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 7: Miracle at Ostia
To believe in miracles is to believe in oneself. To believe in oneself is to believe in miracles. It is no superstition, it is true.
Quote from Ninian
-Ostia Theater-
The entire city was inside the Ostian Theater, anxious to see the Christmas musical that was canceled and mysteriously came back on the air. The entire continent of Elibe was glued on their TV screen, getting ready to watch this moment live.
The curtain opened up allowing the crowd to let out a cheer and applaud. Eirika, dressed in a rather odd costume came onstage and the crowd went dead silent.
Eirika wore a half character costume. One half of the character was dress well: nice polish shoes, velvet silk shirt, vest and a hat. The other half of the character was dress rather poorly: a filthy, full of charcoal brown shirt and pant with its ripped knees, with blemished shoe. On the clean side she carried a cane, and carried dustpan on the other. She even painted her face half representing each character. She made a ponytail and a shiny expression on her clean side but on the filthy side, her hair was uncombed and her teeth was damaged and crooked like Gonzales's. The bandit seeing this uses his hands to cover his eyes in embarrassment.
"Evening!" She greeted at the view of the sunset.
"I can't believe she's doing this to herself." Ephraim says all worried.
"That's your sister?" Cecilia approached Ephraim, along with the other Etrurian generals
"Err…"
"She's quite animated." Percival snickered.
"Hey! That's not funny!"
"Really?" Douglas demanded, "Then can you explain the half-character image?"
"Tonight," Eirika spoke, "we or I would proudly present at this Ostian Christmas Eve fête our feature presentation. The musical of our Christmas tale"
"Aye, she still thinks this would be going on hey?" Geese sighed.
"You got that right." Garrett grunted.
"That's sad." Lucius sighed.
Eirika cleared her throat and started her solo play. She faced left, allowing the audience to see her filthy half playing its role: "Mr. Mayor! What are your plans for Christmas?"
She turned around, facing right, allowing the audience to see her clean half playing the role of the mayor: "Christmas?" she said in a deep voice, "Bah-Ha! Humbug! This town maybe named after this holiday but what's the point of all this giving and receiving gobbledygook?"
The audience booed and hissed.
"No dragons in Ostia, and we're watching a solo theater performed by a goofy mistress from another continent?" The magistrate confirmed, "This is the worst Christmas ever!"
"Think again mister." Niime countered, "This is the best Christmas ever."
The suspicious Hugh approached his grandmother, "Grandma! Did you have something to do with this?" Hugh narrowed his eyes.
-Castle Ostia, Lilina's Bedchamber-
Lilina entered her room, still in shock of the news of the dragons. She placed the Dragonstone Roy gave her at her table and watched the night sky and the stars rising. Tears escaped her blue eyes.
"This can't be happening." She whimpered to herself, "I had everything planned. What caused this?"
She pulled down the shades and fell on her bed, "This entire thing was a huge mistake. HUGE! Bringing humans and dragons together for the holidays and trying to reviving the old Christmas legend. It was nothing but pure failure."
She sat on her bed and sighed, "I guess both races weren't meant to be."
"Think again." A gentle, celestial voice resonated from nowhere. Lilina turned around but saw no one in her room.
"Who? Who speaks this mellow voice?" she called in the room, hoping to get a reply.
"Come closer to the light my lady." The voice spoke again, this time addressing to Lilina formally. Lilina looked around the room trying to seek that light the voice spoke of. She finally found it: inside the Dragonstone. She approached the Dragonstone and saw inside a young girl with light-green hair and crimson eyes. Her earrings were carved in stone the shape of an incisor. The young girl expression was rather depressing to see.
"Who are you?" Lilina demanded.
"My identity is not important right now." The girl in the Dragonstone replied. "The importance right now is what you have done."
Lilina sighed once more, "Yeah, I did horrible didn't I?"
"I don't think so."
Lilina faced the girl in surprise. The girl continued, "Your wish to bring dragons and humans together in harmony again has been our main concern. Most of the other race and my family had dreams for this day to come, and right now you are the one who's about to make it true. Not for eternity in this case however, but at least for a limited time. This idea of yours, to invite the dragons in Ostia for the holidays, could be a path of hope."
"Thanks for the small advice, but it best to just drop it." Lilina said hopelessly.
"My lady, do not let your lack of belief take over."
Lilina blinked at the girl once more.
-Ostian Theater-
"Let's have Christmas together!" Eirika was joyfully singing and dancing, while facing the jeering audience. The audience couldn't take it anymore and started to head for the exit.
"Guys! Please, the fun just started!" she begged.
As the theater was about to get empty, the Christmas music of "There's no place like home." began to play, luring everyone back on their seats.
"Hey? What's going on?" Hector demanded, looking around.
"Eirika is all confused onstage." Lyn said.
"Where is this music coming from?" Eliwood looked around as well.
The cast made a comeback onstage. Half of the group of thugs was disguised in rich costumes and the other half in poor costumes. Ephraim took the spotlight as the mayor and the thugs began to sing in chorus, their versions:
Oh! There's no place like home like Os-i-tia,
Doesn't matter how far away you are,
When you pine for the sunshine,
Of a friendly face,
For the holidays, ya can't beat,
Ostia!
Ephraim sang:
I met a man, who lives in Etruria,
"Etruria?" Lyn, Eliwood and Hector blinked.
And he was heading for,
Sacae and for some homemade apple pie,
From the Lycian League, folks are traveling,
Down to Ilia's sunny shore,
Everyone:
From Nabata to Bern Kingdom,
Ephraim sang again:
Oy, the traffic is colossal
Everyone again:
Oh! There's no place like home like Os-i-tia!
Eirika ran offstage and joined the nobles. The crowd did not notice her because they were all glued at the real musical.
"Are you okay Lady Eirika?" Myrrh asked.
"I'm…fine…" She responded, "I'm just speechless."
"Speechless because your cast came back for the musical?" Mace joked.
"That kind of speechless! I was cooked up there, and they…"
"…saved the show." Eliwood said, "And it's a good one even."
"You think? They're doing it all wrong!"
The nobles glued their eyes on Eirika, "you think?" Lyn said.
"It maybe different from what I have planned," Eirika spread a smile, "but I love it."
-Castle Ostia, Lilina's bedchamber-
"My lady," the girl of the Dragonstone said, "even though there's still less time for the festivity, there's still time to believe in a miracle."
"Well," Lilina coyly said, "I still do believe in a miracle."
The girl smiled, "That is good to hear, 'To believe in miracles is to believe in oneself. To believe in oneself is to believe in miracles. It is no superstition, it is true'"
Lilina remained silence. The girl concluded her speech, "Give the Dragonstone to Roy when the time of miracle comes."
"Thank you, madam err…"
"Ninian." She said, "Just call me Ninian…and have a Merry Christmas."
Ninian disappeared from the stone. Lilina sighed, reminiscing Ninian's last words, "give the Dragonstone to Roy when the time of miracle comes."
"She addresses me formally but why does she mention Roy informally?" she questioned herself, "It seems as if they both have a connection. But what does she mean by 'when the time of miracle comes.'?"
-Ostian Theater-
The theater ended and most of the city rushed to get autographs and pictures from the cast. Eirika rushed to her brother. The nobles also did the same.
"Brother…" Eirika shed tears of joy.
"Eirika! Did you enjoy it?" Ephraim asked.
"Well, it was all wrong. The singing, the entire story, but I love it."
"And what does this has to do with you meeting someone in Etruria?" Eliwood demanded.
"What?" Ephraim argued, "Can't I be a little creative?"
"Whatever people think, I enjoyed it." Myrrh said.
Guinivere, along with Young Zephiel and Young Guinivere approached the twins. Young Roy and Young Lilina came in as well.
"You are Eirika, the director of this play are you not?" Guinivere claimed.
Eirika's eyes glued at the queen, "Queen Guinivere of Bern I presume?"
"Don't forget me." Young Zephiel interjected.
"I've always wanted to meet you." Eirika said.
"I enjoyed the setup of your show." Guinivere pointed out, "even though you embarrassed yourself in this somewhat ridiculous uniform."
Eirika looked down; unaware that she was still in her half-character costume. The kids laughed at Guinivere's statement. Eirika grinned, scratching her hair in embarrassment.
The door of the theater swung opened and Wiz rushed in, "EVERYONE! COME OUTSIDE! IT'S SNOWING AND WE HAVE COMPANY!"
Everyone turned around, facing Wiz.
"Company? The Magistrate said, "What company?"
"YOU WERE EXPECTING THEM! IT'S THE DRAGONS! THEY'RE IN OSTIA!"
Different surprising statement like: "no kidding!" or "is it true?" emerged from the crowd.
"There's one way to find out: let's go outside people!" Hector yelled.
The crowd left the theater and saw what they thought they wouldn't be seeing. A large parade of the divine dragons of Arcadia, crossing Ostian streets. Leading the parade was Igrene and Idoun. The divine dragons all greeted the people of Ostia. Everyone was amazed at this view, even the Magistrate.
-Castle Ostia, Lilina's bedchamber-
The noise of the parade reached Lilina. As the blue-haired girl was about to open up the drapes, Zoe busted in the room, out of breath. Lilina rushed to her, "Zoe, what's going on?"
"YOU'VE GOT TO SEE THIS!" Zoe wheezed, trying her best to squeal of excitement, "COME! COME!" the cleric grabbed Lilina's hands and headed outside.
-Ostia City-
The kids watched the parade in amazement.
"Just like in the legend." Young Guinivere said.
"I know. It's beautiful, in addition of the snow." Young Lilina agreed.
"Whoa." Young Roy was glued at the parade and the snowfall.
Lilina and Zoe came out of the castle. Lilina watched the miraculous event. She was speechless.
"Your wish came true! This is so exciting!" Zoe squealed.
"I…know." Lilina gazed.
"Hey! That's squeal is my line!" Serra said, approaching Zoe with Erk.
"Well, if it isn't Bishop Ostia." Zoe grinned.
"You can call me girl now Zenon. It's Christmas!" Serra said.
"You call me by my real name? How sweet!"
"Well, it looks like they're friends now, hey Lady Lilina?" Erk addressed the Ostian queen.
"Y…yes," Lilina said, still gazing at the parade and the snowfall, "it's beautiful." She rushed to the setting. Roy was the first to see Lilina again.
"Lilina! Looks like your wish came true after all." Roy exclaimed.
"Well I came as soon as I heard." Lilina said.
"But how did that happened?" Sophia said, "The elder declined it."
"Well I did." A voice came from behind them. They turned around and saw the elder and Fa.
"What made you change your mind Great elder?" Eliwood asked.
The elder approached the nobles and spoke: "It was Idoun. She convinced us to be here for Christmas at least, even though both dragons and humans had our bad moments, we should be together for at least this once. She also mentioned how both nobles from Pherae and Ostia helped her regaining her own self."
Roy and Lilina smiled at each other. The nobles smiled as well.
"Do not forget Fa, great Elder." Fa said.
"Ah yes. Fa was a crybaby this entire moment."
"Great Elder!" Fa groaned and everyone laughed.
"Thank you great Elder." Lilina said, "You've made many wishes to come true."
"You mean your wish?" Hector grinned.
"Father, stop! You're embarrassing me." Lilina smiled.
"Wait a minute!" Mace said, "Sophia told us that the population is short at Arcadia. How did you manage a parade the size of the Atlantic?"
"That was all Idoun's idea." The elder said, "She called most of the divine dragons from the Dragon's Gate to come to Ostia."
"THE DRAGON'S GATE?" Eliwood, Hector, and Lyn gasped.
"Well, at least I don't have to transform anyone into divine dragons." Mace sighed in relief, "Sheesh, what a stupid thing to do this time of year."
"Well I was hoping you would have done that." Wiz grinned.
"Don't you start with me now, Wizonault!"
Everyone laughed heartily.
The parade ended shortly and just like in the legend of Elibe, dragons and humans were together for this time of year, exchanging gifts and having different activities. Castle Ostia was swarmed with the population of both races. They were all there for a hearty Christmas Eve dinner, which consisted of a succulent honeysuckled turkey and other varieties of feasts and desserts on the largest table at the largest balcony of Castle Ostia, facing the clear night sky. Both dragons and humans were talking about different things whilst enjoying the feast.
"This turns out to be a glorious Christmas after all." Pent said.
"It more than glorious," Louise said, "it's a miraculous one."
"At least Christmas is not ruined." Clarine said.
"Here Roy," Lilina gave the Dragonstone to Roy, "I want you to have this."
"Oh, Lilina; that's very thoughtful, but you deserve it."
"Actually Roy, you deserve it. You tried to keep my hopes up from perishing at the worst moment, even though you got yelled at."
Roy snickered at Lilina's joke.
"…and you're a great friend." She ended.
"Well, I didn't want to ruin your Christmas but…thank you Lilina."
"GUYS! Check this out!" Fa yelled, pointing at the stars. To everyone's eyes emerged the Eastern Star, shining brightly.
"It's beautiful!" Eirika watched the star.
"Indeed!" Ephraim said.
"I love it." Myrrh admired it.
"Did you all noticed?" Hector said, "The star is much shinier than last year."
"You're right." Lyn agreed.
Both races at the large table watched the East Star together, just like in the legend.
-----------------------------------------
Eliwood faces the readers: "From everyone and the royal families of the continents of Elibe and Magvel—"
Lyn pops out behind Eliwood: "It's time for desserts Eli… who're you talking to?" she blinks, looking around.
"Err…no one." Eliwood grins.
"O—okay." Lyn leaves him alone, allowing him to face the readers again.
"Have a Merry Christmas and may your lives be filled with joy and happiness."
He lets out a sigh of relief and heads back to the setting: "Whoo! That was close!"
END OF MIRACLE AT OSTIA
Author's Note: "The One with the Sacred Stone Ball" was supposed to be a chapter from "Ephraim and Eirika". Instead, I have decided to make this the second book of this fiction, in celebration of the holiday season. The story is about a special holiday event that takes place every year at Rausten and was known as the Sacred Stone Ball. The twins sees this chance to participate, but in a sudden turn of event, Ephraim refuses and Innes takes his place, inviting Eirika to the ball, making Ephraim very jealous. While all of this is happening, Dozla, with the help of Rennac, desperately tries to make a maturing L'Arachel believe in Santa Claus once more. How would their plans work? Meanwhile, the monarchs of Magvel are creating a recipe out of eggnog, and a desperate Seth craves to open his Christmas gifts. The story is up next.