Cold Strike 2

Chapter 4 - 13: Ice Spreading

Alden would walk up to the stage, alongside were Scorch, Sapphira, Commander Storm, and Summer.

Everyone in the crowd looked over to pay attention to the speech that is about to be delivered. And everyone remained silent. Now, Alden began to speak to the crowd in a calm, respectful tone.

Thank you all for coming. This Festival is dedicated to the hedgehog that became an Elite after months of training, and I would like to thank Summer for allowing us to celebrate it. And thank the chiefs too! They did cook the meals after all.

The Nobles began to chuckle, then remain silent afterwards.

Now, it is a day that you all hear the great news about what Furia is going to do next. Believe me, You will want to hear it...

...You remember the story about Ginda? Once the number one biggest kingdom in the world? Probably not. But that's okay, I'm here to tell all of you. I used to believe that they all fell from grace unknowingly, But that's not the case. That kingdom didn't just fall without reason, It was destroyed by the Emperor. His motives behind this is unknown and I'm not gonna go into theory about it, All you need to know is that the kingdom no longer exist. And it's an empty wasteland.

This is where the speech would've end, If I hadn't known about the information I got. Since the kingdom was about to be destroyed, The Gindish people made their quick exit to a realm we never knew existed. But lucky for us Furians, we know how to get there.

We have to build the portal chamber. It's a one way trip to this realm. Thankfully, I already manage to get it built. It's in the castle at Embria. The next thing we need is a fuse and...[Chuckles] I already have that taken care of. All we have to do is take it to Embria and put it in the portal chamber. Should be easy enough.

Now some of you are thinking: "Why am I telling you this?" Well, there is a Gemstone that'll give our soldiers great power. It's hidden somewhere in that realm and I'll be taking a few volunteers with me to retrieve it, So we can use it for Furia's Plan. And that plan, Ladies and Gentlemen, is...The Invasion of Cryteria.

Scorch: "WHAT?!"

Winter: [ Inner monologuing: "WHAT?!" ]

Alden: "Yes, We are going to Invade Cryteria. The only way we can do that is by going to the hidden realm and getting that gemstone. I have spoken to Summer about this and she says we can do it. Scorch, Sapphira, and Commander Storm will be with me on this journey. Tomorrow we are gonna head out for the gemstone. But tonight, We all celebrate! For the glory of FURIA!!"

The people in the crowd began to cheer and clap their hands together after hearing such a speech from Summer's Number One Advisor.

Furian Duchess (Female Hedgehog): "About time Furia does this!"

Furian Duchess (Female Husky): "Yes! It's time for Winter to pay for what she's done."

Winter: [ Inner monologuing: "This is their plans they have for Cryteria...Invasion. And the only way they can do that is taking the gemstone in the hidden realm..." ]

The Princess places the palm of her hand on the vent. And blue aura forms around it.

Winter: [ Inner monologuing: "Well...Lemme give you guys a head start~" ]

She removes her hand away and crawls the other way toward the route, leading to the kitchen. What leaves behind was the Ice spreading rather quickly on the same spot she was in.

Scorch could not believe what he just heard. It was almost like he was dreaming this, Except this is reality.

Scorch: "My real mission...It's the Invasion of Cryteria."

Alden: "Yes, And we need you to take part of it."

Scorch: "But that's insane, I can't do this. That's just beyond my capabilities!"

Alden: "You attacked Snowy Paradise and Snow Valley and now you're saying you can't take part in the Invasion? C'mon, Stop playing games. You know better than that."

Scorch was about to say something when suddenly he started to feel cold. Alden started feeling it as well, and questioned why he was feeling cold all of the sudden.

The Nobles also started feeling cold. A feeling none of them like. Summer feeling how the temperature was dropping can only know one person who would be capable of doing such a thing.

Summer: "Winter..."

Alden: "Winter?! How can you tell?!"

Scorch: [Sniffs] "...Hold on, She's here. And she's in the palace."

Alden: "How?! How'd she get through our defense?!"

The crowd were feeling cold, and they were beginning to panic. They are suspecting that Winter is attacking again.

Sapphira: "Not something we should ask right now. Let's get the people out of here and deal with Winter quickly."

Alden: "Yeah...You're right, Let's do those first..."

Summer: "Sapphira, Scorch! Find Winter and deal with her immediately."

Sapphira: "Yes, Princess."

Sapphira vanishes, leaving behind blue flames. Scorch was more than happy to fight Winter again, So he dashes quickly.

Summer: "Alden, You and the Knights evacuate the people immediately."

Alden: "We will and we'll do it quickly...I don't want another Flaming Palace Incident."

Summer: "There won't be another one. I can promise you that...Now get moving!"

Alden nodded, and turned toward the crowd who were shivering from the cold temperature and panicking because they fear that Winter will come attack them.

Alden: "Everyone, I need you all to calm down. Everything's gonna fine. Now I want all of you to get in a single file line and do exactly as I say!"

As Alden left to help the people, Summer took this time to get into her thoughts about Winter. She knows why she would come to the palace, But she couldn't understand why she didn't do what most leaders would do when a village in their country gets attacked by one individual from another country. Especially when it comes to the Age of Peace Treaty.

Regardless, She won't let her freeze her palace. She knows that she sent Scorch and Sapphira to deal with Winter, But she is the Princess of Furia, And it's her duty to protect her Kingdom. No matter the cost. She's not just gonna stand there while everyone else is doing something to prevent the palace from freezing.

That's not something she does.

Instead, what she will do is find and deal with her. It's the only way she'll prevent her from freezing the flaming palace.