The group was a mile outside of the village of Mizuho. It was around noon as the group traveled throughout the countryside.
"I'm so tired, and my feet are aching!" Zelos complained. "Let me lean on you Sheena." The red haired chosen said as tried to put his hand on Sheena's shoulder. Sheena hit his hand quickly and glared at him.
"Ugh, indespicable." She said bluntly.
Raine stopped walking and said, "Wait, I hear someone."
Suddenly Marta Lualdi and Emil Castagnier stepped out of a nearby bush area. Marta looked relieved and happy at the same time to see the gang, Emil was surprised.
"Sheena, Raine, Colette, and Genis too!" Marta greeted happily.
"What, am I not important enough to remember?" Zelos whined sadly.
Marta rolled her eyes. "Of course I remember the great Zelos Wilder." Marta stated sarcastically. "Anyway, reunions are great and all but I need to ask you for your help, on behalf of Tiga and the neutral villagers of Mizuho."
Sheena looked stunned. "The neutral villagers of Mizuho? What do you mean neutral?"
"Kuchinawa and Orochi are dividing the villagers and are eventually going to attack each other. Tiga can't influence that many people's decisions since he no longer governs the village anymore, as in you need to stop them Sheena." Marta explained quickly. "We can sit and talk for a little while, but soon we need to go and help."
Emil stood in front of Barrivus and Anya. "Who are you two?" He asked curiously.
"I am Anya Airvine, a pleasure." Anya greeted Emil.
"I'm Barrivus." Barrivus stated bluntly.
"Marta and I will discuss what the current situation is at Mizuho, Sheena you might want to listen since this will eventually involve you." Raine instructed as Marta, Sheena, and her sat by a tree and began discussing things.
"So, Barrivus, are you a priest at all?" Emil asked shyly.
"No." Barrivus replied.
"Did you quit?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because the church is corrupt and there is no more Martel, there never was a goddess or anything of the sort."
"Are you happy now?"
"Just shut it." Barrivus stated as he leaned back against a tree. "Go have a fluffy reunion with everyone else; we might talk some other time."
Emil nodded and walked over to where Genis, Colette, Zelos, and Anya were sitting and sat next to them. "So, Anya, what is your current occupation?" Emil asked.
"I am daughter to a noble family; my parents were Eric Airvine and Cilva Airvine. Not too long ago, and coupled of months ago to a few months ago, they were kidnapped and I eventually found them-dead. I swore to do what I could to avenge them, but of course that hasn't happened yet." Anya explained.
"So how did you meet everyone?" Emil continued.
"Someone, someone falsely accused Sheena of being the one who killed my parents and hauled the princess Hilda and the king away. So I went out to save the rest of the nobles from death and tried to kill Sheena. It was all misleading but eventually we ended up traveling together, and we still are." Anya continued to explain.
"And she's quite skilled and kind." Colette added cheerfully.
"I second that." Sheena agreed.
"The kindness of the beautiful." Zelos added with a light hit from Sheena.
"Interesting, I like you." Emil friendly said. "Um, Anya, is Barrivus always so…blunt?"
Anya laughed. "So he's having his blunt phase today? Figures; he usually acts calm and kind, but sometimes he's just blunt. You'll get used to it. He seems to have a dull life outside of being the church, since the enthusiasm in his life seems to have died down a bit. You traveled with a girl I've been told is Presea, correct? He's like her but more emotional, as in shows emotion more often. He'll be liking you tomorrow, you'll see." She explained as Emil smiled.
"Good, I'm glad; he seemed like the kind of person to be a friend with." Emil decided.
Anya blushed. "Yeah…just…a friend."
Colette smiled and laughed as she ran next to Anya and patted her pink hair. "Do you like Barrivus? That's so cute!"
Anya looked over to see Barrivus hadn't heard Colette. "I d-don't like him!" Anya protested without much success.
"You can't hide it, but we'll be quiet about it." Genis teased.
Anya stood up infuriated. "I don't have feelings of love towards anyone!" Anya yelled as she stormed off.
Emil laughed. "I like those two, and I missed being with you guys."
Genis patted Emil heartily on the back. "Good to have you back."
"Yeah former Ratatosk boy." Zelos said.
Raine, Sheena, and Marta beckoned for the other six to come join them. When everyone was in the same area Raine said, "Alright, this is the scenario at Mizuho. Tiga and Orochi were running the village while Chief Sheena was absent. When Kuchinawa returned, Orochi was angered since Kuchinawa had betrayed the village during our world regeneration with Colette. Orochi has tried to get Kuchinawa to leave, but that just increased the tension between the hateful brothers. Some of the village agreed with Kuchinawa, the other group with Orochi, and only a few were neutral with Tiga. Orochi eventually began to threaten Kuchinawa, and pretty soon, Tiga fears, they will fight each other along with the other villagers, Marta and Emil were traveling together until they ran into the village. Tiga asked for their help and told them of the village's problems, Marta and Emil agreed to help. Now that we are here Marta and Emil ask for our help, and Sheena and I have agreed for all of us to help as well."
Sheena stepped forward and nodded. "Yes, I need all of your guys' help."
"I see no problem with helping." Barrivus stated.
"Yeah, it would be good to help out a village that wants to move." Anya agreed.
"I'll just go where my sister wishes to go." Genis decided.
"Oh well, for my hunnies." Zelos stated.
"Then it's settled. We should get going, we're near Mizuho." Raine suggested.
"Alright. Marta, we finally will be able to help the village." Emil said cheerfully.
"Yeah, they are on the brink of fighting, it would be good if we could talk everyone out of fighting." Marta stated.
Zelos walked next to the couple and said jokingly, "Well lovebirds, time to go, so chop, chop." Marta and Emil followed the group as they headed for Mizuho.
Mizuho was clearly divided. People from either side didn't even walk near each other. Two houses on either side of the village read Orochi on one and Kuchinawa on the other. The group decided to spread out to find out information, Colette, Barrivus, and Sheena went to Tiga's house to ask him about things.
Sheena and the other two entered Tiga's cabin and stood in front of Tiga. "Tiga, what is going on here?" Sheena asked the vice chief.
"You've heard what has happened from Marta, correct? It is exactly what she has said. I'm sure you've seen the dividedness of the village, seeing the two group houses. Orochi hates his brother for helping the pope, and Kuchinawa hates his brother for that reason. They are planning to fight each other, and the villagers plan to follow them." Tiga explained.
"But Orochi and even Kuchinawa would not allow the villagers to fight each other." Sheena said appalled at the news.
"I know, neither wants the village to fight each other, but that is beyond their control, and Orochi and Kuchinawa plan to fight each other no matter what." Tiga explained.
Sheena looked sorrowful. "We need to talk the villagers out of fighting each other first, that is the most important thing right now. We can worry about Kuchinawa and Orochi's problems afterward." She decided quickly.
Tiga nodded slowly. "I believe that is the best path to choose at the moment. I don't have any voice right now, but maybe you and your companions can help, since you are the chief and they are your friends. The villagers will surely listen to you."
"My friends are discussing things with the rest of the villagers right now, so we need to discuss some more things at hand right now." Sheena ordered as Tiga nodded in agreement.
"Do you want us to stay Sheena?" Colette asked.
"Yeah, if you are just going to discuss things with your vice chief, then maybe Colette and I should talk to some of the villagers together in the meantime." Barrivus suggested. Sheena turned to face the two and nodded.
"Alright, I'll go and see you guys when Tiga and I are done discussing things. Let's meet in from of my village home we are currently in right now. I will address the whole village then, so you also have to bring the villagers in front of the building as well." Sheena explained. Barrivus and Colette nodded and left the building to go talk to the villagers.
Meanwhile Anya and Zelos were questioning the Kuchinawa side of the village.
"Alright, I do not want any opinions when you say what you have to say. First, I want you to tell me what happened when Kuchinawa returned to the village." Anya ordered a female villager in her twenties named Yavia.
"Kuchinawa entered the village four days ago. He walked into the chief's building where Tiga and Orochi were talking. From Kuchinawa's point of view Orochi seemed delighted to see his brother, until Kuchinawa said he wanted to join the village again." Yavia explained.
"Based on the village traditions I bet Orochi didn't like that." Zelos guessed as Yavia nodded.
"Orochi said that since Kuchinawa had aligned with the pope and betrayed the village and left, he had no right to come back to the village. Kuchinawa wanted to start the whole village anew, and wanted to be the new chief." Yavia explained.
"So he undermined the authority of Sheena and basically wanted to take her job." Anya surmised. Yavia nodded.
Zelos looked bitterly at Yavia. "So you also want him to take Sheena's place?"
Anya placed a hand on the Tethe'alla chosen's shoulder. "You agree with Kuchinawa, correct? It is goo you told us the truth and didn't state your opinion, thank." Anya said as Yavia walked away. Anya turned to Zelos and said, "Calm down, I know Sheena is our friend but not everyone sees her fit to be a chief when she is always gone."
"I know." Zelos said bitterly.
Anya rolled her eyes and smiled. "Yeah right, anyway, we should go talk to someone else about what happens next." She suggested. Zelos followed her around to another house.
Meanwhile Raine and Genis were on the Orochi side talking to Fenharr about what happened after Orochi and Kuchinawa first argued inside the chief's house.
"After Orochi rejected Kuchinawa's returning to the village, Kuchinawa stormed out as Orochi and Tiga followed. He said that he would challenge his brother for the village since Sheena was gone, though the real reason he didn't challenge Sheena was because he has already lost against her." Fenharr explained to the intently listening teacher and genius mage.
"So that is the reason why they are on opposite sides of the village readying for a fight. Now I am curious to why Orochi and even Kuchinawa would allow the whole village to be torn against each other." Raine asked thinking hard.
"It is because they know no matter what they say they can't change what the villagers think and how they want to act, not even Tiga has a voice in the matter. The only way to stop everyone, even possibly me, is to tell Sheena all that you know and let her handle the problem publically." Fenharr continued.
Genis pondered for a while then asked, "So what happened when Marta and Emile arrived at the scene?"
"Tiga begged for their help, and since the two knew Sheena they agreed for their help. After that the village divided into three groups, or teams, team Orochi, team Kuchinawa, and neutral villagers. And that brings us to the present time." Fenharr said.
Raine turned to her brother. "Alright, we have some more information. Let's go meet up with everyone in front of Sheena's cabin." She suggested as Genis nodded and followed.
Meanwhile Barrivus and Colette talked with Emil and Marta.
"So you two have spoken to the neutral villagers and Orochi and Kuchinawa?" Barrivus asked surprised.
"Yes, and the two brothers definitely did not listen to us when we said to not state their opinion." Marta responded.
"Orochi said he is confident he can beat a traitor like Kuchinawa, and Kuchinawa thinks he can beat a ninja under Sheena's command like Orochi." Emil added quickly.
"So the brothers really want to…fight one another?" Colette asked unsure.
"It sounds that way at least." Barrivus answered.
"How sad." Colette said sympathetically.
"Well, this just means that the way to solve the village is to tell Sheena all that we know and get here to speak to the whole village." Marta decided.
"That is the best possible solution to our dilemma." Raine said as She, Genis, Zelos, and Anya walked over.
"Orochi was indeed happy to see his brother and so was Kuchinawa, but Orochi couldn't seem to forgive the former pope follower." Anya explained.
"Things got worse after that." Zelos added on.
"They even went so far to divide into groups, which the brothers couldn't stop the waves of villagers supporting them." Genis continued.
Sheena walked out of the cabin with Tiga and stood next to Colette. "Alright, with what I just heard from you guys and detailed information from Tiga I am ready to address everyone." Sheena announced as the rest of the group gathered the villagers. When everyone there was gathered around Sheena including Orochi and Kuchinawa, Sheena announced, "I have heard information from all sides of the conflict, and this is what I have to say. Kuchinawa did return, and Orochi had a right to be mad. Kuchinawa I say should be able to rejoin the village, but not start the village anew."
"You just want to selfishly remain in power." Kuchinawa blurted out.
"Shut up brother, you have no say in this." Orochi spat.
"That is enough, I wish to decide this once and for all, we will have a duel on the isle of Decision, following the village traditions that you and I still hold dear." Kuchinawa said, challenging his brother.
"I accept, we will head over there now, you better prepare for this brother, because if I win you will never be able to return to this village." Orochi responded as the two headed for the isle of Decision.
Sheena looked horridly surprised. "Come on guys, we have to hurry if we are to stop them!" Sheena yelled quickly as she raced after the brothers, the group pretty far behind.
"Prepare brother." Kuchinawa said, circling Orochi.
"You too brother." Orochi retaliated as he, too, circled his brother. The two charged at each other only to be hit with slips of paper, both being exploded backward.
"I order you to stop!" Sheena roared. "I will not allow this, if you both fight each other, I will make sure both of you do not move with the rest of the village to the area north of Iselia." Sheena stated.
"But, my brother-" Orochi started.
"I said stop! You two are brothers; you shouldn't be fighting one another. If you stop now, you can move with us to the area north of Iselia." Sheena continued. Now the other eight party members ran around the scene taking place along with Tiga and the rest of the villagers not too far behind.
"Fine, I will agree to move to where the village moves." Kuchinawa reluctantly said as he walked away.
"As will I. Thank you Sheena, I did not wish to truly fight my brother." Orochi stated with gratitude as he walked away as well.
Tiga walked next to Sheena. "Good work chief, now let's discuss that plot of land."
The next morning the new group of nine gathered at the exit and entrance to the village of Mizuho.
"Alright everyone, let's head off. Welcome to the group Marta and Emil." Sheena stated.
"Yeah, thank you." Emil said happily.
"We needed to visit someplace new like Meltokio anyway." Marta decided.
"My beauty, glad to have you with us." Zelos chimed.
"Oh just shut up you knit whit!" Sheena yelled as she hit him in the side.
"You're funny Sheena, since I love watching Zelos get beat up." Genis mused.
"Hey, I heard that you little twerp." Zelos hissed angrily.
"Calm down you too." Raine ordered like the teacher she truly was.
Anya and Barrivus stood back and laughed at the scene before them. "I bet that we could leave and they would still be too busy arguing with one another." Barrivus assumed.
"Yeah, that is truly what makes me love and enjoy this group's company so much." Anya said with joy. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Me neither." Barrivus agreed.
"Um, shouldn't we get a move on?" Colette asked closest to the exit. Everyone nodded and continued on their journey, to Meltokio and away from Mizuho.