Disclaimer: The following characters and settings of the Fire Emblem series are a belonging of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The characters (Mace, Wiz, Zoe, Adrion, Adam, and Nicole) are the only belongings of the author. Please read and review.
Chapter 4: The Young and the Pirates
-Arcadia-
The party of six—Myrrh, Sophia, Hawkeye, Canas, Mace, and Athos—stood by an ancient portal under a ferocious sandstorm.
"So behind this portal is the great village of Arcadia." Myrrh admired the portal.
"That's right" Sophia responded, "It has been…my true home…for generations."
"Well, this is it." Hawkeye said, "Now for the hardest part."
"Hardest part?" Mace complained, "What about the sandstorm slapping our bones? Was that an easy part for us?"
"Stop whining, Mace." Athos boomed. "You're drifting away our aura."
"Yeah! That's what you think, Archsage."
Canas volunteered in knocking the portal. The portal opened up, revealing the hidden village filled of divine dragons in human form wearing many varieties of cloaks.
"It's beautiful!" Myrrh admired. An old man came at their direction, with a surprising look on his face.
"Archsage? Lord Hawkeye?" he recalled.
"Great Elder!" Both Athos and Hawkeye recalled as well.
"It has been a while." The old man exclaimed, "And Sophia is back as well!"
"Yes, great elder." Sophia spread a weak smile.
The party of six came inside the elder's house and was offered fresh tea and delicious genuine cookies. Fa and Igrene were in the house as well, all happy to see the party of six in Arcadia. The house was filled with Christmas decorations and gifts as well; the Christmas feeling was also in the dragons' hearts, however that feeling was soon to be in play as the six were about to bring the news.
"It has been a very long time, Father." Igrene addressed to Hawkeye, "I didn't expected you to see you back here in Arcadia for the holidays."
"Well yes," Hawkeye said, with a serious look on his face. "And there's little more to that story."
"Fa does not understand!" Fa said, "You not coming back?"
Athos cleared his throat and speaks: "Great elder, friend. There is something we must tell you."
The elder, seeing Athos' serious expression, put down his tea and took a deep sigh, bracing himself for what was to come, "I'm listening."
Athos explained, in details, how Lilina is currently planning to bring humans and dragons together for Christmas in a desperate attempt to rekindle the old legend and she, and the other Lycian nobles are currently planning the humongous Christmas Eve event in Ostia that will attract both races. The outcome to the news was predictable. Igrene and the elder were shocked but Fa was filled with excitement.
"There's a Christmas party at Ostia? And we're invited?" the white dragon jumped of joy.
"You're fooling me are you not Archsage?" the elder boomed.
"No, I'm not fooling you Great Elder." Athos said.
"Is it true father?" Igrene asked Hawkeye.
"Yes," Hawkeye responded. "It's true."
"Please… understand Great elder!" Sophia cried, "It is…Lilina's wish to host this event… to bring joy …to both races… here in Elibe."
"Please elder! Sister Igrene! Fa wants to go!" Fa begged, but is immediately ignored.
"What do you mean in Elibe?" Igrene's narrowed eye fixed on the party of six.
"Allow me." Canas spoke, "She invited few royalties of all Elibe and the people at Ostia approved of her offer."
"WHAT?" the elder bellowed.
"This is not good." Myrrh whimpered.
Mace stood up and pointed at the elder and Igrene, "Okay wise-freaks!" he yells, "Lady Lilina worked extremely hard to make Ostia a perfect place to lure Christmas and us dragons; even I was attracted by all of this."
"That's because you live in Ostia!" Igrene corrected.
"Yes!" Mace replied shamelessly, but quickly snapped out of it "but it'll break her heart if she hears that you guys are not coming to this party! That's the only Christmas wish she has."
"Well tell her that it won't come true." The elder stood up and faced the burning fireplace after his words. The room went silent for a second.
A dark figure appeared by the frozen window and watches the scene quietly. The figure had slanted and clashing eye colors of green and red. Its pointed ears stuck out of its violet hair matching its outfit.
"Are you saying … that you won't … come to Ostia…with the dragons?" Sophia demanded.
"Yes," the elder brusquely replied, "and besides the dragons will approve of my decision."
Mace reproached, "Isn't it because of the population's dec—"
"It has nothing to do with that!" The elder boomed, "I have my own reasons and so does the dragons. Now begone and do not come back."
The elder faced the fireplace once again. Igrene nodded at the party. Fa's violet eyes fill with tears and chagrin. The party of six quietly leaves the house.
-Durandal Cave-
The kids were guided by Merlinus's torch and Wiz at his side inside the Durandal Cave. Young Guinivere and Young Lilina were following as well as Young Roy. Young Zephiel was last in line looking around, his teeth trembling.
"This place is s-scary!" Young Zephiel shuddered, then yelps as soon as he steps on a rusty sword pinning a skull.
"Will you all stop quivering?" Merlinus complained. "You're stressing me out. And watch out for the hot plates on the floor. They scorch out lava."
"B—Bu—But I've heard that these caves are filled with guardian spirits that will scythe anyone in minces!" Young Zephiel complained. The kids enjoyed watching Zephiel crying for his life.
"Relax." Merlinus smiled, "The spirits are dormant this time of year."
"Really?" Wiz exclaimed, "Do they celebrate Christmas too?"
"Let suppose so."
"This is fun!" Young Lilina jumped of excitement, "I can't wait till we get to the Christmas Chest Santa left for us!"
"Christmas Chest?" Young Zephiel snorted, "Well in the Shrine of Seals, Santa seals the gifts at the altar of the Sword of Seals."
"Swell." Young Roy muttered.
"Come on boys! We've got to get a-rocking!" A yell was heard by the site where the Christmas Chest was situated. A familiar band of pirates were seen laboring and digging while shedding sweats, searching for other treasures besides the large chest. The captain was Fargus of Valor, and his right hand man was Dart.
The young pirate came in, carrying a chest and thumped it down. "C—Ca—Cap'n! We've found a chest!" he breathed heavily.
"Then what are you waiting for?" he lashed out of excitement, "Open it up!"
"But cap'n!" one of the pirates complained, "Why can't we open up the Christmas Chest?"
"The Christmas Chest ain't important now." Fargus explained, "It's the other treasures that are important. We'll get to the chest later, now hurry-hurry!"
Wiz stopped short, "Someone's here!"
"Relax Wiz." Merlinus stated with ease, "It must be the other kids looking for the treasured gifts too."
"Here in Durandal Cave?" Wiz narrowed his eyes.
"Why yes."
"Aren't you supposed to be taking kids of Lycia and so forth to that cave?"
Silence ensued. Merlinus's peace of mind quickly switched to a quiver with fear. He used his torch as a weapon, while Young Zephiel drew out his Silver Sword and Wiz's hand held a fireball from his Fire spell book. The youngsters were hugging, clacking their teeth in terror.
"Mommy…" Young Lilina whimpered.
"That was not supposed to happen." Young Roy sniveled.
"I wanna go home." Young Guinivere whimpered as well.
"Shh! Kids, you're making me nervous!" Merlinus whispered harshly.
Merlinus's comment reached the pirates, warning them of the incoming party's presence.
"S—someone's here, Cap'n!" A pirate yelled.
"Oh no." Fargus faced them, "Everyone, switch to attack mode! Dart, you lead."
"Yes cap'n! Charge!" Dart's signaled brought a stampede of pirates coming to Merlinus's party's direction.
"They're coming!" Merlinus yelped, dropping his torch, shutting off its light.
"Nice move old man!" Young Zephiel congratulated, "and we aren't even in the lava section."
"DON'T YOU HAVE ANY BETTER IDEAS?" Merlinus yelped, "We're about to get our heads butchered here!"
"Allow me." Wiz stepped in, aimed his fireball at the spiking ceiling and fires it, spreading out wildfires and emitting light. By the light, they see the following shadows of Dart and his leading army. Merlinus squealed, unsurprisingly shedding tears like a wet spineless fool. The pirates emerged from the dark and made a complete stop.
"Hey! Haven't I seen you somewhere?" Dart pointed at Merlinus.
Merlinus froze, "W—WH—W—WH—W—"
"H—Hello," Wiz waved.
Young Zephiel stepped in the lead, his Silver Sword held in his hands, "Step out of the way, treasured gifts thieves!"
Fargus made his appearance, "What's going on he—hey? Isn't that old Merlinus?"
The old pirate pointed at the merchant, who had just fainted. Wiz's eyes widen, "You know him?"
"He's been with those three brave lording that traveled to the Dread Isle a long while back." He saw the youngsters and spread a smirk. He gave the signal to the army to lower their weapons and approached them.
"And you must be their chil—wait a minute." Fargus stopped at his track and cocks his head on his side.
"Step backward bandits!" Young Zephiel shouted, "I have a sword and I am not afraid to use it."
Fargus, his eyes locked on the youngsters, pointed his fingers at them as well, "Aren't you supposed to be King Zephiel? And aren't you supposed to be Her Majesty Queen Guinivere? B—But Marquess Pherae Lord Roy had gr—grown. Lady Lili---LADY LILINA!"
"Cap'n! Are you okay?"
Fargus fainted.
After awhile, Merlinus's party and the pirates were seen sitting besides the site, not far from where the Christmas Chest rests. Fargus had apparently heard the entire story about Wiz's anti-aging potion and how the youngsters had been a side effect of this. The captain sighed of relief.
"Goodness!" He stated, "And I thought I was losing my mind."
"Well, what can you say?" Merlinus joked, "It is good to see you guys again."
"Same here." Fargus laughed, "And your apprentice here did a good job reviving the line of royal young fleshes."
"He's not my apprentice!" Merlinus corrected.
"Excuse me. Not to be too curious, what are you guys doing here?" Wiz demanded.
"If I may cap'n," Dart demanded.
"Go ahead son." Fargus said.
"Well legend has it, Merlinus, that they are more in caves than just gifts inside Christmas Chests. The legendaries caves like the Durandal Cave, has a swarm of scattered chests lying around that contains precious gold and jewelries for us, well, personally pirates to snatch on."
"So with the spirits being dormant," Fargus continued, "we thought that this time of the season would be a great opportunity to get some of those treasures for ourselves and for giving. Arr! Arr! Arr!"
"You were thinking of taking away our gifts good old St. Nick left for us in the Christmas Chest, were you not?" Young Zephiel threatened.
"Well…" Fargus ran his fingers, sweated pouring down his face. He then spoke the truth in a complete turnaround, "Yes and no. Yes, we only wanted to take a peek. And no we were not planning on taking it with us and claiming it ours. As a matter of fact, the chest is right behind these rocks. Let's go check it out!"
Everyone headed down the Christmas Chest with excitement and opens the large coffer. Their eyes glowed as they all saw a line of the treasured gifts well wrapped and pinned with the name of each individual of Ostia.
"Whoa!" Wiz drooled.
"This is beautiful!" Young Roy whispered.
"It's like Heaven!" Merlinus gasped.
"Sniff…sniff…this is the best day of my life." Dart wept tears of joy.
"Umm Pirate boy. Just so you know this is our present." Young Zephiel reminded.
NEXT CHAPTER …