Alex was stripped from his rank and position as he rested in the cell, far from the capital of Ylisstol, as he breathed, not the turn of events as he expected, but he felt that the mystery of the sudden insurgents could be answered if he was patient to the treatment, the men that he was transferred to being more brutal and dangerous than the standard foes, but he did not bend as he breathed, hearing the voices as they come and go. "He refuses to bend to our power, he remains quiet, though he looks quite dead right now, sir."
"That will suffice, without him, we will have no need to worry about those monstrous Plegians OR the Exalt coming down on his 'former' ally, we have the time in the world to find the weakness to this novice and exploit it for our own benefit, those mongrels will never know what hit them." Alex's ears didn't need to move as he recognized the voice, it was Council Member Kimean, his word was quite in the negatives and against all of the acts that Ylisse was going through, he recalled that the same man was actually part of Emm's own addresses, but his words were often silenced and guidance was taken from the more-willing and peaceful members, the puzzle started to make sense, he was hunger for war, eager to spill blood, regardless of whose, and still had the interests of Emm's, Chrom's, and Lissa's father in mind. "If he stirs, break him some more, we don't want a LIVE being to report us."
"Right, sir." The foot steps faded away as a Soldier stepped into the room and grinned. "Just you and me, tactician, you and your worthless interests, soon, Ylisse will stand once more as a force that will not be conquered!" Alex remained silent as the door swung open, the Soldier stepping in with two fighters guarding the door as the man took a hot iron from a barrel of coals and spoke. "Now, this will get you standing once more, if your legs can withstand this." He swung a wooden club and Alex felt the impact slam into his knees and the Fighters winced from each hit before the Soldier snarled. "Now for the main course..." The iron was raised before it was aimed for the bare arm. "Now, it is time to truly break you."
"Bad idea, moron." Alex's sudden words surprised the Soldier, giving him the opening he required as the iron was struck out of the man's hands before it was grabbed and thrusted into the man's knee, his cry nearly getting the Fighters to action when he spoke again. "Remain where you are, you are not required to endure my anger as well." They nodded as they returned to their position as the man shouted at them before Alex spoke. "Now, where are the documents that Kimean has stored?"
"You will never break our power, we will free Ylisse from your mad delusions, boy, we can't stop us!" What the man was not expecting was Alex's hand raised next to the neck before it burst into flames, his eyes dropping to fear as Alex spoke, confident filling his words, despite the five days of treatment.

"You want to repeat that sentence to me, I couldn't quite catch that under the words of IDLE threats, sir." The fearful look between Alex's null face and the growing flames was getting the Soldier in a panicked state before Alex, with his one hand free from the iron now in the barrel of water, hurled the man out of the cell and the tactician walked toward him as he continued. "I never got into the tone of torturing someone for information for that is a low I never was willing to cross, but if it must come to it..." The flames grew evermore to the Fighters' worry as well as it was starting to rival Arcfire size. "Where are the documents that Kimean are storing for his own desires or must we be more physical in our talks?"
"He stores them among his private study, the door is iron and built to withstand a battering ram, you won't able to get in."
"Let me worry about that." The flames suddenly changed to electricity before Alex slammed the orb into the soldier's head, knocking him out as he stood up and approached the door way, the Fighters not moving once bit as he spoke. "You two, follow me, it is not a place of command, it is one of morals."
"But, sir..." The Fighter cleared his throat as he started. "...Is it not better that we prime ourselves for war?" In a blink of a eye, Alex suddenly appeared inches from the Fighter's face, the other fearful as Alex spoke.
"Whose legacy is intended to be preserved, one of a warlord, an exalt who left his people's fates to bloodshed and carnage or one of a saint, a exalt who healed the people and refused to drag them into endeavors that could worsen themselves, who do you follow, hmm?" This left the Fighter in confusion of who to follow as Alex backed up. "Chrom could have harmed every single one of the Plegian people, he could have occupied them for his own anger, but he instead held to Emmeryn's beliefs, we are not here to destroy hundreds for our greed, we are to protect the people that look to us for guidance, we are not murderers and traitors to refuse the aid of more and more people and their skills, if you stand silent, it is no better than killing the person standing before you yourself, trust me, I have faced such a crisis." Before they could reply, Alex spirited down the passage, he not needing his gear on him right then as his presence was like a phantom, a ghost that the men and women feared as he soon found the chamber and focused his magic into the lock, busting it from the inside out and opening the door to the study before he started to search, grinning as he pulled out a full file of crimes, details, and journals that he found the name of the ringleader of the Themis Crisis.

"Sir!" Alex looked up to the gathered forces, some ready to attack, but the Fighter spoke up. "I apologize, but I cannot let you leave this place!"
"I understand, but first, all of you, please do read these right now." Alex offered the documents to the people and they read it over to see that there were too many details and hazy schemes that their belief suddenly started to drop, the news and papers spread like wildfire before the papers all came back to Alex as he spoke. "Now, to stop me is following orders, but what of your beliefs and your faith, would your conscience allow such a figure make such a scheme and use all he wants to get his way, to sacrifice your lives for someone who just wants war throughout?" Murmurs filled the room as Alex just watched, listening as the murmurs started to rise to shouts and yells as the Fighter turned to Alex, a fire in his eyes.
"Where will we go, sir?"
"We first break this fool's agenda by providing this information to the Duke of Themis, we will use it to get close and, when he makes a move, we will snap his legs from right under him, his very foundation down to the ground." The shouts filled the passage as Alex regained his attire, but decided to use another method as it would be helpful that someone 'unknown' was to provide the evidence instead of the 'disgraced' Grandmaster...

"Tharja, I'm sure that there must be a excellent reason for this..." Barlowe said as they were sitting in the manor courtyard, Alex's whereabouts unknown to everyone, even Tharja to her surprise, and in the following days, some noble had made claims that Alex had dismissed the Marauders and proceeded in some form of treason against Chrom, disgracing himself in the eyes of the Ylissian people, but that was out of the question, Chrom was trying as well to find out what even happened, but Tharja knew that something was wrong, just she couldn't get close enough to find out as the Shepherds were scattered across the Halidom to ease the unrest, Nowi going with Ricken to deal the northern section and Tharja couldn't get to her as the guard count had increased, making it impossible as Opi spoke next, folding her arms in peering.
"It still doesn't make sense, all the Plegian members are being confined within this manor, whoever is behind this deception is going the extra length to ensure that we are not able to aid the search and unrest." Tharja toned them out as she walked to the back of the crowd and hid in a dark alcove before lifting her hand, her birthstone gazing back at her as she clasped it in both hands as tears... started to flood out.
"Alex... Where are you...?" This pain and ache was getting to her and she had no cure to remedy it as she slowly slid down the wall, curling up as sound and noise soon disappeared to the darkness that enveloped everything. "What has happened... why are you not here right now...?"
"Got in the midst of something dark and may need time to get out of it properly." Tharja slowly looked up to a ghostly image of Alex standing over her, his smile lighting her day up as he folded his arms. "As much as I want to return swiftly, to ease your heart, I have to deal with the rebel element right now."
"But... where are you and what is happening!?"

"A rotten core that, if left unchecked, could influence too much and lead us all down a dark path, the ears of the Council would bend to his unless the truth is revealed." Alex reached into his cloak and procured a sheet of parchment and handed it to Tharja, her eyes looking it over to see that the names... were involved with the Themis Crisis and had details on HOW to deal with them, should they fail. The parchment disappeared to Tharja's surprise as Alex then hugged her, his ethereal body feeling so real. "I just need time to get things together, for now, play by your rules, not their rules right now." He disappeared and she stirred awake as she looked at her hand and grinned.
"By MY rules, you say?" She chuckled softly as she stood up and strode back to the front, her eyes possessing a level of fury that the members quickly backed up as Tharja hissed to the guards. "Who exactly ordered you lot to be guarding us like this!?"
"T-The Exalt, m-ma'am."
"Oh, so is he even aware that we are being detained, our division dismissed by the words of someone who has a spite against us, do you even know who I am in the first place!?" The guards physically stepped back from the petite woman whose anger seemed to be burning into their skin. "I request an audience with the Exalt as quickly as you can, I want the FULL facts before I am forced to more... dangerous methods of information gathering." Some of the guards actually tripped up as they headed inside to get Chrom, Tharja's little show also bringing out a point, if the Exalt himself was aware, then what exactly would happen if he found the true face of this rabble, daring to make such actions against the Ylissean people, against the Exalt himself...

Alex smiled as he entered the Council room in the disguise of a mere servant, even using Maribelle's teachings to keep the façade up as he listened and selected his moment, moving and navigating through the crowd of nobles and royals as he looked for the Duke while still serving and greeting those willing to speak, none even realizing who they were talking to, not that Alex needed such when he zoomed onto the terrace and bowed. "Duke of Themis, sir."
"Yes, how can I help you?"
"Oh, I am just serving refreshments and I wish to inquire if you have need of such, sir."
"...Sadly, I have lost my thirst for such fine drink, I apologize."
"No trouble, sir." Alex pulled out the sheets readied and delivered them to the Duke. "Also, it seems like someone wants you to have these, sir, I will not pry as to what they say." Alex bowed once more and departed as the Duke took a look and started to read, Alex smiling as he blend back into the party, it was a time bomb now and he had just lit the fuse...

The room was in uproar as the Duke of Themis spoke, standing up as he began. "Thank you all for joining me as I make a bold statement." The room quieted as even Chrom leaned forward to hear Maribelle's father. "Now, as all of you understand, my house and home has been threatened many times, but this is the first time that a true culprit came out to attack the interests and beliefs of the Ylissean people, yes, the recent rebel actions have also been directed by the same villain, using a lesser noble to distract us all while the real face works to undo His Lordship's strength."
"These are very bold claims indeed, Themis, but what proof can you provide that can prove what you say is true?"
"These documents..." A round of surprised filled the room as Chrom listened and watched. "These documents possess forgery of Master Alex's signature to dismiss the Marauders, cause crimes that would remove his rank and position, but also destroy the province of Themis to open up a position for a more trusting advisor."
"But who would be doing this to go this far?" Before the Duke could say, Chrom hit the nail dead on.
"Kimean, from what the Duke has to say, you have been wholly lying to the full body and willingly creating such rumors to spread and cause our people to bend to a warlike path again."

"B-But sir!"
"But nothing!" Chrom's shout filled the room and the members quieted as Chrom's eyes were filled with rage and for good reason. "I haven't seen the Grandmaster for five days and rumors that such behavior being reported has also flowed into this room, DISPROVEN by members of the Shepherds, so you will tell all in this room that you are either being misinformed or you are willingly trying to shatter Ylisse."
"But sir, I am being truthful, sir, the former tactician attacked me on my way here five days ago, he is nothing that he made any of you believe!"
"Yet that doesn't excuse your own behavior as cases of blackmail, oppression, and falsifying knowledge has also been exposed to this room." A new voice spoke as a cloaked figure moved from behind a pillar near the Duke, all surprised before another spoke up.
"Your own men and people are based on such behaviors as well as they follow orders that they personally believed was correct, they never question those of any false tales... until now." A second figure stepped out near Kimean, hands hidden like the first as a third one appeared from near the entrance.

"They have been informed, their lives have been placed so low on your list as you strive for control, to whisper your own address for full control, you don't quite expect one piece that was always planning ahead on the other hand, the Grandmaster, his word had become both law and truth, yet that asks the question..." The figures seemed to fade into the shadows before any of the guards could grab them, appearing in different places like ghosts.
"Why would the Grandmaster willing submit himself to you as a prisoner?" The Council's eyes all turned to the now-disgruntled member as he started to snarl. "Because, in your pride, you had unlocked your own downfall." He charged after the disappearing phantoms, chasing them until they arrived to a dead-end and the figures turned to the maddened member.
"I am the voice of the Exalt, I will not be lectured by ignorant bastards that DARES question my power!" He lashed out with a sword and cleaved through all of the heads as both head and body faded like actual ghosts, he glancing about as he shouted. "SHOW YOURSELVES, COWARDS!"
"Checkmate." He whipped about to see a massive orb of electricity slam into him, smashing him against the wall as the servant straightened out his attire, his gloves smoking as he gave a small smile. "Kimean, you should have been better knowing, but in your own arrogance, you left such an apparent opening in your base that I merely exploited it."

"Damn Tactician..." Kimean glared as Alex came closer in his speech.
"Funny, you didn't think me much, yet the Exalt family has found my services more valued than anyone was expecting, this says much, but I am just the Tactician, I never sought your position, nor your power, you exposed yourself to the fire and it scorched you too deeply that your own sin will never come off." He turned back and smiled as the crowd came toward him and Chrom smiled as well before he called out.
"Alex!" The Grandmaster didn't need any more warning as he dodged out of a slash and sidestep the slash down before he kicked the blade upward and caught it, plunging it into the right side of the fallen member as he stumbled back in his attempted talk.
"You all see, he attacked me!"
"Funny, I saw a man fend for himself in self-defense while you tried to kill him." Kimean attempted to escape before he could make it too far before he was sniped from the wall, Alex gesturing to the archer as she returned the salute before he turned to Chrom as the Exalt rushed over and pulled Alex into a hug. "I am so glad that you are okay."

"Believe me, I have faced far worse, the reality of war hurts a lot more than their treatment of me." Alex rolled a shoulder and everyone heard the pop as Alex chuckled. "Well, I guess that I should have thought about rest first before coming back."
"I'll get you back to your room." Just two friends, reunited through a series of events and the rebellion suddenly broke apart with the death of their leader and the truth of his efforts coming to their ears as Ylisse managed to stave off a civil war, just as quickly as it started...

Alex didn't quite care that he was bound to bed rest for a time, he had, in fact, did something utterly mad and got back with injures and wounds, but the rebuilding was well underway as all of Ylisse learned the truth, the reason behind it, and why they were forced into the circumstances. The Marauders were no different as they learned the same, at first fearful at what could have happened in the end, but now relieved that their commander had not only saved them, but took it upon himself to apologize to each and every one of the members for his lack of action within the days. Barlowe seated close by as he read a book based on sword techniques and smiled to it before he turned his head to Alex. "I am glad that you are okay now."
"As am I, but with that reckless action, I might have gotten on the bad side of Chrom and Tharja though, they are not going to let me live it down." The Mercenary nodded as he closed the book and stood up.
"Well, before a sovereign, he was your company leader and he has grown to care for you as well, but you only have started to be a more integer part of his life and home within the days, while Tharja is... well, she's a firebrand to those who she truly cared for, so I wouldn't be too grieved if you are held up by her." Both laughed a bit before Alex winced when his rib started to act up and Barlowe nodded. "Well, I will keep things under control, the troops will understand." Alex rolled his eyes as Barlowe left and the quiet settled in as Alex pulled himself under and he breathed as his eyes closed, his slumber coming quickly as he was left alone for the time being, no Tharja yet to hog all of him, no Chrom to stack him with hundreds of papers, and no visions of danger that will crippled his heart to the end, he was well surrounded by loved friends and family...