Itsa me! Dreadgar!...what, I can be excited for super Mario 3d world, and you can't stop me…..even if I don't have a wii u…*sniff*

Anyway, I've decided to make another special chapter. This one takes place on a rather special day.

Oh, and I don't remember the name of the woman that runs the golden deer. So I'll just call her lady.

WHY, GALE! WHY, HER!

The streets of etria. They are mostly crowded with people, however, at least 70 percent of them are adventurers rather than average citizens. On this particular day there was a lot of things that were notable. Hearts, pink and chocolate. Apparently, someone introduced the concept of something called "valentine's day" at some point in the history of the town. It soured in popularity, since it gave people an excuse to confess and enjoy their time with their loved ones.

Right now, for the first time, a highlander is in the town at the time of this day. However he wasn't really interested in getting chocolate or writing love letters as most men are doing right now.

Instead, he was responding to a request addressed directly to him alone. The strange part was that it was from the bartender lady, the one that runs the golden deer.

Upon arriving and entering the pub, the highlander noticed there were more people than usual. Most likely trying to declare their love to lady.

"Gale! Over here! Hurry!"

Noticing lady on the far counter, Gale walked up to here. Along the way he noticed people(all men) giving him strange, and almost frightening glances.

"I'm glade you made it, I almost didn't know what to do. But could you please get your head closer. I need to talk to you in private" lady whispered.

Complying with her wishes, Gale bent down slightly to be on eye level with her, and finally spoke "I came as soon as I heard. You have a difficult job for me, correct?"

"yes, as you probably heard. Today is valentine's day, and most of the men here would love nothing more than to give me love letters" lady said, annoyance evident in her tune.

"I…..see? but what does that have to do with anything" asked Gale, obviously confused.

"its because I want to give you this" from out of nowhere, lady revealed a bar of valentines chocolate, and slowly put it on the table.

"…..so what does this really mean?" asked Gale. he didn't need to be a genius to know something was wrong with this exchange.

" I need you to pretend to be my valentine"

"huh? Why?"

"well…you see….. every valentine's day I receive many letters, or half the bar try's to unsuccessfully woe me". Gale chuckled at that, but urged her to continue. "I'm tired of rejecting all these people. Some of them have been trying for years. But the truth is , I think they need to move on, and try to find love elsewhere"

" I see. So you think if you pretended to have a boyfriend, they will stop and not bother you again". Lady nodded her head in confirmation. "but that still doesn't explain everything. Why ask ME?"

"it's because some of them won't give up, even if they think I'm already taken". Gale was about to ask why, but lady already started answering him "their just that persistent. But if the fake boyfriend in question was too strong and too famous, then their more likely to just give up after realizing they have no chance against him".

"Hmmm… that's true. But why not ask someone else your more comfortable with."

Lady shook her head, and said "your guild is the only one that fits the bill, but when I thought about it, I realized that Fredericka and raquna will be obviously wrong" Gale shuddered at that, but let her continue. " and as for Arthur, he's too young, and Simon is a medic, not a fighter, so no one will be afraid of going up to him and requesting a death match".

It took all of Gales self-control to not laugh at that last reason. "so I realized you where my only real option…..so could you please accept? I'll make it worth your while, I promise"

Gale gave it some thought. He COULD accept and guarantee a favor from her. But some of the people in the bar were friends in his opinion, and he wasn't too eager to get his name written on their hit-list….oh, what the heck, JUSTICE FOR ALL!

"alright, I'll help you". Upon hearing his response, lady let up, and already started giving him instructions.

"good, well start right now, so get ready. Don't worry about it, just play along". Gale was about to protest, but lady just started breathing air, and then spoke in a fake, relieved and loud voice.

"Really! You will accept it! Oh, I'm so glad". Upon hearing her words, the whole pub shifted their attention to the highlander and bar owner.

"I was so worried you that would reject me! but now I feel like the happiest woman alive!". Her acting was spot on, Gale wondered if she ever tried to be an actress.

" I realize that you have a request to finish right now, so just take this with you and think of me" after that, lady extended the valentines chocolate bar, shocking everyone in the pub.

Remembering her comment about playing along, Gale pretended to gratefully accept the chocolate bar. Once he grabbed it, he felt as if all the hearts in the pub were screaming in agony and denial at the scene they just witnessed. Suddenly all of the confused looks changed to glares and death stares.

"…heh….you should probably leave before someone tries to strangle you" was lady's only comment on the heartbreak she just saw.

Gale wasted no time in running away from the pub.

** 15 minutes later **

"…*huff*….*huff*….. I finally made it!"

Gale was now standing in front of the guilds base.

After miraculously escaping the golden deer without any confirmation with any broken hearts or angry fans, Gale was glad to finally be back were its safe.

Entering the base, Gale shouted a tired "IM HOME".

No sooner did he take two steps inside did a strange yellow bird came flapping at him…..oh wait, its only Fredericka, her yellow pig tails always gave the impression that they were trying to give her the ability to fly.

"Gale! Your finally here! I was waiting for you to come back!". Seeing the normally quit girl acting so cheerfully made a smile form on the highlanders lips.

"is that so? And just why were you waiting for me?" asked the highlander while ruffling the girls hair playfully.

" uhhhh…. I wanted to give you something…..important"

"hm? And that would be…?

"its…. Well its val-" Fredericka never got to finish, as the guilds resident redhead and protector butted in with her own part to speak.

" hey there, Gale! Your just the guy I was looking for!" was how the protector interrupted their conversation.

"ah, hello, raquna. You seem even more chirpy today. Why is that?"

In response to his question, the redhead started grinning and giggling like a schoolgirl, while gracefully covering her mouth.

" did I say something funny?" asked Gale, confused.

"heheh….no, I'm just fond of your obliviousness" she replied while giggling all the way.

Not quite understanding what she meant, Gale decided to just drop the issue and ask her what she wanted. " so, you were going to ask me something?"

" heh…. yeah, about that, could we go somewhere more private?" raquna was now playing with her hair, a sure sign that she was nervous.

Behind her, Fredericka was visibly fuming. She was not pleased at the older woman for interrupting her, "HOLD IT! I asked him first! And I have something important to say" determination was written all over Fredericka's face.

Raquna, however, simply dismissed it with a wave of her hand " I'm sure it can wait. I need to say something that could change the whole way the guild functions".

Normally this would receive Gales undivided attention. But the situation felt too strange to make a move just yet.

"w-w-well I have to say something that could change the way the guild functions too"

In response to Fredericka's statement, raqunas behavior changed from casual to irritated. Gale could only think that he never saw the two act this way before.

"listen….."Ricky", this is an adult manner that needs the attention of ACTUAL adults". Gale couldn't believe what he just heard, did these two have a fight or what?!

At that time, the last two members of the guild decided to show themselves, no doubt attracted by the racket just now.

"oh, looks like Gale has finally returned, what took you so long, and what was that request about" said the guilds medic, Simon.

"yeah, it was pretty boring waiting for you" complained Arthur, the guilds alchemist.

Gale was about to answer Simon's question, Before he was interrupted by Arthur, who exclaimed in shock "hey! Is that valentines chocolate sticking out of your pocket! Who gave them to you!"

Registering what they just heard , raquna and Fredericka quickly shifted their gazes to where Arthur was pointing. Their faces both fell at the sight. There, in Gales pocket, was a valentines chocolate bar, no doubt given to him by someone.

"WHAT!? WHO GAVE YOU THAT !" screamed Fredericka at the top her lungs.

Gale was almost too afraid to respond, but he might as well begin his explanation from SOMEWHERE." Lady gave it to me for valentine's day" he casually said.

It took at least 5 seconds for what he said to finally sink in. once it did, everyone's reactions where simply extreme.

"n…..no… the BAR owner!" raquna was the first to respond.

"but…..but…but WHY HER!" Said Fredericka with disbelief.

" I…. didn't know you liked her that way" commented Simon.

" I thought you were interested in strong and dependable girls?!" Arthur finally added.

Gale realized that he should have went more into detail, judging by his guild mates reactions. Before he can start explaining again however, he was greeted with a very sad sight.

Fredericka looked like she was on the verge of crying. " ….but…*sniff*…. I realize that…*sniff*….im a little young, but still… why would you choose her over everyone else? Is it because she's pretty or because she…..has a large CHEST?!"

Whoa, whoa, WHOA. Just what was so wrong about this to drive her to tears?! And what's up with that last reason.

"I thought that after fighting in the front lines together all this time… that we had something special for each other?!"

Gale switched his attention to raquna, her expression looked visibly hurt, even betrayed. But why would she think there was nothing special between them?! Gale was prepared to give his life for her and the others if it ever came to it.

Gale was confused and just about tired of it all. Thankfully, Simon came to his rescue.

"calm down, both of you, he obviously doesn't get what you two are so upset about. And frankly, I think he doesn't even know why were shocked at this whole mess"

Noticing his point, raquna and Fredericka started to calm down, although they still looked heartbroken.

"and you. You better explain this in detail"

Upon hearing those words, Gale let out a long breath he didn't know he was holding.

** after explaining the situation **

"BWAHAHAHAHA! REALLY! SHE ASKED YOU TO ACCEPT HER CHOCOLATE FOR THAT?!".Arthurs laughter echoed through the whole base.

Gale simply nodded his head in confirmation, glade to finally explain the situation.

"…so does this mean you don't actually like her…." Simon cautiously asked.

"no, I was more interested in the reward than anything else" was Gales annoyed answer.

After hearing his answer, Fredericka and racuna breathed a sigh of relief. Good, they still had a chance.

The moment they relaxed, they realized they lost whatever energy remaining for the day. and so racuna excused herself and decided to just go to bed early, Fredericka on the other hand. "so if you don't like her…..then who do you like?" . racuna, who was in the middle of going to her room, decided to stand still and listen a bit more.

Gale was taken aback by her question, but answered with confidence " I don't know. Maybe I do. maybe I don't"

Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Fredericka made her way to her own room to call it a night. On her way there, Gale could hear a faint "sorry" from racuna, most likely referencing her previous rude statement to the younger girl.

Once Gale was sure the two girls were out of sight, he decided to address the other two males in the hall.

" women are scary. Just plain SCARY!"

The men chuckled and laughed at the highlanders comment. Soon the laughter died down, and Arthur said that he wanted to try new formulas, so he took off outside where he won't make damage by accident. Simon soon followed, not trusting the alchemist to be alone even in the backyard.

Once he was sure he was alone. Gale relaxed his posture and started thinking about Fredericka's previous question.

"…..to be honest…. I just don't know if she returns my feelings. Or if she will even give them some thought…..if I ever mention them…..that is"

Closing his eyes, he imagined her face from what little time they spent together and softly whispered

"….ren…."

*huff* *huff*….*gasp* finally, I'm finished.

This chapter was a whopping 2,417 words.

This is the longest chapter I ever did. That's not saying much, since its only my fourth one.

But seriously, I'm not sure if it turned out right, or if I have been trying too hard.

Oh, and before I forget, thanks, magic missile, for reviewing my story(yay! My first review). And yes, I did play the fire emblem games you mentioned. As for the part about Gale being sly, I like to think he's just playful.

Also, I may not applaud the next chapter too quickly, since I want to try writing a blazblue fanfic that focuses on tager.

If anyone is interested in reading it. Than check my page every now and then to see if it's there.

Anyway, please review again, or for the first time, if you ever get the chance.