Clarisse wouldn't call herself an exceptionally needy person.

She wasn't dependent on anyone (no, going to Kiran when she had a nightmare doesn't count because a lot of Heroes do that), she didn't need to surround herself with friends to feel some sad sense of importance (though Kiran, Reese and even Legion were alright if she had to admit it), and she certainly didn't crave affection from the few close to her.

She didn't! So what if they kept talking about a future with her? So what if Legion gave her some dumb necklace made from some rope and shells on the beach and it just ended up on her bookshelf? So what if Kiran would hold her in their arms whenever she asked, and talked about boring sappy stuff that they made sound good?

When she saw Kiran, that wimpy redhead lord and his buddies being chased by that ginger thief who moved more like a starving mutt than any semblance of a person, she just did her duty as a Hero would to her Summoner.

She slapped an apple onto the end of an arrow, nocked it, adjusted her aim after some quick calculations and fired. The weighted arrow soared in an arc, whizzing through the air and hitting Gaius square in the cheek during a leap. He fell flat on his face, skidding a couple of centimeters before coming to a painful, pitiful end. Letting a wicked sneer grace her features at the thief's fallen form, she eyed the retreating form of Hector, carrying a pile of people on one shoulder while hefting a bowl of candy in the other.

Kiran waved at her and mouthed 'I love you'.

If anyone saw her goofy smile, she'd have to kill them. Kiran would forgive her.


"I swear, you have that girl wrapped around your finger," Hector panted, slowing down to a brisk walk as he noticed his opponent down. With Lyn hanging onto his shoulder, Eliwood under his arm, Kiran riding piggyback and Myrrh on their back, even a man as mighty as Hector was starting to feel the burn.

"It's mutual. She's precious."

Hector rolled his eyes as his passengers slowly climbed off and dusted themselves off, although Myrrh decided to stay on the summoner's back. "You say that about everyone, Kiran."

"Well that's because Kiran sees the best in everyone," Myrrh replied succinctly, delighting in the headpat they gave her. Hector rolled his eyes, but chose not to try and refute that statement. Kiran was a big softie, but even the most heinous 'Heroes' knew better than to mess with them too much.

They had far too large a support base to get away with it and live.

"Hate to interrupt the conversation, but it seems we've made it," Lyn chirped, gesturing to the grand hall. Heroes of all shapes and sizes flitted about, some deciding to sit down with family and friends for a meal while others took advantage of the hall's connections to quickly move about the castle.

The finest hub for a bowl of candy. Pass by, grab a piece, leave.

Grabbing the bowl out of Hector's arm with a wheeze, Kiran stumbled over to Feh's perch. The owl was sleeping as usual, but quietly cooed and cracked open an eye when it heard the telltale pattering of Kiran's boots.

"Hey Feh," Kiran whispered, lifting up the bowl so she could peer inside before setting it in front of the perch. Perking up, Feh's eyes sparkled as she took in all the different types of candy before her.

Running their hand down her back, Kiran smiled. "Just for the cake incident, you can take five pieces. Make sure to pace yourself, alright?"

Feh nodded and nuzzled into the summoner's hand. Behind them, the rest of the party finally began to relax, while Myrrh had scurried off to play with Fae and Tiki after muttering goodbyes.

"This has been quite the adventure, hasn't it?" Eliwood chuckled, sitting down on the tile floor with his friends.

"I'll say, I don't think I can ever look at that thief the same way ever again."

"Hector."

"No, Lyn, you didn't see what I did in those cold, dead eyes. You didn't see the sugarlust gnawing away at his soul, his humanity. May whatever gods salvage what's left of the pitiful wretch," Hector prayed, earning a sympathetic pat on the shoulder from Eliwood, who was torn between genuine concern and raucous laughter.

"I do not... I'm- you know what, fine," she snarled. "It is an utter shame that Gaius had lost himself to a holiday and became a raving beast craving candy. Seriously, does no one understand how insane this sounds?"

"Geez, Breezy, you sound like someone got your nonexistent panties in a bunch."

Lyn whipped around to find a completely normal Gaius, save for a nasty bruise on one cheek.

"What."

Gaius snorted, rubbing the bruise. "You really thought I turned into a sugar demon on Halloween? That is literally impossible even for me, y'know."

He shrugged. "Spread a couple of rumors, pay a couple of sticklers off, indulge in a lil' improv acting and boom, you got yourself a prank to top all pranks."

Lyn slowly blinked, staring at the thief with an unreadable expression. Gaius stared back before deciding that everything was fine.

"Hell, I'm pretty sure the only person who believed it at all was Kiran, and that's only because they're as gullible as a kid with his first jawbreaker. I feel more sorry for the suckers who knew what I was doing and didn't tell the others."

Lyn slowly turned to Hector and Eliwood. Only Hector was looking around for escape routes, while Eliwood stared at the larger man with a stern pout.

"Uh...trick or treat, Lyn! For being such a good sport, I'll let you have my piece-"

Sol Katti sang as it exited it's sheath, and for the second time in the day Hector broke his personal speed record.


Reinhardt took a sip of his tea and flipped another page in a small thriller he had found. After watching Gaius get up, dust himself off and casually walk to the grand hall, he had found out that it was all an elaborate prank to fool all of Askr.

What a letdown. At least he had finally caught Kiran, however, and the two were able to discuss all kinds of topics in the sanctity of the garden.

"So it was all a prank, huh?" Kiran shook their head. "I thought so, but his acting was so real...anyway, did you hear that Lilina and Roy are going on a date sometime later?"

Reinhardt smirked at the thought of two adults gossiping, but indulged regardless. "I'd have thought those two would go once the real festival begins?"

"They would have, but Hector came out of nowhere screaming and running and clotheslined Roy. I don't know what happened next, but apparently Lyn had been hot on his trail."

He raised an eyebrow as Kiran shrugged. Before the two could move onto the next topic, a bush nearby rustled.

"K-Kiran?"

"Al...fonse?" Kiran turned around to see the Askrian prince kneeling in the bush, desperately covering his body with his cape. His face was a shade of red that human diction couldn't properly define.

"Commander Anna told me to put a costume on and advertise the harvest festival but...t-this is far too much! I can't be seen like this, I won't be seen like this!"

Moving his cape a smidge so Kiran could peek, they found he wasn't wear much at all, shorts covering his most sensitive area while he was completely topless. Kiran could swear a demon tail was poking out from behind, but for the sake of his dignity they chose not to comment.

Reinhardt shot a look at his summoner, they glanced back, and Reinhardt began to unclasp his capelet while Kiran took off their coat without a word to give to their ailing comrade.

This would remain a secret among men...and Kiran.