Day 81: Wolf's World, Stables Morning

[wolf_kkm]

Wolfram yawned and blinked several times. The boards under him were hard and he distinctly remembered going to sleep in Geika’s bed, even though Geika hadn’t been there. A familiar smell assaulted his nostrils. He felt dirty and disoriented. Where was he? He lifted his hand to rub at his faced and jolted upwards from what seemed like an explosion

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[wolf_kkm]

Wolf pulled himself together abruptly as though he’d just wound a tight rope around his emotions. He got to his feet and looked down at the pair. He was in the clothes he’d worn to bed, which just happen to be his normal outfit since he’d just crawled onto Geika’s bed and slept the previous day. “Someone’s attacking the castle.”

“Big and Little Cimaron have laid siege to the castle.” Greta hugged Yuuri back clinging to him. “King Gwendal said you’d run off again, but I knew you didn’t!” she stared solemnly at them both. “We’re surrounded, Papa Yuuri. Some enemy soldiers breached the castle; we just finished beating them back. I wasn’t supposed to come out here, but I had to check.”

The young girl clasped her hands together. “I prayed to the Great One last night to bring Papa Wolfram home. I never imagined he’d bring you too. The King said you’d never come back here, that you couldn’t ever be the Demon King again!”

Wolf breathed a sigh of relief, thankful at least the Yuuri with him was not the other one in that world. But which Yuuri was he? Was he Wolf’s Yuuri?

[harajukumaou]

"King Gwnedal?" Yuuri arched a brow as each word seeped in. "Why is Cimaron attacking? I am the Maou, Greta did you hit your head? Just yesterday I was n my office doing paper work!"

It felt like a bad dream, his worst nightmare; war. War was the one thing he'd always hated and avoided with all costs. The days had been so peaceful that it didn't even pop into mind that they might have to fight anytime soon. Had Sara decided not to go along with the treaty? Was it because Yuuri hadn't visited yet?

He swallowed down the self doubt and tried to reclaim control of his thoughts. Fighting, Gwendal as kind, it all sounded quite familiar.
Yuuri reluctantly let go of her to head in Wolfys direction. He rested his hand on the others shoulder before asking; "You know something." He could see it in Wolfys expression. "What's going on?"

[wolf_kkm]

Wolf ignored Yuuri for the moment. “Greta, how did Cimaron get this far?”

“You haven’t been here in forever, Yuuri! And Papa Wolfram has been missing for nearly a month!" Greta picked up the helmet that Yuuri had removed. “Big Cimaron surprised us with this. They somehow developed magic that could mask them long enough to get into position. We weren’t ready.”

Wolf then turned back to Yuuri, he put his hand over the one on his shoulder, not sure how to lessen the shock. “Yuuri, somehow you’ve come to my world. Greta in your world was never given the suit she has now. King Gwendal had it made for her just in case something like this might happen. I remember the day he did.” He took a deep breath and fought against the emotion. He was shaken to the core but he refused to let it show. “Somehow, we’re in my world.”

[harajukumaou]

"Your world..." War, there was war here. He wasn't here, he wasn't Maou in this world. This was the alternative if he had never come back.

Yuuri removed a shaky hand from Wolfys shoulder. "Greta," He started. "Your not involved in the fighting, are you?" Or better yet, "Is Gwendal putting you in the line of fire?"

There was always another solution and even though he'd been able to prevent fights many times Yuuri knew Gwendal wasn't so patient. He was a strategic genius, one that Yuuri would never compare to. But it angered him non the less that he had brought about war. "We have to stop them- where is Cimaron right now?"

There was a darkness stirring inside his chest, through his blood-Yuuri could feel it. The familiar presence that he had grown to find familiar. This power had always helped him prevent any fights; this would be no different.

[wolf_kkm]

Outside, it was raining heavily. This was the only thing that was preventing anything from catching fire from the bombardment and explosions of human magic. Somehow, they’d managed to get it into the Demon Kingdom. Lightning crackled across the sky and a loud thunderclap rolled through.

The earth shook briefly.

“I’m inspiration! I only defend myself. They were in the castle! The King is busy on the front line. I had to do something! I couldn’t just sit there with the other women and children. I’m your daughter after all!” Greta replied with hot pride. “The King didn’t order me to do anything!”

Wolf grabbed Yuuri’s shoulders. “Get control of it.” He ordered sharply.
“Yuuri, not here! Get a grip on yourself! We’ve got to see clearly what’s going on first. Greta, how big is the invasion force?”

“I don’t know exactly, they said tens of thousands. Many humans were brought in from other lands. The humans fought and fought to not get overrun by Big Cimaron but they failed and are now all under their control. There’s a powerful magician helping Big Cimaron.”

[harajukumaou]

Yuuri shrugged Wolfys hand away went back to Greta. "I'm really proud of you for helping protect everyone." He tilted her chin up and smiled. "I'm really, really proud of you."

The young king, or ex-king in this world, turned away and started down the ladder. "Than we'll just have to find that magician and stop him."

Through all there adventures, Yuuri had never seen a real war-like battle. The sounds outside were broken glass in his ears and the lightning only added fuel to his hot blooded reaction.

Yuuri waited for the others to follow, there wasn't anytime to find an umbrella and it didn't matter. Yuuri could see the smoke wisps in the distance and the battle cry of people. His eyes capture everything like in slow motion. He was just lucky to be so far away from it so as not to see it's bloody details.

The rain matted his hair down against his head, than his neck, and all along to his shoulders. "Greta," Yuuri knew what they always said. He could stop war! He had so much power! No one challenged him. But he couldn't clearly remember those amazing moments in time His anger was so furious that he's black out and wake up in peace. "Where's a spot that I can see what's going on?"

So he had to see the truth just as Wolfy said in order to stop it.

[wolf_kkm]

Greta smiled up at Yuuri though her face became grim shortly after, “We can go to the battlements. Conrart might be there. He was charged with defending the castle.” She did not mention that she wasn’t sure if Conrart was still alive or not, the battlements had been blasted recently and looked damaged and dangerous to get to. There were still men up there though. They could be seen in the brief flashes of lightning. “I sent the other women and children through the tunnels to the Great One’s Tomb where they will be better protected. I stayed behind to check here one last
time.”

Wolf clasped her shoulder, “You’re very brave, and I am also proud of you. We’ll talk later.” They were going to have difficulty getting through the compound. Arrows were zinging around every so often and there was falling stones, loose rubble and fighting between demon and human as the demons pushed the humans back out of the castle courtyard and someone was using earth magic to try and seal up the breach.

It was raining so hard that they were all already drenched through.
There was no time to think, no time to question what to do. Wolf stepped down and grabbed a sword from a fallen body since he hadn’t worn his to sleep. Whatever human magic was causing the pain in his head he fought against and grimaced again. “Let’s go, I’ll cover you.”

The sound outside the wall was terrible. Clashing of swords, screaming and howling, bones cracking, breaking, there was a dragon flying up above and it had already been shot several times and its flight was erratic. Clearly some creatures had come to the Demon Kingdom’s defense. The dragon tumbled through the air after a stroke of magic sliced through towards it.

Tumbled...and looked like it was going to crash into the mountainside.

Greta’s eyes opened wide with horror.

The people in the tunnels...The impact might cause a cave in!

[harajukumaou]

Yuuri was impressed with Gretas escape plan for the civilians. In another time he might have beamed happily and praised his brilliant daughter. But it would have to wait.

Never would the average Japanese boy forget this moment. The darkness that the clouds tried so desperately to hide couldn't be stopped. The vibration of metal hitting metal hummed through the air. The sounds, oh God, the sounds. Yuuri knew nightmares would become his new problem. But, he ignored it all and tried to keep his eyes on Wolfy and Greta. His young beautiful daughter who was now trapped in this disgusting mess.
Stop it
The land that only a few hours ago he had seen so peaceful.
Get them
The people whom he cherished so much, the screams of men he probably saw in the halls more than once a day. And the death that was so very close to those people.
Justice

There was a clap of thunder that seemed to still all movement outside of the soldiers. A roll of lightning struck down somewhere in the distance and the rain piled up so quick it was deadly. It could drown, it could kill, but it wouldn't.

A title wave dove up against the mountain side, thrusting into the falling boulders and throwing them up into the air. They landed this way and that around the mountain. The water formed into a tube, blowing debris away and finally it wrapped around the dragon and pulled arrows out from it's scales. Helping in any way it could.

The giant serpent of water roared at the dismay as soldiers stared up n disbelief.

"It's the Maou!"
"Yuuri-Heika!"
"The Maou!"

Yuuri couldn't hear there calls, surrounded in a blue that seemed to suck up his energy.

The human warriors knew that name and hesitated with fear. And as the drag again roared the demon-kingdoms troops seemed to fill with vigor. They charged, and over the course of the next half an hour to come they would push back the human troops. The lightning that had struck so fiercely into the ground was showing it's effect. A large crack in the ground broke the battle field in half. Interrupting the battle as humans and demons were separated. It was enough to cause the Cimarons to retreat...for now.

[wolf_kkm]

In the direction that magical attack had come there was a figure. He was tall and spindly. Swarms of warriors moved away from the castle. The thing they feared the most, the thing that was promised never to happen. It was impossible, it was a trick! It had to be. The figure was cloaked in a robe of red and its features could not be seen. It cried with rage and vanished in a puff of smoke before Yuuri-Heika could fixate on him. Foiled!
Wolf stared at Yuuri, always overcome when he saw the Maoh. Perhaps they had arrived just in the nick of time. There was a loud cheer throughout the Demon Kingdom’s ranks. They had won the battle. The Dragon landed easily instead of crashing, gently settled down by the water. Greta
clutched Wolf’s arm. “Is it over, Papa Wolfram?” She whimpered.
He wasn’t sure, he could only sigh, “For now.”

There was cry from the battlements, “Yuuri!” It was Conrart. He thundered down towards the courtyard and rushed to the trio. “Wolfram!”

It was Wolf he gathered into his arms first, too hesitant to appraoch the Maoh. He held his brother tightly to his chest. Conrad looked pretty awful. He had been fighting for days and sweat and blood and wounds riddled his body. Even so, he held Wolf tight. “Where have you been? Where?” The Maoh he stared in disbelief at. The Maoh they thought they would never see again. "Yuuri?" Conrad wiped sweat and blood from his own brow. Something wasn't right... Conrad's eyes sharpened.

Troops were already starting to shamble, holding each other up and such towards the castle, all were eager to see the miracle.

[harajukumaou]

The fighting had settled down but Yuuri remained with sharp eyes. He turned to look at Conrad who was holding Wolfram tight. That's how it should be, brothers loving one another. He returned the elder brothers look.

"The ones who invade with no shame have been pushed away. But I cannot guarantee that they will heed my warning. I fear there pain that will scar this land."

"Greta," His voice boomed unaturaly with the girls name. The sight of her, crumbled in fear that she had clearly been holding in, broke his heart. "You saved many people, you should hold your head high at the good that you've done."

"It really is him." A soldiers voice spoke up from a crowd that had formed around the hill. Eyes glued on their king from long ago.
"He saved us!"
"I knew he would return!"

The cracks in the land where it had split in two. parts of the ground having been stuck in the middle of the hole. A familiar character was there.

A small curve pulled at his lips. As he said the words his hair began to creep up his neck. "Justice has been done."

[wolf_kkm]

They had been on the brink of annihilation. The Blood Wizard had their magic taxed to the limit, and then the old Maoh came, summoned by the prayers of his little girl. Princess Greta, their own shield maiden. Praise the Great One, Praise Shinou.

Justice had been done.

Wolf wasn’t smiling, however. He was relieved, but he wasn’t smiling. He hugged Conrart back, “I’ll explain later.”

His heart was sick with worry, Yuuri shouldn’t have seen this. Greta still had one of his arms, and Conrad’s was around his shoulder. Greta, Greta shouldn’t have seen this. Tears welled up in his eyes and he knelt down and gathered Greta into his arms. “I’m sorry. I'm sorry, I should have been here.”

“There was nothing you could have done, Wolfram. We were all taken by surprise.” Conrad kept his gaze fixed on Yuuri for the moment, ready to step forward but hesitant. Something just wasn’t right. “That Wizard has powers unlike we’ve ever seen. It is like he's not from this world."

[harajukumaou]

Sharp eyes gazed at Wolfy, he was upset, of course. And the guilt from Gretas presence and for being gone so long was understandable. But there were still many un aswered questions.

A power not of this world and a wizard?

But before Yuuri could do much else his legs buckled under him and he fell to his knees. The weight of the power he'd just used back lashing onto him as his hair receded to it's original length.

[wolf_kkm]

Conrad was there before Wolf could get there, after all, Wolf was holding Greta. "Easy Yuuri."

Whether there was something strange about this Yuuri or not, Wolfram seemed to have no problem with him and that was good enough for Conrad. He propped Yuuri up gently. "Its so dangerous, how are you here?" he wondered at the pair.

Greta let Wolfram hold her, "Papa Wolfram, it's not your fault." she said softly. "I'm just so glad you're here now." She gazed over at Yuuri with shining eyes, oblivious to the fact that he wasn't 'her' Yuuri. "This is more than I could have hoped for. Thank Shinou!"

The army was still dealing with a few stragglers and people had to get the wounded help. "Gwendal?" Wolfram looked up at Conrad.

Conrad bowed his head and bit his lip. "Hurt badly, but alive. He stubbornly continued to lead the troops, I don't have any word on his condition yet but I'm sure we'll find out soon."

"Yuuri." Wolf wasn't sure what to do or say. He just simply reached out for Yuuri's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."

[harajukumaou]

Yuuri leaned into Conrads hold. "Thanks, Conrad." His voice was soft, as if not to disturb the sudden peace surrounding the battle field.

As he slowly regained alertness Yuuri found it easier to carry his own weight. While he stayed at Conrads side he still felt weak and took the help given. Yuuri also had no hesitation in taking Wolfys hand, "Don't be sorry." He replied, giving the hand a soft squeeze. "Non of this is your fault, you helped save everyone." That was right, by bringing him here they had been able to stop the rocks from coming down.

"We should get back to the castle- we have to figure out exactly what happened here. And this wizard...I don't even know if your wizards are anything like Earths. With a long point hat and a beard to their feet."

[wolf_kkm]

“It’s far too dangerous for you to remain here, Yuuri.” Conrad frowned, “We’re in a war. We’ve never seen anything like him before. He’s so far been able to defeat even..” he paused, “Gunter. He can attack from a distance, like you, and he has the power to mask things from sight. That’s how we failed to see the army before it was too late. They crossed our borders under the patrol’s very nose.”

Wolf kept hold of Yuuri’s hand as if it were some kind of lifeline. He might say it wasn’t his fault, but he was still somewhere safe while the people he loved suffered. He was finding it difficult to think and move but with Yuuri’s hand in his he forced himself to deal. “You’re right. Gwendal’s not going to be pleased to see him.”

“Or you, for that matter.” Conrad noted. “If we’re lucky, he’ll just throw you both in the dungeons.”

“He’s still angry with me?” Wolf sighed. Greta had transferred her attention to Yuuri now that he could stand up. She had fallen quiet, but still stared up adoringly at Yuuri. Her hero!

“He likes to hold grudges, you know that. And now you’ve brought him, the cause of why he lost you.” Conrad ruffled Yuuri’s hair. “Don’t blame yourself. Gwendal hasn’t been the same since you left. He never wanted to be King. But now that he is, he’s doing things his way.”

[harajukumaou]

"His way?" Yuuri questioned. Wondering if maybe Gwendals way had lead them to war. But there were other circumstances that brought them to this point. Just like Wolfy was being swamped in guilt Yuuri also felt a kind of his own. Even if it wasn't hsi world he, Shibuya Yuuri Harajuku Fuuri, had abandoned his kingdom.

"No," Yuuri put a hand on the one that had ruffled his hair. "In a way this is still my responsibility. If Gwendal is king then I need to talk to him. Wolfy, I wont blame you if you want to stay with Conrad while I go. Greta can take me to him."

Perhaps the nickname and the hand holding would seem alittle off to anyone else. But Yuuri didn't care. He wasn't thinking about that right now. "Greta," He said, pulling his hand form Wolfys gently and placing both on his daughters shoulders. "Will you take me to Gwendal?"