BloodyCrystal: Hey all, I'm back from my contest. And, no, I didn't win; I guess I'm not good at speed writing. Anyways, here's another chapter. Sorry it took so long, but I'm still studying for mid-terms/finals-they're the second week of January. Plus, lots of winter concerts-one for dance, one for band. Not to mention other junk that cropped up (read MAJOR history project that I probably failed anyways).

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem, but I do believe that the ritual is mine. I've never heard of anything like it before, and I love reading up on mythology, so I think I'd know, but if it's someone else's, well, sorry to them.
Ch. 12: Revival, part the second
"Don't look so upset, Heath," Renj told him. "After all, if the Dream Master likes Lani, he'll use your body to do her." At Heath's growl, Renj chuckled, obviously enjoying his power over both the sacrifice and the-unwilling-new priestess.

Renj looked down on his one-time friend with a superior smirk. Heath had been tied spread-eagle, his body fitting the inverted pentagram carved into the stone floor. Lani was being given the Dream Master's power as she was forced to kneel before the marble altar in the northern part of the room. Like Heath and Renj, she was dressed in pure black robes, although hers were assuredly feminine while theirs were definitely masculine in make and style.

Suddenly, the purple-haired Tactician glowed, and then all her injuries disappeared as she stood up from the altar. Her eyes were blank, pupil-less red pools locked onto one of two indents near the inverted pentagram. She stepped onto the indent, and a glow started up. Renj, smirking, stepped onto the other one, and a similar glow started up. Heath's eyes widened slightly as he watched the two glows combine and fill the room. There were screams of pain from the guards who had been in there, and Heath could literally feel their bodies burn and their souls leave to the Heavens-or to Hell. Then, he felt something coming closer and closer to him, something dark, dangerous...Evil...

This other conscience proceeded to attack him, trying to force him out of his body. Heath refused, fighting back. He couldn't leave, not when Lani needed him. But this other presence wasn't taking 'no' for an answer. It was slippery, underhanded, and somehow it got the better of him, and Heath found himself pushed out of his body, his soul spiraling upwards. 'No!' he roared. 'Lani! Lani!'

'Oh, hush,' from another voice, one that he knew very well. Sure enough, there stood his older brother, whom he had looked up to-until he had been forced to attack and destroy his home village, his brother along with it. Heath turned away, ashamed, but his brother appeared in front of him. 'Oh, brother, I don't hate you. How could I, Heath? We are family, you recall.'

'Then I'm dead, now, am I?' Heath queried, looking around. It was a white wasteland, no other color as far as his eyes could see.

'Not quite, Heath,' his brother replied. 'You see, this place is in-between death and life. No, I'm not normally here,' he added at Heath's worried look and startled intake. 'I'm only here right now to talk to you. You need to find a way back into your body. Yes, it's possible-the Dream Master is not, after all, a god, Heath. Just a very powerful demon. So, hang around near your body and wait for your friends to use a powerful weapon that will kill the Dream Master and leave you about two seconds to slip into your body before it actually does die.'

'And you think I can do this?' Heath asked. His brother nodded, smiling at him.

'Don't worry; once the Dream Master is killed, your lover will be brought back, too. She doesn't even have to work at it since she's still in her body. Now, Heath, it's time for you to go back so you don't get locked out. Don't worry, none of us hate you. Good luck, and we don't want to see you for another seven decades-live to be a hundred, baby brother!'

With that last comment, the glowing spirit waved his hands and Heath found himself hurtling back down. When his stomach caught up to him, he looked around, not exactly surprised to find himself next to the Dream Master. What did surprise him was who was sharing the Dream Master's bed-a naked Lani! Sure enough, the Dream Master shared her nude state, and he looked quite pleased with what had obviously just happened.

"Well, pet, you make a wonderful bed partner. Oh, yes," the demon purred. "How about we do that again tomorrow night? You'd like that, wouldn't you?" He chuckled. "But it's only the body that turns you on, hmm? Well, you'll just have to get used to me being in here rather than your old lover." He chuckled again, darker, and stroked Lani's face. Her blank eyes half-closed in pure ecstatic pleasure. Heath looked away, unable to watch this not-Lani look-alike enjoy his own body's attentions so much. It was as if he was the one to have raped her.

He wouldn't blame her for hating him once this was all over-he already hated himself for letting this happen in the first place.

Eliwood groaned slightly as he shifted. When he didn't feel restraints, he blinked in surprise and sat bolt upright. He was surrounded by all the others-minus Heath and Lani-in a huge room with unlit torches and no windows. The Lord got up and quietly edged out of the room. He walked down the hallways until he reached another large room lined with food-filled tables. Only one other person was in the room, and Eliwood recognized Count Collin of the magic-users immediately. "Count Collin, thank you for your hospitality," Eliwood said, inclining his head ever-so-slightly.

"You are quite welcome, Lord Eliwood. If you would help yourself to some food; I believe that all of your army that we found will be quite hungry after your ordeal. I apologize for those we could not find and rescue-" the Count said politely until Eliwood interrupted, shaking his head.

"No one could be expected to do that much, Count. I am grateful for those that you did managed to rescue. If you will please excuse me to get some food," Eliwood added. The Count nodded and Eliwood backed up to get his food.

When everyone was up and done eating, Count Collin announced, "There is another reason why you are all here. We of the Non-Human Council have managed to find a way to help you and keep the balance that we agreed to long ago. Take this sword, Lord Eliwood, and strike it into whomever the Dream Master has taken as a host-my guess is your missing male comrade. This will release the binding on your female comrade, and kill the Dream Master for good. He will not be able to come back this time," Collin seemed very pleased with that little bit. "Before you ask," the magic-user added before a word could be said, "I'm not sure what this will do to your male comrade. It might bring him back, but none of us on the Council are sure at all."

"That is understood," Eliwood said calmly. "Thank you for even the slightest bit of hope, Count Collin."

"You are quite welcome, humans. But hurry, before the Dream Master regains strength, we must infuse the sword with its power. All of you, come with me." The Count led them to another cavern, this one with seven towers, each forged of a different gemstone. "All from Lycia, gather by the onyx tower-you stand for sincerity. The three sisters of Ilia, gather by the jasper tower and be joy. Those of Bern, stand by the turquoise tower-you are courage. Those from Etruria, gather at the amber tower-you stand for longevity. If you are from Sacae-this includes you, Lady Lyndis-then go to the opal tower of fidelity. Athos of Nabata, stand by the sapphire tower, for you are power. Hawkeye of Davros Island, go to the ruby tower; you are passion. Now, everyone, focus on the towers; you may even touch your personal tower if it makes you feel better and more concentrated on it...That's it...Very good...Okay, you can all stop," he said, sounding pleased. "Here, Lord Eliwood, is your sword!"

They all stared in awe at the seven-colored pommel-stone which changed color-and gemstone-in time with the blade. "Now, go forth, and free Elibe and your friends!" Count Collin said, and they found themselves in the courtyard of Renj's castle. Immediately, the battle was joined, ferociousness on both sides.

The group reconvened in the throne room. Renj lay dead, courtesy of Lyn's Mani Katti and Hector's Wolf Beil, both of which had struck punishing blows against the man. Now, all that remained was to charge forth and find Lani and Heath's body, now home to a demon. However, before they could take a step, a wicked chuckle sounded out of nowhere as the two they were looking for seemed to almost materialize out of the shadows. "Well done, defeating my priest. However, can you beat my priestess and me, too?" He laughed, long and hard, until Eliwood, maddened, lunged forward, aided by Ninian's dance, and plunged the sword through the body's heart. Time seemed to stop as he yanked it out, the familiar gray eyes widened in surprise as the body slumped down.

"HEATH!" Lani, freed from her mental compulsion, roared, lunging for her friend's body, barely catching it as she clung to the unresponsive body, sobbing hysterically into it.

'She still cares for me?' Heath's spirit murmured as he plunged back into his own body, praying that it wasn't too late to make things up to his friend and Tactician.

BloodyCrystal: Well, how'd ya like it? The story's ending soon (sob) but there might just be a short little sequel of only a few chapters. In the meantime, I will not be updating for a while-in all likelihood-as mid-Terms/Finals are indeed soon, and I'm possibly screwed on the math and science ones. So, I update when I update. To all others who haven't taken the (dreaded) tests yet, good luck, and hold in there!