The next day, each party member kinda kept to themselves while they waited for the royal family to arrive. Per the request of the Sormeos, TRITHAL booked one of the hotel's meeting rooms for the occasion, since it would be too big of a spectacle for a royal procession to be in their neighborhood. Per the agreement, the party would meet the King and Duchess when they arrive at the hotel later in the day, then the Sormeos would arrive after they got home form work. Meanwhile, the party had to find something to do to pass the time.
CHRIS found a few books at the bookstore from the previous day, and is up in the suite reading them. Palledoris, after deciding to re-pursue her once-avid interest in the flute, is up in her suite playing around with a flute she bought the day before. Anri spends some time sitting on the floor of the suite meditating. THRAX eventually finds himself engaged in conversation with Palledoris and Alys discussing the increasingly-weird dreams he's been having for the past few nights, and why his skin is turning red and scaly in a few places. Rishna is sitting in her bed with a notebook, writing random shit and drawing sketches... still pre-occupied with her own problems. Danika has disappeared to somewhere nearby to try out her new Nunchaku. TRITHAL is downstairs in their reserved meeting room, seeing to it that it is arranged according to their needs. Aelle eventually joins him there.
Aelle: "Hey Tsutaru? Can I talk to you?"
TRITHAL: "I guess. What's up?"
Aelle: "I know Lord Thrax ordered us not to pursue this until after we're done with the mission, but I have to ask you this: What is going on between you and Danika?"
TRITHAL: "Well, to be quite honest, I'm not entirely sure myself. But, from what I gather, Danika doesn't seem satisfied anymore with the Saibot order... and she's under the impression that I know a better way."
Aelle: "And why would she think that?"
TRITHAL: "That's something you'll have to talk to her about yourself. I honestly couldn't answer that for you."
Aelle: "What I'm getting at is, have you done or said anything to her that would cause her to think ill of the Saibot clan?"
TRITHAL: "Aelle, while I do take a personal stance against any religion that teaches ignorance, I don't go about trying to disrupt any religious sect that I don't agree with. I wouldn't have anything to gain from such actions. As far as I'm concerned, Danika is acting of her own will. Now, she may have gotten some ideas from listening to what I said to those hippies in Mordentshire or whatever, but I would never intentionally cause her to want to leave the Saibot clan. She obviously has some issues with you girls that you, as a group, need to address. As for me, I don't want any part of your internal affairs so keep me out of it."
Just then, a hotel employee came in and informed TRITHAL the royal transport had arrived. As TRITHAL turned to exit the room, Aelle grabbed his arm and said, "Just promise me, Tsutaru, that you won't take advantage of her."
TRITHAL: "Ok, Aelle, I promise. Now, could you do me a favor and go tell everyone it's show time?"
Aelle nods, then exits to go upstairs and gather the party. TRITHAL makes his way to the front lobby to greet the King and Duchess.
Outside, there is a Mount Sabretooth Army escort vehicle, followed by what appears to be a rock star's tour bus bearing the crest of King Midus, followed by another tour bus bearing the crest of the Plains of Tanchi, with a Tanchi Military Police escort vehicle bringing up the rear. A coachman exits the first tour bus and sets down a step, then helps Duchess Ali step out of the vehicle, followed by King Midus. Trithal couldn't help but notice that Ali is even more hot than before, but because he "got some", he is able to act accordingly. The two are wearing royal-looking attire, but not all-out frilly... or something like that or something. Anyway, the two enter the lobby and meet TRITHAL.
TRITHAL: "Ah, King Midus and Duchess Ali. Welcome to Morgura Prefecture."
King Midus: "Greetings, Trithal the Divine Wind."
Ali: "You're looking well, Trithal... not as characteristically up-tight as usual."
TRITHAL: "Well, thanks... I think. The rest of the party should be joining us momentarily. Let me show you to our meeting room."
TRITHAL escorts the King and Duchess, and the servants following them, to the meeting room.
TRITHAL: "The Sormeos should be here within an hour."
King Midus: "Excellent. That should give our doctor plenty of time to set up for the DNA test."
King Midus gives an order to a servant, who runs outside. Moments later, a few more servants begin to carry in medical equipment, then a tall man in a lab coat enters the meeting room and begins to assemble the equipment. The Saibot chicks plus THRAX and CHRIS eventually file into the room and exchange greetings with the King and Duchess.
Almost immediately, THRAX confronts Ali and mutters in an angry tone, "If this girl turns out to be Ella, you'd better let Axem go, or else there'll be hell to pay!"
The Tanchi guards prepare to draw weapons in defense because he is being smug to the prefectural lord, but Ali motions for them to stand down. She then responds to THRAX, "If Lisa Sormeo does turn out to be my long-lost sister, I may consider reducing his sentence to time served... and that's ONLY if I feel like it. Axem is still responsible for me losing my sister to begin with. Kidnapping a member of the royal family is enough of a crime to warrant his execution... and as far as I'm concerned, Axem the Stone Pillar is guilty as charged."
THRAX (trying ever so hard to repress going 'nucking futs' on her): "But, we arrested the guy who really kidnapped her in Laurenstown the other day! If you're gonna execute somebody, execute him! Let Axem go!"
Ali: "Thrax, in the United Prefectures you're innocent until proven guilty. Red Phile will have his day in court... and if he's found guilty his head will surely be on a pike. If he's found to be not guilty, then that leaves Axem as the responsible party... and if that's the case Axem will spend the rest of his life rotting away in my prison. The only reason why I won't execute him is because I owe him for helping me retake Tanchi. But, he is still pond scum to me."
Realizing that it would be pointless to continue arguing with the Duchess, THRAX snorts in disgust and walks away.
Elsewhere in the room, TRITHAL is talking with King Midus, CHRIS catches up with THRAX and tries to be silly with him, and Ali meets up with the Saibot chicks. She could tell simply by the looks in their faces what was going on with both Danika and Rishna. The group of them engaged in an excruciating level of girl-talk. After about 45 minutes of scattered conversation and preparation, the Sormeos called TRITHAL to inform him that they're on their way.
TRITHAL and Danika met the family in the lobby and showed them to the meeting room. When they all entered, Ali noticed the face of her long lost sister and almost went hysterical... until TRITHAL sent a telepathic message to her reminding her of Lisa's fragile mental state so she kept it cool for the time being.
Alan Sormeo: "King Midus, it is truly an honor!!"
Midus: "Thank you, sir. And you have much to clear up with your daughter-in-laws' past, yes?"
Denise Sormeo: "Yes, Your Majesty."
Midus: "...As do we."
The group of them sat and discussed how Lisa most-certainly resembles the lost Ella, and other random bullshit. A few minutes later, the doctor informed the King that he is ready to conduct the DNA test.
The doctor first escorts Ali into a booth where he draws a sample of her blood. Then after he's done with Ali, he escorts Lisa into the booth to take a sample of her blood. The doctor informed the king that the test should be completed in about 5 minutes. During that time the group engaged in conversation.
King Midus: "After this is done with, you are all invited to the Mountain Castle for a few days. This joyous celebration deserves a more proper venue."
Alan Sormeo: "Uh, with respect... I just got back from vacation, so I don't think I'll get the time off of work."
Nathan Sormeo: "Well, I'll be able to go!"
TRITHAL: "Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We still don't know for sure if Lisa is indeed Ella."
After a few more tense moments, the doctor emerged with a printouts of the results of the DNA test. The doctor handed one of the copies to the King, then stood in front of the group...there is a long and dramatic, annoying pause before he speaks...
CHRIS: "I CAN'T TAKE THE SUSPENSE!"
Out of nowhere, a pillow flies across the room and nails CHRIS in the head. The camera pans over to TRITHAL, who has a 'faking innocent' look on his face.
Doctor: "I have conducted the prescribed DNA analysis of the two blood samples I collected. The result of which suggests a match between the two subjects. As a result, I hereby conclude that this woman is indeed Ella of the Light, daughter of Annan!"
Some silly fanfare music plays that everyone, except the trio, seems to be totally oblivious to.
Lisa sat there with a look of disbelief while the rest of the Sormeos, and the King and Duchess began rejoicing. Ali hugs Lisa and says, "Praise be to the gods! We've found my sister!"
Nathan Sormeo: "Did you hear that, Lisa? You're royalty!"
Lisa: "Yeah... so.... what does all this mean?"
The group of rejoicers reacted to the oddness of Lisa's question.
Alan Sormeo: "It means that we've finally found your lost family. Aren't you excited about that?"
Lisa: "Well, I guess I am... but does this mean that I'm gonna have to leave all of you and go to Mount Sabretooth?"
King Midus: "We would like it if you did. We've missed you dearly these past two years."
Lisa: "But then, that means I'll have to say goodbye to the Sormeos. They've been my family for these past two years."
Seeing the beginnings of the conflict he feared would arise, TRITHAL approaches Lisa and says to her "You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. I'm sure the King and Duchess will give you time to decide for yourself whether or not you want to leave here and move to Mount Sabretooth. No one will pressure you into anything."
King Midus: "Yes, of course. But I would like for you, Nathan and your child to come to my castle and see the rest of your family. Everyone will be pleased to know that you are alive and well. Afterward, you may come back here to the Sormeos if you would like."
Lisa thinks about it for a moment, then says, "Yes, I think I'd like that."
King Midus: "Very good, then. Tomorrow morning we shall leave here and return to Mount Sabretooth. You, Nathan, and the elemental warriors are all welcome to travel with us. We have plenty of room in both of our coaches."
Ali (to party): "You have fulfilled your end of the bargain...I'll have my Military Police bring Axem to the Mountain Castle and he can rejoin you there..."
Before THRAX could get in Ali's face again, TRITHAL said, "Thank you, Ali. That would be most appreciated."
TRITHAL had already arranged for quarters for the King and Duchess on the VIP level of the hotel. Ali invited Nathan and Lisa to stay with them that night and leave for Mount Sabretooth in the morning. King Midus invited everyone to an expensive dinner at the nicest restaurant in town on him. The whole group accepted. After dinner, Alan and Denise told their son and daughter-in-law that they will await their return from Mount Sabretooth, then left for home. The rest of the group made their way back to the hotel to turn in for the night.
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