Oz: Crossroad of Legends

Meanwhile back in the palace dood.......

"Wait what time is it?" Lana said waking from her bed. "Oh shoot, the presentation and speech all ready happened, didn't they," Lana said rising from her bed in a panic. "Crap all I wanted to do was freshen up and take a little nap," Lana sighed as she got some cloths together. "Must have been more tired then I thought, oh well its not like she could have known about the hero's I found right?" Lana said as she left her room.

A few minutes later Lana appeared in the cloths she set aside and was getting ready to go to the lobby area where the hero's were. "I wonder if they're any interesting hero's like Bowser or Catie there?" Lana mused to herself as she made her way to the main lobby area. By the time Lana got there nobody was left. "Sigh they might have already left," Lana sighed as she stared into the empty room. "Oh well might as well wait here inside the palace, for everyone to return," Lana said wandering the hall way. "Maybe just go back to the the bed room and wait," Lana sighed as she gripped her ruby necklace and opened a small rift towards her room. As the rift opened in her bedroom Lana stumbled out from the rift. "One of these days I will learn how to handle summoning rifts," Lana said as she started to relax on her bed. Just laying there and just thinking about everything that has happened.

For the first time in a very long while, Nobunaga genuinely felt out of his element. He could grasp the general concept of instant communication, of course. After all, the mages back in Austur had created a similar device, using the power of Type 3s. And he was obviously used to telepathy. He politely declines the strange liquid however. "Thank you for the offer, but there's no need. I can already use telepathy. But what of those who cannot? Will that concoction work on everyone?"

He turns to Anthea. "I apologize if I offended you. I meant no disrespect. I am indeed familiar with the concept."

He then turns to Selene, and brings up the display of the terrain again. "I need your team to destroy the northwestern bridge, the one closest to the Silver Forest. Once you reach the bridge, wait for my signal. Since we don't know if the enemy can also use telepathy, we'll limit communication to necessities only. I will first summon a dense fog. When the fog darkens and the temperature drops, that will be your cue to destroy the bridge. Once that happens, and both bridges are destroyed, we can begin the second stage of the mission and start picking off the enemy troops. The fog will really be an illusion, so only the enemy will be affected by it. You will still be able to see as normal."

He turns back to Queen Glinda. "Queen Glinda, I believe I can handle everything from here on out. You should return to the Palace. We will need reinforcements as soon as possible."

"I cannot thank you enough", said Glinda. She raised her staff and conjured a portal leading to the throne room within the palace, with a small amethyst figure sitting on a nearby stand. The Yuleian soldiers at the field immediately moved through the portal and began running elsewhere. Glinda addressed the Outlanders once more. "For those of you who will not volunteer themselves with this plan, I shall leave this portal open for a short period of time for you to return to the palace. Good fortune to you all!"

Glinda stepped through the portal. Along with a few members of the royal guard, Alvis was waiting for her. He knelt down.

"We have begun assembling a counterassault force", he reported. "Abraham is assembling his own forces as well. Leonard has begun measures to fortify the capitol defenses, and requests permission to deploy landmines in the path of the Ephesian march to slow their advance. Additionally, I've contacted Professor Engle to mobilize all in-range howitzers to target the enemy on my command. Viola Angelo has stated that Los Angelos are planning on methods on how to stall the enemy, and will notify us when a plan has been reached."

"Very well", said Glinda. "Tell Leonard that landmines will be permitted once the Ephesians cross the river. Prioritize our forces to matching the Ephesian army's size as opposed to assembling our entire force. The Outlanders have offered to attack the invading army and at least allow us further time to mobilize."

"Understood, your highness."

---

After seeing Mimi had curled up in the corner and gone to sleep, Hugh set aside the strange lamp he was inspecting as Emma removed her suit's cloaking device and cleared her throat to get Hugh's attention, having returned from investigating a nearby village they've found. She carried a pair of shopping bags on one hand and two smaller pouches that jangled like crazy on her other hand. She set the bags down, removed her helmet, and began rummaging through one of the shopping bags.

"Here you go", said Emma. "I figured we'd get too many strange looks if we walk around with your armor and my suit, so I 'borrowed' some robes that I found in a shop."

Hugh caught the folded clothes as Emma tossed it to him. "Robes? What do these people dress like?"

"...Differently", answered Emma. "It's weird. At first, the people in this world look like they're not very technologically capable, like they're in some fantasy novel based on the medieval period. But then you see stuff that still seems modern enough. Like, I saw a soldier-looking guy wearing medieval armor and holding a spear and some ladies unironically wearing petticoats in public, but then I turn the corner and hear a radio, someone mumbling something about energy halberds, some guy wearing sunglasses, and a painting in an art store having what looks like a freaking tank in it."

"That is odd", answered Hugh. He picked up one of the smaller pouches and looked inside, seeing a bunch of gold coins inside. "Currency?" he guessed.

"Looks like it", said Emma. "You can't expect me to be able to steal everything we need, right?"

"Stealing someone's money and using it to get something might as well be the same thing as stealing the object", said Hugh.

"Well I couldn't exactly live as a homeless, illiterate girl in Lumiose without picking a few pockets", said Emma. "Moving, I also found--"

From outside the cave they've adopted as their shelter, a certain sound rang out and echoed throughout the cave walls.

"...Was that... an electric guitar?" said Hugh.

"Well I didn't see any musical instruments, so I don't know if this world has--"

"Investigate the noise first, wonder if it's native later", interrupted Hugh.

"Right. Gotcha", said Emma.

The two of them donned their helmets. Emma brandished her laser blade while Hugh raised his left hand to be prepared to fire an explosive round if necessary. The two of them cautiously advanced out the cave.

---

After prodding the burned monkey-like thing that ran at him out of nowhere and confirming that it was dead, he sighed to himself.

"Didn't disappear... Not a heartless then, eh? Just a native? Man, this world's gotta suck for dangerous things like these running amok."

He slung his guitar over his back. He then thought a bit before pulling out a small notebook and pencil.

"Might as well catalog it now that I'm here. Let's see, you're a monkey like a Powerwild, so I'll call you..."

He paused upon seeing movement at the corner of his eye. He looked up to see a pair of humans (at least, they looked like humans) in strange attire stepping out of a cave, cautiously approaching, probably to see what all the fuss that is him playing his guitar for a Thundara spell was all about. He pocketed his journal.

"Hey! Buds!" he called out as he walked toward them. "I'm lost and can use some help. You willing?"

The larger human in armor muttered something to the girl in the tight suit. They briefly lowered their weapons and the large guy began to raise an open hand to say hello.

...Until the two of them suddenly began to clutch their heads and cry out in pain once he got close enough. He ran over to their side in response... More specifically the girl's side, because he's slightly biased.

"H-Hey? You alright? What's--"

Before he could react, the female stranger had plunged her blade into his abdomen. The stranger looked at him, and he saw the two black lights past the visor to where her eyes probably were. She pulled the blade away as the bulkier stranger ran up to him and tackled him superhuman force. After he fell, the bulkier stranger picked him up and threw him headfirst against the stone walls next to the cave entrance. A few seconds after his now lifeless body fell, his body suddenly began to glow before his physical form felt apart and drew itself to the area near his heart. The light burst apart afterward, revealing a blue card that didn't glow, a name inscribed Oswald "Slash" Zee on top of a gray image of the person who was just beaten. The card fell between a pair of conveniently placed rocks in a way that would be easy to be overlooked by passerby.

---

Hugh and Emma both gasped in unison as their senses returned to them. They looked around as they found themselves in a different position from what they remembered, with no memory of what happened in the last few seconds.

"...What happened?" said Emma.

Hugh looked around one last time, seeing nothing particularly out of the ordinary save for the burned carcass of some creature over there, and especially not anything that could've caused the sound of an electric guitar.

"...I don't know", said Hugh. "...Let's get back inside."

Outside The Entrance To Yggdrasil

"The Yuleians must have been desperate if they called upon the snake."

"It would appear that wasn't there only measure of desperation."

"Oh! Wait, wait I know! Theeeyyyyy uuuuuuseeeed aaaaaaaaaa-"

"You should try listening to Yggdrasil for once. It might clear things up."

"-aaaaaaaaaaaa-"

"A summoning circle."

"a plasma can- oh summoning circle. Right. One of those things... So then what's our move?"

Bjorn opens his eyes as he gets up from the lotus position. "We protect the forest. We protect the World Tree."

Walking over to the ancient being, he places a massive hand on the base of the trunk. Tiny in comparison to the tree itself. He begins an ancient chant shaking the foundation of the land itself. Once finished, a piece of Roshi's shell blocks the only known entrance to the legendary world tree.

"And what about the group our scouts reported taking base underneath the world tree?" Reginn ask stroking his chin.

"Hmph, they lay there sapping the tree of strength like Nidhogg gnawing at its roots. Ozma is just as dangerous too. We'll continue observing them. For now." Bjorn turns in the direction of Yuleia about to say something. That is until Reginn interrupts him.

"Ah, so we wait because we have the advantage! They wouldn't dare hurt the tree, so we can just turtle them for most of the match!"

"Assuming your opponent wouldn't take risk is assuming your opponent isn't willing to risk everything for their goal. We wait because they're not hostile. Not out of luxury." Reginn opens his mouth to say something, but Bjorn continues as planned, pointing his axe at Yuleia.

"They have soldiers camping southwest of here trying to stop a rebellion. Set up a perimeter in that section of the forest and ensure the fighting doesn't get out of hand. Set traps for those who wander into the wrong places." now pointing his axe at Ephesus,

"They have reportedly built large scale teleportation devices. Set up containment fields in the areas calculated most likely to be invaded. Use anti-magic fields when available. As for you," Bjorn now turns to his disciple.

"If you see anything coming from the sky, take it down. Relay the message and take a scout troop with you."

"Yes sir." Reginn replies with earnest before cupping one hand around his mouth. A gust of wind blows through the whole forest, oscillating every Dalish Hunter, Scout and Soldier's ear, informing them of their current task. "If I may be so bold before I leave sir,"

"No need for the formalities. Out with it."

"Wouldn't a preemptive strike stop all of this trouble before it gets out of hand?"

"That's how you start a war. We're not trying to win a battle here. We're trying to prevent Armageddon from repeating itself." Bjorn turns away, once again facing in the opposite direction Yggdrasil. Once again sitting as the lotus. Slowly closing his eyes. Relaxing his breathing.

Reginn takes a bow as the wind picks up again, "I'll think upon your wisdom master."

Once again they find themselves cornered by their ancestor's creations. I dread for the future of oz should they ever find that strength that brought the nightmares to life.

"Charity gives." Bjorn responds as he opens his eyes to acknowledge the wizard. "Now if I may ask, why do you want to leave Yggdrasil open in light of recent events?"

"And every time you use the life stream you drain Roshi. Angering the witch. As I recall, she has no problem killing the people you wish to help." Bjorn rises to remove the seal. While doing so he answers her second question.

"Yuleia used a summoning circle. I'd expect Ephesus to do no less. For all we know they might have called forth the personification of Death, and what if that thing reached the life stream. Do you have a plan then?" He gestures for them to enter.

"Less work for you maybe." Taking a seat on a giant stump, he glances at the mages. "I'd still have to deal with her stopping by for a refill. You can imagine what little I can actually do about it." He changes view to the next seal.

"Even if I did open the path, you wouldn't be able to properly use that energy. No one understands it's properties well enough."

"If they all used it for evil there wouldn't be any kingdoms left standing. I fail to see how you exclude yourself from the possibility of corruption." He retrieves his axe before getting up. He then faces Ozma.

"But don't let me keep ya from trying to get through. I wouldn't want to stop someone with such noble ambitions. Besides, Yggdrasil was raised for everyone here on OZ. Just an old man's worry that something dangerous might show up. Got my own preparations to finish anyway." Bjorn turns on his heels and walks past the next seal as if it's not there.

And I was hoping today would be peaceful. I'll have to have someone else tend to the garden.

"So?" Leo asks, feigning a yawn. "You threatening to tell our dad on us, Mr. Adult? Of course the guards won't tell anything to some random stranger. But I'm not so dumb as to walk right up to one and ask. I'll just sneak around until I find somebody who knows what's going on, and listen in. Sure, it could be risky, but it's better than just waiting in our room and doing nothing. But thanks for the advice, I guess, old fart."

Aris's cheeks grow redder and redder, and it's clear she's embarrassed by her brother's behavior. "Leo, stop! You're being rude!"

-----

"Then you can stay here," Nobunaga says coldly, turning to Bowser. "I will not allow you to jeopardize the rest of us, when there is so much at stake."

He then turns to the rest of the Outlanders. "My plan is simple. I will summon a dense fog that renders enemy visibility to zero. Once they get closer, I will summon a deep darkness, that will disrupt their communications even further and act as an anti-magic suppresser for their magic. The two teams stationed at the bridges will then destroy them, forcing the bulk of the Ephesians to cross the river. Lady Alyssa will then freeze the portion of the river where the enemy presence is largest, trapping them, and we will begin to stealthily pick off the enemy troops, a few at a time. Irving, can you still use your Ryfel in this state? If so, I'd like you on air patrol, in case any enemies try to fly over. Bowser, if you can control your bloodlust, then I'd appreciate it if you helped with this also. There aren't many of us here who can breathe fire. Lady Selene's team will handle the northwestern bridge, but I need someone else to destroy the southeastern bridge. Any takers? And Lady Selene, I doubt the enemy will still be coordinated enough to attempt an ambush at such short notice, and in those conditions. But if you are engaged by the enemy, in any way outside the plan, I will leave it to your judgement."

He turns to Anthea and Celeste again. "Will you be fighting alongside us? From what I've seen, you two working together is a truly... Interesting combination. That's something we could use."