Title: Fire Emblem: The Spirit of the Fire Core
Author: BlackD
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the over world.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

After the confrontation with Serra, Eliwood and his crew head for the Temple of Fire. They go southwest from the town and to the burning land of Forblizzaga, the home to the guardian of flames...

Chapter 7: Valorous Road

It's so darn hot here! Eliwood cries as he walks over a floor made entirely of freshly made igneous rock. Lyn sighs and starts explaining to Eliwood.

This is Forblizzaga, the hottest place on this entire continent, Lyn explains. It is said that this place is a piece of the underworld that has been placed on the surface of the planet due to a war that displeased the gods. Lyn looks at Eliwood to see if he understand it all.

I see, Eliwood says, and Lyn is surprised that he actually understood. In other words, the gods fought a war in the underworld which caused it to rise to the surface, right? ...or so she thought.

You're hopeless Eliwood... Lyn mutters. She is annoyed at the fact that Eliwood does not seem to understand a single word that comes out of her mouth.

You sure know a lot, Lyn! Serra comments. She is one who actually understands what Lyn has explained. Where did you learn all of that?

Well... I... Er... read a lot of books in Badon before I joined Eliwood on this quest, Lyn claims.

Wow, you actually read books on history Lyn? Eliwood seems surprised. If I started reading one of those books, I'd fall asleep on the first page, Eliwood laughs then stops. But it's so darn hot here!

We should keep going, Lyn says, We should be rather close to the temple by now. Eliwood gives her a questioning look.

How do you know that? Eliwood asks. Lyn points at the single volcano that stands in the center of the land.

According to the books I've read, the volcano is the Temple of Fire, Lyn explains. As you can see, we're pretty close to it.

Oh, really? Eliwood seems surprised. Then Let's go! Eliwood cries as he starts to dash for the volcano, when the ground suddenly starts to shake. Wha-What the- Eliwood comes to a complete stop as he looks down at the shaking, molten floor.

Oh yes, did I forget to mention that the volcano is still active? Lyn asks. Serra stares at her.

You're becoming more like Eliwood aren't you... Serra mutters. Is it about to-

Get ready guys... It's going to erupt. Lyn mutters.

Oh crud... Eliwood mutters, Thor's Ire starts to glow. Everyone! Get ready to protect yourself!

Serra prepares her staff.

One step ahead! Lyn swings the Mani katti and points it toward the sky. The shaking of the ground gets stronger, and finally, the volcano erupts.

Proton Field! Eliwood cries as he surrounds himself with a barrier.

Light Guard! Serra cries as she puts up a shield of her own.

Prism Guard! Lyn cries as she bends her legs with the Mani katti pointed upward in front of her. A clear, diamond shaped barrier surrounds her.

Large amounts of debree and lava falls all over the land of Forblizzaga, and they crash on the three magical barriers created by Eliwood's crew. Once the volcano finishes erupting, the three put down their barriers.

Are you guys all right? Eliwood asks. The two girls nod.

Wow! That was a really neat looking barrier you had Lyn! Serra comments.

It's a special ability of the Mani Katti's. Lyn replies. It's the power of the spirits that protect this blade. The Mani katti is a sacred blade from a distant land known as Elibe.

A sacred blade form the land of Elibe... Eliwood thinks aloud to himself. He then turns to look at Lyn. I wonder if I can go to that Elibe someday.

Maybe so. Lyn says. We should keep moving, the volcano might erupt again.

I agree with Lyn. Serra agrees. Eliwood nods. The group of three head for the volcano.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

After a while, the three reach the volcano. There they find a large stone structure that represents a gate of some sort.

Wow, this volcano is really huge... Eliwood says as he examined the sides of the volcano. Lyn ignores Eliwood's comment and examines the large gate.

This wall, it's engraved with some sort of ancient language... Lyn mutters as she examines the stone gate. The gate has many ancient scriptures on it, and a small, round indenture that seems small enough to hold something. Something like... Lyn calls to Eliwood, Try placing the Fire Core in here!

Eliwood runs over to Lyn. Why should I place the Fire Core in here? Eliwood asks Lyn. Lyn starts to explain.

Thanks to the books that I've read, I can read the language of the ancient gods. Lyn tells him.

Wow, I didn't know there were books like that! Eliwood exclaims.

I didn't expect you to, Lyn mutters. Anyway, I read this passage here. It says: Master of the stone of everlasting flames, place thy source of sacred flame to reveal the passage with in. In other words, we have to place the Fire Core here, and we can go into the temple! Come on Eliwood, and fast.

Eliwood pulls the Fire Core out of his pocket and places the shining stone into the small indenture. Then, with a loud creak and a large shaking of the ground, the gate opens, drooping the Fire Core onto the ground. All right! Let's go! Eliwood grabs the Fire Core and runs into the temple.

Right behind ya! Serra cries as she runs in after Eliwood. Come on Lyn!

Okay, okay. Lyn mutters as she runs in after them. Just then, a person in a cloak walks up to the gates but does not go in. Not even Lyn notices his presence.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Inside of the temple, Eliwood stares in awe as he watches the magma, within the pool in the middle of the temple, fly into the air and back into the rest of the liquid.

This place is pretty neat! Eliwood smiles. Serra stares at the magma without a comment. Lyn catches up to the two of them and stops to catch her breath. She then walks past the two.

Let's get moving. Lyn tells the two. The two of them nod and follow her. They follow Lyn into a room surrounded by four, flaming hot walls with four stone blocks of different colors, with four stone tiles on the ground with the same colors.

What the heck is this? Eliwood asks. There wasn't anything like this in the Temple of Lightning. Lyn sighs and answers his question.

This is obviously a puzzle that the master of flame' has to solve in order to get to the Guardian of Fire. Most likely, there were puzzles in the other temple as well, but there, Erk came to us. So we didn't have to solve any sort of puzzle. Lyn explains. Eliwood nods at the explanation that Lyn has given him, while Serra wonders if Eliwood has understood any of it.

In other words, we have to solve this puzzle and move on right? Eliwood says. Serra gasps.

You actually understood that? Serra is very surprised.

When did I not understand? Eliwood asks, feeling insulted. Lyn sighs and ignores him. Well, let's solve this thing! Eliwood runs up to one of the stone tiles. The color of this one is red. Now what to do... He looks around the room, at the tiles and the blocks. He then moves over to the red block, and pushes it over on top of the red tile. He then does the same with the blue, green, and yellow blocks and tiles.

You think it's going to be that easy? Serra cries in disbelief. This is a puzzle of a Guardian's temple! It has to be... A large hole appears on the wall. ...never mind... Serra walks through the hole, as Eliwood and Lyn follow.

The group of three move on and enter a room which appears to be a river of magma.

The inside of this temple looks like the inside of a volcano! Eliwood cries in amazement.

This IS the inside of a volcano you moron. Lyn tells him. Honestly Eliwood, how stupid can you get? Serra is the one to answer the question.

I don't know for sure, but I don't think you've seen anything yet, Serra answers. Eliwood sure is an air head, isn't he.

Hey guys! Eliwood calls to the two girls. I made it so we can make it across! The girls looks to see that Eliwood is on the other side of the flaming river, and there are stone blocks forming a bridge from one side to the other. Lyn comments back at Serra about Eliwood.

As stupid as he may be, he's good at solving puzzles, Lyn tells Serra. She then runs across the stone blocks, as she adds another comment about him in her mind. He's also my type of guy. Serra follows her across the bridge.

The group moves from one room to the next as Eliwood continues to solve the puzzles. Lyn and Serra do nothing but watch him solve them. After long hours of walking and puzzle solving, they finally reach another stone gate like the one at the entrance. Except there is something that looks like a large, red rock in front of it.

This looks just like that gate in the beginning. Eliwood states the obvious. Which means I have to place the fire core in that little hole right there! Right? Eliwood turns to the girls. Serra nods, but Lyn just stands glaring at the large thing in front of the gate.

I don't know about this Eliwood. Lyn says in a warning tone as Eliwood approaches the gate. I sense something deadly nearby.

What are you talking about Lyn? Eliwood asks with his head turned back, and keeps walking. He then steps on the large red object. What's so deadly about... Before Eliwood can finish his sentence, the large, red thing lets out a snarl. What was that? The large object lets out another snarl, and opens what looks like, and probably is, an eye.

Eliwood! Look out! Lyn cries as she draws her Mani Katti. Serra brings out her staff. But Eliwood is too caught up with the thing to prepare for anything. Lyn dashes for the thing and Eliwood.

The large thing flings Eliwood off of it's red, scaly face as it stands up on it's hind legs and spreads it's large wings. The creature lets out a roar; the Fire Dragon has woken form its sleep!

Eliwood who has been flung off by the Dragon is somewhat caught by Lyn, who falls over due to the momentum. Eliwood gets up short after the collision and turns to Lyn.

Thanks, Lyn. Eliwood thanks Lyn.

You're... Welcome... Lyn mutters with a blush. She tries to stand up but she collapses the moment she gets up on her left foot. Crud... I must have injured my foot when I tried to save Eliwood.

Hey, you okay Lyn? Eliwood gets down on his knee. Have you been...

Forget me! Behind you! Lyn cries. Eliwood looks behind himself to see an extremely huge ball of fire heading for the two of them.

Oh crud... Eliwood sees the fire ball coming his way. Eliwood positions himself so that he is standing between Lyn and the ball of flame. Lyn stares at him, wide eyed.

What do you think you're doing! Lyn yells at him, but Eliwood seems to ignore Lyn's warning. Eliwood simply places his sword in front of himself. As the fire ball comes closer Eliwood brings the rapier closer to himself. When the fire ball is about a foot away from his face when he finally makes an action.

Proton field! He cries as the electrical force field surrounds him. However, this time, the blast is not just stopped by the shield; it is reflected right back at the dragon. The blast flies at full speed and hits the dragon right in its red, scaly face. Come on Lyn, let's get out of here! At the moment that the dragon got stunned, Eliwood grabs Lyn by her arm and starts to run, Lyn's injured leg dragging behind her. Serra follows the two toward the exit.

Where did you learn that deflecting trick? Lyn asks him as they run towards the exit.

Oh, that? When I used proton field to protect myself from the eruption, I used it at the last second, and the boulder that was about to hit me got bounced back towards the volcano, so, I thought that it would do the same for the fire ball. Eliwood says without making eye contact.

Lyn mutters as she turns her head to look at her injured foot. Maybe he isn't as stupid as I thought he was, Lyn thinks. By the way, what about the Guardian of Fire? Lyn asks.

You're hurt, if we have to fight the guardian, we'd be toast. We'll hold the battle until later. Eliwood tells her as he keeps running. Lyn hears that and just nods. She smiles just a little. Perhaps she is happy that Eliwood did his best to protect her.

The group finally reaches the exit, just as they are about to leave, there is a large, rumbling sound.

What in the-- Eliwood starts, when a large group of boulders block their only way out. Eliwood turns around to look in the direction that the boulder came form to see that there is now a hole in the wall, and in the hole, is the Fire Dragon

Looks like your old friend is back... Serra says with a nervous laugh.

Very funny... Eliwood mutters. Now what? I doubt ordinary weapons are going to work on that thing...

Serra cries as she swings her staff in front of herself. A blast of light heads for the dragon, but it just bounces off of its scales and into a wall. Well, it was just worth a try...

The dragon roars as it starts to stomp toward them. Eliwood, Lyn, and Serra are trapped. They do not have anywhere to run. The three of them back up, unable to flee nor fight. They stand against the hard wall helplessly. The dragon comes closer and closer, and it finally comes to a point where it is so close, that the three of them can almost smell it's rotten breath. When suddenly...

A man's voice echoes in the chamber when a large, green, cycling mass of wind breaks through the ceiling and drills through the dragon's throat, out of it's back, then back into it's stomach and out of the other end. The large spiral of wind then breaks a hole in the wall, then goes back to the hole that it opened to get in.

What in the-- Eliwood stares at the fallen dragon in amazement. What the heck was that? Eliwood wonders as he stares at the oversized reptile. Soon enough, he gets an answer.

Lyn! Eliwood! Up there! Serra cries as she points at the hole left in the ceiling. Eliwood and Lyn look up, and to their surprise they see someone that they never would have expected. There is a man standing on the ceiling, looking down at the three. The man with blue clothes, white pants, and green hair. Guy, the beast of the Demon's Forest had saved their lives.

Eliwood calls to him. He can only address him as you' because he does not know his name. Guy does not say anything, and he just stares at them. After a few moments, he finally says something.

You guys should get out of here! Guy calls to the three, The Guardian of Fire is currently not in this temple! This volcano erupts every hour while the guardian is not present! And it is almost an hour since the last eruption! Get out of here!

But how? Eliwood asks him. The exit was blocked! Guy simply points at the hole that he made in the wall that is close to the ground.

Hurry and escape! I made you a way out! Guy calls to them. I will also be leaving, hurry! Guy then turns around and jumps off of the roof.

Wait! Who and what are you? Eliwood calls to him, but it is to late. He seemed to have disappeared. Eliwood mutters. Serra starts to run for the exit.

Hurry up Eliwood! Get Lyn and let's go! Serra cries. If the volcano erupts now, we're toast! Serra runs out of the hole in the wall.

Oh! Right! Ready Lyn? Eliwood asks. Lyn just nods grimly. Is something wrong? Eliwood asks.

Huh? Oh nothing. Let's leave! Lyn answers, she puts a smile on her face as she replies to Eliwood's question.

Eliwood mutters as he runs out of the temple with Lyn. He realizes that Lyn is unhappy about something. But he isn't sure what. He remains silent as they manage to escape.

Meanwhile, Guy lands in the Demon's forest on his knee as the hawk like wings on his back disappear. He then looks up to see Priscilla sitting on a tree branch that is rather close to the ground. He stands up and looks Priscilla in the eye.

See? I told you I can use my ability to control wind to help people, he reports to Priscilla. Priscilla smiles.

Yes, you have gotten better at commanding that power, haven't you. Priscilla seems pleased at Guy's actions. So, have you gotten over your fear of people? Are they easier to trust? Guy looks down at the ground.

Well, I DID realize that some people are worth trusting, Guy looks up again, and it's all thanks to you.

Glad I could help. Priscilla says with a smile. Guy simply smiles back.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

End chapter! What do you thinK? Sorry I didn't update for a while.... Well anyway, please, R&R!