A Chance Meeting(Closed)

[milicia]

*This takes place directly after the "Warning the Heroes" thread leaves off, with Musashi, Zeke and Donovan waiting outside the closed portal.*

Milicia had urged the carriage driver to go faster for the third time now as they moved across the rolling hills. With each gradual bump overcame they were brought closer to the field Musashi had mentioned just before he ran off at full speed. All he had said was, "Sounds like something big's happening. That Yeligar guy want all the heroes together down by the prophet's cave." She really had wished he'd have taken her, after all he had bragged often about how skilled he'd been in escorting princesses in his old home.

Finally off in the distance she spotted a few figures circling around an errie light, about ten or so. By the time they got over the last hill and she threw the door open in haste, there were only a couple remaining, one of whom was Musashi.

"Musashi! What's going on? What happened here?" She called out towards him as she dashed across the grassy plain. Part of her attention turned to the other two people. One seemed to be facing towards her, his body garbed in loose clothing and his eyes covered in dark glasses. The other one had no arms and an overly large paintbrush afixed to his back.

[Musashi]

"Oh, hey your Highness. Well, apparently those Sumata dudes are on Earth and all the other heroes just peaced the scene hoping to stop Trucido and company from doing whatever it is they're there for."

[milicia]

Were Milicia not already gasping for breath at her hasty trip out to meet Musashi she would have at his words. She covered her mouth and her eyes widened. No, then what Lunestice learned was true, the Sumata really are gone. This changes everything. Milicia turned away from Musashi trying to sort out what she was suppose to do, hoping to not show weakness to him.

Though she knew that Lunestice had already given the orders for war, she had hoped there would be some way she could avoid the violent conflict. Despite the reassuring words Lunestice had given about the certainty of victory in their first strike, the tactics felt dirty and more of a roundabout way to get to Trucido. Her kingdom had been spared war as long as she'd been ruler, so her nerves had been far from dulled to what laid before her. Yet deep inside, she knew the path they were taking was the correct one. Maybe not the right path, but the smartest all the same.

Having sorted herself out as best she could she turned back. "I understand Musashi, thank you for getting here in time to notify me of what happened. Yet if I may inquire, who are these two gentlemen that remain? Are they also Heroes like you?" Her attention turned to Zeke and Donovan, who had been unable to ignore the finely dressed woman any longer.

[Zeke Omoihake]

"Hey, you okay there lady?" Zeke took a quick step towards the strange woman. Her frantic behaviour and reaction to what Musashi had said was enough to get his attention. Wait...Your Highness? Then all of a sudden it hit him.

"Oh my gosh! My apologies, I didn't know you were royalty." With that Zeke did a bow so deep he almost headbutted his knees. "My name's Zeke, and this here is Donovan. I guess you could say that we're both heroes, though I don't know if we're like Musashi here." Zeke's mind filled at once with questions.

"So if you're friends with him, then that must mean you're the good Queen right?" His eyes shone brightly with excitement as he looked up towards her.

[milicia]

Milicia couldn't help but smile at the young man's exuberance and energy. Despite not only his age but his apparent disability he seemed very outgoing and pleasant.

"It is okay Zeke, you may call me Milicia. I do not ask my subjects be burdened by formality, nor do I with guests of my country. And yes, I suppose you could say I'm 'the Good Queen', if we look at things in black and white."

Her attention turned briefly away to address Musashi. "Musashi, I did not have the time to tell you this morning but I'm afraid I have need of your skill in an urgent matter. We go to war with Ignis in only a few short days, will you accompany me? My military experts say that it is the best way for us to defeat Trucido, and... part of me agrees." Her tone was almost a whisper at the end, trying to hint subtly to Musashi the secret meaning behind her last words.

"I had come here hoping that the heroes would be able to join me on this. I fear our brave army may not be enough to topple Volkanon's powerful forces. But it seems I was too late..."

[Musashi]

"Wait, what!? War!? Man, now there's a word to kill anyone's buzz."

Musashi was surprised that Milicia would make such a daring move, especially when every other kingdom stood united against her.

"You know I'll help, heck, that's what you summoned me for, but I gotta ask, what are you planning to do about the other Kingdoms? Ignis is surely gonna get an assist from it's neighboring nations, so how are you planning to have one Kingdom fight several?"

Milicia's hint was obvious to Musashi, and the last thing Musashi wanted to be was a downer, especially when Milicia was already upset about the idea of assaulting another nation, but it was a warranted question. Sure one can fight many, but there is a limitation to how many one can fight until victory is out of reach. Regardless of her response though, Musashi was willing to fight for her. After having had some days to get to know her via interacting with her subjects and Milicia herself, Musashi was sure that she was on the side of good, but Milicia always gave him a hard time about looking at things in such a "black and white" way; an ironic statement that always made Musashi snicker a little on the inside.

[milicia]

"A valid question Musashi, and one which I haven't found a good answer for. Yet this kingdom needs strong leadership now more than ever. You've seen yourself how the Sumata taunt me with attacks in my homeland. I'll admit that I hoped we'd never have to do this, but my people will lose faith in me unless I take the action necessary to ensure their safety in the long run."

Milicia sounded confident as she spoke, yet her words felt empty to her. They sounded full of strength but in the end amounted to little more than "I'm doing it because there's no other choice and I'm scared". It held more truth than she cared to admit.

"As for the other kingdoms, my generals have assured me that if we crush King Volkanon in his own land we will crush the morale of our enemy, especially as they lack their leader. I don't quite understand it myself but they said it's a standard tactic in war times."

[Donovan Siroaki]

Oh, hell no. She wants us to join in a war!? I'm willing to do minimal hero crap, but I gotta draw the line somewhere.

Donovan was tired of fighting and really just wanted to have to time to rest, but it would seem the gods themselves were working hard to make sure his life remained wrought with peril and danger; the phrase "no rest for the wicked" crossed his mind and made him grimace a bit.

Sneeking close to Zeke as the other two blathered on about war and tactics, Donovan whispered quietly, "Let get outta here, Zeke. I don't know about you, but i sure as hell ain't gonna fall on some dudes sword to make Queeny here feel like she has a better chance at winning."

[Zeke Omoihake]

Zeke looked on in a daze as Musashi and Milicia talked about the imminent war. He had always felt lucky that he'd lived in a time when he had never had to participate in one, only the visions of violence in other lands to remind him how awful it was. The wars on Earth had always seemed senseless and random, but then he'd always suspected that's what anyone felt till they found themselves in it.

As he watched Milicia speak with a mixture of strength and weakness, fear and confidence he felt a strange twinge of something for her. Respect? Pity? He wasn't sure, but after knowing he couldn't help the other heroes as they left for Earth Zeke felt almost obligated to try and help the woman in some way.

So when Donovan approached and tried to convince Zeke to bail on her, he already knew the answer. "Donovan, we have to do something to help. I can't stand being on the sidelines while everyone else is fighting. Besides, you'll have me to watch your back. You won't die while I'm here to protect you." He looked at his friend of fate with strength in his eyes.

[Donovan Siroaki]

Donovan felt rather stupid, as he was already sure that Zeke would respond in such a way. Donovan wasn't willing to fall on somebody else's sword, but Zeke was willing to fall on his own to help someone. Selflessness was a concept that was confusing to Don, as it went against all human instinct for self preservation, but perhaps this is why Donovan was so fond of Zeke; he defied what Don believed humans where like, and perhaps, maybe... no, not yet, Donovan wasn't willing to accept something like that yet, but perhaps he could try doing things Zeke's way, just this once, at least.

A warm grin made it's way across Don's face as he looked at Zeke and the determination that laid behind his caring eyes.

*sigh* "The things I do for you. Alright, I'll try doing this your way, but just this once. And trust me, the last thing I'm worried about is having to trust you in battle," he said as he ruffled Zeke hair in a playful manner.

[Zeke Omoihake]

Though Zeke was slightly taken aback by Donovan's quick change of mind, his expression remained save a large grin that went ear to ear. Immediatly Zeke hoped against hope that Don had done a 180', but thought it best to reserve any comments in case it made Don feel defensive about his choice. So he merely stayed looking up, and smiled friendly smile at Donovan.

Only a small pang of sadness hit Zeke as he wanted to play around with Don. Give him a little push or noogie him back, but Zeke remembered and tried to carry his message as best as he could with his words and his expressions. "You won't regret it Don. We're going to help both these worlds, you and me bud. And we're going to get through it just fine."

Zeke walked up to Milicia and Musashi who were still busy talking politics. "Hey, sorry to bug you guys and all, but we'll help with this fight of yours. But on one condition, that you be honest and tell us this is just to help save the world. We don't want to be part of a feud over land or power or anything, and I don't want to have to kill anyone unless it necessary for the greater good. Okay?"

[milicia]

Despite the intensity of her conversation with Musashi, Milicia couldn't help but eavesdrop on the two men's discussion about getting involved in the war. She didn't want to jump in and try to convince them or god forbid try to force them into it, though she knew the extra might would be paramont to her success. Yet part of her said to merely wait and they would come around and she was right in the end. It seemed the two of them were not so different from Musashi.

She felt relief wash over her to hear Zeke inform them of the choice and smiled as he told her his condition. "You need not worry there young warrior. I swear to you on my throne that this battle, though cruel and sad, is necessary to help us stop the approaching evil. I only pray that you may believe me, if not through my words than through my actions as we venture through Ignis."

[Donovan Siroaki]

"Ignis!? Aw, crap! Guess were going back to that sulfur encrusted hellhole, Zeke," Donovan replied, his smile drooping into a slight grimace.

His attention shifting to Milicia and Musashi, Donovan hoped that the people before him looked a bit more capable than they seemed and, that for both his sake and theirs, they had some plan ready.

"I don't really care what your plan is with this war, but if Zeke and I end up with the s***-end of the stick on this one, they'll be hell to pay. Now let's get this over with."

[milicia]

Despite Milicia's lax attitude towards rank and class she did have to hold her tongue for a second at Donovan's curt words. She though he must have certainly been a sailor, for he had the mouth of one. Though she did raise an eye at Donovan's comment that they'd been there before. She would have to ask later if they'd gotten a chance to see the defenses Ignis had, especially near the shorelines.

*Uhhum* "Well, yes all the same if you are all willing I ask you please accompany me back to the castle where my men will give you the briefing on the battle plan. To have warriors such as yourselves, we will need to plan accordingly. And know that you do have my gratitude for this selfless act you have volunteered for Zeke and Donovan. Your actions will not be in vain."

With that she made her way back to the waiting carriage, letting the three fighters follow suit.