Disclaimer: Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones is a belonging to his respective corporation and creator: Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The following characters belongs to the author.

Adrion: A recruit from Renais in training to become just like Seth.

Adam: A journeyman from Frelia in training to become Frelia's first hero.

Nicole: A young maiden from Rausten. The uptight best friend of L'Arachel. Nicole also appears in the story: "Sacred Stones: The Epic" by NobleSpirit.


Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life
The First One; Tana's Birthday—

Peeking through the bushes was a shy boy, dressed in a lavender royal garment of English tissue. His cape, made of rich pearl gray floated in reaction of the passing breeze. His indigo hair ran downwards to his neck, tickling the ears and was adjusted by his thin circlet around his forehead. The boy approached two other youngsters talking and laughing as they sat by a soft bed of grass and flowers. One youngster was a boy, wrapped in swaddling royal emerald garments, matching his hair color. The other youngster was a girl dressed in blue gown with puffed cuffs and collars. Her hair was a mix of aquamarine and menthol and tied into ponytail. The indigo-haired boy approached the two kids, cleared his throat, and at his best tried to speak.

"Umm…h-hello." The boy spoke. The two kids turned around, their eyes fixed on him. "Are you by any chance, Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika of Renais?"

"That's us." The boy with emerald hair, Ephraim, said.

"And you are…" The girl, Eirika, politely asked, finding interest in the wandering youth.

"M—my name is Lyon. I'm the Emperor's son."

"Prince Lyon. Please to meet you."

"Well, I don't know about Prince but…"

"Let's be friends Lyon." Ephraim interrupted, his hand reached towards Lyon's for a warm handshake. Lyon shyly followed, "R-Really? F-Friends?"

"Don't you have any friends Lyon?"

"Well, actually…I…they…" Lyon stammered. Admitting defeat, his head lowered: "No, I don't."

"We don't have friends either Lyon." Eirika reassured him, "It's just Brother and I"

Ephraim welcomed Lyon warmly, "Welcome aboard pal. We're actually playing a game."

"Really?" Lyon exclaimed, joining the siblings, "What kind of game?"

"It's called 'Beat-Up Eirika'"

Eirika yelped, offended to her brother's remarks, "Hey! Why not 'Beat-Up Ephraim'"

Renais Castle

It was the summer of the year 800. 800 years of peace and prosperity through the land of Magvel ever since, legend has it, the Great War that banished demons and unclean spirits. These demons as well as its ruler—the Demon King—were sealed for an eternity through the mythical power of five holy stones known as the Sacred Stones. These stones had been securely housed in five royal kingdoms of the six countries of the land and were passed down from generations to generations…

…but that is not the point of the story. This story is actually focusing on the personal lives of the royal families of these five kingdoms (includes drama, teen angst and your typical everyday issue), starting with Renais.

The sun showered its rays through the rich and lush palace of Renais at full force. Inside was set in a royal family room, furnished with a velvet set of couches, beanbags, a carpet, a glass table, and a large HDTV screen. Twin siblings, Ephraim and Eirika sat on the beanbags watching the large screen. Ephraim and Eirika are both heirs to the throne of Renais. Their father, King Fado, is the only ruler in the kingdom. Even thought their mother died of illness when they were just babies, they still felt whole, even with having just one parent. This is all thanks to Fado, whom for many years had been a great father and a friend to them. These twin babies had grown to be elegant young teenagers, yet their behavior and characteristics has not changed. Eirika is not just elegant but also sweet and kind, while Ephraim is reckless to the bone, but loyal with lot of love in his heart.

"This is stupid!" Ephraim snapped, as he grabbed the remote from Eirika.

"HEY!" The princess snatched the remote back from him, "What did I tell you about changing my soap opera?"

"Can you get this abomination out of my sight?"

"But I wanna see if Baby Marty really is Shelly's son."

Ephraim sighed blatantly, "Here's a hint: she's blonde!"

"Does this mean something? Obviously, you don't know soap opera."

Ephraim snapped, "I know soap opera all right. It's an opera, with a lot of soaps and bubbles"

"Shh!" Eirika harshly whispered, "Let me hear this. I wanna hear this!"

Silence partly filled the room. Only the TV screen was making sounds of two or three people talking. The door abruptly swung open, letting a young man in the room. He was dressed in a turquoise and black armor with sun streaks. He was also wearing mud-brown jeans and black boots. His flaming red hair matched his eyebrows and almond shaped eyes. His surprising entrance shook the twins—especially Eirika—like tremor.

"Your Highnesses!" The man responded, "King Fado is in need of your presence."

Ephraim jumped in front of Eirika, the remote in hand, "You heard him sis."

"He was speaking to you bro! Now let me watch my s—HEY! THE T.V.!"

The man in armor noticed his legs tangled to an unplugged cord, "Oops."

The panicking Eirika ran towards the cord, trying her best to plug it back. "What have you done Seth?" she boomed.

"Isn't that obvious?" the man in armor, Seth, shrugged his shoulders, lifting his legs up numerous times, trying to get out of the cord.

Ephraim dumped the remote on the glass table "Well, soap's down. Take her to Father now Seth."

Seth narrowed his eyes, "actually, His Majesty is requesting both your presence"


The Dining room seemed to be located on top of the clouds. The sun ran its rays brightly through the white stained-glass windows, linked in shell-white pillars and rich pebbles. The table was twelve feet tall and made of glass. A bouquet of outlandish yet healthy flowers sat in the middle. The bouquet was a gift from the Grado Empire, a neighboring country long allied to Renais. The table was well clean and showed its radiance through the sunrays.

Sitting on a red velvety chair at the far left of the table was King Fado, his hands formed together below his teal beard. He constantly changed positions in his chair, thanks to his sea green-crested gold plaques armor and violet cape. He shed a smile as he saw coming his two children and Seth.

"There you are." He spoke a warm booming voice.

"Father?" Eirika complained, "What is it that is so urgent that you had to ruin the most significant moment of my life?"

Ephraim sat close to Fado at the left side, his hands on his shoulder: "Don't mind her Father, she's a little…" Ephraim gestured the thumb of his opened hand tilting from below his lip and made a sipping sound. Fado simply looked at him bizarrely.

"No Ephraim. She's not…" he paused, openly let out a sigh and continued as Eirika went to sit close to him on the right side, "Anyway, I have summoned you to let you know that we will be having our annual peace celebration of Magvel at Port Kiris. It'll be a banquet."

"We?" Eirika protested, "Who's we?"

"Frelia, Jehanna, Rausten, Grado, Carcino, and Renais itself." Seth explained.

"Thank you Seth. Because those two are really giving me a headache" Fado laid his fingers by his forehead, as if he was having a headache.

"The entire continent again huh?" Ephraim scooted his chair a little closer to Fado and faced him eye-to-eye, "So tell us Father, when are you going to let your sweet kids see the world besides Grado?"

"Ephraim is right, Father. When?" Eirika closer to Fado's face as well, a sinister smile spread from ear to ear. Seth, as witness to this moment, was about to laugh and snort, when the king, facing directly at him, caused him not to.

"Well…it's an 800th anniversary and—"

Ephraim backed out, crossed his arms, and faced the windows in disgust, "Yeah. Save it."

"What are you so mad about Ephraim?"

"You get to go see the world huh? But what do we get to do? Staying home and watch soaps bubbling."

Offended, Eirika stood up from her chair, "Okay! First of all, there are not soaps bubbling! There are shows that keeps you guessing to the very end. And second of all, have you forgotten that we've been to Grado? That's like home away from home."

Ephraim stammered, "…yeah, well but still…" he finally stood up, "All we do in Grado is hearing Father McGregor's teachings and training with Duessel the Obsidian. Nothing fun!"

"Okay, stop this fight, you two."

The twins obeyed as they sat down.

"If it makes you feel any better, Frelia is hosting a birthday party for her princess Tana the same day of the anniversary. Seth will take you there."

The news turned the twins' heads towards Fado, "Are you sure?" both exclaimed.

"Absolutely."

Fado suddenly felt a tight grip hug around his neck and kisses from both twins. Like lively kids, they cheered, "Yeah! Thanks, Father!" and left. Fado rubbed his sore neck.

"Are you all right Your Majesty?" Seth said, chuckling through his teeth.

"What's so funny Seth?" Fado grunted, not amused.

"N—nothing sire." Seth stopped in haste.


"A birthday party at Frelia hey?" Lyon said, as he was riding north towards Frelia alongside Eirika and Ephraim in the royal trailer. Lyon was the imperial prince of the Grado Empire, a large stalwart realm dominated of knights in wyvern and great generals. Ruling the empire was the Silent Emperor Vigarde. Vigarde's first priority in the realm was not to set up laws and regulations but was to show his love and care for his people. His knights and even his elite empire generals admired him so, even Fado, whom his kingdom had allied to the empire for many years of friendship.

"Yeah, and we get to go." Eirika said.

"All that because I complained about seeing the world? How spoiled I am?" Ephraim cackled.

"As spoiled as rotten tomatoes." A blue haired kid of about ten-years old popped his head inside the chariot. The threesome simply glared at him. "Hey! I was trying to get into the conversation." He exited.

"Anyway," Ephraim continued, "I didn't want to be selfish in checking out what other kingdoms look like, so that's why I've decided to invite you."

"That is still so nice of you guys." Lyon said, "But I mean, will the other kids like me? Will Lady Tana? I know it's her birthday and people have different attitude before or after."

Eirika giggled, "Don't worry Lyon. They won't say a negative thing about you."

"We've arrived," came the voice of Seth. The twins and Lyon exited the chariot, admiring the splendid Frelian city filled of merchants and citizens going about their daily stuffs. Frelia was a continent inhabited of powerful Pegasus knights and archers of many divisions. Ruling the kingdom was Hayden, the Sage King skilled with the bow and horseback riding. Hayden is a good friend to Fado and had met with him on many courses.

Seth tied up the royal trailer at a parking space with the blue-haired boy as well. The boy wore pale blue and dark streak armor. His jeans were blue gray and he wore brown boots. The boy was about four feet four. Very young.

"What's with this birthday talk Silver Lance?" the boy asked.

"For the last time Adrion, call me General Seth, or just call me Seth." The red-haired man complained.

"I'm sorry Silver Lance. But it just that when I call you that, it's like…" he gave a kiss to his fingers and finished, "a fiesta to the mouth. So where are we going?"

"We're escorting their Highnesses down the palace. We don't want them lost in crowd."

"How come? It's peaceful here."

"Don't overestimate it." Seth warned, "There are still people among the citizens who thirst for crime. Most of the attempted one includes taking over a kingdom by kidnapping her heir. The first and last kidnapping was about 700 years ago, where the prince of Renais—that is His Majesty's great-great-great-great grandfather—wandered off the castle to the Basba's region. He was taken hostage. In exchange of his freedom, the Basba leader wanted the kingdom takeover. It went on for almost a week."

"Whoa! Wh—what happened after that?"

"He turned himself in."

"Oh? How come?"

"Diaper Changing from Boom-Boom."

Adrion chortled. Seth interrupted the short comedy: "Even with this accident, he's still a former King to Renais! King Fado's great-great."

"Right."


Port Kiris Great Hall

Many royalties manifested the ballroom: from monarchs to great merchants, even guests of high-social status were at the revelry as well. The setting was a great corridor surrounded of pillars carved in marbles and diamonds. The floor was snow white and made quite a clatter when walking on it—perhaps rich stone—at the far left hand stood an altar. Two statues of dragons made of ivory and pearl stood side by side. In the middle, a podium led to a white light—maybe a window, still allowing the bright sun to shine through the room—alas; it is difficult to make out. Was the podium to the altar leading to another world?

There were a great number of large tables set around the room. The tables and chairs almost matched Renais' dining table set. Each table had a basket of different goods in the middle—mostly fruits and vegetables. At the far left was the drink station, where people grab their favored drinks. Fine champagne and ciders were popular.

Fado was heading towards a table about a yard facing the altar. Following him was Adrion. Fado knew he was watched when he glanced around the many eyes laid upon him and his young Renais soldier who thinks he can be his bodyguard.

"Adrion! Stop following me!" Fado harshly whispered.

"Hey, it is my pleasure Your Majesty." Adrion bowed gracefully, still paying no attention.

"You're embarrassing me."

"Don't worry Sire, it runs in the family."

Fado turned around sharply, his eyes glaring at the young Renais, "What?", he hissed.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my good friend." A voice called from behind him. Fado turned around to see Hayden, the king of Frelia. Seeing him bought him a smile.

"Hayden. Good to see you." Fado and Hayden both hugged.

"So I've heard you've send Ephraim and Eirika to Frelia huh?"

"Yeah, of course. It seems they were homesick for a long time."

Hayden accompanied Fado towards the table. Sitting there was a line of monarchs and government officials from across Magvel. He introduced each one of them.

"Fado. Remember Ismaire, Queen of Jehanna. The king could not attend the banquet. He's ill."

Fado's face sank, hearing this, "Oh, I'm terribly sorry Ismaire."

Hayden continued, "And you remember Pontifex Mansel of Rausten, Sir Klimt and Pablo?"

"How could I forget? I remember each one of you since Genesis."

The monarchs welcomed Fado warmly. Fado faced Ismaire, "So, how is he, the king of the White Dunes?"

"Worse," The queen replied, "He has been feeling unwell since our son, the prince left the country."

"I sure hope he gets well soon."

"Fado. Long time no see." Came the voice of the silent emperor, Vigarde. Fado spread a warm smile, seeing him and they both hugged.

"It has been a long time indeed Vigo." He nicknamed him.

"So, Lyon is in Castle Frelia with the twins."

"Yes. I'm sure they will have a great time."

"Listen Fado," Vigarde dragged Fado away from the crowd, "I don't know how much I can thank you for what you've done for Lyon. Letting him be free from home, meeting new friends…"

"Oh, you don't have to thank me."

"No I do," Vigarde insisted, "Did you know since he was a toddler, Lyon never had a friend?"

"Really?"

"Well, actually, he did have friends," Vigarde confessed, "but they kind of left him out. They said he was too boring."

Fado's face sank once more in despair, hearing this story: "that…that's quite sad. Well don't worry Vigo, I'll tell you, Lyon will have more than one best friend after tonight, because Tana's birthday party…I've heard…is going to be off the heezy."


Castle Frelia

Inside the bastion, where Pegasi takes the ski, was happening Tana's birthday party King Hayden had set up before heading for Port Kiris. Tana was turning sixteen and was going to be her sweetest age yet. Of course, this is where there is going to be some real actions at Hayden's absence. (Don't worry, there is not going to be inappropriate stuff.) Well, Fado was right on one thing: The party is to be off the heezy.

"Nice setting." Lyon saw the magnificent ballroom. Everything seemed to be made of gold and desert-color. "Castle Frelia is magnificent."

"I know!" Eirika said.

Approaching Ephraim, Eirika, and Lyon was Tana, her long blue hair not attached in a ponytail; she was elegant in her beautiful emerald dress.

"You must be Ephraim and Eirika, prince and princess of Renais." She greeted warmly.

"And you must be Cinderella." Ephraim joked, "now where's Prince Charming?"

Tana laughed, "No silly, although I'm more beautiful than Cinderella. I'm Tana."

"The princess of Frelia." Eirika gasped, "It is a pleasure to meet you and happy birthday."

"Thanks. So you guys are twins huh?"

"Uncanny huh?" Ephraim said.

"So you have a brother?"

Tana's face sank, "yes, I do. His name is Innes…"

"YOU CALLED THAT SHRIMP COCKTAILS?" Boomed a voice, belonging to Innes, dressed in green velvet ensemble. Innes was scolding a housemaid who came in with a plate of shrimp cocktails.

"…and I have no idea where he is." Tana quickly finished.

"I'm going to talk to those people. I'll be right back." Lyon said heading towards a group of young boys dressed in black.

"Me too. I'll just prance around." Ephraim left as well. It was just Tana and Eirika. Both girls stood silence for a minute.

"So Tana, how are you?" Eirika broke the silence.

"Oh! I'm great!" Tana said.

More silence occurred. Eirika continued, "Say Tana. Do you know of…Serenity Harmony?"

Tana gasped, "Know it? I praised it! It's my favorite soap yet."

Both girls laughed.

"You know who's my favorite character? Shelly."

"Aw, she's my favorite too."

"Yeah, and…that cute boy of hers Marty. He's s-o-o-o-o cute with his itsy bitsy fingers." Tana squeaked.

"I know!" Eirika squeaked.

More laughter came from the girls.

"Have you seen the latest?" Tana gasped, "It turns out Marty is the child of Shelly's mother."

Eirika gasped, "No way! Her mother?"

"Step!"

Gasps, "How did she take the news? Was she allright?"

"Allright? She had to slap her boyfriend Bo."

Eirika gasped once more then groaned, "aw man! I've missed that part thanks to my idiotic brother Ephraim who kept pressuring me and Seth!"

"Seth?"

"Silver Lance Seth. He's a general paladin from my kingdom and our royal advisor, well he's actually my advisor while Ephraim gets two."

"Ephraim has two advisors?"

"Forde and Kyle. And I get only one!"

"That's so sad," Tana laid hand on Eirika's shoulder, "well, you're not the only one."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I have an advisor as well. An armor knight Gilliam, the Silent One."

"That's nice. An armor knight."

"But my brother Innes gets a flock of mercenaries."

"Mercenaries?"

"Gerik's mercenaries. Considered a bunch of toughies! He hired them himself and Daddy let him, on his birthday!"

It was now Eirika's turn to lay hand on Tana's shoulder, "I'm feeling for you."

"Yeah, I mean—"

"Why do brothers gets everything?" both girls yelled. At that moment, they smiled at each other, seeming content of what they were looking for.

"Eirika," Tana said, "This is going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."


"So you're Innes." Ephraim asked the irritable young man dressed in velvet from earlier.

"And you're Ephraim," Innes hissed, ripping open a gift of Tana, "So where's your twin?"

"She's with Tana."

Innes took a good look at Ephraim and spread a smile, "A She huh? And with Tana? For a moment there, I thought you were pure twin, not from a different gender." Innes pulled from the box a sparkly snow globe made of pure ivory. He shuddered and flung it in the air.

"Okay look," the offended Ephraim said, "My twin may be a girl, but don't ever speak of her that way."

"Chill out man," Innes backed up, "I'm just in an irate tonight."

"It's your sister's birthday, and what are you doing ripping her gifts?"

"Checking for special Innes-quality, that's what! And yeah, it's Tana's birthday of course and so far, it's a bad birthday. It's so bad it's too…" he shuddered once more, "…cutesy."

"Innes don't say that!" Tana said, from behind Innes and Ephraim. Accompanying her was Eirika, "It is a good birthday and I like it the way it is. And stop ripping my gifts. They aren't yours!"

Innes ignored her plea, "Where are the fighting, and the slaying?" he said, "All we have to do is to dress up as if it's a doll party for rich, high-maintenance, spoiled people!"

Tana's eyes were twice their sizes now. Being called those words had really crossed her line. "High-maintenance? SpOiLeD?"

Everyone turned their attention towards Tana and Innes. They took many steps back, in hope to avoid Tana's upcoming wrath.

"Nobody, I said NOBODY IN THEIR RIGHT MIND CALLS ME A SPOILED, AND A HIGH-MAINTENANCE--"

"…brat." Innes finished.

Gasps filled the room. Tana's eyes popped many red streams and grew more and more massive. They seemed as if they were about to come out of its roots at any second.

"YOU—YOU—" Tana ripped out the cape from Innes's costume, dumped it on a fruit punch bowl and walked away.

Innes had his eyes twice their sizes as well. Choosing not to go ballistic, he walked away, without a flinch. Eirika and Ephraim looked at each other appalled at this event.

"Well look on the bright side, it's a nice party…and off the heezy." Ephraim grinned and walked away, leaving Eirika in tremor.

--- --- ---

"I cannot believe this!" Eirika pondered, "Can you believe this brother?"

"I know," Ephraim said, losing focus, "Cocktail shrimps here's so good. Dunno why Innes chocked on them."

The ticked Eirika snatched the shrimp from her brother and right in his face shouted: "Ephraim, FOCUS!"

"Blimey! What?"

"I'm talking about what just happened here! Between Tana and her brother."

"Oh yeah! Well you know Eirika, that's all sisters' nature."

Hearing this stroke great offense across Eirika's mind, "Are you saying I'm spoiled and high-maintenance?"

"Is that what I said?"

Eirika scoffed, "I'm gonna find Tana," then left Ephraim, still puzzled.

"What is something I said?"


"Are you sure you can drink all of this?" a worried Fado saw in front of Hayden a multitude of drinks, from wine to ciders.

Hayden smiled, "well, remember last decade at the ceremony of peace, my great-great grandfather finished about twenty glasses each of all liquids they had served? From lemonade to ciders? Fine vineyards and artificial elixirs."

"Yeah?"

"I wanna break the world record. Tonight, I vow on the Frelian throne, I will drink thirty glasses of all drinks before the end of the night." At that point, Hayden gulped his first glass of champagne.

"You know what happens when you're not yourself?" Mansel reminded.

"Don't worry about it, I got water for backup. Have you read Magvel Health Magazine's last issue about water?" Hayden drank another glass of champagne and the first glass of cider simultaneously.

(Firstly, I must remind the readers that no one gets drunk in this story, in this case Hayden, however too much drinks will triggered some other comical reactions later on…)

"What are you doing?" Vigarde walked by the table once more, watching Hayden.

"Don't ask." Fado said.

"Well, hope he won't overdo it because he's to give the Speech this year."

"Wait! The speech?" Ismaire panicked.

"Yes, the speech!" Vigarde walked away.

"What's up with that?" Hayden asked, squirting water down his throat.

"During the ceremony, the chosen ruler in Magvel must give a speech regarding the anniversary of Magvel peace," Fado explained, "including the entire legend, in detail about our ancestor and the land."

"For many years, no one had mastered the speech, for they did not know fully the detailed legend, beginning, and end." Mansel said, "The only one who has done it was Emperor Grado, during the first year. After that…"

"Don't worry," Hayden gulped his first vineyard, and his fifth champagne, "I'll nail it."

"You think?" Fado pondered doubtfully.


Eirika penetrated into a large room. The architecture was majestic. There were two rows of about six pillars made of rich silver and granite lined up neatly, leading towards a large podium, which took most space in the room. Occupying the podium was an office, which sat at the far left, its rear-end facing a glass window. Both desk and armchair were made of polished elm. The pillow attached on the chair was rose velvet. A little towards the far right rested a master-sized bed, dressed in golden sheets and crimson covers. Pillows, which also matched the bed, were scattered around it. The walls around the room—leading up to the first pillars—were shelves of millions of books.

The princess of Renais found Tana sitting on the bed, her arm wrapping her legs and her chin resting between knees. Eirika approached her, still in awe of the room.

"Impressive huh?" Tana said.

"This is your bedchamber? It's…"

"Go ahead and say it." Tana yelled.

"Say what?" Eirika glanced at Tana in confusion.

"It fits for a spoiled, high-maintenance brat!"

Eirika approached Tana and sat on the bed as well, "now listen Tana. I only came in to check if you were…" the comfort of the bed stopped Eirika, catching her attention, "this feels warm and soft."

"Grado-Pedic."

Eirika awed. Tana changed position, having her legs resting on the bed, her hands on one knee, "Do you have Grado-Pedic?" Tana asked callously.

"No, but I do have a 16-inch LCD flat screen TV. Ephraim and I both share it in the family room."

"Only 16-inches? We have a theater!" Tana squawked.

"Really?"

"Yeah! And better than LCD!"

Both girls laughed for at least five seconds, ending with a sigh.

"Listen Tana, I know you're mad at Innes," Eirika explained, "but that's natural on one side."

Tana snorted and lay on the bed, "Tell me more," dully she said.

"I'm serious. Listen, is this your first time to fight?"

"No it's actually its 50th anniversary."

"Ooh."

"On my birthday!"

"Well listen, the reason you guys fight all the time, it must be because…"


"…you're brother and sister" Ephraim finished.

Eirika's twin brother was inside Innes's bedchamber, the exact design as Tana's, except that everything seemed flipped around and the red, rose and gold were replaced with green, lime and honey. Hanged at the door was a large target, stabbed in many arrows that did not hit bull-eye yet. Innes drew out another arrow and shot through his Silver Bow another, hitting a little closer on the left to the bull-eye.

"Is that what you think?" Innes asked, paying no attention to Ephraim.

"Of course, I mean look at Eirika and I. We may be twins but we drive each other crazy, especially Eirika."

"Well, I only met your sister briefly but I'm not sure about this theory you are saying." Innes argued.

"Your brother is cute and all, but I don't know about that theory of yours" Tana argued.

"You only met us not long ago. We're practically new to you guys, even Lyon." Eirika said.

"LYON'S HERE?" Tana gasped simultaneously.


"LYON'S HERE?" Innes gasped simultaneously.

"Oh. So you know him?" Ephraim asked.

"Not really, but I've met his father Emperor Vigarde countless times, I've never had the chance to meet the Imperial prince in person. So he's here?"

"Of course he's here." Ephraim said but before Innes was about to shot his last arrow, Ephraim stopped him.


"So I can find him?" Tana asked.

"He's not that far."

Tana jumped in bed, but before she took another step towards the door, Eirika stopped her.

"But promise me you'll make peace with Innes." Eirika told her.


"Promise me you'll make peace with Tana." Ephraim told Innes.
"I promised." Tana sighed, heading out of her room.
"Promise is gold!" Innes turned his shoulder a little and instead of shooting a bull-eye, the door swung open, letting his arrow nailed a soldier. Thankfully, the soldier's cuirass was well protective and arrow-proof. "Oops, my bad!"
Lyon was in the ballroom, among the people in the part, pouring himself a glass of lemonade. As he was about to press the tip of the full glass against his parched lips, a yell summoned him:

"Lyon!" he turned around watching Eirika and Tana approaching him. Another "Lyon!" cry came from another direction. He turned around to find Ephraim and Innes heading towards him.

"Eirika and Ephraim saw each other and panicked. They told each their friends to wait here a moment and fast walked towards each other.

"You're letting Innes meet Lyon?" Eirika gasped.

"Of course, and after that he will apologize to Tana. What about you?" Ephraim said.

"Same thing I'm doing!"

"What are we gonna do?" Ephraim panicked, "we can't let those two meet now, or else they'll find out we worked together to talk to them into this."

"Well, it's your fault. You didn't give me a head start."

"WHA—my fault?" Ephraim hissed, "I didn't read your mind! It must be our twin vibes!"

"Hey what's going—?" Tana abruptly stopped, seeing that she just found Innes in Ephraim's company, she boomed: "WHA—what is this? Were you planning this the entire time?"

"They're forcing us to say 'I'm sorry' to each other." Innes said maliciously.

"Yeah! We're not babies!" Tana hissed.

"Like spoiled and high-maintenance toddler over here," Innes pointed the finger at Tana.

Tana, offended, grabbed from Lyon the glass of lemonade and spilled it right in his face. A sorrowful sting shot across Innes' eyes as he covered them with his hands. The entire party was in shock seeing this. Lyon simply wept for losing his drink.

Both Eirika and Ephraim stepped in: "Enough!"

"I cannot believe you, and I thought we were friends!" Tana screamed at Eirika.

"What?"

"Yeah Ephraim, my first buddy turned out to be a big bully." Innes yelled at Ephraim.

"Bully?"

Tana stepped in the middle of the ballroom: "This was supposed to be my sweet sixteen," she proclaimed, "but it turns out to be sour thanks to my irritable Innes and Eirika who's supposed to be my best friend!" At that point, she left back to her bedchamber.

Eirika sighed, "What are we going to do?"

"Spoiled her more?" Ephraim said doubtfully.

"I'll talk to her." Innes proposed.

The twins faced him, "Innes?"

"I'm her brother and I'm the one who started all of this, so…"


Hayden was down his tenth glass of champagne, cider, water and fourteenth glass of lemonade, and already he stomach took the size of a giant cheep-cheep. He was not drunk, but obese. His eyes were narrowed, (similar to Majin-Buu in Dragon Ball Z), and his cheek were rosy and shaped like tennis balls.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Pablo spoke at the podium, "This here's the moment we've all been waiting for. Giving us the Speech this year is King Hayden of Frelia."

Applause roared the room. Instead of walking, Hayden began floating up like a balloon. "I'm not feeling well…" he moaned.

Everyone in the room watched Hayden like a blimp. Vigarde and Fado tried to pull down Hayden but failed. "Little help?" Hayden hit a wall, ricocheting countless times, and knocking all chairs and tables. Screams roared the room.

"I told you!" Fado gasped, "you shouldn't have got too much drinks!"

"I was this close," Hayden still moaned.

"Where are the guards?" Ismaire cried.

Seth and Adrion entered the room, watching the scene. Following was Gilliam, a knight of Frelia and Adam, a blonde journeyman wearing a rusty brown shirt, blue jeans, and brown boots.

"Oh no, he has done it again!" Gilliam sighed.

"What the—why is King Hayden—like a balloon?" Adrion gasped.

"He's trying to break a drinking world record." Adam said.

"Last year, he drank so much strawberry juices and punches, he actually was on flames." Gilliam said.

"We had to call the fire department." Adam sighed.

"Well, we gotta do something!" Seth ran inside the room. Gilliam followed as well as Adrion and Adam.

Hayden kept bouncing around, knocking everything from its place, "I got a great joke to start" he moaned, "knock-knock!"

"This ain't no time to tell knock-knock jokes." Fado cried.

"Who's there?" Adrion squeaked, following the joke.

"Art!"

"Art who?"

"Aren't you gonna pop me into spa-a-a-a-a-a-ace?" Hayden floated towards an opened window.

"I'll take care of this!" Seth pulled out his Javelin and flung it out the window. The lance missed however the wind following popped Hayden into oblivion. Everyone ran towards the window, watching Hayden fall down into the North Sea.

"I'm okay." He moaned.

Fado ran out of the room to aid his friend.


"Princess Tana. Princes Innes is here to see you." A guard leaned inside Tana's bedchamber.

"Tell him to go away." Tana snapped, under her sheets.

"I can take it from here." Innes entered the room and approached his sister. Tana winced, "I told you to go away!"

"I only came in to give you this." Innes pulled out a small gift and laid it in front of Tana. Tana simply looked at it. "it something unique you've always wanted since you were a little girl."

As Innes was, about to leave, Tana spoke, "why are you always so mean to me Innes?"

The prince turned around, facing his sister. He sighed and sat by her side, "It's my nature, I guess. It's not just you I'm always mean at you; I'm known to be brash and bold throughout the land."

"Then what about me?"

"Truthfully…"

"—not that spoiled and high-maintenance speech again."

Innes scoffed, "nah. You're fun and outgoing."

Tana bashfully grinned from ear to ear. There was a slight pause and Tana sighed, "then why do we always fight?"

"Well, I guess…it's nature you know. We're brothers and sisters and we're meant to argue all the time."

"You think so too?"

"Ephraim told me."

"Eirika told me too."

Both siblings laughed and sighed. Eirika and Ephraim peeked through the room watching the siblings.

"You know," Tana continued, "Ephraim and Eirika aren't that bad people. I guess those twins were trying to cheer us up after what had happened back there."

Both twins smiled warmly at each other.

"Listen Tana, I'm sorry I went off on you back there, it's just that…I was…"

"What?"

"Jealous."

"Jealous?" Tana chortled.

Eirika and Ephraim grinned.

"Of course. Every birthday you get all those cool gifts not just from Father but from the entire Frelian country, and I get what…squat."

"Squat?" Tana guffawed, "What about Gerik's mercenaries you got on your birthday? Ain't that squat? Or those velvet outfits you always have one. The Silver Bow you got on your last birthday. Father didn't even gave me a crown and you got one. I'm the one who should be jealous of you, not you."

Innes pondered, "Putting it your way, it does kinda make sense."

Tana sarcastically rolled her eyes. Both siblings hugged after the short talk.

"I love you little sis."

"I love you too big bro. So what did you get me?"

Tana anxiously opened the box, only to find inside bouncing rubber snakes. "EEK!" she squeaked while Innes laughed. The princess, not amused began chasing her brother around the room. Eirika and Ephraim laughed as well.


Hours had passed since the birthday party was over. Housemaids were cleaning and polishing the room while Tana and Innes at the balcony, watching the stars. Joining in was Hayden, his clothes seemed to be outstretched and worn out from the event. Tana and Innes were about to explode of laughter as they saw him:

"Father, what happened?" Tana asked.

"Well, it started when I was about to drink…" Hayden confessed.

"Father, I thought we agree not to go at it this year." Innes sighed.

"I'm sorry, but I was craving for breaking great-great grandfather's world record." He nervously continued, "And I had to screw up the Speech…"

Gasps came from both his children, "you screwed up the speech?"

"I had to start with a knock-knock joke."

Tana and Innes felt heavy embarrassment, "now you're going to be the laughingstock in the entire continent." Innes said.

"Tell me about it. Now you'll be known as King Hoot-en!" Tana joked and Innes guffawed. Both siblings high-five, not noticing their offended father, leaving the scene.


END OF CHAPTER