Disclaimer: Meow meow.

Chapter 26

United, Victorious, the Hearts of our Nation Tonight

"Wait…you're Syrenne?" Vincent asked surprised.

The woman turned to him, "Hmm…familiar. You're that Ylissean…Victor?"

"Vincent," he nodded. "So, wanna get busted out?"

The orange haired woman nodded vigorously. Vincent concentrated for a moment, and the lock melted off the cell.

Syrenne slowly walked out of the cell. Her feet were unclothed. She stepped gingerly toward Lowell. "I haven't been out of that cell in weeks. I…can't believe it's you!" she cried and jumped into his arms. "I…I…prayed to Naga for days. And…these clothes are close to falling off!" She jumped back covering herself with a blush.

Vincent took off his purple cloak and handed it to her. The two of them were about the same height luckily. She took it gratefully.

"Alright, this was a good detour," Vincent joked.

Lowell nodded. He looked like a completely different person. There was a smile on his face.

The three of them searched for the rest of the posse, with Lowell and Syrenne talking animatedly behind him.

"Say hello to Syrenne everyone, Lowell's sister," Vincent said once everyone got back together.

There were some murmurs. Jessie actually gasped, surprisingly. Vincent would have to ask her about that later.

"Enough distractions, Syrenne, can you use any weapons?" Vincent said, game face returning.

She nodded, "Lowell, help me find them." She pulled Lowell along forcefully.

The group impatiently awaited them, Jessie came up to Vincent. "Father, that's the Syrenne?"

Vincent cocked his head, "How did you know about Syrenne?"

"Lowell told me his story a few days ago," Jessie explained.

Vincent nodded, "I'm surprised he told you. But yes, that's the Syrenne."

The siblings of Garuvega rejoined the posse, Syrenne a long curved sword in hand. Vincent motioned for them to follow him.

"Now that we're regrouped and ready, let's get going! Syrenne, a word please," Vincent said and began to climb out of the dungeon.

Syrenne caught up to him. He handed her a flask of water and an apple. "So Syrenne, long time no see. I just need to know, what are your abilities with that sword?"

Syrenne thought for a moment, "Very small. But I tried to escape one time and I grabbed that sword and killed a few people. So I have…slight experience."

Vincent nodded, "Stick to Lowell. Nothing'll happen to you if you do."

She nodded and walked back to Lowell. Only when he saw her from this angle did he see how tired and weary she really was. He'd suspected as much, but there was nothing he could do.

The te-, no, eleven of them continued up the stairs and took the 'up' stairs instead this time. The condition of the walls, stairs, and carpet slowly increased. They were getting closer and closer to the throne room. And with luck, Chrom'll have pierced through the Valmese to meet them there as planned.

Lowell couldn't keep the smile off his face. His lost sister had been found.

"Oi! Get your head out of the clouds!" Syrenne scolded with the same accent he had.

Lowell chuckled, "Just trying to wrap my head around the fact you're alive. I thought you were dead."

Syrenne nodded understandingly, "With what happened to Zael, makes sense. But let's not worry about the past so we can screw these bastards!"

Lowell grinned. But underneath that grin, he could see his sister had changed. Never had he heard her swear before today. But here she was, cussing like a sailor. The prison must have been the reason.

Of course it was the reason, assbutt.

"Just stay by me Syrenne, I'll watch out for you," Lowell said with worry in his voice.

"I think this is the most I've heard you talk in a while, Lowell," Vincent called back.

"Shut it, Vincent!" Lowell said.

Syrenne chuckled, "What does that mean?"

Lowell ruffled his hair sheepishly, "I…er…didn't talk much after Garuvega."

Syrenne fixed him with a look, "Why?"

"Yours and Zael's deaths were my fault," Lowell said.

Syrenne slapped him, hard, "They weren't your fault! There was no reason to think that!"

Lowell rubbed his cheek, "Yes it was, if I didn't try to get into the camp, Zael'd still be alive."

Syrenne shook her head, "We could go through all the what ifs in the world, it wouldn't change anything. You bastard, it wasn't your fault. Zael gave his life for us, and I was too stupid and ignorant then. I've changed Lowell, a lot. But I don't blame you one bit."

Lowell hung his head low, "But what about Calista and Astar? They were my fault."

"There was no way you could have saved them! Astar was probably already dead by time you left our castle, Calista must have been injured only a short time later. There was nothing that made it your fault!" Syrenne huffed.

"…" Lowell didn't say anything. Syrenne sighed, and with that sigh came her brave persona crashing down. She looked like she hadn't slept in a week. And that wasn't something a staff could cure.

But then she began to fall over. Lowell quickly caught her. "I'm so tired Lowell…like I've been awake for twenty years…" Syrenne fell asleep. Lowell adjusted his position carrying her.

It took them a lot of walking, but they made it, to the throne room.

Vincent began drilling them, "Alright, magic users will be with Anna. Henry, go with Jessie and Remy around the side. Matts and Heather, go around to the other side. We're going to attack from all sides. I'll head up the front. Lowell, you're guarding our newest member."

Lowell nodded. Vincent grabbed the dual set of doors. He took a deep breath and pulled them open.

The sounds of fighting embraced them. Chrom had already arrived.

Those doors must have been thick!

But the Evanescent team wasn't hindered by Chrom's sudden appearance. They focused on their target: Walhart. And they moved like the wind.

Walhart was surrounded by five guards. Remy and Jessie immediately took two by surprise. Henry cackled, "Nyah nyah!" and the other three crumbled into dust.

Matt and Heather began throwing knives at Walhart. Henry and the other magic users threw their magic at the conqueror. Anna was healing various wounds from scattered enemies that Chrom was trying to kill with the other Shepherds. And then Vincent was launching the main assault with Remy and Jessie.

But the conqueror was something else entirely. He rode a huge horse with a giant red axe. Lowell didn't know how they'd defeat him. But Lowell wished he were there, in the thick of it, killing the butcher. He turned his face downward briefly to see Syrenne's face. But he couldn't just jump into the fight.

Remy and Jessie were busying the conqueror with knives and an axe. Vincent was bombarding Walhart with fire. The armor must have been enchanted, because the flames did little. No one except Henry was being effective, his dark magic somehow eating away at the armor.

Lowell winced involuntarily when Remy took a hit from the axe. He blocked it with his shield, but he was launched out of the fight. Anna tended to him, but he wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.

Ricken took the next hit. An archer shot him in the shoulder from behind. Morgan obliterated said archer, but Ricken was done for the fight.

Henry moved into the center of the battle with Vincent. The two magicians fought tooth and claw with Walhart. Matt and Heather must have realized they weren't doing anything, so they began taking out all surrounding enemies. Morgan moved alongside her father to do battle. Jessie joined Matt and Heather in silencing pawns.

The magical confrontation was hard, the three were dodging more than they were attacking. And they were wearing out. Anna was tending to Ricken. They had no backup.

Lowell knew what he had to do.

"Anna!" he called, the only person he trusted with this. "Take Syrenne!"

Anna nodded briefly and took her. Lowell entered the fray

He knew he stood no chance at killing Walhart, but he could distract him.

And that is what he did. Lowell became a flurry of knife slashes. Even though they were weak, he could beat down the conqueror. And buy time for his friends.

Henry and Vincent picked up on their magic flinging. When Lowell looked back, he saw Morgan lying on the ground, out of energy. It didn't deter Lowell, in fact, he fought harder.

Henry managed to land a few clean hits on the conqueror. His armor was melting off, giving Vincent a target. And Vincent did not disappoint. He shot three pointed arrows of flame into the gaping hole. Walhart was thrown off his horse. A circle of darkness surrounded Walhart, the conqueror began screaming. Lowell looked to see Henry chanting under his breath pointing at Walhart.

After a few seconds, the conqueror ceased all movement. The entire throne room was silent. The Ylissean League screamed in victory and began cutting down the rest of the fighting Valmese.

Lowell ran to Anna and Syrenne. He took his sister from her and she began healing other injured soldiers.

Lowell began to laugh. It was over, all over. The weight over his heart was lifted, his vendetta for revenge gone, and his sister found. All problems were resolved. Now he could begin again, like he used to.

Can you see me Calista? Are you happy for me?

A single tear rolled down his face.

Author Note: Don't know much where this'll go next. Well, I kinda know, but we're on the downward spiral. We'll exceed thirty chpts, and bring the sequel to hand. And by Naga, do I have ideas for it…

The Day of The Doctor approaches…

"Good men don't need rules."

-The Doctor