Wow! People still review! I'm really happy, I really am. I'll try to make the chapters longer. However, this one will be somewhat short. Here comes Chapter five!

Valkyrie: Guess what? I'm back!

Innes: I think we see that….

Eirika and Tana: DIE! DIE! BOYS MUST DIE!

Innes and Valkyrie: Run away! It's the fashion zombies!

Ephraim: Why aren't they going after me?

Eirika and Tana: COLOGNE! (I hope this is how you spell it) COLOGNE! AHHH

Chapter Five: Twin Instinct

"Oh wow!" Eirika looks around in amazement. "Grado has changed so much!"

Indeed, Grado did look a lot then when they came the first time in the war. At the war, people were sick, shocked, and were very devastated. Buildings were torn down. Bandits were not bothered by the emperor or the Imperial Three. They wreck havoc wherever, whenever. It was not until the war was over, Lord Duessel took command and the bandits were driven out.

Now, merchants were happily selling merchandises around the town while the citizens of Grado walked peacefully, laughing and joking. Children ran around, playing with toys. One child accidentally bumped into Eirika.

"Sorry, lady!" The boy chirped brightly. He looked up at Eirika. "You're pretty, lady."

Eirika laughed a little. "Thanks! What's your name?"

"Gabriel."

"Well, Gabriel. It's very nice that you apologized to me. Run along, now." Gabriel nodded and ran after another boy with a wooden toy sword.

"At least he was polite." Ephraim said. Eirika nodded, happy that Grado was such a cheerful place.

People everywhere didn't pay attention to them until Eirika approached a stand that was selling bracelets. She spotted one that looked like it would look nice with her other bracelet. She didn't even bother getting Ephraim, who was busily looking through silver weapons.

"Excuse me, kind sir, but how much does this bracelet cost?"

The man had been rummaging through something in the back. "One second, ma'am." The man's voice was bright and young, and indeed. He was only around Eirika's age.

"Yes ma'am, that one is only…" he glanced up at Eirika's face. "By the name of the Sacred Stones, are you the elegant Princess Eirika?"

Eirika fidgeted a little, and then nodded.

"Holy! IT'S THE PRINCESS OF RENAIS!" The man shouted. Eirika covered her face with her hand. Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at her. A moment of silence came, and Eirika revealed her face. Suddenly, shouts were everywhere.

"It really is! It's the princess of Renais!"

"She's so beautiful! Did she really fight?"

"How can she wield a sword?"

"Mom, what's a princess?"

"I love you, Princess Eirika!"

"Can I have your signature?"

Eirika smiled embarrassingly as everyone crowded her, asking her questions. Ephraim……where are you…She thought.

Ephraim was looking at silver weapons. A silver lance would be nice. He mused. At first, the outside was very busy, but then it suddenly became quiet. After Ephraim waited a while, he heard commotion again, along with a chanting that sounded like, "Air we car! Air we car!"

Ephraim walked outside and he spotted a group of people chanting and screaming. "Great. Eirika fans." Ephraim shook his head. "What about me?" He started to walk towards it.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Duessel sat restlessly in his grand room. Being the ruler of Grado was not easy, but he had to help the fallen country. Trying to remember what Vigarde did, he ruled the people with the same, caring attitude Vigarde had before he turned bad.

Deciding that being too stressed was bad, Duessel left his room and out into the beautiful garden. Walking peacefully, Duessel's mind is always calm in this environment. Closing his eyes, he closed his eyes, opened up his arms, and took a deep breath. Usually, he doesn't get interrupted in the garden, but today was a special occasion.

"My Lord Duessel!" General Amelia walked quickly through the grass. Duessel exhaled and faced Amelia.

"What is it, general?"

"Princess Eirika and Prince Ephraim have arrived in Grado.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

While the crowd was getting really excited about Eirika, Eirika actually manage to sneak out of the crowd into a dark alley. She gave a happy sigh, knowing that they looked at her as a hero made her happy.

Taking a quick glance at the crowd, she turned back towards the dark alley only to find a man in her path, his smile telling her his not here for an autograph.

"Well, well. If it isn't the pretty bird of Renais."

Eirika gasped, and she turned around to run only to find her face to face with another man. This man was wielding a knife, and he was dangerously close to Eirika.

If only I had a sword! Eirika thought helplessly. Ephraim!

Eirika! Ephraim's eyes opened wide. He didn't know why, but he sensed that Eirika was in danger. The crowd was still busily bustling around, but he wasn't so sure anymore that Eirika is in the crowd. He wisely walked around the crowd to check where Eirika is.

The two men were closing in and Eirika had no where to go. She had only one choice. She kicked the knife-wielding man's hand, causing him to drop the knife, but before she could escape, the other man grabbed her by the shoulders, covering her mouth. The other man grasped his hand, red from Eirika's kick, but he smiled menacingly, he eyes looking at Eirika's body. Shivering under the man's glare, she struggled to move. And here she thought she could be so strong after war. Giving up hopelessly, she prepared for the worse until she heard a sudden shout.

"EIRIKA!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Valkyrie: Is this what you call a cliffhanger?

Ephraim: Honestly, I have no idea.

Tana: Too much...cologne. faints

Eirika:Bandits? I cannot be captured by bandits! This is just wrong! Valkyrie!

Valkryie: squeals and runs away.

Innes: Please R&R!