27th Wisdom Moon, 908 – Verde Kingdom

With the war waging between Senbo and Wick, the Echo Bell Kingdom was caught defending itself amidst the crossfire. With little in the way of military might to defend themselves, they've had to rely on the support of their allies further west to endure the onslaught. However, things weren't as simple for the Verde Kingdom even outside the warfront.

"Unbelievable," the royal advisor, Ortwin, muttered to himself as he hunched over the desk penning documents. With Charlie merely serving as king in name rather than authority, it fell upon the elderly Noivern to handle the taxes and legal forms. He was trying his best to send resources to Echo Bell to weather out the war, but the Senbo Kingdom left them with an unfortunate surprise upon their parting from the alliance.

Roscoe's secret ledger detailed all accounts of tax money being sent to unknown third parties. Erasmus made sure to have this information released to the royal family before the Senbo Kingdom officially went to war with the southern-bound kingdom. The high taxing that had swept the Verde Kingdom's poor regions for years took on a darker light than the dragon could imagine. A tangled web of embezzled funds coupled with King Penworth's untimely death left behind a dark mark on the kingdom's already unstable relation with the people. If word of this mishandling got out to the public…

Ortwin dropped his quill and dragged his claws across his face, growling to himself. "Roscoe, you fool…" A knock on the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Enter."

The door opened, and Charlie and Melissa (or rather, the disguised JoJo) let themselves in. Charlie bowed. "Mr. Ortwin, sir. Are you okay?" Charlie asked.

The old dragon waved it off. "I'm fine, child. These matters shouldn't concern you."

Charlie narrowed his eyes sadly. "But I am king. Should I not be worried?"

Ortwin chuckled bitterly. "You are a caring young man, but these responsibilities shouldn't fall onto your hands." He sighed. "It's my fault. I gave Roscoe the idea to adopt an heir, and now we've left a child as the symbol of our kingdom. The Penworth's traditions and protocols have left us in near ruin." He looked to the fake Buneary sadly. "A shame. Had we found you sooner, it would've been in our best interest to appoint you queen, Princess Melissa. No, even now, you'd serve to run this kingdom and give your people hope."

JoJo laughed awkwardly, tugging on her collar. "Heh, yeah, well…you know, being held captive for a year really does take its toll on you."

"The kingdom could very well go into shambles overnight if we are not prepared." Ortwin glared at the secret ledger. "To think the king has been mishandling our funds. I've always taken issue with the increased taxes, but I'm disgusted with myself for not discovering these secret transactions."

Charlie tilted his head. "Why would Mr. Fletcher write down something that would get him in trouble?"

JoJo waved it off. "Eh, it actually makes sense to keep a second ledger. After all, you have to keep track of your money and where it goes. For example, if you documented a certain amount being sent but discover more somehow slipped past your notice, you could always refer back to…your…" She stopped, noticing the Noivern's odd glare directed at her. She coughed and looked away. "Um, well, so I've heard, at least."

Ortwin groaned. "It matters not the purpose of the ledger, rather that money has been secretly funneled outside the kingdom. The effects on our subjects must be taken care of."

Charlie glared. "We need to help everyone!"

Ortwin sighed. "A sound suggestion, but we cannot turn away our allies in Echo Bell. Getting between Senbo and Wick at this time would be dangerous, so we must do what we can to assist."

Charlie and JoJo shared a concerned look with each other, fearful of the dragon's insight.

"Why do wars happen, Big Sis Melissa?" Charlie asked after the duo left the royal advisor to himself.

JoJo groaned. "Trust me, kid, too much politics for my brain to wrap around. I prefer the economic side of things. I know some wars start because of profit."

"Profit?"

"Yeah, you know, weapon dealers and craftsman make some sweet coin. Weapons and armor aren't cheap, and there's always someone looking to revolutionize war." JoJo frowned, scratching her chin. "Makes you wonder what Roscoe was funding with all that embezzled money."

Charlie narrowed his eyes sadly. "It sounded so cool at first, but, I think I'm not that good of a king."

JoJo waved it off. "Oh come on, it's not that bad—"

"Someone thought I was five because of the way I act and talk." Charlie hugged himself. "I…don't know how to act my age. I'm eleven, I think, but I still feel like a little kid."

"…" JoJo looked ahead. "You have matured out a bit since you got here. Maybe it's because the adults are rubbing off on you." She shrugged. "You're a good kid, Charlie. Sure, you act a little sillier than most kids your age, but you have room to grow. Can't say the same for most adults I've met."

"What were they like?"

She laughed irritably. "Oh, where to begin? This one angry lady got mad at me for selling her a fake gold ingot. Okay, yes, it was fake, but…I suppose me calling her an idiot for buying a gold ingot for ten bits didn't help my case. In my defense, she bought a gold ingot for ten bits. She needed to hear it from someone with no filter on their mouth."

"…Huh?"

"Uh, well…that's what someone told me, at least." JoJo waved it off. "Look, the point is, adults suck and don't really know what they're doing. That's why some kids turn out just as bad as their parents. At least you have that child-like wonder still in you. Uh, well…no offense, of course. You being an orphan and all and…I'm just going to stop talking about this."

Charlie shook his head. "I'm not upset. I sort of understand." He rubbed his hands together unsurely. "So, how could I become a better king? Even if it's just in small ways."

"…" JoJo paused, wracking her brain for a response. "Good question. Um, well…obviously we can't have you signing legal documents. Or making big economical decisions for the kingdom. Or declaring war, not that you'd want that, I'm sure."

"…" Charlie looked up at the fake Buneary. "What if we…rallied the nobles to help the villages?"

JoJo laughed. Like, actually burst out into laughter so loud that it startled the Clobbopus. However, after a solid twenty seconds of laughing, she stopped herself and looked down at him weirdly. "Oh, you…you were serious."

Charlie glared. "If we asked nicely—"

"Kid, I appreciate the optimism, but Verde has some of the most elitest jerks of the noble chain. You're basically trying to convince them to donate gold to a mud puddle."

Charlie crossed his arms. "The capital houses the most powerful of the kingdom, right? I know it's a big ask, but I want to help Mr. Ortwin. I want to help the kingdom. Even if me being king is a broken solution to a bigger problem, I might as well make good on what power I have. All I ever wanted was to help people, and I've been given the opportunity to make a difference. If we can spark just one act of kindness from the elite, could we make a difference to the rest of the kingdom?"

"…" JoJo looked away unsurely. "I don't—"

"Big Sis Melissa, please. Will you help me?"

"…" JoJo sighed, smiling at the Clobbopus. "Most can't see it, but you have matured quite a bit, kiddo." She stretched her arms, then grabbed his hand. "Come on. We can speak with House Freia about this. They might be able to give us some starting ground if you want to make this work."

Charlie beamed. "Thank you, Big Sis!"

"Heh. Sure thing, kiddo."

Meanwhile…

"Matthias, you should be resting. You still haven't fully recovered from the battle."

The Infernape ignored Ivone's warning as he continued with his exercises. Balancing on one hand, he performed vertical push-ups while balancing a block of stone on his feet. Sweat dripped off his face. His muscles ached and burned, yearning for rest. His abdomen, which was wrapped tightly in gauze, stung like mad from the injury afflicted to his side.

Ivone glanced at Nathaniel and Jakke, only shrugging. "There's no getting through to him like this."

Jakke grimaced. "To think the Roar of the Wastes would meet us on the battlefield, serving under our own allies. Is the Wick Kingdom even still our allies?"

Nathaniel crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. "We've completely withdrawn from combat. With the east in shambles due to the empire's collapse, New Chariot isn't nearly as active in the west. The war brewing between Senbo and Wick is getting bad."

Ivone glared at Matthias. "And I imagine you're itching to get back into the fight."

"…" Matthias continued his workout, still seemingly ignoring the Corviknight.

Nathaniel sighed. "I still can't believe Last Autumn is still around. They collapsed decades ago."

"Seems there were some things even we weren't aware of," Ivone mumbled. "How deep has Last Autumn rooted itself into Virdis since their collapse? And with the Roar under their command…" He glared. "We might be on the precipice of something terrible."

"Well, what can we do?" Jakke asked. "I'm still shaken up from the war. I can't get involved with another one involving conspiracies and junk!"

Ivone waved it off. "Settle down. We can't predict how they'll act, so for now we worry about protecting the kingdom. Senbo is still technically our ally even with the tense relations of late."

Nathaniel frowned. "Speaking of, how do you predict the war will go?"

"I think it's fairly obvious who the wind is blowing toward victory. The Wick Kingdom just doesn't have the same military prowess or arsenal as Senbo. If anything, I'd say it was foolish for Wick to declare war under these circumstances. Have you heard? Apparently when Prince Erasmus last contacted us, he mentioned how Wick was involved with his brother's attempted assassination."

Jakke winced. "Oh boy. An entire kingdom is getting wiped off the map."

Nathaniel scratched his chin. "If that's true, the Foresters are innocent. Well, innocent of that, at least."

Ivone glared. "It's weird. The Foresters were defending us during the war, and now word is they're allied with Umbra Clock. They were reportedly in New Chariot during the invasion. What are they up to?"

"Honestly, with all this crap about the king surfacing…"

"…" Ivone closed his eyes. "That whole business about kidnapping the princess. Unless they've had a change of heart recently, something about that night and their motives doesn't line up. These are truly unusual times—"

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK!

The knights and Matthias looked to the training hall doors, where a Gurdurr knight entered. "I beg your pardon, but an urgent message has been sent from our scouts."

Matthias kicked the stone off, dropping it onto the floor. He flipped to his feet and grabbed a towel to wipe his face. "Speak."

"A routine patrol was being performed in the Forbidden Forest, but one of the new recruits got lost on the path."

Ivone groaned. "Happens all the time. Alright, we'll send out a search party and—"

"You misunderstand. We found the recruit, but…" The Gurdurr narrowed his eyes. "Sirs, we found it."

Matthias glared. "Pardon?"

"We found the Foresters' hideout."

Their eyes widened. Did they hear that right?

"W-Wait, you mean you found the actual hideout?!" Nathaniel exclaimed.

"That's impossible!" Jakke yelled. "We've combed that forest hundreds of times! How did one rookie find it before us?!"

Ivone glared. "Then again, with the Foresters having vacated to the east, it would be left unguarded. We never bothered searching for their hideout after the alliance collapsed."

Matthias threw the towel aside and ordered, "Assemble a small search party. Gather as many sensory specialists as you can. The Foresters may be gone, but they could've left traps to deter intruders. Do not start your search until I've arrived to supervise."

The Gurdurr saluted. "By your command, Sir Matthias!" He raced out of the room.

Nathaniel waved the others along. "Finally! I'm kind of curious what they've been hiding from us!"

"I'm not!" Jakke exclaimed. Nathaniel grabbed the Alolan Golem's arm and dragged him along.

Ivone followed after them, looking back and nodding at Matthias. "We'll get everything set up for the search. Try to not push yourself, captain." He spread his wings and took off.

Matthias lingered in the training hall for a moment, staring solemnly at the wall. All these years, he hungered for the day he'd find the Foresters and incinerate their home for all the trouble they've caused, all in an effort to flush out the monster that claimed his father's life.

So, why did this revelation fill his soul with…nothing?

Was an investigation pointless if their hideout truly was uncovered? After all, they weren't even home. There was nothing to gain from searching beyond some secrets here and there. Stormbreaker wouldn't be there to take his revenge against.

"I do hope you'll never have to experience war personally. Rarely does one start where it doesn't end in tragedy for someone."

The Senbo captain's words rang throughout his mind as he laid a hand across his bandaged side. The stinging pain of the jagged trident could still be felt months after, the grueling memory of its fangs ripping through his flesh seared into his mind.

"A new era is coming, Matthias Blackfire. Can't you feel in on the wind? The pieces have been set in motion. Before the new year begins, a shift will occur across Virdis. The downfall of the ten kingdoms, and the rise of the new ruler who will bring this troubled land to salvation."

"…" Matthias clutched his wound, growling. Next time, I won't lose to you.

Senbo Kingdom Capital – War Room

Countless nights were spent arranging a calculated strike against the invading forces of Wick, driving away all attempts at a futile invasion. The finest artisans and weapon makers in Senbo provided to give the necessary firepower they needed. The kingdom that brought forth some of the most powerful weaponry of the current age, they were an unmatched fortress of fire and steel.

Gilbert sat at the end of the war table, dressed in his armor with a regal blue cape draped over his shoulders. An Espeon knight psychically aligned the figurines detailing the current state of the war on the map.

"We've eradicated three-fourths of the invading party from the southwest. The rest managed to retreat, but we managed to capture seven enemy knights in the escape. They're being transferred to the northern dungeon."

Gilbert nodded. "Have we been able to extract any information out of them?"

"Negative. They don't know anything on Wick's attack plans. We haven't been able to capture their lead commanders, either."

"Sir Fulbertus is still our main target," Gilbert reminded, leaning over the table. "We already have Sir Lionel in our custody, and he was a considerable threat even as an ally. Capturing Fulbertus would weaken their forces significantly. How are we on anti-teleportation development?"

A Slowbro knight raised his hand. "Progress is being made as we speak. We have our top alchemists finishing up on the new capture equipment. According to them, it will scramble the teleportation signal should anyone try to escape from it. However, we're still working on actually getting the weapon to capture the target initially."

"Double the workforce. We cannot allow Sir Fulbertus to remain active. The moment he is captured, he will be executed on sight."

"Isn't that a little extreme, Your Majesty?" an Amoonguss knight asked.

"We cannot take any risks with him. Even captured, he's still dangerous. Removing him from the battlefield entirely will grant us a significant edge toward victory."

"Very well, Your Majesty."

The Houndoom king raised his paw over the table, glaring at the figurine representing Castle Tetrarch. "Once the invading forces have been successfully pushed back, we will make our move onto Wick. We will take the capital hostage and move our forces onto the castle to avoid casualties. We will take the queen and her other children captive. King Wilkin and Prince Darby are to be executed on sight. We take command of their land and integrate it into our territory."

"Affirmative, Your Majesty."

Gilbert glared darkly at the castle figurine, smoke and embers pouring out through his clenched teeth. "It is a little unbecoming of me…but for the crimes committed against my family, I will burn the Tetrarchs' legacy to ash. They will regret antagonizing the Senbo Kingdom for the rest of their short, miserable lives."

"Sir Gaufroi, you need to stay in bed!"

"For Arceus' sake, man! You looked like a mangled scarecrow when you returned! Lay down!"

Erasmus, his siblings, and Shade stood by the castle infirmary's doorway as Linota and Serell tried to push Gaufroi back into bed. The Ursaring, according to the physicians, was recovering apace, but needed extensive bedrest due to the severity of his injuries. He had to get surgery done on his arm and abdomen on top of the several fractures found in his ribcage.

"I…am the captain of the Senbo Knighthood. I should be out there leading our military—" he insisted before ultimately being shoved back down onto his bed.

"You were half-dead when you returned to the fight!" Linota snapped. "Don't make this anymore difficult than it needs to be! I don't need another friend to die on…!" She caught her words, covering her eyes as tears leaked. "Dammit…"

Gaufroi stopped struggling and stared at the Rattata sympathetically. "Linota…"

Serell patted her back. "We're all still grieving for Rikmai, Lin."

She shuddered, vigorously wiping her eyes. "I…I shouldn't be crying. She'd want us to focus on protecting the kingdom." She glared at Gaufroi. "And she would want you resting. Look, we have nothing but the utmost respect for your dedication to the kingdom, but you pushed yourself way too hard." She gestured to his axe in the corner. "I mean, you literally have someone's eye attached to your axe like a decoration!"

"…" Gaufroi sighed. "Forgive this stubborn knight. I…rarely take my duties lightly."

Linota groaned, offering a sad smile. "Now it's our turn to defend the kingdom in your place."

Serell grinned. "Plus, we're looking to get ahead of Wick in the war. We've already pushed back their invading force. We're scheduled to push ahead into their territory."

"…" Gaufroi leaned back into bed, gently massaging his face as he groaned. "Do not enter a battle expecting absolute victory. Fight with victory as the goal. Our enemy is still a wild card."

Serell waved it off. "You worry too much—"

"Serell. I've seen countless battles. I've survived wars." He glared at his underlings. "Do not assume our enemy weak, not when victory hasn't been obtained."

"…" Linota nodded. "We'll carry your advice with the utmost respect, Sir Gaufroi."

The small party gathered by the entrance stepped aside, closing the door behind them. Erasmus pressed his paw to the door and sighed. "I should have taken the risk."

Galen placed his paw on his brother's shoulder. "Do not blame yourself, Brother. You did all you could—"

"I wanted to do things safely, trying to make the best of everything. I thought I could stage Darby's death as a casualty of war. I thought we could lure Wick into a trap and take them out in a coordinated assault. I should have just killed him when I had the chance. When we were captured, I should have…"

Cairo frowned. "But unfortunately, he is the reason you even got out of that fight alive."

"Perhaps it would have been for the best—"

"Do not say that!" The Houndour spun him around. "How do you think we would feel if you threw your life away like that? You have a family waiting for you, and what about that girlfriend of yours? You are still hoping to reunite with her again, right?"

"…Adenine…" Erasmus rubbed his foreleg awkwardly. "I have caused her so much trouble."

His younger sister, Teri, reached out and hugged him. "I'm sure she misses you, too."

Shade sighed. "I'm sure she would want to tell you herself if we could get a message out."

Erasmus pulled away from the young Houndour and nodded. "Right. Your mail carrier is still having trouble getting past the battlefield."

Shade groaned. "I've been out of contact with the others for so long. I couldn't begin to tell you what they're planning. But with New Chariot in shambles, and if everything goes according to plan, the entirety of the east may be allied with the Foresters."

Galen pushed up his glasses. "A bold plan considering Great Gate's reputation. An empire of opportunists. Now that New Chariot is no longer the strongest of the east, Great Gate will seize the power. War may even escalate for control between them and Algus."

Cairo scrunched his nose. "I thought Algus was content with staying on their mountain. Why would they need more land?"

"I can't speak for them, but perhaps to send a message."

Erasmus glared. "And Melissa intends to unite all of them?"

Shade shrugged. "Believe me, everyone's said their piece about how insane her plan is, but she makes a convincing case."

"…" Erasmus looked down. "It still amazes me the last time I saw her, she was this archetypal expectation of a princess. Elegant, refined, well-mannered. And now, the stories I hear of the fearsome Harlow paint her as this revolutionary that has twisted the very balance of society. What manner of torment has your group put her through?"

Shade winced with a light chuckle. "What she lacks in common sense, she makes up for with unyielding optimism."

"Clearly." Erasmus sighed. "Seems she has also dragged me into the dream, though we face opposing outcomes. With the way my father is going about the war, pandemonium may come soon enough."

Galen glared. "Not much we can do. For now, we just wait for our forces to subjugate the Wick Kingdom. After that, well…I dare say we will be seeing a public execution when we get our claws on Prince Darby and the king."

Though Erasmus wished to take joy in that outcome, his mind wandered back to his last spoken interaction with the penguin, a mere moment away from having the life dragged out of his lungs. The hatred from his eyes was still burned into Erasmus' memory. A searing promise to destroy everything for a presumed act of betrayal. To think, a genuine friendship born from obligation transforming into a bitter rivalry—no, to a blood feud between both their families.

With Darby having survived his execution, that hatred will be carried onto the battlefield should they cross paths. Though the current state of the war assured their relative safety…

Why did Erasmus still feel this unyielding terror at the thought of encountering the dark prince again?

Telo Martius, New Chariot Empire

With the reign of Nero Martius over, the New Chariot Empire found itself being plunged into the dark age with the rise of their enemies. War broke out across the land. Algus invaded from the sky while Subterra invaded from underground, leaving nowhere safe for the denizens of the once mighty empire. The soldiers of New Chariot were spread thin across their territory to drive back as much of the invading forces as possible. A tiring maneuver that may ultimately end in disaster.

In the capital, the damage wrought by the Umbra Forest Alliance's invasion left its people in a state of disarray, though their spirits had not been crushed so easily. Under the guidance of Lord Tiberius Martius, now resuming his position as Emperor Martius, he rallied the people to band together and bring security back to their broken capital.

Civilians who once lived in the comforts and luxury provided by their emperor valiantly volunteered themselves to restore Telo Martius and support the wounded. Rebuilding efforts were being made on the dam up on Fort Gladius to regulate the drinking water back into the capital without the need for travel. Others with little to basic medical expertise were brought in to tend to the soldiers who fought back the invading armies.

Though the emperor they praised and worshipped was long gone, the impact he left on their lives had not diminished. They gave their loyalty to the man who overturned the empire in its darkest moments. They would return the favor no matter the price.

That was the strength of New Chariot.

"It would appear Algus is withdrawing for the day."

As the sun began to set, Gemini overlooked the battlefield in the distance from the safety of the city walls. Through his telescope, he saw the mountain-dwelling barbarians of Algus retreating back to their camp, leaving behind the wounded of New Chariot to drag themselves back to the city by aid of volunteering medics.

The Medicham lowered his telescope, leaning against the stone ledge to catch his breath. Though having recovered from his battle months prior, his body was still wracked with pain. He required a cane to get around the city, each step placed on his right leg delivering a sharp, agonizing sting up his body.

"We're slowly bringing order back to the capital, but the rest of the empire is still at risk," Gemini said. "Subterra reportedly sank several towns and took some of our people prisoner. Probably to work in their underground mines." He sighed. "I wish I could do more."

"Then why do you not allow me to fight?" Gemini turned to glance at the Kleavor standing behind him. His sturdy carapace was covered in faded scars, some hidden beneath his armor. His right axe blade, once a sharpened blade of rock that could cleave through all, had been reduced to a shattered mess, leaving behind a jagged collection of shards barely resembling a handsaw. "I can still fight."

Gemini sighed. "You're also our strongest capable soldier at the moment. If we send you off fighting off every invading force coming at us, you'd sooner succumb to their attacks. King Obsidian has entered the battlefield a couple of times already. A mere strike from his hammer submerges the land in a sea of lava."

Terminus scowled. "As if I'd allow something like that to defeat me."

"We underestimated the Foresters. Do you want to take your chances with an ancient king?" Gemini grabbed his cane and limped over to the Kleavor. "Besides, protecting Lord…" He paused, sighing to himself. "Protecting Emperor Martius comes first. If he falls, the last chain to Nero's legacy, I can't imagine what will become of the people's faith. No one can match his legacy, and he doesn't have an heir to take his place."

"…" Terminus closed his eyes. "I should've been stronger."

"There's nothing we can do about it now." Gemini leaned forward on his cane. "Our only course of action is to revitalize our defenses. We may have to reach out to Great Gate for support."

Terminus scoffed. "They've been sending their goons to eye up our territory. They're nothing but a bunch of conniving opportunists who'll seize any chance to take power."

"It's not ideal, but they are still our allies. Some shred of goodwill exists in Emperor Amano somewhere. It's just a matter of driving it out." Gemini glared. "Of course, the alternative—"

"Surrendering to Umbra Clock."

Gemini chuckled lightly. "How strange. The tides of war have turned in their favor. Now we're the ones at their mercy."

"They can keep their mercy. We do not require their aid! They're the reason the empire is collapsing!"

"And yet, we would've done the same thing." Gemini tapped his cane down twice, then hobbled over to the steps. "It's a matter worth discussing with Emperor Martius. If it puts the people's safety first, I don't see any other choice."

Terminus growled. "I don't trust them."

"Skill Hunter had been trying to make treaty with us, even up until Nero's final moments. I'd say it's worth looking into while we still have a roof over our heads. War, in its most basic roots, isn't about fairness. Sometimes you need to make your own luck to get by." He made his way down the steps, but staggered on the fourth one down. "Agh…!"

Terminus lunged over and caught the Medicham. "Is this what you mean?"

Gemini laughed. "Well, fortune comes from the strangest of places. We just need to find our fortune and strike it while it's hot."

"Tch. And where do you suppose that'll come from?"

Fortuna impatiently tapped her foot, periodically checking the sky as the sun dipped further and further below the horizon. She, along with Concordia, were handing out packaged dinners to the volunteers rebuilding the city. She got so distracted with checking the time that she accidentally shoved the packaged meal into a startled Linoone's mouth.

"Hmm?" She winced at his befuddled expression. "Uh, sorry." The Linoone paid no mind and went on his way. She groaned and slammed her face down on the counter.

The Bayleef beside her handed out a few more meals before asking, "You've been awfully agitated the last several days. Is something wrong?"

"Just…want to go home and sleep," she grumbled. She sighed. "Actually, I need to get some supplies before I head home."

"You sure you don't want some company? You've been hiding away in that dingy house on the other side of the city all by yourself. Doesn't it get lonely?"

"…" The Pachirisu buried her face in her arms. "I just want to be left alone, that's all."

"…" Concordia extended a vine from her neck and patted the squirrel's back. "I miss him, too."

"Hmph…"

"You two still working?" The girls looked up and saw the rest of their group making their way over: Juno, Invidia, Salacia, Maia, and Ceres. Ceres the Mightyena sipped on her water canteen before asking, "Has the day been just as much of a drag as it has been for us?"

Concordia waved it off. "Oh, it hasn't been that bad. I kind of like volunteering. Making someone's day with a smile."

Juno the Blaziken rolled her eyes. "This all seems like a waste of time. The empire isn't going to be able to sustain itself like this forever."

Maia the Politoed shrugged. "It can't be helped. Nero left such a staggering impression on everyone that no one dared to wage war against him. Or at least declare war without threat of retaliation. But now that the myth has been destroyed for our enemies—"

"No one's holding back," Salacia the Ampharos finished with a yawn. "I might have to side with Juno on this one."

Invidia the Greedent grinned. "Hey, don't look so glum! We still have our pride! Sure, we've taken some major hits, but we're not going down without a fight!" She pulled out two hammers from her tail, swinging them wildly. "Let me on the battlefield! I'll take down at least four of them!"

Juno instantly snatched the hammers away from her. "Why did anyone think letting you do construction was a good idea?"

Fortuna frowned. "I don't care how much the region feared or hated Nero." She gripped into her dress, twisting it. "He meant so much to me. Gave me so much. Gave me joy I never thought real." She closed her eyes. "And now everything he's built is falling apart."

Ceres walked around and patted her shoulder. "We're going to get through this. Try…keeping a positive attitude."

Maia smiled. "Hey, if you're not feeling up to it, I can take over the rest of your shift, Fortuna."

The squirrel frowned. "But you've been working all day—"

"It's fine. Just go home and get some rest."

"…" Fortuna slid out of her chair and hugged the Politoed. "Thanks." She pulled away and scampered off in a flash.

Maia sighed. "Poor thing's still heartbroken."

"We're all a little heartbroken," Ceres mumbled, gently scratching her canteen. "Nero helped me out when my town fell into poverty. I know what Fortuna's feeling."

Invidia snickered, nudging Juno in the leg. "Eh, though some of us we're in it for the perks. You made it no secret you only joined his harem just to get away from the farmlands in your town."

Juno scoffed. "And now I'm back to doing manual labor. Why did Nero have to go and die like that? All of that for nothing."

Salacia glared. "Don't say that in front of Fortuna. She might rip your eyes out."

She sighed. "Right, right. Sorry. Just…grieving in my own way." She shook her head. "I got to go take care of a thing. We're still on for lunch tomorrow, right?"

Concordia shrugged. "Same ol' dry, pedestrian sandwiches."

"My favorite," she said sarcastically. "See you all later." Juno waved and went on her way.

Ceres leaned against the meal stand, sipping her water again. "Hmm. Hey, since Fortuna's been feeling glum lately, maybe we can plan her a nice surprise party to cheer her up."

Concordia shook her head. "I don't know. She looks like she just wants to be alone."

"She practically disappeared for over a month. I think she has had enough alone time. It's not like we're going to force her to take a walk around the city. We'll just go to her place and have a nice lunch. Like, an actual nice lunch."

Maia shrugged. "I'm not opposed to it."

Invidia raised her hand. "Ooh, I can raid the kitchen storage in the palace! We're bound to have something good still stashed away in there."

Salacia nodded. "Yeah, I'd be down for that."

Concordia sighed. "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt."

Ceres grinned. "Then it's settled. We'll bring a little joy back into Fortuna soon enough! Nero may be gone, but that doesn't mean we should be sulking over him. He'd want us to do what we do best: party until the sun rises!"

"Here, here!"

Juno walked nonchalantly through the city, passively waving to anyone greeting her. She kept her head down as she made her way to the city wall where construction was being done. She passed by some soldiers guarding the site since she was also part of the construction crew.

She absolutely hated working construction. Long hours setting bricks and climbing up and down scaffolding got needlessly tiresome after the first few days. However, it had one unique advantage.

Access to the outer wall.

She slipped through a crack in the wall, giving her easy access to the outside. As soon as she set foot on grass, the ground breached open in front of her. A Sandslash dressed in dark gray armor emerged, bowing his head to her.

"Lady Juno. I've been expecting you. Do you have—"

"Here it is." She pulled out a scroll from under her dress and tossed it into his claws. "An updated blueprint of the city and its weak points, coupled with the finalize development plans and projected completion of the city wall. Everything Lord Blackwood asked for."

The Sandslash stored the scroll inside his side satchel and bowed once again. "Your services will be rewarded greatly, Lady Juno."

She glared. "He better keep his end of the bargain. In exchange for my intel, I get to live off the Blackwood family's income."

"With intel like this, Lord Blackwood may even take you on as his new wife."

She almost seemed repulsed by the thought, but paused to think it over some more. She smirked. "Well, even if he's an older fella, it wouldn't be the worst bargain. Eh, I'll weigh my options." She glared. "Still, I have my objections with this plan. Blackwood's private army won't be strong enough to deal with our soldiers, even in our current predicament."

"Lord Blackwood already anticipated this. Reportedly, one of his generous benefactors has provided him a rather…unconventional weapon to aid in the takeover of New Chariot."

Juno raised her brow. "Oh? What kind?"

"Classified, though even I don't know. Just be sure to stand clear when we finalize the invasion date."

She smirked and curtsied to him. "Well, as long as it gets me out of doing grunt work, I don't mind either way." She sighed dramatically, waving her hand around. "Oh Nero, though I wouldn't say I disliked our time together, you should've been stronger. If only he could see what will happen to his precious empire."

The Sandslash seemed unnerved by the Blaziken's cunning attitude. "And I thought Lord Blackwood was an unrelenting schemer."

Juno laughed. "Oh, what's there to worry about? Nero was the only person in New Chariot that could threaten an army. But now that he's gone…"

"What's left of his legacy that could rival that terror?"

Fortuna pushed the door open to her small, dingy home. Nothing more than a stone house about as tall as a Snorlax. Cramped for most others, but livable for her. She dragged in a bag of supplies and dropped them on the floor. She sighed, feeling a chill run through her fur.

"Crap…" She walked over to a manmade fireplace, throwing some logs into it. After striking some flint and steel together, she got a fire roaring to warm up the home. She rubbed her paws together until the feeling came back to them. "Sorry I was out for so long," she mumbled. "But I'm here now."

She glanced at the corner of her home, where a nest of blankets and pillows were stacked together. She moved closer, unbundling the pile and peeking at the item lying inside.

A brown egg with black stripes that was swaddled with blankets.

Fortuna crawled into the nest and curled herself around the egg. The nest did its job and kept the egg warm, much to her relief. No matter how many times she left it alone, she worried about coming home to find it stone cold. Each and every time, a weight would be lifted off her shoulders.

But a different fear hung over her head, one she had been pondering for the longest time.

What was the rest of the region going to think if they learned about the child of the strongest emperor in New Chariot and a Takigawa?