The Final part of the Alfonse rescue saga and the one chapter with the least amount of battles.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Nighttime was nearby. Kiran lies down on their bed. Briedablik does not pulse. The summoner is frustrated by the fact that the Divine weapon that chose them as the legendary Hero of Askr does not react to them in this Alternate Fodlan.
"You know that pouting will not help solve your problem." Sothis' voice echoed on their head. "Relax, you got the Askran Prince back and you should check on him."
"I know, but I was not quick enough to save Sharena..." Kiran sighed. "She could have died if we didn't bring Linhardt with us... but I am glad Aster helped us out."
A knock was heard.
"Come in." The summoner called.
The doorknob did not turn. Kiran noticed that they had locked the door. They stood up and went to unlock the door. As they opened it, Fjorm was standing behind it.
"Good evening, Summoner..." The Nifl Princess said with a quiet voice. "Sorry if I woke up."
"It's fine." The Summoner smiled. "I wasn't asleep. Is something wrong?"
"I am concerned about Alfonse..." The blond and light teal haired shook her head. "He hasn't been his usual self after we came back from the Holy Masoleum... He would blame himself for what happened to Sharena and he would make himself responsilbe for the whole incident..."
"I don't blame him." Kiran added. "I would also be heartbroken by that..."
"I know." Fjorm nodded. "When I saw his eyes, they had no glow... they were dark, dull and unhappy..."
"Almost like Aster?" The summoner asked.
"Possibly." The ice princess nodded.
The Blue Sea Moon began. Linhardt and Caspar were away for the latter's birthday. Ashe was picking flowers at the greenhouse.
"I am glad you are worried about her." Odesia appeared from behind, startling him.
"Oh!" The silver haired boy turned around. "Odesia! You startled me."
"Sorry about that." The teal and green haired girl shook her head. "I didn't mean it."
"It's fine." The kind Blue Lion smiled. "Before the mission, Sharena told me that she likes flowers. Especially white roses."
"I see." Odesia nodded.
"I thought these flowers would help her cheer up after this injury she got." Ashe went back to carefully picking flowers. "Despite being of the Golden Deer class, she is spending time with the other houses."
"Ah." The serious Black Eagle added. "She is wanting to be friends with others, after all."
"Yeah." The silver haired boy nodded as he finished picking flowers and planted some seeds.
"You want to visit her at the infirmary?" Odesia asked. Her question was answered with a nod.
At the Golden Deer House, Lucretia noticed Marianne praying.
"Praying for her quick recovery?" The dark blue haired girl asked.
"Yes." The light blue haired girl nodded. "Her cheerful personality helped all of us be moee confident in battle... even though-"
"I know you don't like battle..." Lucretia finished her classmate's sentence. "But we need a healer that can help people recover quickly."
"I..." Marianne sighed. "I don't know, Lucretia... I do not like combat..."
"I'll let you think, then." The Ordelia daughter nodded. "Maybe you can make up your mind when Sharena recovers..."
She then left her classmate with a small smile.
"Dear Goddess..." Marianne continued to pray.
At the Blue Lion House, Annette was coughing.
"Annette?" Valeria went to her classmate. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Annette nodded. "Just a small cough."
"Are you sure?" The green haired girl tilted her head. "I mean... if you get sick, you will miss the assignments."
"I'll be fine, Vallie." The white haired student smiled. "No illness is going to stop me."
In the dining hall, Dorothea, Drew, Elizabeth and Lorenz were eating lunch.
"The Knights of Seiros are searching for that no-good rumor sparker that made the students lose their trust on Lady Rhea." Drew growled.
"Brother, why must you start speaking of the mission the knights have even when we are on break?" Elizabeth shook her head.
"What can we do?" Lorenz huffed. "If this gossiper does not stop, it would make Garreg Mach look like a disgrace."
"Your attitude does not help, Lorenz." Dorothea scoffed. "Ellie, I know you are worried about Sharena and the Monastery's reputation... I mean... we all are... but I promise you that everything will be alright."
"Are you certain, Dorothea?" Elizabeth asked.
Dorothea winks, meaning that all will be fine in the end.
Hilda and Claude arrived while carrying plates of food.
"Excuse me, fellow classmates." Claude said. "Is this seat taken?"
"Well, of course." Drew answered while glaring at Lorenz, who was disgusted by Claude's prescence.
"Thank you." Hilda chirped as she and Claude took their seats between their classmates. "My, this week has been too chaotic for a delicate flower like me."
"It has been for all of us." Elizabeth sighed. "I bet it is worse for Sharena's brother and friends since she got injured."
"Hopefully, Manuela helps her heal from all of this." Dorothea nods, agreeing with Elizabeth.
"I am surprised that she survived a fatal wound." Drew shook his head. "Linhardt and these two spies of Seiros deserve the credit."
"Ah, you mean Aster and Ilna?" Lorenz nodded. "These two shall be helpful to the Noble House-"
"Lorenz, why is everything about you?" Claude rolled his eyes.
At the Training Grounds, Felix and Ingrid were sparring, with the latter winning.
"Nngh..." The Fraldarius heir growled. "How are you so strong?!"
"The Golden Deer Professor said that in their home, there is something called the 'weapon triangle.'" The Galatea heir twirled her lance. "In said triangle, lances are strong against swords."
"Whatever..." Felix hissed. "The only thing that matters is my sword practice and my strenght."
"Felix, are you even aware of your own life?" Ingrid shook her head. "Sharena almost lost hers because of sister instinct. And that was in order to save her brother."
"She truly deserves a noble home unlike someone so underestimated as me..." Ferdinand arrived in order to train.
"Were you hearing us?" Felix asked.
"Felix, he just got here." Ingrid facepalmed.
"Forgive my intrusion..." The orange haired young man shook his head. "I feel as though my weakness got her hurt... and I feel like I owe her several apologies..."
"What the ever loving hell did Count Gloucester do to him?!" Felix thought to himself.
At the Black Eagle House, Edelgard, Hubert, Bernadetta, Mercedes and Emile were reunited.
"Edelgard, what is going on?" Bernadetta asked with a scared expression. "I am not liking where this is going."
"I know you don't, Bernadetta." Edelgard crossed her arms. "But this is in hopes of finding a way to help restore morale to the Houses."
"The Professors are helping Fjorm, Eir, Peony, Mirabilis and Veronica be strong so they can help Sharena recover." Hubert explained. "While they find a way to get morale back, we must still train harder."
"At least, it is a way for all of us to become stronger." Emile crosses his arms.
"I agree with Emile, but must we overtrain ourselves?" Mercedes showed some concerns. "Most of us don't have the same energy as Caspar, Felix, Ingrid, Dimitri and Dedue."
"We will have to discipline most of them." Hubert answered. "Including Mirabilis, who spends most of the time sleeping."
"We will need to ensure no one gets left out." Emile said. "Not even Linhardt and Caspar, who return tonight."
"Oh, it's Caspar's birthday..." Bernadetta remebered. "I am not sure if he will like the gift I made him."
"He will, Bernie." Mercedes smiled. "Don't you worry."
Weeks had passed. There was not a single sign of Sharena waking up, of Briedablik getting its power back or of the culprit of the gossips being caught. Morale in Garreg Mach was getting lower and the students were starting to lose their trust on Rhea.
Aster noticed something wrong with Rhea, but she could not tell. The Archbishop was supposed to be getting ready for the Goddess' Rite of Rebirth, but she was being seen as a public enemy by the students.
"Aster?" Yuri went to her. "Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"
"Forgive me..." The pink and blue haired girl. "I spent nights without sleeping as I searched for the culprit of the gossips alongside the knights. And it seems that the-"
Suddenly, Yuri hushed her quiet as he saw a figure on its way to the infirmary.
"Someone is rushing to the infirmary." Yuri whispered. "And they seem to be suspicious."
"That is where Alfonse, Sharena and Manuela are!" Aster gasped. "Let's go!"
The two rushed to the infirmary and as they arrived, the suspicious person was about to take out a knife and stab Alfonse, who was sleeping.
"You stop right there!" Aster shouted as she rushed towards the attacker.
"Aster!" Yuri shouted. "Wait!"
The pink and blue haired girl then pulled the attacker away from the Askran siblings, much to Yuri's surprise.
The attacker wasted no time and took out a sword to fight Aster, who was unarmed.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Yuri shouted as he too took out a sword and activated his Crest to prevent the attacker from hurting Aster. "Aster! Get the knights!"
Aster nodded and fled.
The attacker and Yuri took the fight outside the infirmary as part of the latter's plan.
"You think you are so smart in killing someone in their sleep?" The lilac haired young man growled. "Well, that is a heartless gesture."
"None will be able to follow the Central Church if I succeed my mission." The attacker said.
Yuri then recognized the words "central church".
"Central church?!" He thought to himself. "Could this guy be-?!"
The attacker had Yuri let his guard down by injuring his leg.
"Gah!" The lilac haired young man shouted.
"Say hi to Count Rowe for me, kiddo." The attacker raised his sword in order to finished the fight.
However, before he did so, his attacked was blocked. Yuri then saw that Alfonse had woken up and heard that Yuri was in trouble.
"You-?!" The spy of Seiros gasped.
"I am sorry I got you into this." The Askran prince said. "Now let me end this for you."
The blue and blond haired young man then used his shield to hit the attacker on the head and knock him unconscious.
Yuri stood up with some trouble due to his injured leg and went to Alfonse. As the latter turned around, his blue eyes had no glow and they were dark, dull and unhappy, just like Fjorm's description.
"Are you alright?" He asked.
"Aside from my leg getting hurt, I'm fine." Yuri shook his head. "But will you be alright?"
Alfonse did not smile nor speak. He was still worriedsick about Sharena.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard. Aster, Catherine and some knights of Seiros arrived.
"Ah, so you took care of the problem?" Catherine said. "Alright, let's take this guy to Lady Rhea."
"Got it." One knight of Seiros nodded.
The knights of Seiros dragged the unconscious man to where Lady Rhea was, Aster walked up to Yuri and Alfonse.
"Are you both unhurt?" She asked.
"Alfonse is fine." Yuri answered. "I hurt my leg. Looks like I will need an appointment with Manuela."
Manuela got out of the infirmary and went towards the three.
"Blue hair." She looked at Alfonse. "Your sister just woke up. She is calling for you."
Alfonse apologized to himself before rushing towards the infirmary with Aster, Yuri and Manuela following him. Sharena had just woken up.
"Alfonse...?" She said softly.
Without thinking, Alfonse rushed to his sister and hugged her tightly. She was at first surprised, but later she hugged back.
"I'm so sorry, Alfonse..." She tried not to cry. "I couldn't stand being separated from you for far too long..."
"I'm the one who should apologize..." Alfonse shook his head. "As your brother, I would have gotten you away from danger. But... This happened and I wouldn't forgive myself if you died..."
"Thanks to everyone, I'm alive and well." She nodded. "And so are you. And all that matters is that we are both back together."
Hope then returned to Alfonse's eyes. The darkness vanished and his eyes continued to glow the bright blue Sharena knew since she was born.
"Thank you, Sharena..." He sobbed while crying tears of joy. "Thank you for putting your faith on me..."
"I'm happy you're happy, brother." Sharena also cried tears of joy.
"I am relieved you are both back together." Aster smiled.
"Everyone will be relieved by the news of what happened." Yuri smirked.
"Thank you both for not losing faith that we would make this through." Alfonse said, finally smiling for the first time ever since he was captured.
Aster saw that smile for a long while. It was like a ray of hope that would never break.
The next morning, it was the Verdant Rain Moon. Ashe, Caspar and Linhard were at the Marketplace.
"It's a relieved that everything went back to normal." Linhardt said. "Although we missed a lot of stuff."
"After Sharena woke up and that guy was arrested, everyone is placing their faith in Garreg Mach again." Ashe continued.
"Though I wonder what happened to the person who caused the gossips." Caspar asked.
"I don't know." Linhardt shook his head. "I heard from Dimitri that he was possibly executed by Catherine."
"I just realized. No one told Sharena that Alfonse was joining her class." Caspar said.
"Maybe they decided to keep it a surpise for her when-."
Ashe was then interrupted by Dimitri arriving.
"Ashe!" The white haired young man panted. "Professor Beles is calling you. I am afraid it is not a good sign."
TO BE CONTINUED