Hm...I guess everyone, like me, has lost interest in the story. This will probably be the last chapter I'm gonna do unless more people review. I will probably work on this again after I finish Tana's Journey. Everyone will be so sad.

Eirika and Ephraim: NOOO! Breaks down and cries.

Tana: Soooo, I go on a stupid journey, find Cormag, and write everything down in a journal. That's it?

Valkyrie: yup!

Tana: okay!

Innes: We are doomed…

Chapter Seven: The Ritual

Natasha frantically ran around the temple, telling priests what to to.

"You! Get the Prince's body"

"You! Get the vial!"

"You! Get the staff!"

"You! Set up the circle!"

"You...What are you doing here!" Natasha stared at a stupid kitchen cook.

"I dunno." He mumbled. He giggled a high pitch giggle and walked out the door drunkenly. Natasha shook her head.

"The ritual begins in five minutes!" Natasha declared. Everyone continued to run around, only more frantically.

Meanwhile, Eirika, Ephraim, and Amelia made their move. Amelia started to distract the guards away from the entrance. Amelia picked up a rock and threw it forcefully at a guard's head. It knock the helmet with a BANG, and the guard fell.

"We're under attack! Tell General Natasha!"

"We can't! They are doing a ritual!"

"Grr...soldiers, report to the king!"

And they left. Foolish, thought the three of them. Eirika led them in. She slipped into the temple, which had a strange scent. Lavender, rosemary, and burning candle surprisingly smelled like peanuts. She hid behind a wall, and took a peek at what they were doing.

Eirika gasped when she saw Lyon's body. Even after a year, Lyon's body has not rot even one bit. Lyon was laying in the middle of a circle, with many priests and clerics surrounding him. One of them is Natasha. They all had their eyes closed, and Eirika took this chance to sneak in, Ephraim and Amelia following close from behind.

"Oh sacred god!" Natasha said. "Our prince is tainted with dark magic. Please, purge him of his evilness and bring destroy his body, soul resting in peace."

Eirika wanted to rush in, but Ephraim held her back. "Not yet. We can't be too hasty." Eirika nodded, and slowly tiptoed closer and closer.

"Shine your mighty aura on him! Destroy the darkness residing within!" A light broke from the ceiling and onto Lyon's chest. At first, it didn't do anything, then, a purple streak of magic flew from his chest into the light and to the sky. The three gasped. They are extracting thedarkness out of Lyon!

Ephraim caught his breath. "We have to stop this before they go too far!" He whispered. Eirika nodded. She grabbed the vial and silently sneaked behind Natasha, whose hand's were join with all the other priests and clerics, who were all mumbling about some incantation. Eirika could care less. The dark magic flowing out of Lyon was shimmering less and less, and Eirika panicked for a second. What happens if they interrupted? What happens if they were right, and Lyon will be evil. She had to take the chance. She would give anything to see her friend smile at them again.

Ephraim and Amelia, hidden behind a pillar, was crossing their fingers. None of them was experienced in magic, only Eirika has taken a little lesson on how to withstand magic better.

Eirika waited until the dark magic flow was only a faint scent. She suddenly charged in, slapping away a priest. Natasha opened her eyes in fear. The clerics and priests gasped as Eirika stormed in the circle for Lyon. She immediately took out the vial and poured it into Lyon's mouth. Everyone gasped again, and two priests pulled Eirika away.

Natasha was furious. "Princess Eirika! What are you doing?" She exclaimed. The priests pulled her so she was facing Natasha. At the same time, guards stormed in from the entrance of the temple, forcing Amelia and Ephraim to show themselves in front of them.

"I-I need to revive him, Natasha! Lyon is our friend! He was skilled in dark magic doesn't mean he's evil. It was the Dark Stone that was evil. He died an innocent death!" Eirika frantically tried to get away. The guards try to get closer, but Amelia and Ephraim pulled out the lances, telling them they are ready for a fight. The guards knew that even if they outnumbered those two, they are still no match for them.

Silence came, followed by a raspy breathing. Eirika turned around to find Lyon coughing. "E-Eirika…" Lyon raised his hand, and yelled, "Flux!" Two black balls of energy flew from Lyon hand into the ground. A seal appeared below the two priests, and before they knew it, they were down, unconscious. Natasha was very surprised.

"Prince Lyon! How could you still use dark magic? We…we made sure all the darkness was sucked out of you! This….this is impossible!"

Lyon gave her a blank stare. "You may have sucked out the tainted darkness of the Demon King, but you did not suck out the magic powered not by darkness, but by knowledge and my own power. Of course, if a mage was here, you would've known. I must thank you for getting rid of the Demon King; however, I assume you did not bring me back to life." He looked at Natasha, who shrinks back behind the clerics.

Eirika looked at Lyon. "Lyon, it was Ephraim and I who revived you!" Lyon turned to see Eirika and Ephraim, and tears swelled up in his eyes.

"I-I'm so s-sorry…" Lyon choked. Eirika and Ephraim went to his side and gave him a warm hug.

"I've gave you much grief."

The twins looked at each other.

"You may have given us grief." Ephraim said. "But you only did it in attempt to save your father, and we understand that. Do not fret." Lyon smiled.

Natasha told the guards to lower their arms. Amelia cleared her throat.

"I believe Lord Duessel would like to hear about this. We all have our own questions to ask, I suppose."

oooooooooooooooooooooo

Duessel was once again nervous. Pacing back and forth. He knew the Ephraim and Amelia would not be stopped so easily, and Eirika was very determined. He should probably get there himself. He grabbed his axe, his back turned to the door. He didn't noticed when Ephraim, Eirika, Lyon, Natasha, and Amelia walked through the door. Duessel turned around, gasping when he saw everyone, including Lyon.

"I-I…." Duessel was speechless, but Lyon held up his hand.

"It's okay, General Duessel. Natasha told me what you were afraid of. But apparently, Eirika's solution was the best way." He smiled at Eirika.

"I'm sorry, Prince Lyon…." Duessel sanked to his knees, bowing to him. Lyon told him to rise.

"I'm a strong person now. I will not allow myself to be weak. I'm ready to lead back this kingdom."

Eirika and Ephraim looked at each other, and smiled.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Innes: Aw….It's too sappy!

Eirika: Shut up, you! Smacks Innes with hammer

Valkyrie: Well, please R&R. I hope enough people review for me to post the last chapter! The last part was a bit…strange since I just suddenly ran out of ideas…