Oz: Crossroad of Legends

"And I'm a physicist, guy who knows how the world works!" Arcturus yelled back. "What you're asking is impossible with any current existing technology. You have no way to transmit the data in a reliable manner!"

Fenrir scowled. "Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong time. Now, answer my question. Have you seen my friend Adelle or not?! "

(You know you said that a Type-3 shot overheats the gun on your sheet, right?)

(He already broke the Type-3 shot though)

(And Arcturus broke the first one, plus, he's also a vampire and sort of has a resistance to Type-4 stuff unless I'm mistaken)

"Hey I didn't know Charlie had a brother?" Catie said making her way to Coco. "Ms I wouldn't he's a little nervous around...... how odd he's warmed right up to you," Tom said surprised. "The same thing I said when I first met her, she seems to have a knack for animals," Alyssa said making her way towards the crowd. "So you're a princess Lana, must say you don't seem like a princess but whatever," Alyssa said in mock amazement to Lana. "Wait so these are the hero's that were summoned during the ritual?" Tom asked confused. "Yeah I found these two young ladies in the middle of town along with Bowser," Lana told Tom. "Why didn't you get help sooner?" Tom asked. "You seen how you were about to go after Bowser, can you imagine the princess of the kingdom coming in with a bunch of strangers and strange people, during an attack," Lana said to Tom. "You do have a point but since the gangs all here might as well bring them to the palace," Tom said to Lana. "But Princess how do you think we should handle those four they may get the same response from the guards maybe even worse" Tom asked Lana in reference to Bowser and the others

"You are to tell the other guards, and anybody else in the palace, Bowser, Bowser Jr, and Gramps are my guest of honor," Lana told Tom. "Well at least the two old ones, and Bowser Jr might be fine but what about him," Tom said pointing to Bowser. "He's seems kind of crude and well not the type that would take orders easily, and well he appears to be a big hulking dragon," Tom whispered to Lana. "If he steps out of line who's to say the guards wouldn't hesitate to take him down, especially since after the events yesterday," Tom said to Lana with much concern.

"If you're worried about him don't, worry captain myself, where I come from he wouldn't be any issues," Alyssa said. "Yeah but," Tom said to Alyssa. " I will not being hearing any of this besides I have a secret weapon in case he acts up," Alyssa said pointing towards Catie. "Really that sweet innocent girl how can she help?" Tom asked completely confused. "She's a shapeshifter who can assume the form of a wolf," Lana said. "Yeah we were surprised a bit when she transformed in front of us," Alyssa said to Tom. "When Bow Bow saw me he flipped out and it was so funny, eventually, he passed out," Catie chimed in. "Fine but if anything happened he's going straight to the dungeon," Tom said keeping an eye on Bowser. As Tom, Lana and everyone was talking Tom received word that the other outsiders were gathering in the common room.

"Well looks like some of the hero's have been gathered, among them seems to be a short man in overalls with a red M on his hat," Tom said. "Mario my good buddy Mario's here," Bowser said jumping up and down with delight. "Another hero amongst them appears to be a tall pale skinned man with a talking black cat is with him," Tom went on. "Baron can that be my husband Baron oh I am so glad he might be safe well until I get a hold of him then he's dead," Catie said with a sick smile. "Remind me not to get on her bad side," Bowser whispered to Alyssa while Tom was informing Lana of everybody else who appeared. "Yeah all the hero's are gathered in the common room and are having breakfast, I will personally see it they make out there safely," Tom said to Lana. "I will follow you until we get close to the throne room," Lana informed Tom.

"Great we just got here and lord stubbornness already has everyone on high alert," Kammy lamented. "At least this princess seems kind and generous like Peach," Kamek said to Kammy. "That's what I am afraid of, considering this ones history around Peach," Kammy said to Kamek. "Hey you two Lana says we are to be her guests of honor but we just have to behave," Bowser Jr informed Kammy and Kamek. "Good enough for us but well his awfulness is not one to play nice," Kamek said drifting off. "That's why if he does act up we just pretend we don't know him," Bowser Jr said. "True we could just leave him here, the minions will never know he's gone," Kamek said.

"Everybody ready to go," Lana asked the hero's. "By the way Bowser is it," Alyssa said making her way to Bowser. "What is it slightly scary Peach and better be good there is food that needs to be consumed by the all powerful Bowser?" Bowser huffed towards Alyssa. "Oh just that if you are a bad little koopa that vile beast that attacked Catie yesterday might come back and hurt you," Alyssa whispered to Bowser. Bowser froze in place and was almost scared to do or touch anything as the group headed towards the palace.

Location: Tavern.

"I used to work in Chicago,
in the old department store!
I used to work in Chicago,
I don't work there anymore!"

A large group of people of all genders (not both, all) and many races were gathered about in an underground pub of sorts. They were sloshing some sort of frothy liquid into their mouths and making noises that vaguely resembled singing. From the rafters, Ozma overlooked her army's downtime, in that she both saw them from above, and was barely paying attention to the raunchiness spewing from their collective drunkenness.

Anonymous drunk guy: A woman came in one day looking for a hammer!
The crowd: A hammer from the store?
ADG: A hammer she wanted, NAILED she got!
All: I don't work there anymore!

Ozma was paying attention to her mobile which was displaying the things going on inside her tent. She watched Joanna de-summon Rydan and was thoroughly intrigued. Cards shouldn't be able to summon themselves. And only in very rare cases could more than one be summoned at once...whoever this young girl is, something's up with he- *THUMP*. She was interrupted by the thump of someone's feet on the ceiling (Ozma was hanging from the ceiling using anti-grav boots. It's the best way to keep away from the masses). Another solider came to join her. He was in casual clothes like the rest, but everyone here was a soldier so it had to be one. She looked up (or down...because she's upside down...) at him and inquired,

"Shouldn't you join the rest? Each day could be your last."

From below, the following could be heard:
"A man came in looking for a raccoon!"
"A raccoon from the store?"
"A raccoon he wanted, a BEAVER he got!"
"I don't work there anymore!"

The soldier gave an annoyed smirk, "And join that? No thanks, sir. Besides, I'm allergic to the patch. It's better to stay lucid."

Ozma leaned over one of the rafter bars and pocketed her mobile. She was still a bit self-conscious about her gender swap. "At ease. What's your name, man?"

"Mike, sir" the solder said leaning over the same way.

"Mike. Just Mike?"

"A man with no family doesn't need a family name."

"I see. Condolences."

"Some girl came in looking for a sports car!"
"A sports car from the store?"
"A sports car she wanted, a HOT ROD she got!"
"I don't work there anymore!"

Mike snorted, "Ugh, painful".

"You rather this or small talk?" Ozma chuckled.

Mike shrugged. "Both seem equally awful. Business maybe?"

"What's there to say? We hold the line until we figure out how to get inside Yggdrasil," Ozma looked at the rabble below, "Whenever that will be. The mages are still working on getting past the guard dog, but you didn't hear it from me."

"The anti-magic is out then?"

"It shouldn't be brought inside the tree. Can you imagine what would happen if we missed and disintegrated the life stream?"

Mike thought for a bit, then asked "...it can do that?"

"Oh yeah. That's why only I'm allowed to use it," Ozma replied with a smile, "Don't go getting any bright ideas."

"Eh, what have I got to lose?"

"I used to work in Chicago,
in the old department store!
I used to work in Chicago,
I don't work there anymore!"

Ozma noted that Mike said that rather nonchalantly. She decided to inquire.

"So what's your story then?"

"Time displaced," Mike said quickly, "I hear it's common."

Ozma nodded understandingly. "Relatively, yeah. How far?"

"10 years...I had a wife and son. I managed to ask a soothsayer though. The Straw got them a few months back...just a few months too many. I should have been there...I heard about you lot and thought you could help, but they're probably too far gone now."

"Some girl came in looking for a duck!"
"A duck from the store?"
"A duck she wanted...but I misheard her!"
"I don't work there anymore!"

"Do you remember them?" Ozma said quickly.

"Hm?"

She turned to face him. "Your wife and son. Do they continue to live inside of you as a memory?"

Mike scoffed politely. "Does that count as living?"

"If you can tell their story with all the passion I think you have, then yes. Yes they are still alive."

"What, like a Wordsmith?"

Ozma nodded twice. "If we get the tree, everyone is a Wordsmith. Nobody has to suffer any longer. And that's what we have to lose. Hope.  Hope for the people..." Soon after she said that, Ozma's hands clenched tightly, "Hope for the poor, the oppressed, those who don't have anything else left. And...as for the arrogant aristocrats who only keep themselves afloat oh so high and mighty...that 1-per-bloody-cent who don't have to live every day in fear and despair and let the rest of us rot away into a nightmare...Ephesus, Nightingdale, Yuleia...they all belong in that store in Chicago!"

"I don't work there anymore!"

And with that, alarms sounded, echoing through the tavern and beyond. Ozma pulled out her mobile and allowed it to amplify her voice.

"Patches on soldiers! Stations! We're live! I repeat, we're live!"

Those who were sober enough to comprehend instructions applied a medicinal patch to their forehead that sobered them up completely. They also assisted those who weren't sober enough to follow instructions, and within the minute the tavern was empty and the barracks were full once again.

Vincent sighed as he returned to his room. The guard scurried off with his tail between his legs, presumably to deliver Vincent's words to the Queen. I'm getting too old for this...

He closed the door behind him, and was instantly assailed by a barrage of questions from his children. Both of them. He patiently waited for them to finish then said simply, "Sit down and eat."

By now, they were clever enough to know when not to argue, and they did as he said. Vincent walked over to the window. He had tried to open it before, but it was protected by a sort of energy field. He could probably undo it if he concentrated, given time, but he really didn't see the need. It would just be a waste of mana.

He removed his mask just long enough to rub his eyes, before quickly replacing it. "I'm expecting an important visitor soon," he told his children, in a very serious, no-nonsense tone. "I want you both on your best behavior."

They nodded, though they didn't speak, as their mouths were full and their mother had raised them better.

It makes my skin crawl... It makes me sick to my stomach. The last thing I want is for my children to see this side of me... If they were to look at me differently, if they were to see me for the monster I am, and not the hero they believe I am... It would destroy me. I would prefer to have them wait in another room. There's also the possibility that they could be used against me. But... From what little info I've been able to gather, the Queen is a mother too... And as much as it pains me to admit it, that means I can use their presence to my advantage when dealing with her. It's a doubleeedged sword true, but the possible benefits far outweigh the risks. Even if my children hate me... Even if I have to use them like this... It doesn't matter. As long as they're safe, nothing else matters...

"You may call me Nobunaga," he replies stoically, keeping his back to her. "And you'll have to forgive me, Queen Glinda, but I see no reason to join the others. They would only hinder me."

He turns then, and his dark red eyes flash dangerously. "Your reason for summoning me is quite clear. There is a war going on, and you're in over your head." It was a statement, not a question. "So, like the majority of your selfish kind, you do whatever it takes to survive. Even forcibly bringing someone else into your war. Not only did you force me here, mortal, but you forced my children here. My children. And now you, a mere human, want me to wait on you? You want me, a being feared and revered as a deity, to wait for you?"

His mouth twitched slightly, almost as if he was trying not to smile. "I will cooperate, Queen Glinda, if only for my children's sake. But do not mistake our... Relationship. If you desire my help... Then from one monarch to another, you must first demonstrate your willingness to help me. Or, if you prefer, I could tell your closest subjects about the vast darkness I sense in your heart... I'm sure your kingdom would be much better off with someone more experienced anyway... Wouldn't you say?"

Now let's see if she recognizes when she's being blackmailed... And when she's outmatched. How she decides to answer will determine everything...