down the path together, leaving the group behind.
"Well, if we're done here I believe it's time to go," Goeniko said. With a non the group departed another way, getting into their ship and piloting off between worlds, wondering where to go to next. Questions plagued their minds, those strange creatures and this phantom rider Baraluda described, was very much unsettling. However not long into the trip, there was suddenly a lot of crackling energy in the vortex and it started to rock the ship, and before anyone could say anything they made a quick jump to escape the turbulence. "W…what was that?"
"I have no idea, that never happened in our travels before," Sora replied.
"That was very unusual, I never saw anything like it," Riku added.
"But where are we now?" Kairi asked as they looked out, finding themselves in space.
"I don't suppose this ship has an advanced star navigational chart?" Goeniko asked, knowing that star charts are made from the patterns of the starts themselves to help determine placement in the galaxy.
"Afraid not," Sora replied.
"Hey, look over there!" Riku called.
"What?" Goeniko asked, but then they all saw it. It was difficult as it appeared almost invisible at first, but as the light of a nearby sun shifted, as well as the vessel shifting itself in a slow rotation, they saw a sleek, semi beaked almost bullet shaped ship adrift in space. It's body work was a deep dark blue color, and one of it's windows was almost in the shape of an eye, and it had two big thrusters in the back. It was a pretty large ship as well, and while it was totally dark through that one window, they could make out some colored lights blinking from within, but only after getting just a bit closer. "This ship is adrift…but it doesn't look like a derelict."
"What do you suppose happened?" Kairi asked.
"I'm not sure, but I think we should check it out," Sora replied. With a bit of searching they were able to safely get aboard the ship, and it was nearly pitch black inside, although it started to turn on finally at their presence, there were a lot of computers and unmanned stations aboard, and a few storage units from the look of it. Everything was a slick advanced design, smooth with minimal sharp edges. "This looks incredible, and nothing bad appears to have happened."
"Maybe, just a sec," Riku said as he went to a computer that had a blinking line, and upon hitting a few keys brought up a green screen and text interface.
Ship logs: Last log filled date/ 50 years ago
Command: View last log?_
Curious Riku entered yes, and it opened a very long data log. He skimmed through it a bit, gleaming bits and pieces but was getting a fairly large picture as the others looked around, Goeniko coming across a long object, and technically checking it's width with her arms, came to a realization it was long and tall enough to allow most humans and humanoids to lay inside.
"Hey, I think I just found a sleep pod and…I think this blinking light means it's active," Goeniko said.
"Really? Well…what's in it?" Sora asked, assuming alien.
"I dunno I can't see in it," Goeniko replied.
"Is it even safe to open?" Kairi asked.
"Well, if what I just learned means anything, I believe we just found a lost hero," Riku replied.
Chapter end.