Disclaimer: Fire Emblem - The Sacred Stones is a belonging to his respective corporation and creator: Nintendo and Intelligent Systems. The following characters belong 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.
Nitro: A gambler and a bandit among Joshua's gambling posse, the Nitro gang.
Author's Note: I apologize for the short delay. I've been having writer's block the past four days but I thank everyone who's still enjoying this comical story. It just keeps on coming.
To Anazon: Thanks. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
To raedyn-l: Err… I don't get it, but then I accept what you meant.
To EmblemMay: Thanks. Like I've mentioned earlier, the comedy just keeps coming.
To Demonslayer14: I LOVE OREOS? THANKS! Btw, I read your story "Pursuing Darkness" and it's really, really great (I haven't reviewed it yet, but still…)
To Stary Sapphire: Thanks. The idea of Heaven Blast came to mind while I was writing this chapter. It should be taking place in reality.
To Northernsword: Good think to know about Innes.
To Frodo007: Tana loves Heaven Blast. It's like ice cream with sugar sprinkle for her. The game still kinda magical when the Sky-High version is involved in this.
Now back to the story:
Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life
—The One with Joshua's Love of Gambling—
Queen Ismaire stood by a large window the size of a round edged door inside her royal citadel. Jehanna Hall had a euro-Spanish architecture blended with marbled floor and bright ceilings the taste of Greek.
Ismaire is the queen of Jehanna, also known as the Queen of the White Dunes. She ruled the plateau realm with her ailing husband the King, who recently left the country to participate in a medical treatment.
Ismaire's advisor—a Swordmaster in a olive black kimono and sea green hakama—approached the queen and bowed before her, "Your company has arrived Your Majesty," he told her.
She turned to face him and spread a weak smile, "Thank you Carlyle," she said, "Tell them to wait in the guest hall. I will assist them shortly."
Carlyle left the queen and headed toward a large luminous and majestic hallway with few royal chairs resting by the walls painted with the paintings of the city of Jehanna, (resembling the city of Venice, with the sands instead of the waters) all across. Carlyle approached Ismaire's guests who were none other than King Fado of Renais and his royal spontaneous twin children Eirika and Ephraim.
Carlyle bowed to the family and spoke, "the queen is on her way."
Fado nodded, allowing the Swordmaster to take leave.
"So this is Jehanna Hall!" Eirika glanced at the paintings in awe, "the city looks amazing. Such magnificent beauty."
"Sure it's magnificent." Ephraim exclaimed, "Jehanna is even richer than Carcino."
Fado faced his son interestingly, "really? Richer than Carcino?"
"Of course. According to the book 'Magvel Atlas', Jehanna's primary resources are the white dunes and gold."
"I never knew." Eirika said, "Now I understand why we didn't see a single person living in the street."
"True that."
Ismaire came in the room and approached her guests. She was happy to see Fado and his children here.
"Fado. How fare you?" she greeted him warmly.
"I'm doing great, Ismaire. It is good to see you again." Fado returned the favor.
Ismaire turned her attention to the twins and greeted them as well, "and they must be Renais's heirs: Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Queen Ismaire." Ephraim greeted.
"Enchanted," Eirika greeted too. "Your city is magnificent."
"Thank you Eirika." The queen said, "The city is very small and is across from Hamill Canyon."
"A war here in Magvel," Ephraim said, "will wipe the city out in a minute."
Fado, Eirika, and Ismaire shot a glare at Ephraim. The prince quickly changed tune, "I mean it won't be wiped out, only it will…get…Nevermind."
-Study Hall-
Fado came to Jehanna at Ismaire's request for she had to discuss with him an important matter regarding her husband the King of the White Dunes. Ephraim and Eirika took the time to take a brief tour of the Hall with Carlyle and Orson, who came in with the king as well. Seth could not make the trip for he had to train new recruits.
Fado sat down with Ismaire at the study hall. The study hall resembled a suite, except that there was no bed and the windows were large enough for the sunlight to shine through the room.
"So Ismaire," Fado said, "was there something you wanted to tell me?"
Ismaire let out a sigh, "Yes. It's about my husband."
"What about him? Is he getting well?"
Ismaire faced Fado, "Actually he's getting worse. Our clerics in the vassal and Grado's bishops and druids could not find out what was wrong with him. So, he had to leave for Rausten to participate in a medical treatment."
Fado was shocked to hear this news, "Grado's bishops and druids couldn't find out what was wrong with him?"
Ismaire shook her head, "I know! And they happened to be the best."
"Yes. They healed my bronchitis a year ago."
"Anyway," the queen sat at a desert-color lounger across Fado, "My husband's birthday is approaching, and I need your opinion…actually your help on one thing."
Fado was at the edge of his seat, ready to listen to his friend's offer.
"Remember Jehanna's royal profit?"
"Yes. Yes of course. The one you used to build the city Eirika referred to."
"Actually, that was from the people's taxes." Ismaire declared, "I still have the profit."
Fado's eyes took size, "you still have the profit? What if someone actually steals it?"
"Do not fret Fado," she smiled, "Jehanna's security is in top notch. It is safe with Jehanna's Sacred Stone."
Fado let a sigh of relief; "if it's there, I'm glad…" he remained silent for a second then asked curiously, "What are you planning to do with the profit then?"
"It is my husband's secret and dear wish." the queen said, "but you have to promise me to keep this to yourself."
"I promise."
The queen sighed and spilled the beans.
"And this is the royal garden." Carlyle brought the twins and Orson to Jehanna's garden, resembling a park of vast meadow with flowers of many kinds, from roses to lilies even azalea came into view. Rocks and clear streams were an additional touch to the beauty and the sight of the city of Jehanna behind the trees was even more magnificent than in the paintings.
"Now that's what I call nature!" Eirika squealed.
"Unbelievable!" Ephraim breathed.
"Now, where would you like to visit next?" Carlyle offered.
"Does Jehanna have an heir to the throne?" Ephraim asked.
"Well…" Carlyle bit his lips, "our prince is in and out of the castle most of the time and…"
Carlyle stopped abruptly as he saw a young man with long red-hair resting by the shoulders, in a black ninja top, white pant, and a pair of ninja boots, resembling socks.
"You're here again." Carlyle said, "Prince Ephraim! Princess Eirika! Say hello to…"
Before Carlyle could finish, the twins turned around and quickly recognized the myrmidon, "Wait a minute! You're that gambler at the Rausten party!" Ephraim pointed his fingers toward Joshua.
Joshua pointed the fingers toward Ephraim, "and you're that whiny prince who is afraid of Nicole."
Eirika giggled at Joshua's statement. Ephraim simply stood there, getting humiliated: "Was!" he corrected crossly, "And I'm not whiny for your information."
"Oh please." Eirika muttered.
Ephraim glared at her, hearing her comments. "What did you say?"
She hesitated, "I…I s-said…Oh, fleas!" She yelped as she smacked her back and twirled around like a dog chasing its tail.
-Castle Frelia Courtyard-
Frelia's Pegasus knights was having their daily training at the castle's courtyard, mastering the lances. Each one of them wielded the slim lance, a very slender lance capable to unleash a critical blow on any enemy. Entering the courtyard was the commander of the army: a woman of great beauty. Her green hair, attached by a milk-coco bandana, rested gently on the broad shoulder pads of her bright white and gold fringes armor. Her light green eyes showed gracious wisdom and courage.
The woman blew on a whistle, catching everyone's attention.
"All right recruits! You've done well today," She spoke a kind voice, "Let us take it from here. Tomorrow, you will do some more practice using a different kind of lance, and then you will learn to mount a Pegasus."
A young light-green haired recruit raised her hand among the knight. The woman pointed at her, "yes."
"Exactly, what kind of lance we will be learning tomorrow, Commander Syrene?" the recruit asked, with a little desperation on her tone.
The woman—Syrene—smiled, "it'll be a surprise, Recruit Vanessa. You just have to wait. Dismissed!"
The recruits groaned and left the courtyard their separate ways. They were also eager to know which lance they will be using tomorrow. The light-green haired recruit—Vanessa—approached Syrene and asked again, "seriously, what are we going to be using tomorrow?"
"Like I said little sister," Syrene said, "we shall see."
Vanessa sighed, and as she was about to head for the palace, she stopped on her track noticing someone approaching. Yet, she was not surprised, "Princess Tana. How fare you?"
Syrene turned and unlike her sister was surprised to see the princess, "Your Highness!"
Tana cocked her head one side. Syrene stammered, "w-w-we were j-just finishing our training s—"
Tana giggled, "Syrene, stop stammering whenever you see me. It's not like you've committed a crime or anything."
Vanessa glanced at her sister curiously, "Have you?" Syrene glared at her.
"No Vanessa, she hasn't." Tana smiled, "in fact, I just wanted to ask Syrene something." She turned to Syrene and said, "If you wouldn't mind, do you?"
Syrene shook her head, "No, not at all, Princess Tana! Go ahead."
Tana sighed, looked down, and continuously mingled her index fingers, "well, see the thing is…I know you're all talented in mounting Pegasus and fighting in the air, even though you're just a Pegasus knight."
"Yes."
"So I was thinking… Can I partake on your next training?"
Before Syrene could answer Tana positively, her eyes shot up in surprise, "…Princess Tana! What are you saying?"
"Commander Syrene!" Tana called her, "Refer to me as 'recruit', for I've decided to become your loyal Pegasus knight."
Syrene's mouth dropped. A royal heir to the throne of Frelia, wanting to serve the royal army? How weirder can Tana gets?
"Good luck sister," Vanessa tapped her sister's shoulders, "you're gonna need a lot of it."
-Lagdou Ruins-
Joshua, followed by Ephraim and Eirika entered the Lagdou Ruins entrance, scattered of stones and desert-colored bricks. There, they met a group of brigands gathering around large stone playing chips. As they saw Joshua, they yelled with greetings.
"Well, well, well," A brigand with a frown expression and a sand-colored beard said, "if it isn't my boy Joshua."
"Yeah! You're here to play a game of chess or what?" Another brigand with chocolate-brown hair and missing two front teeth teased.
"Chance!" Joshua corrected. "I'm here to play a game of chance and you guys know it."
The bandits let out a boisterous laugh. Joshua turned to Ephraim and Eirika and introduced the bandits to them, "guys, this is Ephraim and Eirika from the kingdom of Renais. They are family to King Fado. Eirika, Ephraim, these guys are my gambling posse, the Nitro gang."
"Please to meet you guys." Ephraim said.
"Fado heh?" the first brigand—Nitro—growled. "I hate his guts. You know, we were his bunch of simpleton vassal when he had us banished from the castle for gambling on his family allowance."
Eirika raised an eyebrow suspiciously, "You gambled his… what now?"
"It's okay Eirika." Joshua said, "They learned their lesson. Now… let's gamble."
It took about a half hour of gambling and Joshua was in the lead. The bandits began taking the gaming seriously and the twins became fretful.
"All right Joshua. If you wanna play dirty, then let's play dirty." Nitro cracked his fingers.
Joshua smiled "You got it!" then thought, "This is the part where the game gets really serious."
"We'll play… " Nitro laid down a pocketful of money, "…for 50,000 gold."
The twins and the bandits breathed in amazement. Joshua grinned and shook his finger at him, "you got the wrong kind of amount, bub."
"Who're you calling bub?" Nitro growled.
"You."
Nitro crossed his arms, "what do you have?"
Joshua pulled out of his pocket another pocketful of money, three times more than Nitro's, "I see your 50,000, and I raise you 150,000."
More gasps came from the twins and the bandits. Nitro raised an eyebrow, thinking he's screwed.
Eirika approached Joshua, "Are you sure about this?"
"Don't worry Princess," he said, "I know what I'm doing." He then faced Nitro and held his cards firmly, "let us play, Nitro!"
The next afternoon, Syrene and the Frelian Pegasus knights met again for their training. The knights aligned together horizontally and vertically in a neat way on the courtyard. Syrene spoke, "All right troops. Like I've told you the last time we've met, we're going to be wielding a different kind of weapon and practice battling with it, and then we'll learn the art of handling and mounting a Pegasus."
The troops were excited for today's training. They began sharing their thoughts on how will it go. Which lance will they wield? Will the Pegasus be willful or gentle to support?
"Oh, and another thing troops," Syrene continued, "We have a brand-new student coming to join the army. You know her, you love her, and you give her gifts every year."
With amazement, the troops saw Tana entering the courtyard. She was dressed in a formal white and gold-trimmed Pegasus armor and metal boots reaching her knees, all matching her strawberry-red skirt and breezy sleeve blouse. Her blue hair was tied in a ponytail, revealing in her a daring soldier of the army than a princess. Tana held a Javelin with one hand, while the other hand rested on the hip.
She entered in the army and took an empty spot in front. "We're ready when you are Commander Syrene."
"Princess Tana." The troops bowed to her in unison, "what sur—"
"Hey Guys!" she interrupted, "None of that bowing stuff. Refer to me as Tana, your partner in the army."
The troops gossiped Tana's suggestion. The princess, or the future Pegasus knight, faced Syrene, "We're ready when you are Syrene."
"Umm… Recruit Tana." Syrene called Tana, "First of all, it's Commander Syrene in this training ground."
"Oh… I'm sorry, commander."
"And second of all," Syrene approached Tana and took her Javelin, "we have already learned the Javelin two months ago, so drop it."
The troops giggled. Tana turned to glare at them and immediately their mouth shut. Syrene cleared her throat, "today, we'll be learning how to wield…" Syrene grabbed a handful of sharp lances, "…the horseslayer." She tossed each lance to each recruit, who caught them with ease. Tana grabbed the hurled lance and lost her balance due to the weight. The troops chortled loudly.
"Recruit Tana," Syrene sighed, "the most important thing in wielding a lance is to support its weight. You cannot do this; you will have a hard time on the battlefield."
The troops continued to laugh until Tana shot them another glare. Vanessa smiled as she watched Tana and Syrene.
"Don't fret Joshua." Ephraim patted the myrmidon's shoulder as the trio returned to the Hall, "it's not everyday you win at gambling."
"Ephraim's right." Eirika said, "So you lost 150,000 gold. What could possibly go wrong?"
"Report, report!" soldiers scurried wildly around the hall as if they were under attack, "Search the entire hall! Queen Ismaire's royal profit is missing from the sacred stone's reliquary! The queen's royal profit is missing from the sacred stone's reliquary!"
"Sacred stone's reliquary?" Ephraim raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Well," Joshua giggled nervously, "it is kind of like a secret room no one is allow to access. Only the king and queen can access there."
"Well, we should help the queen find her profit!" Eirika suggested.
"No!" Joshua yelped alertly, "I…just don't think…she will allow that. You guys are her guests… so…" Joshua hesitated and cleared his throat. Both Ephraim and Eirika looked at each other in confusion then shot an alarming glance at Joshua, figuring out the truth.
--- --- ---
"Oh…my…" Eirika gasped.
"Did you…" Ephraim gasped.
"I didn't!" Joshua said.
"Oh!" Eirika scoffed, "yeah, you did!"
"That money you had! That was the queen's royal profit, wasn't it?" Ephraim asked.
Joshua, admitting defeat, spilled the beans, "yes it was."
The twins froze. Eirika gulped hard and try to regain her breath. Ephraim pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead. Joshua continued, "But don't worry, we won't get into much trouble..."
"Much trouble?" Ephraim barked.
"Well, as long as I repay the queen her profit, right?"
"Joshua! Where on earth are you going to find 150,000 gold?" Eirika asked.
Joshua spread a smirk as he gave the twins an unusual stare. The twins simultaneously frowned and shook their head, "no, no, no, no."
"Come on!"
"no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no and no. You are NOT going to dig in us that much gold." Ephraim exclaimed, "It's for Father and for our country's civilization alone."
"You got that right." A deep voice came from behind the trio. The twins and Joshua froze and turned to its source. Fado stood behind them along with Orson. His teal eyes glared severely at his twin children and the gambler.
"Hi father!" Eirika smiled at the king as if she didn't have anything to hide, "So great to see you!" Ephraim and Joshua smiled the same way as Eirika while waving. Eirika continued, "Isn't such a charming and lovely day today? We should take a walk at the park! We'll have an ice cone; we'll share our feelings…"
"Save your courtesy Eirika." Fado said with an angry tone, "It may have work on me ten years ago but I ain't falling for that anymore. Besides, we will share our feelings during your punishment."
"Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika!" Orson said, also with an angry tone, "You better have an explanation to this."
Ephraim and Eirika stared at each other then both pointed at Joshua, "he did it!"
"We know he did." Fado said, "My concern is on you two."
Joshua watched Ephraim and Eirika at the point of being chastise. He stepped forward and confessed, "King Fado. Please do not blame Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika. I'm the only one who gambled on the Queen's royal profit and…well, I lost it all."
Fado could not believe what he was hearing. Orson approached Joshua and firmly placed his hand on the gambler's left shoulder. "King Fado. This is a crime this young man has committed. What should we do to him?"
Fado raised his palm forming a halt, "Peace Orson." He said, "This crime should be left on the queen's hand. However…"
Fado signaled the twins and Joshua to come with him at the garden. Orson followed. Once there, all except Orson sat on flowerbeds among the lush trees. The king sighed then spoke: "There's something you three should know about that profit. It is something the queen made me promise not to tell anyone. Not even my royal vassals."
"Father," Eirika said, "you know full well that I don't like hearing secrets. It makes me feel… like, not myself."
"Well daughter, because of the delinquency you three have caused, I have no choice but to spill this secret." He raised his voice.
"Sorry."
Fado continued, "Queen Ismaire began saving money when she was only four-years old. She saved from 10 to 15 gold. That money she has collected has now grown to 150,000 gold, the amount you gambled on."
There was an uneasy moment of silence and Fado continued, "She saved that amount for a long time, even before she made queen. Her husband the king has always wanted to help the orphans of Magvel. But since he is absent on a medical treatment, she made a decision to use her profit and make his wish come true: by building a large manse of gold and marble for those hungry and abandoned children to dwell."
"Wow." Ephraim breathed, "This is huge!"
"Even huge then the time you gave away full-ride scholarships to those homeless teenagers." Eirika said.
"Even huge then the time Emperor Vigarde sent out over a thousand pack of foods to General Selena's village."
"Even huge then—"
"Okay, I get it! It's huge!" Fado boomed.
"Goodness Gracious, now I'm feeling… not myself anymore." Eirika groaned.
Joshua, after hearing this story stayed silence for a full minute. He rose from the flowerbed and left the garden. Ephraim tried to follow, "Joshua, where are you going?"
"Undoing my mistake!" He yelled as he disappeared from the garden.
"Father! We can't let him go back there! They will crush him!" Eirika complained.
"They who? The gamblers he gambled the queen's profit with?" Orson asked.
"They're bandits." Ephraim explained, "Joshua's gambling posse: the Nitro gang."
Fado completely lost his serenity after hearing "Nitro gang." He rose off the flowerbed and boomed: "NITRO! That hoodwink! Did you know that I had them banished from the castle for gambling on our family allowance?"
"Even though they were your bunch of simpleton vassal. Yes, we know Father," Ephraim sighed, "they told us that."
"Orson! Prepare my horse!" Fado yelled, "We're following Young Joshua."
Fado headed back inside, preceding the twins and Orson. The paladin stopped pacing and scratched his head, "Your Majesty?" he called.
"What?"
"You don't have a horse."
A multitude of pegasi took flight in the sky. It seems the recruits were able to mount each one of them with ease, all except Tana of course. At every attempt, the Pegasus would neigh raucously and toss her off its back on the muddy ground. The knights giggled in a hush tone, forbidding Tana to notice the mockery.
Innes was passing at the hall when he noticed Tana. He raised an eyebrow, spread a mocking smile, and entered the courtyard haughtily, "Well, well, well, if it isn't my dear sister, on the Peg squad."
Tana spat a mud out of her mouth and growled at her brother, "What are you doing here?"
Innes scoffed, acting a little surprise to her question, "What am I doing here? I live here, remember?"
Syrene noticed Innes and greeted him warmly, "Prince Innes. I didn't expect you here. You probably are wondering why Princess Tana is with our Pegasus troops?"
Innes squatted and crossed his arms, "Obviously."
Tana came at Innes face-to-face, "and what does that suppose to mean?"
"It doesn't mean anything," Innes smiled, "but if you want meaning sister, it's gloating on my dictionary. Look at you. You can't mount a Pegasus like you can't mount a merry-go-round ride."
The troops let out a laugh so boisterous and thrashing, they fell off their pegasi. Tana shot a glare at them, yet they kept laughing. Innes rose, watched the troops still having hysterics and thought with a sigh, "I love making people laugh." He finally left the courtyard.
Tana felt mortified. She was a princess and people were actually laughing at her. Vanessa helped her up from the mud, "Don't listen to your brother Princess Tana," Vanessa advised, "and don't listen to them either. I will help you mount a Pegasus."
"Thanks Vanessa."
Vanessa helped Tana mounting her Pegasus. Thanks to her, the flying mare felt at ease and the princess was able to mount and fly on it, but then came in the next part of the training, and the most difficult one: dodging a ballista of strong air currents. Almost everyone in the troop was able to dodge and support the strong wind current, but Tana couldn't. Her fluster alarmed her Pegasus and the steed began panicking as well, thrashed everyone about and fell on the ground in the long run.
Everyone weren't mocking Tana anymore. Instead, they shot her glares and insults.
"Come on! We were doing well." A girl with a golden ponytail yelled.
"Yeah! What's the deal Tana?" Another girl with short sky-blue hair boomed.
"You suck!" Another one cried.
"Yeah! We thought you were cool!" Another one yapped.
"LISTEN UP, PEOPLE!"
Everyone became silent at Syrene's calling. "You haven't done such good job today, but do not blame whoever was responsible." Syrene said, "Training's dismissed! We will practice more tomorrow."
Everyone left, unhappy with their training. Tana left the troop and went to sit on a nearby rock. Vanessa and Syrene watched her weep softly.
"Hard day on Her Highness huh?" Vanessa sighed.
Syrene faced her sister, "Do you think… this whole thing was my fault? Bringing her here to join the Peg knights?"
"Well, one way to find out is if you talk to her," she replied, "and I think you should."
"I…I'm nervous." Syrene bit her fingers.
"Syrene, she may be the king's daughter, but she's just like us. She has feelings." Vanessa said, "Besides, she has always thought of us as her sisters."
Syrene looked at Tana then at her sister who nodded with assent. The commander approached the princess and sat by her. Tana slowly looked at Syrene, her beautiful expression marred with tears of sadness.
Syrene swallowed, "you don't mind if I sit next to you Princess?"
"No," Tana giggled weakly, "go ahead Syrene."
"Err…Your Highness. I hope I wasn't too…bossy to you back there…"
Tana sniffled, "no Syrene. You weren't bossy at all."
There was an uneasy silence and Tana alternatively responded, "okay you were a little bossy… too much…too little…okay, very."
"Well, to tell you the truth, I'm not like that with the troops." she said, "I'm usually known to be gentle and graceful."
Tana faced Syrene, "really? Then what made you change?"
"I was… nervous."
"Nervous?" Tana was puzzled, "of what?"
"…training you, Your Highness."
Tana smiled weakly, "I was nervous too Syrene."
"Really?"
"Yes…see the thing is I only joined the squad, not only because I want to be a peg knight but so that I could fit in and be known like a regular person."
"You got that opportunity Your Highness!"
Tana raised an eyebrow, "you think?"
"What do you think all those girls were doing when you stumbled or made a gaffe? Laughing at you."
"Really?" Tana smiled, "I thought they were making fun of me because of what Innes said!"
"Please," Syrene flapped her hand once, "Prince Innes thinks he's all-that."
"You said it sister."
Joshua reentered the Lagdou Ruins and saw no one. "Hello?" He yelled to the emptiness, "Is anyone here? Nitro! Show yourself!"
Nitro emerged from a stone pillar and approached Joshua, "well, well, well, if it isn't my boy Joshua."
The brigand with the two missing front teeth came out from behind a pile of stones, followed by the rest of the gang, "what are you doing here? Playing a game of retch?"
"Actually it's chance…no wait!" Joshua shook his head and cleared his throat, "actually Nitro, remember the gold I gave you?"
"The 150,000, right?"
"Yeah. I kind of need it back."
"Why?"
Joshua sighed nervously, taking few steps back in response to the bandits approaching him, "well, see the thing is… the gold was for something important. Something for…you know, homeless children. Orphans."
They continued smiling and approaching Joshua. "I mean they're cold and hungry children. Think about it." Joshua continued.
"We figured you wanted the money back, wimpy boy." Nitro grinned.
"So, we waited for you here." The other brigand smiled.
"Really? So you have the money?"
"No." Nitro grinned, still approaching Joshua, "What we have is different."
The brigand grabbed him by the colon and formed a fist. At the same moment, Ephraim and Eirika entered the ruins, in a chic guise of brutal berserkers, "Stop right there!"
Joshua, Nitro and the gang watched the twin making stomps as they entered. Ephraim had a scar crossed through his left eye and wore a white wig and beard filled with dandruff and chewed gums. He only wore a torn brown pair of pants, which looked like a half a short, and a half a pant, and smelly boots missing laces. He dragged with him a heavy axe painted in black and blood. Eirika had a scar crossed through her right eye and wore a tied beige headscarf over her head. She had a brown cuirass on her chest cluttered with burns and weapon marks, olive green shorts reaching and snuggling the lower thigh and also a pair of dark yellow high-heel, smellier than Ephraim's boots. She also dragged a heavy axe, which its blade dripped a trail of putrid green-goo.
"Who the heck are you?" Nitro dropped Joshua as the bandits came closer.
Ephraim and Eirika both dawdled as they dragged their heavy axes.
"The name is Bobo! You dig? Bobo!" Ephraim blew a gruff southern voice.
"Yeah! And I'm his wife… DADA!" Eirika squealed an almost-masculine southern voice, as she lifted her axe up her shoulder. But the axe was too heavy, it dropped from behind her, causing her to stumble and almost lose her balance.
The bandits watched them, clueless. Ephraim leaned by Eirika and whispered, "You're my wife?"
"Hey!" Eirika snapped, "Do you know who we're dealing with?"
"So, what do you want?" Nitro raised his head suspiciously and crossed his arms.
"We wanna meet dem Nitro/Joshua fellas!" Ephraim scratched his beard, "y'all gotta problem wit dat?"
The bandits looked at each other then at Nitro, "shall we finish them?" the missing teeth brigand asked.
"Nah, let them be." Nitro approached the twins, "I want to get acquainted with that…bobby, baboon troop."
"It's Dada, bum!" Eirika snarled.
"Whatever pretty." He faced Ephraim, "Say, you know how to gamble?"
"Gamble?" Ephraim huffed, "gamble is for weaklings!"
"Weakling?" The bandits went in an uproar after hearing Ephraim's statement.
"We fight for money." Eirika began scratching her headscarf, "You know, the shiny coin, the moolah, the bling-bling! We, giving you an offer of 150,000 gold to whoever wins… if y'all have it. Now, why is my head itching? I'M GETTING LICES THERE! IT'S SO IRRITATING, IT DRIVES ME CRA—"
"Baba!"
"WHAT? IT'S DADA!"
"Focus." Ephraim whispered to his sister who stopped scratching her head, and then faced the gang again.
"150,000 gold heh?" Nitro smiled, "well guess what? Joshua came here to ask for that amount too."
Both twins cocked their head one side, their attention on Joshua, "is that so?" Ephraim scratched his beard.
The myrmidon smiled at the twins, "well, it was kind of like a large amount belonging to the orphans of Magvel. I didn't know about it and so I came to get it back."
Eirika and Ephraim looked at each other, acting amazed, "Orphans of Magvel, huh Bobo?"
"This is huge!" Ephraim replied, "Say, Lola…"
"Dada."
"Whatever. What if we make a different rule?"
"Yeah!" the twins faced the bandits, and grasped their axes firmly, "whoever wins will donate the money to the orphans… personally."
"That will be a gr—hey, wait a minute!" Nitro growled.
Ephraim and Eirika both posed, "what?"
"What's that smell?"
Everyone paused and followed the unusual stench. Their nose continued to move and finally came across the twins' boots. "EEW!" they gagged.
"Horrendous! Do you guys even bathe?" Nitro plugged his nose.
"Actually, we showered last year." Ephraim said.
The bandits dropped their weapons, and fought to regain their breath. Joshua tiptoed in the background carrying the untouched 150,000 gold bag. His foot knocked a rock, catching everyone's attention.
"HEY!" Nitro yelled, watching Joshua escaped. The twins took their chance to escape as well, but Ephraim's beard caught on a splinter and ripped in front of the bandits. They were exposed and busted.
"HEY!" Nitro yelled again.
"Oops." Ephraim grinned.
"Run!" Eirika dropped her axe and dragged Ephraim with him. Both twins and Joshua reunited.
"That was you the entire time?" Joshua said.
"Of course that was us!" Ephraim yelled, "What did you think?"
As they headed for the exit, the bandits blocked their path, grabbed the gold and tossed them on the side.
"You're not going anywhere imposters." Nitro sneered, unhappy to see this moment.
"Ephraim, I think it's time to wear a shirt now." Eirika commented.
"Oh, you think?"
Suddenly, a huge supernatural force blew off the bandits, freeing the entrance. Standing there was Ismaire, her Wind Sword firmly gripped. Fado, next to her, carried his Silver Axe, Orson had his Silver Lance, and Carlyle had a Light Brand. Behind them were Jehanna's royal guards: a multitude of swordmasters and an assassin. "Seize them." Ismaire commanded the guards, who ran towards the bandits and tied them up.
The assassin snatched the gold bag and handed it to the queen. Fado approached Nitro, squatted, and held his head to him, "still gambling aren't you Nitro?"
"You little…" Nitro grumbled, "If it weren't for your royal meddling kids…"
Fado got up, letting the guards taking the bandits. Ismaire approached Joshua, a frown look on her face. Joshua bowed to her and swallowed hard, knowing he was in deep trouble, "Your Majesty, I…"
"Save it Joshua." Ismaire said calmly, "everyone makes mistakes and so I'm not going to chastise you for it."
Joshua smiled weakly, "I'm sorry I put you into that much trouble."
"Like the queen mentioned, everyone makes mistakes." Carlyle said, "Besides, everything turned out for the best."
"Of course." Fado glanced at Ephraim and Eirika and squinted, "What are you wearing!"
"You like it?" Eirika modeled her costume and Ephraim made a pose.
A week had passed since the queen retrieved her royal profit. The money was invested to the Jehanna Housing commission and construction for the gold and marbled manse began shortly. Fado and the twins were there to witness the construction, and so does Joshua. The king returned several months later and saw his wish coming true to his eyes. He knew his wife had made his vision to happen and thank her from the bottom of his heart. The manse was opened to the public and many orphans lived there gleefully. And what had happened to Nitro and the gang? News has it they are spending the rest of their lives in prison.
We are now in Castle Frelia Courtyard where Tana was teaching her brother Innes how to mount a Pegasus. The brash prince felt the need of peg flight and so came to his sister for it.
"So to recap our quick lesson of Pegasus mounting, you just caress it, mount it, brushed its hair gently and giddy-up, tell it to fly and it will take you places." Tana told him.
"Like this?" Innes followed her instructions and mounted the Pegasus.
"Exactly."
"Listen Tana. Sorry for teasing you back there on your training." Innes said, "I didn't know you wanted to…you know… relive your mollycoddling baby days by mounting pegasi."
Tan smiled, but behind that smile she gnashed her teeth, "Oh that's okay. That's all right." She said, "I'm totally fine with you teasing me every single…day." She said the last word heavily, paused and said, "So you're ready?"
"Ready sissy…I mean, sis." Innes snickered as he brushed gently the flying steed's hair. Tana pulled out her fan and spank the Pegasus with it, sending it flying wildly into the sky.
The Pegasus neighed stridently, thrashing everything about and scribbling around the sky. Innes screamed as if at every second his life was flashing before his eyes, "TANA! HELP!"
Tana left the courtyard, ignoring her brother's plea. She came across Hayden and warmly greeted him, "Morning father. Lovely sight out huh?" She continued her pace.
Hayden glanced outside and gasped at the sight of Innes and the Pegasus going at it in the sky.
"TANAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
END OF CHAPTER
