Chapter 22: Plans Set In Motion

Ark One: Fate of Eostia Part Two

(Third Person POV) Location: Ken, White Citadel

After negotiating with the members of the Shield Alliance for several hours, the Lunarian got to know his future wives because if he was gonna marry them, he might as well get to know them. When Crow proposed this, the four women agreed, and after several hours, it was safe to say the winged teen had a pretty good understanding of them.

Prim Fiorire, besides her status, was what one would call the typical teenage girl in the Lunarian's opinion, at least. He had no idea how an ordinary girl around his age acted since all the females he knew had supernatural abilities, quirky personality traits, and were overall badasses.

Nonetheless, Prim was the closest thing to normal he'd encountered. She was a timid and stammering mess at first, but after talking for a while, her true character emerged.

She was curious, like a cat wanting to know more about the world, was incredibly cheerful, and, if Crow was honest, very naive. However, he couldn't blame the girl for that, as being born into a life of luxury and security tends to soften a person.

Alicia Arcturus, like Prim, was also what he considered a typical girl but more hotheaded, less soft, and naive than the pink-haired girl, albeit not by a wide margin. She valued traits like honor, courage, loyalty, and justice highly, which Crow could respect as his values were more or less the same, with the only difference being he was more flexible with his principles and wasn't afraid to play dirty if it had to come down to it.

He also learned that Alicia and Prim were cousins, and she was unbearably protective of her, which was something he would need to work on in the future. Another trait he found troublesome and would need to fix was her distaste for low-borns, outsiders, and her judgmental attitude.

It wasn't hard to figure out Alicia didn't have the best relationship with Maia or Kaguya due to their origins. The only reason she wasn't giving him as much of a difficult time was due to his status, race, and that they were betrothed.

Maia, also known as the Queen of the Mercenaries, was the one who interested him the most. She was easygoing, a great conversationist, funny, and incredibly flirty.

Unlike her allies, she was the only one who didn't come from nobility. The redhead was originally a part of the Black Dog mercenaries until Celestine offered her the position to become a shield princess.

If it weren't for the fact Crow couldn't sense any ill intentions from her and, from what he knew, wasn't aware of Vult's plans, he would've killed her the moment they were outside of the city. Besides that, the Lunarian's relationship with the redhead was the most amicable and progressive.

Celestine was the one he talked to the longest, primarily because she might've had more knowledge about his race and their customs, and to his relief, she did. After learning more about his people, he got to know the so-called goddess, and if he was being frank, he had mixed thoughts about her.

While she was pleasant, incredibly compassionate, valued life, and was wiser than most, Crow disapproved of certain traits of hers. She was too passive, indecisive, and kind for her own good, as anyone with a cunning mind could easily exploit these traits to their advantage, which was something Crow wasn't going to allow anymore now that he was here.

If the Shield Alliance were to last, the Lunarian would need to work on turning the high elf queen into a proper leader, which would be difficult but not impossible.

"Can I ask you a favor?" Celestine asked hesitantly.

Crow internally quirked an eyebrow at her behavior but decided to humor her.

The Lunarian nodded. "Ask away."

"...When you go to confront Olga, could you please capture her and bring her to me," Crow narrowed his eyes at the high elf, and she shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Why?" he asked with an icy tone as he was aware of the dark elves' atrocities. "Don't tell me you want to make peace with the woman after all the bullshit she did," his tone became harsher and slightly raised in volume.

Celestine flinched and stammered. "...I d-do."

"Are you fucking stupid? Why would you want to make peace with her?" he asked incredulously.

The blonde beauty looked away and looked down at the ground. "Because Olga was once my friend..."

"What?" Crow asked, shocked by the reply.

"...long ago, Olga and I used to be friends. However, that changed when humans appeared after what happened to the Lunarians. A war soon happened between elves and humans when the latter started hunting us like animals and enslaving our people... to stop the war, I made peace with the humans and gave them parts of our land..."

Crow grimaced as he already saw where this conversation was going. "I'm guessing Olga didn't take that well."

The blonde nodded. "Indeed. Olga was angry and wanted vengeance against the humans for what they did to us. Nothing I could have said would've stopped her, and soon another war started..."

Crow looked at her sympathetically. "Do you believe it's your fault?"

"...I do...every second I wonder what could've been if I found another solution or taken more in action," a tear dropped from Celestine's eye. "I miss my friend...and it would break me if she were killed. I know she deserves death, and my request is selfish, but please bring her to me..." She looked at the Lunarian with pleading eyes.

The Lunarian looked into her green eyes for what seemed like an eternity, and after a while, he sighed and looked away.

"Fine," he said reluctantly. "But you better keep an eye on her, or otherwise, I won't be as merciful the next time she fucks up," he warned.

Celestine smiled brightly and hugged him. "Thank you for listening to my request...if it makes it any better, I also have another reason for wanting to spare her," Crow looked at her with interest, and she continued. "...I had a vision."

The Lunarian calmed down slightly. "What did it show you?"

Celestine frowned slightly. "It showed you saving Olga from several shadowy figures. Afterward, it showed you and her fighting against the figures and a mountain-sized beast with ominous yellow eyes...after that, the vision stopped."

"I see..." Crow said, quickly attempting to piece together what the high elf told him.

It wasn't hard to figure out that those shadowy figures she was talking about were Vult and his allies. However, he had no idea what kind of creature she was talking about, nor was any beast of war mentioned in their spy's report. That only meant the creature she saw in her vision was something else entirely or future addition to Vult's army, which wasn't good at all. He needed to dig deeper.

"What did the creature's form look like? Did it have any prominent features, or was it shaped similarly to a known animal?"

The elf thought for a moment. "It had the shape of a man but with massive wings, curved horns at the top of its head, and had four arms."

Yeah, he had no idea what the fucking thing could be. The only logical conclusion was that it might be a demon-like species or a hybrid giant. It wouldn't be the oddest thing he had seen or heard of.

The Lunarian sighed. "Yeah, I have no clue what that could be."

"Likewise, but let's not think about it too hard for now," the Lunarian nodded in agreement. "I have one more thing to ask of you."

"And that is?"

"In five days, the Black Dogs will raid and take control of the Black Citadel. I want you to go with them to ensure everything goes to plan and ensure Olga remains unharmed."

So he'll get to meet the scumbags soon, huh? This information will work in the Lunarian's favor.

"I can do that. When will the mercs be here?"

"Tomorrow morning. Would you like me to introduce you to the leader of the Black Dogs?"

Crow grinned. "Yes, I would," he got up from his seat and offered his hand. " Also, how would you like to meet your other future sister-wives?"

"I would love to," she smiled and took his hand.

(Timeskip)

When Crow introduced Celestine to Uta and Ulti, it didn't take long for them to get along, and the Lunarian couldn't be happier with the outcome. The three beautiful women talked for hours about all sorts of topics, with the main ones being about Crow and the soon-to-be-born children.

Celestine wanted to know everything about the Lunarian and his relationship with Uta and Ulti, as it was only fair since she'd be marrying him alongside them. Crow put his input whenever necessary, but he let his fiances do most of the talking as it was their time to form a relationship.

Uta, in the elf's opinion, was the most intriguing of the two and could understand why Crow fell for her. The candy-caned-haired girl was incredibly charming and radiated an infectious, bubbly aura that made people want to be around her. Uta told the elf about her hobbies, how she met Crow, how they became pirates, their situation, and her children.

The blonde elf couldn't help but feel sympathy for Crow's and Uta's situation. Celestine wished she could help them in some way, but if what they informed her about Kaido was true, then there was nothing she could do.  

Ulti was quite the character, and Celestine would be lying if she said she wasn't slightly scared of the horned girl. She was energetic, short-tempered, shameless, blunt, crude, and uncaring if she offended anyone in any shape or form. Everything from the blue-haired mouth made the elf wonder how their leader hadn't killed her yet and how Crow put up with her antics.

Don't get her wrong, she liked the female pirate, but if she had to deal with Ulti on a daily basis, she'd probably end up going insane. However, despite her quirks, Ulti did have a soft side, as she was incredibly family-oriented, fiercely loyal, and protective. All she talked about was her love for Crow, her younger brother, and how she couldn't wait to meet her precious children.

It took Celestine a while to learn anything about Ulti, but when she did, the blonde wasn't surprised by what she learned. She, like Crow, was a fighter and was determined to grow stronger in order to protect what she loved.

Overall, the elf had nothing but positive opinions of the two, and Uta and Ulti could say the same about the high queen of Eostia.

"So, can I hear you sing?" Celestine asked Crow when he came back from the bathroom.

After finding out that the Lunarian could sing from her future sister's wives, the blonde really wanted to hear what he sounded like.

"Uh, sure, I guess, but I won't be as good as Uta, though," he replied with a sheepish grin.

"Bullshit, you're just as good as Uta. Right Candy-Cane?" Ulti asked, smirking at seeing Uta's eyes, left eyebrow twitch, and her jaw clench.

Uta looked and scowled at her. "What did I say about calling me that?" she then looked at Crow and gave a loving smile. "Anyway, she's right. Even Gordon said we're about the same level as me, so no shit talking about yourself."

Crow sighed. "I'll try...well, here it goes, I guess..."

"Yeah. I don't believe in destiny. I just do what's best for me. Don't listen to my enemies. They're just full of jealousy.

Duh. This legacy."

"You gon' see what's left of me. You gon' see success in me.

You ain't seen the rest of me."

"I just wanna be the best at what I know. Better than the rest. Just watch me grow. Put me to the test and watch me go."

"This is my quest, I'ma make it known. They call me obsessive, oh I know."

"Call me selective with my notes. Call me aggressive with my flow. Call me offensive, even though."

"So we ain't gonna lie, life's tough. Tryna get by, life's rough.

Try to do it right, It's not enough."

"Even though you try, you still mess up. But I'm still gonna fight for what I love."

"Still gonna die for what I love. Still gonna try, I won't give up.

Still gonna fight until I've won."

"They say I'm way too obsessed. And I've got nothing left.

And I'm not quite there yet."

"But those words they'll regret. 'Cause I've got something left."

"And I'm not giving in. I will not let them win. I won't stop 'til the end, no."

"I've been through some injuries, mentally and physically.

Studied them religiously, so I don't repeat history."

"And people won't admit to me, they don't want a victory.

Bad enough to get a seat, they'd rather just go leave it be."

"And oh, this journey. I've been on since 13, working hard and learning. Never stopping searching, yeah."

"It's burning, all this passion hurts me. I took action working, writing down these words he."

"No, I'm not okay. I just wanna be something. I don't wanna be nothing."

"Living all alone. No, I'm not alright. I'm just barely getting by."

"But I'll tell you, I'm just fine. So you leave me alone. They say I'm way too obsessed."

"And I've got nothing left. And I'm not quite there yet."

"But those words they'll regret. 'Cause I've got something left. And I'm not giving in. I will not let them win."

"I won't stop 'til the end, no."

When Crow finished his song, he looked at his future wives and saw their expressions. All three looked at him in amazement, especially Celestine, since she'd never heard someone sing as beautifully as the Lunarian.

"...that was incredible..." Celestine was the first to speak. "Not even the best singers of Eostia could hope to match you," she said, making Crow smile.

"Was that the one you've been working on for a while?" Uta asked, and Crow nodded.

"Yeah, what do you think?"

Uta got up and sat on his lap. "What do I think? Thats was amazing, babe!" she kissed his cheek and looked into his eyes lovingly. "You always were better at making songs than me. I'm slightly jealous," both teens chuckled.

"You know you could always ask me for help, right?"

"I know, but...I didn't want to be a bother," that comment earned Uta a smack to the ass, causing the girl to yelp and the other two women to blush at the sight.

"How often do I have to tell you you're never a bother?" Crow held her gently yet firmly. "If ever you need my help with anything, just ask, okay?" she nodded shyly and rested her head on his shoulder.

Celestine smiled at the sight of the young lovers. The more she spent time with them, the more she couldn't help but get slightly attached to the teenage pirates. They were nothing like the pirates that Eostia had to deal with before, and slowly but surely, her opinions about their kind were becoming less biased.

The blonde elf turned to look at Ulti and saw that she was deep in thought.

"Is everything alright, Ulti?" Uta asked with a worried tone.

Ulti's eyes flickered, and she lightly shook her head. "Uh y-yeah, sorry. Something was on my mind."

"Wanna talk about it later?" Crow asked, and Ulti nodded.

"Yeah...also, your song was good," it wasn't hard for her to figure out that it had a lot of meaning behind it and had a good idea of what it exactly entailed.

Crow smiled. "Thanks, love."

After several hours, Celestine left all the Beast Pirate members gathered in Crow's room to discuss important matters.

"Alright, now that everyone is here, we need to discuss some important matters. You all remember what I told you two months ago, correct?" they all nodded.

He explained everything he and Celestine discussed, and everyone expressed their thoughts.

"I wish we could just kill them and get this shit over with," Ulti complained.

"Babe, you know why we can't, right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but how are you gonna get them to admit to their plans?" she questioned.

Crow thought for a moment before saying. "I have a feeling when Vult meets me; he'll attempt to sway me to his side during our travels or after we capture the Black Citadel. And when he does, I'll secretly record him, and after that, I'll grab Olga and dip out as fast as possible."

"Why not just kill the bastard afterward?" Page questioned. "I mean, it's not like we'll need him alive since we know who his allies are and base locations."

"You're not wrong, but it's a risky move. We might know the basic information, but we have no idea what else the Black Dogs may have at their disposal. I would rather not risk bitting more than I could chew," he argued, and Page nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, you're right," he sighed. "I just don't want that fucker breathing any longer than necessary...Vult and his allies are a disease." 

Crow nodded. "I couldn't agree more, and that's why when I destroy his army and resources, I'll give Vult and his allies the punishment they rightfully deserved," Crow was smiling sadistically, and he had an ominous shine in his red orbs.

Everyone shivered at the Lunarian's expression.

"Are you sure, King's, not your dad?" Ulti questioned jokingly. "You and him have way too many similarities."

The raven-haired teen chuckled. "You're not wrong, but yeah, I'm sure we're not related. I just picked up on his sadistic tendencies."

"At least you didn't pick up on his BDSM kink," Uta joked, causing everyone to chuckle.

"I don't think I'd be able to pull it off like he does," Crow joked, causing everyone to laugh. "Mikasa, you'll be coming with me when we start heading toward the Black Citadel," Mikasa looked at him surprised.

"Not that I'm complaining, but wouldn't it be wiser to bring Page with you instead?"

"In other circumstances, yeah, but not in this case," he looked at Page. "No offense to you, little brother, but Mikasa is the only one here capable of keeping up with me and watching my back," everyone had to agree with that since it was true.

In terms of strength, speed, and combat skill, Mikasa is second only to Crow. If the Lunarian were going to take anyone into battle, it would be her.

"I see...then I promise not to disappoint you," Mikasa smiled slightly.

"I know you won't," he smiled back, causing the eldian to blush slightly. "Any more questions?" everyone shook their heads. "Alright then, everyone's dismissed."

(Timeskip)

Crow woke up slightly past dawn and began getting ready to meet the man he had to take down. The teen got his clothes on and then strapped his swords to his back. He slowly closed the door so he didn't wake up his betrotheds and walked toward Mikasa's room. Once he got her, they went to look for Celestine.

"Ah, Lord Crow, there you are. I was just about to have someone get you," she looped her arm around mine, surprising everyone within the vicinity. "I want you to meet Vult, the Leader of the Black Dogs."

Crow looked down at the man and had to restrain himself from looking away in disgust or making unpleasant facial expressions.

Vult had light brown skin, short black hair, and black eyes. He was tall, standing at six feet four inches, and had a heavily muscular build. He wears black armor that has a single pauldron that has the Black Dog emblem on it and that exposes his arms.

The Lunarian could feel the ill intent radiating off of him, and Crow did everything he could not to bash the man's skull in, but it was proving to be quite difficult.

Luckily, his will was greater than his desire, as he managed to control himself and give a fake friendly smile. He held his hand out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Vult. I've heard a lot about you," he said with a mock cheerful tone.

Vult looked at him calculatingly before smiling and shaking the teen's hand. "Likewise, Lord Crow."

"Just call me Crow. I've never been much for titles and formalities," they broke the handshake.

Vult grinned. "When the Queen told me I'd be meeting a Lunarian, I was pretty skeptical, but now that you're in front of me, I can't wait to see what you're made of."

The Lunarian smirked. "Trust me, you won't be disappointed. The stories you've heard about us are a small fraction of what we're capable of."

Vult chuckled. "Thank god you're on our side, eh?"

"Yeah."

It was silent for a moment until Vult looked at the Queen and asked. "So, your Highness, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what's your relationship with the Lunarian?"

Celestine smiled and replied. "I don't mind at all. Crow is my betrothed."

Vults eyes widened, and everything went quiet as everyone took a moment to process what Celestine said.

"What?!" everyone within the vicinity shouted.

Crow sighed.

'Fuck.'

End.