Isher Notra

The landing was as turbulent as the take-off. At least, the Queen was honest about that.

The girl was starting to reckon whether the Queen had used that as an excuse to cover her in dirt. For what reason, she wasn't sure. Malka didn't seem like the prankster type. A shame, really.

Hopefully, the Dragon had found a deep and large enough crater so she could land without damaging the vandalized plaza further. A swarm of armored Basan soldiers coalesced around them, bombarding their ruler with undecipherable questions, trampling over one another, much to everyone's dismay.

Although the auditory hell was devastating to the children and Gentō, now safely standing on the floor beside her, Queen Malka quelled it entirely with a simple, placating motion with both hands, her expression not showcasing a single hint of discomfort, let alone irritation.

"The ones responsible for this abominable act of treason will be properly dealt with through Sayama's justice. The good news is that I have received reports of the apprehension of Yuki-onna, Hari-onagu, and the trio of assassins known as the Kamaitachi." The Dragon clasped both hands behind her back, subtly inflating her chest in a confident posture. "Have any of you seen the Daien bard Hibagon? Reports said he was knocked down unconscious here, like the mercenaries."

"HE HAS ESCAPED!!!" An unfortunate yet familiar voice rang from the crowd, which opened in half like the Red Sea to reveal not Moses but a particularly insufferable chicken-ostrich general, who wasted no time running towards and bending a knee before the Queen with rivers flowing from his eyes. "Oh, Your Majesty! Our glorious home was desecrated by those heinous criminals! Our magnanimous Chōkō, taken hostage! How can we EVER recover?!"

"General Venghaan..." Malka closed her eyes and gently nudged the bridge of her snout. "Always a pleasure to meet you. Rest assured, I will personally take care of the towering ice walls, which shan't last for more than a day, while your men roost." She reopened her eyes, her hand now placed beneath her chin. "The out-of-season winter will have consequences for Chikukei's ecosystem. It will take longer, but gathering the best biologists and climate masters in Sayama shall hasten your province's restoration."

Stella's eyes sparkled at the composed Dragon. She held control over the situation so seamlessly, as if her wisdom knew no limits, while still exuding an aura of regal respect. Almost no one would dare to move an inch without formal permission when in her presence.

Frankly, the girl thought the Queen would be more of a ruling-through-sheer-might type of monarch, judging solely from her appearance. Man, did she become cooler by the moment. This was so exciting, Stella could hop in glee every time she did as much as breathe too loud, just like those Korean boyband fangirls the Human once loathed. It all made sense now...

Venghaan kept chanting cringy phrases of gratitude while trying to kiss, or peck, the towering reptile's toe claws. Queen Malka gently brushed him aside with her tail.

Gentō cackled, looking down at the Basan. "Back off, General Chicken Butt! For I am the one most favored by the magnificent Qu-"

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!!!" A thunderous voice shook the ground beneath their feet. Uh oh.

Hanaken approached them with steps that created a shallow crater, magnifying the tremors. Even Queen Malka appeared to be slightly stunned from the commotion. Gentō, on the other hand...

"My dear friend!" The Baku cheered, though his body language and expression couldn't be more transparent with his horror. "H-How I am elated to see you well!"

Right. While Yuki-onna was knocked down by the destruction of the grid, Gentō mentioned that he used a pending explosion from Hibagon's flower worm to fake his own death and stay out of the sorceress's radar.

Here came the consequences of his craftiest scheme, huffing like a bull on steroids. Hanaken's intensity was so great that she seemingly hadn't noticed Sayama's ruler, who towered over even her by one foot, standing a few meters away.

As she stopped right before the shaking dream stealer with that bright yellow in her eyes... Stella hoped for his life.

"Hang in there, buddy..."

Gentō frantically made a few steps back. "Y-You see, I-" He squirmed as a giant red hand encompassed his head and lifted him up. "...missed you."

Silence for a few seconds. The suspense threatened to make Stella's heart explode, making her ponder if she could handle staring at them for much longer.

Slowly, the yellow sclera in the Oni's globes retreated. Meanwhile, Kreef revealed himself, slithering from her back, settling around her beefy arm. "We missed you, you asshole!"

Hanaken launched the rotund Monoke high in the air before catching him between both hands, pulling all three into a warm, suffocating hug! Stella's chest was caught by a pleasant warmth, bringing an inevitable smile to her lips as this reminded her of...

Of... As-

"STELLA!!!"

A loud yelp came out of her mouth, and a shiver ran through her every nerve when The Silver Knight's recognizable cheesy tone blared from behind, assaulting her ears as his gloved hands clasped her shoulders.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

"REALLY?!" The young girl turned to him in a millisecond, her cheeks burning. "From behind?!"

The hero clasped both hands together, bowing back and forth. "Forgive me, my dear sidekick! I was gnawing at my gloves when I heard you were here all along!" His posture went rigid when his attention was brought to the massive Dragon beside her. "Your Majesty! How fate has been merciful to us! I'd never dreamed of you two crossing paths in these extreme circumstances!"

"At ease, Knight." Queen Malka held a hand to him. "You have been submitted to enough strain. Don't aggravate your injuries. Our healers can only do so much with so many patients."

And yet, The Silver Knight performed his recital, a seamless mixture of fluid dance moves and martial arts techniques. "Ha! You don't need to worry about this body of mine, durable as steel yet flexible as rubber and as fluid as water!" After an impressively high backflip, he finished the show by landing on one leg, pulling off his signature pose. "The Silver Knight has resurfaced from the dastardly snow, blazing anew with the light to melt hundreds of winters!"

Stella facepalmed, not from embarrassment, but to hide the widest, most genuine smile she produced all day. Everything in her life was returning to the weird type of normal she grew to love, down to Lien immediately fangirling over him after one of his goofy lines.

"Yeah! Go, Knight! Kick their butts!"

Queen Malka cleared her throat, the noise enough to dispel the abounding goofiness and redirect everyone's attention. "I'm serious, Knight. Rest."

Asra quickly deflated, his shoulders slumped. "Fine..."

However, his posture defaulted when another voice came from his side.

"So there IS a way to shut you up."

Captain Tash reunited with them, her steps as silent as the wind, her armor dented, her muzzle coated in a pinkish hue, and her fur more messy than her daughter's.

Lien's demeanor did not change in the slightest, however, when the canines stood face to face. The pup was visibly aware of her mother's presence for a long time.

Yet again, a few more seconds of a silent battle of stares. Somehow, Lien knew how to exactly tilt her head to pull it off with the captain.

"Mom?" The pup put her knuckles on her waist.

"Lien." The captain crossed her arms.

Then, Lien pointed at her as her mouth started to shoot words faster than a machine gun. "I know what you'll say, but all of this was my choice and only mine. Stella didn't force me; she didn't even ask. But Mom, I-" The pup was quieted by her mother's paw resting on her mane.

"Later. We have plenty of time." A soft smile graced Tash's lips as her claws gently brushed her daughter's scruffy fur, which, compared to hers, was as impeccable as a freshly sculpted marble statue. "Now, where's my hug?"

And another warm hug came to be. Mother and daughter, relishing in mutual affection.

"I love you, Mom..." Lien's words were muffled, almost suffocating in the iron-clad embrace.

"Love you too, silly pup..." Tash's smile widened, her expression practically melting in bliss. "Forever and after..."

Damn it. Stella's clingy-ass brain was hungry for a hug of her own. And Asra was right over there...

Nah. The girl felt that the appropriate moment had passed. Why did that son of a bitch feel the need to startle her?!

Finally, after an eternity of saccharine hell, the two Wolves separated, the older one already walking closer to the mighty Dragon.

"Your Majesty." Tash bowed respectfully.

"Captain Tash." Surprisingly, the Queen bowed in reciprocity. "How can I help?"

"I volunteer myself and my squad to hunt for Hibagon," the captain stated as their posture straightened back. "We are one of the only Wolves who picked up his scent, and we are in better shape than the rest of our comrades."

If this was considered to be in a "better shape", Stella shuddered to imagine how the rest fared.

After a few seconds of deliberation, Queen Malka gestured by opening her wing. "Please, let us discuss the matter more privately."

And so, they slowly walked further and further away from the group. Stella exhaled in relief, feeling like she could act more like herself when the overwhelming royal presence wasn't weighing on her back. It wasn't necessarily fear, as when she was near Namadi's cops, but... concern about Malka's opinion of her? It was a first for the young girl when it came to authority.

"So...?" Asra saddled up to her side.

"What?"

"What do you think of Queen Malka?" he asked, his feet hopping in place with sheer anticipation.

"She's..." The girl turned her head to see the Dragon drifting away, worried she'd hear.

"Hm?" The hero leaned closer, his damaged visor almost bumping on her face.

"So. Fucking. Awesome," she whispered, her fists slowly bobbing for emphasis.

"I KNEW you would love her!" Asra started truly jumping all over the place, ironically just like how Lien acted around him. It was a goddamn chain of command...

"Oh, just WAIT 'til we're at the castle! If you think she's super awesome, strong, responsible, smart, and wise now, prepare to have your mind blown!" He outstretched both arms, the brightest smile pictured under that helmet.

Holy shit, he was deep into the fanboy rabbit hole. Should Stella tease him about this...?

Hmmm... Later. Later will do.

"So, when are we going to the capital?" Stella asked.

The Knight's demeanor quickly neutralized, stroking the "chin" of his helmet. "Hm. The Queen should want us to be there as soon as possible, so as to not leave a window for the Tizohi's Chosen to recover from their losses. Considering she definitely can melt the ice wall in a day, I'd say we're free to go in..." He lifted two fingers, intentionally or not forming a peace sign. "Two days!"

"Two days?!" Lien loudly gasped, then quickly deflated. "Man, do you really have to go? I mean, I can always sneak out of Pantsti, but..."

"Right." Asra and Stella promptly circled the pup to comfort her, the girl pulling her to a tight hug while the man stroked her mane. "Stella will live there by the queen's orders, but I'll always do nothing but my best to arrange time for her to spend some time with you."

"Don't think you've gotten rid of me." Stella chuckled, indulging herself in Lien's warmth. "Before you know it, I'm throwing rocks at your door, ready to face the whole forest with you."

"That's a promise?" Lien whimpered, melting the girl's heart.

"Hell yeah."

Third heartfelt hug in this chapter. How repetitive.

Where's the action? The drama? The ending twist to close-

"WHAT?! HIM?!"

The trio instantly turned to watch the source of the commotion...

Another trio, the Trouble Troop, of all things. Hanaken was bellowing, her face a canvas of indignity. Meanwhile, Gentō clung onto her ear, and Kreef went limp, still wrapped around the Oni's shaking arm, clearly nauseated.

"ARE YOU SERIOUSLY SAYING, THIS WHOLE TIME, I'VE ALREADY FOUGHT A-"

The Baku desperately latched onto her face, shyly waving at them while the hulking red brute fought to keep balance. "Nothing to see here, my dear allies!!!"

"I GET IT, GENTŌ! GET THE FUCK OFF ME!!!" Her feet thrashed the ground, forming stronger and stronger quakes.

Uh oh. Stella knew precisely what this was about. Hanaken must have been pissed that the fight she so craved was gifted to her day one.

...

Wait.

"Lien?" Stella turned back to her packmate, her sly smirk creeping in.

"What?" The pup's ears twitched.

"We still have one more business to attend to before we go." She snickered. "Payback, if you will."