Karel: I brought visitors!
Karl: Who is it?
Volke: Hello…
Karl: Omigod! It's Volke!
Volke: …
Karl: So you want to tell everyone what's coming next?
Volke: Something exciting… If you know what I mean…
Karl: Yep yep, so keep reading folks!
Karel: Karl still does not own Fire Emblem or its characters!
Volke: So who does?
Karl: Dejavu!

---

Chapter 4: A Cry For Help

The entire crowd was glued to the battle. Geoffrey was snickering in the corner of his mouth. He had always wanted to see his sister get beat up; Bastian doing it was just another bonus! The queen on the other hand, was just about to wet herself. Forthrightly, she couldn't do so, but if she could, she would have guaranteed her advisors that she'd be at the washroom at that exact point. After three gasps, a soldier signaled the start of the bout.

"Lady Lutia, just to be straight, I have no intention to harm your beau—"

Lutia didn't give Bastian a chance to continue his rather boring sentence and simply whacked him at the top of his head with her training sword. The direct impact of the blow caused Bastian to fall on the floor, shaking. Pointing the sword directly at Bastian's throat, all Lutia could do was smile. Deep inside, she couldn't explain why but…

"Bastian I…"

"Should have never let your guard down!"

Moving like a madman, Bastian rapidly got up off the floor, still trembling, and unconsciously chanted a spell with missing and morphed chants. The result was a mix between an Elfire and Elwind spell. In a few minutes, a potent flaming tornado was headed towards Lutia. She, still being in a state of emotional distress, and therefore couldn't react fast enough to dodge the mammoth fluke in front of her. Once Bastian saw this, he did something that barely anyone could have pictured him attempting.

"No! Lady Lutia!"

The duke dashed with all the muscle his legs contained and recited a spell he knew by heart. Firmly, he grabbed Lutia out of the way of the death sentence that was headed directly for her. And, in the same state of mind, finished his chant, causing thunder to come raining down on the crazy tornado.

"Elthunder! Rain down from the heaves!"

Eventually, the clash of anima magic caused the extreme circumstances to cease to a point. Lutia, unconscious as to what just happened, just stared back at Bastian, and for the first time that she could remember, noticed his lustrous striking eyes. Whether she wanted to bound out of Bastian's arms, or just stay there, forever encased, was a choice she was contemplating. The latter was her eventual choice, as she closed her eyes, tired out by the event.

Queen Ellincia had fainted minutes ago, and Geoffrey had bounded towards his sister and Bastian in concern. All the others in the crowd had leapt down and surrounded the couple. Clerics frantically cast heal and mend spells, infuriating Bastian after getting healed ten times in a row for no apparent reason. Pretty soon, Lutia was awake with a smile.

"Bastian…"

---

Volke didn't think it would come to this. What had happened? His skill was great… Yet a stranger with an outrageously heavy blade bested him? He was supposed to be the man of mystery, not some burly shadow in the smoke… All these thoughts went through Volke's head as he rode down a familiar path. He knew exactly what he had to do. In order to avoid leaking his mission, the only way to get help, was to get it from people who already knew you. A word that barely came to mind popped up within Volke's thoughts.

Trust? Damn it, why'd it have to come to this?

Leisurely, Volke tugged on the reins of his horse and placed it near a stable. A mercenary fort stood in front of him. Volke's hands and leg sections were throbbing after the long three-hour ride; He just had to sit down. Someone should be out in a few minutes or so. Sure enough, a figure came out of the fort in mere seconds.

This will do…

---

Titania just had to get some fresh air. To avoid barfing Mist's new "delicacy" out right in front of her, Titania had to do so out the window. It was degrading when Boyd got down on his rear and started laughing his ass off. Clutching her head, she made her way to the mercenary stables. It had only been a while since the clean up started, thankfully, the Daein troops didn't wreck the place too much.

What the?

In a split-second, Titania had noticed a new horse parked next to the stable. After another split-second, a hand stifled her mouth, and an arm hung around her neck. She couldn't believe how reckless she had been.

If my fate is to dye in irresponsibility, then so be it…

"Silence Titania, nothing will happen if you just be quiet"

Two things happened at that moment. First, she wondered how the figure knew her name. And second, she thought best to take her subsequent chance in life, rather than lose it another time. Nodding her head, the figure maintained his two grips, and retreated them both into the trees outside the fort. When they got there, he released his hold.

"Volke…"

"Ah, so you remember me?"

Titania acted as swiftly as a lady on medieval steroids. Taking a dagger in her left pocket, she swiftly turned around and pointed at where Volke's heart should have been. To her malcontent, it wasn't there. Looking around, she could hear the thumping of her organs, but nothing else. Why had her old… Cohort, turned on her?

"Titania, I'm not here to hurt you"

"You were about to kill me!"

"…Sorry, it was a… Safety measure"

"On your end right?

"Eh… Yes, sorry… Now slowly lower your weapon"

Titania paid no mind to Volke's request, and rather listened to her own. Expertly, she twirled the dagger back into her pocket and crossed her arms. Someone had a lot of explaining to do. From a Birch on top of her, Volke dropped down expertly and put on a sly grin. The expression on Titania's face showed that it was not helping.

"Umm…"

"Start now…"

---

"So you're saying that…"

"I need your help"

"You need weapons and Ike?"

"Well, my daggers shattered, and Ike may be the only person that can stop the Black Knight if I find him…"

"…"

"Titania, please, I know we've never been on good terms but…"

"One condition"

"Yes?"

"I'm coming as well"

---

In a country recently freed from war, a man clad in dark robes looked around. He seemed to be within the confines of a castle basement. Soldiers that looked almost exactly like him crowded the area, discussing battle plans, and cleaning their weapons. Slowly, the man advanced towards a shadow of stature seated upon a golden throne. Upon it lay a symbol only known to the old soldiers of Daein.

"So, was the guard duty successful?"

"…No, a man that possessed some skill matched my power…"

"It seems we have a problem don't we?"

"Yes sire"

---

Karl: R&R D