Hundreds of Nixies closed in on the royal family and their guards. William, Zuri, King Felix and even Princess Corissa had previously drawn their swords. The Queen had summoned her vine plants for an offensive attack.
Nixy: ATTACK!!
The Nixies with their weapons charged at the group with all their might. What happened next was like a full blown battle. Lorelai instinctively glanced around her surroundings. She instantly secured them with her forcefield. Then just like before she released it outwards. The Nixies that were closer to the forcefield had fallen, because of the great force wave. With that, the group disepersed, fighting the Nixies from different angles. Weapons clanging, magic powers swooshing and flying about. The Nixies were tough and smart, but the group was definitely stronger. It was no easy task to defeat a nixy, but at least some of them were dropping one by one. In the midst of the battle, Winter was left alone, unguarded. A nixy observed this and crept to her side. It lunged at her with its spear, about to strike her down. Luckily, Winter noticed this. She turned around and was able to dodge in time. Winter swiftly crouched down and gave the nixy a leg sweep. It lost its balance and crashed to the ground.
Winter turned her back to the nixy and heaved a sigh of relief
Winter: One down
Winter thought that she had stopped it. But to her surprise, just as it fell to the ground, it rose up again and picked up its spear. The clanging of the spear alerted Winter.
Winter: Well, that didn't work at all
As the nixy tried to corner her, she backed away slowly. Without another thought, she stopped stepping away from it and just connected her fist to its face. Again the nixy kept on moving towards her, like nothing had happened.
Winter: Does anything stop these things?
She asked to no one in particular
Winter let out an awkward laugh. She was slightly panicking now
Winter: This would be the perfect time for my powers to end their indefinite hiatus.
The Nixy was about to strike Winter with its spear, when she noticed it had stopped
Winter: What??
She asked in total confusion. Taking a close glance at it, she instantly noticed a sword sticking out of it. Zuri, after effortlessly defeating the Nixies at her side, she dashed away to Winter. She pulled her sword out of the core
Winter: Thanks
Backing Winter to defend her, she replied
Zuri: Aim for the core, next time.
Winter nodded. She grabbed the nearby spear from the ground. Zuri and Winter had their backs close, as they were surrounded by more Nixies now. As the Nixies came one by one, they were struck down from all sides by the tremendous duo. Winter grunted as she used most of her strength to defeat them. A long awaited question resurfaced back in her mind.
Winter: What are these?
Zuri: Nixies from the underworld
Winter was stunned, but she continued to focus her attention on the fight.
Winter: You mean from Avis??
This time, Zuri didn't answer her question. The brief silence had answered, by itself. Winter also thought as much. The Nixies were endless, they kept on coming. Just as Winter was about to ask if there was an end to them, Lorelai's forcefield enveloped them. Winter heaved a sigh of relief. Zuri, William, Princess Corissa, Briar and William were also present in the forcefield. Corissa immediately turned to Lorelai, as she maintained her concentration to hold the forcefield in place.
Corissa put her sword away and spoke up
Corissa: This won't hold them for long
Winter: As much as I hate to agree with her, she is right. This can't hold them for long
William: Maybe not, but it would give the King and Queen the chance to execute their plan properly.
Winter and Corissa had no idea about this plan. They didn't question them further and decided to sit tight and watch
*OUTSIDE THE FORCEFIELD
Queen Alouette glanced around and finally spotted them, safe in the forcefield.
Queen: Felix, they are all secure
in the forcefield
King: That's good
They stopped their attempt to distract them. They stood their ground and faced them. All the Nixies followed the King and Queen. Immediately Alouette stretched out her hands, like she was conjuring something. Vines started to sprout slowly and steadily from the ground, except the circle of the forcefield. The Nixies also saw this too and mocked her powers. With one strike, their spears destroyed her little vines.
Nixy: Pathetic
Nixy: Weak
Nixy: Sire will be disappointed
Nixy: The so called Queen of Etheria
Nixy: If this is what the great Queen of Etheria is capable of doing, then Etheria is certainly doomed
All the Nixies continued mocking and undermining the Queen's "weak" magic of nature.
Queen Alouette just had a sly smirk plastered on her face. She spoke up slowly
Queen: I'll definitely hate to be any of you all right now.
Nixy: Why is that?
The Nixies looked at one another in utter confusion, wondering why she said that. Queen Alouette shot them a smile then clenched her fists tightly. Just then, thick vines shot up from the ground under the Nixies,with an unexpected speed.
Nixy: Wha---
The Nixies were shocked at her sudden change of power. The vines instantly wrapped all the Nixies, like they were mummies. They struggled hard and tried to break free from the vine, but it was inevitable.
King: You come to our Kingdom, you pay the price.
With that, King Felix formed his flaming sword. He stayed in the trapped Nixies middle and with one attempt, he slashed the air in a semicircular way. His flame wave travelled through all the Nixies and burnt them, until none was remaining.
*MEANWHILE AT THE OTHER SIDE
Melanie: Look out!!
Melanie lunged herself at Lyla pushing them both away just in time, before the arrow could explode. They got up and saw the silouette of a figure in the smoke.
"Now, now, we're not going anywhere are we?"
Melanie battle instincts started tingling. She drew Lyla closer to her and reached for her staff. With one swoosh Melanie cleared the smoke and saw her opponent--Thoryx, Avis right hand Nixy.
Melanie: Who are you and what do you want from us?
Thoryx: I require nothing from you, but I can't say the same about them
He said pointing at two scary looking Nixies who appeared from behind the trees. One had a quiver strapped to its back with a bow in hand. Melanie observed this too and deduced the one on the left was the archer who had shot at them. As for the one on the right, she didn't know what kind of powers it had. Suddenly, a scary realization clicked in Melanie's mind
Melanie: Powers??. You aren't just Nixies, you are part of the seven Nixy generals
Melanie instantly raised her defences, pointing her staff at them
Thoryx: You're quite brilliant. This fight may actually be worth watching
With that Thoryx, sat on the sand to watch them.
Lyla: What can I do?
Lyla asked Melanie hoping to be of some assistance.
Melanie: Are your powers back yet?
Lyla shook her head
Lyla: No, but you can't take on these three all by yourself
She was stuck between two options. She didn't want Lyla to fight, because she may drag her down. At the same time, she couldn't just send her away to ask for help alone. Who knows what she would encounter on her way. And even worse, she won't be there to protect her. There was only one semi right option. Melanie smiled at Lyla with no other option. She handed her a spare dagger from her back
Melanie: Here
Lyla collected the dagger from her.
Melanie: Choose your pinata, your majesty
Lyla chuckled.
Lyla: The one on the left
Melanie: Good choice. I'll take the one on the right