Author's Notes: So I said I would on hiatus from now on until December...looks like that was a lie. BUT JUST FOR THIS UPDATE! I didn't like the fact that we would have left off with only a LynXMichael moment and none of the other ships. So, hey, this is to fix that. Enjoy!

Also time for the next round of Guess That Reference: Awakening Edition! There are multiple ones this time, so there is room for you to miss one or two!


Interlude 21: Wake-Up Call

The next morning after liberating Caelin from the last of Laus's invasion force, Eliwood, along with most of the other members of their group was enjoying a late morning breakfast in Caelin's dining hall. The pleasures of high-quality foods and drinks were much appreciated after camping out under the stars for so long. Even though most, if not all, of the servants had made a runner for safer places when Laus attacked, Lowen and Marcus were able to cook up many wonders with the kitchen utensils and foodstuffs.

'Ah,' Eliwood sighed in blissful elation as he took a sip from a cup of Black Dragon Pearl tea, a very rare and valuable blend that Lord Hausen insisted Eliwood should partake in, though Eliwood had tried his best to assure the lord that he didn't need to give him such a high quality item, 'This tea is simply to die for. Nothing makes a morning better like a nice cup of tea and sometime alone with my thoughts…'

"Hey, Eliwood!"

'Well, there goes my quiet time…' Eliwood sighed to himself, "Yes, Hector? What has you so riled up first thing in the morning?"

"Riled up?" Hector repeated with an arched eyebrow as he speed walked over to his red-haired best friend, "Who's riled up? I was just going to ask you if there were any hot bread buns left."

In response, Eliwood turned around and picked up a mall basket covered in a red cloth and handed it to Hector, "You're in luck. Lowen just brought out the last batch for today a few moments ago. Hopefully they're to your liking."

"Thank you!" Hector thanked Eliwood as he took the basket eagerly and stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth, "Lowen's the guy who's been cooking all our meals, right?" Hector asked as he broke off a large piece of bread and began to ravenously chew it, "I should thank him one of these days…"

"I'm sure he would be happy to hear those nice words, especially from you," Eliwood told him as he took another sip from his tea cup. Really, the marquess was right, this tea WAS an amazing blend.

"You're not getting a rise out of me," Hector grunted at him as he gulped down his first bun, grabbing another one and already shoving it down his mouth, "…What are you drinking anyway?"

"Black Dragon Pearl tea," Eliwood told him with a chipper tone and a smile, "A very rare black tea."

"Sounds fancy," Hector agreed, "And expensive."

"You should try some," Eliwood offered as he held his cup out for Hector to take a sip.

"No thanks," Hector pushed the cup back gently, "Tea isn't my kind of drink. I'm more a wine guy. Tea's too weak a drink for me to appreciate."

"Figures one such as yourself wouldn't be able to appreciate the subtle tastes that only tea could offer," a new voice scoffed at Hector as the two lordlings turned towards its origin.

"Hello, Raven," Eliwood greeted the mercenary with a nod, "I'm sorry I didn't notice you earlier. How long have you been there?"

"The entire morning," Raven grunted as he took a sip of some unknown beverage from his own cup.

"You should speak up more," Eliwood told him, "It'll make it easier for people to talk to you if they know you're there."

"I'm not interested in socializing with everyone in your little band of rabble-rousers," Raven told Eliwood civilly, "But I'll keep that in mind if I ever feel like talking."

"What are you drinking?" Hector asked Raven in a slightly standoffish tone, "I imagine a type of tea from how you were talking earlier?"

"Earl Grey," Raven smiled as him as he set his cup down, "A tea common enough that there is always enough of it but still has a satisfying taste to it. The ultimate blend for the amount of gold it costs."

"It sounds like I'm being sold something at market…" Hector sighed as he took another bite of bread, "Should I fetch my wallet and buy a year's supply?"

"Do it!" Raven suddenly burst out with obvious enthusiasm, shooting out of his set before recollecting himself and sitting back down. "I…I mean…yes…you should do that… Allow your tongue to taste a real drink."

"That was so out of character I don't even know where to begin," Hector observed as he concealed a snicker.

"I think I'll try some Earl Grey later on then," Eliwood mused as he took another sip from his Black Dragon Pearl, "You've sparked my interest…"


Pass me the key," Kent commanded Sain as he tried to open one of the many locked castle doors on the first level, "Those Laus vandals just had to lock every single last door on their way out, didn't they?"

"How courteous of them…" Sain replied dryly as he handed Kent a keychain with dozens of keys on them. He used his free hand to rub away some of the sleep from his eyes, "Did we really have to start unlocking all of these doors ourselves? At daybreak?"

"It is our job as knight commander and sub-knight commander to ensure the daily operations of the castle are kept in order," Kent informed his green-haired companion in a civil and casual tone, "Also there is no one else to do this but us as of now. Trust me, I wish I could sleep in as well but…lord and country come first."

"I take it the castle counts as a lord?" Sain asked as he folded his arms.

"When you ask like that…" Kent wondered aloud as he unlocked the door, "I guess it is! Huh, thank you, Sain, for making me see this in a new light. I'm impressed!"

"The honor is all mine," Sain yawned with an uninterested expression on his face.

"The only honor of yours is flirting with every random lady that meets your line of sight!" a familiar voice yelled out to Sain from down the hallway.

A young man around Kent and Sain's age walked up to them. He had long, bright brown tied in a ponytail with soft caramel eyes. A glorious pair or sideburns resembling fern trees traced down the sides of his face. He wore the usual armor of Caelin soldiers but his was a little worn out, as if he were in several dangerous battles that left the armor chipped in places.

"Who are you?" Sain asked as he eyed the young man that approached them.

"Are you a new recruit?" Kent asked with obvious enthusiasm, "Why, I can scarcely believe that we've gotten new soldiers in such a short time after the invasion! People must've had their spirits reinvigorated! Oh, but look at that armor you have on…come with me, I'll see to it that you receive a new set. We can't go giving our treasured new soldiers worn out gear!"

The young man gave the two knights a dirty glare as he crossed his arms and tapped hi foot impatiently. "Are you two being idiots or are you still asleep?"

"This new recruit has backbone," Sain mentioned as the sudden insult woke him up slightly, "I like him already. We'll get along swimmingly!"

"…..Really?" the young man asked in a slightly hurt tone, "You two don't recognize me?"

"Should we know who you are, good sir?" Kent asked him.

"It's me!" the young man yelled at them, "Me! Collin! Do you really not recognize me without my helmet on?!"

"Oh!" Sain nodded with slight understanding, "Now that you mention it, it think your head…was shaped like that."

"Why are you walking around without your helmet on?" Kent asked him as he attached the keychain to his side. They might be talking for a while.

"I just wanted to breathe the air of a free Caelin without that suffocating helmet," Collin explained to them as a peaceful smile spread across his face as he leaned against the wall, "It's all thanks to you two doing your duty, no matter how painful it was, to keep Lady Lyndis safe until Lords Eliwood and Hector could arrive. I'll be able to sleep peacefully again. Not that I was imprisoned for so long that I forgot what it was like though…"

"That reminds me," Kent said as he suddenly turned serious, "How did you and the other three survive? Last time I counted our numbers we had twenty-five men. But only four of you were left? Were you spared?"

"As a matter of fact," Collin said as he scratched his chin, "We were all fighting and the four of us were together in a group. The fighting was intense and we were heavily outnumbered. I fully expected to die that day in the name of Caelin, but one of the generals ran into the battle and forced the soldiers to stop. He gave us the option to surrender, but we chose to continue fighting. He took us all on himself. The next thing I knew, we were all in a cell. He chose to spare us."

"Huh," Sain sighed as he let his arms fall to his sides, "Looks like we owe that juggernaut of a general, Bernard, a word of thanks."

"If only the others could have received the same treatment…" Kent sadly whispered to himself.


Lucius let out a sigh of content as he stretched his arms towards the sky. He had chosen to dine outside in the flower garden in the back of the castle. It was suitably quiet and the view, from what Lucius could see, was second to none. Lucius had to resist the urge to pick some of the flowers on account of their jaw dropping beauty. A clam breeze passed on by, picking up his long hair, making it drift in the breeze.

"Talk about a sight for sore eyes!" another voice called to to him with obvious enjoyment. Lucius couldn't help but lush a little as he turned around.

"Hello, Miss Serra," Lucius greeted the pink haired cleric as she walked over to his side, "How are you? Did you happen to sleep well?"

"Hello to you too, handsome," Serra smiled as him, "I was fine when I woke up, but I'm fabulous now that I've seen you! And I slept incredibly well last night, thank you for asking."

Lucius looked down to the ground in slight embarrassment, "Well…that's the first time someone has ever complimented me so thoroughly for saying good morning to them before…"

"Come on!" Serra snickered as she lightly swatted at his arm, "You can't tell me you get people flirting with you wherever you go! I mean, SAIN of all people tried hitting on you when we all first met!"

"Really?!" Lucius asked in pure shock, "That happened? I guess I forgot about it…"

"But you didn't forget about me, did you?!" Serra asked hurriedly. She almost looked like she had panic in her eyes, as if the greatest evil that could be done to her was to not remember her.

"No," Lucius told her as reassuringly as he could, "I could never forget about one such as you, Miss Serra. You are…one of a kind, a truly unique individual!"

"Really?" Serra asked.

"Yes," Lucius nodded his head as his mouth cracked into a smile.

"Say it again," Serra told him, almost a little too forceful for her own good.

"You are a one of a kind individual," Lucius repeated himself, "You are unique."

"Really?" Serra asked again, a sadder look on her face.

"Over course!" Lucius said again with complete sincerity as he grabbed hold of her hands with his own, "I mean it with all of my heart! You are a good person and truly one of a kind!"

Serra's face went beet red as she stared Lucius straight in the eyes. She could do nothing but open and close her mouth without uttering a single peep. She could feel herself becoming lost in Lucius's bright, blue eyes. So blue, as if like the very sky…

"Miss Serra?" Lucius asked as Serra began to unconsciously tilt her head to the side as her jaw began to slack, "Are you alright? Are you sure you don't need more rest? You used a lot of magic using Unison Raid yesterday."

"Huh?" Serra asked as she snapped back to attention, "Oh! Yeah, I'm perfectly fine! Couldn't be better! I could take on the world!"

"Good then," Lucius laughed, "It would be horrible if you were feeling unwell after all that."

"Trust me," Serra said coolly as she looked down towards their hands, which were still held together, if not even more firmly than before, "I'm feeling perfect!"

Oh!" Lucius realized as he took his hands away from Serra's, "I'm terribly sorry! I didn't mean to keep my hands lingering for so long! I hope I didn't cause offense!"

"Lucius," Serra sighed as she put a hand lightly over his cheek, "It was no trouble at all. You can hold my hands anytime."

This time it was Lucius's turn to turn scarlet. "Oh my," he sighed heavily, "I think I…need to go pray. A lot."

"Allow me to join you!" Serra smiled as she began to skip after Lucius as he left to find a nearby shrine to pray in.


"Rebecca, wait!" Wil shouted from across the archery range as Rebecca angrily walked away from him. He had been trying to strike up a conversation with her all day, but she just kept shutting him out. Was she really not the Rebecca he knew from his hometown? Oh gods, that would be embarrassing if that were the case.

"I'm not talking to you!" Rebecca finally told Wil in acknowledgement to him as she sat down on a stone bench, "I've nothing to say to you!"

"So you are Rebecca!" Wil said, refusing to give up so easily, "What are you doing so far away from home? Any reason you were with Michael and Eliwood? Come on, tell me! I want to know how everyone at the village is doing to!"

"Everyone is doing fine, thank you very much for asking!" Rebecca yelled at him as she turned her head away in disgust, "No thanks to you writing or anything for us to know what you were doing or where you were! You're poor mother and father, they were beside themselves with worry for months!"

"Yeah…" Wil grimaced as he scratched the back of his head, "I was kind of…busy…with other things. Like trying to get some money so I could continue traveling…"

"Hmph!" Rebecca sneered, "And I'm sure you're doing swimmingly too! After all, you can't get much better than being part of an elite guard for a royal! How lucky you must be! And you just forgot to write to your family with all the going ons, huh?"

"Why are you so mad?" Wil asked her, now slightly frustrated, "I know I didn't write, but that can't be the only reason for being so mad at me! Come on, Bec, tell me what's really bothering you. I think I know you well enough not to worry about me just because I been by myself for a while."

Rebecca was struggling to keep a straight face. How could he?! How could it be so long since they had last seen each other but he could still smile at her like nothing had happened?! It wasn't fair! That kind of optimism was cheating! "Well, after you and Dan left, things went on like normal. But a few weeks…or was it months? I don't know, you lose track of time when you travel on foot—anyway! Bandits attacked our village and Lord Eliwood put them in their place but their leader escaped. Eventually, we found him again and I made sure to put an arrow between his eyes!"

"Wow!" Wil said in visible shock and awe, "That's…amazing! You must've gotten a lot better since the last time I showed you how to hunt! You're probably almost as good as me now!"

"Almost?!' Rebecca repeated with a shocked tone, "What do you mean 'almost'?!"

"I've been training with expertly trained bowmen for around a year, of course I would have gotten better," Wil laughed as he outstretched his arms to showcase the entire courtyard, "Every outdoor space is a training yard for an archer! Or should I say…sniper?"

Rebecca was speechless.

"Oh, that reminds me!" Wil remembered, "How's Dan been? He should've gotten back home a while ago, right? I thought he would be with you if you went traveling?"

That name brought Rebecca back to reality, "Wil…Dan never came back. We haven't gotten word of him since the last time you two were together. We all thought…I thought…" Rebecca's voice started to break a little. Tears had begun to well in her eyes.

"What?!" Wil asked softly, "But…Dan was going back! He was done with it all! He…oh, Rebecca, I'm so sorry. No wonder you were mad at me. I didn't know! If I did…I would have stayed with him, maybe even gone back with him."

"N-No," Rebecca sniffled as she shook her head, "You had no way of knowing, Wil. It's just…I was really worried, you know? Losing my brother is bad enough, but if I lost you too? I…I wouldn't be able to live with it!"

Wil walked over to Rebecca and wrapped her in his arms for a gentle hug. At that point Rebecca had lost it and began to cry into Wil's shoulder. It wasn't fair! Why couldn't she stay mad at him and get rid of her pent up worry that way?!

They must've spent twenty minutes glued into place as Rebecca cried her heart out onto Wil's shirt, which was little more than a used tissue by now. But he didn't mind one bit, his best friend's sister, and his own friend on top of that, was crying right in front of him. He couldn't help but be there until she had calmed down. It was in his nature to be there for her.

Eventually, Rebecca calmed down and removed herself from Wil's now completely drenched shirt, "Thanks…" Rebecca sniffled, "I needed that." Her eyes were bloodshot from her crying.

"No problem," Wil smiled at her, "just give me a warning next time you feel like crying, okay? I'll get an extra shirt ready."

"Shirt?" Rebecca asked as she looked down at Wil's wet shirt, "Oh, Wil! I can't believe you! You really let me cry so much that your shirt got that wet?! What if you catch a cold?"

"Nice to see you're back to normal," Wil laughed slightly, "It's nice to have you back, Bec."

"Dummy," Rebecca whispered to herself as she looked at her feet.

"But Rebecca?" Wil said, "I don't think Dan's in bad shape or anything. I think he's doing ok. He probably got himself involved with some real idiots and he's having too much fun to come back home. If we're lucky, we'll find him on our journey. Things have a strange way of working out like that."

"I hope you won't blame me if I don't get my hopes up," Rebecca smiled back at him sadly, "I don't want to get my hopes too high if we…if we don't find him."

"We will," Wil said more forcefully, "I swear on it."


"Thank you for joining me here, Sir Erk," Priscilla thanked the young mage as he walked over to her seat on her balcony, where the breeze was a welcome sensation.

"No need to thank me, Lady Priscilla," Erk assured her, "All you need to do is ask and I shall do whatever you require of me."

Priscilla frowned at Erk's words. "I know you are to protect and escort me," Priscilla began, "But now that we are members of Lords Eliwood's and Hector's company and now that I've found my brother, our contract is finished. You are under no obligation to me anymore, Erk. You know this."

"So?" Erk asked, "I still haven't seen you home. Until then, my job isn't truly complete. Until then, I will continue to protect you no matter what dangers I face. Plus, having Michael and Dorcas around will help ease the difficulty considerably."

"Dorcas?" Priscilla asked in confusion, "Ah! That large man that you were talking with last night?"

"The very same," Erk nodded as the memories of last night played over in his mind.

"Why did you call me out, Dorcas?" Erk remembered himself asking Dorcas as the warrior sat down outside on the front grounds of Caelin. It was the same spot where they had fought Lundgren a year prior.

"Just wanted to talk," Dorcas responded gruffly, "Felt like talking to someone from the old company."

"Is this more male bonding?" Erk asked, just to be sure.

"Only if you want it to be," Dorcas laughed slightly, "Take as seat," Dorcas motioned towards the ground next to him.

Erk took the spot next to Dorcas and turned to face him. The warrior looked troubled, "What's the matter?"

"Twice," Dorcas sighed, "Twice now the Boss has needed me and I do nothing but get dealt with. I thought I got stronger during this year…but that last battle showed me I'm still as weak as ever."

"Hey, don't go getting yourself down," Erk tried to console him, "That'll just make you do worse in the future. Besides, Michael wouldn't want you acting like this now, would he?" Erk could not believe that he was the one trying to give a pep talk. And succeeding if he had any input on it.

"Hmp," Dorcas chuckled, "It's a sad day when you're the one cheering someone up. You sure you're not some doppelganger that looks like Erk?"

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," Erk replied dryly ad with a straight face.

Dorcas went silent once more. "….You think we could train together?"

"Huh?" Erk asked, completely surprised, "What do you mean by training?"

"You know, sparring?" Dorcas suggested, "You help me raise my resistance to magic by hitting me with spells and I help you increase your defense by hitting you with my fists. We both get stronger one way or another and we get to cover some of our weaknesses."

"That's…" Erk began, initially thinking of all the flaws and mistakes that could happen before thinking about it some more, "Actually a good idea."

"I should hope so!" Dorcas agreed, "This way, you'll be able to withstand a blow from armored knights and generals without getting knocked out in one hit."

"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Erk sighed.

"I believe the score was two to zero in their favor," Dorcas recounted.

"Augh!" Erk groaned as he buried his face in his lap.

"Sir Erk?" Priscilla asked when Erk groaned aloud, "Are you okay?"

"Huh?!" Erk asked as he shot his head back up, "Did I actually vocalize the last bit of my flashback? Wow, that's…embarrassing."

"Fear not, no one outside the two of us will know about it," Priscilla told him with a smile, "If you tell me one thing."

"Only one thing?" Erk asked skeptically.

"You doubt me, Sir Erk?" Priscilla asked him, "You must think little of my honesty then."

"No, no!" Erk surrendered, "I have no reason to doubt you at all!"

Good then!" Priscilla smiled again, "I was hoping you'd tell me about your relationship with that pink-haired cleric girl, Serra was her name?"

'Kill me now,' Erk cried in his thoughts as he began to prepare himself for a long winded conversation he had no desire to have, "Serra…is a woman I was hired to escort to Ostia last year. I did it and went home. Then, she came back into my life during out little problem in Laus. She's…kind of clingy. But she shouldn't cling to me as much if not at all now that Lucius, the blond haired monk—bishop, he's a bishop now, is around. He's was the one you thought was a woman at first."

"Ah," Priscilla said in understanding, "I see…wait, what? Lucius is a boy?!"

"Oh my…" Erk sighed to himself as he rubbed his temples.


Even though it was nearing midday, both Michael and Lyn were still sleeping comfortably in the loveseat they were sitting in the night before. Somehow, during their sleep, Michael had re-positioned himself lying down on his back, with Lyn getting on top of him without either party disturbing the other's sleep. That alone was a miracle, but even more so that no one had come to check in on them for so long. Well…until Florina decided to check up on Lyn and see her room empty. Curious since the room next to Lyn's was open, Florina thought Lyn was speaking with Michael or vice versa. OK, she was hoping something more interesting than talking was happening between the two, but a girl could dream!

"Lyn…?" Florina asked quietly as she knocked on the door, "Michael?" No one answered her call. Did that mean they were…sleeping? Now Florina just had to know otherwise she would have to press Lyn for information later and she was horrible at manipulating others into telling their secrets.

"I'm coming in…" Florina whispered, "PLEASE BE DECENT!"

Nothing. Florina checked the bed and no one was in it. OK, was she being messed with now? If Michael and Lyn popped out from underneath the bed and started making fun of her, she wouldn't be able to take it.

Just to be sure, Florina checked underneath the bed. Nothing but dust mites. Good, if not disgusting. Florina probably would've given up her search right then and there, but luckily, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Michael and Lyn's sleeping forms on the loveseat near the balcony.

"I found you!" Florina whistled to herself as she skipped along. She couldn't help but blush and smile from ear to ear from the scene she saw.

Michael was lying back down on the loveseat, with Lyn sprawled out on top of him. But that alone didn't make Florina blush. It was the fact that Michael had somehow managed to wrap his arms around her in a hug while he was asleep while he wore a contented smile on his face. Lyn looked like she was having a nice dream as well, with a similar smile on her face as she buried her face into Michael's chest. Florina wished she knew how to paint so she could commit the image to canvas.

"Mmmm…" Lyn sighed pleasurably as her eyes fluttered open. She looked as if she were as content as she could ever hope to be before her eyes focused on Florina. Lyn practically jumped up in surprise, well, as much as she could, considering Michael's grip was somehow too strong for her to break, "Florina! What are you doing here?!"

"I could be asking you the same thing," Florina smiled at her green-haired best friend as she looked on at the scene with a hungry look in her eyes, "Please, don't let me being here interrupt anything."

"Huh?" Lyn asked before she looked down to the still sleeping Michael. Then her gaze carried up to his arms, which were firmly wrapped around her. "T-This isn't what it looks like…" Lyn attempted to explain.

"Is it comfortable?" Florina asked with a smug expression on her face.

"LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE!" Lyn answered honestly as she laid herself back down on Michael's chest, "It's like a teddy bear…!"

"Uurrgggg…." Michael muttered in his sleep as he turned around, bringing Lyn with him as he changed his sleeping position.

"Eepp! Lyn squeaked.

'T-That was so cute!' Florina thought to herself as she looked visibly shocked that Lyn could ever make a noise like that.

"Eh, Michael…?" Lyn asked nicely as she looked the Tactician in his still sleeping eyes, "Could you let me go now? It's kind of embarrassing…!"

Michael responded by pulling Lyn in closer, nuzzling her with his chin.

"This isn't even fair anymore…" Lyn complained, "Florina! Leave so I can enjoy this!"

"I wish I could," Florina sighed contently, "But this looks too adorable to look away from."

"I MEAN IT," Lyn shouted, "GET OUT!"

"Huh?" Michael muttered drowsily as he opened his eyes.

Both Florina and Lyn went absolutely still as they watched Michael pull himself up.

"What are you two doing…?" Michael asked groggily as he looked back from Florina to Lyn. It took him a minute, but eventually, Michael's eyes shot open as he looked back at Lyn, "AAAHHH!"

Michael pushed Lyn off him as he fell out of the loveseat and onto the floor. "F-F-Florina!" Michael tried to explain to her in a panic, "T-This isn't what it looks like! W-We were just talking and fell asleep! …Please don't tell anyone about this?"

"My lips are sealed~!" Florina sang as she skipped out of the room.

Michael looked back at Lyn awkwardly and took a huge gulp, "Think she'll…tell anyone?"

"If she does, I'll kill her," Lyn responded back, slightly annoyed at Florina interrupting them and slightly annoyed at Michael for pushing her away so quickly.


Matthew: Well, looks like we don't get any appearances...

Guy: Appearances?

Matthew: Yeah. Only couples for the most part made up this chapter. I mean, I can understand me not being in here because my lovely Leila isn't here... But I'm amazing! The people love me! Don't stick me in with the boring characters!

Oswin: Who says who is boring?!

Marcus: I don't think we are boring in the slightest!

Lowen: You'd best choose your words more carefully from now on, Mr. Matthew.

Matthew: Lowen, don't get mad. You'll have your time in the spotlight eventually. Probably. Depends on what the authors plans.

Guy: What the heck are you talking about?

Matthew: The author? You know, the one watching and recording all of our deeds in this adventure?

Marcus: Like Saint Elimine!

Matthew: Try higher up on the chain of command! He'll be deciding which of us live and die! I heard through the grapevine that i'll live through the entire story. You guys...the jury is still out on. So try not to die, okay?

Author's Notes: Matthew knows! He must be silenced! PREPARE...THE FIRE DRAGON!

Also there REALLY is a tea named Black Dragon Pearl. Look it up.