Me: Welcome, everybody, to chapter one of Imperfection, my nice little FE story!
Mihara: Nice, huh?
Me: She's always bullying me ;_;
Mihara: I didn't do anything... Yet. ElementalGuardianProtector owns nothing but her characters and this story
Me: One last thing - Skrimir is still the Prince of Gallia in this story, Naesala is still the King of Kilvas, Kurthnaga is the new King of Goldoa, Nailah hasn't migrated Hatari across the desert yet, and the bird countries have not joined together yet. You will see this in the chapter if you read it, but I thought I should point it out beforehand, just in case.
Chapter One
"Sister!"
Micaiah turned around to see her younger beorc half sister run towards her. "Sanaki!" Micaiah smiled as she ran up to her sister and hugged her. "Jeez. You saw each other yesterday. The two of you act as though you haven't seen each other in years." Sothe rolled his eyes.
"They can't help it. They've grown so close. They're like doting sisters." Tanith replied plainly. "I think that the relationship that Apostle Micaiah and Empress Sanaki share is beautiful. I wish I had a sister." Sigrun smiled happily as she watched Sanaki.
"Yes, it most certainly is beautiful. I see myself and Lucia in Empress Sanaki and Queen Micaiah." Elincia smiled, accompanied by Lucia and Geoffrey. "Yes, but that aside, shouldn't we be starting this meeting?" Tibarn asked with Ulki and Janaff at his side.
"My, my, King of Hawks. Ever the impatient one?" Caineghis crossed his arms with Skrimir, Giffca, and Ranulf standing beside of him.
"I understand King Tibarn's impatience. Though this week-long convention has been taking place in our beloved Kilvas, a lot of our time has been taken up. The nestling and I have many Kilvan-related matters to attend to once this is all over." Nealuchi spoke for Naesala. "Nealuchi, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me nestling?" The Kilvan King sighed.
"I also understand this impatience. Leanne and I would like to hurry back to our dear Serenes. We are here in our father's stead. Though he seems to be doing fine ever since Rafiel performed the ritual on him, we are still too worried about his health to allow him to leave Serenes." Reyson spoke up, backed up by a nod from his sister.
"...Well, then. If we all are in agreement, then how about we allow the Begnion Empress to officially start this meeting? Unless the King of Goldoa would like to." Nailah sat down with Rafiel beside of her. "No, I agree with you, Queen of Wolves. Please honor us with an official starting of this meeting, Empress of Begnion." Kurthnaga nodded towards Sanaki with Ena and Nasir standing behind him.
"Very well, then. My fellow rulers... Queen of Daein, Queen of Crimea, King of Kilvas, King of Phoenicis, Prince and Princess of Serenes, King of Gallia, Queen of Hatari, and King of Goldoa... This meeting is now in session." Sanaki declared.
A year had passed since the raging war that had spread across the continent of Tellius had ended. All of the countries had pitched in to help each other rebuild, and the peace that followed the war had yet to be broken, despite occasional disputes.
Within the Beorc Nations, rebuilding had finally been completed. Due to all of the prosperity, there was better education for commoners, more availability of medicines, less people were in poverty, and the gap between aristocrats and commoners was getting considerably smaller.
Within the Laguz Nations, all of the tribes were opening up to each other and creating stronger bonds. Though Goldoa was still a neutral state that refused to involve itself in disputes or violence, the country no longer ignored the needs or invitations of its laguz brethren. Slowly, but surely, Kurthnaga was working not only to bring Goldoa out of isolation from the rest of Tellius, but its people, as well.
Caineghis and Nailah talked of migrating Hatari across the desert and into Gallia - Just as Tibarn, Lorazieh, and Naesala spoke of having all of the bird tribes live together in Serenes - but neither had happened as of yet.
There were still six laguz nations - separate, but united.
In addition to that, Phoenicis was finally beginning to flourish in numbers once more, and all of the unknown heron survivors of the the Serenes Massacre who had been in hiding all of this time were finally beginning to return to Serenes.
Everything within the Laguz and Beorc Nations was going extremely well... But the truth was, the deep rift between beorc, branded, and laguz was getting wider and wider as the days went by.
Though the fighting had stopped and a tolerance between the races had been born, the animosity, discrimination, persecution, and misunderstandings raged on. The hatred was simply a controlled, but unending, cycle.
This was why all of the treaties and spending so much time together to strengthen bonds and set good examples was so crucial to all of the nation leaders - Laguz, Branded, and Beorc alike.
"Sorry for the interruption, Empress Sanaki, but I would like to send Janaff and Ranulf - If that is all right with you, Lion King Caineghis and Lion Prince Skrimir - to run an errand for me real quick. I will return shortly." Tibarn stood up. Receiving the nod from Caineghis, Ranulf followed both Tibarn and Janaff out of the door and closed it behind him.
"What is it that you desire, Your Majesty?" Janaff asked, resting his hand on his hip. "I would like for you to take Ranulf and check on Mihara and Shoen. Since their return to Tellius, I have never left them alone for so many days at a time, and it unnerves me. I haven't been able to see them in a week due to all of this work and all of these meetings." Tibarn explained.
"With all due respect, King Tibarn, as much as I enjoy running endless errands for you and Skrimir, I do have my limits. You've sent me to do this at least ten times this week already. You know I hate flying." Ranulf objected.
"Janaff flies even faster than Ulki does, so it shouldn't be as long a trip, especially since Kilvas and Phoenicis are neighbors. It would make me feel better if both you and Janaff went to check on Mihara and Shoen, in case something goes down. Due to all this work, I'm unable to leave myself, and I can only send one of my subordinates." Tibarn reasoned with the cat laguz.
"...Oh, fine, fine. But you seriously owe me big time, Tibarn. Last time I checked, cats aren't meant to fly." Ranulf muttered. "I will more than gladly assist you, Your Majesty! Those stuffy meetings always bore me!" Janaff stretched. "Janaff, as much as I also enjoy teasing Ranulf myself, you do remember what we talked about, right? About not making flying any more torturous for Ranulf than it already is?" Tibarn narrowed his eyes.
"Yes, yes... I won't drop the kitty cat in a large body of ice cold water again... Unless he suddenly happens to become unbearably heavy while flying across it..." Janaff smiled innocently at Ranulf. "...See, this exactly why I don't like flying with this guy. He just has to always find a way to make my flying experiences even worse..." Ranulf glared at Janaff, who grinned sheepishly back.
"But anyway, Mihara and Shoen are strong kids, and they're pretty good fighters. Nothing ever happens to them while you're away, but even if some miserable sucker did happen to try anything on them, they'd tear 'em up. They are your children, after all. So I insist that they're just fine."
"It won't kill either of you to check. In fact, the flight will give the two of you even more time to work on that developing bond of yours. Now be off. I'm heading back to the meeting, before the beorc Empress Sanaki nags me for missing too much." Tibarn rolled his eyes before turning away, but stopped at the door.
"Oh, and Ranulf?"
"Yeah?"
"I know that the population in Phoenicis is still pretty low, and it's quite small compared to what it used to be, but... I don't want any 'accidents' with any of my people. Don't feel obliged to help increase the population."
"Jeez, Tibarn! Why do you always say that to me? I'm appalled! Do you really think so low of me?"
"No, no, of course not. After all, you are a friend of nations. Just don't get too friendly with any lucky ladies in my nation... I can do without having to look after any illegitimate offspring..."
"Oh, shut up, Tibarn! Sheesh..."
"Good luck with the flying."
"I should sue you. It should be illegal for a cat to fly so much in one life time..." Ranulf groaned as Tibarn walked back into the Kilvan conference room.
"Well, get a move on, pussy cat! We don't have all day to be a'wastin'!" Janaff exclaimed eagerly. "...You know, I really wonder how you and your partner can stand each other sometimes. You're pretty much polar opposites." Ranulf noted.
"Oh, Ulki? Eh, we pretty much balance each other out."
"No offense, but the balance needs to be tipping a bit more in your favor..."
"I get that a lot!"
"With Ulki, flying is almost bearable. With you... Oh damn, this is going to be hell..."
"Haha, that's the spirit! Now, up, up, and awayyyy!"
"...Aaaaaahhhhhh!"
Change In POV
"Here. This should be enough to get you by. Forgive me for being unable to come and see you any sooner." Volug apologized to a feminine figure wearing a light brown hooded cloak. The hood was over her head, which veiled her identity.
"It's quite all right, Volug. I'd wait for you forever if I had to. I understand that you're busy, being Queen Nailah's right hand man. I'm surprised she didn't ask why you requested that Lord Rafiel came in your stead to the National Convention in Kilvas this week. And you've become so much more fluent in modern tongue, too!"
"Yes. My beorc companions taught me their language. This past year... Has been far too long without you."
"Same here. When I heard that you and Queen Nailah were fighting in the war, I prayed day in and day out for your safe return. You're all I have in this world, Volug. Life wouldn't be worth living without you..."
"That should be my line. And you know that I would never die on you. I could not leave you behind to suffer all alone. You know that. No matter the obstacles, no matter the price, I will always return to you. I will protect you. Forever."
"Oh, Volug... Sniff... sniff... I just... I really don't deserve you. I don't understand how someone like you could care about a - "
"I fail to care about your bloodline. I fail to care about your family, lineage, or past. All I care about is you, my princess."
"I care about you, too, Volug. More than anyone or anything else. More than life itself."
"Do you still think... That you should keep yourself in hiding like this? Are you not ready to meet Queen Nailah?"
"...No, not yet. I don't know if I will ever be ready. I'm not sure what her reaction to someone like me will be..."
"Do not fret, my love. Everything will turn out just fine. Queen Nailah is much kinder than she may appear to be. Besides, I will be right there beside of you. I will not allow for even the queen to harm you."
"Volug... Oh, I love you so very much, Volug. You make me the happiest girl in Tellius."
"I love you, too. I am nothing without you... Aaliyah."
"...I hear someone coming. You must go. Laguz and beorc are not allowed here... If the King found out that I was slipping a laguz into the country, he would be outraged... He may even force me to leave..."
"I understand. I will come back later, I swear. Just for you."
"...Thank you, Volug... You really don't have to put so many things on the line for me like this..."
"But I want to. I want to see you. And I want to eventually bring you back to Hatari - where you rightfully belong."
"One day, maybe I'll be able to return to Hatari with you. One day..."
Change In POV
"You'd better watch out, Shoen, because I'm coming! There's no holding back!" An attractive young female hawk laguz with a womanly and developed body, layered shoulder length black hair that was flipped over to her right and golden eyes that were partially covered by her hair grinned as she charged at her brother.
She wore a sleeveless dark green tank top with thick straps that covered her shoulders, matching dark green arm warmers that ran up from her hand to her upper fore arm, a pair of blue capris that had flared out helms, and a pair of black sandals that strapped around her ankles.
"If you intend to defeat me, you'll have to give it your all, Mihara." An elegant young male hawk laguz with a thin muscular and lean figure, neatly cut short black hair and regal golden laguz eyes smirked back at his sister, watching her release her maroon-tipped light red wings in order to pick up velocity as she sped towards him.
He wore an outfit similar to Tibarn's - a fancy long sleeved green jacket a lot like Tibarn's (without the right sleeve torn) over a black button up shirt, white close fit pants, a red belt around his waist, black boots, and a small gold piecing in his left ear. His large dark brown wings were tucked neatly behind him.
The two royal siblings were fighting in their backyard - the wide, vast field behind the Phoenicisian Palace. It was a beautiful day outside - sunny, without a single cloud in the sky.
As Mihara drew back her fist and advanced to land her blow on Shoen, he dodged with ease and attempted to land a spin kick on Mihara. Mihara ducked before thrusting Shoen in his stomach with her elbow. Shoen low reverse round-housed Mihara, tripping her as he jumped up in the air and straightened his leg, aiming to strike her as he came down. Mihara back flipped, landed on her feet, and came at the Hawk Prince again.
"You've gotten better, Shoen. But even if this is only training, you won't be able to defeat me by simply countering and blocking my attacks, little bro!" Mihara threw a powerful punch at Shoen. "Don't underestimate me, sis. I'm better than you think!" Shoen blocked the Hawk Princess, using his arms as a guard.
"Your Highnesses, please... I know that the two of you are training in order to increase your fighting abilities in your half forms, but please go a bit easier on each other... Someone's bound to get hurt, as rough as the two of you tend to play..." A servant, Sergio, sweat dropped as he watched the siblings continue to train.
"They both take after Lord Tibarn so much appearance-wise... But, personality wise, I think I'd have to say that Prince Shoen is probably more like Lady Zelena, and Princess Mihara is more like Lord Tibarn." A young maid, Midna, stopped to talk to Sergio.
"Ah, yes... Lady Zelena... She was a beautiful and calm woman, indeed. It's a shame that she died so violently..." Sergio sighed. "I'm relatively new, and I've only seen pictures and videos of Milady. I haven't been wanting to ask because no one likes to talk about it... But how did Milady die?" Midna asked the elderly servant.
"...I suppose I'll explain it to you, young one. This old bird has nothing better to do while waiting for the prince and princess to finish. You see, Lady Zelena had died out of worry and love for Lord Tibarn and Princess Mihara." Sergio began.
"When the princess was only two years old, she had been kidnapped from the Royal Phoenicisian Palace by a member of the Dragon Tribe. The dragon took her to an isolated area and made an offering to the goddess Ashera. Infuriated, Lord Tibarn tracked down the man who had taken his only child, but just as he caught up to him, his daughter's body began to dissipate, along with the kidnapper's.
"Lord Tibarn searched for Princess Mihara for hours and hours without end until he heard someone coming up behind him as he approached Goldoa. It was Lady Zelena, who had been worried about her husband and daughter, and set out after them both.
"Lady Zelena had still been out in the distance as Lord Tibarn spotted her and flew towards her, telling her to go home. Due to the fact that she was bearing a six and a half month pregnancy, she was only in her half from - this worried Lord Tibarn all the more.
"Lord Tibarn hadn't been but a few feet from her when humans attacked Lady Zelena, assaulting her with arrows and wind magic. Lady Zelena fell from the sky, gravely injured, before Lord Tibarn caught her, dodged around the attacks, and killed her antagonists. Afterwards, he rushed to Goldoa for help.
"Though King Dheginsea was outraged, because of the fact that he cared so deeply for future generations, he did not turn the Hawk King and his pregnant wife away. Goldoa's best healers did all they could for her... But in the end, they could only save the baby.
"Before Lady Zelena died, she named the baby Shoen and said her goodbyes to Tibarn. In under twenty four hours, the Great Hawk King had lost both his daughter and his wife, and only had his son to keep him going."
"Oh, my... Now I see why no one likes to talk about it... But what happened afterwards?" Midna asked Sergio, obviously interested in hearing more of the story, which Sergio happily obligated to telling her.
"Unknown at the time, Princess Mihara had been transported to Earth by the goddess Ashera, and the kidnapper's life had been accepted by Ashera as payment for sending her beyond her parents' reach.
"Because she was only a baby, her wings hadn't come in yet. When she arrived on a planet called Earth, her wing growth halted and her pointed ears dulled, giving her the appearance of a beorc. She lived happily with her adopted family for thirteen years.
"One day, though, Sir Ranulf and the goddess Yune appeared before her. They took Princess Mihara back to Tellius, where she learned of her origins and was reunited with her father. This was only two years ago. However, when the Princess returned... Prince Shoen was still believed to be dead.
"After Lady Zelena's death and Princess Mihara's disappearance, Lord Tibarn raised Prince Shoen on his own. Well, one day, as an eight year old, Prince Shoen was visiting Gallia with King Caineghis. Because King Caineghis and Lord Tibarn are such good friends, this was not unusual - in fact, Prince Shoen often visited Gallia. However, Gallia was suddenly attacked - the only invasion to happen within the borders of the Beast Tribe country.
"While King Caineghis was busy fighting to protect Prince Shoen, he was abducted by the daughter of Petrine, Karoline, and put in a state similar to the one Princess Leanne had been put in, hidden away from the world... He suddenly woke up during the Mad King's War with no memory of who he was or where he was from.
"Prince Shoen came across Sir Tormod and Sir Muarim, who offered to take him to Phoenicis in hopes of finding someone who knew him. Eventually, the prince's memories were returned and he was reunited with his family.
"Here's another interesting thing about the Highnesses... The princess was born on February 6th year 623, and Prince Shoen was born November 16th year 625. In reality, both the princess and the prince are in their late twenties or early thirties." Sergio told Midna.
"What? How is that possible?"
"During the Continental War, the goddess Ashera's power went... Haywire. When that happened, Princess Mihara and Prince Shoen were the only ones present. The everlasting spell that had preserved Prince Shoen's time aging was broken, and Princess Mihara gained her Tellian years back."
"So then... The aftermath of the goddess' power going haywire gave Princess Mihara and Prince Shoen the appearance they would have if the princess had never been taken from Tellius, and if Prince Shoen had never been put into sleep? Appearance-wise, at least?" Midna blinked.
"Exactly. That is why the princess is only nineteen going on twenty, and the prince is only eighteen." Sergio nodded.
"What are you up to now, Sergio? Gossiping again?" Shoen walked up behind the old hawk laguz. "Don't deny an old man his pleasures, young boy. From all of the scratches, I assume Princess Mihara won?" Sergio examined Shoen.
"There IS a reason why I'm in charge of army maintenance and defensive and offensive training, while you're in charge of all the stuffy conferences and boring paper work, Shoen." Mihara teased her younger brother. "It's not my fault you're like a freaking princess warrior..." Shoen muttered, wiping the blood from the scratch on his cheek as he walked towards the Phoenicisian Palace.
"If you'd stop holding back on me, you'd probably be a real challenge, bro. You are a mini Dad, after all. You even dress like him." Mihara followed her brother. "You're one to talk. You're the one who shares his violent nature. I must have taken after Mom or something..." Shoen responded.
Once inside of the Royal Phoenicisian Palace, the Hawk King's two children walked up the halls with Midna and Sergio trailing behind them.
"I think I'm going to get back to work, now. That practice session was refreshing, but there's still so much paperwork to be done, and so many meetings to go into..." Shoen trailed off. "Loosen up, will ya, Shoen? You've been in a lot of those stuffy meetings lately. I've barely seen you all week." Mihara sighed.
"Yeah... But since Dad is so busy with the Kilvan Convention, I might as well take care of some things around the palace. I'm trying to at least finish most of the paperwork and meetings before he gets home, if not all." Shoen told his older sister.
"I repeat: Mini. Dad." Mihara taunted slowly. "You're looking more and more like him every day. You're going to be a mini version of Dad when you grow up, I swear."
"Prince Shoen, could we please get you to join us?" Someone called from down the hall.
"Hm. Well, someone has to take care of those things while Dad's gone, so it might as well be me. Feel free to do whatever else you do. See you later, sis. Come along, Midna, Sergio." Shoen turned away and walked up the hall.
"If you need anything, don't hesitate to call us, Princess Mihara. We'll be down the hall with Prince Shoen." Midna smiled at Mihara before leaving with Sergio.
With a sigh, Mihara began walking down the hall in the opposite direction. "I wonder how much longer Dad's gonna be in Kilvas?... If he keeps taking so long, I might have to go and check on him... I wouldn't be surprised if Empress Sanaki's called to complain about Dad being... Well... Dad." Mihara thought.
Entering the large, beautiful, and royal throne room, Mihara closed the door behind her. She often spent endless amounts of time in here by herself. Strolling through the room, she carefully viewed the pictures that hung all around the large and elegant king-sized room.
Pictures of her beloved family.
Mihara stopped as she spotted a picture of her parents - the powerful King Tibarn and his deceased wife that Mihara could only vaguely remember, the beautiful Queen Zelena - holding an infant child lovingly - her. She ran her finger tips over the image of the gorgeous woman slowly.
A more current picture that was taken of her, Shoen, and Tibarn last summer caught her attention. She smiled tenderly at the family portrait. "If I do not obtain the throne, I will have no complaints... You would make a fine king for our people... Shoen." Mihara whispered.
"It's too bad that you won't live to see his coronation."
Suddenly, Mihara felt the sharp and jagged edge of a silver stiletto pressed to her throat. "Scream, I dare you. I already took out all of the guards and maids. The only one who will hear you scream is the Prince, and he's already far down the hall. By time he gets in here, you'll be dead." The mysterious person threatened.
"If you call attention to yourself and he comes rushing in here, I will not hesitate to kill your brother, too."
"Who are you? How did you get in here?" Mihara demanded, unable to turn to face her antagonist due to the razor sharp blade being pressed to her throat.
"Who am I? That's not important. I am the hunter, and you are my prey. It's as simple as that. How did I get in here? Please. As if a bunch of over grown pigeons are any challenge to me." The feminine voice snickered.
"What do you want with me, then?"
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to kill you, plain and simple, daughter of the Phoenicis King."
"Hmph. Is that so? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you..." Mihara slowly pulled out one of her hidden daggers, "But I'm not quite so easy to kill!" She twirled and swiped it at the assassin, who back flipped with ease.
The assassin landed skillfully on her feet. She had a fierce beauty about her, a developed and womanly figure, smooth brown skin, long black hair that she wore some of in a wild bun held by long sharp needles and the rest straight down her back, and venomous, feral blood red eyes.
The assassin wore a long black trench coat, a close fitting black tank top, solid black pants that hugged the shape of her legs, a white belt that hung loose and diagonally around her waist, silver hoop earrings, fingerless black gloves, and black boot heels.
"Well, well, well. Now that you've seen my face, you definitely must die, Princess of Phoenicis." The attractive young woman poised herself for battle. Mihara narrowed her eyes. "...Who are you, really?" She demanded.
The assassin's grip on the stiletto tightened. "...I am your murderer, Hawk Princess. Fall to your demise." She replied as she dashed at Mihara faster than Mihara's eyes could follow.
And the sound of flesh being pierced by metal ripped through the room.
Me: And that's all for chapter one!
Mihara: What the hell? Who is that girl?
Me: You'll find out soon enough :D
Mihara: ...Hmph. Read and review please.