Chapter 26 – Busted!

The inside of Princess Reecella’s room was dark and quiet. Very few sounds came from the room, including the clock and the ventilation duct. Princess Reecella slept soundly in her bed with a smile. She was snuggled under her covers and held her pillow loosely. Near her, the assassin stepped closer and the blades glistened.

“You’re not allowed in here!” A stuffed animal shouted. Reecella quickly opened her eyes as the assassin turned to the animal. She quickly looked down at Reecella and slashed at the bed. Reecella slid out of the bed as the tonfa gouged through the mattress. It grazed Reecella’s gown and cut a thin scratch across the back of her neck. Reecella quickly turned her body and aimed the kinetic pistol she had taken from under her pillow.

She fired three shots at the woman who rolled and then jumped. Reecella hopped back, but hit the wall. Koarin slashed at Reecella’s neck, but the princess ducked and slid away. Reecella fired two more shots but Koarin used her tonfa to block both. Koarin sliced a deeper cut across Reecella’s hand and then kicked her in the stomach. Reecella cried and smashed into one of her drawers.

Kaorin spun her tonfas and went for a finishing blow. Suddenly she was kicked in the side by Kali. Koarin rolled and balanced, but Kali swiftly kicked her again, catapulting her against the wall. Kaorin slumped down and Kali slowly walked toward her. Koarin quickly tried to cut Kali, but she jumped back. As Kali moved away, Koarin reached for the window, grabbed the rappel, and then jumped. Kali quickly ran to the window and looked out. But Kaorin was gone.

The door was forced open and two men with rifles appeared. They quickly scanned the room, but Reecella appeared in front of them.

“You’re late!” She shouted in anger. “I know it’s been a while but—”

“Princess!” Sir Thomas shouted in distress. He stepped past the two guards and looked down. “Princess, are you alright!”

Reecella relaxed and looked down at her cuts and bruises. “Well I think I am, nothing hurts too bad. What are you doing up here?”

“I wanted to speak with King Aster about Haven’s disappearance, but then I heard gunshots.”

“What happened to Haven?” Princess Reecella asked. She shook her head and then turned to Kali instead. “And how did you get here so quickly?”

Kali looked away from the window and then point to a dusty shaft in the wall. “I used one of your secret passages.”

“Princess, what happened?” Sir Thomas shouted. “What was the gunfire?”

“Someone tried to assassinate the princess,” Kali answered. “I think I know who it was.”

“What?” Thomas said in disbelief. “But Princess Reecella has only been here for a couple of weeks, someone is already trying to kill her again?”

“It’s true Sir Thomas,” Reecella answered. “Please find my father and sister. Tell no one about what has just happened, and if people ask what the commotion was, make something up for me.”

“Princess Reecella, please this is not to be taken lightly,” Thomas objected.

“I know that, just go do what I said,” Reecella snapped, leaning forward. Thomas gave a salute and ordered the guards to the ends of the hall. He then ran off to find the king. Princess Reecella walked to her broken bureau and picked up a small stuffed animal cat from the ground.

“I love you,” it responded, holding out its hands. Reecella squeezed it with a smile and then held it up to Kali.

“What is that?” Kali asked quietly.

Reecella placed the animal down on her head and then smiled again. “It’s a special security system,” she answered. “It has motion sensors that cover a good portion of the room. It’s my own personal security system autonomous from the one here in the Palace.” Reecella glanced at her smashed bed, and sighed. “I heard it just in time.”

“Why wasn’t the Palace security system activated,” Kali asked.

“I don’t know,” Reecella shrugged.

King Aster quickly appeared and made sure his daughter was completely fine. She explained what occurred and her reason for not alerting the guards. None of the alarms had been activated in her room. King Aster sent Sir Thomas to check the security center for the floor. Sir Gale and Princess Serena arrived, and Serena quickly hugged Reecella. She looked down at her hands and noticed the blood. Not long after the healer from the arena came.

He looked around the room and then bowed, kneeling down next to Reecella. “Please stand still Princess, this will only take a moment,” he said.

Reecella also explained that the assassin was Koarin, Shiel’s Battle Knight. Gale quickly offered to find them and left.

Kali yawned and apologized. She was still in her nightgown and had not been asleep very long. Reecella thanked Kali again, but she said it was her duty. Thomas returned and said that the security system showed the alarms were functioning normally. When Gale came back, he reported that both Shiel and Kaorin were missing. King Aster stood sternly and prepared himself for the possibility of a dangerous conspiracy.

“That means I get to sleep with Kali!” Reecella said happily.

“Reece, this is hardly the time for jokes,” Serena scolded.

King Aster stepped in front of them and looked at Kali. “You have protected by daughter’s life and have done so with remarkable guile. I cannot express my gratitude enough.” He then performed a formal bow that took Kali by surprise.

Kali looked down and forced a smile. “It was really nothing…your majesty.”

Reecella smiled widely and held her stuffed animal under one arm. King Aster sent everyone back to their rooms agreeing with Reecella’s discreetness about the situation. Nothing was said about the assassination attempt.

The next day was filled with excitement and jubilation. Again, the arena was packed with spectators ready to witness the third round of the fights. However, there was already trouble with the contenders. Meige stepped out into a roar of cheering and looked for Egi. But she was nowhere in sight.

“I know she did not attend the celebration last night, but why would she miss her own battle?” King Aster said. He was talking to a man who simply stood with an unsure expression. He apologized, and then bent down with more news. “What?” King Aster grumbled. “Miss Yumea is gone too?”

At the mention of her name, Princess Serena winced. She pardoned herself and bowed with a smile. She then quietly left moving through the stands. Gale also bowed and followed, but stayed out of her sight. Reecella glanced at them both, but thought nothing of it. King Aster looked out to the crowd with a worried expression.

“I have an announcement to make,” he shouted. “It seems Sir Meige’s opponent is missing.” The crowd gasped in amazement and some booed. “She will have to forfeit,” King Aster said. The crowd whispered loudly and talked, unsure of what to make of the situation. “I have another announcement to make,” King Aster shouted again. “It also seems Miss Haven Yumea is absent, and will forfeit as well.” The crowd stood in an uproar of confusion.

“I haven’t seen Egi for a while now,” Meige said, stopping at the center ring. He looked around and wondered where she could be. “I told her to stay out of sight, but I was looking forward to fighting her.”

Across from him, the doors opened and Kali walked through. She looked up into the stands with just as much confusion, but continued walking.

“We simply cannot find the two gladiators,” King Aster explained. “It is an unusually rare occurrence, but it has happened. Though, I’m not sure two semi-finalists have ever disappeared at the same time.” The spectators sat back down and became still again. They feverishly whispered, but gave their attention.

“By default, Sir Meige Star and Miss Kali Cestra are the winners and final gladiators,” King Aster said. The crowd clapped weakly. Meige and Kali glared at each other but said nothing. “So we will finish; we will begin the final round. The winner of this fight will be the champion of the arena. They will also have their favor granted.”

Meige smiled sarcastically, “It’ll be just like training.”

“Yea,” Kali grinned. “Just like training.”

“Gladiators!” King Aster shouted. “Raise your swords!” Meige pulled his sword as Kali activated her wrist blades. “Battle!”

Meige tensed and held his weapon sideways. Kali leaned forward but carefully waited. They looked at each other and did nothing. Meige switched his stance and held his blade forward at an angle. Kali frowned and slid her foot back, holding her arms low. They paused again, looking at each other.

“You go first,” Meige mumbled.

“Me?” Kali shouted. “You really are gutless you know that?”

Meige gritted his teeth and took the bait. He dropped his sword onto Kali’s blades and she blocked. Meige pushed down hard, but Kali refused to falter. The weapons sparked and slid away from each other.

“You know, you have a real attitude problem,” Meige snapped.

“I don’t care,” Kali yelled. “I’m your ranking officer; I can be as mean as I want.”

“Not here you can’t,” Meige shouted. “You’re just a servant to the princess. In fact, I probably have more authority than you!”

Kali made a contorted expression of anger. She shouted with frightening intensity and charged. Meige swung his sword hard, intercepting Kali’s thrust, but she quickly countered. She slashed at his knees, and he parried the blade away. Kali followed with a high thrust and caught Meige in the shoulder, making a shallow cut. He ducked away, avoiding a slice to his neck, and quickly attacked. Kali took a step back blocking with one hand and then jumped back, blocking with her other hand.

“What is your deal anyway,” Meige growled. “The entire time we’ve been here, all you’ve done is complain, glare, and hate everyone.”

“We’re on the home world of Sella’s military!” Kali screamed. “What the hell do you want me to do? We’re in the middle of a war, and you’re having fun—” Kali frantically waved her hands “—playing house with the princess!”

Kali hammered both wrist blades down on Meige’s sword, forcing him backward. As he stumbled, Kali moved closer and cocked her leg back for a brutal kick. She threw it forward, but Meige grabbed it and squeezed tightly. Before she could break away, Meige pulled her off balance, and hurled her sideways.

“I’m not doing anything with Princess Reecella!” Meige objected. “You know as well as I do that we’re stuck where we are!” Meige ran after Kali and ran his sword into her blades. She stopped it, and then knocked it away. Meige quickly dodged her attack and blocked a slash to his stomach. “And don’t try and lie, I know this has been more of a vacation for you than anything else!”

“Lie!” Kali growled. She pushed the blade down and yelled, “If you want to talk about lies, why don’t you explain what happened to Aegis!”

“What?” Meige said. Kali kicked him in the stomach and then swept his feet. He fell to the ground and she dropped her heel toward his chest. Meige slid his sword under her foot and blocked the crushing blow.

“You told me Aegis was destroyed!” Kali shouted down. “Why didn’t you tell me it could transform into a woman!”

“Because I didn’t know that!” Meige yelled. He kicked at Kali’s other leg, tripping her, and then rolled to her side. “I don’t know anything about that robot! It just keeps calling me its master!”

“You’re as demented as that machine of yours!” Kali shouted, climbing to her feet.

“But since we’re on the topic, don’t you have a little secret of your own,” Meige said with a twisted smile. “Playing me for a fool?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kali defended.

Meige shouted, “I mean your transformations! Why didn’t you tell me you were a Proto Anthion!”

“Because it wasn’t important,” Kali muttered, digging her heels into the ground. She and Meige were at a standstill and their weapons locked together.

“I thought it was important,” Meige said. “Didn’t you at least consider telling me?”

Kali answered with a cold voice, “Why, because there’s something special between us?”

Meige winced and was caught off guard again. Kali quickly slashed a deep cut in his leg, and kicked him hard in the arm. He stumbled sideways and shouted in pain. Kali sprinted toward him raising her arm, but Meige narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. For a second, he disappeared from Kali’s sight. She shifted her eyes, and quickly looked around, but Meige was gone. Suddenly, a tremendous surge of force struck her back and she quickly crashed to the ground. Kali shook her head, still disoriented, and noticed Meige standing over her body with his hands locked together.

“Why?” Meige said harshly. “Why do you keep saying things like that? Do you want me to hate you?”

Kali looked at the ground and clenched her teeth. She squeezed her fists and felt the inside of her chest burn. “What about when you kissed Reece then? Are you going to tell me you didn’t enjoy that?”

“When I kissed Reece?” Meige whispered back. “I didn’t kiss her Kali, I put my hand over her mouth and faked it. Archduke Mathias was standing nearby. If you saw that, why didn’t you ask me about it earlier?”

“What did you expect?” Kali said bitterly. She stood up and took an offensive stance. “Maybe you haven’t figured it out yet, but there’s something charismatic about you. Everyone loves you…and you love them back in return.”

“I do,” Meige answered. “But it’s different with you.”

Kali swiped at Meige’s chest with both her blades. He blocked and then pushed them up into the air. “I want to believe that,” she said with a weak smile. “But I don’t think I can.”

“You want proof?” Meige said, swallowing nervously. “Then I’ll prove it.”

Kali felt a tremendous pressure on her weapons and moved back. She quickly slid her foot to keep balance. Suddenly, she felt a something soft and moist against her lips. She stopped and stood in anxious fear. A shiver passed through her skin and her legs trembled. Kali thought about pushing him away, but wanted to wait just a little while longer.

The crowd gasped wildly in utter shock. Some stood up in disbelief unsure if what they were seeing was really happening.

“Oh no, he didn’t just do that,” Princess Reecella muttered. She was leaning over the rail as if moving closer would allow her to see if it was a trick. But she slowly put her feet back down on the balcony and covered her head, sinking to the rail.

“What is he doing?” King Aster said, already knowing the answer.

“I’m glad they finally did something,” Reecella cried quietly. “But they just blew our cover.”

A sudden panic filled Kali’s mind and she pulled her lips away from Meige. She then drove her knee into his stomach and chest. Meige groaned with a combination of shouting and laughing, before falling to the ground.

“I’m sorry Meige!” Kali cried. “B-But you’ll thank me for this later!” She put a foot on his chest and then aimed her hand at his neck.

“Well, at least I still get to walk away a winner,” Meige moaned.

“Would you be quiet already…” Kali pleaded. She looked away trying to hide her glowing face. Meige sighed and announced his defeat. The crowd responded with an uproar of confusion, anger, and amusement. They continued to clap and cheer in frenzy.

King Aster couldn’t tell if it was satisfaction or regret. “Miss Kali Cestra is the champion gladiator of the Selica Ashtia Moriah arena games!” he shouted. “Now that you have won, you may ask your wish here before the spectators, or be given a week to decide what it is you truly want!”

Kali stepped toward the balcony and yelled up to the king, “I haven’t decided, please allow me to think about it!”

“You shall have a week then,” King Aster bowed. Everyone in the balcony also stood up and performed a gesture to honor Kali. The spectators also bowed their heads in silence, and then began clapping again.

There was another small reception at that night to celebrate the champion, but many of the nobleman, ladies, and knights spent a greater deal of the time talking about the strange kiss instead. There were already rumors of great unrealism and exaggeration circulating about Princess Reecella, Sir Meige, and the Battle Knight Kali. Princess Reecella appeared distraught but happy about the entire thing, but decided to go to her room to escape the gossiping crowd. King Aster also thought it unwise to let the people gather and talk about the fight too much. The celebration ended, and Kali went back to her own room. Not long after, there was a knock at the door and she opened it.

Meige stood in a fearful manner and scratched his head. “Umm, Kali, I think we should talk.”

Kali looked down trying to stay as calm as she could and answered, “Come on in then, there are a few things that need to be dealt with anyway.”

“I agree.”

Strolling down the opposite hall on the second floor was Archduke Mathias. He had witnessed the whole fiasco and decided it was a good thing it happened. He walked toward his chambers with a smile of intrigue and tapped his sword. He had been thinking about Sir Meige, Miss Kali, and Princess Reecella for some time, and now decided, it was time to take matters into his own hands. He stepped in front of his door and looked down at the handle.

He turned it and pushed open his door. The room was dark, but he stepped in, closed the door, and then turned on the light. The room quickly lit showing the various shelves of books, and pictures of Proto Anthions on the walls. There were two single chairs and a couch, and Princess Shiel was sitting in one of them. Behind her, Kaorin stood with a stoic expression.

“What am I suppose to do now?” Shiel shouted angrily. “I can not show my face anywhere within these Palace walls.”

“You have not done as you were told,” Mathias answered. “Princess Reecella was merely scratched and is in perfect health.”

“I do not care,” Shiel shouted standing up. “You will find someone else to do your disgusting work. Where is my brother?”

“Kill the princess, and I will return him to you,” Mathias said.

“You are lying,” Shiel cried. “He is already dead. He has been dead this entire time…”

Archduke Mathias sighed and shook his head.

“I am going to tell everyone,” Shiel nervously yelled. “I will tell them your schemes and plotting. I may be executed, but yours will be a horrific death!”

Mathias moved forward with a grace similar to a reaper. In a single moment, he appeared in front of Shiel, unsheathed his sword, and slashed Kaorin across the chest. Kaorin was thrown backward into a shelf while Shiel opened her mouth to scream. But before she could, Mathias grabbed her throat and squeezed it tightly. He picked her up off the ground and then held her up with a satisfied smile.

Kaorin glanced down at the blood pouring from her wound and coughed, choking on her blood. She looked up and saw the archduke’s back. Between his legs, she could see Shiel’s feet kicking frantically in desperation. After a few seconds, her legs twisted unnaturally, and then twitched. They went limp.

Kaorin tried to cry, but convulsed instead. Archduke Mathias dropped Shiel’s body and walked toward the door. Kaorin crawled across her own pool of blood staring intently at Shiel. When Kaorin reached her master, she lied down beside her and tried to reach for her shoulder. She fell to the ground and stared blankly at Shiel’s face instead.

Mathias opened the door and spoke to one of the two guards waiting outside. “Alert King Aster that the assassins have been killed. Also tell him that we have found and arrested two agents of the Cenaran Federation.” He turned to the other and ordered him to organize a small garrison of men to seal off the third floor.

The two guards saluted and quickly walked away. Mathias slowly walked to Kali’s room. When he reached the door, four more guards were quickly moving down the hall. They reached the archduke, and he swiftly opened the door. Inside, Kali was looking down a book lying on her shelf, while Meige sat at her table with a glass of water. They both looked up and then gave surprised expressions at the number of guards accompanying the archduke.

“Kali Cestra and Meige star,” Mathias shouted. “You are both under arrest.”

“Wait what?” Meige pleaded.

“How so?” Kali objected.

“You are both under arrest for Cenaran infiltration, espionage, dishonor to the royal family, and the murder of a cherished dignitary,” Mathias explained.

Kali and Meige looked at each other and then faced Mathias. The guards quickly aimed their rifles but Kali and Meige held their arms up in surrender. They were taken out of the room and escorted down the hall. They stayed quiet and said nothing. They had both realized something like this was bound to happen, but decided not to do anything that could cause a commotion.

From a high balcony, Fiona watched the arrest unfold. She leaned against the rail with a puckered brow and sighed quietly. She then stood up and walked into a large room. She stopped and then held her arms up to her chest, deep in thought.

“Well, I saw that coming, but what happens now?” she asked, smiling at the others. Misty was standing up, still garbed in her heavy scaled blue armor, looking at a picture on the wall. On a chair, Cheryl sat with a slight grin, kicking her feet back and forth. Her wings expanded and contracted in a steady rhythm.

“Let’s just massacre the others, they’re not worth our time anyway,” Mutiny answered. He stood behind a couch carving notches with the tip of his sword.

“We go back to Sanctuary,” Misty said. She turned to face everyone. “We did what we were supposed to do, and now we’re done.”

“I got to visit Fiona,” Cheryl said. “Ever since you left us, it hasn’t been very fun.”

“I’m sorry Cheryl, but I have to look after General Capella until she transforms.”

Fiona patted the girl's head, though, she returned a dark smile. Fiona hesitated, remembering the behavior to be normal. “But even I was surprised to find the four of you on your way. Still, not nearly as surprised when Vandellus and Ameris came. I suppose they’re the reason you’re all here?”

“Amy came because of that,” Cheryl whispered softly. “I don’t think she was supposed to come.”

Amy leaned against the wall with one foot up. Her mask was still on and she stood quietly, not bothering to involve herself with the conversation.

“Cheryl and I were ordered to help them at Zell Prime,” Misty said with a shrug. "Apparently the Kuntalie were an unseen factor in the whole mess.”

Cheryl nodded and stood up. “But it was nice to see you again Fiona,” she giggled.

Fiona watched the four Proto Anthions with a smile. She then glanced back at the balcony and put her arms on her hips. “Well, I hope Aperus knows what he’s doing. He can order all of us around as much as he wants, but the least he can do is tell us why.”

Well, here's another story that's done. I'm really sorry I didn't tell anyone how close the ending was. The last month of college has been nuts, so I just totally forgot to do it. If you've noticed, my updates have been slow too. But first and foremost, I want to thank everyone who's reached this point! I also want to thank the readers too who are unmentioned, though I know you guys are out there. So here's my shout out to Unwanted Empathy, Kharrisk - SweetNSourMisery, Kaze-Kenkaku Kandokuno, Lord of the Trees, Papi Prolix, and fire0ice. I know there's other readers out there lol, so thanks to you guys too. Please leave a review of any kind, I really would like to know what others think. Please tell me what I'm doing right, but more importantly what I can do better.

In other news, I'm starting up The GAT Adventure, which is the prequel to The GAT Club, set in medieval times (I need to change the names I know, what the hell is GAT anyway? Seriously, I have no idea and I wrote the dame thing). Aquamarines is still in the works and is going to be written when I get in the mood to do a post-apocolypitic techno drama (I've got the first chap done at least). I want to say my newest stories, The GAT Adventure and Aquamarines, so far are my best stories yet. They're filled with all sorts of cool collegey sounding phrases and words. The Lady Mar is still in the works too, but I have to get in the mood to finish that one too. Technically I could start posting it since I have 70k words finished. But I just want a little bit more written before I do. The Lady Mar, The GAT Adventure, and Aquamarines are all rated M for violence, adult themes, and possible sexual themes. Check the profile page for more info, though I haven't added much more since.

But again, I just wanted to say thanks so much for getting this far; this is my first story, oldest story, and longest story. So it means alot to me to think people are interested in this series. It remains my favorite anyway. Please let me know what I'm doing right and wrong.