3rd Winter Moon, 908 – Umbra Clock Kingdom Capital

After receiving a letter of retrieval from Arcania, Sir Neil was sent out to aid in the return home. However, upon his return, much had to be discussed. The chaos that had plagued the capital several days ago was still fresh in their minds, fortunate that worse fates didn't proceed in the traitorous Basil's escape.

This, however…

Jet grabbed Victoria by the shoulders, shaking her angrily. "What do you mean Melissa ran off?!"

The Azumarill trembled nervously under the Dewott's intense stare. "Why did I have to be the messenger…?"

Eadwulf calmly pulled the frantic Dewott away. "Calm down, will you? She just said that Jason was looking into the matter."

Jet stamped his foot down. "She had that Dragapult with her! Do you know how far they could've gotten by the time they found out? Jason's fast, but he's not like Petra who can casually soar around Virdis like it was a light jog!" He growled at Victoria. "And you're telling me she might've gone toward Great Gate where that traitor's vile family lives?!"

Victoria blinked twice. "Are…you aware you spit when you yell?"

Jet gnashed his teeth. "Of all the rotten luck! I can't let both Jason and Melissa go to that horrid place alone!" He nearly ran out of the courtyard, but Eadwulf caught him by the hood.

"I said calm down!" the Nuzleaf stated firmly. "You can't go running off and making a scene. Besides, they can take care of themselves."

"This isn't the first time she ran off to do who-knows-what!" Jet snapped.

"In case you forget, we have bigger issues to worry about." Eadwulf sighed, then looked back at Victoria. "Luna's letter mentioned something about Arcania working with Last Autumn?"

Victoria frowned. "It was awful. They were helping them with…some weird, scary project. It sounded like they were building an army."

Jet winced. "Building an army? What does that mean?"

Victoria shook her head. "Look, this is all very complicated for me, too. The point is, Jason found out and…well, he didn't necessarily stop them, either. Just kind of smacked them around a bit, then left. So, they're still technically working with Last Autumn, and technically might still be expecting a visit from the Takigawa Clan to take possession of this super-secret project."

"…" Eadwulf pinched between his eyes. "This just gets better and better, doesn't it?"

Jet scowled. "So, what do we do? Raid Arcania, burn everything down, and take them prisoner? The fact they attacked Victoria and Jason without a second thought—"

"You do realize they captured Luna, too, right?"

Jet rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Her, too. Either way, we tried to help them, and they turned around and responded like that! Not to mention building some superweapon for Last Autumn! What reason don't we have to invade?"

Eadwulf glared. "You mean other than inciting the very actions that pushed them this far in the first place?"

"…" Jet huffed.

"I'm not happy about this, either, but invading them isn't going to solve anything. We'd just be doing the exact same thing everyone else has done to them. That's not what we want. Jason left without destroying their project, so he clearly sees something worth saving."

"…" Jet sighed. "True."

Eadwulf looked at Victoria again. "And you said Luna stayed behind to try and work things out. Will she be alright?"

Victoria scratched her cheek. "Honestly, for all I know, they tied her up in a dungeon again."

"Riveting," Jet groaned. He shook his head. "So, what do we do?"

Eadwulf examined the note and glared. "That's for the king to decide, I'm afraid." He patted Jet's shoulder. "Why don't you cool off for a bit? I'll try and talk this out with Tadhg. Hopefully we won't have to invade."

"…" Jet looked away unsurely. "Right…"

Through a storm of books and materials flying around his room, Tadhg was deep in his usual fervor of research into enhanced move combinations. However, to Una and Leitis, it was clear he was doing this merely as a distraction from the recent events in the capital. For one, he would've excitedly grabbed Tank from wherever he was to conduct his hypothesis, but instead just wrote some notes down and put them off to the side for his next project.

Una and Leitis shared a worried look with each other before standing up. Leitis carefully walked through the vortex of literature and tapped Tadhg on the shoulder. "Tadhg. You good?"

"It's a most perplexing combination if my math is correct," Tadhg answered. "Modifications done on Wonder Room could change the intended effect of swapping one's physical defense and special defense to something with different inversing effects. Perhaps by augmentation of elemental energy—"

He went silent as Leitis wrapped her arms around him from behind. His books froze in the air, held aloft by his stagnant telekinesis. He breathes a reluctant sigh before sending his books back onto their rightful places on the shelves.

"Forgive me, I've…just been a bit overwhelmed by the recent events."

"With the damage done to the capital, or with that letter we received from Arcania?"

"…Yes."

Una tiptoed up to the king and embraced him, too. "Oh, don't be like that. You have us to quell those woes and whatnot."

Tadhg glared. "Appreciated, though these matters have wrought us with…difficult choices, I imagine. Not much can be done about Mr. The Trickster until he is captured, but Arcania poses a rather unfortunate array of circumstances to look into. I'm not looking forward to this meeting when Victoria and Luna return."

"…" Leitis glanced over her shoulder. "Well, if you're willing to wait…"

Curious by her tone, Tadhg looked over at his door and saw Eadwulf and an awkward Victoria standing beside him. They arrived sooner than he expected, or perhaps he had distracted himself too efficiently.

Regardless…

"No, I will be alright." He hugged his wives back before approaching Eadwulf. "Where is Ms. Freia?"

"Long story there, but Victoria should have enough information to work with."

"…" Tadhg nodded. "Relay everything you've learned during your trip, then I shall call a meeting."

Victoria breathed a worried sigh. "Alright. Hopefully I don't ramble over my words this time…"

With the absence of Jason and Melissa, as well as Blackwood who was back home, the meeting was structured a bit differently. Tadhg and Moira were present, alongside Leitis and Una, and Eadwulf filled in for Jet who was off by his lonesome. It wasn't the most balanced war meeting, but they had to work with what they had.

In light of Victoria's tale, as well as the written report provided by Luna, much had to be discussed.

Tadhg, hands folded over the table, glared knowingly. "I was almost afraid something like this would come up in time."

Eadwulf raised his brow. "You mean to say you expected Arcania to have the tools to build an artificial army?"

"Stranger things have happened. Actually, during my research into Arcania, one of the texts I had referred to this Talos, or rather Regigigas, in extensive detail. Accounts of autonomous soldiers from the past. I would've looked into it further had I not been rudely interrupted by Basil." His glared deepened. "Still, if they truly are helping Last Autumn build this army…"

Una frowned. "I'm…a bit lost. What do you mean by autonomous soldiers?"

"Well, given the nature of the headbands, they're not fully autonomous. Even still, imagine being able to control a weapon from a remote location. That's what we're dealing with. And imagine each of them with the visage of Regigigas."

"So, some kind of war puppet?"

"In a matter of speaking."

Leitis scratched her chin. "And just one of those headbands could control dozens at once?"

"Not necessarily," Moira chirped in. "Luna was able to activate it with her thoughts, but she stated it took some effort on her end. I imagine the wearer has to be of sufficient mental power to properly wield its full potential. In other words—"

"The best wielders are powerful telepaths," Eadwulf concluded. "Something Last Autumn undoubtably has access to, and Arcania made entire crates worth of headbands. So, for the sake of simplicity, let's say one telepath could control up to forty. And let's say Last Autumn had a hundred telepaths on hand. One hundred telepaths equals…"

Tadhg's expression darkened. "Four thousand, remotely operated weapons of mass destruction."

Eadwulf grimaced. "And since they need the Scarlet Flame to be operated, we know what fuel source they'll use to attack with."

"Meaning we're potentially dealing with thousands of hellfire cannons." Tadhg scratched his chin. "We still don't know what they're made from or their main mode of attack. If Last Autumn gets their hands on those headbands, we may be looking at a disaster-level threat."

Leitis raised her hand. "However, according to Luna's report, Arcania openly admitted they sent two headbands to be tested. So, as far as we know, that's all they currently have."

Una grinned. "So, not nearly as bad as we thought!"

"But Arcania plans to hand over the rest to ensure their safety," Moira pointed out. She glared. "Stormbreaker easily overpowered them, yet he left their cargo intact."

Eadwulf glared. "We don't know what would've happened if he destroyed the headbands. Remember, they have crystalized Scarlet Flame acting as the signal. Breaking one of those could start a wildfire for all we know."

"Even still, they should've been confiscated and brought to us for examination, not left in their care with nothing more than a slap on the wrist." The Brionne shot a glare at her brother. "I suggest we assemble an army and march up on Arcania to take those headbands back by force. They would have no means to resist or fight back."

Leitis nodded. "I second that. This could lead to something far worse if left alone."

Eadwulf leaned forward. "Hold on a moment, I know Jason, and he wouldn't just leave this alone unless he had something else in mind. We know the Arcanians pretty well, and they were forced into this position."

Una frowned. "I…have to agree with him. It's not their fault they were forced to build weapons in secret."

"But they still did," Moira pressed. "And they were willing to attack their so-called friends to keep it that way. Arcania is clearly not going to let this go until they're given what they want."

"All that want is security from a changing world," Eadwulf countered. "You're royalty. I don't think you understand what they've been through. They've had their home pillaged and ruined for the last hundred years."

"Arcania was also one of the biggest threats of the east in the past," Moira pointed out. "Their alchemy was impressive, but it also made them a threat. They had far more land than they do now. Some areas of Umbra Clock, New Chariot, and even Great Gate were under their command over a century ago. Do you think we stole their research and tomes because we just wanted to be jerks? Knowledge was power to them, and erasing the secrets of their most powerful clans was a start to weakening their influence."

Leitis sighed. "They don't trust us, either. The whole point of these negotiations was to quell that mistrust, and now they've shown their hand. They just won't let this go."

Una crossed her arms and pouted. "I'd be a bit cranky, too, if I had to be nice to a bunch of people who were being jerks to me."

"Una, why are you even siding with Arcania on this?"

"Because I don't want the solution to be invading and imprisoning a village who had no choice. It's not right. I know they're being stubborn about our offer to help, but is being the bad guy really the solution?"

"They were making weapons."

"What would you have done if someone asked you to build something dangerous while a gun was pointed to your head?"

"I'd take the bullet if it would spare Umbra Clock."

"Why are you like this? You think Tadhg would be happy with you sacrificing yourself?"

"…" Leitis glanced unsurely at Tadhg, who frowned in her direction. "I…I would do what is necessary, but…"

"See? Even you're questioning your decision. Most people prefer living, after all."

"But we're talking about one village versus an entire region," Moira cut in. "Arcania has made their true allegiances clear, so now we need to respond in kind. Giving them even a little bit of leeway over this will result in our untimely destruction."

"…" Tadhg narrowed his eyes unsurely.

Eadwulf glanced in his direction. "You've been mostly quiet. What's your take on this?"

"…I agree with both sides. We need to confront Arcania about this, but I remain adamant in my extension for peace." He crossed his arms over the table and sighed. "My grandfather and great-grandfather were responsible for a lot of Arcania's initial woes. We attacked their most powerful clans in the past and erased the knowledge of their alchemy. We stole a lot of important texts from them, information that is only remembered through spoken records. It will eventually die with them, and we will be the inheritors of Arcania's secrets."

Moira glared. "So, you see why we can't leave this alone?"

"I'm not saying we should leave it alone, but we're pushing for these alliances to steer away from this very outcome. I believe in Harlow's dream for peace across Virdis, and I wish to carry out that dream as she sees fit. I will not wage war against an unarmed kingdom who is being held hostage."

"…" Moira scowled. "Tadhg, listen to your head. We're talking about weapons of mass destruction here. Those headbands need to be destroyed, and we can't trust Arcania to make the right decision after what they've done. We can't win by playing nice."

"…"

Moira raised her flipper. "I say we put this to a vote. I vote in favor of invading Arcania and confiscating those headbands. The sooner we do that, the less time a counterattack will be made against us."

An air of uncertainty hung around the war table, eyes skimming and locking with one another for a favored solution. Both choices were desired, but only one appeared likely.

Save or invade Arcania?

Meanwhile…

Jet stood by Blitz's bedside, the Charmeleon still asleep and in the midst of recovery. It hadn't been that long since he was shot, but the aid of the capital's finest doctors prevented a worse fate befalling the blind sniper. For now, he was out cold on medication while his body did the rest of the work healing him.

How Jet wished the Charmeleon was awake now…

"Everyone acts like Melissa's the one with the bleeding heart, but you're a close second," Jet said to the unconscious archer. "No doubt in my mind you would be in that war room right now advocating in favor of saving Arcania. That's just who you are."

The Dewott clenched his fist.

"That's why you took that shot in my place, didn't you? Tch. You're too kind for your own good, Blitz. Always looking out for us. Ironic, isn't it? You see the world better than the rest of us, and you can even see what can't be seen." He glared. "Do you even hate him? Did you save me, or did you save Basil from making the worst mistake of his life?"

Jet pulled out one of his scalchops, examining its pristine surface. Years of wear and tear from usage had washed away upon his evolution, brought anew. Now, new scars could form new memories. Less painful ones, less burdensome ones.

"I took an oath to get stronger. I will get stronger than Jason and Melissa so that I can protect the future they're running towards. I want to be a better person. I want to be something greater. I just don't know where to begin. I've decided my path, but don't know where to go from there."

"Heh. I'd say you're starting out pleasantly enough."

Jet glanced over his shoulder as Sadie walked in with a bucket of water and some washcloths. She walked around the Dewott before depositing the bucket on the floor. She knelt beside Blitz and brushed his cheek with the back of her hand.

"It's the sort of thing he would say, at least," Sadie added.

Jet narrowed his eyes. "Are you here to bother me?"

"I'm here to give Blitz a wash. You're just some unexpected entertainment." She snickered. "Then again, you don't seem as easy to agitate these days, so might not be as fun."

Jet scowled. "Something amusing about getting me mad?"

"Ah, there it is! You look so stupid when you get all scowl-y like that~!"

"I will cut you to ribbons!"

"Sure, sure!" Sadie gathered some pillows and stacked them under Blitz, pulling him up until he was partially elevated. She brushed her fingers over his bandaged stomach. "I heard what you said, by the way. You're right. Blitz is too kind for his own good. Makes sense, really. We didn't have a whole lot when we were kids. He was a timid Charmander back then. Never liked violence or fighting or any of that. Just wanted to live a peaceful life." She smiled thoughtfully. "I joked with him a lot, saying that we were so close that we should get married when we were older. Not so much a joke these days."

"…" Jet narrowed his eyes. "Why did you save Blitz? Why stick with him for so long?"

"I didn't have anywhere to go, either. No parents, responsibilities, or anything. I saw a kid who couldn't see much past the dark, so I wanted to fill that lonely heart of his. There's no one in the world I trust more than him, and he feels the same for me."

"…Trust…" the Dewott mumbled.

Sadie frowned. "I can't imagine being put through your situation. When we first met, you were a hostile gremlin who clung to Jason like a lost child. He was the only thing in the world that gave you purpose. You liked being useful."

"…I want nothing more than to be useful." Jet looked aside. "Jason seemed like this perfect leader in my eyes. He could do no wrong. The pinnacle of strength. I knew in that moment he was someone I could put my complete trust in."

Sadie laughed. "You really are more blind than Blitz. Jason did the best he could, but he had no direction in his life. Just following the beat of his raging heart. I'd say you would make a better leader than him."

He shook his head. "I couldn't—"

"Why not? Even if the rookies hate you for it, you whip them into shape. Like it or not, you could easily take Jason's place as leader."

"…He said something similar a long time ago," he admitted. He narrowed his eyes. "I still can't forget my past, and it's difficult for me to put my trust in others. I just can't forget."

Sadie shrugged. "If you ask me, that's a good thing."

"Eh? How?"

"Well, it means you would understand what someone's feeling in your position, and you've matured a lot recently. I bet Arcania's feeling the exact same way."

"…" Jet scowled. "How long have you been eavesdropping on me?"

She winked. "Ever since Victoria gave her report to you guys."

"You came by to give me a lecture."

"I said what I said. You just happened to be here when I arrived." She dunked her washcloth and wrung out the water. "But, if you ask me, I think Jason's counting on our acting leader to make the right choice. If he left Arcania alone despite their plotting, maybe it's because he sees a way out for all of us. After all, if an entire village can't learn to trust, who's left to change their mind?"

"…" Jet straightened up and walked away.

Sadie smirked. "And where are you off to?"

"…" He huffed. "I'm acting leader, remember? I've got to do what's right for the Foresters." He stepped out of the room.

She laughed as she sat down and began washing Blitz's back. "If you were awake right now, Blitz, I bet you'd be smiling right now. Our angry friend is finally becoming his best self."

Eadwulf raised his hand. "I vote against invading Arcania."

Leitis drummed her fingers against the table unsurely, but caved and raised her hand. "I vote in favor."

Una raised her hand energetically. "Against! I vote against!

Moira groaned. "Two votes for, two votes against." She glared at Tadhg. "We need to make a decision soon, Brother."

Tadhg groaned, massaging his temples. "This is why I prefer making all the decisions. Too much pressure."

"Tadhg—"

"I'm trying! I need like ten hours and ten cups of tea to think this over—"

"This is not one of your research retreats. We can't prolong this decision."

"I got us through the New Chariot war because I had time to see through all the angles and countermeasures. I don't work well being rushed into something, so give me a moment." Tadhg shook his head, slamming his face on the table. "Ugh, now I feel like crap. Sorry for yelling…"

Moira sighed. "Tadhg, I'm not trying to be mean here, but someone needs to be the bad guy sometimes. We need to put our people first. You know that."

"I know, but I do want to end this feud between our kingdoms. This doesn't feel right."

Eadwulf shook his head. "We're in agreement about the headbands, but getting Arcania to cooperate is the issue. I understand the need to invade, but I rather avoid that and put faith in Jason's decision. He trusts Arcania to make the right decision."

Moira glared. "I understand that, but I'm speaking pragmatically here. We can't rely on goodwill to turn this predicament toward our favor. I need more than faith to work off of—"

BAM!

The group jolted as the war room's doors swung open. Jet, standing in the doorway with his arms raised, glared at the group and marched on through.

Eadwulf's eyes widened. "Jet, what are you—"

"If it's getting Arcania to cooperate that's stalling this meeting, I'll solve your problem here and now." He slammed his fist on the table. "Let me talk to them."

Moira raised her brow in bafflement. "You?"

Una raised her hand. "Seconded!"

Leitis glared. "Una, no one voted for him yet."

"Ah. Firsted!"

"That's not a word."

Tadhg frowned. "Jet Fyrewalker. You're volunteering to speak on our behalf?"

Eadwulf grimaced. "I…agree. Jet, no offense, but you—"

Jet shook his head. "I'm not doing this on behalf of Umbra Clock. I just want to talk to Arcania's representatives."

"But Jet, you were pretty adamant earlier about—"

"Invading? Yeah, and now I've decided against it." He sighed, scratching his nape angrily. "Look, I'm not happy about what they did either, but being nice isn't going to shake them to their senses. And invading them is just going to make the whole matter worse. Jason's too nice to say anything, so I'll say what he can't."

Leitis frowned. "And how can we trust you won't just motivate them to give the headbands away faster? You seem a bit too unstable for negotiations."

Jet scowled. "Someone needs to be tough. If they don't want to listen, I'll do what I do when I need to iron out a troublesome rookie. I'm going to save Arcania from themselves, even if I have to fight my way through that stubbornness."

"That's not comforting," Moira muttered.

"If I can't get through to them, I'll destroy the damn cargo myself, wildfires or not. We made this alliance to save Virdis, so I'm willing to take whatever risk is necessary. Let me do this, and I promise we'll see progress between these two kingdoms."

"…" Moira sighed, glancing at her brother. "It's your call, Your Majesty. Whatever you decide, I will abide by."

"…" Tadhg took a deep breath and stood up. "Jet Fyrewalker, are you sure you can reach out to the Arcanians?"

Jet glared. "I can't promise anything, but I rather take that chance than see another me being born into existence."

"…Then you have my support." Tadhg raised his hand. "All in favor?"

Eadwulf raised his hand. "Aye."

"Here, here!" Una cheered.

"I vote in favor," Leitis declared.

"…" Moira breathed a heavy sigh and raised her flipper. "I vote in favor as well."

Tadhg nodded. "Alright. Jet, we leave Arcania to you. Do what you can."

Jet saluted. "I'll cut down that dread that hangs over their village. You have my word."

9th Winter Moon, 908 – Telo Martius, New Chariot Empire

"Ceres, seriously, I can do my own shopping. You don't need to follow me around."

Despite Fortuna's insistence, the Mightyena accompanied her on her weekly shopping trip through the city, assisting in carrying groceries. It was quite the surprise for the Pachirisu, especially since Ceres stopped by unannounced. Fortuna was quick to tidy up her living space and hide certain items from the hyena's keen gaze. Fortunately, Ceres didn't seem to notice anything before they left.

Ceres waved it off. "Nothing wrong with an extra paw or two. Besides, we haven't hung out as much these days, so I thought we'd change that."

Fortuna adjusted her bag. "I just needed some space."

"As you keep telling us. It's just a little shopping trip, no big deal. You can handle that, right?"

Fortuna rolled her eyes. "I suppose."

"That's the spirit! And hey, maybe we can go out for a couple of drinks before we head back to your place."

Fortuna rubbed her nape awkwardly. "I have been craving something strong recently. I haven't had a drink in a while." She sighed. "Alright, alright, if it'll get you off my case."

Ceres smirked. "There she is!" She tapped Fortuna on the head and picked up the pace. "Come on, we're burning daylight!"

Fortuna rolled her eyes, smirked back, and raced after the Mightyena.

Unbeknownst to Fortuna, this little outing was anything but a spur-of-the-moment plan.

"Almost…got it…annnnnnd—THERE!" Invidia announced as the lock on Fortuna's home came undone. She pulled the door open and gestured her friends on through. "Easy access~."

The girls piled into the small home. As Juno ducked her head through the doorway, having to crouch a bit with the low ceiling, she glared at the Greedent suspiciously. "And why exactly do you know how to pick a lock?"

Invidia giggled feverishly, hiding her reddened face behind her tail. "No reason~!"

"…You are an actual degenerate—"

"I didn't say anything!"

Concordia, the Bayleef, lifted a vine to shush them. "Will you two knock it off? We got at least a couple of hours to plan Fortuna's surprise party."

Salacia, the Ampharos, lit the lantern they brought and set it on the kitchen counter. "You sure Ceres can stall her for that long?"

Concordia shrugged. "Long enough to at least get this place swept up." She grimaced. "Seriously, look at her house. The windows are covered, and there's a dusty smell in the air. Forget setting up the party, we may need to do some cleaning, too."

Maia, the Politoed, grabbed a broom in the corner. "I've never seen Fortuna get this depressed before. Hopefully this'll do her some good." She cracked open one of the windows, letting in more light.

Concordia snatched the broom from her. "If you're going to clean, don't just whack the dust with a broom. Get a washcloth or something to wipe up the dusty areas so it doesn't get in the air." She pointed at Juno. "You're the tallest, so you can set up the decorations."

Juno rolled her eyes. "Does that really matter? Fortuna had to pick the tiniest building to hole herself away in." She knelt over one of the boxes they brought and pulled out some banners and streamers.

Salacia set her box on the counter, pulling out the package ingredients they brought. "I'll get started on the stew. I should have it ready before Fortuna and Ceres get back."

Invidia poked around through the cabinets. "Yeesh. She only has one clean bowl and a couple of forks."

Concordia sighed. "Figures. I can grab some once we finish tidying up."

Maia smiled. "It does feel wrong breaking into her house, but she's going to be so happy once she sees this. This'll definitely raise her spirits."

"Or get a knife pointed at our necks," Juno grumbled as she hooked the decorations to the ceiling, again cursing how tall she was in the smaller house as they kept getting in her face.

Concordia shrugged. "I admit, this isn't the most ethical way of cheering her up, but I doubt she'll hold it against us. We're all going through the same thing as her, just in our own ways. We need to remind her that we're here for her, no matter what."

"Here, here!" the girls cheered.

Invidia continued her snooping around the house before locking onto Fortuna's nest of blankets and pillows. "Ooooh!" She scooted up toward the nest, giggling. "Aww, I wish I had a bed like this~!"

Concordia leaned closer and sniffed them. She winced. "Maybe not exactly like this one. We should probably wash these for her. Don't have a lot on hand, so…we'll just give them a washing, and I'll see if my Aromatherapy can remove the smell."

"Righty-o!" Invidia grabbed a corner. "Preparing for dismantling!"

"Invidia, you don't have to—"

"Too late!"

The Greedent enthusiastically whipped the blankets, tearing open the fortified cocoon of softness. However, before Concordia could scold her, something bounced out of the blankets and hurled through the air. The sight of it caught the girls by surprise, unable to make out much beyond its rounded shape.

They shared a collective look of horror as it neared the ground.

"Catch it!" Concordia screamed.

Juno moved the fastest, lunging across the room and snatching the object before it hit the ground. She cradled it under her arms as she skidded and slammed into the wall on the other side.

Salacia collapsed against the counter to catch her breath. "Oh gods…!"

"Fortuna's going to kill us!" Maia gasped.

"I'm SORRY!" Invidia wailed. "I didn't know there was anything in there!"

Concordia walked over and pulled Juno up with her vines. "Are you okay?"

The Blaziken grunted. "I'll live. Whatever this is, I think it's fine."

Concordia breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." She glared at Invidia. "I told you not to do that! That's probably some priceless artifact…that she was keeping in her bed for some reason!"

Invidia flailed her arms, crying, "I said I was SORRY!"

Maia moved closer to take a look. Her eyes widened. "Uh…g-girls?"

"Huh?" they gasped.

"That's…not an artifact."

Juno finally looked down at what she saved, and her face blanched in realization. The rest of the girls moved closer to take a look at it, and they shared in the Blaziken's startled expression.

In her arms…was a brown egg with black stripes.

And there was a tiny crack growing across the shell.

Oh no, the girls huffed fearfully.

"Aaaahhhh…!"

Shopping went by sooner than Ceres hoped, but the promise of drinks managed to extend the girls' trip a little longer. With any luck, the party would be set up by the time they returned to Fortuna's home.

Speaking of, Fortuna stumbled through the street, guzzling on a bottle of ale they procured. Ale was harder to come by these days, and it was being sold at higher prices, but Ceres gladly chipped in for the squirrel if only because it seemed to raise her spirits.

Face flushed red, Fortuna smacked her lips with delight. "Aww yeah, that hit the spot~!"

Ceres grinned. "There she is! I was wondering where this Fortuna was buried."

"Haaaah, yeah~. It has been a while since I've loosened up." Fortuna smirked. "You really didn't need to, though."

Ceres waved it off. "Not like I was using my money for anything. You deserved it."

"Heh. Thanks." Fortuna swirled the half-empty bottle's contents around, watching the ale inside swoosh side-to-side. "I have been a bit under the weather lately. I suppose I'd still be cooped up in my house if you didn't decide to tag along."

Ceres frowned. "He meant a lot to you. I understand."

"…" Fortuna frowned. "It's selfish of me."

"No, it isn't."

"You cared about him, too. He helped you out when you were homeless. Between the seven of us, I'd say he saved us."

Ceres narrowed her eyes. "I don't try to remember that day as him saving me. I just saw someone extending a hand to help me out of a tight spot." She smirked. "But there were some obvious benefits."

Fortuna snorted. "Agreed~." She sighed, sipping on her ale again.

"…Do you hate her?"

"…Hmm?"

"That Mawile that killed him. You…said she was your sister, right? Do you hate her for what she did?"

"…" Fortuna lowered the bottle and glared ahead. "It can't be helped. A Takigawa's nature is to kill, and she was one of the best."

"You don't seem like a killer."

"Trust me, there's more to me than a cute face." Fortuna grimaced. "That said, I can't say I hate Makiko for what she did…because I don't think that was actually my sister."

Ceres raised her brow. "What do you mean?"

"It's…hard to explain. The way she moved and acted seemed like it was Makiko, but there was something off about it. Uncanny, even." She clutched the neck of the bottle tightly. "And the wound she left on him. I've seen my sister cut down mountains of bodies in the past. That wound was done by an amateur."

"What?"

"It wasn't as clean or smooth as how Makiko killed, and I doubt it's from rusty skills. There was also this…venom in her tone whenever she looked at me. We Takigawa don't exactly get along with each other, but I never thought we were on bad terms." Fortuna shook her head. "Maybe I'm in denial."

"…I believe you."

Fortuna glanced at the Mightyena. "You don't think I'm crazy?"

She shrugged. "I trust your intuition. If you think something was off, then who am I to doubt?" She glared. "Still, why would someone disguise as your sister?"

"Hard to say. I…" Fortuna's voice trailed off as they rounded the corner onto her street. She looked ahead, and she froze.

Up ahead, where she could see her house, was candlelight flickering through the window. She saw shadows moving around the light, almost at a frantic pace.

Ceres noticed and winced. "Uh, Fortuna—"

"Someone's in my house!" She dropped her groceries and ale, sprinting to her house with a panicked expression. "No, no, no, no!"

"Fortuna, wait!" Ceres raced after the squirrel. "Hold on a moment!"

The girls' sprinting through the street caught the attention of a passing Chandelure guard. Before he could ask what was wrong, he heard Fortuna shouting something about someone breaking into her home.

"Crime? On my patrol?!" The guard ignited his flames with vigor. "Not while I bear the emblem of New Chariot!"

Fortuna ignored Ceres' protests to wait, reaching and slamming herself full force against her door. It swung open, sending the squirrel onto her face. She scrambled to her feet and drew a hidden dagger from under her dress. "Who's in here—EH?!"

Her friends scrambled in a panic, with Invidia cradling her egg. "Uh, uh, should we wrap it up or something?!"

"You don't just wrap an egg in this situation!" Concordia snapped.

"Fortuna's going to freak out when she gets…home…" Invidia froze, as did the rest of the girls, when they saw the Pachirisu herself standing in the doorway, eyes wide and horrified.

"…" Maia gulped. "Uh, heeeeey! Uh, surprise?"

Fortuna dropped her dagger and immediately took her egg away from Invidia. "What the hell are you all doing here?!" She glared over her shoulder as Ceres dragged herself inside the house. "You were in on this, weren't you?"

Ceres grimaced. "Welllll…"

"I can't believe you all! Look, I get I've been turning into a hermit these last several weeks, but you can't just break into my—"

"Uh, Fortuna?" Salacia interrupted. "While we definitely deserve the lecture, you…might want to look at your egg."

"…"

Fortuna's eyes widened as cracks started growing more erratically over the egg's shell. As the cracks widened, beams of light shined from the inside, flooding the home in pure white. Fortuna looked away as she felt the shell crumbling in her arms.

The light soon diminished, and all eyes fell back on Fortuna as she recovered from the brief blindness. Everyone went silent at the form left behind by the broken egg.

A baby Sandile lay in Fortuna's arms, curled up with its tail curled over its stomach. It cooed peacefully, its little eyes blinking open to take in the sight of its mother. It whined softly, nuzzling into the crook of her arm.

Fortuna's eyes watered. She fell to her knees, staring in awe at the life in her arms. "Great…Great Ho-Oh…"

Ceres approached cautiously. "By the gods…"

Juno stared in disbelief. "It…It almost looks like…"

"Fortuna, you…" Concordia gasped, stepping closer to get a better look at the sleepy baby. "I can't believe it. Is that really—"

"Halt!" The girls flinched as the Chandelure guard appeared before the doorway. "I heard there was trouble here! What seems to be the—" He froze, looking over the group in shock. "Wait, aren't you all…?" His eyes fell upon the baby slumbering in Fortuna's arms, and he instantly went silent with shock.

The girls shared nervous glances with each other, the same worrisome thought bouncing between them. Ceres gulped and stepped between the guard and Fortuna.

"Uh…I don't suppose we could bribe you with some ale to pretend you never saw this. Right?"

To say Gemini, Terminus, and Emperor Tiberius were shocked by this sudden audience with the late Nero's former harem was an understatement in the making.

It was inevitable when the guard saw Fortuna racing back to her home in a panic. It was natural to intervene, but…

The secret inevitably got back to the palace.

Fortuna stood awkwardly before the trio with her friends standing behind her, feeling equally as awkward as her. In Fortuna's arms, the young Sandile purred against her chest, sleeping soundly and oblivious to the shocked men hovering over it.

"This…This is…" Gemini mumbled.

"B-By the Gods…" Tiberius dropped to his knees, reaching out toward the baby Sandile with tears welling in his eyes. "Th-This…This is my grandchild? This is Nero's…?"

Fortuna sighed in defeat, knowing she can't talk her way out of this. "He's Nero's and mine, yes."

Terminus frowned. "When did this happen?"

"It…well, Nero and I were alone the night before…everything. So…then."

Gemini knelt in front of her. "And you had the egg without anyone knowing? Not even a doctor?"

She scowled. "Wasn't the most pleasant experience of my life, let me tell you. But no, I didn't want anyone finding out. I knew if I went to a doctor, they'd eventually put two-and-two together, even if I lied about who the father actually was."

Ceres frowned. "That's why you disappeared the last couple of months."

Fortuna brushed her child's cheek. "If I had known he'd be hatching today, I definitely would've stayed indoors." She glared at her friends. "Especially without you six breaking into my house."

The girls hung their heads shamefully. "S-Sorry…"

Tiberius reached out to the child. "Ms. Fortuna, may I…hold him? Just for a moment?"

"…" Fortuna was clearly hesitant about parting with her baby, but understood the sadness in the Krookodile's expression. Reluctantly, she gently handed the baby to him, where he carefully cradled him in his one arm.

Tiberius rocked the sleeping Sandile with a wistful smile. "I remember holding my sons like this when they were newly hatched. It's like I'm back in that moment. This is a wonderful gift."

Terminus crossed his arms. "Do you think Nero knew he was going to die?"

Gemini narrowed his eyes. "Hard to say. Nero has always been a shrewd man. In some ways, I think he wanted to make sure his legacy lived on should the worse come to pass. He never did openly express interest in raising a child, but…I wonder if a part of him wished that invasion went differently."

Tiberius handed the baby back to Fortuna before standing up. "This is truly a glorious day for New Chariot. The Martius bloodline continues on. This is a call for celebration! A new lord has been born—"

"No."

Tiberius stopped and looked down at Fortuna. "Pardon?"

She backed away, hugging her son close. "This is exactly why I didn't want anyone finding out about him. I know how New Chariot influenced Nero into becoming the God of War. While I loved Nero deeply, I don't want my son to grow up to be another symbol of war for the empire. After everything that happened, I can't bear the thought of something like this happening again."

Tiberius frowned. "Ms. Fortuna, he is the rightful heir. When he is of age—"

"I don't care! I don't want him to be raised like that—"

"W…Wwwww…Waaaaaaahhhh…!"

Fortuna flinched as the Sandile awoke, whimpering before breaking out into a wail. The present party flinched while Fortuna gently rocked the crying infant.

"Shh, shh, shh, it's okay. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Shhhh…"

Tiberius watched as the Pachirisu soothed the crying croc, easing his whimpers until he nestled back into her embrace. Fortuna let out a relieved sigh, kissing the baby on the forehead.

"…" She glared. "I was raised to be a weapon ever since I was born. Nero and I were alike in that way. I had no future to call my own, and Nero had his future planned out from the beginning. He and Mercurius did. Do you ever wonder why I gravitated so readily to Nero? He understood me better than my own family ever could. I was ready to give my life to him as just some bargaining chip, yet he never treated me with the same contempt I felt whenever I'm surrounded by my family. Nero understood why he was raised the way he was, yet he took it in stride because he loved New Chariot more than anything. I guess I started to love New Chariot the same way as him, or maybe I just loved the way he cared for everyone."

"…" Tiberius narrowed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, but I cannot allow you to raise my…" She shook her head. "I won't let you raise our son just to be another God of War. In truth, I think Nero would be happy if our son was raised to have a normal upbringing. He would want our son to be better than he ever was."

Gemini frowned. "Fortuna…"

"…" Tiberius knelt in front of Fortuna and lay his hand on her shoulder. He smiled warmly. "Alright."

Her eyes widened. "Huh?"

"I won't make him the heir to the empire. You have my word…but only on one condition."

"What…condition?"

"Heh. I'll only respect your wishes…if you agree to return to the palace so that I can help you raise my grandson."

Fortuna felt the tension in her shoulders relax. "You…You promise you won't—"

"New Chariot will be seeing a lot of changes in the future. Another war god won't fix this. So, as the emperor of New Chariot, I'll steer us toward fixing the empire…and hopefully keeping Nero's vision of prosperity intact."

"…" Fortuna smiled. "Thank you, Emperor Martius."

Tiberius stood up and smiled at the Pachirisu's friends. "And I'll be counting on you six to raise my grandson right, too."

Ceres smirked. "We'd be happy to, Emperor."

Invidia bounced up and down excitedly. "Ooh! Let's dress him up in cute clothes!"

Fortuna scowled. "I am not letting you treat my son like a doll!"

"Aww, come on~! Let me see him~"

"Don't get so close! You'll wake him!"

All but Juno crowded around the flustered Pachirisu, while Juno herself stared at the sleeping Sandile with a concerned look. She looked away and faced Tiberius. "S-So, what do you have in mind, precisely?"

Tiberius scratched his cheek. "Well, given the situation at hand, we may have to surrender to Umbra Clock and negotiate a treaty as demanded. With the state of the capital and the effect it's having on the rest of the empire, we can't act stubborn forever. It'll take some time. I'll have to assemble a meeting with my council first."

Gemini frowned. "Is something wrong, Ms. Juno?"

The Blaziken laughed nervously. "Oh…no, no. Nothing at all. Actually, I just remembered I have some work to do, so…" She didn't elaborate further and ran off.

Tiberius raised his brow. "Strange." He shook his head before kneeling before Fortuna again with a blissful smile. "Now, can I see my grandson again?"

"You all are way too close!"

While everyone was more or less distracted with the young Martius, Terminus glared in the direction Juno left, his honed instincts telling him something was amiss with the Blaziken's speedy exit.

What is that woman up to?

A child of Nero and a Takigawa? Shit, shit, shit!

Juno returned to her home like a hurricane, rushing about with a quill and parchment. She sat herself down, wasting no time as she scribbled the jumble mess of fears onto the parchment.

Even if it's just a baby, the mere existence of someone like that could jeopardize everything. It's Fortuna we're talking about here. Even if she wants that kid to not grow up and become his father, the second Blackwood launches his invasion on the empire…

Half the page had been covered in the mess of ink before she slowed down. She took a moment to catch her breath, her hair falling over her shoulders from the stress. Sparks flickered around her wrists, heightened by her intense emotions.

Nero was able to quell a war on New Chariot just by his presence alone. If New Chariot is invaded by Blackwood, and if Fortuna somehow escapes…what's stopping her from raising the kid to take revenge for his father's homeland? On top of being Nero's son, that kid is a Takigawa. They were born to kill. I knew something like this was going to happen when we were in his harem, but that was before the invasion. That kid is hellfire waiting to unleash if we let the flame grow for too long.

She shook her head and kept scribbling down the warning letter. She wasn't sure if she should persuade Blackwood to forget the invasion or speed it up. If their invasion somehow went poorly, and if Juno's betrayal got traced back to her, Fortuna would be after her throat next.

She clenched her teeth. I just need to warn him about the kid, that's all. We need to play this smart. Maybe…Maybe if we take the kid for ourselves, he could grow up to serve under House Blackwood. Yeah. Having him on our side would work to our favor. Yeah, that could work.

She dragged her hand through her hair, already knowing her head was on the chopping block if Fortuna found out about this.

I'm in too deep. Even weakened, New Chariot is still dangerous. Lord Blackwood, why are you so confident you'll take the city?

12th Winter Moon, 908 – Blackwood, Umbra Clock Kingdom

The Sandslash soldier, a member of Lord Blackwood's private army, emerged from the ground and made his way to the Blackwood manor. After being granted access by the guards, he rushed inside with the butler escorting him through.

The soldier was led to the living room, where Blackwood sat in his decorative armchair with a cup of tea in hand. As he sipped his drink, he lifted his gaze toward the soldier, silently acknowledging him to enter.

The Sandslash bowed and approached the lord. "Lord Blackwood, I have brought you a letter from your informant from Telo Martius."

Blackwood finished the last of his tea and set it on the side table. "Did she now?"

The soldier handed him the letter. He took it, undoing the string binding it, and unfurled it. His eyes skimmed across the messy formation of ink, a crude statement of handwriting indicating it was written in haste. The further down the parchment he read, the larger his wicked smirk stretched.

"…Fascinating." He crushed the paper between his hands and tossed it back to the soldier before standing up. "Most fascinating."

The Sandslash soldier frowned. "My lord?"

Blackwood approached his fireplace and looked up at the display above the mantle. It held a decorative claymore with its hilt caked in dried blood. A name was immortalized under the display, a sign of the sword's original owner.

Murdoch Blackwood

A loving son and a valiant soldier

"Emperor Nero has a son now?" Blackwood laughed. "That…That is funny. How entitled can one man be?"

The Sandslash soldier felt uneasy, backing out of the living room. "I…will be going now, my lord—"

"Not yet. You will be sending a letter to Ms. Juno that we will be invading the empire sooner than planned."

His eyes widened. "M-My lord, what about the king? If we act too hastily, he'll—"

"He is our ally, my subordinate. He'll understand…whether he wants to or not. Besides, I want to see Nero's child for myself." He narrowed his eyes. "It's a shame…that he won't be there to see me crush it."

"My…lord?"

"Seems I'll have to put in a request with Master Terrowin." Blackwood crossed his arms and threw his head back with laughter. "We're going to be performing that test run with our new army sooner than expected! Telo Martius, I look forward to conquering the ashes of your beautiful city!"