Yay! Let's hear it for chapter UNO! Party, party!

Blue Orbi Angel: (tacklehuggz) YAY MY FIRST REVIEWER!!! I think. (laugh) Thank you for reviewing! (gives cookie) Hmm...your guess...? I suppose you'll just have to wait and see. :D LUKE SKYWALKER MOMENT?! WHERE?! (looks)

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Disclaimer: Nooo, what a beautiful thing it is! Yet I cannot have it! I must make it mine!! (haha, get it? Oliver?)

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Chapter 1

Yeah, there, you see?! I was dragged into the world of Fire Emblem! Onto Tellius! Into Altiaire! And then I was told that I was the freaking Hawk King's DAUGHTER! DAUGHTER, people! Yeah, sure, I still find it all hard to believe, but...!

It's rather hard to deny, though, with all this proof. Either that, or it's the most realistic dream I've ever had.

XxXxXxX

It felt like Mihara had been in Altiaire for a lifetime, yet it had only been at least two hours. In that short time, she had discovered that she was actually from Tellius, born in the hawk kingdom, so therefore, she was a hawk, and that Tibarn was her father.

Talk about a brain overload.

While Tibarn tried to explain it better, Mihara listened intently. He was, at the same time, escorting her back to the room where Janaff, Ulki, and Ranulf had been left waiting. It was difficult for her to comprehend all this information. Tibarn offered Mihara the room for the night, darkness having fallen over the land. He assured that she would be safe for the night and that she had nothing to worry about. With that, the door was closed, and Mihara was left alone with her thoughts.

She sat down on the bed, feeling exhausted. How, she wasn't quite sure. Shock, perhaps. She slowly turned around to look at her wings again. Hesitating, she raised a hand and ran them over the feathers. She smiled despite her situation. They were so soft, yet sturdy. And indeed, she felt herself touching the feathers. They were her wings. She ran her fingers delicately over her pointed ears.

I'm just wondering...how can this be? I can't exactly deny it, but...would this mean that there are other worlds that are invisible to humans?

-Beorc,- her other self reminded her.

Sighing quietly with slight aggravation, Mihara fell backwards onto the bed, thinking that it was strange how laying on her wings didn't make her uncomfortable. She closed her eyes to relax, but a chilly, gentle breeze rustled her hair. She looked to her left, seeing a slightly opened window. She got up, walking over to the window, not realizing how graceful she was walking. She opened the window wider, looking out over the scenery.

It was mountainous, far in the distance. There was flat land stretched before the mountains, not very large, which eventually became foothills. There were many trees and animals. Down below, Mihara could still hear happily chatting laguz. She looked down, not realizing how many of the winged people were ravens.

What happened to Naesala, then...? she wondered.

A stronger gust caused Mihara to shiver a little, so she closed the window. She walked back to the bed, collapsed on it, and closed her eyes.

XxXxXxX

Sunshine shone on her face, stirring her. Mihara opened her eyes, groaning with annoyance. She hated how one of her windows in her room faced east! She snuggled back into her blankets, trying to catch a few minutes' sleep.

Oh, crap! Am I late for school-?! Mihara flew up in her bed, ready to get ready for school with speed, only-

...It wasn't her room.

She muttered to herself after looking at her surroundings, "So it wasn't a dream...it was real..."

Then, she realized that she was under the covers. She fidgeted a little. Someone had entered while she slept, placing her properly in the bed. She heard a quiet knock on her door. She looked at it for a moment, then got out from the bed, stretching as she walked towards the door. She opened it slightly and saw Janaff standing there, seeming much taller than he had last night. He grinned approvingly. "I was just making sure you were awake, Lady Mihara."

Mihara insisted, "No, umm...please don't call me 'Lady'."

"Of course, Lady Mihara," Janaff said sarcastically, smirking friendly at her. "Lord Tibarn wished to know if you would join us at breakfast."

"I-I'd love to, only...I have no change of clothes..."

"One of the locals has donated some for you. I can have someone bring them up."

"Please. If it's not too much trouble."

"Of course not. If you'll just wait a moment, I'll get them." Janaff left silently, Mihara staring after him.

This is so weird! She groaned in her mind. So, so, so, sooo weird!

Sooner than expected, Janaff and a female black haired raven behind him appeared, carrying clothes, neatly folded for Mihara. She flushed a little and whispered a thanks. Janaff allowed the raven to carry the clothes in, and she set them down next to Mihara's unmade bed. She gave Mihara a friendly smile before telling her, "I'll wait outside to escort you to the dining room, Miss Mihara."

"Um, sure. Thanks..." Mihara paused.

"Ginia."

"Thanks, Ginia."

"Of course." Ginia left the room, closing the door behind her, saying something to Janaff outside.

Mihara quickly made the bed before examining the clothes. She was surprised how some of the clothes looked so similar to Earth's. Sort of like Vika's clothes... she thought.

She picked out a dark green sleeveless shirt that had matching dark green armwarmers that went from her upper arm down to her hand. Then, she found a pocketless pair of capris, the bottom of the legs flaring out at her shin. Lastly, she put on a pair of black sandles which strapped around her ankles. She brushed her hair, noticing that her now black layers flipped out, and flipped her hair over to the right side, so some hair hung in her still hazel eyes.

She inhaled and exhaled before opening the door. Ginia smiled. "Are you ready?" she inquired.

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess," Mihara answered, scoffing lightly.

Ginia nodded understandingly and led the way. She twisted down through halls, Mihara not paying much attention to where they were going – she was too busy looking at the decorations and how large the castle was. It made her feel like an ant. At last, Ginia held a door open for Mihara. "Here you are, Miss Mihara."

"Thank you," she said, gathering her strength. She walked in.

She was actually rather surprised to see that there wasn't really a true, room-lengthed table sitting in the dining room. Everyone – of which only three Mihara knew – was sitting on windowsills, eating a small breakfast. She saw Tibarn speaking quietly with Janaff and Ulki in a corner. She felt a little upset when she didn't see Ranulf anywhere. Janaff saw her first and waved her over. Mihara, trying to ignore all the staring eyes, walked over to them. Ulki silently offered her a plate of breakfast. Mihara accepted it, muttering a thanks to him.

"I trust you slept well?" Tibarn said, biting off a piece of seasoned bread.

"Yeah, I did..." Mihara nodded, nibbling on her breakfast. Honestly, she didn't feel that hungry. She just felt like...moving; flying.

"That's good."

"Are you going to show her around today, Your Majesty?" Ulki inquired.

Regret crossed Tibarn's face. "No, I cannot. I have a meeting with Reyson and Sanaki later tomorrow. I need to fly to Begnion. I'm sorry," he added to Mihara.

"No, it's okay. I understand that you have stuff to do...you know...as king..." Mihara mumbled, although part of her felt disappointed.

"Janaff and Ulki shall watch you," he assured.

"Then who's accompanying you, Your Majesty?!" Janaff demanded.

"Reyson," Tibarn told Janaff with a sly grin and a tone in his voice that said it was so obvious.

Mihara wondered how...realistic Reyson looked. She bet that the herons were beyond beautiful. She wondered if she could understand the ancient language...

Mihara realized how slow she was eating, while many of the others in the room had left. She wolfed down the rest of her food and Janaff took her plate for her. She followed Tibarn and Ulki outside, Janaff quickly catching up with them. A gust of warm air hit Mihara's body, and she felt happy. The air was so clean with nothing to pollute it except fires. The view was breath taking, too. But she kept following the king. She wasn't about to really admit to herself that he was her father. They walked for a little while, away from the castle, until Tibarn finally stopped. He faced the others, the sun gleaming across his features. He placed a warm hand on Mihara's shoulder.

"Janaff and Ulki will show you around, and teach you things, okay? I'll return as soon as I can."

Mihara nodded, but for some reason, she felt a pit in her stomach. Tibarn murmured something to his loyal subjects before taking off into the sky. When he was about twenty feet in the air, the green light engulfed Tibarn, and he transformed into his full laguz form, screeching as he flew off with great speed. Mihara watched after him, aweing at how large he was. Janaff cleared his throat, "Well, are you ready, Lady Mihara?"

Mihara nodded silently and turned to Janaff and Ulki, ready to listen and get answers. Ulki said, in his ever calm voice, "I suppose we should start with learning to fly first."

"Always a good place to start," Mihara agreed, grinning faintly.

Janaff smirked with her, Ulki, too, cracking a small smile. Janaff then said, "Well, I suppose that we should start at the beginning. Most of us learned to fly naturally, but since you, like, switched worlds and yada, yada, yada, we may need to go over a few things..."

"Understandable."

XxXxXxX

Ranulf, in cat form, ran as hard as his legs would carry him. He had started out running early that morning, needing to reach Gallia as soon as he could. He had only stopped twice to drink, one of the times including hunting. He had been inside the borders for a while and was nearing the palace with every step. He had left Gallia with hardly any word to Skrimir, who he knew would be furious. All he had told his king was that this was an emergency. Hopefully, Skrimir would understand since Ranulf usually ran everything by him.

Then again, maybe he wouldn't.

However, he saw a flash of blue and smelled a familiar scent riding on the wind. He put on the brakes and faced the large blue tiger. His old friend, Mordecai. He shifted back to his half-beorc form, Mordecai doing so as well. Ranulf grinned and bobbed his head in acknowledgement. "Mordecai, how've you been? Hardly anyone's seen you since you left to live in the forest."

"I have been well. What about you, Ranulf?" Mordecai replied in his deep, rumbling voice, still ever struggling with the modern language.

"I've been pretty good. Although...I doubt I will be once I reach the palace. Skrimir's gonna chew me up and smash my bones."

Mordecai looked concerned. "Why? Ranulf done nothing bad."

"I had to help Tibarn with an emergency, so I had to leave without telling Skrimir anything. I bet he's furious." Ranulf shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I believe Skrimir will do no real harm. He likes Ranulf."

"I hope you're right, Mordecai. Well, I hate to leave so soon, but I need to get back." Ranulf looked regretfully at the tiger.

"I understand."

"I hope you'll keep in some form of touch every once in a while," Ranulf hinted before slinking back into his cat form.

Mordecai nodded, smiling. "I will. Goodbye, Ranulf."

Ranulf yowled a farewell and began running again.

Within another half hour, running at full speed, Ranulf reached the palace and already could practically hear Skrimir's roars.

"Ranulf!!"

He flinched, pinning his ears to his head. Okay, now he could really hear him. He groaned and ran in the palace, transforming back to his half-beorc form to face Skrimir (although he really wanted to stay as a cat).

XxXxXxX

As it turned out, Mihara had really been a natural at flying. There were, of course, a few minor complications. She had fallen from the sky once, but thankfully, she had only been about ten feet off the ground. Sure, it was still a long way (kind of), but Ulki had caught her. But before a half hour had passed, Mihara was comfortably flying one hundred feet in the air, Janaff and Ulki soaring beside her. "So, you like this so far?" Janaff inquired.

"Yeah!" Mihara beamed. "So, when do I get to learn how to transform?"

Ulki commented, with a straight face, "Energetic all of a sudden, aren't you?"

"I'm excited!"

"Of course. Well, anyway, I suppose it wouldn't hurt anythng if we give her a little lesson..." With an approving nod from Ulki, Janaff continued, "Well, transforming for the first time can be a little exhausting, since it takes a lot of energy."

"Okay. So...should we land first?" Mihara knew that if it took as much energy as Janaff said, that she would more than likely fall from the sky.

"It would be a good idea," said Ulki, beginning to descend.

They swiftly landed, Janaff and Ulki ever so gracefully, Mihara stumbling a little. "Well, I suppose that the best way to describe it is that you have to think about it," Janaff informed after a moment of thinking. "Just think about being the hawk."

"Concentrate your energy," Ulki added, "Soon enough, it will be as simple as breathing."

Mihara nodded understandingly. She did her best to do as they said. However, all she got was a little flicker of light. She frowned in disappointment.

"It'll take a little bit of practice," Janaff quickly said, "but I'll bet you'll get it in no time."

Mihara thanked him for the encouragement and tried again.

XxXxXxX

Rolf knocked quietly on Mist's door. "Mist? May I come in?"

"Y-yeah, okay," Mist answered from inside her room.

Rolf entered her room. He saw Mist, staring out the window, as if waiting for someone.

Ike.

It'd been three years since he left the face of Tellius. He hadn't been heard from since. Mist was always worrying about him, but always put on a brave face. Usually, she only let Rolf or Titania see her depressed. Rolf was often the one checking in on her.

"Oh, Rolf. What's going on?" Mist turned towards him.

"Nothing much. We just got back from a mission."

Mist looked confused. "Mission? Why wasn't I told?"

"We though you deserved a break," Rolf explained. "I mean, it's been three years of working yourself to death. You need a break."

Anger shot across Mist's face. "A break?!" She stood up. "I work myself 'to death' because I want to! I want to help people! It's not been to take my mind off Ike-!" Mist choked, tears forming at her eyes. She allowed Rolf to run forward and engulf her in a hug. Mist cried softly into his chest, Rolf having grown a lot the past three years.

"But, Mist, you're only human," Rolf said softly into her hair. "And even Goddesses need a break."

Yune popped into Mist's head. Yune often needed to rest, as Mist recalled. Yune visited occasionally, but stayed with Micaiah and Sothe most of the time.

"And you need to cry. You've been holding it in for far too long."

Obeying, Mist's sobs intensified.

XxXxXxX

Micaiah, fifteenth queen of Daein, couldn't help but stare at all the wolves sitting at her table. Nailah, queen of Hatari – the kingdom across the great desert – had migrated her people across the desert with the help of her vassal, Volug, and the heron prince, Rafiel, who was momentarily in Crimea, meeting with Queen Elincia. The wolves sat in silence, sharing eye contact between themselves, then at the beorc serving their food. Nailah had informed Micaiah and her husband, Sothe, that the wolves wouldn't be able to communicate with any beorc aside from Micaiah, since she could speak the ancient language. However, Micaiah and Sothe's old friends, Tormod and Muarim, were visiting and helping the wolves to learn modern speech while they stayed in Daein.

"Queen Nailah," Sothe said, "how much longer until you plan on claiming your land from Begnion?"

"Volug and I begin our journey to speak with Apostle Sanaki this afternoon. Lord Tibarn and Prince Reyson are to be there as well," the Wolf Queen informed cooly. "My people shall soon follow after we return."

"You are claiming the land near the Serenes Forest?" Micaiah inquired.

"Yes. Rafiel may be at home, finally, with the king. He has been revived by a ceremony performed by Prince Rafiel. We won't be too far from him, nor Altiaire."

"That's the country that Tibarn is lord of now, right?" Sothe frowned in thought.

Volug nodded in confirmation. Micaiah gave him an encouraging smile and Volug struggled to say, "That...is...cor...rect."

Nailah beamed at her vassal, "Wonderful, Volug. You are learning well."

"Tha...thank...you."

Changing the subject, although she was still happy for Volug, Micaiah asked her husband, "Where are Tormod and Muarim this morning? They usually join us for breakfast when they visit..."

"Tormod told me earlier this morning that they were going to help with some project of Edward's and Leonardo's. Nolan, is of course, behind the scenes." Sothe smirked. "I just know it."

"That would be like him. Did he say what kind?"

"Of course not."

Micaiah giggled behind her hand and finished her meal. Nailah shared a quick glance with Volug before the two stood, Micaiah and Sothe standing right after them. Micaiah and Nailah shared a quick hug, Micaiah, Sothe, and the wolves escorting the queen and her vassal downstairs. Micaiah gave Nailah a sad look as she transformed. "You will be back soon, right?"

"As soon as we can. We shan't be back any later than two days. Sure, hawks, herons, and crows may fly, but we run like the wind," Nailah rumbled, taking off.

Volug, too, slunk into his full wolf form and howled a farewell before following his queen. The others watched after them and Sothe stared nervously back at the wolves and the few beorc that had lived in Hatari. "Well, umm...since I can't speak the ancient language, I'll leave them to you."

Micaiah laughed, her laughter ringing like music in the air.

XxXxXxX

"My brother," Leanne said in the ancient tongue, "when is Tibarn arriving?"

"Soon, my sister," Reyson returned. "He's said that he has joyous news."

"Really? What kind?"

"He just said it could change the bird tribes' future. And that he would reveal it at the meeting with Sanaki and Nailah."

"It must be wonderful news." The female heron smiled warmly, walking gracefully across the grassy floor of the revived Serenes Forest.

Reyson nodded in agreement, singing a gentle galdr to the creatures of the forest that were listening.

The king of Serenes – Leanne, Reyson, and Rafiel's father – had been revived, thanks to a ceremony performed by Rafiel. Since then, he had been healthy enough to get up and move around, but he still needed to recover a little more before he could fly far.

"It will be so nice when Rafiel returns home," Leanne said softly, not wanting to interrupt her brother's singing.

Reyson faded in his song. He smiled gently at his younger sister. "Yes, it will be. Of course, we will never get our elder sister back....We already lost Lilla."

Leanne nodded sadly, seeming much more fragile than she had before to Reyson. Their own father hadn't recognized the two for a few moments, due to how much they'd changed. They weren't as fragile looking as herons were meant to look. But regardless, after so long of being ill, their father had remembered them.

After a while of them walking along in their forest, they heard the faint beating of wings, so they glanced up. Tibarn hovered above them for a moment before shifting to his half-beorc form. He landed and stretched before the herons. Leanne beamed. "Hello, Tibarn."

"Hey, there, Leanne. Reyson." Tibarn grinned, nodding at them.

Reyson crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, saying in the modern speech, "I doubt you'd tell us the news here?"

"Yes, hi, Reyson," Tibarn repeated.

"Hi," Reyson returned.

"No."

The heron prince glared at his old friend. "Why won't you tell us?"

"Oh, I'm going to tell Leanne..." Tibarn chuckled at Reyson's harsher glare. "You can wait."

"Can you?"

"I'm sure I'll manage. How's your father holding up?"

"He's doing well, thank you," Leanne reported, looking eager to learn of Tibarn's news first.

"That's wonderful. Well, now, Leanne, if you'll accompany me to see him...Reyson can wait." Tibarn smirked in the prince's direction, Reyson scowling at him.

XxXxXxX

Mihara sighed and sat down on the edge of her balcony. There weren't any walls/guardrails set up along it except for the sides. She had been trying to transform all day, but still received no more than a flicker of light. Sure, it had grown a little larger as she tried harder, but she eventually felt exhausted. Ulki had told her she was trying too hard and he and Janaff accompanied her to dinner. Mihara stared up at the moon.

It's really not a dream, she concluded at last. I'm here in a video game world. But...what about 'me' back home? What about my friends back there...? My parents, my sisters?

Mihara's eye twitched before they opened in alarm. She sat like that for a moment before relaxing. Why...did it take me a minute to remember what they looked like? Surely I can't forget about them.

She looked back up at the crescent moon, searching for answers in its beauty. She closed her eyes and turned her head downward, the wind playing with her hair, wings, and clothes. She thought hard, wondering where Tibarn and Ranulf would be right now, at this time of night...

XxXxXxX

Yay! That concludes chapter one! Please, please, please, drop a line on your way out of the webpage! Make an author happy. :) Any ideas? Feel free to share!

-SylphWindDancer