The Traveler Kidnapped! The Traveler's Journey Ends?

The traveler smiles a bit before speaking.

Shiori "A long long time ago, there was a powerful fairy. She was beautiful and graceful as she rode the wind that blew through the breeze. As time went on and as humankind grew, so did the bad things. Eventually, there were people left behind and forgotten as the kingdoms grew bigger and bigger. So the fairy, with her love for humans and her gentle heart, decided to make a difference. She decided that she would give them a chance to use her powerful magic. She went deep into the forest and picked out a flower. It was a beautiful rose that bloomed in the most fantastic way. She picked up the rose and whispered to it. The rose shifted and changed until it looked like it was made of crystal."

The children look in awe and eyes shining bright from the imaginative tale.

Airi "What did she do to the rose?.."

The coughing child asks.

Shiori "She enchanted the rose with a single purpose. Anyone who finds it gets granted one wish of any kind, anything they can think of! After she placed the rose back down, she disappeared, never to be seen again. But not before leaving behind a single clue to the Wishing Rose. She left behind a map made from a single pedal that fell from the rose, that will guide you to it and once you reunite the map and the rose, you will be granted your wish."

The children look excited and happy for a moment before the boy gets a slightly sad look.

Daiki "I wish the rose was real…"

The traveler looks around a bit before leaning closer to the children and whispering.

Shiori "Want to know a secret?.. I have the map!.."

The childrens' eyes widen.

Daiki "You mean…"

The traveler nods as they smile.

Airi "Does that mean you'll make me better with the wish?"

The traveler gets a sad look knowing the map is in the hands of the bandits.

Shiori "I will do everything I can to make sure I find that wish and make you all better."

She gives the sick child a smile as she smiles back. The cook then brings the traveler a bowl of stew and places it right in front of her. The traveler thanks the cook as he steps back behind the bar. She takes a spoonful of stew before she is interrupted.

Haru "My, that looks mighty tasty. Wish I had a bowl."

The traveler turns around with a fearful look. She sees the two bandits from before sitting at a table across the room.

Sugawara "We knew you'd be here since this is the only place in the village who offers food to the poor."

The cook gets an upset look.

Ryuji "What are you two doing here?"

Haru "Oh nothing much. Just happened across this map to unlimited power but just can't quite seem to figure out how it works."

Sugawara "I mean, it's just a picture, is this thing even real?"

The traveler gets an angry look.

Shiori "It is real! I know it is."

The bandits smirk.

Haru "So that must mean you know where this is, right?"

The traveler sweats.

Shiori "No… I don't know where it is but I can feel where it is. The map guides me there."

The bandits pause for a moment before smiling.

Sugawara "Great, then you can take us there."

They get up with their guns drawn and grab her by the wrist before pulling her away.

Elsewhere in the kingdom, in the King's throne room. The king sits upon his throne with his head leaning on his fist. A sad look on his face and a handmaid by his side. The king sighs as his advisor steps next to him from another room.

Kitaro "It's about that time of the year, sire."

The king nods softly.

Kitaro "Would you like for me to finally call off the search for you son? It has been many years since his disappearance, perhaps the resources would be of better use elsewhere?"

He says reluctantly. The king gives a sad look before sighing. Before he can speak, a knight and his lady walk into the throne room and approach the king.

Milo "You can't call off the search! It's too soon! He could still be out there!"

She shouts with a worried look on her face. The knight gets an upset look and argues.

Tsuki "It is unrealistic to assume he would still be alive even after ten years. And even if he was, don't you think he would have returned by this point?"

The lady gets an upset look as the advisor hushes the two. He turns back to the king with an understanding look.

Kitaro "What would you like to do, sire?"

The king pauses for a moment before speaking.

Kuzan "If my son has not returned by the next time the moon sits full in the sky on these cold winter nights, we will call off any search efforts attempting to find the prince."

He says reluctantly. The lady thinks for a moment before realizing.

Milo "But that's only another week!"

The king gives her a sad look as tears begin to form in her eyes. She runs out of the room crying as the king motions for her handmaid to chase after her. She follows quickly, calling her name.

Chizuru "My lady! Please wait!"

She says as they leave the room. The advisor and the knight stand next to each other and watch as they leave.

Tsuki "As much as I'd rather he died and not suffered in those dark woods, for her sake, I hope he's alive."

The advisor nods agreeing. Back in the woods, the traveler and the bandits push through harsh weather and cold winds as the traveler holds the map in hand. She guides them down a path and through as the bandits follow close behind.

Haru "If you're lying to us, we will leave you out here in the woods to be food for the wolves!"

Shiori "I wouldn't! I want to see it too!"

They shout over the howling winds. Suddenly, the traveler stops and her eyes grow wide as a tall shadow of a beast stands ahead of her in the trees.

Sugawara "Why did you stop?"

He shouts as a loud growling noise is heard and the tall bandit looks over, seeing the beast. He immediately shoots at it causing it to dart off in another direction.

Haru "Maybe we should take a moment and light a fire in that cave over there!"

He points to a small cave a little ways away. They all make their way to the cave and the small bandit starts a fire as the traveler examines the map.

Shiori "We're getting close, I can feel it. About north-east from the entrance of the cave."

She says with an excited look.

Haru "What makes you so sure that's the direction we need to head in? I mean, there's nothing even on the map to say so."

Shiori "Well, I believe… It wants me to find it."

The bandits get an unpleased look as they sit for a moment. The bandits then decide to stand up.

Haru "I think we should get moving again, especially if we're so close."

Sugawara "Yeah, but before that."

He grabs the map out from the traveler's hands and kicks her over.

Sugawara "You've been such a big help but I think we're gonna leave you for the wolves anyway."

They rush out of the cave and into the dark, shrouded night. The traveler rushes after them but quickly loses sight of them. She wanders around in search of them frantically but to no avail. She eventually trips over a branch and rolls down a small hill, covering her in dirt and scraping her knee in the process. She winces in pain and holds her leg as a small amount of blood drips out of her cut. Three wolves sniff the air and turn around to see the traveler on the ground. They quickly surround her, growling and barking.

In real life, on stage, Suiyoubi, Alice and Hisana are in silly wolf costumes as they playfully growl and bark, circling Shiori on the ground. Riku giggles at the fun sight on the stage.

Back in the story, the traveler looks up with fear as the three wolves circle her. She grabs a branch from the ground and tries to use it to defend herself. They growl and prepare for attack when suddenly a large beast lands before them. They jump back as it stands much taller than them. The wolves hesitate for a moment before the beast charges at them. It jumps up to try and tackle the beast but only bites his shoulder. The beast throws the wolf off and against a tree as another bites his leg from behind and another shoves him down from the side. He collapses as one wolf claws at him while the other bites hard on his leg. He grabs the wolf on top of him by the neck and lifts it up before throwing it off of him. He then slams his large fist onto the head of the wolf biting his leg. The wolf, now unconscious, is picked up by the scruff of its neck and lifted off the ground. He turns and faces the final wolf still up. His intense aura causes the wolf to flee in fear. He then drops the wolf and turns to face the traveler. She watched the entire fight frozen in fear with her back against the hill she just fell down. She finally snaps out of it when she notices the beast, now covered in blood and wounds, steps toward her. She swings her stick back and forth until it hits him and breaks on impact. She stares at it for a moment before nervously apologizing. He then points at her knee.

Shiori "W-what?.."

She says confused. The beast just rolls his eyes and grabs her ankle of the other leg and begins dragging her. She yells and shouts in fear as the beast drags her off into the darkness of the forest. Back within the castle, the lady sits on her bed crying as the handmaid tries to comfort her.

Milo "Oh prince, where have you gone?! You were always such an amazing and generous man! And my one true love!"

The handmaid gives her a confused look.

Chizuru "But aren't you married to the knight?"

Milo "He's nice and all but the prince is truly handsome."

The handmaid rolls her eyes as the lady stops crying a bit.

Milo "I wish I could just wish him back here. Just one wish, you know?... What would you wish for? If you had just one wish."

She asks the handmaid softly. She smiles softly and looks down.

Chizuru "Well, it might be much for just a simple handmaid to wish for but, if I could even a little bit, I would help the citizens of the kingdom. Even the farthest villages and sickest people, at least a little bit."

She says softly. The lady gives her a smile as the handmaid blushes in embarrassment.

Chizuru "Of course, that isn't my place to say!"

Milo "Oh shush! Your secret is safe with me. And thank you, for comforting me in my moment of vulnerability."

She says to calm the handmaid down. She gives her a soft smile and a nod.