A/N: Chapter Three! What took you so long! Was it because I was lazy? Was it because I had school in the way? Was it because I was busy beating Sacred Stones AGAIN? Why, YES, yes it is! Geeze….I'm such a procrastinator. I feel so sorry for Ephraim because half the things the Demon King does I cannot see him doing…and since the Demon King is possessing his body…well….just…poor Ephraim.

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me. I do not profit off of them. If, by some freaky chance, this story idea became real due to Intelligent Systems…I still wouldn't own them. D:

Fomortiis spent most of his day preparing for the long voyage to Elibe. Gathering the proper crew, necessary supplies, telling that brat Renais princess he would be safe (because after all he was still in her precious brother's body), etc.

He was anxious, nerves high on alert and body twitching with anticipation. His plan was finally rolling into action. Fomortiis would regain his powers from Brammimond first then head to Etruria as planned. Or should he head to Etruria first and THEN hunt down Brammimond? Decisions, decisions and so little time for the Demon King to think on them. That was the only good thing about being locked up in stone for so long. You had time to think about multitudes of things. Like taking over the world and casting it into darkness for example. That was definitely a good thing to think upon.

"King Ephraim."

Fomortiis cringed, not expecting to be stopped by one of King Renais's subordinates. This was that Silver Knight…oh….what was his name? "Seth," he acknowledged, the name coming out of the blue and more on guess than actual knowledge.

The red headed knight nodded, "King Ephraim, I was wondering if your decision for this voyage is…wise. You had suddenly announced out of thin air that you were going to Frelia to take a ship to…to practically nowhere! Forgive my rudeness, but I must say that you have gone mad!"

Hah! If only he knew the half of it. Fomortiis felt his insides roil with delight at the strained, frustrated noises Ephraim was making in his consciousness. Unable to do anything other than watch. Watch and listen just how Lyon did when he possessed that frail, frail body.

"I do not think I have gone mad, Seth," Fomortiis replied coolly. It was hard imitating Ephraim but Fomortiis didn't get through life by just BEING a demonic destroyer…Oh, wait, he mostly did, but that was really beside the point. The point WAS Fomortiis was finally going to get what he had been dreaming of for so long.

"I thought casting darkness over the world was your ultimate goal?"

Oh, he could hear Ashunera now. Her voice annoying as well.

"That's because I AM here, you pig-headed demon king."

Fomortiis looked behind Seth's head and saw Ashunera standing there with an irate look on her face. That explained a lot right there. "Ephraim…are you alright?" Seth asked, tone taking on a more worried feel. Fomortiis nodded his head.

"Yes," he answered. "I was thinking, was all. But there IS a reason I am doing this, Seth. There might be something else out there, something to explore. If there are people there, I want to make the first step of establishing a solid relationship between them and Renais." Part of Ephraim was shining through on that one and it made Fomortiis want to puff his chest up in pride, shine a few invisible medals.

"That…if it is what you wish, just allow me to travel with you on this journey."

Oh, this would not do.

"That is quite alright. I'm sure Eirika would want you to stay here in Renais to help defend it."

"Actually, Princess Eirika begged me to travel with you. Renais is safe in her capable hands and I trust Kyle, Franz, and Forde to make up for my duties."

"Seth, I—"

Ashunera was laughing at him now, making motions that he was losing the argument. He gave a sigh of defeat, "Alright, it would be good to have you along as well. Start making your preparations."

"At once, King Ephraim."

Seth finally left, leaving Fomortiis alone with Ashunera in the throne room. "You, woman, come here," Fomortiis hissed. Ashunera crossed her arms, a smug smirk on her face.

"It is interesting seeing you lose such a battle," she said. "Has the great Demon King Fomortiis lost his manipulative touch?"

"Says the one who turned everything to stone," Fomortiis griped, slouching in the grandiose chair reserved for the King (he still felt giddy whenever Ephraim went to sit down in it for royal purposes, it was such a comfy chair—better than that stone!—but Ephraim lately was making a point to NOT sit in it when Fomortiis was not controlling him). "Sitting there in stone while everyone around you is stone is not a pleasant way to spend ones months. Though it did save me from Queen Rausten's speeches on obliterating abominations. Those 'abominations' she talks about happen to be my pride and joy."

"That's a sensitive topic I don't like discussing much," she said, eyes narrowing. "Your freedom has made your mouth a little loose, Demon King. I suggest curling your tongue back in your mouth before I stitch those lips of your shut."

"Ah, violence is not the answer, my dear," Fomortiis said. "What happened to the sarcastic wit you carry?" Ashunera sucked in a deep breath.

"It is nothing," she said. "It's just…I have been thinking lately….Is what you're doing a good idea?"

This threw the Demon King for a loop. For all the time he's known Ashunera, the young goddess was rarely one to question actions made by peers if she could see a justifiable reason behind it. It was the Order half of her, he presumed. Even his plan she did not object…until now.

"It's a good idea to me and that is all that really matters," Fomortiis answered, voice serious. The mood had darkened from its friendly feel, the air thick with a tension one could cut with only the sharpest of blades.

"I know…but it is the idea of regaining powers just to bring back a dead woman," Ashunera started, "it bothered me. I kept on going over it in my mind. What if…what if something like Nergal happens again or even worse?"

"Your duty to your creations is strong…I respect that, Ashunera, but what I do with my regained powers is up to me and only me. I will let no human decide to take it for their own or give it away foolishly as I did with Brammimond."

"I understand, Fomortiis, but there is something abjectly wrong with this. I—"

"Ashunera, you're going in circles."

She paused at Fomortiis's words. "You are right, I am not making any sense," she mumbled. "Maybe I am envious that you are able to easily reclaim your powers while I can do nothing but wait for them to slowly come back." Fomortiis shook his head.

"It is not your fault, Ashunera. Humans drained you of your power for their own needs as they drained me of mine."

"Yes, but you can at least get your full power back! You even plan on bringing back the one you care for!"

Fomortiis stood up and approached the hysterical woman. In a rather out of place act of kindness (He will look back on this later and most likely convulse, retch, in pure terror) he wrapped his arms around her in a hug. "Though we are holy beings, it is okay to be human as well, Ashunera," he said. "Even though I am regaining my powers, bit by bit, it is not exactly a thrilling feeling. For one, I do not know if I will even get my full strength back. For another, will my power alone no matter how great it is be enough for what I do?"

Ashunera hugged back, slowly calming down, "And what if it does succeed? What will you do then with your full power?"

Fomortiis stepped back from her, breaking the hug. He gave her a sickly sweet smile, "Cast the world in darkness, take it over, you know, the old routine."

"Yes…you must finish preparations…your voyage is soon," Ashunera said. "I am heading back to the Tower of Guidance to reflect on today's actions. I must say, though, I am quite embarrassed I ran to a rotting corpse for comfort." Fomortiis growled at her in warning but did nothing.

"I'll get back at you for that later," he said. "For right now, I'm still weak and can't control this body any longer. I hope you will visit later, like always." With that, Fomortiis left leaving Ephraim to collapse to the floor in exhaustion. Ashunera knelt down beside him. She rested her hand upon his head, worry in her eyes.

"I am sorry, child," she whispered, "that you have to deal with the fool that is my friend."

Fomortiis has issues, more funny stuff, and more Ashunera over Fomortiis in the next chapter. I am slowly turning Fomortiis into a sarcastic jerk ass. Fun. :D