This choice: They make it to the palace and feast • Go Back... "To victory!" Flavia raised her mug of mead high in the air, exciting cheers from Feroxi warriors gathered in the palace. The Khan drank from her mug and laughed, clearing her throat to address her crowd. "And now, a special treat; A public speech from the Oaf-Khan himself, Basilio!" The dark-skinned warrior begrudgingly walked up on the stage, lips clammed shut with a annoyed expression on his face. "Go ahead, I'm waiting." Basilio sighed and got ready to humiliate himself.
"Men, comrades, brave warriors. I stand before you not as the West-Khan, but as a Fool, a Dummy, and most importantly...an Oaf. As you drink and feast tonight, may you please yourself with the thought that you all have a sharper mind than this old moron, and may you all appreciate the thought that I was bested by a small, lightweight girl." The Feroxi warriors laughed uproariously, as did Flavia, at Basilio's speech; a vein looked ready to pop on the West-Khan's forehead. "Alright woman, I did your speech, now where's my mead?!"
"You did good Oaf! Here; best mead in the land, straight from the Northern Brewery!" Flavia extended a mug to Basilio and he accepted it in turn, chugging it quickly, hoping the alcohol would help him forget the embarrassment of loss and making a fool of himself. The feast kicked off with roaring celebration, Lucina's friends & family quickly integrated themselves in the celebration with no troubles; Feroxi warriors gathered around Cynthia to celebrate their champion as she posed with Falchion and various lances, Owain and Severa ate from the vast plates of meat and swapped stories of war between the rugged men around them, and Ophelia had gathered a large crowd around her as she put on a wonderful magic show for everyone, some men wowed by the show, others just eyeing up her skimpy outfit. Lucina and Gerome sat by a wall, happily drinking and eating together, Gerome rested upon the princess' shoulder.
"It feels nice to have a moment to ourselves." said Lucina with a smile, sipping a barrel of mead.
"Yes," replied Gerome, "Evidently the warriors of Ferox are far more interested in strong warriors than a giant woman. A proud bunch." Gerome took a leg of chicken from his platter and extended it to Lucina, intending to feed his wife; the princess opened her mouth and Gerome threw the whole drumstick in, Lucina didn't even chew as she quickly swallowed the small snack.
"You're cute at parties, do you know that?" Lucina's comment caused Gerome to blush.
"I only look out for your well-being. I'm more than happy to give you my food if you so wish."
"Whatever you say Gerome." Lucina rubbed her finger on Gerome's head, stroking his hair as if he were a small rodent. "We should set out in the morning and search the settlements nearby for a guide into the ruins. I'm glad Aunt Lissa pointed us in the right direction, but we'll still be lost unless we have a town elder to further direct us."
"Your family truly is amazing, Lucina. I'm...glad to be a part of it." Gerome cracked a small smile as he said this, causing Lucina to giggle in response.
"I knew it, you do enjoy being part of the family! It's going to be fun spending the holiday season with you, Father, and Mother!" Lucina looked down at herself again. "Well...provided I become normal again."
"Ophelia expressed surprise at your size, did she not?" replied Gerome. "If this timeline is a base, then wouldn't that imply you don't remain this size?"
"I appreciate your efforts to cheer me up Gerome, but that was the other me who she referred to, the baby back in Ylisstol. I might just be stuck a giantess with you and Minerva in Wyvern Valley." Lucina placed her hand to her chin for a moment before resuming her thoughts. "Which reminds me, we'll have to restock our tablecloths and bedsheets on the way back home. Perhaps Maribelle could make me some more outfits to wear."
"I only wish to keep you positive, Lucina. I promise to find you a cure for this, no matter how much rest it deprives me." Gerome looked at his platter, noticing it was empty. "Shall we refill our plate?"
"I'd like that." Lucina responded, smiling at her husband. She crawled towards the large carts of meat with Gerome hanging onto her scarf, ready to refill her stomach with meat and share merry stories with the others along the way.
----------
After a long and arduous journey, Tiki and Say'ri reached Mount Prism with their meteor chunk in tow, ready to consult Naga for her sage wisdom.
"My Lady," Say'ri asked, carrying the chunk in her large hand like a small baseball, "Are you positive this will work?"
"To be honest, no." responded the Manakete. "But we owe it to Lucina to try for her sake, especially after all she's done for us. Her growth has not seemed to affect her well-being negatively, but regardless, life as a giant could become lonely, she could be shunned by a society who sees her as different; I know first-hand how it feels to be different from others." Say'ri knew Tiki's near-immortality had always made it hard for her to make friends, so helping those who could be seen as different, like the half-Manakete, half-human Nah, had always been a passion of hers. Tiki stepped forward and took a knee in front of the temple's dragon statue and light-emitting mirror, effigies to the Divine Dragon Naga. "O Naga," she spoke, "Please hear my call! A new phenomenon has entered our world, I seek your divine wisdom to diffuse this matter!" Upon command, appearing in a sacred blue fire, came the apparition of a green-haired Manakete some referred to as a Goddess; the Divine Dragon, Naga, whom was also Tiki's mother.
"Tiki, my child," spoke the Manakete to her daughter, "You have grown so much from the infant you once were. I can see your spirit; you seem to have met many interesting and good-hearted comrades, I am gladdened by your experiences. Speak, why have you come seeking my advice?"
"O Naga, we come bearing a tool from beyond this world." As if on command, Say'ri placed the meteor between Tiki and the apparition of Naga to illustrate her friend's speech. "Its power is to mutate the body of humans and turn them into giants. It has affected a hero of this realm, as well as my close friend Say'ri, and I fear it may affect more humans." The meteor was raised into the air by telekinetic power, and was pulled to the Naga's view. She looked upon Say'ri, the princess kneeled before Naga in turn.
"Your friend appears to be three times your size. Is this the norm of this stone?"
"No, my lady," responded Tiki, "The hero I spoke of has become enormous, ten times the size of a regular human."
"I see..."
"We ask of you now, O Naga; can your divine powers reverse the effects of this mutation? We wish to create a stone to seal the power of growth, as you have done with the Dragonstones of our brethren?" Tiki and Say'ri waited a moment through silence for Naga to answer them.
"Millennia ago, the Dragonstones were created by the powers of the Dragon Tribe Elders, it was not I alone who was responsible." Tiki felt disheartened at this news. "However, I can see what you wish to accomplish, and it is possible. Tiki, my child, if you truly wish to cure the giants of their curse, than you must do this quest." Tiki raised her head, alert at her mother's words. "I wish for a full mass of stone and a giant to appear before me; from this, I can analyze the situation and use my powers and yours to create a cure for your hero in due time. Do you understand, Tiki?"
"Yes, O Naga! Thank you!"
"I shall leave it to you then, go now." Tiki and Say'ri turned to leave the temple. "Tiki, my child?"
"Yes, O Naga?" asked Tiki, turning to face her mother once more.
"I love you, good luck!" Naga gave her child a peace sign with her fingers and smiled warmly at her, before disappearing into the blue flame.
"Nah was right," thought Tiki, "Naga is kind of lame." As the two exited the temple, Tiki spoke to Say'ri about the new plan. "So we're going to need a full-sized giant and a larger meteor. I'm out since we need my powers, and I don't know where Lucina is."
"My lady," responded Say'ri, "Do you require for me to grow again?"
"Out of the question," responded Tiki, "I'm not putting you through that again, nor Lucina if we need a new meteor. I hate to say it, but we're going to need to grow someone else. Preferably a female for the effects of the Giantstone to work 100% with Lucina."
"I understand, my lady. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Well..." Tiki responded, trying to think who'd be best. "We know where Maribelle is, but she'd probably deck me for suggesting her to grow, and while Queen Sumia would do anything for her child, abducting and mutating Ylisstol's Queen could put us in hot water. Regardless, we'll figure something out. Shall we depart to look for a meteor in Ylisse, Say'ri?"
"Yes, my lady." On that, Tiki shifted into her dragon form again, now prepared to carry the weight of her friend, and allowed Say'ri to grab her legs. The two took flight, and even though Tiki could carry her friend easier with the experience of it fresh on her body, the Manakete couldn't stop from huffing and wheezing as she struggled to soar.
"W-We're taking some stops for food on the way..."   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
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