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 5: Eventful Moments Come Crashing Down

Every year during the holidays, the Elimine Churches of Elibe, volunteers, and even families gather up to do some Christmas shopping that ends up to be a gift giving for the needy. It was great moment for both needy dragons and humans to be joyful at this time of year.

Quote from The Legend of Elibe: Volume III

-Arcadia-

The party of six headed down the portal, exiting the beauteous village of Arcadia to face once again Nabata's ferocious sandstorm.

"This is like so unfair! Can people respect other people's wishes anymore?" Mace complained.

"Well Mace," Athos said, "this wish is impossible to make it true."

"Sophia, aren't you suppose to stay here?" Hawkeye asked the lavender-haired priestess.

"I just need to be there for Lady Lilina," she replied, "This news will be extremely hard for her to take."

"Christmas is gonna be ruined in Ostia." Myrrh sighed.

"Tell me about it." Canas sighed as well.

"I've heard everything." A soft voice called from behind the crew. They turned around, facing the mysterious figure hidden in cloak. She removed her hood, revealing herself as the mysterious "dark priestess" involved in the Great Movement of Bern.

"Idoun! It's been a while." Sophia recalled the priestess.

"Greetings to you too, Sophia." She spoke softly, "As I said, I have heard everything. Every word about the Ostia City Christmas Party and trying to invite us."

"It's more of a carnival really." Mace corrected.

"Tell us Idoun, why the disapproval?" Canas desperately asked.

"It is not really about the population decaying, but it is the fear."

"The fear?" Hawkeye demanded, "Do you recall…"

"Yes. The fear of facing humans again."

Silence ensued for a minute then Idoun continued, "I am not against this fear as well, but I do want to thank the Ostian and the Pheraen for helping me when I needed help."

Idoun approached Sophia and handed her a dragon stone unlike any other. The stone was clear gray and had a ruby core inside.

"Sophia," she said "I want you to give this stone to Roy and Lilina. It is their Christmas gift they shall both share, a gift from my heart. My deepest gratitude."

"Thank you Idoun."

"But what about Lilina's wish?" Mace desperately asked, "Aren't you going to stand up for it? Help us change the elder's mind?"

"As I said Mace, I am not against their fears."

Mace sighed in despair.

"I wish you all a Merry Christmas." She said, allowing the six to leave the village. As soon as the legion departed, Idoun frowned peculiarly and headed home.

-Castle Ostia Guest Room-

"This is an abomination!" Geitz hissed.

"Tell me about it." Rudger sighed.

"Aren't you going to say something?" Chad turned towards Jaffar who gave him no response.

"Ignore him." Legault advised, "He has always been quiet."

"All his life?"

"Well he does talk, but he's not much of a talker."

Eirika entered the room, escorted by one of Ostia's guards.

"M—my cast! What are you doing here?" she stated in surprise.

"Well Lady Eirika," Lucius spoke, "you see, the thing is—"

"We're here to deal with you!" Geese grabbed his axe.

"G—Gulp! You—are you going to cut my hair? That's all I've got." Eirika wept, caressing her jade locks.

"We're not here for your hair of any of your body parts whatsoever," Geese corrected, "We're here because we want to change our casting. I want to be the Mayor."

"HEY!" Gonzales bellowed, "What about me? I wanna be the mayor."

"I WANNA BE THE MAYOR!" Geitz complained, "I'm more mature than Geese."

"I'm the only kid in this casting group." Chad protested, "At least put a young orphan in for the cast, for crying out loud!"

Ephraim entered the scene, "What's going on?"

Eirika turned toward her brother and stopped him, "let me take care of it." She faced the gang of thugs and Lucius once more, "m—my brother is part of the casting. You know what? As a matter of fact, Ephraim will be the narrator."

"Whoa—Whoa-Wa-Wa—What?" Ephraim shook his hands.

Eirika faced her brother, "What? You don't like the idea?"

"Don't like it? I abhor it!" Ephraim boomed, "If none of us, mostly me, does play the mayor, I'm outta here!"

"I agree with Prince Green!" Garrett said, "If no one is playing the mayor, we have no reason to be in this play."

Ephraim faced Garrett oddly: "I just say that."

"Yeah! The mayor plays the most important part of this story," Heath argued, "Without a mayor, there ain't a story!"

Ephraim sighed, "What? Y'all repeating everything I'm saying now?"

Jaffar slammed the table, stood up and finally spoke, "We quit!"

Agreement invaded the room as the gang of thugs, except Lucius and Ephraim left the scene.

"No-No-No! Please wait!" Eirika chased them, "We haven't rehearsed much! Please give me a chance!"

Garrett stopped short and faced the queen one more time: "OH A BY THE WAY… Merry Christmas." And with that, he left the auditorium.

Eirika sighed, tears running down her soft cheeks. She sat down between her brother and Lucius.

"Um… Ephraim, brother. Even though, you disagree with me, I'm glad you didn't leave my side."

Ephraim shot a glare at her and spoke under his breath, "what's wrong with you woman?"

"I wouldn't be using harsh words like your brother," Lucius explained, "but I'm against your decision my liege."

-Lycian League Mall-

The party involved for the Holiday Shopping Event went in different stores and places and left with a bountiful of gifts and bags. From jewelries and clothing stores to the books and music department, it was a blast for all of them. Of course, they never knew they were been followed by an impostor covered in large bed sheet.

The crew was now stopping at the Food Court section of the mall.

Serra shrieked, "OH MY GOSH! THIS IS S-O-O-O-O-O COOL!"

"For the last time Serra, please stop!" Dorothy yelped, covering her poor ears.

"It's Bishop Serra to you zit face."

Dorothy felt offended. The cavaliers stepped behind the girls and prevented something rebellious to happen.

"People, people please!" Zoe pleaded, "Stop fighting! We just need to take a break from all that shopping."

"For crying out loud." Lance sighed, rolling his eyes.

"Yeah," Sain said, "Can't you see Lady Serra is excited?"

Serra blushed, "Ooh! Lady Serra! Its sounds so romantic the way you say it, Lord Sain."

Sain blushed as well, eying at Serra, "Ohh! Oh-Oh! Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

Sain closed his eyes and stretched his lips towards Dorothy instead of the pink pony-tailed girl. He finally opens his eyes fixing on the sniper, shrieked and fainted.

"I'm leaving with Saul." Serra yelled halfway ahead from the group.

"We'll be at the Elimine Bookstore." Saul yelled as well.

The cavaliers and Yodel waved and locked their eyes on the green-haired womanizing corpse.

"Sain buddy," Kent sighed, "You'll never change."

"Tell me about it." Alan grinned.

"Come on guys. We'll take a table," Yodel commanded.

Erk was still behind the bed sheet, now following Serra and Saul entering the bookstore. The sage grabbed a plant standing at the front door just in time to hid and spy on them. He listened to Serra and Saul gossiping about other things while looking for books and light tomes. Erk sighed as he stared fondly at Serra then shook his head to snap out of it.

"Okay, something is wrong," he whispered to himself, "Something is definitely wrong. I think I'm getting a fever or something."

"You think wrong." A deep voice called from behind him. Erk turned around and faced Renault, the mysterious bishop who has disappeared and never heard of in the past twenty-five years. Erk stammered,

"Y—Yo—You—Y—Yo—You—"

Renault drew a napkin from his gown and offered it to Erk, "You're drooling on yourself."

"Bi—Bi—BI—"

"Let me finish it for you. It's Bishop Renault."

Erk blinked, not saying a word. He grabbed the tissue and wiped off his drool.

"Word of advice:" Renault spoke, "that feeling you're getting right now, comes from the celestial gift of esteem, passion, honor, and respect towards that person."

Erk blinked, still not getting a clue. Renault continued, "You have that feeling toward Serra. I won't be surprise if you deny me, but it's the truth. You are in love."

Erk felt shocked. Renault continued, "You love Bishop Serra of Ostia. You, Erk of Etruria. Admit it."

There was a slight pause. Erk sighed, "Frankly, Bishop Renault. But what should I do? She's annoying and I—"

Renault like a halt, held his hand at him, "you do not need to apologize. Do something virtuous for both you and her, but forbid using force to solve the problem."

To this little speech, Erk felt confident, "Thank you Bishop Renault."

"Don't thank me." Renault laid a hand on Erk's chest, "Thank your heart."

Erk nodded.

"Merry Christmas, young sage." Renault left the scene, disappearing among the crowd without a trace. Erk blinked but shrugged. He threw away the bed sheet and head towards another direction, ceasing his spying of Saul and Serra.

-Castle Ostia-

The night glittered in stars above the stalwart beloved Castle Ostia. Lilina was not home yet from her own task of the preparation of the Ostian Christmas Eve celebration that was to happen in just two days. Ephraim and Eirika were not here as well but Merlinus and the youngsters came back from their long journey and all had to slumber the night. The only figures seen were Eliwood, Hector, Lyn, and Roy sitting at the guest room all in velvet holiday robes, drinking eggnog, watching both the roasting open fire and the glittering decorated Christmas tree, while listening to soft instrumental Christmas music playing on the choreographer.

Hector exhaled in awe, "nothing beats holiday relaxation like Ostia."

"Tell me about it." Roy burped.

Lyn gently elbowed Eliwood, "Eliwood, your son is misbehaving. Say something."

Eliwood's answer was a burp and a "bless me!"

Lilina entered the room and found the foursome at this state of laziness: "well, well, well. Looks like somebody's been drinking too much eggnog."

"Hi Lilina!" Hector greeted his daughter.

"Hey father." She looked oddly at Hector.

"So how's your day?" Roy grinned.

Her oddly expression switched to joy: "Never been better." Lilina squealed, "Just two days away and all of Ostia will have finished the decorations and preparations for the Christmas Eve event."

"So are you going to join us?" Eliwood offered.

"Not now Sir Eliwood." She said, "But by the time the dragon comes in Ostia, I'll be more relaxed…sigh, I'm pooped."

Lilina headed down her bedchamber but stopped short and turned towards the foursome. "Guys. Thank you for everything, but I'm so worried about all of this and I'm afraid that the divine dragons would not approve of my plan. It's my only Christmas wish this year and—if—if it doesn't come true—"

"Do not worry about a thing Lilina." Lyn reassured.

"Yeah!" Roy said, "Athos, Hawkeye, and Sophia! Don't forget Mace, Myrrh, and Canas. All of those people will sure make the divine dragons understand."

"As soon as we hear something from them, we'll let you know." Eliwood suggested.

"Thanks guys. That reassured me." She said, "Well I'm heading to bed."

As soon as the blue-haired girl left the scene, the travelers of Arcadia came at the door. The foursome got up, cleaned up everything and shut off the fire.

"So soon!" Hector exclaimed, his mouth full of eggnog.

"Is Lady Lilina home?" Mace flew towards the nobles.

"She just headed for bed." Roy said.

"S—something wrong, guys?" Eliwood demanded.

Silence filled the large guest room. The noble quickly ventured the guess.

"Something's wrong." Eliwood hopelessly said.

"It—it didn't work?" Lyn exclaimed.

"I've tried reasoning the elder but he refused to listen." Athos explained.

"He even said that he had his own reasons." Canas sighed.

"The NERVE with that guy!" Mace yelled, knocking down an empty glass.

"How will Lilina take this news? She promised a lot of people!" Hector implored, "It's her one Christmas wish!"

"Well I've tried telling him that but he had the nerve to say that he wouldn't come true." Mace hissed even more.

"I'm terribly sorry." Athos sighed.

Hector stroke his hair back, let out a frustrating sigh while walking around the room, "I can't let my daughter been hurt." He turned around facing the crew, "No matter what, she should not know about this."

"But Hector," Eliwood exclaimed, "We promised to tell her if we get something."

"B—Bu—" Hector began gasping in terror; his expression showed as if he's ready to break down.

"I'm sorry buddy," Lyn said, "I know you do not want this to happen but she must know. And if we don't tell her, she'll figure it out."

Sophia stepped in, "Before leaving… the village, Idoun gave me… this for you Lord Roy… it is also for Lady Lilina."

Roy admired the gift, "It's a Dragonstone, only different."

"She said she was not… against the elder's decision," Sophia said, "but she wishes peace… for all Elibe, mostly Pherae… and here in Ostia."

"Such a nice priestess, wouldn't you say?" Hawkeye said.

"Yeah, very nice." Roy half-whispered, then faced the crew, with a serious look on his face, "leave it to me people. I'll be the one to speak to Lilina about this situation. I'll try my best to handle it well."

NEXT CHAPTER …