BloodyCrystal: Okay, okay, so it's a bit late. Sorry, but I was learning how to play mah-jongg. Such a good game. I got a little too involved, and, before I knew it, it was eleven-something at night. Anyways, here's chapter five. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem: The Blazing Sword or any of its characters or places.

Ch. 5: React

Lani stared at the newly-ruined maps, tears eking out of wine red eyes in silent despair. It's not fair! the eighteen-year-old Tactician thought in mounting frustration. Lately in Eliwood's Army, everything that could go wrong did, and-to add insult to injury-in the most blatant ways possible.

"Murphy, I hate you?" a quiet voice behind her suggested. Lani jumped into the air, landing with a hand clutching her chest. "Sorry, Lan'; didn't mean to freak you."

Lani turned to stare into Heath's pale gray eyes. "Y-yes, of course. I'm fine." Then, his earlier comment sank in. Lani nodded grimly, a dangerous look in her eyes; "Yes; I hate Murphy! 'Everything that can go wrong will,' indeed!" The teenager snorted in disgust before continuing, "It's as if our opponent is ill-wishing us..." She allowed her statement to trail off, both Tactician and Wyvern Lord pondering the absent-minded comment.

"Is it possible?" Heath asked, barely breathing. At Lani's wide-eyed shrug, the Wyvern Lord grabbed his friend's hand, ignoring the sensations it sent thrumming through his body. He yanked the girl up, dragging her behind him with a shout of, "Then let's ask the others. C'mon, Lan'!"

Heath raced down the corridors, not even paying attention to where he was going. Lani noticed the door to the common area of the wing Lady Louise's friend had lent them coming closer. She braced herself, an idle thought trailing across her mind: For every action, there must be an equal-and opposite-reaction...

Three seconds later, the two lay sprawled on the floor, Lani on top of Heath. Heath was holding his head with one hand while his mouth let off a string of very inventive curse words about the door, its lineage, its maker, and its sexual prowess and preferences. Lani giggled slightly, then started laughing her head off. Heath glared at her, the flow of profanity stopping as an evil idea came to his mind.

"Shit!" Lani cried as she tried to stand. "It wasn't nice dumping me onto the floor, Heath!" she informed the smirking Wyvern Lord. Then, she cocked her head at him. "Are you okay? You hit the door pretty hard..." The Tactician moseyed over to him, her hands and eyes examining his head for bruises.

The Wyvern Lord colored ever-so-slightly at her proximity, but shook her off. "I'm fine, Lan'. Now let's get going; we've got to find out!" He pushed himself up, then offered Lani a hand up. She accepted, using his hand as a lever.

"Sure, sure. Just make sure you don't try to kiss the door again, or I may get jealous!" she taunted.

Heath shook his head, and opened the door. "Ladies first, Lan'." The poison-filled glare she leveled on him for that comment was worth it. "I win that round," he murmured for Lani's ear alone as he let the door shut behind him.

Everyone was pouring over any book they could get their hands on. After all, they just had to find out if this was possible. If someone could be ill-wished, then they needed to find a way to stop it, and soon-Florina had come dangerously close to disaster when a crate almost fell on her!

Everyone was working hard and long, with Matthew going into nearby towns to try and get information. No luck was forthcoming. Hector's already thin temper was deteriorating, Lyndis was on edge, and even Eliwood, Lady Louise, and Lord Pent were getting frustrated.

"If only..." Lani murmured.

"If only, what?" Lyndis almost snapped.

"If only we had access to some kind of Elibe-famous library. That would be the answer to our prayers, because it would probably have what we need..."

"Lani, you're a genius!" Lyndis cried in delight. The Blade Lord dashed from the room screaming, "Lord Pent! Lady Louise! I need your help with something..."

Eliwood's Army stood staring down at Regelay, Lord Pent and Lady Louise's home. "Come," Lord Pent said, "we must hurry if we are to not take much time from our 'quest.'"

They spent a fortnight there, perusing the books. To most people's chagrin, it was Nino who found what they were looking for. At the end of a fortnight, the young Mage came running into the common room, a slim forest green book tucked under one arm. "Lord Eliwood! Lanari! I think I found what we're looking for!"

Lani smiled at the green-haired girl, touched that Nino would put her in the same category as Linus and Lloyd-trusted and respected, but much loved. "Thank you, Nino," Lani told the younger girl. She opened the book to the page Nino had been saving, and began to read, "'When one should ill wish you, make you sure to'...What does that say? Please hold on...Ah! Here we are. '...Make you sure to hold crystal, emerald, or jade on your person or beast. Thus you ensure incorruptibility, which shall keep ill luck from corrupting your passage...' Phew, but that was a mouthful!"

Lady Louise stood up, saying, "Your pardon, but I shall go find enough of those gemstones to outfit us all. Many thanks, Nino." With that, she headed upstairs to where the jewelry was kept, her thoughts swirling and settling on one thing: I don't care how many pieces of jewelry I destroy for their gemstones; I'll destroy every piece up there if it means everyone's protected from that mad man and his power.

BloodyCrystal: Sorry, but that's all for now; I have to get going if I'm going to be ready for camp tomorrow...Remember, no updates until August 5th/6th at the earliest. Oh, and the three gemstones mentioned really do promote incorruptibility-of morals/ethics. Fare thee well!