Spirit Chronicles: A New Beginning

S3 EP 7: Problems in Beltrum

Shortly after the banquet had ended, Rio Satsuki and now Charlotte left the castle and headed out. Rio was already pissed enough that he had to take a princess on a journey to find his friend and was forced into a marriage, but he couldn't complain how. Or, that's what he thought...

"I'm sorry, Princess, but you want to take who with us?!" Rio asked, outraged.

"Liselotte and I are close friends and she could prove quite useful in this endeavor." Charlotte explained. "Besides, I am the princess of Galarc, so you have to do what I say as you are in this country and my future fiancée."

"Just great..." Rio sighed. Ever since they had left the Galarc Castle, Rio had seen Princess Charlotte's true personality come to light. At the banquet, she acted as an innocent girl who needed protecting. Now, she was shown to be a huge brat and an incredible strategist. "I don't know what she wants with me, but as of now I'm being used by her... I need to shake her somehow!"

"Are you sure you need to go with us?" Rio asked. "Wouldn't a professional be better to take you on such an adventure, your highness?"

Charlotte scoffed. "Never! I choose you to help me and in return you will get my undying love, darling!"

Rio's eye twitched. "But I don't want your love! I want you gone!"

Satsuki stepped in the middle of Rio and Charlotte to break up the controversy. "Now let's stop this scuffle, you two. Charlotte, all Rio is saying is that he doesn't want you getting injured under is leadership. Still, Rio, Charlotte does have the authority in this so we have to follow her command and bring Miss Liselotte along with us."

Rio gritted his teeth and grunted. "Fine. Do what you want. Just know that there is a chance you may die and I will be taking no fault for your untimely demise."

"Fine." Charlotte agreed. "Then gets go get my friend!"

"You want me to go with you outside of Amande?" Liselotte exclaimed, expression bursting. "I-I don't know. As the govenor of Amande, I can't just exactly leave whenever I want to..."

"Oh come on, Lisolette!" Charlotte insisted. "As Princess of Galarc, I hereby let you leave your domain to your me on a quest!"

"But who would I leave in charge of this place?" Lisolette asked, anxiously. "And I have so much I need to do..."

"You can just do that later! Please, come with us! I haven't seen you in so long!" Charlotte pleaded.

Liselotte was silent for a moment, but finally agreed after seeing she couldn't say no to the second princess any longer. "Oh, all right. And since Miss Satsuki and Mister Rio are going, I suppose than I can join."

"Hooray!" Charlotte yelled, face beaming with excitement. "This adventure is going to be amazing!"

"She seems to think this will all be a piece of cake..." Rio observed. He turned to Sumeragi. "Is she sure she can handle all of this?"

Satsuki nodded to him. "Miss Charlotte is a capable mind who can out-wit any obstacle. I'm sure she will be alright, so you need not worry."

"Yes, but I may not be..."

"Just relax yourself, Sir Rio." Satsuki assured. "There isn't anything she will do that will take you off the edge I assure you. And as an added bonus, we're taking a route that should be free of trouble."

"I guess that makes me feel a bit better..." Rio mumbled, although still unhappy. "For now she can stay, but I don't know that she'll like this for long..."

"Good choice!" Satsuki agreed. "Now since that is settled, it's about time we head off."

"Where are we even going?" Charlotte asked. "Were we heading for Beltrum?"

Satsuki shook her head to indicate a no. "Beltrum is a pretty hostile place for Sir Rio at the moment, so I'd rather not interfere in their country. We're taking a route around the kingdom."

"So you do think that these friends of Sir Rio's may be in that direction?" Liselotte asked.

"Indeed. It's a good place to start our search." Satsuki explained.

"Then let's get going!" Charlotte exclaimed.

It had been two days since Rio's party had left the Galarc Kingdom and as the Beltrum came closer they could see the wreckage the areas were in. It had only been a few months since Rio saved Celia from the forced wedding and with that, search parties were all over the place.

"The guards look tense..." Satsuki observed. "Rio, do you have any idea what's going on in Beltrum?"

Rio nodded. "A noble girl was kidnapped from here not too long ago at her wedding to the Arbor house."

"Yes. I think I heard of that from Princess Christina at the banquet." Charlotte remarked. "She said that her old school teacher had been kidnapped, but said not to worry about it for some reason..."

Rio sighed. "Christina, you're almost giving what happened up! Keep your secrets for once in your life!"

"Anyway..." Charlotte continued. "We may be asked by guards for information. Be ready to be stopped early..."

"And I was hoping to avoid trouble..." Satsuki complained, disappointed. "Well, I guess that's that..."

Rio agreed. "Nothing we can do. Just answer their questions so we can get out of here as soon as possible." He had a different worry, but it wasn't something he could get away with. "They would recognize both my grey and black hair... I need to use a different hair color. I don't know if I can..."

"You can, Haruto."  Aishia whishpered in Rio's ear. "Just imagine a color and when you try your device your hair will become that color."

"Convenient..." Rio followed Aishia's instructions and was able to change his hair color from black to blonde. "This looks odd, but it will have to do..."

"Woah." Charlotte observed. "Did you just change your hair color?"

Rio nodded. "I have some trouble with the Beltrum Kingdom from my past, so I have to do this as a disguise."

"It looks nice!" Liselotte commented. "You should keep it?"

"You think?" Rio laughed. "Well I guess I will for now..."

"They're coming over here." Satsuki warned. "Just stay quiet and I'll do all the talking..." Everyone nodded as they watched Satsuki put on a cooperative face for the guards coming toward them, swords sheathed. "Hello, gentlemen! Is there something I can help you with?"

"Greetings." the first guard introduced. "As you can see, a major search is going on for some nobles of this kingdom and we ask you if you've seen any of these people."

"Yes, we would very much appreciate any information you possess." the second agreed, holding up three wanted posters of Princess Flora, Celia, and the mysterious kidnapper who took her.

Satsuki shook her head. "I have not seen these three. If I do see them, should I report back to you?"

"Yes, miss." the first guard nodded. "If that is all you have, then you may be on your way."

Satsuki, Rio, and the others started to walk by the guards as they headed for the other side of the guard patrolled sector. They had almost made it before...

"Wait!" the first guard quickly stopped. "That shade of dark magenta hair and the armor she is wearing... is she her?"

The second guard nodded. "Her description matches. Miss! We are going to have to ask you to stop and come with us for some questioning."

"Not good..." Rio observed. "Satsuki, any suggestions now?"

"It's best to go with them for now and work through this, unfortunately." Satsuki growled. "If need be, we can escape later." She cleared her throat and called to the guards. "Okay! We're coming!"

The four walked over to the two guards, but were ambushed and grabbed by others. "Your under arrest, Sumeragi Satsuki!"