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 6: The Big Day
-Ostia City-
The sun shone brightly on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. The people of Ostia were on the rush: that includes shopping, baking, and last-touch decorations. But the festivities had already started and people from the foreign kingdoms and tribes of Elibe came, like the Kutolah Tribe of Sacae, ruled by Chieftain Dayan, his granddaughter Sue, and his son and heir Rath. From Ilia came General Zealot of Castle Edessa, his wife Juno, and her sisters Tate and Thany of the Falco Knight Flightleaders. From Bern were Queen Guinivere and Young Zephiel, with a legion of Bern's generals and captains. Fargus and his pirates seen earlier on the Christmas treasure hunt came at the festivity as well.
Mace and Canas were seen welcoming the people of Etruria; that includes the generals of Etruria, Lalum, and the Etrurian prince Elphin. The King of Etruria, King Mordred was to spend Christmas with his family at Alquiela, the capital; therefore he could not make it to Ostia for the big day. Also among the party was Canas's family: his son Hugh and his mother Niime, the hermit of the mountain.
"It is so great to see all of you at this huge celebration." Mace shook Elphin's hands.
"What kind of celebration is this again?" Percival squinted.
"It's the Ostian Christmas Eve." Canas replied, "I sure hope it'll be a blast this year."
Mace bumped his shoulders to keep him quiet. "I mean it'll be a blast!" Canas changed his tune.
"So Canas, did you bring us any gifts?" Niime asked.
Canas hesitated, "G—Gifts? Well—"
"Grandma! Don't pressure Father." Hugh said, "His trip from Heaven to here must have been stressful for him."
Niime used her cane to whack Hugh's head, "OW!" he yelped.
"Quiet boy." She scolded, "Your father is young and his level of stress is extremely low."
"Do not worry mother." Canas grinned, "I'll get you something before tonight."
"So where are we staying?" Elphin demanded.
"Well they are so many rooms at Castle Ostia!" Lalum offered, "We should stay there!"
The crew marched towards the castle. Mace takes chase to stop them, "W—WAIT!" he yelled, "They are many other places to go besides forcibly the castle."
"I'm going for a walk." Niime said, crossing her son and grandson's path, "Gimme a holler if y'all need me."
-Castle Ostia Dining Room-
Eirika is sitting on her seat, only to watch her untouched eggs florentine getting cold. Her eyes are puffy and red. It was as if she has not slept in days. Ephraim was walking down the hall and after seeing her, became concerned. He approached his sister and laid his hand on her shoulder.
"Eirika, sweetheart. Are you all right?" Ephraim asked, but received no response. He sighed, kneed next to her, and held her pale cold hand. "Eirika, I'm sorry for being so harsh to you." He whispered, "Look, with all the cast and crew gone, I think it's best to cancel the show."
Eirika did not respond, but with the tears escaping her cerulean eyes, one can tell that she was feeling sad.
"I hope you could forgive me." Ephraim continued, "But please, you need to eat. You have not eaten since yesterday. And besides…" he got up, ran at the window and pointed outside at the decorated city, "…the festivities had started. Let's have some fun and games while it lasts. Let's have the best Christmas vacation we had planned."
"Ephraim…" she spoke with a rasp tone.
"Yeah?"
"Just leave me alone."
Silence ensued, "All right…" Ephraim said, "but please get well." The young Renais king headed toward the exit. Coming at the same time was Niime. She saw Eirika and curiously approached her.
Eirika harshly turned around, "I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME AL—oh!" she paused at Niime's sight, "Hello." She greeted plainly then turned around again facing her cold breakfast again.
"Oh dear." Niime said, "Looks like you're in pain."
"In pain?" the young Renais queen snapped, "I'm not in pain, I'm in agony! And I do not want to talk about it."
"Okay."
As Niime was about to leave, Eirika suddenly bawled, "Christmas is ruined!"
Niime turned around in complete surprise, "WH—what are you talking a—"
"Can you believe these guys?" Eirika yowled, "First I cast my brother to play the mayor for my musical! Everyone gets angry, and then when I decide to remove the mayor off the musical, they all go berserk and AWOL! And worst yet, crew and production are to come here today to shoot this musical live around the continent, and I got no materials!"
"Dear, dear… please calm down."
"CHRISTMAS IS RUINED!"
"Calm down dear." Niime patted the bawling Eirika's back, "It's not like the end of the wo…" she paused for a second, "Wait a minute? What's the name of your musical?"
"It's a Christmas tale often told around Magvel." She replied, "Our father, King Fado, would always tell us this tale on the night of Christmas Eve. It is called 'The Christmas Town'."
"'The Christmas Town' hey?" Niime rubbed her bony chin, "well this story is told here in Elibe too. The mayor plays an important role in this story you know?"
"I KNOW!" She wailed once more, allowing Niime to console her again.
"It's all right; it's all right…" she paused again, "Wait a minute! It is NOT all right!"
Eirika bought a puzzled look on her face, "What do you mean?"
"Ostia has been in the musical theater business ever since Roland became its first king!"
"Roland?"
"He was among the Eight Legends of Elibe."
"Then, that means…"
"Over a thousand years! And you're going to throw all that away because of what your casts and crews have done?"
"You're right." Eirika wiped off her tears and her expression changed to a more serious and more confident one. "You're right Madam! I am NOT going to give up this way!"
"You go girl!"
"I mean, it's been thousand of years and I'm not just going to keep the Ostian Theater alive, I'm going to keep the Christmas Spirit alive as well!"
"You go even more girl!"
Eirika laid both her hands on Niime's shoulders, "Thanks Madam. You rejuvenated me." From there, she left in a rush toward the door. Niime sighed, "Young'un."
-Ostia City-
"This was fun!" Sain said.
"I know. Very fun" Alan agreed.
"Where have you guys been?" Elen addressed the incoming crew.
"Bishop Elen. You've missed the fun at the mall." Yodel grinned.
"My apologies, Bishop Yodel." She replied, "I was assisting Mistress Guinivere in the gift-giving for the needy."
"Hamina-Hamina-Hamina!" Sain stared at Elen, "Who's the beauty?"
"You are addressing to Bishop Bern, Sain." Saul warned, "You ought to be serious."
"Sorry about that." Sain apologized but quickly saw Saul's snickering game as he witnessed him leaving Serra and approaching Elen.
"I'm the only saint one to be addressing her politely." He said, his eyes glued on Elen.
"Umm…Father Saul," Elen grinned nervously, "you're staring."
Zoe approached Saul and clacked his ear using her finger. "OW!" Saul shrieked, "What was that for Zoe?"
"You maybe the hi-Priest," Zoe snapped, "but you need help." Serra giggled, watching this moment.
"I don't believe that Saul, tricking me like that." Sain crossed his arms, his face as red as a tomato.
"There's always next year Sain." Alan said, "There's always next year."
"May I cut in?" A voice came from behind. The crew turned around facing Erk, wearing a velvet silver coat and a snow-white scarf. Serra's expression as she saw Erk was joy instead of loathes.
"Well," Sain cocked his head on one side, "if it isn't Erk … in good spirits?"
"Guys, may I speak with Serra alone?" he asked politely.
Serra bit her lips. Yodel nodded, "Of course you should."
"Go on Serra." Saul whispered at Serra. The bishop approached, allowing her alone time with the sage.
Erk took a deep breath and spoke, "Serra…"
"Erk…" she responded.
"I'm sorry!" Both said it simultaneously then stopped in baffle, "What?" they said.
"Okay, be—before we start to speak our mind…"
Serra giggled at Erk's comments: "Erk. You're so funny."
A short silence ensued between the two humans, "here." Erk gave Serra a gift in gold wrapping.
Serra gasped. "Erk, you bought me a gift?" she whispered.
"Open it now and ask questions later." Erk exclaimed to a great extent, then stopped short after noticing Serra staring at him. He cleared his throat, "I'm just kidding… please."
Serra opened the gift, finding inside a small silvery baton with a crystal diamond star on top. She felt emotional at what she saw.
"Erk…" she placed a hand on her heart, "it's … it's … sniff … I'm sorry … it's beautiful."
"I know. It's Fashion."
"Excuse me?"
"Fashion. It's the name of the staff. Its power is to bring true beauty on its wielder. That way, the fashion police will release you from jail."
Serra shot another glare at Erk. Erk stepped back, his hands in front of him, "Take a joke will ya?"
Serra giggled, "Well, I got you something." She handed Erk a gift wrapped in silver wrapping.
"Oh wow." Erk opened his gift, seeing inside a Lightning tome. He was floored.
"Ah yes." Serra began, "Do you know why Queen Guinivere wields the light magic even though she's a sage?"
"Because…"
"Because silly," she giggled, "Saul told me that sages have a hidden power deep inside their anima magic."
"So the queen mastered that 'power'?" he blinked even more.
"Come!" Serra left the scene with a puzzled Erk "We'll have our first lesson. It's time to master your power Erky." She giggled.
Meanwhile, Roy, Hector, Eliwood, and Lyn were on the festive streets of Ostia along with Pent, Louise, and their children Clarine and Klein. Pent is the former Magic General of Etruria and Count Reglay, his son Klein is Etruria's second Arc General after Louise his mother. He is also the Etrurian Ambassador in service of the king. Clarine planned to be the next Magic General as soon as Cecilia announces her resignation. The crew was having fun checking out the foods and games with the theme of Christmas.
"This is nice." Pent exclaimed, "This is very nice."
"Lilina did a great job to the city." Louise complimented.
"That's my daughter all right." Hector grinned.
"So when are the dragons coming?" Klein demanded.
"Well…" Lyn ran her fingers.
"See, the truth is…" Eliwood said.
"The dragons won't come." Hector quickly stated.
"They're not coming?" Clarine yelled, almost catching the town's attention.
"Not so loud." Roy exclaimed.
"Oh dear." Louise sighed.
"Explain yourself!" Clarine growled.
"Does Lilina know about the situation?" As soon as Klein asked that question, it was already answered. Lilina shot out of the castle and rushed toward the group in good spirits.
"Roy! Can you believe it! It's Christmas Eve!" she squealed, "You know what that means do you?"
"Gift exchanges?" Roy grinned; sweats began pouring down his face.
"No silly!" she giggled, "The dragons will arrive! I hope."
He bit his lips, leaned toward Lilina, and whispered, "Ector-hay, ather-fay and in-lay on the our-hay!"
Lilina cocked her head, "what kind of language are you speaking?"
"Roy?" Eliwood sneered.
Roy slowly turned around and spread a smile at the nobles. "Hi guys, father."
Lyn angrily sighed, "You didn't tell her?"
"Tell me what?" Lilina asked curiously.
"But she was all happy and filled with joy." Roy whined, "I…I couldn't possibly tell her this because I didn't want Christmas to be ruined!"
"Why is everyone saying that Christmas will be ruined, or is Christmas ruined in this story?" Clarine is apparently asking you (the readers).
"What's going on?" Lilina desperately asked, "Roy? What did you wanted to tell me?"
Roy turned around facing the young queen, "Lilina, what I'm about to tell you, please note that we will always be here for you, no matter what."
"Just tell me what's going on Roy." Lilina sighed, her expression seems as if she was about to take the news with shock and pain.
Roy took a deep breath and spoke, "the divine dragons are not coming."
Lilina stood mute.
"I—I'm sorry." Roy's hands tremble in sadness. He did not want to see Lilina hurt and so he approached and hugged her. The gang, all at once, approached Lilina to console her as well.
"Are you okay sweetheart?" Hector asked softly, "It's not the end of the world you know."
"It's the end of Christmas that is." Clarine joked. Everyone shot a glare at her, "Take a joke for crying out loud!" The blonde valkyrie left.
"Have you guys seen Queen Eirika?" Myrrh came at the scene, "King Ephraim is looking for her." The Manakete saw what was happening and she too stood silent.
"You know what? I'll send the message to the city." Roy offered, "Please be at rest for now Lilina."
Roy rushed to the castle but then stopped and turned around. He approached Lilina and gave her the Dragonstone he received from Sophia by Idoun. "Here, this is for you. I want you to keep it."
Lilina took the stone and there, Roy took action.
"This is going to take an ugly drastic turn." Pent told his wife.
"Christmas is really ruined." Louise replied.
"Tell me about it." Klein sighed.
Roy came out from inside the castle, at the balcony and let a shout: "People of Ostia! I have terrible news! Please you have to understand what I am about to say!"
The town rushed to the scene anxious to hear this news.
"The dragons are not coming to Ostia! I repeat the dragons are not coming to Ostia!"
Anger spread from the crowd like wildfire. Wiz, Zoe, and the pirates were among the crowd and were also baffled to this news, "Tell me I am dreaming." Zoe asked.
"You're not sister." Wiz said.
"That's a shock." Fargus muttered.
"Christmas is ruined!" Dart exclaimed.
"Where is Lady Lilina?" the magistrate emerged from the crowd.
"I…" Roy trembled. "I can't answer it right now."
"What does that suppose to mean?" the magistrate angrily replied, "We gave her until yesterday for the dragons' arrival in Ostia."
"Yeah! And we thought that they were running late." A man yelled among the crowd.
"Turned out to be a big fat lie." A woman yelled.
"I know!" another man exclaimed, "what if we are to consult Mace to turn half the city into those—?"
A huge "NO!" shot out of the crowd.
"Hey guys!" A yell come from the crowd. "We have entertainment over there!"
"What kind of entertainment?" the magistrate growled.
"The musical! IT'S THE MUSICAL!" the yell replied, drawing the crowd from the balcony scene to the Ostian theater.
"The musical?" Myrrh was surprised.
"Wait. So Eirika is still willing to make the show?" Hector asked.
"You should check it out yourself." A voice came from behind Hector, spooking him. He turned to see Niime.
"Let's go!" Eliwood cried and everyone rushed toward the Ostian Theater.
"Lady!" Hector warned Niime before taking chase, "No sneaking behind me like that!"
Niime smiled then watched Lilina heading toward Castle Ostia, still silent and shock from the news of the dragon. She followed her.
"Where are you going my dear?" she demanded, but received no response.
NEXT CHAPTER …