Chapter 116

It was clear Sadeena's actions were one part 'reverent' and one part 'cheeky'. And again, as the 'B' (sigh) rolled around in the water encased in ice (hiss-blub-hiss-blub), the officials were wondering how to deal with it.

Then the smarter of the two said, "It's true. No life was taken on Q'ten Lo soil."

This told me two things. The first was the reason for the villagers being nervous, was this sudden inability to defend themselves from monsters. And two, the officials were just as 'enthusiastic' about it as everyone else, but still had to uphold the 'law'. Much like the poor guards of the (now named) Frost's Factory Fortress had been before I uninstalled the old boss. (Or was it fortress factory? Sigh...)

While they stood there trying to figure out if some kind of law had been broken, a older dog demi-human who had been following the two officials, but with a clear air of some jerk slowing down to look at a traffic accident, walked past them and towards Raphtalia and the boy.

"We should move on." Sadeena said, catching Raphtalia's attention.

The man looked like he was about to run into Raphtalia as she turned to start towards us, but with a nimble little sidestep, she avoided the collision. But instead of walking towards the boy (he did look old enough to be his father) he turned and grabbed her hand, "Oh, pardon me Missy. But I was-"

And just like I'd taught her, Raphtalia slipped her hand out of his grip. "Can I help you sir?" She asked, politely, but now out of arms reach.

He attempted to recover the initiative, but Sadeena, Tetsu, (probably Kotetsu) and I were all glaring at him. "Be somewhere else." I said, "We have places to be."

Pinned in place by three pairs of predator eyes, his overeager attempt to flirt fell flat when faced with self preservation. "That's true." Raphtalia said, turning and joining us so we could leave the scene.

"Oh I see how it is." The dog demi-human said, "Trying to keep all the pretty ladies to yourself. One not enough?" He stepped closer to me, "Why not sh-"

He attempted to walk past me, as if he were my drinking buddy or something trying to join me on my way to 'the next pub'. But as he shouldered past, I swept one foot against his ankle, upset his balance, grabbed his belt and collar and had him join the B (hiss-blub) in the water. This time, I really did miss my old strength... it was the weakest Chloe Javelin I'd done since my first one. Kotetsu still clapped happily at the show though.

Now given something to do other than 'wonder how to deal with the law' the two officials ran to pull the man out of the water.

We left the scene quickly and resumed our walk toward the lighthouse.

"Lecherous old man..." I sighed, "glad you remembered." I added, taking a half step sideways to brush shoulders with Raphtalia then move back.

"Of course I remembered." She said, "I never want to be grabbed like that again."

I could see Sadeena smile, but also look a little sad. Maybe it was because her ward was growing up... or that Raphtalia was wearing a hat and couldn't be given an ear scroofle. "We might have a little problem with the plan." Sadeena said as we got closer, "See? Hide us little Raphy?"

She directed us down a little side path between a little tea house and book store (I think? I mean, it had books, but also lots of pens and ink stones...), be as soon as we'd gotten off the street, Raphtalia activated one of her spell storage stones, and I felt her illusion magic settle over us.

"I'll keep it up. What are we looking at?" She asked quietly, the five of us walking to the end of the little alleyway that gave us a reasonable view of the lighthouse.

I saw the problem almost immediately. It was a very small fortress. But not just that, it wasn't really a lighthouse. Yes, it had a light on top, but it was really just a simple wooden structure built around a large sakura-liminal tree. "Huh."

"Your trees are nicer." Tetsu said with a giggle, "But these ones are still kinda pretty."

Raphtalia showed off a little of her growing military acumen, "With it protected and their magic that weakens our Weapons... Can we get through?"

I reached up to my horns, and Kotetsu squiggled off my head and around my arm. "Sorry... not working." She said after presenting the mirror to me. All I saw was a thinner 'ki-jo' version of Fukawa looking back at me.

"Shh." Sadeena said as... Yup. A Samurai. A nearly one for one exact replica of a Meiji era samurai stopped at the mouth of the alleyway.

He stood there, most of his face hidden by an eagle beaked mempo (lower face mask), but his eyes had a clear mix of 'confused' and 'distraught'. Like we had, he stepped just inside the shade of the alleyway, and knelt down, the rim of his helmet digging into the dirt. "Please, show yourselves. I am not your enemy." He said quietly.

His way of speaking reminded me of Haruhime, with the more formal intonations (usually, I spoke like an 'educated bumpkin'). But he was also speaking quietly enough to not draw attention.

"What should we do?" Raphtalia asked.

"Being a bit sneaky for an official type." Sadeena commented, "Doesn't feel dangerous at all."

The man spoke again, "The water dragon told me to be on the lookout for you. He spoke of your quest, and we can help."

"Can you include him in your illusion?" I asked, getting a nod from Raphtalia, "I'll bring him closer."

His senses were sharp. As soon as I started forward with intent he started to look up. But it was too late to stop me from leaning down and grabbing him by his belt (huh, he had tail feathers) and the top edge of his armour. "Shh." I said into his ear as I watched Raphtalia touch her fingers to another one of the storage stones. I adjusted my grip so he could stand properly, but as he did I added, "No one but us can see you. Speak carefully."

I saw the colour drain from his face, but he nodded, stood tall, and carefully took off his helmet and mask. His hair reminded me of the Shusaku representative, a mix of feathers and fluff. But where the Shusaku was colourful, the boy's... plumage was white and grey like a falcon. Maybe a secretary bird?

"Please, am I addressing the soon to be Heavenly Empress?" He looked at Raphtalia, then around for a moment, "And... did you not have a vassal of the water dragon as well?"

"Hi." Kotetsu crawled partially off my wrist so she could just 'appear' in front of his face. "boop." And boop his nose.

To my surprise, the boy didn't even flinch, so I let him go. Wide eyed, yes, but not a single muscle tremor. If anything, he seemed relieved, holding his helm under one arm, and putting his palm flat to his chest over his heart. "Ah." He seemed to relax just a tiny bit, "My father, the mayor of this port town, has sent me to find you, soon to be Heavenly Empress and Water Dragon's Vassal."

Sadeena looked thoughtful, but remained quiet, while Tetsu pouted, since she was also 'blessed' by the water dragon.

"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Raphtalia asked.

"I assume that you, and your companions have started to understand the situation here? The recent decree has made the Heavenly Emperor... unpopular. Most everyone, my father included, has begun to criticize the mandate. However, one of our aquatic agents delivered a message from the Water dragon to my father informing him of your arrival. We also know of the ship you arrived on, and that you want to bring your companions onto the island."

I had to smile at Raphtalia's discomfort at being 'the one in charge'. Not once had this boy mentioned me, the other heroes, or even Sadeena. She did however give me a little glare when she noticed me, noticing her.

"That is indeed our goal." She said, coming to a decision. "Can you help us then?"

"We can. Please. I've been tasked to bring you to my father's manor so we may discuss strategy." He bowed to her.

While his gaze was averted, Raphtalia looked at me. Now as her 'second in command' (I was sure 'Empress' outranked 'Captain'... but normally I wouldn't care. But just because I knew she was still a little mad at me, I cared about rank.). "If we attempted this without inside help, it wouldn't be easy, or pretty. But we could do it."

She understood exactly what I was saying. If we didn't ask for help, it would likely end up with a magical crater where the lighthouse was. Maybe more depending on 'resistance'.

So she tapped her hand on the man's shoulder, "We will help." She said, "Give me a moment, and we will move under stealth to your father."

He put his helmet back on, bowed again, "Your will be done, Heavenly Empress."

Raphtalia took a moment to refresh the spells in her bracelet, something akin to putting extra shells in a shotgun every chance you got, then manually cast another illusion to encourage people to avert their attention from us. Then, we left the alleyway as if we belonged there. It had taken a little doing, and illusions weren't really my 'thing', but I'd taught Raphtalia what Delly had taught me about illusion magic. If you wanted it to work, you had to rely on more than just 'the magic'. Proper clothing (we had this), confident walk (we had this too), and no sudden out of place motions or sounds (hard to hide when you're having a party in the middle of the street).

"Many pardons, Empress. But your companions? Who are they? Bodyguards for your ascent to the throne?" Our escort asked, one part curious, one part polite.

She was starting to become resigned to the fact she was 'in charge' now, but like I taught her (I was so proud sniff) she deflected the duty of answering by motioning to Sadeena first.

"If you're a shoon, and your father is mayor here... You must be Raluva's son, right?" Sadeena started her answer with a question. At his surprised nod, she continued with, "I'm Sadeena, former water dragon miko. Your papa helped get her father, wife and both of us off Q'ten Lo safely."

Aha, another layer of involvement. I smiled, though when he glanced over his shoulder at me and saw the smile, he flinched just a tiny bit. "Pardon. Raphtalia is more adept with magical illusion, while I excel at physical change. I am Kodori Haruhime."

I put a hand over my face, and remembered myself, the skin and muscle over my body shifting slightly, the light blue of my skin returning to its ever so slightly tanned white. (Stupid Ottar, throwing me into the water and giving me a tan...)

"I am the Shield Hero. This is Kotetsu." I gave the dragon-noodle in question a chin scratch while I turned the Vassal Mirror around to face me, just to make sure I hadn't missed anything, then put a hand on Tetsu's shoulder, "And this is Tetsu, the Lucky Dragon." Something felt like it was missing, and I looked behind me, "Oh right." And my six tails 'appeared' with a stretching sensation, making me shiver a little with them all suddenly fluffing up and becoming mobile again. Of course, freshly released they went to hug Tetsu, since she was closest.

"Ah..." He stopped in his tracks, looked me up and down, then just... froze.

Raphtalia raised her voice just a tiny bit, "She's my protector, teacher, and friend."

Our guide thawed out just as fast as he froze, "If the Empress says so, then it is true." He said, "We are almost there."

We were indeed almost there. Up some nice stone steps, down another street, up some more steps, and finally to a natural 'platform' in the landscape where a modest (but still taking up a 'footprint' of land ten times what one of the little homes nearby did) mansion.

It reminded me instantly of the little home of Takemikazuchi before he and his Familia moved in with us. Nice stone and plaster walls, little wood 'roof' on top of the walls to keep the weather off, big wood doors, nice little stone courtyard (complete with a peasant girl sweeping leaves off it with a reed broom), dark wood and rice paper 'manor', bamboo grove and pond just over there, and even one of those little fountain things that filled up, tipped over and went 'bonk' when it emptied out!

The girl sweeping the flagstones paused her duties, surprised that the door to the courtyard was opening, then closing on its own, but at our guide's signal, Raphtalia dropped her illusion and she smiled and bowed deeply, walking backward with little steps to let us pass while her head was still bowed.

"I will an-"

"No no. Together." Sadeena said, her and I suddenly standing on either side of him, obviously thinking the same thing. If there was any time to spring a trap, it would be now.

But, our guide, again, didn't flinch and just accepted the obvious distrust. "My Lord, Father. I have brought Her and her companions, as the Water Dragon's message said, she was here." Once announced, the samurai moved himself over, still kneeling, to let us enter the room.

With (polite) gusto, our guide slid a big rice paper door aside and knelt at the threshold. Inside, sitting on a nice ornate little floor mat with small writing desks to his left and right (ah yes, every world with paper, had paperwork) was an older gentleman with those bulky official looking robes that seemed just a little too big, yet perfectly fitted. Thinking on it, now that I'd met S'yne, it almost moved like armour around him. Between us, was a modest expanse of nice tatami mats. Clean but just old enough to have lost some of the fragrance I was used to (being a well off Familia, Takemikazuchi replaced his tatami mats every other season, though, the orphans and children did wear them down a bit faster).

But it was clear, aside from his age, he was the young samurai's father. Same feather/hair/plumage, similar face, and when he spoke, it was just an aged version of the son's. "Welcome back to Q'ten Lo, Child of the Heavenly Emperor and rightful Heir. Should I call you Miss Raphtalia?"

Right from the start, I liked this man. That was the perfect mix of 'polite greeting' and 'can we please be a little less formal'. He'd get along great with the Aotatsu Elder, I was sure.

Raphtalia however was just a tiny bit slow in her reply, so he bowed his head, forehead to the tatami, and continued, "My name is Raluva. I'm pleased to make your acquaintance."

Put on the spot, and with me not stepping forward (like I had every other time something like this happened in Melromarc), she had to take a moment to breathe in, then reply, "Raphtalia will do, Raluva." She said, the mayor raising his head and slowly standing, "This is Kodori, Shield hero. Sadeena, my guardian. Tetsu, and Kotetsu, both blessed by the Water Dragon."

Raluva stopped two good paces from Raphtalia, "Ah, you've grown so much since I helped your esteemed father escape." He smiled one of those nostalgic smiles, reserved for grandfather figures everywhere, then turned to look at Sadeena. "It is good to see you again as well, though, I wish things were not so dire for your return."

"Now that I am back, I can say thank you for helping us leave." Sadeena gave him her best smile and a little bow.

Then he looked at me, "What little information reaching me here, has said many things of the Shield Hero... Man, woman, slaver, beast, murderer, saviour..." He squinted at me, "Expected of a Kitsune. Are you sure she is worthy of your company, Heiress?"

His tone was even, neither respectful or insulting. But Raphtalia's reply was all he needed, "Without her, I would not be here now."

He nodded, then looked back to me, "I am sorry if I offended you. But of the many times many beasts her ancestors sealed away upon this island, the Kitsune was the most treacherous..."

I filed that away for later, but had to clench my jaw shut to stop myself from saying 'I might have met her, and she was kind of cute'. After the snarky moment passed, I replied with a polite nod of my head and a "If simple words offended me, I'd have left nothing of Melromarc behind after what happened."

This left the 'ball' back with Raphtalia, "What exactly is going on here?"

"While my son gathers our people..." He glanced past us, and the young samurai snapped to his feet, bowed, and slid the rice paper door shut, "I will tell you."

It started simply enough, ten years ago when Raphtalia's father decided to leave. He saw that his rule would be either very short, or pointless. So like anyone with a family, he put what was important on his shoulders (his family) and left.

From here, the 'branch family' took over. Things were a bit muddy for a while, the imperial palace doing what most governments do and hiding problems until they could no longer be contained. But after various cover-ups, finger pointing, an execution or two, and a near total lock-down of the imperial palace, things returned to something resembling 'status quo'.

But slowly, the new Emperor (a raccoon demi-human like Raphtalia, but still a child), started issuing little decrees and edicts. Don't do this. Don't do that. Do this differently. Sorry about the tax. Trust us it's fine. And like frogs in a pot of water, the people accepted it.

Until now. The sudden takeover of the Barrier (and cutting off their only connection to the outside), and now the most recent 'no bloodshed on Q'ten Lo'... The people were starting to get angry. Oh, I did find out that monsters could kill other monsters, but monster tamers could not direct their monsters to kill other monsters. We'd have been fine if Kotetsu had killed that 'B' on her own, since she was just using my head as a perch and I didn't 'own' her. (At least, so far as the officials knew). But I'd managed to read the Edict before that.

But then we got to the biggest 'issues'. Raphtalia's arrival, and what would happen next.

Raphtalia sipped her tea (leaves provided by Kodori's properly named BEES...grr... Tea company), then let out a breath as she collected her thoughts.

"I understand the situation now. But to be honest, our arrival here is mostly by accident." She shook her head, "We will still help. It's clear we're needed here. But my dear father kept me ignorant of this place. Of everything, in hopes I'd never need to deal with it."

"Then, why are you here then, Miss Raphtalia?" Raluva asked, sighing just loud enough for me to hear after a sip of tea.

Tetsu, who was trying not to fidget while kneeling like the rest of us and drinking fruit juice (because tea was meh!), let out a little of her pent up energy by saying, "Cause big sister forgot to do laundry!"

The Elder was confused, while Sadeena nearly snorted her tea up her nose.

"Well... She's not wrong really." Raphtalia sighed. "I put on an outfit similar to the Empress's garb. Then, agents of the current Emperor attacked me. Had I not been at home, with my friends around me, that would have been it. But their promise to continue attacking me brought us here."

"I see. I feel this is destiny at work. Ah, they begin to arrive." He looked just past us to the adjacent room as people started to arrive quietly. "We have something more appropriate for you to wear, Miss Raphtalia. It would drive our people onward to see you dressed properly for your station."

He tapped his cup just a tiny bit harder against one of the little writing tables, and a servant came in with a Miko outfit. Raphtalia sighed a little and stood, understanding her duty, but I finally spoke up, "S'yne fixed your other one."

Raluva and I had one of those 'eyes meeting with sparks flying' moments. "This is garb fine enough for the Empress."

The Shield spit out a neatly folded bundle, "And this is custom fit for her, with the protection of the divine Tiger guardian."

Raphtalia took the bundle from me, "I will do no one any good if I cannot lead, and cannot protect myself." She looked to Sadeena, "I'll need a hand..."

"Sure. What about you?" Sadeena (now recovered from her tea snorting) asked me.

"Tetsu can help me." Then to our still (slightly) grumpy looking host, "You'll understand in a moment. The Shield crippled my ability to do harm, and she's been my strong right arm since the beginning."

"You may use that room there." He sighed.

"Kotetsu? Keep him company. Tetsu? Can I get a hand?"

"Okay. Hi!" Kotetsu floated up from her spot around her teacup, hovered over to Raluva, and settled down on his writing desk within easy reach of his hand (and thus, headpats).

"Only if I get to hug you first! Stupid armour is no fun to hug." Tetsu pouted, drinking the last of her juice like an uncultured barbarian and setting the cup down next to Kotetsu's teacup.

After giving Tetsu the biggest hug ever, she helped me put on my armour. Thanks to the best designer (HIDA and SITA) and my own skill (this was like... my forth or fifth suit of full plate?) and a world where magical enchantment was honestly far TOO accessible for someone like me... I could have put on my armour alone. Heck, if I wanted, I could have enchanted it to have it put itself on me. But that just invited someone with an anti-magic spell, or area, or a System Malfunction, to have it also fall off of me if the magic were turned off.

So, with Tetsu helping me strap in, pausing only to get another hug before I put on my chest plates, I got armoured up.

"I like these." Tetsu said after we'd finished and I started doing some simple motions to make sure it was all how it should be. "Its like me!" She gave the scales attached to my shoulder plates a pat. "Oh, I see the little lines you put on them. Like Kunshu's little scales!"

"That's just one of the things they can do. I still need people to help me fight more than one or two things at a time. So be ready." I knelt down, testing my leg motion and getting eye to eye with Tetsu. "We're going to surprise everyone." We touched foreheads carefully.

She just hugged my entire head after a moment, "I'm gonna punch them in the butt!" She giggled, her heartbeat vibrating my horns as she rubbed her chin against my ears. "Let's go help big sister now."

Sadeena had more political savvy than I gave her credit for. There was no way it took longer to get the Miko Outfit on than my armour. Sure, it was more complicated than most outfits, but full plate (even as over-engineered as mine) took time.

But all the same, I stepped out of the side room first.

By now, the big (not really big, but likely the biggest room on premise) audience room had filled up with samurai and 'peasant warriors' (armed and partially armoured working class), with the Elder standing in the middle and greeting them all like they were family. (I'll note here, Kotetsu was curled up on the mirror, and he was holding the Mirror in one hand, while idly petting her head with the other).

As I walked into the room, my armour almost totally silent despite the full metal encasement, everyone looked at me.

Doing his duty as Host, Raluva introduced me to everyone. "The difference is astounding, Shield Hero." He said. "This is Kodori Haruhime, the Shield hero. She has accompanied the rightful Heiress here. And this little one is Tetsu, the Lucky Dragon."

I could see that people were less than pleased at me being a Kitsune. But I took the Shield off my back, set it on my arm, and changed it to the Shield of Marius. Partly for 'wow' factor, but also to start putting in enchantment tabs into the back. "I am here with Raphtalia, to clear up a misunderstanding. They will understand the depth of their mistake by sending assassins after her."

One part introduction, one part mob incitement, I gave them a reason for me to be there, and a reason for them to try just a tiny bit harder. Ah, fanatics.

Their cheer and shout of anger drowned out my sigh, but not the rasp of a rice paper door opening. I stood aside, my tails pulling Tetsu with me, as Raphtalia (dressed in a proper battle kimono/miko robe) stepped out in front of Sadeena. Both were now armed as well, with the Water Miko now wearing all those fancy metal bits that she usually wore, as well as taking off that peasant outfit to show off her usual robe/bathing suit.

Maybe Aisha would wear something like this... She'd rock it for sure...

I wondered, hoped really... that Sadeena mistook my looking past Raphtalia and at her as something personal. But all the same, she winked at me, and stood beside me as Raphtalia stood in front of the party. Her peasant hat off, little ears exposed, tail no longer slicked down and puffed up as usual, Raphtalia looked every bit the Empress they wanted.

And on the topic of 'meaningful looks' I locked eyes with the Elder, and he nodded approval to me. With the Vassal Katana at her hip, the dark-red-under-white vest and hakama pants, the white tiger obi and shoulder panels... Raphtalia looked like she should be leading people like these. Now I had to hope she could 'talk the talk'.

"People of Q'ten Lo. More and more I'm starting to think it was no accident I came to be here today." She started to pace a little, the entire room kneeling like students in a dojo (or so Takemikazuchi didn't stop smiling at your disrespect). "Before we," Full points for not assuming credit before even starting, "fix the problems of leadership here. We must first bring the rest of my friends through the barrier."

Just like I'd taught her, she deflected to the proper Shield, or in this case, me. She turned a little and motioned to me, "My mentor and friend, Kodori Haruhime, has brought the other three Heroes with her, as well as her party, and the parties of the other Heroes." Then she took a step to stand in front of me so she could motion to Sadeena. "And the Water Dragon Miko, who stayed true to my father, has returned as well."

She stood in front of us again while the kneeling warriors cheered. I smiled behind her, feeling pride that she had been listening to me and watching how I did things all along, even if she was upset at me leaving it to her.

"Once we have made ready, we are going to storm the lighthouse. Once taken and shut down, the Heroes and their fellows will join us, and we will continue to the Palace! We will correct their thoughtless edicts! We will return the right to protect themselves to the people!"

All because she forgot to do her laundry...

"Before we leave, I want all of you to remember why you are fighting." She put a hand on her hip, leaned forward and assumed the 'big sister is accusing you of missing sleep/mealtime pose, pointing her other finger at the crowd, "Not for me! For your families, for your friends, for your next hot meal! Remember what you are fighting for, so you can return to it when the fighting is done!"

Again she looked at me, hopeful, almost pleading. So, I stepped forward, "Check your equipment, and be ready to follow the plan. You, you, you, you." I pointed to the Elder's son, two of the other samurai and one of the 'warrior peasants', "You will be relaying orders to the others. Lord Raluva? Do you have a war room? A map?"

For the next half hour, we planned. Time was now at a premium, and the longer we took, with all these people missing from their daily lives, the more likely it would be someone important would notice. Thankfully, Raluva had been planning this for almost an entire year, and Raphtalia was really just the 'trigger' for it all.

He had a map, nothing any self respecting mayor wouldn't have of his town and the immediate area (like the lighthouse). He had little wooden models ('toys' left over from his children's upbringing you see), supply caches for emergencies (that may or may not have had extra weapons just... laying around. I mean, the divers always needed replacement spears... and you could never have enough arrows)...

"Your job is the second most important." I said to the uncomfortable 'warrior peasant'. "You and your team will be seeing to wounded and resupply. Raphtalia? Signal stones? How many sets do you have?"

"Lots." She said, then added, "We do not have time for formality. Ignore her impropriety." Since people were giving me dirty looks for not adding 'Empress' to her name. And she started handing out sets of her personally enchanted light stones.

"You will have someone from your team in each fighting group. When someone is wounded? Signal. Out of arrows? Signal. Fighting retreat? Signal." I explained, "Archers. Divers. Rally point. Ambush point..."

Quick and dirty, we used the Elder's careful planning, Raphtalia's authority, and a bit of 'bad habit breaking' (using her authority), to set up simple and effective plans. Archers on a hill (obviously) with an ambush team at the bottom and escape ropes up top. Diving teams to appear from the rear. Faking a retreat so two teams could join and counter attack... Dungeon tactics as I knew them, adapted for street to street fighting.

I think the hardest part was convincing the samurai teams that 'retreat isn't running'. But I'd taught that to the Takemikazuchi Familia ages ago, and Raphtalia carried a similar 'authority' to a Goddess here.

"Once we have taken the lighthouse, and turned it off. I will signal the ship, and have reinforcements brought ashore. We will have a half hour meeting with you four, or your seconds, and move on. Any support you have?" I looked to Raluva, who nodded, "In other towns, must wait until this step to move. If they start too soon, we may fail here."

He nodded, "Yes. They must not see the true sword at their throat." He looked to the (less reluctant now) supporter peasant. "I will need three runners?"

"Of course Lord." He nodded.

"Excellent." Raluva looked past me and to Raphtalia, who nodded. "We have five minutes. Ready your teams."

The four sub commanders all but ran from the room, and I turned to give Raphtalia a pat on the shoulder, "Ready to fix this place?"

"I hope..."

"We do our best here, so they can do their best out there." I gave her shoulder a squeeze, "Let's win, get you a fancy chair to sit on, and make your father proud. Or rather, more proud than he already would be."

She lost her look of doubt, gave my hand a pat, and nodded. "Yes. Let's do exactly that."

NOTES!

She's not Utena, but she's about to start a revolution.

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