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Karla: pissed at the world Hey.

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Karla: What's so good about it? unsheathes Wo Dao

BLL: Heh, heh heh... uh... next chapter! I don't own no FE! IT'S SUMMERTIME!!! AND I'M BACK!

Act II

Chapter III: First Twilight

Eliwood and Hector are now Marquesses of their respected territories. In distress of rumors of war, they begin to prepare ahead of time. They arrived at Castle Etruia, residence of Mage General Pent, the sole student of the legendary Archsage Athos. After getting permission to stay the night, they get rudely awakened by intruders.

Hector suddenly bolted up in his sleep.

"Why is the alarm being sound!?"

"There are attackers trying to get in the castle!" Hector heard from downstairs. Quickly, Hector got his Brave Axe and put on some armor.

"We must protect the throne!"

Running as quickly as he could, Hector ran down the spiral steps of the manor and headed outside.

"Eliwood! Are you all right, companion?"

"I am fine, Hector. But Pent's troops are not. They are unorganized, in need of a tactician."

"Of all things that Pent has, he does not have a tactician?"

"No."

Hector sighed. What would Steve do in my place, he thought. Then he remembered a conversation that he shared with the young tactician in Caelin, right after the final battle.

FLASHBACK

"So, Steve, now that it's over, what are you going to do? Go back home?" Hector asked.

"Maybe. I miss my family, even if they didn't approve of my choice."

"Approve of your choice? What happened?"

"Well, my family are all Mage's and Shamans, for the most part. I'm the youngest of 4 children, and the only son at that. But my sister, Martine, and I, we.... broke our families tradition."

"Tradition? Wait, so she is a tactician as well?"

"Yes.... but we are only alike in our ability and our wanderlust. Besides those factors, we are completely different."

"I see. . . What is she like?"

"Brash, bold, and headstrong, and at the same time, smart. She knows what she's doing, even though I haven't heard from her for a while. . . I really should go back home to Etruia when I get the chance."

"I agree. But make sure you visit us sometime, Steve."

"I will, Lord Hector."

"I told you, don't call me "Lord Hector", just Hector."

Steve chuckled, and poured more drink for them both.

END FLASHBACK

"That's right! Steve lives in Etruia!"

Eliwood turned after striking down a Sage. "What do you speak of, Hector?"

Hector took the full blow of a Paladin's strike, though it didn't even leave a dent in his thick armor. He took his Brave Axe, leaped into the air and sliced the Paladin's armor in two. Seeing the unbelievable strength of Hector, the Paladin fleed before Hector attacked again.

"Steve spoke to me once of his family... he has a sister! If the troops can hold on long enough. . . ." Hector began.

"Then she could help us! But how?" Eliwood finished.

"She is like Steve, a tactician." Hector said.

"That's great! We have to go find her!"Eliwood said, turning his white steed toward the castle.

"Lord Pent! Hector and I will return soon!"

Pent looked distressed at the news of Hector and Eliwood leaving.

"What happened? Why are you leaving?"

"We are going to search for the tactician Steve's sister, Martine. It seems that she is a tactician as well, and we need as much help as we can get, Lord Pent."

Pent's eyes dilated slowly after hearing the name Martine. "Martine? She worked for me for a short while, I know of her whereabouts. She lives in a small town due north of here. Go quickly! I do not know how long my troops can withstand battle."

Eliwood and Hector went as quickly as they could north, to the town of Grace, where this tactician lived.

"Hector, hasten your pace! You are lagging!" Eliwood said, as he slowed down for his friend.

"Eliwood. . . I am wearing heavy armor, and you are riding on a horse. Unless you care to give me a ride, then I will be moving slowly."

"Allright then. A ride it is." Eliwood said, putting much effort into slinging his companion onto his horse.

They continued quickly through the dead of the night, until they saw a small group of homes together.

"Could that be the village?" Hector said.

"We will check. We must find that tactician." Eliwood said.

Dismounting, Hector went toward one house, and knocked on the door. A young man opened it.

"Whaddaya want?" the man asked.

"We are looking for a woman named Martine. Do you know where she lives?"

"Yea, I know her. She lives a few houses down. Famous 'round these parts. Bandits won't stray here 'cause of her."

"I see. . ." Hector said. "Well, goodnight, and thank you sir." Hector said.

Eliwood rode up to him as the young man closed the door.

"Wow. . . you were being polite?"

"Don't make fun of me Eliwood. I'm the teaser, not you. Anyway, we must go to that house down there."

Eliwood and Hector ran towards the house where Martine supposedly lived. There was a candle light from inside, so she might be awake.

They knocked on the door.

A young woman stepped out. She had short black hair, with bangs almost covering her eyes. She was somewhat tall, and wore small brown boots. She wore a light green tunic, and a black cape.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"I am Marquess Ostia, and this is Marquess Pherae. Lord Pent needs your assistance."

"I see. . ." she said.

She walked behind her house to get her horse, and mounted. "Let's go!" she said.

That's it for this chapter.

Also, I had some people send me an e-mail with characters... but since it's been so long (I wanted to finish school first) the mail went away. You can still make a character, and people who sent me mail, please send it again. Thank you. Please send mail to BladeLordLinaol.com