Tales of Pride - http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dome/7412 PART ONE "Are you SURE you want to go alone?" Katt asked for the millionth time. "Yes," Flia answered solemnly. "This involves me, and me ALONE." "I don't see why you don't bring at least ONE person with you," Alton replied. "You may need backup, in case something happens." "No." "Ayayay!!!" Perria exclaimed. "Girl," Chamille began, "You gotta have SOMEONE with ya!" "Si," Perria added. "I agree." "Sorry," Flia snarled. "But I'm going alone, like it or not." With that, she boarded her flame-blue spacecraft, exchanging goodbyes with her comrades. --------------------------------------------- "Ah, Oikonny," A young green lion, his mane not yet fully grown, shook hands with Andrew. "King Malcolm deLeon, I presume," Andrew replied, smiling in a false kind matter. This 'king' of theirs was young, very young, he couldn't have been any older than sixteen years. His boyish heart would be his strength... or his undoing. They would see. --------------------------------------------- Alton stared determinedly as Flia's craft flew into space. "Why does she have to be so stubborn?" He growled. "I dunno," Katt sighed. "She's just like that, I guess. Besides, she's real worried right now..." "I don't care," Alton replied. "I'm gonna follow her." "WHA--?!" Chamille gaped. "She'll KILL you!" "She doesn't have to know," The silver lion replied mischievously, climbing into the cockpit of the Silverstreak. "And you are just gonna....spy on her?" Chamille persisted. "I... wouldn't call it SPYING..." Alton grinned. "More like... undercover protection. Now if you'll excuse me, my client is getting further away by the second..." "Fine," Katt nodded. "But report to us if there is ANY trouble. Got that?" "Yes MA'AM!" Alton saluted. --------------------------------------------- "Oikonny," the king's old Vizier spoke. "Does the...TRUE king still live?" "So far he does..." Andrew smiled evilly. "Thank the stars!" the Vizier cried out. "Is it possible for him to return to his kingdom? Malcolm is far too young and ambitious for the throne. He was quite spoiled all his life. He often forgets the needs of the people, despite my council." "Have no fear, Wise One," Andrew smiled kindly at the old lion. "He and his family WILL return. He has a wife now, and a lovely daughter. He...HAD an older son...but he was killed in..battle." "Oh, how awful," The vizier bowed his head. "The daughter...she would be the heir, correct?" "VERY correct," Andrew grinned at the thought. "I can get Leonardo and his family to return to your kingdom...but may I ask a favor in return?" "Certainly, sir," the Vizier nodded his head excitedly. "You name it, you have it!" "Ah, just the kind of man I like to see," Andrew patted the old man on the back. "You see, I am quite lonely these days, and I... have a longing for... a companion, someone with whom I can share my life and my heart." He paused. "What I'm trying to say is... I... have fallen head over heels in love with your princess.... in exchange for her father's return...might I have her hand..in marriage?" PART TWO "Marry the Princess?" The vizier gaped. "But...she is our future queen!" "I know," Andew replied, in his best acting voice. "I have considered that....but I cannot live without her, Vizier." The old, grey lion thought for a moment. "Very well," he answered. "It shall be done." ---------- Flia stopped on her front porch. The house standing before her had always been a welcome sight, but now it was a haven of fear. Shivering slightly, she knocked lightly on the front door. Within seconds, the door flinged open. Several Venomian soldiers grabbed her, searched her for weapons, and dragged her into the living room of her childhood. Her mother and father sat in front of the fireplace, holding each other tightly. The orange fur of her mother's face was damp with tears, and her dress was tattered and stained with streaks of blood. Her father's golden mane was mangy and unkempt, and his face was bruised and battered. "Mom...Dad..." Flia struggled loose of the guards surrounding her and began running towards them. "Not so fast, Princess," came a voice from behind. Flia's head snapped around, her eyes widening with horror. "LEON?!" She cried. The chameleon stepped out of the shadows, grinning evilly. "I...I thought you were...paralyzed!" "I was," Leon hissed. "From the neck down in fact. But...it's amazing what a little magic can do." He stretched his legs a bit, his grin never diminishing. "What do you want with me?" Flia asked, becoming even more afraid. "Well it's not a matter of what *I* want," Leon chuckled. "If this whole fiasco was for ME, you'd be strapped down on your dining room table." Leonardo suddenly jumped up, only to be shoved back down by Leon's guards. "Now that the entire family's here...it's time to go." He turned to a guard. "Take the prisoners to the ship...and...fix them up a bit...they ARE royalty after all..." He grinned at Flia. "Prepare to return to your kingdom." ------------------------ Alton had been staring at this entire scene from the back window. ~"Report to us if ther is ANY trouble"~ Katt had said. Well, this was DEFINITELY trouble...but he couldn't tell them about the kingdom. But he should tell them SOMETHING.... "Katt," he whispered into his comm-unit, "This is Alton, you copy?" "I copy," Katt answered. "What's up?" "Can't give a full explanation right now, but Flia and her parents are in serious trouble. Set course for Aquas, and stand by for my next report." "But--" Alton cut Katt off. He didn't need to answer questions now. Alton followed close behind Leon as they proceeded to the spaceport. Once they arrived at Leon's ship, Alton sneaked into the cargo bay. There was NO WAY he was going to be left on Corneria! --------------- "Welcome to your kingdom, New Leonias," Leonardo couldn't believe his ears, nor his eyes. Those of his race had rebuilt his kingdom, and now they were offering it back to him. Stepping from the ramp of the ship to the solid ground, he stared, bewildered, at this sight. "Welcome," Andrew greeted the Royal Family. Suddenly, young Malcolm stormed into view. "What is going on here?!" He growled. Andrew, however, remained calm. "This is your Uncle Leonardo," he said, "The TRUE king." "WHAT?!" The green lion roared, his glasses nearly falling off. "This crown belongs to ME!" "No," the Vizier interrupted. "The crown belongs to your uncle." With that, he stripped the boy of his crown and placed it on Leo's head. "Hail Leonardo, king of New Leonias!" the guards cried out. "No..." Malcolm groaned. "I am the true king..." with that, the boy ran away, sobbing. The Vizier ordered the guards to keep an eye on him. Andrew just shook off the situation. "Vizier," he spoke. "Meet Queen Leah...and my fiancee, Princess--" "FIANCEE?" Flia interrupted in horror. "Yes, FIANCEE." Andrew replied. "I AM NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, MARRYING YOU!" "WANNA BET?!" "Princess," the Vizier interrupted, "In exchange for your father's return to the kingdom, I have promised Andrew your hand in marriage." "WHAT?!" The entire Royal Family cried at once. "Flia..." Leah hugged her daughter protectively. "How could you do this?!" Leonardo roared at the Vizier. "Get out of my sight!" The Vizier left in a hurry. ----------- Alton had been listening from behind a nearby bush. He nearly choked. ~HIM marry her?~ he thought. ~Over MY DEAD BODY!~ ------------ "Now Princess..." Andrew slid his arms around the blue lioness. "We must get you prepared for the royal ball tonight...we are celebrating your father's return...and our engagement..." Flia yanked herself out of his arms and hid behind her father. "Andrew," Leonardo growled, "What are you doing?! WHY did you bring me here?!" "This is your kingd--" "My kingdom DOES NOT EXIST!" Leo roared. "It was destroyed years ago. This is NOT my kingdom. This island belongs to Aquas, which in turn belongs to the Lylat System, therefore I AM NOT THEIR KING, and I REFUSE to have ANYTHING to do with them!" Andrew blinked. "Gentlemen..." he spoke. Suddenly, 2 guards grabbed Flia and held a laser blaster against her head. Andrew grinned. "Now, your Majesty...you were saying?" Date: 24 Mar 1999 02:47:55 Subject: Royal Blood pt. 3 "Very well..." Leonardo growled. "I'll rule." "So be it!" Andrew cried in exasperation. "Now, you should move into your castle and get ready for the grand ball." When they had all gone, Alton crawled out of Andrew's ship. He would easily blend in here. His heart racing, he sneaked amongst the castle grounds. The coast appeared to be clear, but of course appearances can be deceiving. Suddenly, he found a hand on his shoulder. "Well, well, what have we here?" a cocky voice came from behind. Alton turned around. A red lion stood with him, a fiery orange mane hanging wildly amongst his shoulders. "A stowaway, huh?" "Uh...." Alton stuttered. The red lion grabbed his arm. "You're coming with ME, pal!" "I don't think so!" Alton flipped the stranger onto his back. This started a long brawl between the two, both of them being equal in strength and ability, each of them capable of defeating the other. Finally, Alton had the red soldier pinned to the ground. "Give up?" Alton growled. "Never!" the guard replied. Suddenly he whistled. "HEY BULK!" A large, burly, yellow lion stepped out of the castle, his brown mane pulled into a ponytail. "Having a little trouble, Flame?" he chuckled, staring at them. "Oh shut up and HELP ME!" the red lion roared. Bulk shrugged and headed straight for Alton. He grabbed the silver lion and picked him up over his head. "Um, thank you." Flame said, standing and dusting himself off. He cleared his throat. "Now, let's take this trespasser to the dungeon." ------------ Flia stared at her reflection. She was wearing a long, gorgeous lavender gown, with nice accents of pink and red. On her head she donned a silver sapphire encrusted tiara. She couldn't believe her eyes. She..was..a princess... going to her first ball. She had often dreamed of being a princess when she was a cub, wearing lovely gowns and always being the belle of the ball. But now she longed more than ever for her old life aboard the WhiteClaw, flying and fighting for what was right. But most of all, she missed Alton. The thought brought tears to her eyes. Here she was, a princess, about to marry the terror of the Lylat System... her dreams dying, her hopes turning into despair. Would she ever see Alton again? ------------ "So, what exactly did you think you were doing?" Flame asked as he and Bulk dragged Alton down the castle hallway. "Did you think you could just go wherever you want? We Leols do not like trespassers!" "But I AM a Leol!" Alton roared. "Just look at my arms!" Flame blinked. "We'll see about that," he growled. "Bulk, hold him." Bulk obeyed as Flame rolled up Alton's sleeves and inspected his arms. "You...ARE a Leol..." "Told ya," Alton muttered. "Listen.." "Where are you from?" Bulk asked. "Corneria," Alton replied. "I was born there. I never knew this place existed, though, until last night. Look, you guys HAVE to help me." "We don't HAVE to do anything..." Flame replied coolly. "Flame...listen to him..." Bulk insisted, setting Alton down. "Now what's goin on?" "Oikonny's a rat," Alton explained. "He kidnapped Leonardo and his family to bring them here. I'm not sure exactly what his plan is, but I THINK he plans to marry Flioness just to become your king. For all we know, he'll kill the royal family after the wedding." "I don't believe this," Flame muttered. "Do...you think...WE'RE in trouble?" Alton nodded. "If Oikonny's anything like his uncle, then you guys will probably become his slaves." "Not ME!" Flame growled. "I'm not gonna bow down to that monkey!" "Ditto," Bulk added. "What can we do to stop this from happening?" Alton grinned. "Haven't you guys ever played video games?" he asked. "You foil the creep's plot, rescue the princess, and get outta here!" ----------------- To be continued.. -----------------