Oz: Crossroad of Legends

"Good the sooner the morning comes the better," Bowser grumbled.

"Oakie Doakie," Mario said

"You mean me and June get to hang out some more tomorrow," Catie and Sophie said in perfect unison while Baron and Ann just sighed.

"Well thats neat been waiting to go all out," Alyssa said.

After dinner, Sophie, Ann, Baron and Catie, Bowser and Mario, and Alyssa went off in separate directions.

---

June asks a guard which room Sophie and Ann ended up in. After getting directions, she tells the guard to take a message to Catie to stop by her room in a few
minutes.

---

Catie was told by the guard that June would meet up with her but for now she had some business to attend to.

"Catie please don't pounce on her and try to remember personal space," Baron told Catie.

"But but but she didn't seem to mind, she said we could," Catie protested.

"Why not have a friendly spar with her, umm leave the sniper and bow with me and show her your skills with a raiper," Baron told her. "Maybe after how skilled
you are with a rapier and whip you can hug afterwords," Baron said. "Who knows maybe she knows other people you can be friends with," Baron said.

"Okay but only so I can meet more of June's friend in the end," Catie said to Baron. "Oh and hopefully her boyfriend Horatio and her can stop fighting," Catie said very innocently.

---

After dinner Sophie and Ann were wondering what to do next they haven't got permission to stay in the palace or anything so they were unsure what to do. "Lady Sophie and Anna is it," a guard adressed the two ladies. "I was given orders by the princess to show you to your room," the guard told Sophie and Ann who just shrugged there shoulders and followed the guard. The guard showed Ann and Sophie to one of the guest rooms they could use to turn in for the night. Sophie and Ann thanked the guard before laying on the beds.

"So you really sure we need two separate beds," Ann told Sophie very mischievously. "I mean we are a married couple after all," Ann reminded Sophie.

"La sigh you never change it's why I love you so much," Sophie said as she placed her arms around Ann. The two of them began to kiss and started taking off their weapons and other stuff they were carrying.

"Good now that we got rid of the baggage what do you say we-" Ann was cut off by a knock on the door.

"Umm it's okay to come in the doors unlocked," Sophie called out.

June opens the door and steps in. "Good evening, Ann, Sophie. I hope I'm not disturbing you, but I need to ask you about the things you said earlier. At the fountain. I need you to explain... everything you said. Slowly. Pretend I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about."

"Okay well nothing like starting from the beginning," Sophie said. "Well Ann here has an older sister Anna but she's different from other Annas," Sophie said.

"Her sister is the goddess of fate and fortune," Sophie said. "Now we personally don't know Lane but she was the driving force on why Anna set out to make things right," Sophie said to June.

"Yeah she told us about the day that her and our other sister Fake Anna lead her to a forest to practice her powers," Ann added. "My sister Anna was young at the time and she was trying her best to help Lane and you guys that faithful day," Ann said. "Yet Fake Anna had other plans and she wanted to use this opportunity to test the powers she stole from our sister," Ann said. "Unfortunately, fake Anna stole enough of her powers to influence the events that happened," Ann added. "I know this is a lot to take in considering everything," Ann said.

"As far as how we know Vine, we had actually met him in the woods," Sophie said to June. "After we saved Mario we went on a quest to gather objects that contained Anna's power, one of those was buried deep in the woods," Sophie said. "Apparently after what happened with Lane, Anna continued to keep an eye on your group, she had an interest of what happened to you guys," Sophie said. "Anyways back on point we happened to find the object we were looking for only to be stopped by a Bear Laguz," Sophie said.

"Yeah upon first seeing Sophie he called her June thinking it was you Ms. June," Ann said. "We explained that we weren't June and that we are on a quest to gather certain objects," Ann added. "He sighed and said we should just leave this object alone," Ann said. "He didn't want to fight us and preferred to be just left in peace," Ann said. "Unfortunately, we couldn't just leave because we need that object because it contained a piece of Anna's power," Ann added.

"It was tough having to face a fellow Laguz especially one who had no interest in fighting but one that had to test our power and resolve," Sophie said. "It was a tough battle but afterwards he almost seemed happy and at peace," Sophie said. "Unfortunately, it was just the memory of Vine so without a body he began to fade away," Sophie told June. "He looked at me and while calling me June he made me promise to watch over his wife Fumiko and his daughter Mary," Sophie said. "I told him I would so he could rest in peace," Sophie said. "Finally, he turned to our best friend May and kept calling her Mary," Sophie said. "He wanted to see his daughter one last time and he couldn't be prouder of her before he faded away," Sophie said.

"Again June sorry for bringing all this up but when we first saw and heard you were here we couldn't wait to talk with you," Ann said.

"We know this may be very hard to believe and everything but please don't be mad at us June we never meant any harm or anything," Sophie said very apologetically.

"I don't... I don't blame anyone but myself for their deaths. It was my decisions. But Vine... Why was he... How... I don't... I still don't understand," June says. Tears start to well up in her eyes. "I just don't understand!"

Sophie goes to hug June. "I am sorry for bringing this up June we never meant to bring up such painful memories," Sophie said.

June hugs her back. "Um... Thank you..."

"Hmm now that I think about it my sister, Anna is here in Oz, I knew that Fletching looked familiar," Ann said. "She's currently in card form and she is being carried by Mario," Ann said.

"Apparently, Vine mentioned that the goddess had something to do with him appearing," Sophie said. "I do remember how he said he was asleep but then Anna had to disturb him," Sophie said. "Something about how Anna couldn't leave him alone," Sophie said. "Anna wanted to make sure that nobody would ever misuse her powers so certain spirits she called upon to Guard the objects," Sophie said. "I wish I could tell you why she chose Vine of all people, but maybe once we can figure out how to call upon those trapped inside cards we can ask her," Sophie said to June.

"I know I have no right to ask about Mary or Fumiko," Sophie said to June. "You don't have to answer either and I understand," Sophie said to June. "Yet are they okay?" Sophie asked June in a very somber tone.

"Yes, they're doing well," June answers. "Mary took over his job and married a nice young priest. I heard she just gave birth to a daughter... I was planning to make a trip to visit her soon. Fumiko... remarried, actually. She had a son a few years ago, and last I heard she's pregnant again."

"I wish we could have met under better circumstances," Ann said. "I mean we come from the country of Yuelia and lord Chrom has been in charge for about 10 years after Grima has fallen," Ann said.

"You... You come from Yuelia...?" June asks. "But Yuelia was destroyed centuries ago..."

"Come to think of it where are you from? Valm? I know May said she was from there," Sophie asked.

"Do you come from Plegia, that'sounds currently being ran from King Robin and his Queen Linda but it's really Chrom's daughter from the future Lucina just under a different name," Ann said.

"Yeah we never even asked about where you come from," Sophie said.

"I was born in Valeria, one of three small countries that share an island between Valm and Regna Ferox," June explains. "Though now I live in Carcina, another of the three."

"Destroyed centuries ago?" Sophie said as she looked stun. "By who or what?" Sophie asked.

"Yeah we never heard of Valeria before is that a new nation or city?" Ann asked

"Regna Ferox's army destroyed Ylisse, though it was decades after King Chrom's rule... Valeria was founded by the survivors of Ylisse," June explains. "But you come from... under Chrom's reign? That would mean..."

"You're from the future," Sophie said in near disbelief. "Wait a moment we have two kids back at home," Sophie said to June. "A son we adopted and a daughter that we Umm had a little bit of help from a friend," Sophie said kind of sheepishly.

"Wait a moment does that mean?" Ann asked.

"We might be," Sophie said.

"Sisters," Ann said to June. "Great, great, great relatives," Sophie said to June.

"Then again your sister is a goddess so it wouldn't be out of the question for her to have some hand in all of this," Sophie said.

"June is there anything you like to ask us or anything that you would like to know," Ann asked.

June laughs. "I doubt we're related. My hair's not red enough, and I think I'd have heard if we'd ever had a laguz in the family. Besides, it's been family tradition - for generations - to use names related to trees, flowers, the spring months... though I guess those have all been used now. But enough about me. You have children? I'd love to hear a bit about them."

"Our daughter was well we had to ask a friend for help with that," Sophie said kind of sheepishly. "We decided that I would ummm well Miss June this is kinda of embarrassing, sorry about bringing this up, but well umm we agreed I be the person to carry the baby," Sophie said. "The dad is someone we are close with and well....," Sophie began to turn beat red.

"La sigh really Sophie, she's an adult and I am sure she knows how it goes," Ann sighed. "Anyways our daughter is only a few months old, and when our friends from both our home world and Mario's world heard we were having a girl, they were very excited," Ann said. "She has her mom's beautiful white wing and one black wing which we thought was odd," Ann said. "Anyways she's a very happy baby, and is always just smiling," Ann said. "Oh she also has beautiful red hair, and that beautiful pale skin," Ann said.

"Umm sorry if this incredibly awkward," Sophie said. "Umm what about you Mrs. June do you have any kids?" Sophie asked.

"Two," June answers, trying not to laugh. "So, yes, I know how it goes. What about your son?"

"Well our son is about 1 years old and well we found him one day," Sophie said. "More like he was just left in a basket wrapped up in some blankets and a note," Sophie went on. "We looked high and low for any sort of parents even had Ann ask her connections for help," Sophie said. "We couldn't just leave the little guy with his cute little brown hair and slightly tan skin," Sophie said. "So we adopted him," Sophie said.

"There was one thing that was weird though and that was a Mark he had on his back," Ann said. "It was kinda of ominous in a way, so we asked some of our friends about it," Ann said. "Oh we are actually kinda of good terms with both Lord Chrom, King Robin, and Queen Lucina," Ann said. "The five of us we actually ended up traveling together when we got to our home world because of a great evil that threatened the land," Ann said.

"Yeah turns out this person was way more evil then Grima," Sophie added. "Like he had people from two different worlds having to team up to stop them," Sophie added.

"Whoops off topic again sorry bout that," Ann said. "Where were we.... Oh yeah we asked Lord Chrom if he seen this mark before," Ann said. "Turns out king Robin had the same type of mark and it had something to do with Grima," Ann added.

"We were both surprised to hear that and we asked Lord Chrom what we should do," Sophie said. "He said to keep an eye on him but other then that if anything happens come to him or King Robin immediately," Sophie said. "Other then that just show him love and support and congrats in having a son," Sophie said.

"How about you Ms. June what are your kids like?" Ann asked.

"Little Rand's only 3 months old, and such a little sweetheart. Absolutely adorable, and so well-behaved. Not like his sister at that age. She was... Lily's still a handful. Barely two, but an absolute nightmare. We can't leave her alone for more than a minute." June looks off wistfully. "Ah, sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you this long. Thank you for speaking with me. I feel a bit better, but I need to go. I promised Catie... I would... play... with her..." She half-groans and half-sighs.

"Well Ms. June it was nice to be able to get a chance to talk with you," Sophie said. "Again we are really sorry about how everything was so awkward at first," Sophie said. "Well can't wait until tommorrow," Sophie said.

Ann and Sophie watched June as left the room and wanted to make sure nobody else was coming. When the coast was clear, Sophie and Ann locked the door and were embracing one another. "Well now where were we?" Ann asked sarcastically.

"I think I know where we were," Sophie said as Ann and her began to kiss one another.

---

"Where is she man she promised to hang out?" Catie moaned. "I wonder if she forgot, well whatever she told me to meet her here," Catie ssaid as she curled up in front of June's door.

Catie then picked up on a familiar scent and she began to wag her tail very umm excitedly. "She's getting closer, I can't wait till, oh I kinda of promised Baron I wouldn't hug her to death especially if she's in charge tommorrow," Catie said. Catie could kinda of see June off in the distance Catie's ears perked up, and her tail began wagging back and fourth very rapidly.

June returns to her room in a solemn mood. She sees Catie already waiting excitedly at her door. June takes a deep breath as she approaches her. "Catie, thanks for coming. I, um, remember I promised to... to spend some time with you," she says with a hint of nervousness. "I said we could do whatever you wanted. So, do you want to... I mean... OK, I know I promised I'd let you... y'know... But maybe you'd rather chat or spar or... hug...?"

"Well my husband, Baron came up with a great idea," Catie said. "Do you need to get ready or anything?" Catie asked June. "When you are ready I was wondering if we could have a friendly spar outside it is awfully beautiful out tonight?" Catie said to June. "I promise not to behave," Catie said as she bowed in front of June.

"So umm when your ready we can go when you are ready," Catie said as she used her ultimate move on June and that's the supper anime, puppy dog eyes.

"Sparring! Yes, sparring! Sparring would be wonderful! I love sparring, let's spar!" June says excitedly, beaming with earnest relief. "Let me just..." She pokes her head through the door. Her armored dress is nowhere to be seen. There's a normal dress lying on her table, with a note.

Cleaning your armor has taken longer than expected. Please accept our humble apologies. In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful nightgown.

June frowns. No armor besides her gloves... She closes the door and turns to Catie. "We'll have to be careful, OK?"

"Its fine when Baron was training me on how to use this rapier as long as I keep this little ball on it should be fine," Catie said. "Oh and I only have this normal whip I use for training," Catie said as she pointed towards her leather whip. "Maybe we ask that short guy with the funny voice to make you a raccoon again," Catie said.

"What about you miss June what can you use with that ummm class your in?" Catie asked unsure what June met by class.

"Well, I didn't dislike that raccoon thing. Perhaps it would have its uses on the battlefield. But you don't need to worry about me, Catie. As long as you aren't going all-out it should be fine. But..." June looks at her weapons. "All I can use are axes, staves - I don't have any, unfortunately - and bows. I'll just use the flat of the blade, if you're OK with that?"

"Yeah that's fine Ms. June," Catie said. "So there's a nice open field outside we can always go out to when your ready," Catie said to June.

"Right," June says, leading the way. The pair stroll through the hallways, still bustling with guards and workers even at this late hour. After a few wrong turns, June and Catie find the castle garden. They step out into the cool night air. A path of ornate tiles winds through a verdant carpet of grass. Several bushes bloom with vibrant, fragrant flowers. Tucked back in a shady corner, an azuberry bush bears a near-ripe crop. A lone guard patrols along the path. He gives the pair a small wave. "Hello Lady June, Miss Catie."

"Ah? Oh, hello, Private... Delgato?" June asks.

"Delano," he corrects her. "Out for a moonlit stroll?"

"We were hoping to get some sparring in," June says.

"In... the garden?" he asks. "We have a room for training."

"Er... We need to get used to fighting on the natural terrain of Oz. It's a bit different than my homeland," June bluffs.

Franklin nods thoughtfully. "I see, makes sense. Give me just a minute and I'll warn the other guards not to panic about the Outlanders fighting in the garden." He steps past June and heads into the castle, stops, takes a step back, and smiles at Catie. "Sorry, but I just can't resist." He reaches up and scratches her behind the ear. Catie's leg begins to twitch uncontrollably and she's content. "Haha... You're just too cute." Franklin heads into the castle.

June starts readying her weapons, then pauses. "Er... Catie? Before we go any further, there's something I need to ask you. Ask of you, I should say. If you want a hug, that's fine - so long as you warn me first. But no more tackling me, and definitely no more tickling me. Not in front of everyone else, at the very least. Can you promise me?"

"Okay Ms. June sorry about tackling you all those times," Catie said with an upset look on her face. "The first time I was really excited to see someone else who might be a wolf laguz," Catie said in a more somber tone. "I don't know how many are in your world, but where I come from in Austur," Catie said in a more serious tone. "I am the only one left, my tribe they were, the bandits that Baron saved me from had friends and they decided to take out," Catie said as a single tear began to form.

Unpleasant memories come rushing back into June's mind. "Catie... Come here, Catie..." She grabs her and pulls her into a tight hug. "It's OK, Catie, it's OK," she sniffs.

"June it's okay the thing was I blamed myself for the longest time," Catie said. "The fact that I ran away from home and the fact anyone knew about us was because of me," Catie said in a more somber tone. "I allowed myself to be tricked into being taken captive because I believed it was my just deserved punishment," Catie said.

"No one deserves that, Catie..."

"Yet in the end one good thing came out of it and that was Baron," Catie said in her usual upbeat manner. "That day when Baron saved me, was the happiest day of my life," Catie said. "Later on Sam would tell me that Baron was having woof time fitting in with society and that he was going through a woof time," Catie said. "So in a way we both saved each other that day, now we are married and we have two kids," Catie said in a more upbeat matter.

"Twins one boy and one girl, and they're part laguz, part human, and part vampire," Catie said. "By the way Ms. June are you married? Do you have kids?" Catie asked.

June lets Catie go and steps back, wiping the tears from her eyes and forcing a smile. "Um... Yeah... Married to a wonderful man. And we have son and a daughter. Both part-human and part-manakete. Though they can't transform..."

"How did you guys meet?" Catie asked.

"Well, it's... kind of a long story. He was... He was commanding some enemy forces. He surrendered to us. I was ordered to execute him. And... I couldn't do it." June grins. "So I decided to marry the big oaf, instead."

"Awww that's way too cute," Catie said. "So now then shall we began," Catie said as she bowed and ready her rapier in a defensive pose. "Just because we are best friends don't expect me to take it easy on you. Well you know what I mean," Catie said sheepishly.

"Best friend?" June asks with a giggle. "You're such a sweetheart, Catie."

"But not a pushover," she thinks to herself. June knows not to underestimate a laguz. And all the hugging and tackling's given June a first-hand demonstration of Catie's strength and speed. And she's wielding a rapier? June doesn't even know how to begin dealing with the whip. June's first instinct is to rush in close, but... this is training.

June pulls out Armads and slowly closes in on Catie, probing with a few gentle, controlled swats with the flat of the blade.

"Right time to take this serious," Catie said as her mood switched to a more serious stance.

"Hmm really taking the cautious approach," Catie thought "Well now she does know I can easily dodge those right," Catie thought. "But she said flat side so that's the soft side of the ax good to know," Catie said as she proceeded to jump on top of the blunt side of the ax and launch herself into the air.

While Catie was in her air, she uncurled her whip and began twirling really fast and making her way towards June. "Come now June even if this is only friendly I don't want you go easy on me," Catie called out

June steps to the side and swings Armads in a rising arc, right in the path of Catie's dive.

Catie using her momentum gently pushes against Armadas just enough to get out of its way.

"Not bad June it wouldn't be fun if it was easy," Catie said as she back flipped away from June.

"Now then let's see how fast you are with that Ax. Catie said as she began running towards June keeping an eye on June's ax and ready to react if need be.

"You'll need to do more than just defend and dodge if you want to beat me, Catie!" June calls out. She steps forward and sweeps Armads at leg level.

"Oh who said I was going to dodge and defend," Catie said with a smile.

Catie then quickly jumped backwards and grabbed her whip. "That ax may be strong but," Catie said as she sent her whip towards June hand. "Can't weild it if your not holding it," Catie said as she aimed for Junes wrist with the whip.

The bladed whip coils around June's arms, locking her wrists together. She silently thanks the gods she kept her gauntlets earlier. June drops Armads to the side, digs in her heels, and tugs against the restraints. "Mmph... Impressive trick, but what now?" the bound queen demands. "You haven't won just yet!"

"You're right. Thankfully I know your weakness," Catie said with a smile. Catie while keeping Junes wrists tied up rushes her for a hug.

"I knew this was coming..." June mutters.

"Now prepare to beg for mercy," Catie said as she readies her fingers and tail. "Tickle time," Catie said closing in on her prey.

"I said you haven't won yet!" June repeats with false bravado. She lowers her shoulder and charges right back at Catie.

"You fell for it," Catie said as she allowed her self to be tackled by June. "Now you can't escape," Catie said as she hugged June who was on top of her. "You should know by now how strong my hugs are, now prepare yourself."

"What? Oh, no, n-not the tail, not the t-"

Catie uses her tail which was free and proceeds to tickle June as hard as she can.

"Hee-ee-ee...! N-o-o-o not the tail...!" June screams. She squirms helplessly in Catie's vice-like grip, still struggling futilely to free her wrists. She finds herself powerless to do anything but howl with laughter.

The garden door flies open. Franklin steps in and sees the pair entangled on the lawn. He stares for a second, then quietly steps back in and pulls the door shut.

June feels herself blushing again. "O-Okay, Catie, oka-eeeHAhaha! I su- I surrend... You win, you win! Pl-plea... Pleeeeehahaha...! Please, I already... promised... you could... Nononeeeeheehee!"

Catie calls off her tail and releases June from her grip. Catie then unties June's wrist and helps her to her feet.

"That was fun June," Catie said. "So that person you were fighting with earlier who is he?" Catie asked. "Did he do something mean to you?" Catie asked.

"If you want I can take care of him for you if you want," Catie says cracking her knuckles.

"He's... He's an old enemy of mine. He did some horrible things, but this isn't the time to fight him. Just be careful around him, Catie. He's dangerous." June shakes her head. "But what about you? Feel better now?"

"Much better," Catie said with much pep in her voice.

"June thank you so much for being so nice," Catie said. "I know I can be a bit to friendly at times," Catie said as she bowed in front of June. "Umm wanna walk and talk some more or we can just sit here and gaze at the stars," Catie asked June.

June looks up at the sky and notices how different it looks from her homeland. "We could watch the stars for a bit," June says. She starts to sit down and stops herself. "Um... N-no more tickling, though, right?"

"For now" Catie said as she grinned.

June groans quietly to herself. She lowers herself to the ground, stretches her legs out, and leans back on her hands.

"Hey June you use a bow right maybe next time we can have a contest that will be fun," Catie said as she let out a content yawn. Catie then went ahead and laid down. She rested her head in June's lap and just gazed at the stars.

June looks down at Catie, then quickly looks back up at the sky.

"I can't wait until tomorrow we could have even more fun," Catie said. "Is there anything you need to ask?" Catie asked June.

"You're really fast, Catie. A rapier's a great weapon for quick attacks, but you're so strong, too. Have you ever considered trying a broadsword or claymore? Or maybe even an axe?"

"Hmmm Ax or Broadsword, never thought of that," Catie said. "Maybe you can teach me how to wield one sometime when we have a chance," Catie said to June rather excited. "But they Bow I use was given to me by a very good friend named Silver. Silver is like me where she can either take a former of a dragon or human with dragon-like features. She also happens to be the older adopted daughter of this really nice man, named Vinny. Anyways I really like using that bow, and plus Baron gave me some special arrows to use."

"Special arrows..." June mutters, remembering the explosion this morning. The thought of Catie with that...

"Good night June I had a really good time with you today," Catie said as she closed her eyes and fell sound asleep on June's lap.

"Catie? Catie...?" June looks down at the sleeping wolf. She hesitates, then reaches out and rubs behind her ear. June sighs. "Oh, Catie... You can talk to me anytime you're upset, OK? You don't always have to be the one cheering everyone up."

"Well looks like Baron had no reason to worry," Sam said making her way to June. "Sorry if I scared you but after Catie left Baron was worried so he asked if I could keep an eye on her," Sam said to June. "Looks like there was no trouble at all," Sam said very relieved. "If you want June I can go get Baron if you want to head off to sleep now," Sam said to June.

"No, I'll take her. Just warn Baron I'm bringing her." June carefully stretches out to grab Armads without waking Catie, then slings it over her back. She scoops Catie up, trying not to wake her.

"Fair enough," Sam said as he followed June.

June carries her back to her room, softly knocks on the door, and quietly hands Baron his sleeping wife. She gives him a silent wave and heads back to her room. She picks up the nightgown and realizes it's... more risque than she expected. Well, not like she's going anywhere... June changes clothes, stretches for a bit, then drops into bed, exhausted.