Chapter 3: Banquet While You’re Ahead

Yuna expected the dining hall to be the largest place on campus. However, she quickly realized the gymnasium dwarfed it. She figured her parents could fit three— maybe even four of their hundred-meter throne rooms across the polished wooden floor. It sparkled under the light of the moon and stars shining through the glass dome.

It also didn’t take Yuna long to realize how overwhelming the banquet was. Sure, she’d been to dinner parties with her parents before. But they were, at most, a couple of dozen people. Not hundreds of pokémon of all different shapes and sizes mingling. After floating by the entry doors and staring at the large, T-shaped stage set up on the opposite end, she hovered toward the corner on her right.

At first, she did it to try and make the room seem smaller, but the smell of oven-cooked goodies made her mouth water. The dreepy zipped for the nearest table, only to slow up when she realized Noctum stood behind it. Yuna’s attempts to duck behind a torkoal’s shell failed when Noctum called out, “Ah, Princess, you made it. Come here and check this out.”

Sighing, Yuna floated over to the table, trying to ignore Noctum’s cheerful grin. His black scales clashed with the pink apron around his belly. “Hey, Noctum.” She rubbed her neck. “Guess they’ve got you helping with the food?”

“I volunteered.” Noctum puffed his chest out. “And I’m so glad I did. Otherwise, I never would’ve discovered these marvels!” He held up a serving tray full of what Yuna thought were shrunken quiches. “Look at them. I didn’t think it was possible for a quiche to be this small.” The charizard laughed. “You could tell me a bunch of joltik cooked them and I’d believe you.”

“That’s… nice.” Yuna rubbed her arms together. “But I should really—”

“And that’s not all.” Noctum pointed to a tray on his right. There were doughy rolls with bits of vegetables sticking out. “Apparently they call these things ‘spring rolls.’ I’m not sure why, though. Perhaps it’s the veggies?”

“Noctum, we need to bring out another tray of onion rings!”

“Ah!” The charizard’s tail sparked blue. “Coming, Baraz!” He glanced at Yuna. “Sorry I can’t stay and help you get acquainted with anyone, Princess. Cheers.” Noctum spread his wings out and glided toward the staff door, leaving Yuna look over the spring rolls.

Well, if she was going to be alone, she could at least help herself to some good food. Yuna grabbed a plate then took a couple of mini-quiches and some onion rings. It occurred to her, however, that she’d need somewhere to set the plate down to eat properly. Fortunately, a quick glance right revealed some glass tables lined up against a plastic, segmented wall. Yuna found the wall strange, but didn’t want to think too much on it. Otherwise, someone would swoop the lone empty table.

She floated over to it and set her plate down, sighing again. The dreepy raised a mini-quiche like she was about to make a toast. “Here’s to… to…” Yuna looked around. Most of the students were conversing with one another. Some — including the tiara-wearing ponyta from breakfast — were on a raised dance floor in front of the stage. Ponyta basked under the glow of blue and violet stage lights.

“Here’s to surviving the next month,” Yuna whispered. She shoved the quiche in her mouth. The taste of egg, fresh feta cheese, and steak bits washed away her melancholy. Yuna grabbed another mini-quiche and scarfed it down. Wow. These chefs really know their stuff.

“Dreepy Yuna, I take it?”

The unfamiliar voice caught her mid-bite. Yuna spat the bit of quiche out onto her plate and coughed loudly. Even though she didn’t have lungs, the food must’ve gotten tangled within a stretch of her inner ectoplasm.

“Easily startled, ain’t ya?”

Yuna pivoted to her left, but failed to identify the source of the voice.

“On your right.”

“Eh?” She turned back and screamed. A grovyle now stood opposite her, leaning against the wall. “W-What— can I help you?”

“Clearly not.” Grovyle nudged the brim of his pokébase cap down to cover his eyes. “If you can’t even keep a good eye on your surroundings, how can you expect to focus on what lies ahead?”

Yuna blinked. “I… beg your pardon? Do I know you?”

Grovyle took his mint sprig twig out of his mouth and flicked it away. “No.”

“But you know me.”

“I make it a point to know who I have to keep an eye on,” Grovyle said, stepping closer to the table. His pitch-black, button down shirt and crimson tie unnerved Yuna. There was a black dragon skull pattern woven into the tie.

“So, you’re a student here, too?” She spotted the school’s rose insignia on his cap.

“Correct.” Grovyle didn’t make eye contact. He loosened the knot on his tie and tapped a claw on the table. “Those symbols. The ones on your crown and pendant.” Grovyle rested his elbow on the table and perched his chin on his hand. “They’re His emblem, aren’t they?”

Yuna was in no mood to play the pronoun game. “Can you stop talking in riddles?”

“Aeons worship a divine light dragon called Bahamut,” Grovyle continued, rolling back against the wall. He pulled another toothpick out of his breast pocket and stuck it in his mouth. “Around here… we’re taught He’s nothing but a figment of dragons’ wild imaginations.”

Her brows raised. Yuna wasn’t expecting this guy to bring Bahamut up so casually, let alone recognize His emblem out of the blue. “Wait. Are you a believer?” She leaned in eagerly.

“Don’t get any ideas.” Grovyle crossed his arms and tucked his head against his chest. “Like I said… I make it a point to know what I can about people I have to keep an eye on.”

“Okay, but why do you need to keep an eye on me?” Yuna puffed out her cheeks. She couldn’t let this guy unnerve her so easily. He was her classmate, right? “Did someone from my kingdom cause you or your family grief? You can’t possibly expect me to account for every dragon around the world.”

“It’s because we’re teammates.”

“Teammates?” Yuna stared at Grovyle blankly.

“Sheesh. This is like pulling teeth.” Grovyle rubbed his temples. “You. Me. Crowne Cup team. Together.” He finally looked Yuna in the eyes. The black, triangular markings under his eyes were barely visible with the gym’s mood lighting.

“Oh. Okay.”

It took a few seconds before Yuna truly processed what Grovyle told her. Once his words set in, her eyes widened. “Wait… what?!” She hovered closer to him. “How do you know that? The teams are supposed to be re—”

Grovyle shut Yuna’s mouth with his right hand. “Quiet. I don’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to us.” He quickly glanced up, then looked back at Yuna. “If I let go, are you gonna scream again?”

Silently, Yuna shook her head. Grovyle was fast. Too fast for her to do anything about him. And Noctum and Baraz were still tending to the banquet’s food, so she couldn’t expect one of them to bail her out again. Still, her ectoplasm quivered. If first impressions were important, Grovyle wasn’t endearing himself to her. Though she figured the reverse held true.

“Fine.” He let go and stepped back. “Fact is… I got a quick look at the lineups backstage.” He jerked his head toward the stage. More specifically, a large screen hanging over center it, surrounded by stage lights. “The Vice-Chancellor was scanning our pictures in to project onto that screen.”

Yuna gasped. “How did you manage to do that without getting caught?”

“None of your business,” Grovyle growled. He pivoted away from her. “Honestly, when I saw your photo, I thought it was a mistake.”

“That you got teamed up with a princess?”

“No. That you’d yet to evolve.”

Yuna winced. That one stung. “I, uh—” She clutched her pendant. “Dreepy already take a while to evolve. But when I was young, I got really sick. Mom told me it set my development back a few y—”

Grovyle held his left hand up. “Didn’t ask. Didn’t need the sob story.”

“O-Oh…” Yuna’s gaze fell. Wounded, her pride screamed at her to get a shot in. “Well, why aren’t you a sceptile yet, huh?”

“None of your business why.” Grovyle glared at her. Yuna shrank back. “Did I ask you why you’re still a dreepy? No.” He shook his head. “Don’t assume. Miscommunications can get a ‘mon killed in your line of work.”

Yuna’s fidgeting intensified. She somehow felt worse than she did a few minutes ago. If this was some sort of test, Yuna wanted out. “We’re teammates, though,” she whispered. “We should, y’know, talk about this stuff. It’ll help us—”

Grovyle drew the bridge of his cap over his eyes again. “I’m not here to play nice and make friends with you. Especially when our other teammate is Nikki the Nuisance.”

The dreepy mouthed the name to herself. “Who is—”

“A troublemaking toxtricity.”

“Oh no.” Yuna’s neck and chest constricted. Of course she’d get paired with that girl. At this point, Bahamut was probably rolling around the skies, roaring with laughter.

“Yeah, I don’t like it either. But at least Nikki’s strong.” Grovyle clicked his tongue. “Maybe we won’t get bounced in the first leg.”

“What does that mean?”

Grovyle groaned. “Lemme guess… nobody ever told you how the Crown Cup works.” The distinct lack of a questioning tone in his voice drew a meek nod from Yuna. He took the toothpick out of his mouth and sighed. “Well then, keep your ears open because they’ll be explaining the rules later.” He pushed himself off the wall.

“Wait, aren’t you going to tell me? Don’t you want your teammate to know?”

“I don’t really care. Like I said… I’m not here to make friends.” Grovyle tipped his cap down again. “And I don’t care about winning or going far in the Cup.”

He began to walk away when Yuna floated in front of him. “Hang on. I—” She paused. “Even if you’re not going to open up or anything… I at least deserve to know your name.” Yuna crossed her arms. “So, I’m not letting you go until you tell it to me.”

“Tch.” Still gripping his cap, Grovyle looked right. “Chiaki.”

Good, she got something out of him. “And what’s your claim to fame?”

The grovyle glared at her. “Excuse me?”

“This is a school for nobility, isn’t it?” Yuna said. “So, you must be pretty important.”

Chiaki rolles his eyes. “If you must know… I’m next in line to inherit my family’s business.”

“Which is?” When Yuna didn’t get a response, she said, “Lemme guess. It’s—”

“None of your business.” Chiaki sidestepped her. “Oh, and let me make one thing clear to you, Princess.” He locked eyes with Yuna. “So long as we’re working together, you need to learn to watch your back.“

The moment he said that, something jabbed Yuna’s right flank. Squealing, she turned around, only to find a trail of dust illuminated by a stage light. “Hey! What’s the big idea?”

But Chiaki had already vanished, leaving Yuna floating above red and purple streamers that had fallen to the ground. The dreepy looked around in a panic. She knew he was fast, but how could he have fled without her hearing anything? The music wasn’t that loud. After another quick survey of the area, she floated back to the table. Yuna grabbed the white tablecloth and brushed her side, sighing.

Looks like the Crowne Cup is already off to a riveting start, she thought, glowering at her half-eaten plate of hors d’oeuvres. Apparently, her appetite chose to abscond with Chiaki. She poked at the plate — fresh china, of course — then lowered herself down to rest her head on the table.

A part of Yuna thought it wasn’t worth it to feel sorry for herself. However, a louder voice told her she should have listened to her parents wishes. Was this some sort of lesson from Bahamut? Something about respecting her elders or facing the consequences of not doing so? No, that was too on-the-nose. Maybe the selection committee Vortex had mentioned was biased against her because she was a dragon? Yuna wanted that to be false, but with all these icy receptions, she got the distinct feeling she wasn’t wanted at Horizon Academy.

Well, if they’re trying to scare me off, it won’t work, Yuna told herself. After all, it’s not like she’d please everyone once she became queen. If all it took was a few unpleasant classmates to send her back home, she’d be a spineless ruler.

Okay, technically she was spineless, but it was a metaphor.

Yuna clasped her hands together and placed them against the amulet around her neck. O’ Luminous Creator, hear my prayers. Mighty Bahamut, please—

“Good evening, my lovely students!”

Feedback sounded from the large square speakers flanking the stage. Squealing, Yuna threw the tablecloth over her. That was a sound she wasn’t remotely used to. When she noticed the music and distant conversations had stopped, she poked her head out. Chancellor Vortex stood under a pale blue spotlight. He’d swapped his earlier suit out for a ruby-encrusted tuxedo and a bowtie sporting flame patterns. Even with her limited wardrobe, Yuna found it tacky.

“I’m glad to see you all here, excited and healthy, as we get ready to kick off another year of the Crowne Cup!” Vortex spoke into a silver rod that Yuna had never seen before. Whatever it was managed to amplify his voice through the speakers.

It’s not Hyper Voice or Uproar. Otherwise most of the room would be flinching in pain, right? She made a mental note to ask Noctum if charizard could learn sound-based attacks.

Arianna leaned into the spotlight and whispered to Vortex. He nodded and his posture slouched a bit. “While I’m not usually one to dampen the atmosphere, I do want to take a moment to address a concern I’m sure many of you have.” Vortex clutched the talking rod tight. “Yesterday night, our beloved Crowne Minister, Lord Douglas, passed away in an unfortunate accident.”

Murmurs rose up, but Yuna couldn’t tell who was saying what. The gym had darkened to the point where all she only saw outlines. And using her night vision would be fruitless with so many pokémon packed into the gym. She assumed the other students were talking about the accident. Yuna remembered hearing it in Vortex’s office. But seeing as she didn’t even know what a Crowne Minister was, she wasn’t really sure how to react.

“Now, now.” Vortex raised his free hand. “I’d like to assure you all this will not impact the start of the Crowne Cup. The kingdom is looking forward to seeing you all in action.” He leaned over so Arianna could whisper to him again. “However, before we start the festivities, let us have a moment of silence to honor Lord Douglas and his service to the kingdom.”

The spotlight dimmed. Vortex lowered his hands and tucked his chin into his chest. Yuna saw the silhouettes near her shift around in the dark. They must’ve been doing the same thing. Rather than bow her head, however, Yuna looked above the stage. The large screen Chiaki mentioned had powered up, casting a blue glow across the stage and the dance floor in front of it.

“All right.” Vortex stood up straight. “Now then… this is normally the part where I’d talk your ears off with a grand speech about what an honor it is to participate in the Crowne Cup. But, as anyone who isn’t a first-year could tell you, nobody likes my long-winded speeches. So, this year, we’re going to cut right to the chase.”

He spread his arms and wings out. His tail flared up. “Presenting… this year’s Crowne Cup teams and their faculty coaches!”

Different-colored spotlights swirled around the screen while student pictures lined up in groups of three. For a brief moment, Yuna wondered if Chiaki lied to her. But he was quickly proven right when Yuna found his photo next to hers… along with the toxtricity she’d seen earlier. Nikki the Nuisance.

What she wasn’t prepared for, however, was a familiar orbeetle’s picture next to Nikki’s. That explains the outburst when my parents wanted to pull me from the Cup. It was relieving to see that, even if her teammates would be problematic, Yuna’s coach was someone she was friendly with.

The other students’ excited chatter quickly died down and the screen darkened once more. “Again, I did have some more presentations planned,” Vortex said, adjusting his bowtie. “But I don’t think we want to keep our special guest waiting, do we?”

Enthusiastic cheers rose up from the students. In the middle of the crowd, a copperajah trunk raised up, tossing what Yuna assumed was confetti around.

“Ho ho! I thought as much.” Vortex tapped his pudgy belly. “Then, without further ado, I’ll turn things over to our glee club president, Prince Shimmer. Take it away!”

The spotlight on Vortex darkened. A second later, another stage light shined on the tiara-wearing ponyta. He stood atop wavy, red and white music bars with sapphire eight notes spread across them.

It occurred to Yuna that her parents had never brought up the fact that the queens had a son. Then again, neither of the queens had, either. It was odd. Wouldn’t they want her to make nice with the future king?

“Good evening, Horizon Academy!” Shimmer spoke into a headset gently fitted around his diamond tiara. “Are you ready to party?”

“Yeah!” the crowd responded.

“Heh.” Shimmer swished his sparkling mane over his left shoulder. It brushed against the white feathers lining his silver gown. “That’s what I like to hear! I’m sure I speak for Chancellor Vortex, my parents, and everyone in Parliament when I say I’m looking forward to seeing you give it your all in the Crowne Cup.”

He smirked. “I’m especially keen on seeing what the Aeon Princess is capable of. Aren’t you?”

A beat passed, then it dawned on Yuna that Shimmer was talking about her. That moment, a light shined on her from above. Squealing, Yuna threw her arms over her head. She faintly made out a sylveon’s outline up in the rafters, clutching a portable light in its ribbons.

“How about we give it up for the first dragon to attend to our academy?” Shimmer declared. Yuna’s face paled as a tepid smattering of applause greeted her. She wanted to shrivel up or hide under the table. But what kind of message would that send?

She had to focus on her breathing. In. Out. Straighten up. Another breath.

Yuna lifted her right hand and waved to the crowd. “Thanks,” she said, though her voice didn’t carry far. The dreepy sighed in relief when her spotlight went out.

“How adorable.” Shimmer chuckled and the crowd laughed with him. Yuna’s heart sank. “Anyway, onto what you’ve been waiting for!” The ponyta cleared his throat. “As glee club president and Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Radiance, it gives me great pride to introduce our special guest performer for the evening.”

He gestured down to the stage with his right foreleg. “You know her. You love her. You shake your money makers when you hear her. Opening up with her debut hit, ‘Path of Valor,’ it’s the one and only Radiant Diva herself. Give a warm Horizon Academy welcome to… Starlene!“

Roaring applause made Yuna wonder if she’d feel the ground shaking were she not floating. Shimmer’s light switched off while the spotlight on center stage turned back on. A pink smokescreen filled up the stage area. Yuna hovered higher to get a better look. Where was this Starlene lady? Shouldn’t she have walked on stage by now?

A keyboard rift sounded. The haze lifted, revealing a pokémon Yuna had never seen before. Like Shimmer, she had some sort of crystalline headset on. But her hair seemed made of music bars and notes. She twirled around — puffy pink skirt fluttering — and beamed for the crowd.

“Even the darkest of storms,
Will falter in the face of,
Everlasting hope and valor!”

The stage fully lit up, revealing a primarina sitting behind a keyboard set, a rillaboom pounding away at luminescent drums, and a lopunny strumming away at an electric guitar. Four diamond wings unfurled from Starlene’s outfit as she pirouetted into the air and glided toward the edge of the stage.

“Together we’ll work toward the future.
We’ll spread peace, love, and smiles!”

The screen projected a close up of Starlene dancing, forming a heart with her hands and flashing her pearly whites in the center of the heart. The crowd thundered with delight.

“There’s nothing we can’t put our minds to!
Change won’t start until we try!”

Though everyone clearly seemed to be enjoying themselves, the baubles on Yuna’s head shriveled up. Her headed pounded. Her eyes throbbed in their ectoplasmic sockets. Something was wrong.

“It won’t be easy.
There will be struggles.
You may want to pack it in.”

Was it the volume? No. Yuna had been around roaring dragons her whole life. What then? Why did it feel like something was trying to burst out of her forehead? She grabbed the tablecloth again and squeezed it tight.

“But don’t despair.
Hold your heads high.
And keep on grasping hope!”

“Keep on grasping hope!” the crowd chanted back. Were their screams of delight getting louder or was Yuna losing it?

“Everyone… all together now!” Starlene said, thrusting her arms to the sides and levitating into the air while fairy dust swirled around her.

“We’ll walk it. The Path.
The Path of Valor.
To a future filled with hope!

There’s nothing that can stop us.
When we’re united.
Raising our voices as one!”

Yuna’s vision flashed. Starlene blurred together with the flashing lights into a sea of swirling colors. Her lyrics faded into nothing but distant noises. Yuna vigorously rubbed her eyes, but her sight only grew hazier. She squeezed her eyes shut, silently willing her headache to stop.

Purple smoke drift in from all around her. Her breath caught in her throat. Yuna’s eyes forced themselves open. A sea of purple and black smoke spread in front of her. However, something stirred in the fog.

Long. Slender. A serpent. And it was looking right at her with piercing red eyes.

“Wh… what—” Yuna tried to shut her eyes, but couldn’t. Golden lines and rings flashed on the serpent’s body. Then a large maw opened… and the serpent lunged right for Yuna.

She heard herself scream for all of a second before her world fell to darkness.

Hooves struck cobblestone with each step a keldeo took along the road leading up to the top of a grassy hill. His crimson and scarlet uniform brushed against his fur. Rose and sword-shaped medals and badges clinked against his chest. The keldeo kept his eyes fixed on the grounds, annoyed at having to walk when a trolley could’ve gotten him to the top of the hill far faster.

“Remind me, Sergeant… erm…”

The cofagrigus floating beside him rifled off a salute. “Rune! S-Sergeant Rune! And I m-must say, Commander S-Seifer, it is an honor to—”

Seifer stepped in Rune’s path. His armored horn sparked with red energy. “Lower your voice. Were you not the one who insisted we walk in order to keep a low profile?”

Rune shrank back, tucking his four arms into the red gauntlets on his torso. “A-Apologies, sir. Won’t happen again.”

“Now then… tell me why you explicitly requested me to come out here?” Seifer turned away from Rune and focused on the top of the hill. A large, stationary, purple cyclone towered over the Radiant Guardsmon. Shards of metal lay scattered about the grassy fields on either side of the road. Remnants of a fence that once surrounded a beloved park.

“S-Someone broke curfew and charged through our barricade, sir,” Rune reported. “I thought he might be trying to breach the mystery dungeon.”

“And? Why not tell that to your unit captain?” Seifer snorted. “This is why I stationed you all in the city.” He lifted his nose up. “I’ll bet you didn’t even get a good look at the bugger responsible. Probably some low-life thievul thinking the mystery dungeon holds untold riches.”

“That’s just it, sir.” Rune poked his index fingers together. “I did get a good look at the person responsible. And when I told the captain, he said to find you right away because it matched the description of the ‘mon who attacked the Aeon Princess this afternoon.”

Seifer’s horn flashed bright blue. “Why didn’t you lead with that? To hell with keeping a low profile!” He galloped toward the edge of the distortion, only to slow up when he saw a black silhouette against the purple wind. “You there! This is a restricted area. And you’re breaking the curfew set by Her Eminence, Queen Isola. Step forward and identify yourself immediately.”

He stood there, waiting for the shadow to move. But aside from the howls of the distortion field, he got no response. The shadow remained still. Seifer lowered his horn. Red aura concentrated toward the tip. “This is your final warning. Step forward and identify yourself or I will use force,” he declared.

“Kheh heh…”

Shabby, green talons scraped against the cobblestone. Seifer’s ears folded in pain. Rune conjured toxins between his hands. “This is why I wanted to keep a low profile, sir.”

“Not now,” Seifer hissed in a whisper. “Okay, that’s half the battle. Now… a name, please.”

“What does it matter?” Another set of talons appeared, wrapped in rusted chains. Then a black, torn cloak draped over a broad torso. And finally, a stone mask, chipped enough to show beady gray eyes. “I am nothing but an omen. You don’t need to know the name of a nobody like me. Once I save you from the ether’s false hope… I won’t matter at all.”

Seifer rolled his eyes. Great, so the trespasser what a nutjob. Which just begged the question of how they could get all the way here from Horizon Gardens so quickly. He doubted this lug could stow away on train without being caught. “Whatever tea you’re drinking… you can tell us all about it down at lockup.” The keldeo lowered his glowing horn again. “Now, hold still, so we can restrain you.”

“Hee hee.”

“Something funny, punk? You’re in a lot of trouble!” Rune floating forward, having finally found his voice. Poison dripped from his hands.

“Sergeant, wai—”

But before Seifer could finish his warning, a spectral hand appeared beneath Rune and grabbed hold of him. Whinnying in surprise, Seifer shot an Aura Sphere from the tip of his horn. It sailed harmlessly through the disembodied arm, all while Rune screamed.

Then came the laughter. Quiet at first, but steadily building in intensity. Seifer looked at the trespasser. His gray eyes had otherworldly layers to them. They looked more like targets than proper eyes. What was this thing?

“Stop this at once!” Seifer slashed the air with his horn. A red crescent flew toward the trespasser, but he just stood there.

“Aha ha ha ha…” A sharp wheeze punctuated his laughter. “Aha ha ha ha haaaaa! Your words… you’re both past the point of salvation!”

A black tendril emerged from the distortion behind the monster, snuffing out Seifer’s Secret Sword a foot away from his opponent.

“Commander… run! Run and— bwaah!“

The giant hand tossed the screaming, flailing cofagrigus right into the cyclone. The distortion swallowed him up instantly. His wails echoed across the hill like a booming thunderclap. Seifer’s Aura Sphere petered out on the tip of his horn before it fully formed.

“I mean… it’s not like I expected a simple omen could guide everyone to salvation,” the helmeted beast continued. “Still, to falter at this first hurdle. Aha ha. Aha ha ha!” He slammed a chained foreleg on the ground repeatedly. “To think there’s such a huge gap between me and Him. Oh well… it can’t be helped.”

“Stand down, cretin!” Keeping his distance, Seifer slashed the air three times. But the Secret Sword crescents were countered by a small wall of distortion that popped up in front of the beast. Seifer stepped back, eyes wide.

The beast lumbered toward him. “But it’s okay. Even if I’m useless… I can deliver you to Natus. So that you can accept His loving embrace.” He stopped and descended into a coughing fit. “Only then… can we blot this false hope blanketing your being. The false hope of the ether!”

“Y… you’re mad!” Seifer held his ground. If his strongest normal techniques wouldn’t work, then he’d have to dig deep. He’d have to call on his Dyna-Force. There was no time to get help. Seifer was all that stood between this creep and the people of the slumbering city.

“You can call me whatever names you feel like.” The beast swayed left and right. Shadows gathered around his talons. “That is just the ether talking. I’ll lovingly accept all of its hatred… so that you too can welcome Natus with purity in your heart!”

Seifer held his horn high. Red light shot into the air; a beacon against the night sky. The ground trembled. Seifer dug his hooves in. A giant, ethereal fist descended from the heavens.

“What?” The beast looked up moments before the fist collided with him. Seifer shielded his eyes from the ensuing red geyser. When the light faded, the beast was staggering back toward the distortion. And yet his eyes… sparkled? Seifer couldn’t deny it. Even though his Dyna-Fist had struck home, the monster looked happy to have been hit.

“Aha ha.” He wheezed and sputtered. “So this… is the depths of your false hope? You would take His love and twist it into something so… toxic.” More laughter rumbled in his throat. “And yet… it is so interesting! The ether has its thorny tendrils dug right into you, but you’re too blind to see it!” His right hind leg slid into the distortion. “Ha… aha ha. A lowly omen… bested by a slave of the ether yet again. How humiliating. But even this… this humiliation. I’ll endure it all… so this world can rise to even greater heights.”

Seifer didn’t make any effort to stop the beast from slinking off into the distortion. He was too tired. But his work wasn’t done. He had to get back to the command post and report that Rune had been lost to the distortion.

No, he had to get to Radiant Palace. The queens needed to know of this ‘omen.’

Starlene’s song is (very loosely) sung to the tune of Mayu Mineda’s “Luminous Promise” from Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX. Chiaki icon by Chibi Pika.