Disclaimer: The following characters and settings of the Fire Emblem series are a belonging of Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. Guest Sandy Green belongs to Nintendo's Mario Golf. The characters (Mace, Wiz, Zoe, Adrion, Adam, and Nicole) are the only belongings of the author.
--HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS--
—The One with the Sacred Stone Ball—
(Part 1/3)
-Castle Renais-
The front portal banged from outside. Seth, a knight general in service of the kingdom of Renais, ran to open the portal and saw standing there a mail carrier.
The mail carrier handed a four-sheet clipboard to Seth, "special delivery for…Seth of Renais?"
Seth puckered, "This is he… what's going on? I'm not expecting any gifts."
"Sir, it's my job to deliver packages, not accusations."
"I'm not making accusa—"
The mail carrier turned around, made a signal and there came in thirty transporters, each carrying about a dozen Christmas gifts in convoys. From small boxes to heavy carriages, it kept coming.
"What the—" Seth gasped at that sight, "What are all those gifts? From whom do they come from?"
The mail carrier glared at Seth, "You."
"Me?"
"Looks like somebody has not just being nice this year," The mail carrier patted Seth's back, "but he has been an angel. Now sign here."
Seth signed the clipboard and the mail carrier left with the transporters. The gifts took much of the hall's space. Eirika entered the hall; saw the gifts, then Seth. She smiled.
"Princess Eirika!" Seth warned her, "Please don't say anything!" He panicked as Eirika approached him, "And don't try anything stupid!"
"Well, aren't you Santa's pet?" Eirika mumbled and playfully slapped Seth's cheek, as if addressing to a toddler. She then left with a trail of laughter.
-Frelia Family Hall-
The family hall of Frelia was as large as a living room. The room was painted in marble white and two pillars accented in gold trim were leading towards the main hall. The chesterfields, the carpet, and beanbags were all of white color and tapestries. The Christmas tree, standing proudly next to the sitting area, was as white as snow and adorned in silver and blue ornaments. A wide screen television hanged at a wall, playing a certain documentary of Magvel. Sitting on the chesterfields and watching the documentary were Eirika, Ephraim, Tana, Innes, and Lyon.
The holidays at Magvel were always mild and moist. Snow rarely entered the continent but this year a heavy snowstorm was schedule to hit in the upper areas by Christmas Eve. Since Frelia, Rausten, and Carcino were the upper areas of Magvel, the twins and Lyon have decided to leave their kingdom and spend the holidays at the venerable sage king's castle. They have never experienced snow before and checking it out will be their greatest Christmas wish coming true.
Fado entered the scene, wearing a "Kiss the cook" apron and carrying on one hand a large spoon dripping of eggnog. His other hand held below the spoon, "Hey kids! Taste this and tell me what do you think?" Fado offered the spoon to the five friends.
"King Fado!" Tana cried, "I understand your stress, but please don't take it on the furniture!"
"I'll taste it." Lyon volunteered.
"What's going on Father?" Eirika asked.
"We're trying to create a recipe: eggnog cake." Fado said.
"Eggnog cakes?" Innes repeated.
"What's that?" Ephraim asked.
"It's a dish Hayden, Vigarde, and Ismaire came up with." Fado exclaimed, "It's like sugar balls. Coffee cakes. Except it's for eggnog!"
"Oh, so technically, it's eggnog balls?" Ephraim figured.
Fado blinked, looked up the ceiling in deep thinking, "I haven't thought of that."
"Is it good?" the cry of Hayden sounded from the kitchen across the hall.
"Is it too sugary? Cause we don't want to start it all over!" Vigarde's voice followed.
Everyone, including Fado, glanced at Lyon. The imperial prince tasted the eggnog and frowned, "too bland."
"Too bland!" Fado cried across the hall.
"BLAND? We've wasted sugar for that!" Ismaire's voice replied.
Fado ran back in the kitchen. An advertisement caught the five friend's attention, "Are you ready for Christmas? Then if yes, come celebrate the season with our 800th Annual Sacred Stone Ball at the Frozen Narube River and the Rausten Court Ice Hall!"
Tana, Innes, and Lyon jerked their heads excitingly. The twins only smiled at the sight. "The Sacred Stone Ball is coming to town!" Tana squealed.
"It's not coming to town. It's coming to Rausten!" Innes corrected, "I've always wanted to go there!"
"I've heard about it, but what's that?" Ephraim asked.
"Is it like a competition?" Eirika guessed.
"The best one EVER!" Tana squealed, "It is held every year around Christmas Eve!"
"The dancing king and queen winners get showered in gifts in expensive goods." The TV blared again, "So don't let this opportunity pass you by! Get tickets today!"
The twins' eyes boggled. They looked at each other then back at the TV. "Gifts?" they yelled together.
"I remember my first time at the ball." Lyon reminisced, "The lights were blazing joyfully. The people were happy. It was the best night ever."
"Did you won Lyon?" Tana asked him.
"No."
"Why? What happened?" Eirika was concerned.
"Well, the girl I dance with for instance was a real Scrooge-and-Grinch fusion," he said, "plus she was a bad dancer."
"We should go to Rausten and enter!" Tana proposed, and everyone except Ephraim agreed simultaneously. "Nah. I don't want to." Ephraim said.
"Why not Ephraim?" Eirika asked, "you were ecstatic about it just now."
"Yeah! The fact that I really want to be in the contest and dance my way to the finals, but remember my ice rink phobia?"
"Oh that." Eirika sighed in disappointment.
"Ice rink phobia?" Innes rose an eyebrow.
"Yeah." Eirika replied, "when we were kids, Ephraim once skated on an ice rink, and it cracked open and he fell!" she chortled at these last words and the threesome let out roars of laughter.
Ephraim didn't find this amusing, "that's not funny. I had to stay in my room until summer!"
"I'm sorry Eph." Eirika said, "But it's too bad I won't be dancing with you."
Innes immediately declared, "Why don't we go to Rausten together. I'll take Eirika to the ball."
Eirika gasped. Ephraim felt floored, "you'll do that for me? You'll… take me to the Sacred Stone Ball?"
"Why not? It'll be fun wouldn't it?" Innes smiled. Eirika wrapped her arms around Innes and gave him a firm hug.
"Oh, Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!" she squealed.
"When I do that to you Innes, you reject me." Tana crossed her arms.
"That's because you embarrass me." Innes said.
"And Eirika is not?" Ephraim glared.
"Eirika is a friend." Innes replied, "It's easier with friends than with siblings."
"Really?" Lyon approached Innes, but the prince formed a halt sign at him, "Stop right there! I meant girl friends."
Ephraim raised an eyebrow. Eirika glared at him. Tana and Lyon both shook their head all while Innes stammered, "You know what I mean!"
-Renais Great Hall-
Sitting around a large round table made of fine glass material were Seth, Adrion, Adam, Gilliam, and Joshua. Sitting on and around the table, taking much the hall's space, were Seth's precious gifts. Seth glared at them, practically drooling. His attention focused on a small box, wrapped in white wrapping and a gold bonnet, resting right in front of him.
"Do it!" Adrion provoked, "Open it and let's not talk about it no more."
"Sigh! What are you waiting for?" Gilliam complained, "Are you going to open it or not?"
"I think he's trying to make a bet on whether he will or something." Joshua flipped his coin, tempting Seth even more.
Seth's shoulders sunk as he pulled out a landscape-size cardboard that read "Do not open till Xmas," and was underlined in red and green.
Adam grabbed the cardboard from Seth and snorted, "Christmas? Like everyone's gonna follow that rule." He ripped the cardboard in pieces. Seth was horrified at the sight, "What the—?"
"Adam has a point." Gilliam said, "I mean think about it. Would those who sent you the gifts be watching you? Are they watching you now?"
The foursome leaned to Seth, their eyes fixed on him. Seth returned them the glare, "You are." He said blankly.
Gilliam looked up the ceiling, "Yeah that's true…"
"I'm curious Silver Knight," Adrion was at the edge of his seat, "who sent you these gifts?"
Seth picked up the box in white wrappings and gold bow, placed it near his ear and shook it, "my family." His response bought awe to the group.
"Really?" Joshua breathed.
"Wow! It must be large." Gilliam commented.
"It is." Seth replied, "From my mother's side. Most of them are in Rausten, but they're basically all scattered around the continent. I'm the only one here in Renais."
"I remember our first Christmas in Renais," Adam reminisced, "Our family sent us for Christmas a large basket of meat and cheese." He faced his brother, "remember that?"
Adrion nodded in agreement, "Yeah! What about last year's fruitcake! Disgusting and hard as a rock even. Gag."
"All right you two." Gilliam chuckled, "It may not be the best present, but still…"
"So what is it?" Joshua asked Seth after seeing him ripped open the small wrapped box.
Seth withdrew an oyster shell, cracked it open and was moved at what he saw, "It's a pearl!"
"A pearl?" They cried.
Adam scoffed, "What kind of a lowly pathetic gift is that?"
Seth sighed, the pearl held by his chest, "it once belonged to my great-great-grandmother."
"It's magnificent!" They changed tune and ran to admire the jewel.
-Rausten Court Garden-
"Oh my goodness!" L'Arachel admired the Rausten Garden, shaded in majestic frozen ice. "This is beautiful!"
"You think so Princess L'Arachel?" A soldier, working on the setting along with few others, asked.
"Absolutely! The people who'll attend this event are gonna love it."
The soldier smiled and returned to work. Everyone at Rausten was getting prepared for the Sacred Stone Ball Event and already they were finishing up with few touches. The snow-covered trees gracefully stood tall at every edge of the rink, and each had a glowing light at their very top.
L'Arachel finds Dozla entering the scene and rushed to him, "huh Dozla?"
Dozla smiled, "Ho-Oh! Princess L'Arachel! How fare you?"
L'Arachel sighed, "Well, there's something I have to tell you. It has been on my mind ever since the holiday season started."
"Oh?"
"…I think Santa Claus is a myth."
Dozla's pupils dilated, "A myth?" his voice went low-deep and his head cocked on one side menacingly, "What do you mean it's a myth?"
"I mean he doesn't exist."
Dozla burst out laughing uproariously, "You're kidding right? HEE-HEE!"
L'Arachel's silence confirmed it. Dozla abruptly stopped his laughter to gnash his teeth, "You're not kidding."
"I mean think about it," L'Arachel wrapped her arm around Dozla's shoulders, gazed in the ceiling, and raised her arm up, "How possible is it, to leave presents in every homes and castles, of every lands, of every states, of every nations, of every continents, of the world in just one night?"
"He could use the Warp Staff." Dozla argued.
"Yes." L'Arachel replied, "but see, the Warp Staff has limited powers, plus it takes time to take effect."
"But he could have a lot of Warp Staves."
"But he couldn't."
Dozla giggled mirthlessly, and was now his turn to wrap his arm around L'Arachel shoulders, "Okay, before we get into a debate here, don't you think you're giving up too easily on your beliefs?"
"So you think it's a myth?"
"IT'S NOT A MY—" he stopped short and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry. I'm terribly sorry. But come on, there's plenty of other reasons that prove Santa's existence."
L'Arachel became interested, "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah! The milk and cookies. You leave them at the table one night, the next day they're gone." He shrugged.
L'Arachel smiled and rubbed her chin in thought. Dozla continued, "I mean think about it. It's not like the milk and cookies are going to walk away in the middle of the night."
"I guess you're right."
"See?"
"But I'm not buying it."
"WHY NOT?"
"For starters, Uncle wakes up every night for his midnight snack." She replied, "What do you think he'll find there sitting at the table?"
Dozla, admitting defeat, huffed angrily, "All right. Let's make a bet. Christmas Eve, we'll leave two plates of cookies and glasses of milk. One will be for Pontifex Mansel, but the other will be exclusively for Santa. We'll wait behind the pillars and we'll wait for Santa Claus to come and grab his treats. Whoever's right about Santa will get 50g."
"100."
"150."
"200."
"Done!"
Dozla and L'Arachel shook hands.
-Frelia Kitchen-
"Beautiful! I think we've done it!" Ismaire rejoiced at the sight of a multitude of well-baked eggnog balls on different oven plates. The monarchs gathered in the kitchen to see their work.
"Are you sure about this?" Hayden asked, "Cause we can't afford any mistakes."
"We should taste them first." Fado offered. Vigarde picked one eggnog ball and took a bite. The monarchs leaned to him. Vigarde licked his lips, "delicious! We did it guys!"
"All right!" The monarchs gave each other a high-five.
"Now all we have to do is head for Rausten and see what the audience thinks." Ismaire proposed.
"Yeah! Let's do that!" Fado replied, and the monarchs took leave. At the same time, two chefs—a blond and a brunette crossed path with the kings.
"You too are in charge of the kitchen right?" Hayden asked the chefs.
"Yes Your Majesty." The brunette chef said.
"Good. Don't forget to take it to the convoy." he said, "We're heading for Rausten."
"Yes sir." The blond chef said.
The kings left the kitchen and the two chefs entered it. They gasped at the multitude of eggnog balls they have made from scratch.
"Holly Molly! Are all of these…the eggnog balls?" the blond chef exclaimed.
"Yeah, for how long have they done that?" the brunette chef questioned, "It's a lot!"
"A lot indeed…well let's get moving shall we."
"Wait a minute." The brunette chef stopped the blond chef at his track.
"What?"
"A quick question," he gasped, "usually when you bake, you add a little…baking powder right?"
"Yeah of course. Why do you ask? Aren't you a professional chef?"
"Oh I am all right. But the kings aren't." he pointed at a small bottle of white powder, inscribed on the bottle bought shock to the duo.
"Baby powder!" they gasped.
Hayden came in the kitchen and immediately overheard them. His jaw dropped.
--- --- ---
"What am I hearing?" the venerable sage king approached the two chefs, catching them off-guard. They hesitated.
"Err…we were talking about…" the blonde chef muttered, "balling power. Yeah?"
"Yeah!" the brunette chef answered, "balling power. Get it! Squawk!"
Hayden stood silent. The chef stopped laughing and cleared their throats, "You…you heard us did you, Your Majesty?"
"Every word."
The chefs gulped. Hayden felt frustrated, "I can't believe this! We've worked for how long to make perfectly good eggnog balls: almost twelve hours and still nothing!" he sat at one of the chairs, "Sigh…What are we going to do?"
"I've got it!" the brunette chef beamed, "Let's not talk."
Hayden glared, "Not talk? You mean, staying silent?"
"Yeah…" the blonde chef agreed, "I mean eating a delicious eggnog ball? Phsaw! What's the harm in that?"
"IT HAS BABY POWDER ON THEM!" Hayden screamed, "Do you not understand the word: Baby powder?"
"I ate baby powder when I was a kid." The brunette chef disclosed. Hayden threw off his arms in surrender. The brunette chef continued, "Yeah, like my friend said, what could possibly go wrong?"
The chef picked a ball, took a heavy bite and out of the ball and his mouth transpired white smokes from the powder. The chef coughed and choked incessantly. The blond chef pulled out a vanilla whip cream spray and shot it inside his companion's mouth, ceasing the smoke. The brunette chef hanged his foaming mouth open, "See!" he uttered.
Hayden blinked, "That wasn't supposed to happen!"
"But it kinda did." The blond chef replied.
"Vigarde took a bite and it was delicious!"
"Perhaps…" the brunette chef muffled, "he hasn't eaten the whole of it."
The blond chef nodded, "True that."
Hayden slapped his face.
-Rausten Court Family Hall-
Dozla, L'Arachel, and Rennac hid behind a large pillar, as they stared at two plates of butter cookies and two glasses of fresh milks at a nearby stool, facing the crisping fireplace of the family hall. The Christmas tree lights shone brightly, making radiant reflection to the adorned ornaments and the candlelit chandeliers.
Rennac sighed frustratingly, "Why do we have to wait behind the pillars?"
"We're waiting for Santa Claus, Rennac." L'Arachel told him.
"It's five o'clock in the afternoon!" he hissed, "Surely Santa will not come at this time!"
"According to Dozla," she explained, "he leaves the North Pole at approximately two o'clock in the morning… yesterday, which means his trip around the world, including here in Magvel, will be over between eleven o'clock and midnight tonight."
"And you believe him?" Rennac muttered.
"Rennac," Dozla said, "you must understand the theory of speed and time in order to figure out Santa's existence. Including the theory of magic, this is down on the count, and a little something-something to prove it all, hence the milk and cookies."
Rennac simply rolled his eyes, "the milk and cookies. Yeah, how about the theory of you-being-a-pinhead?"
"Rennac!" L'Arachel scolded, "Stop being so negative! You don't want Santa to put your name on his naughty list, do you?"
"As long as he's the stuff of fairy tale, I'm always on his naughty list." Rennac said.
-Castle Renais-
Seth kept ripping through his gifts like a happy child on Christmas Day. Almost half of his gifts had their wrappings taken off. Seth received expensive scarves, shiny bracelets, capes, costumes, musical instruments, perfumes, precious stones, statues, swords, lances, gems, cashmere and even expensive French hens and electronics. Adam, Adrion, Joshua, and Gilliam stared at him wearingly.
"How long will this go on?" Gilliam moaned.
"Until all of my gifts are unwrapped!" Seth shrugged, "Duh!"
"Why can't you wait until Christmas?" Joshua asked.
Seth trembled at the thought. He then eventually shot a glare at Joshua, "Oh I see what's going on here?" he then focused his attention on the guys as well, "Not long ago, you're all pressuring me into opening my Christmas presents, and now you're all 'Let's wait until Christmas.' Are you like trying to play innocent with me and then BAM! …Run away with all of my goodies?"
The guys looked at each other. "Well," Adrion gulped, "As much as we're craving to do that… it wouldn't be fair to open all of those gifts now and on Christmas Day, while everyone will be opening their gifts, you'll be all…my gifts are boring and such. Because you'll have played with them for long."
"But Christmas is too long…" Seth bleated.
"It's tomorrow!" Adam cried.
Seth stared at him, "It is?"
Adam rolled his eyes. "b-but still…" Seth opened up a box and drew out of it a familiar Chia head. He gasped.
"It's Chia Fado!"
Everyone gathered to check out the 12-pound Chia head-shaped of a grumpy King Fado.
"Chia Fado?" Adrion squealed, "I've always wanted this toy!"
"Cool! Can't I play with it? I wanna grow its hair." Gilliam beamed.
"But I wanna grow its hair!" Joshua implored.
"Me too!" Adam whined.
"W-Wait a minute!" Seth interrupted, got up, and swept all the ripped wrappings. "You guys listen up!"
Everyone stared at Seth. The knight cleared his throat, "I've decided to listen to you all. From now on, whenever I am about to open a gift, no matter what size or height it is, please stop me."
"Got it!" they all said in unison. There was an uneasy silence between the group. Seth stared down at his gifts, a waterfall of dribbles hanged between his lips. "Give me those gifts!"
"Get him!" Gilliam signaled and everyone jumped in on Seth, restraining him from his gifts.
-Narube River-
The frozen Narube River was filled with an overwhelming crowd, all bundled in coats and gloves in the chilly afternoon. Everything, decorations, competitors, even news crew, and broadcasters were set for the Sacred Stone Ball. The Sacred Stone Ball was an ice-skating competition that took place in the afternoon and evening of every Christmas Eves. The winner was to be showered in expensive gifts from Magvel's fine retailers and boutiques.
"Welcome to our 800th Annual Sacred Stone Ball!" The host—a wyvern lord journalist, along with his crew wyvern riders announced, "Please take your seat, cause this year promises to be a blast!"
The competition was underway: some couples performed the tango; others flipped each other up in the air like acrobats, and other did a European dance and clapped hands. The crowd was amazed but it felt amateurish for some competitors. It was the same thing over and over until one couple took the stage: a berserker and a sage. (The music playing in the background was "Rock around the Clock")
The berserker and the sage did the tango at first, following a slide, then a hint of foxtrot. They stopped after the foxtrot and the sage fake-slapped the berserker, and then the berserker flipped in the air and formed himself into a ball. The sage followed with basic sidesteps moves. This move was as if the sage was rolling a yoyo on the floor. The sage then bend her back, her hands and feet firmly planted on the floor. The berserker rolled back into normal shape, flipped backward and stood on the sage's stomach. The sage, in her position, began walking like a scorpion and the berserker moved in rhythm. The berserker jumped off the sage who returned to her normal shape, held each other's hand and with their other hand flashed a peace sign. The performance made the crowd roaring and whistling with excitement.
"Give it up for the World-Bestest Skating Performers," the wyvern reporter cried, "…Largo and Calill!"
Watching from outside the rink were the five friends. They were applauding Largo and Calill's performances. "That was awesome!" Lyon stated, "I've never seen such dance moves before!"
"I hope you guys are ready." Tana faced Eirika and Innes. The duo was elegant in their dancing costumes. Innes was in a black torero costume accented with a ruffled-white cuffs and a handkerchief attached by his neck. He also had on his raven-shining skating shoes. Innes's hair was well-combed from the front. Eirika had on a midnight blue skating dress garlanded in bright dots that resembled stars, which was backless and its skirt reached her knees. Her skating shoes unlike Innes were white, laced, and reached two inches above her ankles. She wore snow-white compatible gloves.
"We are good and ready," Innes said as his eyes glued on Largo and Calill. The competitive duo returned the glare.
"We'll crush those guys." Eirika said.
"I hope not." Ephraim muttered.
"What did you say Ephraim?"
"I hope so."
"Up next," the reporter yelled, "It's the sensational Eirika and Innes!"
"Wish us luck!" Innes said as the duo both entered the ice rink.
"Good luck!" All, except Ephraim cried out.
The music "Rock around the Clock" played again. Eirika fake-slapped Innes then Innes jumped behind Eirika and the duo moved in rhythm. They separate, still moving in rhythm. Then they joined up again and flashed their arms up in the air.
Ephraim, Tana, and Lyon's jaws dropped at the sight of Eirika and Innes's dance. "They got skills!" Tana gasped.
"For how long did they practice?" Ephraim asked.
"Since yesterday." Lyon answered, "I never knew they got to this situation where… they are totally expert."
"Tell me about it." Tana breathed.
Eirika jumped on Innes and both turned their heads. Their expression looked quite serious. Eirika did the slide and Innes helped. The duo both turned facing each other again. Eirika bended forward, Innes leaned back, and vice-versa. They did the Cancan next and hereafter Innes grabbed Eirika's hand and the princess twirled towards him. Both duo twirled and formed a tornado. What seemed like snowflakes blew out from them, mesmerizing the audience. Finally they flashed their arms up the air again for the big finish. The performance had the crowd on their feet.
"What a performance!" the reporter gasped, "This bound to be one awesome competition! Give it up for Eirika and Innes y'all!"
Innes and Eirika ran to hug Lyon, Tana, and Ephraim.
"That was awesome girl!" Tana exclaimed.
"You think?" Eirika breathed heavily.
"I know!"
"We are sensational." Innes drew out a large amount of sweat off his forehead.
"You do know that this is a rock-n-roll song." Ephraim inquired.
"Of course I did." Innes said, "What did you think, Eph?"
Largo and Calill approached the friends, "What a performance!" Largo exclaimed, "We've seen competition in our land, but not as good as this."
"Silver-haired boy and Eirika," Calill said, "We should have you over at Tellius sometimes. We'll make you stars and go on tour… if you have a chance of winning of course."
"Gee thanks." Innes scratched his head.
"Who are you too anyway?" Lyon asked.
"Name's Largo," Largo introduced, "This partner here is Calill. We're the best!"
Calill snorted, "Yeah, what he said."
"The results are here." The reporter cried, "Only two performers will be going to the grand final at Rausten Court Ice Hall. The finalists are…"
Eirika's heart began racing. Innes however felt confident. The wyvern reporter pulled out a piece of paper from an envelope and read, "…Largo and Calill…"
The crowd began cheering as the berserker and the sage took the stage and waved to the audience.
"…and Eirika and Innes!"
Eirika was speechless. Hearing her name and Innes's in the list of finalists was joy enough to make her mute. Tana and Lyon both squealed in excitement. Innes haughtily smiled and Ephraim couldn't help but form a smirk for his sister.
"We did it!" Innes cried, "Come on Eirika! The stage awaits!"
"Congratulations!" Innes and Lyon cried out.
Innes and Eirika entered the ice rink and waved to the cheering audience. Lyon faced Ephraim, "Aren't you happy for your sister Ephraim?"
"I am…" He reluctantly replied, "…very happy for them."
-Rausten Court Guest Room-
Finalists and other competitors of the Sacred Stone Ball were to stay at Rausten Court's Guest Hall. The hall was large and had enough doors leading to many personal guest chambers. Innes and Eirika were led to the far-west guest chamber to celebrate their success in making it to the finals. The chamber was large and white as marble. It had a spiral stair that led to the bedrooms. The main level had a dining table, chesterfields, and a coffee table around, with a telegram in addition. The four friends entered together chattering amongst themselves. Ephraim, eating a banana trailed behind.
"Can you believe it?" Eirika gasped, "We're at the finals!"
"Oh I believe it or not," Innes replied, "We are."
The four friends climbed the spiral stairway. Ephraim glanced at the stairs.
"So where do you think is the Rausten Ice Hall?" Lyon asked.
"Gee, come to think of it…" Innes thought, "I've no idea."
"I've asked one of the chambermaids while we were coming." Tana said, "The Ice Hall is where the Rausten Garden used to be."
"The one that led to the throne room?" Eirika asked, "Where we had that slumber party?"
"That's the one."
While the friends continued chatting, Ephraim began studying the stairs' length and height, his banana still in his hand. He took five steps up, looked downstairs then up the stairs. It was at that moment he mustered a menacing smile.
"Where's Ephraim anyway?" Eirika looked around, "I haven't seen him since the competition."
The friends looked around and saw that he was missing as well, "Yeah," Lyon replied, "Come to think of it, I thought he was with us not long ago."
"I hope he didn't get lost." Innes said.
Just then, Ephraim's voice called from downstairs, "Hey Innes! King Hayden is sending a telegram! He's asking for your well-being!"
Innes threw a glance downstairs and saw Ephraim in contact with the telegram. Eirika, Tana, and Lyon peeked in as well.
"Hey Ephraim," Eirika called, "I thought you were lost!"
"I wasn't lost. I just arrived." He replied.
"Why would Father ask for my well-being?" Innes faced the friends as he walked down the stairs, "perhaps he wants to congratulate me on that awesome performance we did in the—"
Innes was cut off short as he slipped on a banana peel, took flight, and landed hard on the floor. Everyone watched in horror.
"BROTHER!" Tana gasped.
"Sweet Saint Latona!" Lyon trembled.
"INNES! ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?" Eirika cried.
"OW!" Innes groaned in pain.
"BROTHER! ARE YOU OKAY?" Tana cried.
"Yeah…" he looked up, "I think I hurt my ankle pretty bad…"
"I think we lost him…" Ephraim turned his attention to Innes and cocked his head one side, "…why are you on the floor?"
NEXT CHAPTER…