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, Nicole, Trevor, Keri, Ben, Chelsea, and Mace of Kilvas and Mina of Kilvas) are the only belongings of the author.

Chapter 16: Jeopardy, Christmas Style!

-Tanas Villa Garden-

"Now that is a splendid preposition." Oliver laughed heartedly in response of a deal Reyson recently proposed.

"Reyson, are you sure?" Ike shook his head in disbelief. The white prince nodded.

"We're to determine the fate of Christmas in either the hand of Ike or Oliver through… a game show?" Elincia gasped.

"And if you lose," Oliver added, "not only will the Ornaments be belonging to me, you'll be spending your eternal lives in my dungeon."

"Now that's just preposterous." Titania scoffed.

"Yes, there's no way we'll be spending our last Christmas in your cell." Rhys argued.

"I don't know about you but its sounds like a fair deal to me." Soren countered.

Everyone except Ike stared questionably at Soren. Ike sighed, "I don't know why you're doing this Reyson, but I trust you." There was a quick silence among the company before Ike continued, "So, what will be the theme?"

"The theme?" Reyson smiled, "Why, we've already found a theme: Christmas."

Everyone, except Oliver smiled at Reyson's proposal. "We'll be testing each one of you on how much you know about Christmas."

"How much do we have to know?" Oliver asked curiously.

"From the actual birth… of Christmas." Reyson responded.

Great anxiety befell onto Oliver's head. The only fact the duke knew about Christmas is the joy of being spoiled and showered in gifts on Christmas Day.

The garden immediately transformed into a game show room. Ike and Oliver stood on platforms, behind their podiums with their names inscribed in neon colors. The background became indigo and many neon colors began flashing and spotlights swirled around the room. Elincia and company, along with Oliver's soldiers and Leanne stood behind small gates. Reyson faced Ike and Oliver behind his podium

An announcing voice sounded from out of the blue, "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO EVERYONE'S FAVORITE GAME SHOW EVER! PLEASE WELCOME OUR CONTESTANTS: GENERAL CRIMEA IKE AND DUKE TANAS OLIVER. AND THE STAR OF OUR SHOW: REYSON!"

"All right fellow contestants." Reyson smiled, "Please tell me about yourselves… Oh, wait a minute. I do know about yourselves. So let's skip that."

Ike and Oliver stared at each other. Reyson cleared his throat, "All right. You know the drill: each question is worth 10 points and one of you must answer at least five questions correctly to win the ultimate prize: the seven Crystal Ornaments of Christmas."

A loud cheer emerged from an unseen crowd. Reyson continued, "All right! Let's start with our first inquiry: It is actually an annual celebration of our Lord's birthday?"

Oliver gritted through his nails, allowing Ike to push the buzzer. Reyson faced him, "Yes!"

"What Christmas really is about?"

"CORRECT!"

The crowd cheered again and Elincia and company joined in the cheering. "All right Ike!" Elincia cried. Ike winked.

"Question #2," Reyson flipped through his flashcards, "It is the tree of trees, with the length of the Guiding Tower of Begnion."

Oliver pushed the buzzer. Reyson pointed at Oliver, "Yes!"

"What is the Serenes Christmas Tree?"

Reyson sighed, "Correct." An overwhelming boo sounded from the unseen crowd yet the duke's army threw up a loud cheer. Oliver looked around and threw his arm around, as if to chase out the booing that was bothering his ears, "Oh, shut up! You're just jealous 'cause I know things."

"Be careful Ike." Elincia cried out to Ike. The young general nodded.

"All right, that's 1 point from each side." Reyson reviewed the results, "remember, one of you need five points to win this game."

Ike and Oliver both sneered at each other. Reyson continued, "All right. This next question will have you guess a song." Reyson snapped his fingers and this was playing in the background.

On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me,

A partridge in a pear tree.

Ike scratched his head, "Wait a minute. I know this song…it's like on the tip of my head."

"COME ON IKE! YOU CAN DO IT!" Rhys cried out.

On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me,

Two turtledoves and a partridge in a pear tree.

"OOH-OOH!" Oliver squealed and raised his hand like a child in class who excitingly knew the answer of a math problem. Reyson simply stared at him then nudged his head towards the duke's buzzer. Ike immediately beamed a smile and buzzed his buzzer and so did a startled Oliver simultaneously.

"DAY OF CHRISTMAS!" Oliver blurted out.

"THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS!" Ike blurted out as well.

"CORRECT!" Reyson yelled and Oliver began leaping in glee as the overwhelming crowd began cheering once more. "That's two points for…"

"For me." Oliver haughtily smiled.

Reyson shook his head, "Actually no Oliver. It's two points for Ike."

"WHAT?" Oliver stared at Ike, who began appealing the unseen crowd with graceful bowing. "But you say—"

"Ike got it right." Reyson replied, "You say 'Day of Christmas' instead of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'"

"But how am I supposed to know that it was 'Twelve days of Christmas' with those singers that kept singing 'Days of Christmas' nonstop?" Oliver began complaining, "They're trying to twist my mind off!"

Reyson raised his eyebrows and looked away, "O-Kay, next question: It is the one gift that everyone wants to receive on Christmas Day?"

Ike buzzed the buzzer before Oliver got his chance, "WHAT IS A WHITE CHRISTMAS?" he yelled.

"CORRECT!" Reyson cried and the overwhelming crowd, including the company cheered once more. "That's three points for Ike. Oliver…Uno."

"This is it, Ike!" Titania cried, "Only two more questions left and Christmas will be saved!"

"I wouldn't count on it." Soren thought.

"All right let's get on with it," Reyson said, "this next question will worth two points. If Ike answers it, he'll win. At this time of year, there are two flavorful scents."

"Two flavorful scents?" Ike felt puzzled.

"AH! You don't know the answer?" Oliver immediately buzzed his buzzer and blurted, "WHAT IS GINGERBREAD AND PEPPERMINT?"

Reyson drew a sharp breath, "Correct." The overwhelming crowd resumed the booing but Oliver's army cheered even more than before.

"Oh come on!" Ike complained, "I didn't get a chance!"

"That's three points for both sides." Reyson reviewed, "We only have two more questions left."

Ike and Oliver glared at each other once more. Reyson continued, "Next question: It is everyone's favorite drink at this time of year?"

Both Ike and Oliver pushed their buzzer simultaneously and blurted, "EGGNOG!"

"Both of you have the correct answer." Reyson stated and immediately the unseen crowd cheered, as well as Ike's company and Oliver's army, "So it's one point for both sides."

"You can do it Ike!" Titania cried.

"Come on, Duke Tanas!" one of the soldiers cheered, "Crush them in almonds!"

Reyson flipped through his flashcards, glanced through them, and let out a sigh, "This last question will determine the fate of Christmas. Whoever answer this question right will win the game."

"I hope I get this right." Ike thought, "It's now or never."

"Bring it on." Oliver grinned.

Reyson read his flashcard, "They are the essences of the Christmas Spirit of Tellius."

Both Ike and Oliver buzzed their buzzers. Everything seemed to be in slow motion as the duo blurted out their answers differently,

"THE CRYSTAL ORNAMENTS!" Ike responded.

"WHAT ARE THE CRYSTAL ORNAMENTS?" Oliver inquired.

Reyson looked as if he just saw a terrible car accident. He dropped his flashcards, raised his hand up and pointed at…Oliver. "You are correct." He responded.

The unseen crowd gasped and every one of Ike's company almost had their jaws dropped on the floor. Oliver's army hooted at full volume like a football team who won a game.

"That's…" Ike gasped, "That's impossible! How could I lose?"

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!" Oliver laughed, "I don't know what happened but I won!"

The entire game show setting turned back to the garden setting again. Ike approached Reyson, "Reyson! What happened? Why did he win?"

"I'm sorry Ike," Reyson sighed, "but you've missed one important key to the answer. And that was… What is?"

Ike bit his lower lip and smacked his forehead, "D-Oh!"

Elincia approached Ike and the rest of the gang as well. The princess lay her hand on his shoulder, "It's okay Ike."

"Yeah, you've tried your best." Rhys consoled.

"B…but," Ike whimpered, "We were…this close…"

"And now our beloved Christmas will be nothing but in ruins." Lucius looked up the sky in thought.

"Guard! Take them away!" Oliver pointed at the company and immediately the army seized them. Oliver approached Ike, leaned to him and gave him a sinister smile, "You've done good kid, but not good enough. Now my Christmas wish will be coming true. My eternal Christmas wish."

The guards took them away as Oliver began laughing coldly and uproariously.

NEXT CHAPTER…