Disclaimer: I do not own the Fire Emblem series. The followings characters I do own are Wiz, Zoe, Mace, Adrion, Adam, and Nicole.
Chapter 2: Preparations
There were many things dragons and humans could do together at this time of year besides gift giving. They could each have the chance to visit their homes and make themselves comfortable. But the Christmas tradition about home welcome was different. Dragons and humans were to invite each other first for a holiday dinner. The dinner usually supposes to be happening the night before Christmas.
Quote from The Legend of Elibe: Volume III
-Castle Ostia Balcony-
"Ladies and gentlemen: Her Highness, Lady Lilina!"
The soldier's announcement got the entire city rushing to the setting. Lilina, in her velvety blue imperial coat carrying her Fortify Staff, stepped in the balcony. People murmured, sharing expectations on the young lady's upcoming announcement.
"People of Ostia!" She called.
Inside the castle behind the curtains, are spying Hector, Roy, Mace, and Wiz. The remaining was still downstairs having their dinner.
"Why would she always have to be so perfect? For crying out loud she's queen, not goddess." Hector complained.
"You know the girl, Lord Hector. I know the lady." Roy grinned, "She always wants to be nice and clean before making her big announcement."
"I have a proposal to make and I will strongly need your approval on this one!"
As soon as Lilina says this, the people leaned over, ready to hear Lilina's request. She took a deep breath.
"Okay. Here I go." She cleared her throat and continued her speech: "Remember the old Christmas legend?"
Positive responses came from the audience.
"Well I was thinking, what if this year, we'll renovate it?"
Gasps occurred from the audience. "You mean you want to bring these banished dreadful dragons back in Elibe just to celebrate Christmas?" An elderly man from the audience yelled. His old age and wisdom clued in as the magistrate of the town.
"What? Is she mad?" Hector almost yelled, but got quickly quiet by the gang.
"This is unbelievable!" Mace complained, trying not to be heard "I mean I refuse another war to happen!"
"We all do Mace." Wiz says, "But I think she's on to something. Something good."
"Wiz is right, guys" Roy suggested, "But let's keep listening and be quiet."
"Please your Magistrate, they're not dreadful!" Lilina addressed to the old man.
"Well I don't know about you guys!" a young man spoke from the crowd, "but I think the queen is out of her mind!"
The crowd's loud reaction meant a strong agreement and ended up with a crazy dispute. Lilina looked around not knowing what to do. She finally snapped.
"QUIET!"
Silence ensued.
"People, please." She cried, "You haven't heard my entire story! You have to think about these golden days!"
"I ain't reviving these days," another elderly man complained.
"You got that right." A woman replied.
"But the legend has more sweet information." Lilina says, "Like every Christmas Eves, both dragons and us will sit down looking at the stars, seeking for the East Star."
"We still get to see the Star." Another woman muttered.
"Yes but besides that," Lilina continued, "what about those gifts we received? Those beautiful stones. Or the gifts our ancestors once gave them? Like gold or cashmere or velvet linens?"
The people looked at each other and nodded, exchanging positive responses like "those were nice" or "those were neat"
A young man stepped in, carrying a silk green scarf by the sunlight, which made radiant reflection: "I still treasured this scarf from my great-great-great grandmother."
"Yeah! That's what I'm talking about people!" Lilina says, "Don't you all want that again?"
Agreement now ensued among the crowd.
"But you're not planning on bringing all of those dragons at once aren't you?" The magistrate asked.
"No, not at all." Lilina responded, "Just the divine dragons and not a lot of them."
"But we already have Mace in the crowd. And besides he can use his magic to turn us divine." another man pointed.
"Were you deaf just now?" the first woman argued, "Lady Lilina is bringing real dragons, not fake ones."
"No one is taking me seriously." Mace murmured, "How would I transform them into our race? That's just ridiculous."
"All right Lady Lilina." The Magistrate says, "We approve your request. But you only got until the day before Christmas Eve to welcome the divine dragons in Ostia. That goes the same with the entire village 'cause since it's the holidays, we will welcome them with open arms."
Agreement occurred among the crowd. Lilina spread a smile. "I thank you so high, Magistrate." She says, "I'll try my best. I won't disappoint my people."
-Castle Ostia Dining Room-
"Lilina! Are you sure?" Eliwood asked. "Bringing the dragons to Ostia for the holidays? Now how are you going to do that?"
"Well…I'm not so sure Lord Eliwood." Lilina says, "I was thinking of contacting Archsage Athos so that we could locate Arcadia and find some divine dragons there."
"That is … great idea." Sophia says, "However … the elder … might not accept it."
"Why not?" Roy asked in surprise.
"The population … of divine dragons in Arcadia … is going extinct. We only have … fifty dragons left besides me being half … the race."
"Only fifty?" Lilina says, "But the city of Ostia has over a thousand citizens."
"Well, it's just for the holidays. We don't need a majority of them" Hector says, "This should be fine. Besides, we should get started."
"Of course we should." Lilina sighed. She was still depressed about the short population of dragons at Arcadia and thought that this year would be a waste of time.
"I've got it!" Eirika quickly introduced an idea, "We could spice it up with a musical Christmas theater. I'll be the director."
The gang turned to her idea, interested. "A musical theater?" Ephraim cocked his head one side.
"Really! You think so?" Eliwood smiled, showing hope.
"Why yes!" She turned toward Lilina, "Lady Lilina, what else can you find interesting about Christmas back then?"
"Well, besides the gift exchanging and the East Star watching, there is the Christmas Treasure Hunting that is great for the kids, the Annual Holiday Giving-and-Offering…"
There was an instant pause and Lilina quickly spread a smile.
"We could create a Christmas Party!" Lilina gasped.
"A Christmas party? Here at Ostia?" Mace scratched his head.
"I don't get it." Zoe says.
"What does a party has got to do with the Christmas plan?" Wiz demanded.
"Ah yes! It does make sense." Roy explained, "They're not actually creating the place into a party, but more of a city party. You know we're trying to relive the legend, remember?"
"Ah yes!" Eliwood exclaimed, "I get it! Hopefully if we convince Archsage to travel to Arcadia and ask for the dragons' approval to come to Ostia, we will re-set up streets decorations and head down for some holiday shopping at local stores; while another group of citizens will be rehearsing for the musical theater directing by Princess Eirika of Renais."
"That's sounds like a fantastic idea!" Lyn agreed.
"Brilliant! Truly brilliant!" Mace nodded.
"Yes! But we must set up due dates" Ephraim requested.
"Oh right."
"Wait!" Lilina interrupted; "the magistrate spoke of the city's expectations of the dragons the day before Christmas Eve."
"So how are we going to set up that?" Roy inquired.
"I know!" Wiz stepped in, "We could finish the re-decorations, the rehearsal and the search for the divine dragons before the day requested. As soon as everything set, we could finally celebrate Christmas with both dragons and us on Christmas Eve."
"So to paraphrase, the Ostian City Christmas Party with the dragons could be happening on Christmas Eve?" Roy asked.
"Exactly!" Wiz nodded.
"But what about the Christmas Treasure Hunt for the kids?" Lyn demanded, "The legendaries caves gets off limit on Christmas Eve from there."
"I know!" Ephraim says, "We could make an announcement that the treasure hunt is going on right now."
"That's a good start." Eliwood says, "But all we have to do is to hire someone to look after the kids during this event. That way, citizens will be coming to the hired person with their kids to go treasure hunt until before sunset everyday until the day before Christmas Eve, the day when everything will be ready."
"I say Merlinus." Hector's request got many heads turning.
"Merlinus?" Lilina asked.
"Yeah! If he can't do it, nobody can. He transported a bunch of goodies for us in the course of our journey, remember Eliwood?"
"Yes, and he did helped Roy and Lilina during the Great Movement of Bern." Eliwood agreed.
"Well, he also does possess a lavishing full for information about Elibe and the legends." Roy pointed out, "Besides he traveled around the continent before he even met Father. What do you say?"
Lilina ran her hair with her fingers in thought, "well, he seems weak, yet useful. Okay! Merlinus it is."
"Lilina." Hector said; his hands on his daughter's shoulders, "whatever it'll take, we will help you make this season your own."
"Thanks Father." She complimented him then turned towards the others to compliment them as well, "Thanks you guys."
-Shrine Ostia-
A young girl was seen at an altar inside Shrine Ostia, the sanctuary of the city owned by the Elimine Supreme Church. She is kneeling down and praying, the Aureola tome book opened before her. The girl wore ponytails on both sides of her pink hair. She is dressed in a pink catholic minister garment, a white clear velvet scarf around her neck. That girl is Serra, cheery bishop of Ostia. Zoe entered the shrine and saw Serra.
The bishop completed her prayer session and faced Zoe. She sighed in frustration:
"What do you want, Wi-zel's sister?" she complained.
"It's Bishop Pherae to you, girl." Zoe corrected.
"Well, it's Bishop Ostia to you." Serra harshly corrected her.
Zoe sighed, "All right, we have got to stop fighting. Lord Eliwood sent me to tell you news."
"And what is it exactly? And it better be good news, because I've been cranky for an awful long time."
"Well," Zoe started, "Lady Lilina and the city of Ostia made a decision of celebrating Christmas with the dragons. And she-"
"You're kidding? With dragons? Is she Mad? What about Mace? Can he turn people into them?" She complained.
"We already had that discussion." Zoe muttered.
Serra nodded. She walked past Zoe and headed for the congregation seat. Zoe followed her.
"Go on."
"Well, she thought on celebrating Christmas this year the same way we use to celebrate in the past. She made arrangements for a huge party to happen on Christmas Eve, the day when both races will meet."
Serra nodded, "huh-huh." She then turned sharply to Zoe, "And what does this have to do with me?"
Just then, Erk was spotted, watching the scene.
"Well," Zoe says, "Serra, I know things have been difficult with Erk-"
Serra groaned in frustration, her eyes now facing the altar: "THE HECK WITH ERK!" she then faced Zoe, "You know, first, he refuses to be my escort, then he gets the nerve of saying that everyone thinks I'm difficult-"
"You are difficult."
Serra shot a glare at Zoe, "what do you want from me anyway?" she hissed.
"Well," Zoe says, "I was thinking, what if you guys, not Erk and you, but us and few other people will get together and do some holiday shopping at the local stores. We could give them either for charity as part of the Annual Holiday Giving and Offering, and help out the city on the Christmas Eve celebration preparation along with them. We could do some giving."
"How many times are you going to say 'giving'?" Serra got even crankier, but replied half-excited, "But it sounds like a great idea! Who's gonna be there?"
"What are you doing?" a voice passed through Erk's ears, jolting him in surprise. Behind the mage was Bishop Saul, accompanied by his bodyguard, Dorothy the sniper. The sage sighs in relief.
"You freak!" he bellowed, "You could have given me a heart attack."
"Are you here for the holiday shopping event? The Annual Holiday Giving-and-Offering?" Dorothy asked.
"And who are you? Mrs. Claus or Mrs. Frankenstein?" Erk snickered, looking at Dorothy's freckled face. The sniper clenched her fist trying to rip out the arrogant sage's teeth out and grind them. Saul moved her hand out of the way before she made such move.
"Dorothy, calm down! I know how you feel." Saul snickered as well. Dorothy's attention was on him now. Saul backed out.
"All right. I won't do it again." Saul begged her then left. The girl sniper stood there behind Erk. Erk looked at her.
"Aren't you gonna follow him?" Erk asked.
"Like he's my boyfriend? Please." Dorothy grinned, "I'm just on duty by the Elimine Supreme Church. Now that he is the High Priest of that church, I am gonna be his life-swearing guard twenty-four/seven." She groaned in frustration at the end.
Saul entered the shrine. As soon as Serra saw him, she lit up.
"Saul! What are you doing here?" Serra asked.
"The Supreme Church of Elimine in Bern sent me on a mission."
Serra and Zoe eyed him. He was not been serious. Saul couldn't help it and finally blurted out.
"All right. Her Majesty Queen Guinivere sent me on a mission."
"You and Guinivere." Serra sighed, "Why don't you just marry her?"
"Well, she is beautiful." Saul grinned, "but it just a little shopping for the holidays and to help out Lady Lilina and Ostia on their mission."
"No kidding! I am in that mission!"
"Well, gotta go!" Zoe got up and headed outside.
"Where're you going? You know I am very lonely when there're no two girls in a same room!" Saul yelled.
Serra's eyes widened, "You think she put me on that mission with you to hook us up?"
"Well, I don't know about her," Saul says, crossing his legs, his hands on his knees, "but I think Her Majesty gave me one great mission."
Serra giggled, "Oh you."
"Oh you." Erk mimicked Serra, growling under his breath, his way to slur Saul.
"What? Are you jealous?" Dorothy's question jolted Erk again in surprise. The sage took a good look at the sniper.
"I'm not jealous," he lied, "It's just that Serra gets to have a good time and I don't."
"Well, if you want good time then let's." Dorothy offered. Erk's eyes still locked on Dorothy.
"Are you saying that we're going to follow them on their little mission-mix in' date?"
"Yeah! What do you think I was saying?"
NEXT CHAPTER …