rakuen | Conquest Round 11

"Good morning!"

This isn't Day. What trickery is this? Recette isn't quite tall enough to be seen over the headmistress's podium, but with a large crate and a bit of a balancing act her beaming smile is just about visible.

"Um, the headmistresses have a lot of work to do this week, and I'll be taking their place today. I've been rehearsing all weekend so... I'll do my best!" She looks down at her handful of notes, and spends a few silent seconds obviously trying to decipher her own handwriting.

She fails. She rallies! She apparently managed to read ten words out of fifty. "Yay, you won this time! I think... this says that Golbez fought some people... And Ein? Um... B-but never mind that, the tower battle was the big event this week. You were all really cool. I wish I was that good at fighting, but I'm just a shopkeeper, no matter how you look at it. I hope everyone does their best so I can keep selling you items!"

Recette, focus. "The Mayor wants to talk to you, so if I just... press this button..."

A minute of fumbling later, a prefect takes mercy on her and the screens start up to show Dunleavy sat in the kitchen of the mansion,

"So, you have opened the second tower and defeated the Firebird. No mean feat, so well done. I would like to congratulate Golbez and Suzaku Kururugi of Conquest, and Sora Himoto and Jake English of Fortitude for their efforts and all of you for your heroic fight against the tower guardian. I hope you enjoy your gifts."

"Another reward for you, another part of the legend," The parts that they had already heard on the train, the part she had told to Golbez and the part they heard after the first tower opened came up first on the screen:

This is a very simple story that everyone knows. A legend of a Princess, the Demon Lord who kidnapped her, and the Knight who fought to save her. The Lord had kidnapped the Princess countless times, but every time the Knight bested his challenges and rescued the Princess. No matter what tricks and ploys the Demon Lord used, the Knight would always triumph in the end.

In a faraway land, a Knight sought to finally defeat the Demon Lord that terrorized the people. Again and again they clashed, but victory mattered not for the demon always returned, darker and more powerful than before. After countless battles, the despairing Knight sought the help of an ancient Sage.

"How can I defeat the Demon Lord completely, save my people and my Princess, and live happily ever after?"

The Sage told of the one sure way to truly defeat a demon: the source of the Demon Lord's power lay in six beautiful stars, protected by six devils. Defeat the devils to gain the stars, said the Sage. Only when the Knight held the six stars could the Demon Lord finally be slain. Only when the Knight held the six stars could she return home.

Years later, in a faraway land, a Knight consulted a Sage and returned to the castle with new wisdom, but was too late to save the Princess. The land had been corrupted by the Demon King. As the land sickened, so to did the Princess. When the Knight arrived home, she was almost gone.

'I'll save your kingdom,' promised the Knight.

'I know,' said the Princess.

With those words, she used the last of her life, becoming the blade that had so often aided her Knight in the past. On the hilt was an etched bird, frozen in silver. Its eyes were stars, its wings light. The Knight held the sword close, and wept bitterly.

Dunleavy read a fourth part out loud as the words appeared on the screen.

"This is a very simple story that everyone knows. A Knight journeys to save a Princess who is captured by the Demon Lord. One time, the Knight reached a fork in the path. One road bright and safe, the other dark and dangerous, haunted by death. The Knight found something at the beginning of one of the roads. Something easily overlooked: a single flower petal.

It was a sign left by the Princess. Such a small sign, but the Princess had believed that the Knight would notice it. The Knight took the dark road with a glad heart, because the Knight also believed in the Princess. Showing no doubt, showing only trust. And so they were never tricked by the Demon Lord." Dunleavy smiled one last time, "Good luck for this next round!"

With that, the screens flick back, now showing the list of names. Recette forgets to read them out.

Aly of Pirate's Swoop
America
Arthur Pendragon
Ein
Isabela

She does, however, remember to point out that she brought doughnuts for everyone, which have apparently been stored in her booster crate for the assembly. She pulls it forward as the assembly ends.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Cheshire sits on the table, munching on the doughnuts rather delicately. Somehow he manages to keep smiling with his many sharp, pointy teeth, even as he eats.]

[Cirno frowned a bit at the fact that day wasn't there but she brushed it off and kept in her spot the entire time because, Cirno and buttons, bad idea. At the end she went up and took a doughnut and floated off a bit to eat it out of the way. She looked around, trying to see where all the announced players were. She wanted to help someone again this round.]

[ When people's attention turns to her, she does a polite curtsy. ]

Isabela's the name, dueling's the game. I've got swift hands and a passion for gold and glory.

So, come on, come into mommy's loving embrace, little piggies. We're in it to win it.

[Cheshire walks over on his hind legs, replying to her with a nursery rhyme he was familiar with. It seemed to turn babies into piglets, but there are all really piglets to start with after all!]

Speak roughly to your little boy,
And beat him when he sneezes:
He only does it to annoy,
Because he knows it teases.

Oink oink oink!

[As he sings the chorus, he goes to jump into her arms, or to her shoulder, whichever she seems more willing to oblige.]

I speak severely to my boy,
I beat him when he sneezes;
For he can thoroughly enjoy
The pepper when he pleases!

I'm not sure what to think about the little song, or the fact that you're a talking cat, but you stay true to your persona and I like that.

[ She allows him in her arms and attempts to pet his fur. Ah. He'd be such a pretty coat. ]

You interested on being on Captain Isabela's crew, pretty kitty?