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 17: Here Comes the Laguz

-Goldoan Gathering-

"Your Majesty. I think it's time." Giffca addressed to Caineghis and the lion king nodded in reply. The Laguzes were still at the Thanksgiving feast inside the Goldoan Gathering and all of them seemed to have one particular thing in mind.

The generals of the Laguz kings gathered around and were talking among each other. Mordecai sighed, "I still can't believe we had to do this."

"Whether you like it or not, we were involved Mordecai," Lethe replied then sighed as well, "All I want for Christmas is for this thing to be over once and for all."

"What thing?" Mina cocked her head on one side, "What are you talking about?"

"We have trouble!" A familiar voice was heard from up the sky. The Laguzes looked up and saw Chelsea approaching the Gathering, escorting Reyson and Leanne.

"Prince Reyson!" Nealuchi cheered, "He's back! He's back!"

"Is it good news Prince?" Naesala asked as the three herons made their landings, "it better be good news, 'cause I don't want to stay here any longer and eat those pumpkin pies again."

"It is not." Reyson replied and began his explanation to the Laguz monarchs of what recently happened to Ike and his company regarding their loss for the Ornaments.

"This news is very dire, indeed." Tibarn rubbed his chin then faced Deghinsea and Kurthnaga. The rest of the Laguzes did so as well. "What should we do, Deghinsea?" Caineghis asked the Black Dragon King. "I think it is time to act don't you think?"

Deghinsea closed his eyes and ran briefly his thoughts. It took him about a minute to reopen them, "It's time." He replied.

"Time?" Mina scratched his head, "Time for what? Can anyone tell us what's going on here?"

Deghinsea faced one of the Goldoan soldiers and nodded. The soldier left on cue and returned inside, with a Gallian and Phoenician soldier transporting a large chest. They thumped it down and the Laguzes gathered around it. Mace approached his sister with a puzzling look on his face, "what is going on here?"

Mina shrugged, "I don't know."

"Guess you're about to find out." Ranulf smiled at the two crows and went to the chest. He pulled off a key from his pocket and busted open the chest. The entire gathering stared gravely at what was inside the chest. The twins stared inside as well and immediately, their jaws dropped.

"For the love of squawk!" Mace screeched.

"What is this?" Mina cried.

"What? You never saw this before?" Naesala smiled and the Laguzes all smiled at each other. Mace and Mina however did not find this amusing.

"So if I understand perfectly," Mace replied, "it's your fault Christmas is ruined in this world!"

"Hey, let's not jump into conclusions here." Tibarn said, "But at least it won't."

"And besides, you should be thanking us…" Nasir smiled.

"…as soon as you'll be hearing our story." Ena said.

"I hope so." Mina muttered. "And hurry it up, will ya? We don't have all day with these in our eyes."

The continent of Tellius, the day before Christmas Eve, is starting to lose its Christmas color. The brothers and Niime soon lost their Christmas spirit and their pursuit for a tradition, and Lucia, Jill, and company began questioning their on-foot travel around the Crimean streets and farmlands, where they were suppose to do some caroling.

Inside Melior, the capital of Crimea, Mist and company were having the annual Noel feast at the royal villa, which recently turned into a disaster after having three guests who have forgotten Christmas and now are questioning this holiday. Yet as soon as the conflict ceased, it was now everyone's turn to forget what they were actually doing.

"Uh, guys?" Mist stared at the company, "What's the occasion?"

Ben raised an eyebrow, "I thought you knew."

"No I don't."

"Me neither."

"Then what are we doing then?" Kieran scratched his head.

"We're having dinner I guess." Ilyana responded, holding two pieces of chickens, "A nice quiet dinner between friends… mm, chicken…tasty hard-skinned…chicken?"

"I guess you're right." Gatrie responded, "We're really having a dinner. Perhaps between double…no, triple dates." He stared fondly at Astrid, who simply blushed.

"What makes you think of that?" Astrid replied.

Marcia picked up her glass of eggnog and drank it once more. She licked her lips, "Mm! Your so-called eggnog is so eggnogilicious."

"Eggnog?" Mia cocked her head on one side, "When did you come up with that idea for a… strange drink?"

"Uh, you did." Marcia pointed.

"Uh Marcia, we never heard of eggnog before." Mist stared confusingly at the Pegasus knight. Marcia put her glass down and began arguing, "Okay, not long ago, you were all arguing about this drink to be part of your holiday, and now what? You forgot?"

"What holiday?" Ben looked around, "Are we celebrating a holiday?"

"Actually we're just having dinner." Kieran responded.

"But, I thought you invited us for your… Somethin-mas holiday stuff." Makalov also started an argument.

"Marcia and Makalov's right." Astrid agreed, "And now it's just a dinner?"

"This is going to get ugly." Shinon grinned from ear to ear and immediately a huge argument over what they were doing here began to ensue. Everyone at the table began throwing, not just their hand at each other, but the foods everywhere, all due to that simple misunderstanding (or the forgotten Christmas). Every one of them eventually took off, facing the fact that this whole dinner idea was stupid.

"HEY!" Mist cried out to them, "What about the turkey? Who's going to eat all that turkey?" she glanced at the unfinished bird then stared in space, "Why are we eating turkey?"

-Tanas Villa Dungeon-

Christmas's future is far away,

Christmas's past is past,

Christmas's present is here today,

Bringing joy that will rest,

Have yourself a merry little Christmas,

Let your heart be light,

From now on, our troubles will be out of sight…

"Yeah right." Soren scoffed in response to the Christmas music playing at the duke's villa, above the dungeon. Ike, Elincia, Titania, Soren, Rhys, and Lucius sat quietly inside the dungeon, listening to the music and ignoring Soren's cruel comments.

Lucius broke the silence, "Christmas is ruined."

"This is all my fault." Ike sighed, still thinking of that one stupid mistake he made. Elincia comforted him, "It's not your fault Ike." She said, "You've tried your best."

"We came to Begnion in response of the apostle's Christmas invitation, only to wind up in that greedy duke's jail that has the stench of garbage and skin." Ike stated.

"Well look on the bright side," Soren pointed, "at least every year's end will be normal for a change."

Rhys stared coldly at Soren, "What's the matter with you Soren? Don't you have any sympathy for what Tellius is going through? Losing its Christmas Spirit altogether?"

Soren's eyes immediately met Rhys's, "Christmas?" he asked, "What you're talking about Rhys?"

Rhys backed away in shock, "Uh Soren?" he worryingly asked. "Don't tell me…"

Lucius stared directly into Soren's eyes and concluded, "Soren has forgotten Christmas."

"What are you guys talking about?" Titania became the next person to ask. Everyone stared at Titania and felt worried as well. Ike approached the paladin, "Wait, you don't… remember?"

"I'm remembering my presence here in this dungeon." Titania replied, "Oh wait a second." She laughed sarcastically, "I'm right here!"

The jail door suddenly creaked open and the gang stood up in response. Ike glanced outside and noticed a shadow behind.

"Who's there?" he asked at the top of his voice.

"We're here to rescue you. Duh!" A familiar cat sounding voice was heard.

The shadow exposed itself to the light. It was Ranulf. He smiled at Ike and the company, "Don't you think you stayed in there for too long?"

"Ranulf!" Ike brought in a smile on his face. Everyone stood up and exited the prison to meet the cat general.

"It's good to see you my lord Ranulf!" Elincia said, "What are you doing here?"

"We're here for you." Another voice sounded from the shadows and the gang all saw Janaff, Ulki, Lethe, and Mordecai. "We and the Laguz kings heard your news from Prince Reyson." Janaff replied, "You should be happy you have unforgettable friends with unforgettable memories."

Ike smiled, realizing something in the laguz, "You guys haven't forgotten about Christmas after all?"

"Yeah, yeah we didn't." Lethe responded, "Now it's time to get out of here."

"Good." Soren began stretching, "'Cause I'm not going to stay another second inside this place."

The gang took off for the exit and directly into the garden. Ike looked back at the villa and abruptly stopped, "Wait a minute! We're forgetting something."

"We're forgetting nothing." Ulki replied.

"What?"

"But…" Elincia hesitated, "the Crystal Ornaments…"

"We can't leave them behind." Rhys responded.

"We don't have time for them." Mordecai responded, "We have to get out of here before Oliver finds us."

The company and the Laguz exited the villa and pierced through the woods of the Serenes Forest.

NEXT CHAPTER…