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Standard disclaimer: I don't own the series.
AN: Yup, and now the real fun begins. Gideon's troops are finally ready to go to Wyndia. You can all see where this is heading, right?
It more or less becomes a free for all in Wyndia city proper. Captain Transell is readying his Dragoons to go to the King and ask permission to enter the Temple of Milliené. Remember when Strife took the key? Well, heh. The king knew exactly what was going on.
Um, did I mention that Act II was going to be much, much longer than Act I? Well, if I didn't, here it is. Act II is much longer. Please don't kill me.
I also just realized that Yui and Yuki’s names not only sound almost the same, but are spelled almost the same. Oops.
Here’s the next chapter. Enjoy.
Earlier that day…
Yui mumbled incoherently to herself as she got ready for work. She slowly got dressed and fixed her hair. She gave one last cursory glance in the mirror, seeing that she was presentable, and quickly slid on her shoes and walked out of her bathroom.
She had always been an early riser. Too bad that her husband was usually not seen until the late double digits on his days off. Yui grinned slightly to herself as she mentally prepared her lecture that she was going to be presenting that morning to her class.
She stopped in her tracks when she saw the kitchen light on. She glanced at the clock. 4:30 a.m. Momo usually took after her. The child was a morning person too, but even she liked to sleep in every now and again. Yui idly wondered if Momo was in the kitchen. Good Namanda, there was no telling what was going on if Momo was up this early.
Yui slowly entered the kitchen. She did not find Momo. Instead, sitting at the kitchen counter, clad in nothing but a pair of pants and a night robe, blankly staring at a quickly cooling mug of coffee, was her husband.
Jin blinked and glanced up at Yui as she entered the kitchen. She quietly sat down on the other side of the counter and grabbed the coffeepot. She took a mug that was sitting on the counter and quickly poured the coffee. She took a sip and winced at the bitter taste.
She glanced back over at Jin, who had resumed staring blankly at his coffee mug. Yui noticed that he didn’t look like he had much sleep. She barely remembered him even getting out of bed that morning. She was getting tired of the silence, so she decided to speak up.
“You’re up pretty early,” Yui said slowly.
Jin merely nodded, not even bothering to look at his wife. Yui felt herself start to get slightly annoyed. Leave it to a man not to say how he was feeling.
“Are you sick?” Yui began. Jin shook his head no. Yui took another sip.
Jin finally looked over at her and sighed. “Couldn’t sleep.” Was Jin’s answer.
Yui nodded. Jin had always been something of an insomniac, but nothing major that it would keep him up all night. The mere fact he was sitting up at 4 in the morning had Yui slightly concerned. The last time he did that was back when he felt the Kaiser’s awakening.
“Jin… what’s wrong?” Yui asked.
Jin smiled slightly and shook his head. “Nothing is wrong,” Jin said. He grinned slightly and looked her over once. “You look nice. What’s the occasion?”
Yui giggled at his lame attempt to flirt with her. Jin was usually stoic and quiet, though he had a really dry sense of humor. The fact that he was flirting with her meant one thing, he was trying to change the subject.
Yui was not about to let him off the hook, though. “Answer my question first.”
“Eh, there’s really nothing to it at all,” Jin shrugged. “Just had an odd dream, that’s all.”
Yui froze. “About what…?”
Jin hmmed to himself. “Not really sure. I think… I think that something awful is about to happen,” Jin muttered darkly. He wouldn’t look Yui in the eyes.
Yui looked at Jin’s face and realized that she was not going to get anything else out of Jin. She decided to change the subject instead.
“So, should I fix you some breakfast? How does beans, green eggs, and ham strike you?” Yui giggled.
Jin gave her an irate look. It was official, Yuki and Yui have spent too much time together.
Present…
“She is freaking nuts!” Nina shouted as she and Yuki walked back into Sari’s office.
Sari looked up from her desk and gave the girls an odd look. Judging by all the bags that the two were carrying, they had definitely spent more money than she cared to know about. Seeing that Nina was currently explaining how Yuki was nuts did not bode well, either.
Sari only half-listened. She got the bare facts. Something about magical girls and crazy professors wanting to build the world’s biggest giant robot or something. Where Nina got that, she would never know. And part of her realized she didn’t WANT to know.
She had learned a long time ago to never ask questions to a raving Nina or a really hyper Yuki. Yuki just kept bouncing up and down and saying that she wanted to help this ‘professor’ build his giant robot. Good Ladon, she was even striking victory poses. Nina was just rolling her eyes and telling Yuki to shut up.
“But seriously!” Yuki wailed. “I could be the pilot for a great giant ass robot!”
“When Ryu admits that he likes me…” Nina mumbled.
“Ah, come on! He DOES like you!” Yuki grinned. “He told me himself!”
Sari sighed and placed her head in her hands.
Nina turned around and stared at Yuki. “He told you that?! When?”
Yuki grinned like a maniac. She held her hand out in front of her and pointed at Nina. “He told me when I found him! Of course! I did kinda mention that you had a crush on him too!”
“WHAT?!” Nina screamed. “I told you not to tell!”
Sari looked up at the ceiling. “Why am I being punished?”
“I AM the Red Ninja of LUV!” Yuki grinned. “Therefore, I will help fix your love life! Ryu will be eager to tell you he loves you after I am done with him!”
“You are not to say anything about this!” Nina snapped.
Yuki groaned suddenly and grabbed her head in pain. All eyes were suddenly on her. “Miyuki?” Sari asked in concern.
Nina glanced over at Yuki. “Are you being Called again?”
“Called?” Sari asked in confusion.
Yuki ignored Sari and turned to Nina. “Something’s wrong… I think its… oh no! Nina, we have to get back to Wyndia… NOW!”
Nina gave Yuki a concerned look. “What? Why? What’s going on?”
Sari stood up and walked over to the two girls. Sari was only an inch taller than Nina, but she made that inch count. She grabbed Nina and Yuki’s wrists and pulled them around to face her.
“What is going on?” Sari asked in a sharp voice. She let go of Nina and Yuki.
“I… really don’t know,” Yuki started. “I… get these impressions sometimes… like when you and Nina were fighting the Seeker. I call it being Called. It’s just that… I think something is going on in Wyndia. I think that it’s really bad. I can’t say anything else beyond that because I don’t know.”
Nina nodded. “Sari, she’s right. We have to do something!”
Sari shook her head. “I can phone in and find out…”
Yuki shook her head. “No.”
“No?”
“It’s too late,” Yuki said. “It’s already begun…”
“We are about to come under attack,” King Joshua de Wyndia gave the assembled guard a stern look.
The king was currently sitting at the head of a round table that was in his personal study. The guardsmen were seated around the table, dressed in full battle regalia. The assembled guard was the king’s most trusting advisors as well as his own personal guard.
The fact that the king summoned them into his study did not bode well. The king did not even alert his other advisors for this matter.
“Your Majesty!” one of the guards said. “What do you mean?”
“Who is about to attack us?” another of the guards asked.
The king merely sighed and tented his hands over his face. Lines of age and worry were etched on his face. After a short moment, the king looked up and slowly stood up from the table and paced around the room.
“I do not know who will be attacking us,” the king finally said. “I just know that the informant is a trustworthy source.”
“We have never doubted your leadership, my liege,” another of the guards spoke. “What is it that you wish of us to do?”
The king nodded. “Evacuate the castle immediately. Take the Queen and all personnel to the evacuation shelters. Tell the townspeople that they are to leave the city immediately. Have all soldiers to help in the evacuation. Inform the Rangers Guild. Enlist their help as needed. They will be able to keep the city from descending into chaos.”
“What will you do, my liege?” the guard asked.
“I will be here to greet this visitor that wishes to fight,” the king said. “You all know what you are suppose to do. Dismissed!”
The guard left the room. Queen Marietta walked into the study, followed by two personal servants. Marietta noticed that the king looked a bit edgy. She walked over to the king and placed a hand on his shoulder.
Joshua turned to Marietta and gave her a grim look. “Dearest, you are to leave the castle immediately. Go into Nina’s room. Two of my personal guards will meet you there. Use the secret passage that is hidden in that room and escape.”
The queen did not know what to say. Was he telling her to leave?
“Is… this what you spoke about?” the queen asked. “The thing that Lady Deis warned you about?” The king nodded.
“Nina is missing from her room…” Marietta said.
“She is safe,” the king replied. “It was a harsh decision… but I wanted Nina to live.”
The queen nodded. “I understand. May Ladon keep you safe, love.”
And with that, the queen and her escort left the room. The king turned around and watched his wife leave. He knew exactly what was about to happen. He only hoped that Strife was able to get the key out of Wyndia. He didn’t care where the mercenary took the key, as long as it was safe.
He would not allow it to fall into evil hands.
The king walked back into the throne room and sat down on his throne. He gripped the armrests and waited. It was only a matter of time before whoever came seeking the key would appear. He was dressed in full royal regalia. He wanted to be ready for this bastard that wished to destroy his kingdom.
He had given the orders to evacuate earlier. He only hoped that it was enough time to get everyone out of the city. He did not know what would happen to the other towns and cities within the borders of the region. He only hoped that it was Wyndia city proper that they would be ambushing.
Cities could always be rebuilt. Lives could not. He was old, but he was not stupid. When Deis approached him a few days ago, he was skeptical. He at first did not believe the woman and her prophecy of doom.
But then, she started to explain everything in much more detail. There would be a cloaked stranger come to the castle and request permission to enter the Temple of Milliené. He would be after the Goddess Key that was being held there for safekeeping.
Deis had said that if he granted the request, then the man would steal the key and use it for a great evil. If the king denied the request, then the stranger would raze Wyndia and burn it to the ground, killing all its citizens.
He knew what he had to do. He instructed Strife to take the key. He then played off on Nina’s stubborn streak and sent her to her room with no explanation in hopes that it would anger her and cause her to run away. He felt horrible for doing that. The relationship between father and daughter had not always gone smoothly.
They would fight and bicker constantly. He loved his only daughter and did not wish anything to happen to her. Nina was a young woman that only wanted to live her own life. However, she was a princess and she had to think of the country, not just herself. He only hoped that Nina would someday understand that.
He knew exactly how Nina felt. She felt trapped and she was heartbroken after she returned from her little runabout ten years ago. He knew that she had lost the one she loved the most. He could have felt jealous of that, but all he wanted was for her to be happy.
The king looked at the doors to the throne room. There would be no one to greet this man. No doubt he would find this odd. The king allowed himself a small smile. The man had no idea what he was about to walk into.
The king readied himself as the doors finally opened. The king was not prepared for what he saw.
Standing before him was Captain Transell and at least twenty Dragoons flanking him. The captain walked over to the throne and bowed slightly. He then straightened up and stared at the king with a bemused look on his face.
“Are you so rude that you would not have someone announce our presence?” Transell asked.
The king merely shook his head. “Of course not,” the king coolly replied. “It’s just that today is a special occasion. I gave the staff the day off to enjoy the festivities.”
Transell looked around. He then turned his attention back to the king. “There seemed to be no one in the city either.”
“They are preparing for the festivities for later tonight,” the king said. “Now, what is it that you want?”
Transell smiled. “Getting straight to the point. I like that about you, your Highness. Very well then. I would like to request permission to enter the Temple of Milliené.”
The king gave Transell a stony look. “You wish to make a pilgrimage to honor our Great Bird, then?”
“Yes.”
The king thought for a moment. “I am afraid that is impossible at this moment. We are currently making renovations to the temple. It would be too dangerous for you and your men to enter.”
“So, you will not allow us access?”
The king had to keep from smiling. “No.”
Transell frowned. “Then I do apologize, your Highness.”
“Whatever for?”
“This!” Transell quickly drew his blade and charged up to the throne. With one quick motion, he ran the king of Wyndia through with his sword.
The king stared blankly at Transell as he coughed up blood. Transell turned to his men and frowned. “Raze the city! Leave no one alive!”
The Dragoons gave a battle cry and stormed out of the throne room. The king could barely hear, but he knew that there were more Dragoons outside. He hoped that his beloved people were able to escape alive.
Transell turned to the king and sneered. “You knew we were coming, didn’t you?”
The king remained silent. Transell ran the king through again. The king grunted, but still remained silent.
“You gave the order to evacuate, didn’t you?” Transell asked. The king remained silent. “If there are survivors, we will hunt them down and kill every last one of them. Too bad you won’t be around to see your beloved daughter and kingdom ravaged.”
The king finally spoke. “You…” he coughed up blood. “Will never have my daughter… or the key…” and with that, the king died.
Transell swore to himself as the king breathed his last. The king must have done something with the key. But what did he do with it?
“It doesn’t matter,” Transell muttered to himself. “We will find it sooner or later…”
Transell walked out of the throne room. He didn’t notice the small, ethereal looking redheaded girl in the white dress staring back at him. Mary merely sighed and turned and looked at the king. She wore a mournful look on her youthful face. She turned and vanished.
Ryu and Salla walked back into Sari’s office. The first thing that Ryu noticed was that Nina looked highly upset. Sari sighed as she turned from her computer and spotted Ryu and Salla enter the room.
“What happened?” Ryu asked.
“Wyndia is under attack,” Sari said simply. “There is an estimated death toll of 3,000 so far.”
Ryu just stared at Sari. He turned to Nina. Nina wouldn’t even look up at him. She was trying to keep from crying, but Ryu saw the tears. He made a motion to go to her, but Yuki stopped him.
She crossed her arms and looked up at Ryu. “The bad news doesn’t end there. The king has been murdered and the queen is missing. There are at least 35,000 people on average living in Wyndia city proper at one time. That’s counting Rangers and castle personnel.”
“What the hell is going on?!” Ryu snapped. “Who staged an attack on Wyndia?!”
“We don’t know right now,” Sari said. “That’s all we know right now.”
“Well, what are we going to do about it!” Ryu yelled.
Nina finally looked over at Ryu. “We stop this person at all costs. If I know my father, he gave the order to evacuate before all of this went down. We will go to Wyndia and gather up the surviving guard and stage an attack against the leader of the invasion. We will make him pay for what he did.”
Yuki looked at Nina. “Heh. I’m with you!”
“When will we leave for Wyndia?” Ryu asked.
“We will prepare and leave ASAP!” Nina said.
Yuki and Ryu nodded. Sari cleared her throat. “You will need help in this matter. I have contacted the Godwin Foundation for additional assistance in this matter. They will be ready to launch within the hour.”
“When… did you find time to do that?” Ryu asked.
“When Nina was giving her inspirational speech about stopping these people from razing her city.”
“Oh, okay.” Yuki said.
Nina nodded. “This will not go unpunished! This ends now!”
To be continued…