Disclaimer: Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones is a belonging to his respective corporation and creator: Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The following character belongs to the author.
Nicole: A young maiden from Rausten. The uptight best friend of L'Arachel.
Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life
—The One with the Legend of the Ruins—
The Magvel Federal Prison was a very depressing place to be. Even if the weather was as bright as the summer of summers, the gray walls and worn-out chains hanging in cell's ceilings would turn any smile upside down. Magvel soldiers on duty hated working at the prison. They hated it more than serving a greedy lord. But the only reason they hated it was because they feared its criminals—even crazy ones like Valter, an outlaw imprisoned there for attempted kidnapping of the royal teens Tana, Innes, Lyon and the twins.
A blue haired soldier on duty to survey Valter's cell had on one hand Valter's lunch and carried an Iron Lance with another. With his Iron Lance he banged on the jail bars to catch the prisoner's attention, "Yo, Valter! Time to eat!"
He received no response.
Another soldier on duty—brown hair and green eyes—approached the soldier, "he's not responding again?" he asked.
The soldier shook his head, "Nothing. Not even an 'HEY! STOP THAT NOISE OR I'LL DRINK BLOOD OFF YOUR NECK!!!"
"It's been three days since he's been silent," the brown-haired soldier commented, "but never would I expect him not screaming these phrases. That worries me."
The blue-haired soldier bit his lips, "should we open his cell to see what's going on?"
"I wouldn't." the brown-haired soldier said, "unless I choose to have all my blood sucked off my neck."
The brown-haired soldier pulled out a match from a matchbox and ignited it. He transferred the flame to a piece of wood, creating a torch. The soldier could now see their surroundings. Everything seemed rather spooky and frightening. Their eyes glanced over to Valter's cell and they saw strange drawings of himself and surprisingly…the twins! They looked up to see the chains in the ceiling torn down from its source, and dirt and disgusting stains and messes in the cell, but one thing they didn't see was the prisoner himself: Valter.
The soldiers stare at the empty cell in disbelief, "He's gone!"
"How can it—?"
SNAP!
The soldiers felt their neck twisting and a painful sound raucously rang in their ears. Their bodies collapsed on the ground in front of Valter. The criminal was all smiles. An all-cold and unforgiving smile.
"It'll have been an honor to suck your blood off your necks, chaps, but no thanks for the offer. I have five pests to deal with. And I'll celebrate with a glass." He cackled at the roaring thunderous sounds.
-Castle Renais-
Ephraim and Eirika emerged from their separate rooms all dressed up for an outdoor trip. Ephraim wore a sleeveless black t-shirt, rugged black denim kilt, and hiking boots. He carried a huge strong backpack and Indiana Jones' style hat. His nose was all covered in sunscreen lotion. Eirika wore similar outfit but instead had a black breastplate to match her green T-shirt and kilt. Her hat was accessorized with a veil.
Seth watched the royal twins carrying their baggage full of supplies halfway down the hall, "Wow! Look at you two." He said, "Y'all remind me of two Indiana Jones wannabes… except Indiana Jones wore pants."
"Ah, ah. Very funny, Seth." Ephraim rolled his eyes.
"There's nothing wrong with getting ready to go on a class field trip with peeps and pals to Lagdou Ruins." Eirika said, "Especially when at this time of year, birds migrate from other continents to cultivate and produce the riches of the overseas in the soil part of the ruins."
Seth stared at Eirika like she was speaking another language, "Huh?"
"She means that this month is treasure hunt!" Ephraim clarified with a smile, "Meaning that we get to find cool treasures!!!"
Eirika squealed.
"Wouldn't that be against school rules?" Seth asked.
"Of course it's against school rules." Eirika said.
"That's why we have this." Ephraim handed Seth a pink slip. Seth read the slip and did not like what he saw, "A Nurse's pass?"
Eirika snatched the slip from Seth's hand before Seth ever got the idea of keeping it from them.
"One flash of this slip to our field trip supervisor and you're home a free man!" Ephraim replied, "…well, that's what we'll make him think."
Seth looked at Eirika nodding and grinning in agreement. He did NOT like that.
Fado then came in the room and the twins showed signs of embarrassment. Fado wore a khaki colored ranger outfit equipped with a brown JanSport mark hiking backpack with a bottle of water and elixir.
"What are you wearing?" Ephraim asked.
"Father, this is the 9th Century, not the Indiana Jones Era." Eirika said.
"Seriously, who's Indiana Jones?" Ephraim asked.
Fado grinned, "I've decided to tag along on your trip, kids."
Now the twins were the one to stare at Fado like he was speaking another language.
"Father." Eirika began, "this is a class trip, not a suicidal trip."
"Relax, kids. I'm not actually coming with you. I'm meeting with King Hayden, Vigarde and Queen Ismaire on an expedition. Apparently, it's that time of year when birds migrate from other continents to cultivate and produce the riches of the overseas in the soil part of the ruins."
"Why is that phrase ever feels so familiar?" Eirika scratched her head.
"Because you're the one who said those phrases." Ephraim reminded her.
"Kids! We're going treasure hunting! Isn't this fun?" Fado exclaimed. His announcement was so shocking; the twins looked like they got struck by lightning.
"There's a shock." Seth said sarcastically.
"You're… going… treasure hunting?" Eirika hyperventilated.
"Don't worry about a thing. I promise I won't be an embarrassment." The moment Fado turned around to leave, he pumped a fist in the air and did a little dance. The twins' embarrassment level skyrocketed.
-Lagdou Ruins-
Attending the History class field trip were Ephraim, Eirika, Tana, Innes, Lyon, Artur, Lute, L'Arachel, Nicole and some more students of the Academy. The class' purpose was to investigate and study the lost artifacts of the ruins. Everyone was excited for the trip at first, but History Class professor Father Macgregor made it a complete and utter bummer.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the stage of History." Macgregor exclaimed, "Before we go exploring, here are the rules. Rule #1 – No Inappropriate kinesics and haptics on the artifacts."
"Huh?" the class questioned.
"No inappropriate body gestures and touching of the artifacts. Stay clear of them." Macgregor corrected.
"WHAT?!" the class groaned in disbelief.
"Rule #2 – If you ask questions, you'll answer them. And if you don't, that question will be on your midterm."
"WHAT?!!" the class screamed in disbelief.
"And Rule #3… because no small groups has been assigned, I suggest that you do not, I repeat, do NOT get separated from this group. And don't even try to go to the bathroom or flip up a Nurse's Pass to leave because I'll chaperone you."
More groaning came from the students. Ephraim sighed and reluctantly torn out the Nurse's Pass, "here goes our plan."
"…speaking of bathroom break, y'all notice we're outside?" Macgregor giggled, "I mean, think about it, since when do we ask to go to the bathroom when we're outside, heh?"
Dead silence.
"ugh, tough crowd, huh."
"Father Macgregor doesn't know anything about class field trip." Tana ughed, "he's turning this into a 2-hour show where you watch grass die."
Eirika sighed, "No worries, Tana. We'll find a way to make this our best field trip yet."
Psst!
Psst!
Psst!
HEY!
Innes whipped his head around, after hearing such annoying buzzes ringing in his ear, to spot a teenage thief in a blue garments matching his blue-haired color. The thief, hiding behind a rock, had a sly look and a provoking smile. Innes approached the thief.
"How would you like to hunt for treasure at an incredibly low price? Name's Colm, sneaky businessman."
"Actually, I'm hunting for treasure right now and it's free. So, no thank you." Innes turned back to leave but Colm grabbed him by the wrist and pulled him on hold. "I'm not talking about this bogus treasure hunting Father Macgregor is about to take you, I on the other hand am talking about embarking you, m'friend, on a fantastic journey beyond the history of histories."
Colm then flashed Innes a piece of parchment paper, "This map I'm holding up lists the greatest treasure on the planet. Even royalties crave for it."
"Okay, one: I'm already royalty. And two: why would I waste my gold on a piece of paper that can only leads me to trouble? I've learned that lesson the hard way when Ephraim and Eirika once possessed that treasure map of theirs, and believe me, the finding it part was no joyride." Innes remembered the hidden treasure episode.
"Trust me, this ain't fake." Colm reassured, "This map, only 10,000 gold, would take you to richness. In fact, this treasure is a chamber full of jewels, gold, and of course a mysterious stone called the Magvel Stone."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jewels, gold and—" Innes then stared at Colm, "…Sneaky thief say what?"
Colm opened the map for Innes to see the sketch. What Innes saw was bewitching, "The Magvel Stone, as legends tell, grants its wielder phenomenal cosmic powers. The power to control everything. The moon, the stars, the galaxy…"
"…and my money!" Innes snatched the map from Colm's hand and handed him his entire gold pouch, "Keep the change." He sprinted away. Colm grinned, "Gladly."
"Hey guys, check this out!" Innes waved to the twins, Tana and Lyon the treasure map he bought from Colm.
"A treasure map?" Lyon said, "Where did you find it?"
"Some Colm guy sold it to me."
"So it's like déjà vu all over again." Ephraim shuddered.
"But the map is authentic, unlike somebody's." Innes showed the teens the map's detailed sketch.
"I don't know about this." Tana shook her head, "I don't feel like breaking any rules, especially the bathroom break part."
"But Tana, what's a field trip without getting separated from our class and hunt for treasure?" Eirika reminded Tana, "I said let's get going, but let's be careful on when and how we should take leave."
The teens gathered up for a plan. They were well aware on how they will go for it. But what they didn't know was that Colm was actually working for Valter for a possible hefty amount of gold. Colm approached Valter who was waiting deep within the ruins, "How was the bargain?" Valter said.
"Bargain has been initiated, sir." Colm reported.
"Good. Here's your earnings." Valter pulled out a pouch of gold and threw it to Colm. Colm counted the gold. His face changed at the unwanted amount.
"Hey! You said you'd pay me 100,000, not 50,000." Colm complained.
Colm suddenly felt a sharp knife by his throat. Valter was behind him.
"Listen and listen well, trash boy. I paid you what you deserved. Your asking for more is none of my concerns… one more objection coming out of that potty mouth of yours and your blood will be my wine, capiche?"
Colm gulped. Valter pushed him in release and Colm sprinted for his life. Valter licked his knife and laughed, "I'm waiting for you, royal pests."
-Scorched Sands-
Fado, Hayden and Vigarde sat on a rock in circle, tapping their foot, staring at the sundial, and staring at the sun's direction as it was close to stay in the middle of the sky to bathe the entire land, marking the beginning of the afternoon. They have been in that position for almost an hour and their patience were highly slim.
The majordomo exited Jehanna Hall and with his staff, tapped the scorching soil, "Presenting Her Royal Majesty—"
"We don't have time for such announcement!!!" Hayden boomed.
Ismaire exited Jehanna Hall as well. The monarch pushed the majordomo out of the way and approached her, "What the heck has taking you so long?" Vigarde blurted, "You are going to make us miss our treasure hunt!"
"Bling, hair, makeup… you know the usual stuffs. But then you hate it and you gotta do it all over again." Ismaire replied.
"And weren't you supposed to be in an outdoor kind of look?" Fado mentioned the royal garments Ismaire was still sporting.
"These rugged things you are all wearing?" Ismaire mentioned the outdoor outfits, similar to Fado's, the monarchs were wearing, "Looking like Indiana Jones is definitely not a queen fit."
"Can we go now?" Hayden groaned.
The monarchs trailed only for five seconds before they stopped. The only one still going was Hayden. Hayden finally stopped when he noticed everyone did stop.
"Hey! Why are we stopping?" he whined, "We're supposed to be moving! Now move! Move! Move!"
Vigarde crouched, brushed the sands away with his hands to reveal a golden lamp, "Hey, look at this."
He picked up the lamp. The monarchs gathered around Vigarde. Hayden ran to join them, "That's a lamp!"
"Perhaps a magic lamp?" Fado said.
"Shall we rub it?" Vigarde asked.
"I don't see why not." Ismaire said.
Vigarde rubbed the lamp. The lamp glowed bright. The brighter it glowed, the hotter it got. Vigarde immediately let go of the burning lamp and it fell on the sandy soil, shooting out smokes and fogging the area. The monarchs coughed harshly until the smoke cleared.
The monarchs rubbed their eyes to see what came out of that lamp… nothing.
"Do you see something?" Hayden asked, looking around.
"I see nothing." Ismaire confirmed.
"That lamp is seriously some rip…Ohh!!!!" Fado came face-to-face to a green dragon (no, not Shenron from DBZ). The dragon's eyes were as large as bowling bowl and his muzzle resembled that of a horse. It had claws and it seems rather overweight. The rest of his body was covered in nothing but more smokes.
"Who dares disturb my sixty-thousand year sleep?" the dragon's voice roared like a thousand trumpets over a single hi-def microphone.
"You were asleep for sixty-thousand years? So how many midnight snacks did you have?" Hayden replied, making an insult on the dragon's appearance.
Fado slapped Hayden's back head.
-Lagdou Ruins-
After avoiding a few trap doors and crossed a few roads, the teens reached the depths of the Lagdou Ruins and were getting closer to the treasure situated at the red mark on Innes' map. Lyon and Eirika began having doubt.
"I don't think we should be here in the first place." Lyon said, "what if we get lost?"
"We won't be lost, as long as I have the map." Innes reassured, "and if we are to turn back, we just exit back the way we came."
"Good." Eirika said, "So let's do that now, that way we are sure we won't get lost."
"Would you relax, Eirika?" Ephraim replied, "It is said in our history book that the ruins are manifested with less than 20 monsters. I don't think you'll be seeing some creatures here."
"Since when do you read?"
"Since our class trip announcement, why else would I read?"
Tana's jaw dropped. Her eyes were fixed on something moving on Ephraim's hair: a tarantula.
"Is it just me or is my head feeling fizzy?" Ephraim felt the creature.
"There's a giant spider on your head!!!" Tana squealed.
Ephraim slowly fixed his eyes at the spider moving slowly on his head, "AAAAAHHHH!!! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF!" He ran around and everyone started panicking.
Eirika grabbed Innes' map, formed it into a bat and smacked the spider hard and far. She then approached Ephraim, "Are you okay?"
Ephraim whimpered then started crying, "There was a giant spider on my heeeaad!"
"Forget that! What about that angry mob we have to deal with right there?" Innes pointed at an army of giant tarantulas, tripling the size of the small tarantula that was on Ephraim's head.
"RUUUUUUUN!!!!" The teens screamed and ran for their lives. The army followed them at full speed. The teens turned to a corner of the cave, locating a large door. They pushed through the door and closed it behind to keep the spiders away.
"Whew… that was close." Innes sighed.
"Who are you?"
The teens jumped. They turned around to see Lute and Artur behind them. Lute was ready for attack position with her Fire spell and Artur cowardly stayed behind. The moment they saw the teens, Lute lay down their arms and Artur came out of hiding.
"Oh it's you." Lute said.
"What are you doing here?" Ephraim exclaimed.
"What are you doing here?" Lute asked back.
"I believed I asked you first."
"You broke the class rules so we should be asking you instead!"
"Oh, heavens. MacGregor will have our heads now." Artur gulped.
"How about we find our way back to our class before MacGregor notices we're gone?" Lyon proposed.
"By then, we'll be too late." Lute said, "We got separated from the class thirty minutes ago."
"As it been thirty minutes?" Eirika exclaimed.
"Well, if you sum up our time with the time you left the class before we did, I would say it's been probably like an hour and a half."
Artur glared at Lute, "We wouldn't be in that situation if Lute here didn't came up with the idea of exploring!"
Lute sighed, "Again with the me, me, me."
"Let's go back." Lyon proposed then faced Innes, "and I mean it."
"But what about the treasure?" Innes tried to get defensive.
"Didn't you hear Lute and Artur? It's been an hour and a half!" Ephraim squawked, "And I don't want my head to get massaged by a thousand feet of terror again!!!"
Innes sighed in defeat, "All right. Let's go back. I guess its better safe than sorry."
They turned around to the large door but the door vanished into a wall right before their eyes. The wall shifted and started moving slowly towards them. The panicked teens looked back to see another wall to the far end. They were going to get squashed.
"The wall is moving!!" Eirika shouted.
"I'm sorry!" Innes whined.
"Oh save the tears for your own's funeral!" Tana squealed, "If we get out of this, you're so gone!!!"
"People! People! Less yapping! More moving! We gotta find another way out!!" The teens rushed to the far end wall. The earth began to shake and they couldn't keep balance. Soon, a loud crash was heard and their screams echoed through the cave.
"Ephraim!"
"Lyon!"
"Artur and Lute!"
"Where are you?" Eirika, Tana, and Innes yelled for their lost comrades in the middle of a dark concrete place. The teens got separated again. This time, they've lost their tracks on the map.
"What are we going to do?" Tana began weeping, "We got separated. It's been an hour and a half since we left our class. Father MacGregor will surely have our heads…"
"Why worrying about MacGregor when we should be worrying about our dad?" Innes said, "It's him who strikes fear the most."
"Then why didn't you think about it before we went hunting for treasure, nimrod?!"
"Because you never reminded me of that, flesh freak!"
"Stop it you two. Fighting is not going to do anything." Eirika interrupted the siblings' fight.
"You're right." Innes said, "Let's take a breather and try to find out how we ended up here so that we can get out of here alive."
Tana trembled at that last word, "Alive?"
"And while we're at it," Innes continued, "Let's try not to panic."
"Hello, kids."
A grave familiar voice froze the trio. They turned around and fixed their direct gazes at Valter.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
--- --- ---
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
"Shh."
The teens stopped their screams.
"Never would I have expected such greeting from my three royal best friends who missed me so." Valter sighed, "Speaking of that, you owe me a letter and a gift."
"What are you doing here?!" Tana stammered, "You're supposed to be in prison."
Valter strolled around the dark room, "Ah, prison is too depressing. So I had to ask the guards very nicely to let me out so that I could take a stroll at the park and they did. But then I came across your class field trip and I was like 'Hey! Why don't I stop by to say hi to my best friends? I'm sure they'll be happy to see me.'"
Innes nervously chuckled, "Yeah… happy indeed."
Valter's smile quickly faded. The wyvern knight raised his Lance and strikes it on the wall, revealing the exit.
"The exit!" Tana exclaimed and the teens rushed for it, but Valter grabbed them from behind, "Hey, not so fast, riff raffs! Didn't I mention that you three owe me a letter and a gift?"
"T-That never came up!" Eirika shuddered.
"Well, then let's talk about this!" Valter tossed the teens on his mount, jumped in and immediately they flew out.
-Scorched Sands-
"What stupid Hayden was trying to say was 'Good morning? How was your…" Fado gulped, "…sixty-thousand nights?" The monarchs grinned.
"I don't have time for your pleasantries!" The dragon boomed, "Unless you have something for me to grant you, like a wish, you'll feel my wrath."
"Great. You made him angry." Vigarde muttered to Hayden.
"I'm female!" the dragon replied, as if overheard Vigarde's comment.
"Wait. You're a girl?" Hayden gasped. "And you talk like that?!"
Fado landed another blow on Hayden's back head. "OW! Can you stop that?" Hayden screamed.
"Can you stop talking?" Fado growled.
"Enough!!!" The dragon's angry voice almost blew the monarchs off their feet. The monarchs shut up. The dragon continued, "What is your wish? I'm only granting one."
"Wait. You're only granting one wish?" Ismaire asked.
"I'm not called the One-Wish Dragon for nothing." The dragon replied.
The monarchs weren't so eager to speak now as they looked at each other, deciding who should speak their wish.
"Ah, first time rubbing this lamp huh?" the dragon smirked, "well, if that's the case, I'll give you some time to think about your wish. Make it a good one. If you're ready, rub! But do so after 7200 seconds…" his eyes narrowed, "…or else."
With that, the dragon returned inside the lamp. The monarchs looked bewildered, "7200 seconds?" Hayden said.
"That's about 2 hours." Vigarde clarified.
"Okay. Let's do this then. We must come up with a wish that we'll all agree on." Fado proposed and everyone agreed.
It's been an hour and a half and there was still no agreement on the wish the monarchs were to make.
"How about making Frelia a better place for a vacation spot—I mean, the better place for a vacation spot?" Hayden said.
"I rather give away my head to a headless zombie." Vigarde said.
"Then do it." Hayden snapped, "Do you have a better idea?"
"I was thinking making education bills triple in all continents except the Grado Academy." Vigarde proposed, "then allow the Academy to provide scholarship for low-income students and organize a career club that will be sponsored by other academies around Magvel."
"Sounds like a great idea. Except I'm opposed to one thing." Fado said.
"What?"
"Why does the Academy has to have us as sponsors?" Fado voiced, "We ain't your lands of slavery. You can't tell my country what to do?"
"And what's up with tripling the education bills? What are you, greedy?!" Ismaire said.
Vigarde got frustrated, "Oh yeah? Got a better idea, wise guy?"
Fado cleared his throat and began, "I propose a wish for the entire nation: a wish that will completely end homelessness and promote richness and abundance all around."
"That's selfish!" Hayden snapped.
Fado looked puzzlingly at Hayden, "What's so selfish about ending homelessness?"
"Well for starters, you stole my idea. Then you went on and said nation. Just one? What about my nation? Or… Greedy emperor's nation?" Hayden pointed at Vigarde.
"Hey!" Vigarde got offended.
"That's preposterous." Fado countered, "And if it was your idea you would have said it first."
The three kings began arguing nonstop, their voices became deafening.
"Stop it all of you!"
The kings noticed Ismaire like she was forgotten in the bunch, "Why don't we all agree on one wish before the dragon genie comes out?"
"Because Fad-head here isn't willing to listen!" Hayden called out.
"Again with the nickname!" Fado shouted.
Ismaire finally exploded, "Okay! That's it! If you aren't going to cooperate, I'll take the lamp!!! And that'll be that!"
"WHAT?!" The kings were outraged.
-Renais-
Downtown Renais was such a quiet little town that there was barely anything happening that was interesting, yet the Renais citizens enjoyed each other's companies as they were about their daily stuffs. A piercing scream suddenly ripped through the air.
"Alert! Alert! Aleert!" The town crier shouted. The citizens became concerned and got agitated. Seth quickly approached the town crier, "Hey! What's going on?"
"Alert the media! Alert the media! Valter has escaped from prison!"
The citizens went into a state of panic.
Seth faced the citizens, "Everyone! Please calm down." He faced the town crier, "What do you mean he escaped?"
"He's gone! Vanished! Poof! Abracadabra!"
"Well, where is he? Are there any reports?"
"Ohh, Sir Seth… report has it, he's in Jehanna, on his way to the Lagdou Ruins," the town crier whined, "dear lord, I hope he hasn't hurt any innocent people!"
Seth's heartbeat elevated when he heard Lagdou Ruins. This was where Ephraim and Eirika were taking their class field trip. And there was no doubt Valter went after them.
He turned around, pulled out his blow horn and blew on it, signaling his best knights.
-Lagdou Ruins-
"Eirika!"
"Tana!"
"Innes!"
Ephraim, Lyon, and Artur were screaming for the missing teens. Lute was just looking around without uttering a sound.
"We gotta find them now!" Ephraim shouted.
"Uh… yeah." Lute muttered unemotionally, "How are we going to do that? Like magic?"
"You know magic Lute." Artur said.
"But not conjuring or teleporting. I only know Fire."
"We heard them screamed on the other side of that wall!" Ephraim shouted, "We can't stand around and do nothing! Someone's torturing them!"
"We still gotta warn Father Macgregor on this matter." Lyon proposed.
"Yes." Artur agreed.
"But there's no way out!" Ephraim looked around the wide caved-in interior.
"I think we should look for the treasure." Lute proposed, "Maybe we might find them and…"
"…And before we know it, they'll be gone. Yeah. Nice idea, worthless magic girl." Ephraim blurted, "I mean let's face it! My sister and my best friends are gone because of some stupid unexciting treasure!"
The teens remained uncomfortably quiet.
Artur, still bothered by something on his mind, faced Lute, "So, how do you not know conjuring and teleporting?"
Macgregor and the rest of the history class were navigating the Lagdou Ruins. Macgregor turned around and at the sight of his class, he knew something was wrong, "Is it just me, or did our class got shorter and shorter."
"Oh it's you." Nicole muttered.
L'Arachel counted every student including her and Nicole. She figured out what was wrong, "Macgregor. It seems that we're missing a few students."
Macgregor looked fret, "A few students?"
"Yeah. We're missing Lute, Artur, Lyon, Innes, Tana, Ephraim and Eirika."
"That's not a few!" Macgregor shouted, "Those are my best students in the class!"
"What about us? Aren't we your best students?" Nicole whined.
Macgregor ignored Nicole, "We gotta find them pronto."
"Is everyone still in your class, Father Macgregor?"
The class whipped its head around. Seth escorted by a group of paladins and generals approached.
"Oh, Sir Seth." Macgregor shook his head, "I believe not. Some of my students are missing, and that includes the twins Renais."
Seth couldn't believe his ears, "No."
"I know how worried you are, Sir Seth. I am too. But they shouldn't have gone this far."
"You don't understand, Father. We've received reports that Valter escaped prison and is here at the Ruins!"
"WHAT?!" Macgregor gasped. There were mixed commotions in the class. Some students were worried about the situation. Some wondered what it'll be like to explore a place where they could cross path with an escaped convict roaming free.
Seth shouted, "My knights and I will find these kids before that freak catches them! Meanwhile, look after your students! Make sure they don't get separated."
The troops rushed deep in the ruins. "Wait! I'll go with you!" Macgregor went after the knights and the entire class followed.
-Scorched Sands-
"How come you get to keep the lamp?" Hayden cried at Ismaire, still struck from her announcement.
"My land, my lamp." Ismaire clarified.
What was Ismaire thinking? Keeping that lamp for herself? Without sharing? "But what about the wish we were supposed to split?" Fado muttered.
"Who gives a horse's butt about sharing?!" Vigarde said firmly, "Obviously she wants the lamp for herself. And I want that lamp!"
Vigarde jumped on Ismaire and snatched the lamp off her grasp. Hayden threw a kick on Vigarde's hand, causing him to let go off the lamp. The lamp flew right down a slow quicksand. The monarchs went physical for custody of the lamp, and the closer they got to the artifact, the more intense the fight became. They never noticed reaching the quicksand area and they were literally sinking below.
Suddenly the quicksand shot up into a tornado and knocked down the monarchs. The monarchs slowly got up and fixed their gazes on the author of this turbulence: the dragon genie was back.
"He's he-eeeere!" Fado squealed like a girl at the sight of the dragon genie.
"SHUT UP!!" the dragon genie roared, "Hearing such sound gives me a headache!! And how many times have I told you that I'm female!!!" he then faced the rest of the gang, "and what is the deal with the wish? It's only one! I have no patience to… argh, you know what?"
The dragon genie waved its fingers, "HOCUPOCU!" he formed a fist and aimed it to Fado, "hold out your hand."
Fado opened his palm, a bit agitated of what he got. The genie opened his palm. Fado looked down all smile. His smile quickly vanished, "A coin? 1 gold?!" Fado eyeballed the dragon, "What are you, cheap?!"
The monarchs gasped. The dragon genie coldly stared at Fado.
"Oh no he didn't." Ismaire squealed.
-Lagdou Ruins-
Valter's wyvern soared freely into the skies. Valter cackled like a maniac in observation of Tana, Eirika and Innes' panicked expressions. The three teens were tied up and couldn't budge a muscle.
"What do you mean you were the treasure? Are you saying that you were the Magvel Stone?" Innes couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"You bet I am." Valter confirmed, "That map Colm gave you was some sketches I've made up when I was doing time. Clever aren't I?"
"I can't believe we fell for this." Tana whined.
"Oh hush up and enjoy the ride." Valter barked, "Because after this ride, you'll cherish this treasure… or should I say, the treasure will cherish you…bit by bit."
"EWWWW!" the three teens squealed.
A fireball suddenly zoomed past Valter's wyvern. The wyvern yowled in pain and began losing balance.
"What the—what's going on?" Valter yelled.
"We're going down!" Eirika screamed.
Everyone screamed as the wyvern descended into oblivion. The wyvern crashed hard on the sands. The smoked quickly cleared after a few minutes.
"Is everyone okay?" Innes asked the girls.
They nodded. Valter didn't respond. Eirika examined him, "He's unconscious," she whispered to Tana and Innes.
"Then let's get out of here while we're at it." Tana said.
The three teens got off the wyvern and tiptoed away.
"Just where do you think you're going?"
The teens jumped. Valter stood right in front of them.
"But how did you… when did… how…?" Tana squealed, "You were unconscious!"
"Oh, didn't I mention I have supersonic ears?" Valter brushed his hair to reveal pointy ears. The teens looked horrified.
"Did I mention you're cornered?"
Valter whipped his head around to see who spoke. Ephraim, Lyon, Artur and Lute faced Valter.
"Guys!" Tana squealed in glee.
"You're all here!" Innes exclaimed, "Awkward!"
"Ephraim!" Eirika cried.
"Eirika!" Ephraim cried back.
"Touching. But not tear dropping." Valter barked.
Ephraim faced Valter, "Listen you fool! It's seven against one now! So you're done!"
"Not quite." Valter grinned. He raised his hands to the sky and the ground began to shake. To the teen's horror, a horde of skeleton rose from the ground, armed with sword, shields, lances, and stilettos, "Now, it's seven against one."
"That's cheating!" Lute barked.
"And how come it's seven against one?" Lyon asked.
Valter scoffed, "Cause I have complete control of this army? Duh!"
The teens looked at each other.
"Now, you're going to be good boys…" Valter hesitated, "…or girls…or…act like them, but the point is to stay still." He then smiled, "So that I can kill you."
"Not so fast, Valter!"
Valter turned around. The teens turned around. Seth and his knights, along with Macgregor's class faced Valter.
"Oh goody. My escape went public." Valter sighed.
"Yeah." Seth readied his Silver Lance, so does his entire knight army, "and so will your capture."
"Well, bring it on." Valter grinned.
"Uh Oh," Innes looked around, noticing the knights and Valter's skeletons ready for battle, "They're going to fight."
"Ya think?" Eirika said.
"Chaaarge!!!" The Renais Knights roared battle as they galloped toward the skeleton army. The skeleton army rushed into attack as well. Seth and Valter both fought valiantly in the midst of battle. Valter threw a sweep kick, tripping Seth, and caught him off guard in midair with a series of lance thrusts, ending with a lance slam. Seth dodged just in time for Valter to deliver a piercing blow. Seth threw a lance attack at Valter's back. Valter fell on the ground. He rolled to his back and pointing the lance upward, landed it on Seth. Seth blocked. Valter does it again but Seth kept blocking. Valter flipped backward like an acrobat with the lance and landed a double kick on Seth by the chin. Seth fell. Valter threw another lance thrust, this time, piercing Seth's armor. Seth yowled in pain as Valter tried to twist the lance over and over.
"SETH!" the twins yelped.
Seth picked up his lance and threw a crescent horizontal slash across Valter's face. Valter released his lance and stumbled backward. Seth quickly got up and pulled Valter's lance off his stomach. Seth gasped for air. Surprisingly there was no blood coming out of Seth but he was however very exhausted. Valter instead had a slash across his cheek, but it was barely a scratch. There was no blood as well, but he wasn't panting at all.
"Tss. Tss. Tss. Poor naïve knight of Renais." Valter snapped his fingers and his skeleton army all finished the Renais Knights one by one with single blows. Seth couldn't believe his eyes. Valter was not only superior to him, he was a true demon. The twins rushed to aid Seth and the rest of the gang huddled up. The skeleton army and Valter had them completely surrounded.
"You know the punishment for opposing me and my army? Complete and total annihilation," Valter said, "You are all finished."
-Scorched Sands-
"Are you calling me cheap?" The dragon genie boomed.
"Are you really living inside that lamp?" Fado criticized.
The monarchs gasped again.
"Oh yes he did it." Hayden squealed.
The dragon genie literally turned red, "RWOAAAAR!!!"
The land started shaking and before the monarchs knew, a pack of hellhounds emerged out of the sands. The hounds were twice the size of Cerberuses and heavier than rocks. Their jaws spewed blood everywhere instead of saliva. The monarchs were shaking, and sweated uncontrollably.
The dragon genie whispered, "This… is going to be your punishment…" She then pointed right at the monarchs, "TAKE IT LIKE TRUE MEN!!!"
"Don't forget that I'm a woman." Ismaire clarified.
"WHOOOOO CAAAAAAAARES?!!! PREY ON THEM, MY BABIES! PREY ON THEM HARRRRD!"
The barking hounds went for the monarchs. The monarchs quickly turned on their heels and ran off screaming.
-Lagdou Ruins-
"Prepare to meet your doom!" Valter raised his lance and just as he was about to aim it at the entire history class and Seth to give order of attack at his summoned skeletons, the ground started shaking as well, catching attention.
"Gang way!!!" Panicked voices sounded from afar.
Everyone looked over Valter. Valter turned around. They saw Fado, Hayden, Ismaire and Vigarde, on their chariot, screaming for their lives. The hellhounds were hot on their trails. Some of them were besides the chariot, constantly attacking it.
The chariot swerved into the circle of skeletons army. The hellhounds crashed into the skeletons and rampaged through the entire army. Valter went into panic as the hellhounds got closer. Valter turned on his heel and ran. The hellhounds were now chasing Valter. The chase came to an abrupt ending when Valter landed on a hole. The hellhounds surrounded the hole.
Few hours later, everyone watched Valter being taken away by the Grado Royal Guards.
"Everything's good and right with the world." Eirika breathed an immense sigh of relief.
Macgregor stared coldly at Eirika. Eirika gulped, "well, at least for a short time."
"What were you thinking, getting separated from the class like that?" Macgregor barked, "This is a field trip, not some exploration garbage!"
"Macgregor," L'Arachel began, "Before you go deep into that discussion, may I say that the only thing that is garbage on this whole situation… is your field trip."
Macgregor's jaws dropped, "What?"
"Yeah, Macgregor." Innes stepped in, "Whenever we go on a fun field trip, you make it un-fun."
"Un-fun?" Macgregor raised an eyebrow.
"What Innes means, your rules are too intense." Eirika pointed out, "I mean… No touching of the artifacts?"
The students agreed.
"What about that answer questions on our own, or else it'll be on tests? We're here to learn, not wise up." Ephraim added.
The students agreed again.
"Really?" Macgregor said, "I thought making all of these rules would have sparked up the whole spirit of expedition that is the field trip."
"Macgregor. Let's put this in a student's theory." Innes placed his arms on Macgregor's shoulder, "You're killing that spirit."
Everyone agreed again. Macgregor stared at Innes. Innes quickly removed his arm off Macgregor's shoulder.
"So are you saying that some of my students getting separated, going deep down the ruins, getting kidnapped and almost taken away by a serial killer who then ended up on a hole surrounded by a pack of hellhounds from we don't know where was all my fault?"
"Yeah!" the students all agreed.
Macgregor sighed, "I guess I should make some changes."
"Not so fast!" Fado came into the conversation and faced the twins, "Just because you got off the hook at school, doesn't mean you'll be off the hook at home."
"What were you thinking leaving your classes to go exploring?" Hayden crowed, "Oh! Wait! I'll tell you what you were thinking! You weren't thinking at all! That's what you were thinking!"
"So what are you thinking?" Tana asked oh so sweetly.
"I'm thinking that you're all grounded." Hayden replied.
"Same thought." Vigarde raised his hand in favor, "And that's two weeks of no fun!"
"No fun!" The three kings said in unison.
"Awww man!" the teens groaned.
"So let me get this straight." Innes began, "We get kidnapped by a serial killer and we end up grounded, but you get chased by a pack of wild hellhounds but you don't get grounded?"
"That's the beauty of being an adult." Hayden proudly said.
"Now move on home." Vigarde said. "Your punishment starts tonight."
"Awww man!" the teens groaned again.
After much thought, Macgregor had arranged the field trip rules and came up with new ways for students to enjoy his field trips in the future.
Rule #1 – You can touch the artifact. You can sketch them, write about them, do whatever you want with them. But observations of any artifacts will end up on pop quizzes and tests. No whining.
Rule #2 – Anyone can go expedition, as long as it's okay with your parents, guardian, or designated adult, as they will be your chaperone. No whining.
Rule #3 – You ask questions, we'll try out our best to answer them. If not, do some researches. There will be assigned essays—10,000 words—on the subject. No whining.
Rule #4 – No whining!
Grado Academy
It's been a solid three weeks and the teens got off punishment. Ephraim, Eirika, Tana, Innes and Lyon met back at the academy's cafeteria and they were talking about their days and the latest current events.
"Good thing punishment's over." Innes sighed.
"I know." Lyon said, "I had to wash so many dishes in weeks, my hands are permanently prune."
"At least you didn't clean out the basement." Ephraim wiped his forehead, "phew!"
"I swear I will never ever pick up a treasure map from a loon like that Colm again." Innes formed a fist, "Heck, if I ever see him…"
"Here's your chance." Eirika signaled Innes. The teens turned around to see Colm all froze up in fear. They stood from their table and slowly and creepingly approached Colm. Colm grinned nervously as he backed away.
…
"He-elp?"
No response. Colm noticed everything was dark. He looked around still panicky.
"He-elp?!"
He noticed light above him. He looked up to see the exit, but instead of smiling, he got more frightened and agitated. The pack of Hellhounds growled and barked at his presence.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLP!!!!"
END OF CHAPTER
