The Doctor: I'm back!

Ewan: Did you miss us?

Raven: I sure didn't.

Doc: *Whacks Raven*

Raven: Ow.

Doc: Anyway, yes, I didn't expect to be gone so long... But something strange but normal happened that I'm sure you're all familiar with happened: Real Life. Well, I do have other projects in the works and if you could see my workshop, it would put Leonardo Da Vinci to shame... if I had a workshop. The bottom line is I have many projects cooking up and half a book series to write (no joke), so this has been put onto the back burner.

Raven: It never was taken off the back burner.

Doc: Exactly! So, yes, updates will happen unless I mysteriously die, which would suck badly, wouldn't it?

Raven: I guess so.

Doc: However, I won't give you a concrete timetable because if I did, then I'd undoubtibly break it and you'd all hate me... or whatever. So basically, all I'm saying is I'll update whenever.

Ewan: Whenever is a good time.

Doc: Yes it is. Anyway, I'd like to give a rich, chocolatety, and cream filled thank you to UpbeatButNegative, Anonymous, HighwindJump, and kageshoujo. Thank you all for your support and reviews...

Raven: You can tell he really doesn't want to reply individually...

Doc: *Whacks Raven again*

Raven: Ow

Doc: I would if there were pressing questions I felt like answering, but there aren't. Anyway, about this chapter: This chapter contains a little cameo of a certain redheaded shorty and his friends and here we introduce another main character... a certain purple haired half-dragon.

Ewan: I think you'll enjoy it.

Doc: I agree. Before I begin, I have one thing to say. Nope, still don't own Fire Emblem, 'cus if I did, it would be just as well known and loved as the Legend of Zelda...

Raven: Really?

Doc: Yes it would.

Raven: Damn, that's pretty bold.

Ewan: Not really...

Doc: On with the chapter!

Chapter Nine

Ostia

"So, brother," said Lleu, "how was your time with Jenifer?" Again, they were traveling southbound on the road to Ostia.

"Huh?" asked Lugh. He blushed, "Oh… uh… it was… okay." he cleared his throat very nervously.

"Oh, don't worry, little cousin," said Hugh, "girls aren't that scary."

"Oh, thanks a lot," Cath whispered. Chad just shook his head with a smile at Lleu and Hugh.

"Lleu, Hugh," interjected Erk, "I don't think you're helping." He rode next to his son, "Don't worry, son," he said to the boy, "I was really quite shy around girls too when I was your age."

"Really?" asked Lugh.

"Of course," nodded Erk, "your mother would be able to concur with me."

"I'm glad we're getting her back," stated Lugh.

Little did they know, however, that behind them far enough to not be noticed there rode a lone horseman. A horseman that was actually a girl. Jenifer kept her distance on the road and kept the hood of her unassuming brown cloak up.

Their journey continued south and a whole day passed before they arrived in Ostia. They were outside of the city now. Gazing from their vantage, it seemed that repairs from the damages given to the city during the war were already nearly complete. Erk had stopped the procession and they all dismounted. "Okay," he began, "how much money do you all have?"

Lugh rummaged through his pack and found his money, "I've got 65 gold," he said.

"I've got 50 gold," announced Lleu, having rummaged through his own bag.

"250 gold," said Chad.

"Hmmm… We wont get in to a terribly comfortable inn for the six of us with that kind of money," lamented Erk.

"Wait…" said Lugh. He turned to his older cousin, "We didn't ask Hugh."

"How much have you got, Hugh?" asked Chad, his arms crossed. Hugh was known to hoard his money away and was probably loaded at that moment.

"Oh my," said Cath from behind Hugh's back. She had Hugh's bag in her grasp and she was examining it.

"Hey!" cried Hugh, "That's my bag!"

"Of course it is," said Cath matter-of-factly, "no other man on this continent would be dumb enough to carry this much cash around with him."

"How much does he have, Cath?" asked Erk.

"Oooh," she said in wonder, "looks to be more than enough to buy Ostia Keep." A huge grin appeared on her face, "In the general area of 90000 gold."

They all gapped and looked at Hugh. Hugh laughed nervously, "Hey, you expect me to trust a bank with that much of my money?" he asked naively, "that's my life's savings right there."

Erk rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Not smart," he said quietly, "just not smart." He sighed. "Anyway," he said in a louder voice, "Hugh, would you be kind enough to help us fund our lodgings so we don't have to sleep in the bad part of town?"

Hugh looked at Cath, who just grinned earnestly at him, and sighed, "I suppose Cath will never give up my bag if I said no. So I really have no choice but to say have at it," he said, rolling his eyes.

"That's a good boy, Hugh," said Cath triumphantly.

"…Excuse me?" asked Hugh.

"Eh…" said Erk in an attempt to change the subject. He grabbed the bag from Cath and Cath was fairly surprised he could grab the bag from her (The Master Thief, after all). "Look, let's just find an inn and retire for the night," he said. He turned to Hugh, "Don't worry, I won't deplete your life's savings all that much." He put the money bag in his satchel for safekeeping.

"Great," was all Hugh could say to that.

They mounted once more and proceeded into the city of Ostia. After putting their horses away at a large stable near the gates that was there for the very purpose of keeping traveler's horses, they combed the streets for a suitable inn. They'd all been in Ostia before, but Lugh and Chad had stayed at the castle, Hugh hadn't any money when he was there so he'd slept in the street, Cath had managed to find a vacant building to sleep in on her visit, and Erk hadn't been there in fifteen years. Consequently, they all were unfamiliar with the normal accommodations the city offered to travelers.

"Why don't we go visit Roy?" suggested Lugh.

"He's probably too busy to see us," dismissed Chad.

"Yeah, after the five of us saved his sorry skin a million times, some thanks," said Lleu ungratefully, "You'd think that little runt would be more grateful."

"Lleu!" scolded Lugh, "He is not a little runt!"

"Yes he is," retorted Lleu.

"Well, he was when we joined the army. He wasn't too much taller than me or Chad," admitted Lugh, "But he grew during the war…"

"He still wasn't too much taller than the three of us by the end of the war, Lugh," said Lleu.

"Are you referring to Eliwood of Pherae's son?" asked Erk, a bit confused.

"Yeah, he commanded the Lycian Alliance Army to victory," replied Lugh.

"Oh, him… I hadn't fully realized the Roy was Eliwood's son, Roy… wow," Erk said, a bit flabbergasted. He addressed his boys, "But really, Eliwood is not a short man by any means. He was six inches taller than me, easily. I'm certain his son isn't all that short."

"He is!" protested Lleu, "Now I really want to go see him, just to prove his miniscule stature!"

"I still say he's too busy to see us," put in Chad finally. He learned long ago to stay out of the twin's arguments unless he had a really sensible point to interject with.

Lleu rolled his eyes, "Yeah, you're probably right," he said, "he clearly doesn't want to meet us, a snotty bunch of commoners."

"I didn't say that!" protested Chad.

"It's probably stuff that's out of his personal control," offered Lugh, "he's got snobby nobles up in that castle that would scoff at him communing with us."

"A real friend would've given us food and board for the night," mumbled Lleu.

"Sure he would have," nodded his brother, "but we're not freeloaders."

Lleu sighed, "Yeah…" he lamented, "besides, we have Hugh's entire life savings at our disposal, we could buy this town."

"Eh…" protested Hugh weakly, "I'd rather you didn't. Please." It seemed his protest went unheard.

It was amazing how different the city looked even from the last time Chad and Lugh were there. Of course, after the war, the city had to be rebuilt a bit, which clearly gave the Ostians free license to completely redesign the entire city. At least that's what Erk surmised. As they walked, an attractive sign caught Erk's eye, "How about here?" he suggested.

They all laid their eyes on a large, stately inn. "The Prancing Wyvern" it was called. The name was familiar to them all, each city of any significant size had one of these inns, Ostia, Aquleia, Araphen, even Sacae and Bern. It was a chain. Some sort of enterprising guild of merchants had the idea of several connected inns in large cities around Elibe and thus, "The Prancing Wyvern" mercantile guild was born. It was a really stupid name. As funny as it was to picture a wyvern prancing about, it was fairly impossible really to imagine such a happy, carefree action from a vicious beast.

Nonetheless, it was a comfortable inn and they were weary from the day's travel. The group entered the inn and came upon a large, bustling room filled with all sorts of people. From families out for dinner to loud off-duty soldiers having a jolly time to weary solitary figures, some spending their last coin on a drink, others content with a break in their long travels, this place was clearly quite popular and quite cosmopolitan.

"Welp, I'll go get us some rooms," said Erk. He regarded the group for a moment. "How many do you think we'll need?" he asked.

"I think the Master Thief here requires a room of her own," proclaimed Cath. She'd only gotten a room of her own in the last two places because she was a girl, it was proper, and there were enough rooms in each Etrurian noble's mansion.

They all gave her looks of surprise at her selfishness. "What?" she asked.

Chad sighed, "Never mind," he said, "Cath, you get your own room because you're the only girl." Cath got the distinct impression she'd said something horribly wrong. Either that, or maybe she was starting to realize just how selfish and childish she was. Either way, this would make it harder to confess her love to Chad.

"We three can share a room," commented Lugh, "unless you guys object to that."

"I'm fine with it," said Chad.

"I guess so," said Lleu, "But don't blame me if I come over and throw a bucket of water on your head if I hear you snoring, Lugh." Everyone laughed at this until Lleu said, "That wasn't a joke."

"And I'll bunk with you, cousin," said Hugh to Erk, "I don't want to spend too much money, after all." He rolled his eyes.

"Very well, then," said Erk. He retrieved the money bag and examined one of the massive 10000G coins, minted in Etruria. It was larger than Erk's hand with his fingers spread out and had engraved a scene with Saint Elimine blasting a dragon with Aureola on the back and the face of King Mordred on the front. Both sides had a huge 10000 engraved at the bottom of each side.

"Dang," said Chad, "I don't think I've ever seen a 10000 gold coin…"

"Spend it well," said Hugh meekly.

"I hope they're able to break one of these into smaller change," Erk commented. He put the coin back and said, "I'll be right back, then." With that, he went over to negotiate with the head innkeeper of the establishment. It took only a few minutes and a few hundred gold to broker for three rooms in the inn. When he returned, he asked, "Shall we settle in?"

Lleu spoke up, "Eh… you guys go ahead. I'm going to get something to eat, I'm starving."

"Yeah, I'm hungry too, actually," added Lugh.

"Geez, I thought you guys would never mention food," said Chad.

"How could you guys be hungry?" asked Hugh, "We just ate like two hours ago…"

"Oh, let them fill their hollow legs," laughed Erk, remembering his own large eating habits when he was their age. At that, Cath, Hugh, and Erk left to settle in. Lugh, Lleu, and Chad grabbed one of the tall tables with tall chairs toward one of the less conspicuous corners of the room. The table and chairs were quite high off the ground, anyone sitting in it would have their true height concealed. The three settled in and had a look at the menu.

After ordering their food, Lugh looked over to the table next to him somewhat absent mindedly. He noticed three cloaked figures seated around and drinking what looked like mead. His curiosity got the better of him and he strained to see one of their faces. One of them turned to look off in another direction and Lugh recognized him. "Hey you guys," he said to Chad and Lleu, "check it out, Roy's at the next table."

The other two looked over, "Wow, I wonder what they're doing here?" asked Chad.

"Let's say hello," said Lugh to the others. The three of them got off their seats and walked over to the high table next to theirs. Lugh could now see that Lilina and Wolt were the two other hooded figures. "Hey guys!" greeted Lugh cordially.

Roy turned to the three and greeted them. "Oh, hey guys," he said. Curiously, his voice was quite a bit deeper than they remembered. It was even, commanding, and manly. That wasn't to say he didn't have a manly voice before... kind of. During the war, Roy's voice as he shouted orders was rather highly timbered and a bit… squeaky. Lleu was the most obviously taken aback of the three at Roy's newly deep, manly voice.

"Hello there," greeted Lilina.

"Hi," said Wolt with a smile. Both he and Lilina didn't seem to have changed much. Lilina's pleasant voice and Wolt's even, mid-pitched voice seemed as they remembered.

"What are you three doing here?" asked Chad.

"I should ask the same to you three," laughed Roy.

"…Well, we asked first," pointed out Lugh.

Roy laughed, "Fair enough," he said. He turned to his companions before saying, "Well… we snuck out."

"You snuck out?" asked Chad with a raised eyebrow, "All three of you? I can kinda picture you doing that, Roy, but Wolt and Lilina?"

"You could say I've really lightened up lately," put in Wolt.

"They talked me into it!" Lilina protested most weakly.

"Wow, the King, Queen, and First Minister of Lycia snuck out," mused Lleu with a large amused grin.

"Hey, it was getting horrendous in there," explained Roy, "the paperwork is just awful…"

"Worse," put in Lilina, "is dealing with nobles…"

"Yeah, they aren't too pleased with a public elected senate alongside the Noble League Council…" said Roy with a sigh.

"So we snuck out," concluded Wolt to the laughter of his friends.

"I don't think having a night out incognito is too much to ask, after all," said Roy, "I mean, all three of us are 16 years old, we should be out having a good time late into the night."

Chad chuckled at this, "Yes, you've got every right to do that, I guess."

Lleu nodded at this, "Yeah, that's pretty badass of you, I'll have to admit."

"Well, thank you, Lleu," said Roy with a smile. He got off the chair and stood up to shake the young green haired druid-turned-archsage and the three beheld a great surprise.

Roy, standing to his full height, was now a good foot and a half taller than the three of them. He probably had grown a foot in the 2 months they hadn't seen him. All three of their mouths dropped seemingly to the floor at the revelation of Roy's incredible stature. Lleu was so shocked at this he nearly fell over, if his brother hadn't caught him first. "Whoa!" he exclaimed.

"…What?" asked Roy.

"You're huge!" replied Lleu.

"Huge? I'm not fat," protested Roy.

"…Er… no," said Chad, "what he means is… er, you're really tall."

"A lot taller than we remember," added Lugh.

"You're ginormous!" cried Lleu.

"Really?" asked Roy, "I haven't really noticed…"

"Haven't really noticed?" asked Lleu, "You're a giant, Roy! And all this time, I was picturing this tiny runt and all-" He put his hand over his mouth immediately, his eyes growing big after realizing just how absentminded his outburst was. Luckily only the 5 others took notice to his loud speech. Everyone else was noisily having too much of a good time to care.

Roy looked over at Wolt and Lilina. Lilina had her head down on the table, her muffled giggles were uncontrollable. "Runt?" he asked Wolt, "I wasn't a runt, was I?"

Wolt's face contorted into a nervous grin, "Uh… sorry, Roy, but you were pretty short."

"I was?" asked Roy, dumbfounded.

Lilina put her face up, red from her stifled laughter, "Sorry, love, but you do realize you were shorter than me when the war started, right?" she pointed out.

"Well, yeah… wow, I guess I never realized how short I was," he laughed at himself, "But I dunno about being called a 'runt'." He looked at Lleu sharply.

"Oh, please don't kill me, Giant Roy!" cried Lleu, groveling at Roy's feet. Chad's face was a mixture of shock and amusement. Lugh doubled over in laughter. "I'm so sorry! Please, don't beat little old me up!"

Roy laughed at this, "It's alright, Lleu, I guess I was a little guy. I don't know about 'runt', but I was pretty short," he patted the small druid-turned-archsage on the shoulder comfortingly, "I guess I also didn't realize how much I've grown in the last few months. No big deal."

"No big deal?" asked Lleu in surprise. He stood to his full height, which wasn't all that impressive, "You're freaking lucky, Roy, I wish I was as tall as you."

Roy laughed, "Don't worry, you guys, you'll grow."

"I'd better," said Lugh with rolled eyes.

"Well, now that that's over, what are you three doing here?" asked Roy.

The three of them looked at each other and sighed before relaying their experiences since the war had ended. It didn't take too long to explain their situation and at the end, Roy nodded. "Hmmm," he said, "I heard of that fort, actually. The thing is, after the war ended, some units refused to accept Guinevere as their new queen, even though she's a kinder person than either Desmond or Zephiel and the last of Hartmut's bloodline.

"Basically, they're rebels, but they number very few and they're scattered around Bern. Most of the loyalist troops have managed to pacify the rebels. According to our spies, however, there exists a single fort in the mountains between Lycia and Bern and a single platoon of soldiers that won't yield. There couldn't be more than fifteen among their ranks, but the army of Bern is in shambles and unable to take care of it. If you dispose of those guys, the Bernese government would be very grateful," he finished, stroking his still hairless chin.

"We're not interested in politics," said Lleu, "We just want to get our mom back."

Lugh threw his brother a dirty look. "No, you're right," laughed Roy, "I've been working way too hard, you guys. I think I need a vacation…"

"Hey, maybe you could come out to our place for a spell," suggested Lugh.

"Huh?" asked Wolt, "You guys have a place?"

"Well, not yet," said Chad, "We still have to get permission from the Etrurian government."

"Oh, it's a moldy old castle, like they'd care," Lleu retorted with rolled eyes.

Upon seeing Roy's lost expression, Lugh filled him in, "Well, we've got a plan to make one of those abandoned castles in the Western Isles into a magic school for orphans and other magically inclined folk."

"Oh, that sounds like an awesome idea!" exclaimed Lilina.

"Yes it does," nodded Wolt, "You have no idea how much we secretly envy you."

"Between us and you," said Roy, leaning closer to the three from his newly impressive stature, "if we three had our way, we'd split and sail off to other lands…" He returned to his full height and lamented, "But we can't. We're already being naughty enough just sneaking out tonight… But I think we'll take you up on your offer."

"You'll have to wait until we fix it up," said Lugh. "…Which probably will take a while…" he mumbled.

"We can wait," assured Roy, "thanks for inviting us."

"No problem," said Chad.

They chatted a bit more before Chad, Lugh, and Lleu's food came. The younger three ate and then said goodbye to their older friends, the King, Queen, and First Minister of Lycia. They then proceeded up to their room.

They walked and chatted down the hall toward their room until they heard a discreet cough and a soft voice say, "Excuse me…"

The three turned around and gazed upon a girl seemingly about their age. Her purple hair flowed down to the ground and trailed behind her a bit. "Hello…" she said shyly.

"Sophia," greeted Lleu. He felt his face turn into a friendly smile. It was strange, he rarely smiled in such a fashion. It was almost like feeling… normal and normal was something he was feeling more and more these past few days. "It's great to see you again," said Lleu.

"We'll see you in the room, Lleu," said Lugh to his brother. He turned to Sophia, "Glad to see you again, Sophia." He and Chad nodded cordially to the half-dragon and she nodded back.

When Chad and Lugh had left, Lleu walked closer to Sophia and asked, "Sophia, why aren't you in Arcadia?"

"I… wanted to see you again," she said softly. Her speech was faster than before, less disconnected, but she still was tremendously shy, even around the angsty green haired druid she'd met during the war. Sophia was surprised, he seemed quite a bit less angsty.

"So did I," Lleu replied, "I've never met anyone remotely like you, Sophia." He was telling the absolute truth. She was unlike any practitioner of Elder magic. She drew upon ancient, forgotten techniques to use Elder magic, a true magican worthy to be called a practitioner of the Elder. Unlike most who drew upon and got dangerously close to submerging into the Darkness, she ignored the dark voices. Lleu never knew how she could be so graceful, all he understood was she was an overwhelming light in a place where there shouldn't be any. She was an amazing Light in the deepest of the Dark, a paradox, but one that fascinated the green haired boy to no end. He was fascinated by her at first, and when he grew to know her, he fell in love with her. "Sophia, may I ask you something?"

She simply nodded and indicated that he continue.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked. "I… love you," he added awkwardly. He never had the courage to tell her before, but he'd since had the courage to become an archsage. Lleu's father had instilled a lot of courage into the boy and even though it was on a different subject, Lleu knew his father had helped him turn over a new leaf. He felt like any boy his age should feel when finding love. He supposed his dad would be proud.

He could see the excitement rise up in her eyes before it was replaced with despair. "I am a half dragon…" she said, "…I grow slowly. We can't be together, you'll grow old and die long before I will…"

"Oh, don't worry about that," laughed Lleu with a grin, "I've just been made an archsage, I won't be getting old and dying any time soon."

"Arch… sage?" she asked, a bit dumbfounded, before her face lit up with a smile. It was times like these that really made Lleu love her, he knew nothing more beautiful than her radiant smile. "Yes… I can be your girlfriend!" she exclaimed happily, "For as long as we like!"

They came together in a hug, "I love you too, Lleu," she said. He looked into her eyes and kissed her on the lips. Like most first kisses, it was awkward, but neither of them knew that at that moment. Neither of them could claim to being kissed on the lips before by anyone.

When the kiss came to a close, they looked at each other's eyes for a moment more before holding each other in a warm embrace. Lleu smiled and closed his eyes. For the first time in an extremely long time, he was actually happy.

Jennifer was near tears as she spied from down the hallway at the green haired boy and his new girlfriend. She didn't know what to do now. She spied down the hallway again, this time taking note of the purple cloak on the boy. Then it hit her. She mentally slapped her head when she realized that Lugh had a twin brother and that was him down the hallway with his girlfriend. She felt both stupid and better at the same time.

She had half a mind to walk down there and ask Lleu where his brother was, but then stopped herself. No, she thought, good things come to those who wait. So, I'll wait. She sighed and walked back to her room.

The Doctor: Yes, Roy, Lilina, and Wolt are aiming Lycia toward a more democratic solution. After all, Democracy is the worst form of government asside from any other government tried (and that includes monarchy). The plot thickens! Now we know more about our enemy!

Doc: Oh yes, another note here... I don't really understand why everyone thinks Roy is so short, he's kneeling in his official art. There's no logical reason for him to be short, either. Eliwood was pretty damn tall, according to his official art, and all three of Roy's potential mommies aren't short women either. So what gives? I comprimised. He was short, but then puberty finally caught up with him, which I'd imagine happened to his dad too, as he was pretty tall at the age of 17. Yes, it's true that he could be a quarter dragon (yeah, I support Eliwood/Ninian; but it took me a while to warm up to that pairing nonetheless) and thus, even if he's 15, his body ages slower, so his body is more like that of a twelve year old's or whatever. But that's all truely an open book. I'll spare you my theories on the Dragonkin of this game here, but if you're curious enough, PM me for the long explanation... (I do have a Dragonkin fic in the works, so I might end up devoting half a chapter to explaining all that when that fic comes up... but who knows when that'll be)

Raven: Thank God.

Doc: Oh, and that's another curious thing... the religion of Elibe goes from being Polytheistic to being Monotheistic in twenty years... but that's yet another boring explaination I'll spare you.

Raven: Thank the gods!

Doc: Make up your mind, fool! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the little Lleu/Sophia moment at the end there... and the subplot of Chad and Lugh's romance thickens! I had no intention of making this romance, but a little bit of romance doesn't hurt too much, right?

Ewan: Write a review today...

Doc: ...it's not hard, okay?

Raven: *facepalm*