The Goblins' Attack - Act II

The city burned, but its people seemed to have evacuated already. Instead, the goblins were everywhere, pillaging the houses and destroying all the objects they didn't use. The fire had no effect on the vile creatures. It was difficult for Konoko and Ichirou to safely advance through the flames while the nasty little monsters—the size of a two-year-old—attacked them ceaselessly. The four guardians did a great job covering for the two, but they were outnumbered. They started showing signs of fatigue. Ichirou thought that it was imminent for Konoko to take some action instead of merely running. Ryuu had clearly specified that she had the ability of creating weapons and spells for herself or her friends. But the girl seemed unable to focus on using that power. Following the last battle in the antechamber, Konoko knew what she was capable of. Unfortunately, she acted unconsciously back then. She could not recall exactly how she did those things. Chie suggested to her to warp the events so that the attack became milder, yet this only made things worse. Somehow the opposite effect was obtained: the fight intensified, the flames grew bigger, and the already impressive number of goblins increased even more. Unbeknownst to Konoko, it was all her doing. Her fear altered the events to their own disadvantage. On top of it, Ichirou didn't fuse. His human form made his movements slower. There were times when he just couldn't dodge an attack and he had a hard time keeping up with Konoko's pace.

Being faster than Konoko, Ichirou, and the guardians, the goblins jumped on their opponents backs or grabbed their feet. They had a camouflage-green skin coated in some disgusting slimy translucent substance and, instead of fur or clothes, their bodies were covered from neck to knees by some sort of thick dark-brown crust. When they wanted, the goblins could make the slimy translucent substance from their hands and legs to turn into the same crust which protected their upper part of the body. That crust was as hard as armor.

Along with the guardians, Ichirou managed to get by during direct combat. While the former used their weapons, he succeeded in producing for himself an iron hammer, to everyone's surprise! Though he missed most of his targets because of his slow moves, at least he forced them to leave. Proud of his accomplishment, Ichirou bragged about having surpassed the power of a mangaka. Maybe he would have even considered making weapons for Konoko as well.

On the other hand, the girl seemed hopeless. Her only advantage was that she moved very fast and was able to sneak through narrow places. But when a goblin got hold of her right foot, she could not get rid of the pesky little thing no matter how hard she tried. Konoko wondered why she had imagined such repulsive creatures. She wanted them to be scary for Halloween of course! But they were rather repugnant. The guardians were busy with other goblins at that moment. They could not directly intervene. Saitou and Chie fired some flashy discs toward Konoko's goblin, but since they were also continually attacked, they missed each time. Ichirou was on his way to her, but he was delayed by his slow moves and the tiredness from using that hammer. Konoko fell to the ground, continually hitting the goblin in the head with her left leg. She was desperate to prevent him from biting her. Laying down with only the upper part of her body slightly raised, leaning on her elbows, Konoko forcefully lifted her right leg while the aggressor clung on it. Then, she immediately hit it against the ground with all her might. Just when Ichirou finally reached her, he was amazed to see the goblin popping like a soap bubble. Only a camouflage-green translucent mucus remained behind. Konoko was surprised too. She ended up turning red, breathing heavily, and trembling. Yet she had made it!

Ichirou helped her to get up.

"Why don't you make them all disappear like that?" he asked in awe. "It could save us all a lot of effort!" he added.

Konoko looked at him annoyed. Just like Virgil and everybody else, they all thought it was easy. She actually could not control what she did.

"Konoko," intervened Ryuu who approached the two. "If you look at this fight as a game and not as something real, you will see that you can manipulate the events to your own liking. Stop taking it seriously! It will get you killed!" he warned her in a firm, composed tone.

Ichirou gave her a grave look.

"Okay, I'll try!" she replied sorely.

Of course, she could not repeat the scheme. But she managed to create a bow, her next success after the hard-earned victory against the goblin. At first, she realized she had only the bow, but no arrows. However, it proved to not be a problem. The arrows appeared at the very instant that she tried to shoot. Yet her aim was dreadfully poor. She nearly hit the guardians and Ichirou with burning arrows.

"Why did you make a bow, if you can't use it?" shouted Ichirou scandalized. "Do you intend to kill your allies?"

"I thought that if I could create any kind of weapon, I would be able to equally boost my skills..." replied Konoko, disappointed.

"I'm sorry honey," intervened Wanda. "That only works if you fuse and gain the character's abilities, which is not your case. An author is only a character of themselves. You do gain the flexibility of an anime character, but this is as far as it goes."

Konoko looked sad at her bow. As she spaced out, she was caught off guard by the next goblin attack. Fortunately, she was vigorously pushed out of the way. It was Ichirou, who had finally fused. Konoko watched him in amazement as he cleverly dodged the slimy stuff coming at him while throwing little knives at the goblins and making them pop like soap bubbles. That was her trick! Only that, instead of a camouflage-green translucent material, viscous dark blood splashes remained behind.

"Ha!" exclaimed Ichirou in satisfaction. "That's how you make them explode like balloons, Konoko! Yoohooo! I really liked that move of yours!" he turned to her with a happy childish face. He no longer looked like Ichirou. He was John Wright now.

Surprisingly, the frisky John Wright had fighting skills. Previously to being taken in at the castle by Prince Virgil, he made part of a band of thieves. His specialty was throwing knives. When Konoko conceived this character, she was under the influence of her initial impression of Ichirou from when they first met. Because they were only fifteen back then and Ichirou has changed quite a bit since, she wasn't sure if he could fuse with John or not, especially because she didn't intend to make John after Ichirou. It just happened.

"What do you know?" started Wanda, measuring the newly transformed Ichirou from head to toe. "The miracle finally happened!"

"That's a surprise!" intervened Saitou as well, looking astonished at Ichirou. "I wouldn't have expected for you to be John Wright!"

"What did you say?" asked young John.

"That's your character, Ichirou! John Wright." explained Konoko.

"Hermy?" shouted Ichirou. "No, Konoko! Why would you make me Hermy?" he lamented, looking at her heartbroken.

"What's wrong with him?" asked Konoko, shocked. She didn't expect his reaction.

"Give me more knives, Konoko!" Ichirou changed the subject in a morose voice.

Immediately, Konoko produced an impressive set of knives. Upon seeing them, Ichirou temporarily forgot about his disappointment and whistled in awe.

"You do have it with these, girl!" he observed. "Yet, I suggest you do something for yourself as well," he added. "Even with my AMAZING skills as HERMY, I won't be able to back you up all the time," he added in a boisterous tone.

The next moment, five goblins came at Konoko at the same time. He quickly destroyed two of them, but he was attacked as well. Konoko managed to produce a shield, but she could not last long behind it. Saitou destroyed another two of Konoko's attackers. More came. They were really persistent. Then, all of a sudden, a spear emerged from Konoko's left hand passing through her shield and killing one of the goblins. She switched their places, holding the shield with her left hand, and the spear with her right. Without moving much, she made sure to keep the same stance when the goblins came at her. The only thing she had to do was to accurately orientate her spear at the right moment. However, it didn't help her if they attacked from behind. When that happened, her body became covered in armor. Whenever an enemy approached, sharp triangle-shaped steel pieces fired from her armor and hit the aggressor. Ichirou was really impressed with that invention!

Unfortunately, things went awry again as the fireballs came back. The weapons seemed useless in front of the new menace. Ichirou's attempt to use his hammer as a baseball bat and repel the fireballs didn't help either. Though, to his shock, little John Wright was physically capable of manipulating the hammer with greater ease than him, yet the effort was still overwhelming. Konoko made a shield for Ichirou as well, but they mostly relied on the force fields that the guardians created.

"We have to stay here for a while!" announced Saitou. "Kenji is coming our way!"

"What?" exclaimed Ichirou. "Why did he have to come here of all places?"

Konoko threw herself to the ground, holding her shield above her. She made it big enough to shelter her entire body, though holding it challenged her physical limits. The ground trembled under the gallop of approaching horsemen. Konoko heard voices. The fireballs kept falling, yet without burning. One of them arrived near her and she could see that it had been transformed into a weed ball. She looked curiously from under her shield. It was Kenji! Albert caught the fireballs with his left hand covered in a black glove and turned them into weed balls.

"Hey guys!" greeted Kenji cheerfully, catching a glimpse of Konoko.

"Kenji! You're alright!" exclaimed Konoko happily, getting out from her shelter.

John got up as well, holding the big shield in his left hand.

Prince Virgil was also there, but he immediately engaged in an intense discussion with the guardians.

"Where is Ichirou?" demanded Kenji.

"Right here," replied Ichirou, frustrated. He gave Konoko a hostile look and she frowned at him.

"Oh! You're Hermy!" exclaimed Kenji with enthusiasm.

"What's so great about that?" mumbled Ichirou.

"He's a popular character!" Kenji answered, surprised that Ichirou didn't share his excitement.

"And he's powerful too! And clever, and agi—" Konoko tried to add, but she was interrupted by Ichirou who continued addressing Kenji.

"Well, compared to your character..." he observed, contemplating Kenji with fascination, including his horse.

"Apparently, I'm a powerful alchemist that plays a critical role in defeating the upcoming siege from the south!" announced Kenji, elated. "Can you believe it?" he asked Ichirou with sparkling eyes.

Konoko and Ichirou didn't remember having seen him so openly enthusiastic about something. Ichirou gazed at Konoko with the eyes of someone who felt betrayed. The girl started to understand a bit Ichirou's dissatisfaction.

"Anyway, you guys have to go to Brims immediately. We have already found Nanako and she is waiting for us there!"

"How is she?" asked Konoko quickly.

"Oh, she's fine now!" replied Kenji overjoyed.

"John," intervened Prince Virgil once he finished his discussion with the guardians, "take Miss Asada and go to the forest. Herbert is waiting for you there!"

"Your Highness," started Konoko, radiant at seeing him.

The prince glanced at her, nodded gracefully, and went off, making Kenji a sign to follow. As the two departed, Ichirou shouted after his friend.

"Kenji, wait! You're not staying with us?"

From the distance, Kenji gave him a short sign that he would join later.

"Here, the situation is under control for the time being, but they have to stop the attack from the mine!" explained Saitou. "Until this battle is completely over, we won't be able to focus on your departure."

"But won't Kenji be in danger?" asked Ichirou, alarmed.

"He'll be fine," replied Konoko. "He seems to have fused perfectly. Albert is very powerful. That's why Virgil keeps him by his side. It seems that Nanako too gave him her blessing to go. She probably knows the whole story by now."

"The whole story?" demanded Ichirou.

Konoko could not continue as new groups of goblins appeared. She and Ichirou placed themselves back to back. The guardians were equally busy with clearing the way for the pair to be able to go to the forest just as Prince Virgil instructed.

"Well, Albert's fiancée, Grace, did not know he was an alchemist." Konoko began, but she had to stop and stab a goblin with her spear. "Albert wanted to keep her away from his troubling past. 'Albert Heiss' was not even his real name. He had changed it to begin a new life, leaving alchemy behind. That's when he met Grace."

Ichirou turned with a spin and pressed Konoko's head down to protect her from an incoming enemy.

"He clearly uses alchemy right now, from what I see," he remarked.

"I haven't finished!" replied Konoko, "Albert was the only alchemist who didn't join the practitioners of the black magic. When Hesperia became threatened by the Black King from the south, Darts suggested to Virgil to ask for Albert's assistance."

Ryuu made them the sign that the way was clear for them to advance. The guardians backed them up.

"The Black King had many allies among wizards and alchemists," continued Konoko while running. Her breath became heavier. "And these allies... were enticed... by Hesperia's mine... of magic... ore." She slowed down. Ichirou adapted his pace to hers. "Albert refused of course... but when he finally understood the risk of... the magic ore getting into the wrong hands—"

She was interrupted by another assailant. Holding her spear horizontally with both hands, the effort to push away her enemy prevented her from talking. Ichirou destroyed him in her place. "He changed his mind," she finally proceeded with her story.

"Who changed his mind?" asked Ichirou, who forgot Konoko's last sentence.

"Albert of course! He agreed to help Prince Virgil. However, he didn't want to drag Grace into this story. It was one of his conditions. That's why when Grace came to Hesperia looking for Albert..." She was interrupted again in order to assist Ichirou with getting rid of a persistent goblin.

"Prince Virgil and Richard kept her under strict surveillance at the castle and concealed Albert's whereabouts from her. They didn't wish Grace to wander off. If she came to any harm, their arrangement with Albert could have met its end. But now that the two have finally met..."

"Pfff... that's so complicated..." remarked Ichirou. "At any rate, what you're saying is that now Nanako knows this whole mumbo jumbo—"

"You two go on without us!" instructed Saitou. "The area is already clear, but someone has to stay behind and block the incoming enemies. We don't want them to reach the castle."

Ichirou and Konoko gazed at Saitou, concerned.

"Don't worry, we can keep track of you on our radars," he said to reassure them. "Besides, the guard's captain is waiting for you. You should be fine with him. We'll meet at the castle!"

"But I don't even know where this place is!" protested Ichirou.

"It's okay Ichirou, I think I know!" replied Konoko.

"Are you sure?" he asked in disbelief. She nodded.

"Even in the dark?" insisted Ichirou.

"Yes, I can handle it! Let's go!"

*

"Honestly Ichirou, I can't believe we are having this conversation again! I agree, your character is not like Nanako's and Kenji's, but that's because I haven't actually made a character after you! I didn't have the chance!" Konoko defended herself. "Besides, Hermy is a strong character! You've seen it for yourself!"

"He doesn't compare to Prince Virgil!" came Ichirou's answer.

"Don't tell me you wanted to be Prince Virgil!" answered Konoko amused.

"Of course not! I hate the guy!"

"Why would you hate Prince Virgil?" jumped Konoko, offended.

"Because he has such a nasty attitude!"

"It is—"

"Stop right there Konoko! Spare me that crap about Virgil's sad childhood and all the drama. It won't work on me the same way it worked on Nako!"

"Okay," replied Konoko morosely, "what character do you like then?"

"Albert... He's great Konoko! Why did you make such a great character for Kenji and..."

"Haven't I just told you I hadn't the chance to make a character after you?" burst out Konoko. "With John, it was different! I was... I... It just happened!" She could not bring herself together to tell him how John Wright was inspired by him.

"Konoko, where are we?" Ichirou observed that the place where they were seemed far from the forest. Only scattered trees and bushes showed up from time to time. Instead, he could clearly see the mine's mountain.

"We're making a small detour," announced Konoko with a prankish look.

"At the mountain? The place where Kenji and Prince Virgil went?" asked Ichirou alarmed.

"We're not going there. We're only watching from here," replied Konoko to calm him down. "I just want to make sure everything goes according to the plan," she added.

"What? No, Konoko! WE are NOT supposed to be here!" he shouted. "Prince Virgil clearly specified that we were to go to the forest, remember? And—"

"Please Ichirou!" begged Konoko with a desperate look.

"Konoko! I was made responsible for you by none other than Virgil! You are coming with me right now!" he glared at her with burning eyes.

"You heard what Saitou said," insisted Konoko. "If this fight isn't over, we can't get back home! This is important, Ichirou! I only want to make sure Virgil wins!"

"What's bothering you Konoko? The story is already written, isn't it? What could go wrong?"

"Well, you, me, Nanako, Kenji, and the guardians, we were not in the initial story..."

"You're overreacting, Konoko! Didn't you say that Albert was very strong and that Kenji and him fused perfectly? Besides, how do you know us being here is the right thing? What if our presence alters the story?"

"I wouldn't let that happen!" scandalized Konoko.

Ichirou realized she didn't understand his point. Involuntarily, he returned to his human form.

"You know what?" said Ichirou. "I'm heading to the castle! I strongly advise you to come with me." He stretched out his hand at her.

Konoko didn't move. She looked at him as if she was in terrible pain. Ichirou turned to leave.

"Wait Ichirou! Don't go! You're not John anymore! You may get lost!"

"I'll be fine!" he replied in a defeated, murmured voice.

As he took distance, Konoko felt very saddened. She went a few steps after him, but couldn't bring herself to continue. She started walking around nervously. What was she supposed to do? Konoko looked toward the mountain. The fight at the mine was in full swing. The dwarves that worked in the mine, the giants that lived in the mountain and the skoots—enchanted spirits that lived into the forest and took the form of glowing leaves—participated in the battle alongside humans.

Hesperia was everyone's home. The clash of the weapons, rocks falling, and explosions temporarily disrupted Konoko's thoughts about Ichirou. She went into a bush and looked closely at the mountain. Despite the darkness, the flames helped her to clearly see what was happening. But then she started thinking about Ichirou again. He was out there all alone in his human form! What if something bad happened to him? She was torn between running after her friend and staying where she was to ensure that Prince Virgil won the battle. The girl got up and turned around to go after Ichirou. She changed her mind halfway and returned to the bush. Then she rose again.

"Going somewhere, Miss Asada?"

Konoko froze. Edgar Rimmer Duke of Amingham—Prince Virgil's worst enemy—was before her. The duke was the one who had killed all of Virgil's family and turned Hesperia to ashes. He had tried to famish the population until they agreed to help him extract the magic ore from Hesperia's mountain. The people stood brave. Hesperia could not survive without the ore and they knew it. When only a few of them remained alive, Edgar left for a distant country, still keeping an eye on what happened in Hesperia. He expected that one day the population might have revived along with the kingdom. It was wiser to wait. Edgar Rimmer was a powerful warlock, although he kept this a secret. He hadn't attacked Hesperia since he had left, but unbeknownst to the prince, he was responsible for the goblins' surprise attack.

Konoko took a few steps back.

"I heard interesting things about you," began the duke in a low, unpleasant voice. "You hold the power of changing things into this environment, all sorts of things, including... a war's outcome?"

Konoko frowned.

"You also have a different pattern of energy, much greater than anyone else here! I'd say you could be more valuable than the magic ore!" he continued.

Konoko made a quick move, trying to get past him but he caught her by her arm before she was out of his range. She let out a short shriek. The duke forced her to return in the bushes and immobilized her. His grasp hurt her arm. She couldn't tell if she was terrified or angry.

"Now, Miss Asada, you will do exactly as I tell you to do!" He accentuated the last words.

"You'd wish!" she burst out angrily and shook her arm forcefully to break free. An armor made of sharp steel scales covered her arm. Some of the scales pierced the duke's hand. He let go, surprised.

She tried to escape again, but she could not move. It was exactly like in those nightmares where one wanted to run from the enemies and could not move their body. She told herself that the warlock had power over her only because she believed he had, yet she could still not break off his spell. The duke brought her back to her spot.

"Interesting!" he remarked with satisfaction, studying the girl's armor attentively. "Now, my dear, that dragon will burn Virgil to ashes!" whispered Edgar in Konoko's ears. His sickening tone made her nauseous.

On the top of the mountain a dragon emerged: Jares, the ancient dragon that slept beneath the mountain. It was so big that he equaled the mountain's size. The magic ore was made of amethyst infused with the dragon's sleep waves. Jares was the source of magic in Hesperia. It was a bad omen if the dragon awakened, but Konoko already knew this would happen. It was the reason why she had been worried about the battle's outcome.

When the dragon's fire almost got the prince, Konoko screamed: "NO!" Immediately Albert, Richard and Darts intervened. Richard threw his sword right in the dragon's left eye distracting him. Darts cast a fog to conceal themselves. When Jares spit fire again, Albert turned it to steam. The three prepared for a deadly counterattack. But the dragon was not supposed to be killed. Hesperia could not survive without Jares. Edgar caught Konoko by the chin and forced her to look at him.

"What's going to be Miss Asada? The prince or the dragon? I'm fine either way." He laughed maliciously. Edgar's light-gray eyes with golden iridescence gave her shivers. She wanted to scream, but she had lost her voice.

Konoko felt so foolish! If she hadn't come here, Virgil would have probably won by now. She only made things worse, just as Ichirou said it might happen! She even fought with her friend over this stupid idea. She trembled with anger at herself. Then, Konoko remembered that she was not supposed to lose control of her emotions. They could cause calamities. She felt trapped. Tears came falling down her cheeks out of frustration. She felt humiliated to be so powerless in front of her own character.

"Konoko!"

It was Ichirou! He had come back!

Upon being hit in his left arm by one of John's knives, Edgar got distracted and lost control of Konoko. The girl turned her head immediately, but before seeing Ichirou, she met the dragon's eyes. Her heart sank when she saw his wounded eye. His other eye was savage.

Meanwhile, Herbert and John failed to get hold of Edgar, as he vanished right before their eyes with a mischievous grin.

Prince Virgil moved in front of Jares to convince his companions not to kill the beast. Though they stopped at the last moment, the dragon was ready to spit fire again. There was no chance that Virgil could dodge it. "The dragon is too smart," Konoko thought to herself. "He knows who his allies are!" Jares changed his mind. Instead of flames, only some clouds of hot steam reached the prince. Konoko jumped from her place, screaming with joy and threw herself in John's arms.

"They made it!" she screamed. "They made it!" She burst into tears. "I was so afraid, Ichirou!"

Little John Wright held her tightly.

"It's alright Konoko! I was very scared too! I'm so sorry that I left you here! I was so stupid!" He clutched Konoko's hair with his right hand.

"I was stupid!" she said, releasing herself from the hug and looking at him. "I should have never come here!"

"Let's go Konoko! Nanako is dying to see you! Boy, how bad she scolded me when I arrived without you! I thought I would never get away alive!" he laughed. Konoko laughed too.

*

They no longer went to the castle. Everyone had gathered in the center of the city to help clean up the mess a bit so that they could rest in more decent conditions. It had been Nanako's initiative and everyone from the castle came along. As Konoko, Ichirou, and Herbert arrived, a big fire persisted in the middle of the town. The people had collected all the burning things and put them into one place. While some of them were still busy preparing the houses, others already enjoyed some leisure time around the fire. It was still summer in Hesperia, yet this night was unexpectedly cold. Herbert helped Konoko dismount the horse. Nanako came quickly to meet her and the girls embraced.

The characters of The Lost Kingdom of Hesperia and their new friends huddled to catch up on their late experiences. After a while, among laughter and gleeful voices, Konoko ended up falling asleep on Nanako's left shoulder. Nanako arranged with tenderness her friend's rebel hair to clear up her face. Despite being the same age, Nanako always thought of Konoko as a younger sister, yet this time it was that younger sister who had saved her.