26 Stonegarden Castle / At the Gates

Previously, on Usagi Days: Patty, the metalworker at the foundry, has been taken by the King in Stonegarden Castle. Ruby visits Sylvie, a thief who has been trying unsuccessfully to recruit the Usagis into performing a 'heist' with her on the Castle. Ruby asks Sylvie if the heist is still available …

- 26.1 - Twin Guards Patrol the Upper Ramparts -

Along the stone parapet of Stonegarden Castle's outer walls, two guards neared each other as they reached the end of their respective patrols.

Manny, awkwardly: "How fare-eth the watch, my brother? Hath, um … Hath thou-est chanced upon any sign-eth of trouble? … -eth?"

Danny, stiffly: "N-Nay, brother Manny. All … all be quiet around-eth here."

Manny, clutching his head in pain: "Ah, that is most agreeable. We must remain-eth ever vigilant. Not all agree-eth with the King's choice of new bride. We may, um … encounter-eth those who wish to infiltrate and abscond-eth … with the lady … eth."

Danny, looking exhausted: "Y-Yes, the King's blushing bride … eth. Feareth not, brother. She should be safe, as the King is very protective-eth of her. As well, his finest guardsmen are sworn-eth to her protection."

Manny, nose starting to bleed: "I am … glad-eth. I can …"

Manny stumbled, looking like he might collapse. His twin brother Danny quickly grabbed hold of him.

Manny: "Okay. Okay, you know what—it's just us two. Can we please just talk normally?"

Danny, letting out a huge sigh: "I just didn't want to be the first to say it."

"I don't even know if I'm doing it right or not! … All I do is add '-eth' to the end of every second word, a-and … sometimes 'you' is 'thee', but sometimes it's 'thou', and … I just can't take it anymore!"

Danny sighed. "The King wasn't always this strict about making us talk like this. You remember Paul and Hiroki?"

"… Yeah?"

"Hiroki forgot his 'thee's and 'thy's a little too much for the King's liking. And they both ended up in the Pit. Paul didn't even do anything wrong. He was just in the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Manny shuddered. He didn't want to think about the Pit.

Danny: "At least preparations for the wedding are going smoothly. He should be in a less … Pit-happy mood."

Manny nodded. "He's in high spirits. I haven't seen him this animated since he … well, since he got that giant metal dinosaur."

"That makes one half of the matrimonial duo, then. Groom's happy. Bride is anything but."

"It's that bad, eh?"

"Oh, you have no idea. The bride just stays in her room all day. And when she's not in her room, she has to be escorted by a team of Elite Knights. Even when she goes to the bathroom, or whatever. In fact, the only time I've ever seen her in the flesh is when I was guarding the nightly dinner between the two."

"You got assigned to that?"

"Yeah, a few days ago. It's the most awkward thing. The King just brags on about his victories and battles for hours, and the bride's just sitting there, miserable. … But it's the King's favorite part of his day. He won't miss it for anything, the nightly dinner. Just the two of them. … Even if he's in the middle of something important, he won't ever skip it. I guess he just really enjoys talking himself up in front of her.

"Oh! Also! … I heard this rumor that—(don't repeat this, by the way)—I hear that the dinosaur was actually created by the bride-to-be."

Manny: "What! No …"

Danny: "The King got word there was a metal dinosaur somewhere in the Wastes. So he went and took it. Fell in love with the artist. And that's who she is."

"Wow."

"Yeah."

"Hey, while we're on the topic of things the King is after …"

"(Nicely segued.)"

"(Thank you.) … You think that it's real? The 'Usagi'?"

Danny: "You're talking about the pink car roaming the Wastes?"

Manny: "No, I'm talking about the giant pink bipedal mech. That Usagi. Of course I mean the car."

"What about it?"

"Do you think it really works?"

Danny, looking off to the side, down at the road leading up to the castle drawbridge: "Well … From where I'm standing—no."

Manny gave a confused look. He turned to the side, to see what his brother was looking at.

Down below, at ground level, a pink kei-car drawn by two horses approached the drawbridge, a hooded figure riding atop its roof.

The hooded figure pulled back on the reins, bringing the horses to a halt.

From somewhere below, a trumpet sounded.

The herald cried: "VISITOR AT THE GATES!"

- 26.2 - Ruby Seeks an Audience with the King -

Inside the gates, Ruby Hanasaki, hood lowered, stood next to the horse-drawn Usagi, waiting.

The drawbridge had rumbled shut behind her. The way out firmly sealed.

A Sentinel Knight had checked her for weapons the moment she entered, and now an entire circle of them, swords at the ready, surrounded her, watching her every move closely.

She couldn't see well past the circle of knights, but she could hear the excited, curious murmuring of the crowd that was gathering around the surrounding area. Servants, peasants, workers, soldiers—all eager to see what was going on.

("Do mine eyes deceive me? Be that the magical chariot Usagi all have been whispering of?"

"Hath she driven it hither herself?"

"Nay, look! 'Tis drawn by horses!"

"A trick, then! I heard tell it was a true, working auto-chariot."

"What doth the woman intend? To offer it to our King?")

Finally, the murmuring subsided. The Sentinel Knights directly in front of her parted, revealing the sight of a large, hulking middle-aged man in a red fur-trimmed cape and golden crown, a big grin on his face as he approached. Two Elite Knights—not Sentinels, but more decorated, with better armor—scarier-looking armor—walked on either side of the King.

The trumpet sounded again.

"MAKE WAY FOR HIS MAJESTY!"

The people in the crowd knelt and bowed as he passed by.

Finally, the King reached Ruby and the Usagi. She had to tilt her head up to meet his eyes.

King: "My lady, thou hast brought me a fine chariot. Hast thou come to discuss the terms of thy reward?"

Ruby lowered her gaze. "King of Stonegarden, my liege."

She dropped to one knee. Then she bowed her head.

The King smiled his approval.