The main atrium of the Lee mansion was a wreck. The servants, especially Wei, looked dejectedly at the state of the building they had worked so hard to maintain. Meiling did her best to console them, surprising Sakura and Nathan.
“She’s not like other richies,” intoned Nathan.
“She’s way nicer than I imagined,” said Sakura.
“Yeah, if it were my parents, they’d’ve fired the lot of ’em,” said Nathan.
“Are you from a wealthy family too?” asked Sakura. “Are all rich families part of this world of magic?”
Nathan scoffed, “No! I kinda fell into this.”
“More like dove in,” blurted a voice from the front door. Sakura and Nathan turned to see Astrid. Sakura now had a good look at the woman who had saved her. The scar reaching across the bridge of her nose, along with the mechanical blades shimmering in the light, made her look really scary. Sakura edged behind Nathan as the woman approached.
Astrid dragged a smouldering creature with a familiar scent. She threw the thing to the floor in front of them and said, “Look what the cat dragged in and pissed all over.”
Nathan looked at the giggling mass and recognised him. “Moonface!”
“Seems that this shithead has taken over after we killed Doctor Butterfly,” said Astrid.
“No, Chouno took him out,” said Nathan.
Astrid shot the boy a look that yelled, “Does that matter?” She noticed the girl hiding behind her friend and her tone changed. “This thing won’t hurt you, Miss.”
Sakura peaked out from behind Nathan, and eyed Astrid up and down. Astrid put on a softer expression, which lured the girl out of hiding.
“I’m Sakura,” she mumbled. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“Oh, sorry,” said Nathan. “Yeah, Sakura, this is Astrid Rachelle. She’s my …”
“Girlfriend?” asked Sakura.
“God! No!” bellowed Astrid with a jerk of the proverbial knee.
“Words can hurt, you know,” said Nathan.
“Well, we don’t want people getting the wrong idea, do we?” returned Astrid sarcastically.
Wei and Meiling approached and bowed reverently to the two Australian warriors.
“I must extend our gratitude for your assistance,” said Wei.
“No probs,” said Nathan.
“It’s the Regiment’s job to handle homunculi,” said Astrid.
“Yes, handle haughty homunculi,” chirped Moonface. Sakura withdrew from the creature, his horrid cannibalistic lust wafting from him like a disease. Astrid edged the points of her blades close to Moonface’s every joint, and demanded his silence.
At that point, Xiaolang entered the atrium. He sighed with relief as he embraced Sakura. His gaze then fell on Nathan, and a twinge of suspicion hit him as he noticed the boy’s gaze on his girlfriend. Nathan looked at him and grinned.
“G’day! I’m Nathan Grant,” he said, offering a handshake.
“I know who you are, Starlight Lancer. I’m Xiaolang Lee,” said the Chinese boy. He motioned to Sakura. “I’m her boyfriend.”
Nathan facetiously threw his hands up and said, “Hey, don’t feel threatened if women find me irresistible.”
“Oh, Christ, Nathan,” moaned Astrid as she face-palmed. Sakura just looked perplexed by the whole thing.
Xiaolang looked to Astrid and said, “Got your hands full with this one, don’t you, Spartan?”
Astrid strutted over and shook Xiaolang’s hand. She had an expression part way between a smile and a sneer, and she muttered, “He’s got nothin’ on you, Coyote!” Then the pair burst into laughter.
“How the heck’ve you been, Astrid!?” exclaimed Xiaolang. “What was it, four years since we last spoke?”
“Thereabouts,” said Astrid. “California, right?”
Xiaolang pointed to Sakura, who was absolutely dumbstruck. “I see you’ve met my girlfriend.”
“Yeah, I heard you’d had your heart stolen by a photo,” jibed Astrid.
“And you had to give someone a heart, I hear,” returned Xiaolang.
“Oh, you mean this idiot?” she asked, pointing at Nathan, who made an obscene gesture in response.
Sakura suddenly yelled, “What’s going on here?” The toll of the night’s events had finally appeared on her face. Her cheeks were flushed with her unfurling anxiety. She pointed at Nathan and Astrid and yelled, “Who are these people, Xiaolang?” She pointed at Moonface on the floor and bellowed, “And what is that thing?”
She clasped her arms around herself in a futile effort to stop shaking. Xiaolang placing his hands on her shoulders gently went a long way to calming her. He then explained Nathan and Astrid’s identities as Alchemic Warriors, and the nature of their label. Astrid even deactivated her Arms Alchemy and showed Sakura the Kakugane. Xiaolang then explained the homunculi.
“Well, why are they here? Hunting?” asked Sakura, still shaken up.
“Moon!” gurgled Moonface. He eyed Sakura and made a hungry growling sound. Nathan stomped on his head to silence him.
“They’re not hunting,” said Yelan. All eyes turned to the Lee matriarch, who entered the atrium. She shot daggers at the Alchemic Warriors in her house, but focused her disgust on Moonface. The creature just grinned back at her, as if his life weren’t in the surest peril.
Feiwang appeared behind her, a wooden box in his hand. The box confused everyone, except Moonface, who whistled with interest.
“The homunculi attacking our vault were after this,” said Feiwang.
Nathan suddenly blurted, “That’s the Silver Key, right?” He scrambled over to the man. “Can I have a look?”
“Nathan, stop,” warned Astrid.
“Nah, I wanna have a look,” Nathan insisted. “We came all this way to stop Moonface, so I wanna see what this thing is.” He motioned for Feiwang to open the box, but the man refused, despite being taken aback by the Australian’s forwardness.
“How do you know about the Silver Key?” asked Yelan.
“We received intelligence that the L.X.E. was after it,” said Astrid, trying hard to silence Nathan with her glare.
The message evidently hadn’t reached the boy. He went on, “Yeah, wasn’t it like there were two of ’em, and Moonface and Shaula made off with one of them. That’s why he’s here now, to get the other one.”
“Wait! The Regiment had the other Silver Key?” exclaimed Xiaolang.
“Yeah, they’d gotten some dude to research it,” said Nathan. He looked straight at Astrid, whose rage blasted outward from her eyes. Once again, her meaning didn’t reach him and he said, “What was the guy’s name? Arthur or something?”
“Avalon,” murmured Xiaolang.
Sakura jumped with shock. She looked at Xiaolang and gasped, “Dad?” She then looked at Astrid, who sighed with irritation. She disregarded Astrid’s exasperated look and asked, “Franklin Avalon … My father is working for you?” Astrid looked at her apologetically.
“Was working for them,” chimed Moonface.
“What do you mean, was?” asked Sakura.
“He was working for the rancid Regiment,” said Moonface. “Now, he’s working for our wily, wanton Witch, Shaula … for now, at least.”
Sakura burst forward and grabbed the homunculus. Tears leaked from her eyes as she yelled, “Tell me where he is, now!”
Moonface champed his teeth menacingly, prompting Astrid to yank Sakura back. The poor girl was distraught, and demanded to know where her father had been taken. The malevolent creature smiled and murmured, “Not tellin’!”
“Sakura, look at me,” said Astrid firmly. “We have ways of making homunculi talk. We’ll take him back to our headquarters and find out where they took your father. Okay?”
Sakura sniffled back her tears and nodded. Meanwhile, Xiaolang walked across to Nathan, who was still trying to get a look at Feiwang’s box. He yanked the boy away by the scruff of his neck and snarled, “Get away from him, Grant.”
“Oi, just wanted to have a look,” said Nathan indignantly.
“What does the Alchemic Regiment want with the Silver Key?” asked Yelan as she put herself between him and her husband.
“I dunno,” replied Nathan. “I just busted outta there when I heard they’d lost it.”
Yelan and Feiwang’s eyes bugged out.
“The Regiment hasn’t cleared you for active service,” muttered Feiwang. “You still have the Black Kakugane within you.”
“How do you know about that?” asked Nathan, rubbing his sternum nervously.
“I must ask you to leave now,” said Yelan.
Nathan sighed, knowing full well their meaning. He cursed the talisman in his chest, which still hummed with the life-sucking fury of Victor Powers. He stepped away slowly and turned to Astrid.
“We’ll leave with Moonface,” he said as he hoisted the homunculus to his feet. He glanced at Sakura and said, “We’ll make him tell us where your dad is, okay?”
Sakura sucked in a deep breath and said, “I’m coming too!” The whole room erupted into gasps and bellows. Xiaolang was particularly adamant about keeping his girlfriend away from the homunculi. But Sakura was determined. “I have to help find Dad.” She clutched the Cards in her pocket and proclaimed, “I have this power. I need to use it to at least defend my family.”
“I won’t let you go alone,” said Xiaolang. His parents tried to stop him, but he pulled away and stood by Sakura. “Mother, Father, I have to make sure that she is safe. She doesn’t know their world, but I do.” Nearby, Meiling cheered him on for being such a good boyfriend.
“We need you here,” said Feiwang. “With the protective charms around our vault gone, the Silver Key is vulnerable.”
Moonface chirped with excitement, and the stiff slaps Nathan and Astrid gave his head did nothing to dishearten him.
Xiaolang glanced between Sakura, Moonface, and his parents. He then walked to them and said, “I’ll take it. I’ll take the Silver Key with me. Sakura and I can protect it. Not to mention, the whole Alchemic Regiment.”
Feiwang was about to refuse, but his wife rested her hand on his shoulder to silence him. Her eyes were transfixed upon her son, and her irises glimmered subtly. Then she looked at Feiwang and said, “Let him take it.”
* * *
About a half-hour later, Nathan and Astrid wove their way through the woods around Mount Cameron. They dragged Moonface along with them. Xiaolang and Sakura followed not far behind, having both changed into clean clothes. Sakura brought her travel pack, which included her essentials. Xiaolang had a backpack containing the Silver Key box and reams of paper charms.
“Thank you for coming with me,” said Sakura.
“You’re my Number One, and your father is in danger,” said Xiaolang. “It’s obvious I’d come along.”
Sakura eyed Astrid up ahead and her eyes narrowed. “How do you know Astrid?”
Xiaolang sighed. “When I was in California – remember I told you about that? Astrid had been dispatched to clean up a homunculus infestation. My father asked me to give her a hand.” Sakura pursed her lips and hummed suspiciously. Xiaolang held his hands up honestly. “We’re just really old friends, I swear it.”
“She called you Coyote,” said Sakura. “Just like Alice Axilotl.”
“That’s just a code name, Sakura,” replied Xiaolang. “It’s actually what my name means in English.”
“And why did you call her Spartan?” asked Sakura.
“Because my code name is Spartan Valkyrie, Cardcaptor,” said Astrid over her shoulder.
Sakura raised an eyebrow, and glanced at Nathan. “And you’re the Starlight Lancer.” Nathan threw her a thumbs-up.
Between them, Moonface chortled, “Such silly pseudonyms.”
“Shut up!” barked the quartet.
Not long after, they reached a clearing. Nestled amongst the trees was the small aircraft Nathan and Astrid had stolen from the Regiment facility. They moved to board it, but were shocked by the sudden crunch of metal. The wings of the aircraft fell unceremoniously to the ground. The four looked around flabbergasted, as Moonface’s grin widened.
“The brash blonde befalls,” he murmured.
A pair of Converse shoes hit the fuselage of the wrecked aircraft, drawing everyone’s attention. They looked up to see a girl in jeans and a yellow jumper. Her blonde pigtails wafted in the wind, beating gently against the handle of a black and red scythe resting on her shoulder.
“I’m afraid I can allow you to go no further,” said the girl.
Astrid and Xiaolang exchanged glances, knowing full well the girl’s identity. They stepped forward, motioning for Nathan and Sakura to guard Moonface.
“Since when does the Reaper interfere in Regiment affairs, Maka Albarn?” asked Astrid.
Maka’s dark green eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
“When the fate of the planet hangs in the balance,” she retorted.
The face of an albino boy appeared in the blade of Maka’s scythe. He slurped up a line of drool and bellowed, “Hand over Moonface and the Silver Key, or …”
“I’ll take your soul!” roared Maka.
She charged Astrid and Xiaolang, who summoned their weapons. Maka swiped first at Astrid, who leapt back and retaliated with her four mechanical blades. Xiaolang attacked with an intentionally blunted sword, but Maka blocked it with the butt of her scythe. The girl single-handedly defended against the attacks of both masters, wielding the scythe as if it were weightless.
Xiaolang pulled out a paper charm.
“Fēnghuá zhāolái!” he bellowed. A vicious gust of wind burst from his sword and blasted Maka into the trees. He and Astrid raced toward the tree on which their opponent had found her footing. With a boost from Xiaolang’s wind magic, they shot into the air toward Maka.
The battle took to the skies as Maka twirled in mid-air to parry and block their every attack. She winded Xiaolang with the head of her scythe before bringing it around to strike Astrid. The mechanical arms of the Valkyrie Skirt only just managed to keep Maka’s attacks at bay. Astrid flipped in mid-air and the resultant spinning of her blades threw off Maka’s defences. Astrid then twirled, bringing the blunt edges of her blades across Maka’s face. This only gave Maka a bit more momentum to spin and knock Astrid’s head with the butt of her scythe. She then kicked Astrid away, which pushed her back toward another tree.
As she fell back to the ground, Maka heard Xiaolang roar, “Huǒ shén zhāolái!” A barrage of fireballs flew from the Chinese boy on the ground. Maka spun her scythe as fast as she could, making a shield of it to deflect the blasts. She hit the tree and rebounded toward Moonface.
Sakura stood in front of the homunculus, spurred by the mental image of her imperilled father. She held her arms wide and screamed, “Stop!” But Maka couldn’t stop.
There was a deafening clang of metal on metal. Nathan stood between Maka and Sakura, his gauntlet raised to block Maka’s blow. The scythe’s blade rung with a painfully strident tone. Nathan flicked his arm and sent Maka flying. She hit the ground, and her scythe fell beside her.
Nathan slowly advanced, his fingertips slightly crimson and his hair roots shimmering fluorescently. Maka sat up and felt her energy slowly leave her. She scrambled away from Nathan, but could not find her feet. The Starlight Lancer stood over her and glared down at her. The scythe suddenly transformed into the albino boy, who covered her body with his own.
“Stay the Hell away from my meister!” he snarled.
“You gonna behave yourselves?” asked Nathan, his voice a deep growl. Maka exchanged glances with the boy, and then nodded. Her eyes radiated hostility, but they were honest too.
Nathan deactivated his Arms Alchemy, and willed his body back to normal. He reached down and offered the pair his hands. They took them hesitantly and he pulled them up.
“I’m Nathan Grant,” he said with a smile. He pointed out Sakura. “That chick’s Sakura. That’s her boyfriend, Xiaolang. And that’s my friend, Astrid.”
“I know who they are,” snapped Maka. She shot an especially dark look at Sakura. Then she looked at Nathan. “I’m Maka Albarn of the Demon Weapon Meister Academy. This is my weapon partner, Soul.”
“I take it you’re that Starlight Lancer what’s been screwin’ everythin’ up,” said Soul.
“You’re right about that,” said Astrid. She eyed the wrecked aircraft and sighed. “Why did the Reaper send you here?”
“We were ordered to recover the Silver Key before the Regiment started screwing around with it,” said Maka. “We also have to neutralise Moonface.”
“You can’t!” snapped Sakura. “Moonface kidnapped my father, and I need the Regiment to find out where he is.”
Maka looked almost sickened by the mention of the word ‘father.’
“It’s too dangerous. He must be taken out,” she snarled.
Astrid and Xiaolang advanced, their weapons at the ready.
“The Alchemic Regiment will take jurisdiction here, Albarn,” said Astrid. “We also need to know where Moonface is keeping Doctor Avalon. That’s where the other half of the Silver Key is.”
“Also Shaula,” put in Xiaolang. “I hear you two have a bone to pick with her.”
The hairs on Maka’s neck stood on end, while Soul clenched his teeth. They exchanged glances as they considered their options. They couldn’t well let their target out of their sight.
Soul finally spoke up, “We’ll need to report to Lord Reaper.”
“Lord Reaper?” asked Nathan.
“The head of their organisation,” Astrid explained.
“If he agrees to let you have Moonface, we’ll take you back to the Regiment,” said Maka begrudgingly. There was a twinge of hope in her voice that the Reaper would side with her.
Nathan, Astrid, and Xiaolang exchanged glances and silently agreed. Sakura looked at the wrecked aircraft and raised a hand.
“How do we get there?” she asked.