Lye Movement!

  “Let it charge up before using it again,” Colmillo sounded from the side. She walked past Fox and Esmeralda after the call ended. Miros watched as Colmillo won him to it, hurrying over to also play with the laptop before it charged up again. “How can you get to play with it first… Come on, let me try some things first, then you, okay…?”

  Fox lightly blew through his nostrils before stepping back to stand beside Nala and Esmeralda. With how commercial ships had to move around these waters, it would take a while before reaching the northeastern Xeoxian shores.

  … A couple of hours later, just some more time before anchoring to mainland, Fox worked on the laptop again. A few minutes later, the laptop turned on again and showcased its preliminary processes before inviting another guest to a new channel.

  This time, it was to Iztos and its president. Unlike with president Anna, the call was picked up sooner, with Fox’s front illuminated brightly by the laptop as an old man showed on the screen.

  President Adem is an old, white man who is tall and has short, trimmed stark white hair. He also has small black eyes and looked gentle. There was an emotion of warmth in his eyes. This was the old fellow that all of Iztos loved.

  He was frowning. As soon as Fox’s image became clearer than at first, he relaxed the frown and moved his wrinkled, old lips. “Now, am I to assume you might need Iztos’s aid to keep your movements hidden?”

  “And permission to walk through your land, president Adem.” Fox added. The president’s expression didn’t change. He said, “I thought that was a given.”

  “…” Fox jolted his chin a little to the right, taken aback. The president smiled a little, his squinted eyes only showing blatant rejoice, “Heh heh heh. You didn’t expect it to be this soon? I am too old to be cautious. If I die, if anyone dies, nothing is worth thinking, let alone having.”

  “You can come on in, but I’m not sure if I’ll lie for you. Iztos… has never been a deceptive political entity, even when we were just forming and Merula was weak before us.” President Adem seemed understanding and benevolent, but he was an old fox, indeed.

  “Iztos is a small nation, not too small, as many often think. It is surrounded by mighty and undying mountains. Lymoca once saved you from further conflict, be it internal, external— with Merula, and helped you face the doubt of the world.” Fox listed.

  “Indeed,” president Adem nodded. “But now you want me to do the opposite. Iztos might be involved in a war that wouldn’t affect them, even if Merula does go to war. The others might even see us as an ally at first. It doesn’t matter if they still do afterwards, but-”

  “You are all afraid to strike back to ANS, even with several thousand kilometers separating you. Oh, and you don’t want to fail your predecessors’ will to keep a peaceful and neutral Humane Key. Well, my advice in that case is to ally with Merula.” Fox interrupted.

  President Adem fell silent and looked at Fox. Fox continued, “It feels more meaningful when you join your current ‘neutral’ ally and then fall together instead of one by one. Haven’t you read about central Dawn’s AO history? So comical.”

  “Heh,” the president chuckled. “I still wish to wait if any of that happens.”

  “So you know it will happen. You just don’t want to be the one to cause it? Initiative is overrated, but morale will never be. Iztos was able to shake Merula back then, and you forced your way to take Merula’s capital and demand them to let you be. Now what?”

  “Let’s say I do accept,” the president’s face still hadn’t changed, but his eyes were troubled. They shook ever so little, noticeable only to the agents in Fox’s room. “Would Lymoca also aid my country in everything Xeoxia has been promised?”

  “No.” Fox flatly replied. Then, he shook his head in a light manner. His polycoria eyes stared at the old man sharply, “You don’t need to. Merula would do everything they can to protect you and their borders. Hell, the entire world could lie that Merula doesn’t want to expand their borders and take advantage of this war, but Merula wouldn’t, neither would you.”

  “…” Fox’s words left the Iztos president thinking. Suddenly, Fox felt his left shoulder pressed by Esmeralda’s arm, who hung from and on him from his other side, “Is this where I appear and you, president Adem, agree to our requests?”

  “So… you are the secret weapon little Anna talked about. No wonder she looked hurting,” the president jumped his eyebrows and seemed helpless. Esmeralda toothily grinned. Fox said at this moment, unmoved by Esmeralda’s interjection. “One more request. Do you mind?”

  “… Go on,” the president softly rubbed his face from up to down by his temples. Fox nodded and grabbed one of Esmeralda’s hands with his. “I need your presence to convince president Valenie.”

  “… My help, now? How could that be?” President Adem frowned ever so slightly, curious and all ears. Fox nodded a bit, saying, “Like I said, Iztos used to be Merula’s capital. Your ancestors made a country out of Merula’s capital, and now you are neighbors to their new capital.”

  “You are the same people, and it would be for your best interests if you are in this together. Merula is still neutral, and Zyckevele has never had intention to choose you over their alliance with KAA. But this can be start.”

  “If Dawn unites against whichever comes at them, nobody will have the chance to make a move. The K Tribe nations aren’t united, but neither Ems nor Rems go after them, and Pielsart is well-behaved, bordering KAA. Is it only for respect?”

  “You, on the other hand, are a small nation with unknown but surely weak military forces. Yet, you are in Merula’s heart, and Zyckevele supports you. KAA doesn’t, but don’t they always show help when they can? After centuries, you might very well bring Merula to the higher potencies.”

  “What’s more, Iztos itself. After this contribution, you are only to blame yourselves if you cannot take it. A reminder? You should know why this isn’t a step above what everyone wants to limit themselves from,” Fox’s last few words drew a line that president Adem didn’t even wish to speak of. But he looked at Fox and listened.

  “The west is peaceful,” said Fox, staring intently yet calmly at the president. “If there comes a moment when that changes, and you still haven’t done anything. You would forever be seen half as a meaningful resistance and a satellite capital for another, larger, powerful country.”

  “Take the chance now and do what you can build. History won’t wait for you to get ready, and allies don’t come from everywhere. You have Merula’s full support, Zyckevele’s supplies as support, and can work in coordination with KAA. But you could also be remembered as one of Lymoca’s great allies throughout.”

  Now, this left the president even more to think about. At last, Fox saw what he wanted in the president’s eyes. It wasn’t the warmth of an old man caring for his people, not only, at least. There was the ambition for a stance across the world every leader should be aware of.

  Merula was a version of ANS to Iztos, only non-hostile and supportive. But the matter of subservience and superiority were there, existing. Just what Lymoca used to face every time, and still does to this day; to a degree.

  “We… will be waiting for you on mainland.” The president could only say those words after nodding. Fox didn’t need anymore. Every truth will be revealed as soon as his and PR’s agents stepped on land.

  … While everything around southern Zyckevele was being developed, and hidden mobilizations were employed, perhaps not only by Xeoxia and Iztos; south Moonblue was exponentially taken by surprise.

  Just as news of the meeting ending reached every part of the south, and the early morning would only need slightly more than an hour to welcome daylight, different news came out following the meeting. In each of their countries, the southern presidents held a 15 to 45 minutes press conference. There was one single theme they touched and detailed, depending on the country.

  “After a knowledgeable meeting with Lymoca’s President, my colleague presidents and I have reached a consensus…” - “For the past years, there’s been turmoil that hasn’t been seen since the 5th century’s Great Haul. It happened out of nowhere, so suddenly. It was a change we weren’t expecting, and now we have to face it.”

  “There are forces which are no longer patient, and we also cannot afford to remain patient. We need more. Not just help. We need a change!” - “We know who we are. We would never forget, and there are those who will help us keep that heart!”

  They slightly moved around their people’s hearts, and heads. The Moonblue people were almost fed up with those wars, so sudden and from nowhere. They ended arguably ‘well’, but their patience was running thin, not just the governments of each involved party.

  To hear their president speak to them, completely direct and making a statement, was what they were silently asking for. Be it pro-Lymoca, or whose territories were technically Lymoca’s now, and those who were outside any of that. Each country was finally connecting with their people.

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  But then came the ostentatious, blunt news. Argopolas and Melenon joining Lymoca wasn’t unfamiliar, only a confirmation as presidents Marco and Gustavo officially announced it. Furthermore, they named the date of a convention in Safe Haven City, and soon.

  But when Endesa and Carnge did the same, their people were first baffled. What did their presidents mean? They were long with Lymoca all this time? They knew their big, active neighbor was helping them with resources and manpower of any kind, but this much?

  Slowly, little by little, one reminder after another, their people went from confused and not understanding why there were sudden, drastic choices nothing short of revolutionary to elated. Lymoca and their countries were becoming one… and their people would no longer have to wait until more support came from one place or another?

  Everyone knew how Lymoca was doing better after the First Ters-Ly War, let alone now, after annexing 2 countries and integrating another 2. They didn’t care if Lymoca would go bankrupt now that they couldn’t ‘ignore’ them as their people, if only a little, maybe. They just wanted to know if they could really enjoy everything they’ve dreamed, or if it was a bad dream where they’ll continue living the same way even after the facts.

  Then, there were the Pyot and Meztle Islands. Argopolas and Melenon were glad to hear the confirmations from their heads of state, while Cerka and Torka… they didn’t really have a choice. Endesa and Carnge were confused at first, but they were glad right after.

  But when it came to the country islands, their people vastly celebrated. The announcement was still being finished, and the press conference was still running, but their people were madly gathered and enjoying the news.

  Pyot Island rapidly erected some Lymoca symbol flags they had kept whenever a Lymocan governmental figure came or their ambassador hosted Ly festivities and the island’s.

  In Meztle Island, the women danced on the streets, all hastily rushing home to pick their traditional attires and begin celebrating. When smiling, some couldn’t help themselves, their emotions too strong. Crying, screaming to the top of their lungs, and even simply dancing around with gusto. On the sidewalks, people applauded, while their chests beat harder and louder than ever before in their history. Uncertainty replaced by hope.

  However, the unexpected shocked, stunned the entire Moonblue supercontinent, and critically collapsed ANS for a few seconds; it was Collan and Mount Veneta’s notice of wanting to join Lymoca in this movement. It wasn’t a misunderstanding, mistake, error, or lapse of judgement.

  Their press conferences lasted the longest, with their people before their slightly trembling presidents going from silent and instinctively denying their head of state’s words to loudly cheering and chanting.

  Mount Veneta sang their national hymn, with quite so many angelic choirs, their country only further adjusting more and more to the occasion. Their president hadn’t received such tremendous support before. This was the people doing what they wanted, and they were absolutely emboldened to celebrate across the country. It was a new-found sight of relief.

  Collan was a little more scared at the beginning. Living by the borders of the western Radical Wars and the First Ters-Ly War before that, how could they want to get involved?

  Yet, mere words and having their eyes opened by their hard-trying president led them to scream euphorically. No more fear? No more uncertainty? No more… loneliness in the middle of the southwestern Moonblue!? The world’s eyes on them!?

  The Valus president called them that, not Collan people, or citizens; Valus! If this wasn’t to show President Luis Heartez had a chat with him, then what was it? Perhaps everything else.

  Even after convincing the masses, or at least carrying on with their hearts, naming some of the clauses the meeting accorded solidified their drastic choice. After the euphory came the realization of what everything meant.

  Without exaggeration, it could have gone much differently if it was only Mount Veneta or Collan to experience this. But with both going through it, and having not only the western Radical Wars’ participants joining too, but Lymoca’s direct neighbors and the island countries, changed the people’s reactions a lot.

  It wasn’t enough to make the south eternally harmonious, but the start was already great. Few things could ruin it. All in all, the early morning had become a success, which only further solidified when from Lymoca’s capital city outside the presidential precinct, President Luis Heartez publicly declared.

  “Lymoca is a country, is where we live, our people and our blood, our history and our future lies in it. There’s a lot to be done and even started before we can achieve what Lymoca is supposed to be. Notwithstanding, the current times are more demanding.”

  “For enough years, we’ve seen comical but tragic and saddening choices by other governments in our supercontinent. Today, after my colleague presidents, I’d like to announce that we will hold a meeting to recognize the integration of certain parties in the south into Lymoca’s borders.”

  “You may have already heard what is being planned,” Luis seemed more serious and proactive than ever. Just this stance of his brought pride to the Lys. “All of those are true. Lymoca intends to take in and catapult the southerner countries willing to participate unto a stable future.”

  “It’s not a military alliance, nor is it a treaty to protect each other. All of us will be united, close to each other, know each other. We will recognize our varying cultures, then mix them. Our current lifestyles are a mix and improvement from what we had a thousand, a few thousand years ago, a Sanctum Order, or more before.”

  “So-called ‘annexation’ is not a sign of progress, but Lymoca’s movement, this part of the world making their choice— that is the beginning of our future!” Luis listed his fist. The Lys waiting in the fresh morning around the presidential precinct called out, “Lye!”

  “I long for the moment our only differentiation are names and individual lifestyle! For we are all humans, and Resilient is home to all of us!” Luis yelled. The Lys sounded more and more encouraged, shouting Lye even after the broadcast finalized.

  By the time the late morning arrived in the west, the whole south Moonblue emphatically discussed what had transpired in just a few hours. Regardless of how did it come to this… it felt like a reason to celebrate. The wars had ended, leaving the reliable countries to call the shouts.

  People would still think of the unknown happenings around this decision-making, but there was a train in front of them that had started. Their heads sent the signals, and they acted accordingly. It would happen regardless of what the future held.

  In response to this, and rather on time, one of Safe Haven City’s council members announced through all media. He appeared in a hallway with warm brown walls behind him, with people calmly walking by, almost as if there wasn’t a war just nearby.

  “The situation within Dawn is still impossible to tell, but the protection of this city and its meetings are ensured. We are glad and honored to host such a harmonious event. We’ll be waiting for you soon. Details of this occurrence will be presented shortly after contacting the hosting parties. Thank you for the importance you place on Safe Heaven City once again.”

  KAA had begun losing terrain, so it would be technically safer to travel to SFC for the moment. Although the only acceptable route would be through Gupi’s land, not air.

  Nonetheless, this set a brand-new event amidst the eastern Radical Wars. A whole supercontinent would go through momentous changes, but who knew how many parties were invited. It didn’t take more than an hour before it was known, and it rose quite some eyebrows.

  But while the west rejoiced, their people and governments feeling all weights off and uncomfortable globs of nothingness giving room in their chests, the east didn’t. Their people still suffered, and their future was as uncertain as south Moonblue was for hundreds of years before and after the 5th century.

  At least, the southwest was at ease and growing peaceful, for a change.

  . . .

  An hour later, at one of Xeoxia’s ports. After half a new convoy disembarked their goods and their people professionally moved everything and themselves out and readied to take to the streets.

  Fox stepped onto the land before silently meeting with Xeoxia’s hoog agents from a distance. He followed them with Nala and some other elite PSD agents while Esmeralda brought the rest to keep moving. Xeoxia’s agents brought them to a wide room in a store, which was devoid of people for this meeting. Who was Fox secretly meeting? None other but their president, Anna.

  She was waiting for them inside, looking at her WID’s clock. Once the door opened again and Fox stepped in after her agents, she almost saluted, then waved, only to slightly nod in his direction in the end. Fox returned the gesture and walked to stand before her.

  “I didn’t think there was a need to meet. Chances of you becoming involved will increase drastically with this.” Fox initiated. The president nodded again in understanding before frowning, delicate and trying to keep the atmosphere sterile.

  “You were planning to make a dangerous situation as soon as you arrived and it was accepted by me. Knowing your… exploits, I felt there was a need I was physically present.” She explained.

  Fox looked at her before lifting something from his bag, it seemed incomplete and improvised. While the president frowned, Fox spoke with a casual tone, “My idea is to blow your nearest train to our destination. That ought to force anyone wanting to go there through slower means. Merchants or passengers.”

  “…” President Anna didn’t answer, and instead of bothering to completely stop Fox from doing or even thinking of this, she closed her eyes. Fox and Nala watched the president get a hold of herself before she opened her eyes again, smoothly breathing in.

  “How exactly?” She asked. Fox lifted his bag again, like it didn’t matter. “Xeoxia crafts a story: Zyckevele was obliged to stop Xeoxia from having their fast travels from aiding the enemy from the rear, so they destroyed a train to send a message.”

  “What?” The president was flabbergasted, at best. Her lips smacked that single spoken word.

  Fox innocently blinked. He placed the bag to his right armpit and elaborated a little more, “There has to be news, people involved, real deaths— raw.”

  “What do you mean by that!?” The president widened her eyes wider than saucers. Before she could order her agents to detain him, Fox slowly spoke, still casual about everything. “Build a trapdoor to bring everyone to the tunnels below. Deactivate the security and rails for a couple of hours, and make everything and everyone believe it just happened. Right… I’ll have to send a few of my agents so your people don’t blow a few buildings on their way there.”

  Fox blinked again. The president didn’t know how to act, giving the door a look, having hoped to see Esmeralda, but Lymoca’s little gem was nowhere. The president looked at Fox and held her forehead, “Heavensbane? Was it? Indeed. You’ll have to give me time.”

  “Well then, anything else, you can ask my explosives' genius. Codes are Bluebug and Colmillo.” Fox nodded and said. Nala gave him a tiny look. Such a teaser. Fox saw something in the president’s body language, picking her elbow with her right palm and folding her other wrist.

  “Do you have something else to discuss, president?” Fox asked, wondering if whatever that was was the actual reason she came here, not expecting him to be this crazy- no… mad.

  “As a matter of fact…” The president looked down, sounding insecure. But when she lifted her head, she stared into Fox’s eyes and dropped weight on him, or at least tried to. She also sounded confident. “Yes. I have prepared my nation’s elite special forces. Bring them with you.”

  …