Welcome to Gaia! ::

Kyrie nodded, keeping her eyes on Andarien as she helped him to drink the liquid down. "The hard part's over," she said crisply. "The rest will be the easy part. Cael will lead the way, and Mari needs to be there with him. Aside from them, anyone who can fight."

She glanced at Lin. "I know you all had to leave your weapons behind. You could look in the armoury, or if you want I can lend you some of mine. Just tell me what you need."

"Once he comes to, I was hoping he would be well enough to come with us," Kyrie commented, watching Andarien's eyes closely. "The Pokemon are still our best defense. If he can't come with us, then we'll do what you're suggesting, Miyuki."

She smiled when Andarien blinked and his eyes focused, and he took a deep breath and looked around.

"Nana?" he said quietly, his voice cracking. "Where are we?"

Andarien looked around, quietly taking in the situation. "The castle," he repeated to himself. "Then ... we're rescuing Ada?"

He turned to Lin, his eyes filled with hope. He was so intent on the thought that they were going to help his father that he didn't even notice he hadn't answered his mother's question. But his voice was strong, and Kyrie was smiling widely at him.

"Give him a few minutes and I think he might be just fine," she murmured. "We'll have to keep an eye on him as things progress, especially if there's any fighting, but hopefully we can avoid that, what with both Cael and Mari helping out."

Andarien nodded slowly and stuck one hand into his pocket. "Then we'll need Eon and Zeus and Ponydash," he murmured. He pulled out his Pokeballs and tried to stand up, but he fell back against the wall in surprise.

"Hey," he blinked. "Why do I feel all weak?"

Kyrie chuckled softly. "Here, drink some more of this," she suggested, holding the flask up to him again.

Andarien drank more from the flask, and as he did, Kyrie murmured, "It may take a few minutes for him to get his full strength back. Like getting circulation going again after your leg's fallen asleep."

Still, at least he would recover. He might have nightmares later on, but for now he would be fine, and if they got Earendil back all right that would probably help him too.

Kyrie nodded. "We can all get weapons from there, since I'm the only one who has any - unless you count Kasal or the Pokemon. Andarien, are you going to come with us?"

She looked at the youth, and Andarien nodded firmly. "If we're going to get Ada back, you bet I am!" he said fiercely. "Don't you even try to leave me behind!"

Kyrie grinned and chuckled. "Good. I like your spirit. Then let's bring everyone over here and plan our next move."

She called out to the others, and everyone came towards them.

Once everyone was gathered around, Kyrie stood to face them all.

"Mari?" she said quietly. "It's your turn, I think."

The princess smiled and stepped forward. "I suppose it is, but I will make no plans without input from you, Cael and Maravel. This could never have happened without the three of you."

The bald, one-armed man bowed his head. His brow furrowed, and a crease ran down the middle of his forehead, through a rune that was tattooed on his forehead. "Your Highness, I can never atone for the wrongs I have done to you, or to any of your people, but if there is anything that I can do to help then I would be honoured to do so."

"You can't trust him!" Dae'er protested.

"Mother," Cael said, letting go of Lancaeriel's hand and putting one hand on Dae'er's shoulder, "we can. He's always been honest with me. Everything he's done has been at the risk of his own life to help Princess Mari, to stop Quileth. He lost his arm to Quileth, he did what he could not to lose anything else."

The man named Maravel lowered his gaze. "I did what I could," he said quietly. "But it is a very ... very long story, going back to just after the General took over, long before even Dae'er was born ... before Tsara's second marriage. If you desire to hear the full story, I am happy to oblige, but this is not the time."

He turned to Mari. "Your Highness, if I may, I believe it would be wise to rescue Prince Earendil as quickly as possible. When Prince Cael last saw him, he was not doing well and he needs medical attention."

Cael nodded his agreement. "Not much I could do when I knew Quileth was going to interrogate him again," he said sadly. "Thankfully he never caught me helping out the prisoners, but I did what I could."

"Then the first thing we need to do is arm ourselves," Kyrie spoke up. "Where is the armoury?"

"If I may," one of the soldiers spoke up hesitantly, "why not just use the weapons from these men?" He gestured towards the soldiers loyal to the General who were still being guarded.