-Chapter 6: Nabata Desert (Continued)-

Florina and Oswin have set out towards Ostia. The camp is resting after the long battle. Eliwood has decided to take a walk to clear his mind. Suddenly, he sees a figure in the distance...

Eliwood waited until the figure got closer. He saw a middle aged monk, with long, golden blonde hair, and a serene look upon his face. Eliwood immediately recognized him. However, he drew his sword, preparing for the worst.

"Put away your sword, I mean you no harm," cried the traveler to Eliwood.

"Sorry, Lucius. It's just that we have to be careful in times like these."

"L-lord Eliwood?" Lucius was shocked. "Bless St. Elimine. I have found who I was looking for. You see, I have been trying to find you so I can aid you in your quest. I recieved word through, let's call them mutual friends."

"Well, Lucius, it's good to have you on our side."

They headed back to camp. The first to see them was Sain. His eyes lit up with the unquenchable fires of passion.

"What beauty, what grace, what poise. How lovely a maiden has entered our camp, to refresh us in times when we need refreshing, to be of our company when we need a woman. What a vision of lovliness, what a..."

Suddenly, Lucius cut him off. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but, sir, I'm a guy."

"What! How can this be?" Sain looked dejected, surprised, confused, and dazed.

Raven rushed up and gave Lucius a hug.

"Lord Raven." Lucius bowed. "It is good to see you again. I am glad you have joined up with this army."

Brandon was talking with Serra. He was breaking some, (how should I put this), interesting news to her.

"Yes, I do not lie Serra. It is all true," said the young tactitian to the talkative cleric.

"But, my Matthy-Poo would cheat on little old me? I simply can believe it."

Suddenly, Matthew walked in. "It told you not to call me that!" said Matthew before running away.

Brandon then went to talk to Rebecca. He told her the same news.

"But, why would my little Shnookums-Bear cheat on me."

Matthew ran in. "I told you never to call me that! Especially in front of other people!" Matthew then ran away. Then Rebecca started chasing after Matthew. She ran after him with the anger of a woman scorned. She drew out her bow and started firing arrows at him like no tomorrow. One struck him in his ankle. He fell over, screaming in pain, and also in fear. Serra saw what was happening, and the realization hit her. She went in and started beating Matthew with her staff.

"Die you stupid player! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!" She beat the pulp out of him. Luckily, when she was done, Priscilla came in and healed him. Brandon smiled. He smiled like one whose mission was complete.

The reunion with Lucius and the killing of Matthew was to be short-lived, however. Bandits of the Nabata desert had crept up on them during the day's happenings. They then saw their time to strike. The camp went into turmoil. Lyn scrambled for her weapons. She drew her bow and started firing. However, it wasn't very effective at such close range. Brandon took over.

"Retreat! Retreat!" cried Brandon, seeing how the battle would be lost. "Erk, Rebecca, Wil, Lyn, and Lucius, bring up the rear guard! Keep the bandits back!" he cried, leading the army on a mad dash through the desert. Brandon then saw an o;utline of a rectangle in the sand. He discovered a doorway. He opened it and led the party down the stairs. They discovered a large chamber. The chaber was suprisingly lighted, with a pale blue glow shining on the walls. Brandon set up the defenses.

"I want Wil and Rebecca to guard the doorway. Stop anyone who tries to enter," ordered Brandon.

A bandit poked his head through the opening. His skull was immediately penetrated by 2 arrows. A few more tried to get in. They met the same fate as their compadre. They bandits grew wary of trying to get in. Every once in awhile, one would try, but he would meet instant death. This went on for several days, with Lyn taking over, and the magic users helping out. Brandon decided that it was best to only have one on guard. Toni came up to him with bad news.

"Brandon, I have a message from Lord Hector. He says the arrows are running low, and so are rations. He says we have about a day's worth left of rations, then were screwed," she said, a solemn look upon her face.

"Crap. This isn't good. I need to speak with him myself."

Brandon went to Hector. He held a war party with him, and they decided on the best course of action.

"Yes, I agree. We should make a full push towards their ranks. There is no other way. We will fight our way out, or die tyring," said Hector to Brandon.

Brandon told everyone the plan. They got ready. Wil and Rebecca both nocked an arrow in thier bows, getting ready. Erk and Lucius got their spellbooks ready. Raven and Guy sharpened their blades, while Eliwood and Lyn withdrew theirs. Sain mounted his horse, ready for battle. Priscilla and Serra polished their staves, and Toni twirled, practicing her dance. Hector walked up to the entryway.

"WE'RE NOT GIVIN' UP!!" he shouted, rushing out of the doorway. Immediately, he saw a whole army ready to confront him. He rushed into the ranks, the rest of his troops right behind him. What a battle it was that day. The air was hot, but the battle was even hotter. A mist of blood covered the battlefield. Matthew ran all over the battlefield, cherry-picking his enemies. Lucius called upon the light from above, and it shone down gloriously, wiping out waves of enemies. Erk conjured up fire, and it swept across the desert, intensifying the heat. Raven charged in, slashing enemies down left and right. One of them dropped a Hero Crest. He picked it up, and used it. Suddenly, time stopped. The battle froze around him. A mysical goddess came down from above. She was covered in flowing robes of pure gold, and bejeweled with all manner of precious stones.

"Who hath used this seal, and called upon me?" inquired the goddess.

"I, Raven, a mercenary and noble, hath used it." replied Raven, a small amount of fear appearing upon his usually cold face.

"Because you have used this seal, I will give you the armor of the gods and the ability to use axes, a weapon of great might."

Suddenly lightning shot down from the sky, striking Raven. A shield, and light armor appeared upon him, and an aura of power surrounded him. The armor absorbed that power, and the goddess disappeared. He was back on the battlefied. He killed an enemy, and took his axe. He then continued the fight, wielding both axe and sword, and virtually invincible.

Hector, continuing his fight, was joined by his wife. She drew her sword, and he did likewise. They charged forward, fighting onward. Eliwood defended himself valiantly, but the enemies came upon him by the scores. He fell, and the enemies went to leap upon him. But they were stopped. Guy rushed in like a bolt of lightning, running through the enemy ranks, slicing them down like ripe wheat. Eliwood got up, and continued the fight. Toni danced her way across the battlefield, refreshing her allies. Wil and Rebecca stayed together, their bond increasing. They continued firing arrows over the frontlines, weakening the enemy. The battle raged on.

Sain surrounded by fighters, fought valiently, but they pulled him off of his horse, and beat him with the butts of their axes. Luckily, Florina was returning from Ostia, and she flew downward into the mass of fighters, clearing the area of enemies, and saving Sain's life. Serra ran over, and patched up his wounds, and used her magic to speed the healing. Sain was back to being ready to fight, and he rushed back into the fight.

Brandon then saw the leader. He was a humongous warrior, at least seven and a half feet tall, and extremely muscular. He called Toni, Hector, and Lyn over to him. The battle was winding down, as most of the enemy troops lie slain on the battlefield, the sand soaked in their blood.

"I have a plan to beat him. First, Toni needs to dance for Hector with this ring on. Then you switch to this ring, and dance for Lyn. After that, I want Hector to walk up to the giant, and stand there. I'll explain the rest during the battle," explained Brandon.

Toni danced for Hector, and in a bright flash, his armor shone with the radiance of a large fire. He walked up to the giant berserker as Toni danced for Lyn.

"Who are you, small fry?" asked the bandit, looming over Hector.

"I'm the last person you'll ever face. I am Hector, Marquess of Ostia, and and a nighty warrior to boot!" he proclaimed valiantly.

"Gwahaha! We'll see how mighty you are when I hit you with my giant axe!"

The bandit swung at Hector with all his might, and he hit him directly in the head. It made a dull thud, the axe bending around Hector. The bandit was shocked, confused, and dumbfounded, all at the same time. Seeing her advantage, Lyn ran up and sliced the bandit's head clean off. It fell upon the sand, lifeless, like his body. The battle ended soon after that, and everyone was wondering how Brandon's plan worked.

"Well, first I had Toni dance for Hector with this special ring. It raised Hector's defence so high, he was invincible. Then Toni danced for Lyn, making her extremely strong. Then, you can probably figure the rest out," explained Brandon.

"Aahhh... Now we get it," said everyone.

Lucius requested to speak with the leaders. In Hector's tent was Lucius, Brandon, Hector, Lyn, and Eliwood. Lucius wondered what their next move was.

"Well, we plan on storming Ilia, for we have learned that their base is somewhere near there," said Hector.

"You must hear my information. It all started about five years ago. Renault was studying magic, and he found a way to bring back Athos. He got the materials for the spell, and started the incantation. A little known fact about Renault is that he has a lisp. He normally keeps it under control, but during his excitement, he let it slip. This messed up the incantation, and instead of just reviving Athos, it caused a small explosion, and corrupted Athos' mind. It also knocked a few screws around in Renault's head. Then Athos came up with a plan using secret research he had been studying his whole life. They went to Etruria, and gathered up many young mages. Harnessing there magic power, Athos' experiment worked. He had the power to create any materials he wished, including an unlimited amount of Earth Seals and items like Angelic Robes. He sent Renault across the land to gather an army for him, for he is planning on taking over all of Elibe, and eventually the world, including the continent of Magvel. He moved his heaquarters to the Ilian Mountains, but we should first take out his production point in Etruria. It is the only way," told Lucius.

During the meeting, Sain was talking to Florina.

"So, how did you get back so quickly?" inquired Sain.

"Well, Oswin decided to stay with his family, who were on the way, and I didn't have to fly so far."

"Oh, that makes sense."

"Sain, can I ask you something."

"Sure, whatever you want."

"Well, I love you. I'm just shy, and I am sometimes afraid. That is why I rejected you."

Sain hugged her. They stood in the embrace for quite some time.

The next day, the party set out for Etruria. Little did they know who waited for them at their destination.

End of Chapter.