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.

Author's Note: I apologize for the wait. I have experienced another Writer's block plus have been very unwell the past few weeks. I thank everyone who are still enjoying this fic and to those who has reviewed them. Five new chapters had been planned out and will hopefully be posted before the release of FE: Path of Radiance, for I have big plans for our fellow Magvelers starting Chapter 11.

To raedyn-l: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Another chapter featuring Joshua will soon appear after this chapter. I should have included him in this chapter since there'll be a lot of discussion about good and bad lucks but…

To Frodo007: Tana's peg knights lessons will be the highlight of this fic as well as Joshua's greed for luck and gambling and Eirika's love for the environment, which will be seen soon.

Now back to the story:


Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life

The One When Ephraim Sees the Future—

-Castle Renais Courtyard-

Eirika, Ephraim, and Lyon were hanging out at the most relaxed spot of the castle's courtyard. Three chairs made of fresh white-painted wood surrounded a luxurious glass table adorned with well-drawn sketches of flowers around. The setting totally matched with the flowers of all types' ensemble that majestically adds a little touch to the garden.

Eirika was cooking and sizzling delicious sausage links while Ephraim and Lyon were talking on certain, yet another interesting subject.

"No kidding Lyon," Ephraim exclaimed, "you found that gold gem in Serafew?"

"It was at Serafew yes." Lyon gently stroked a golden crystal ball of great value. The ball was the size of a stone, "and it happened to be in the streets."

Eirika came in the conversation, bringing with her the sausage links she has just cooked, "Did you asked around?" she asked.

"Yes. In fact, all of the citizens do not recall the possession of this gold gem." He responded, "Either they couldn't figure it out or they forget what the problem was and gave me a warm royal welcome to their lovely home."

"Wait Lyon!" Eirika uttered, "What's the possibility one would find a gold gem in the streets of a town?"

"Well, for a royal or a non-royal, it is probably a million to none." Lyon answered.

"Do you know what this means?" Eirika exclaimed, "That gold gem you just found out must have been good luck for you. You're lucky!"

Ephraim scoffed at Eirika's belief, but Lyon became interested. "Please Eirika," Ephraim said, "Good or bad luck is just a silly superstition."

"I'm listening." Lyon said.

"When I was a kid," Eirika explained, "I used to go to the Library with Father and there I checked out a very interesting book. It was called 'Lady Luck's Charm'. It was based on all objects and items you find lucky or unlucky."

Ephraim rolled his eyes, "Come on. That's so lunatic."

Eirika ignored her brother and continued, "The luckiest items are: four-leaf clovers, rabbit feet, horseshoe, ladybugs, shining coins, garlic necklaces, red dices…"

"Wait, did you say shining coins?" Lyon pulled from his pocket a small coin gleaming radiantly to the sunrays. He squealed, "I GOT IT!"

"I KNEW IT LYON!" Eirika squealed, "YOU'RE SO LUCKY!"

"You're right Eirika, I am!" Lyon squealed of joy. "I am lucky! So technically, I didn't find that gold gem aimlessly!"

"Yeah you did Lyon." Ephraim said.

Eirika crossed her arms and turned towards her brother, "are you jealous because Lyon got his first luck and you haven't?"

"What about you Eirika?" Ephraim countered, but Eirika kept smiling. He turned his attention to Lyon, "So Lyon, what are you planning on doing with that gold gem? Are you going to sell it?"

"As a matter of fact I am. You know, there is this festival held at Port Kiris every decade."

"Ah yes," Ephraim nodded, "the Manakete festival, isn't that tomorrow?"

"Why yes of course," Lyon gasped, "Oh wow, it's tomorrow!"

"What kind of festival is that?" Eirika asked.

"It's a festival that celebrates the 800th anniversary of the Great Dragon's tribe presence in Magvel." Ephraim explained, "Word has it there will be foods, drinks and rare merchandising besides family fun events."

"That sounds fun." Eirika said.

"Yes, but why having this festival if the 'Manakete' are only legend?" Ephraim argued, "We never actually saw human growing wings on their back."

"…You gotta keep a keen eye out there brother," Eirika exclaimed, "You might find one of those…what's their-name someday."

"Oh please."

"Great thing you found that gold gem." Eirika told Lyon.

"Yes," Lyon nodded, "and thanks to you Eirika, I'm going to be collecting good luck charms."

Eirika smiled, "Collect like the wind Lyon!"

"Great." Ephraim sighed, "Now I've got two lunatics."


-Port Kiris-

Port Kiris is a large seaside town in Carcino about a quarter mile from the Tower of Valni in Frelia. It is also a trade center and a shortcut to many people who wishes to travel different countries.

Port Kiris is to be very busy this weekend for the Manakete festival. Many merchants were seen at their stands, selling rare merchandises, foods, and drinks like Lyon mentioned. Entering the port was Seth, Adrion, Adam, Innes, Ephraim, and Lyon. Eirika stayed at Frelia, visiting her friend Tana and King Hayden.

Seth parked the royal carriage, allowing the three princes, Adrion, and Adam to exit. Adrion sighed in response to the aroma of a marketplace, "the great outdoor." He said, "Port Kiris is like an everyday party in my nose."

Adam weirdly looked at his brother and plugged his nose, "then you might not party too much." He said.

"Princes Ephraim, Innes, and Lyon," Seth said, "Welcome to Port Kiris. Like Kings Fado, Hayden, and Emperor Vigarde told us to do, we will be watching you at close distance."

"Say Seth," Innes grinned, "how about watching us at long distance?"

"You don't have to be so rude Innes." Ephraim snapped through his teeth.

"What?" Innes gnarled, "He's annoying."

"I'm sorry Seth." Lyon stepped in while Ephraim and Innes were arguing in the background, "We fully understand our fathers' concerns, but we really would like to spend this day to ourselves. If you know what I mean."

Seth nodded, "I understand, Prince Lyon. But don't hesitate to call out to us when you're needed."

"Thank you Seth. And don't worry about a thing; we'll keep an eye on each other…" Lyon glanced at the arguing duo then back at Seth, "…at least, I'll keep an eye on them." Lyon winked and left with them.

"Prince Lyon will make a fine emperor someday." Adam nodded.

"Of course he will. The people of his realm love him like his father," Adrion said, "he's like Emperor Vigarde's younger self."

"Yeah."

There was a quick silence among the three young knights. Seth turned to them breaking the silence, "shall we follow them?"

Adrion and Adam simultaneously agreed to Seth's suggestion.


-Castle Frelia-

Smokes busted out of the oven inside Frelia's Kitchen. The chefs stared at the smoke, urging to make a move. Tana rushed inside the kitchen, her yell piercing through the palace, "Get out of the way! Coming through!"

She opened the oven and out came a large puff of smoke, coming right from dark, burnt balls. She cried in frustration.

Eirika came in the kitchen at the same moment, "you burned them again did you?"

Tana sighed, "That's the eleventh time I do that." She angrily faced the chefs, "for how long do we have to know when desserts are golden brown ready?"

"I-I-I'm sorry Your Highness," the first cook said, "I thought you told us to mind our own business."

"…Oh right."

"Tana. You don't have to be so frustrated over almost a dozen burnt sugar balls." Eirika comforted her friend, "you'll be a great cook someday. Ephraim had to burn like seventeen fruit toasts and almost turn the palace on fire before he became our personal chef."

"Thanks for that, Eirika," Tana said, "but I just want to make my sugar-coated cake balls I always made for Family Night and tried them out on those civilians at the Manakete festival. You know I crave for second opinion."

"Well…"

"Hey girls," a familiar voice spoke from behind Eirika and Tana. The two princesses turned to the source and smiled at his sight. King Hayden descended towards the kitchen and the chefs also noticing his presence gave him a royal salute. "Your Majesty. It's good to see you."

"Likewise." He faced the girls again, "Tana, again with those sugar balls?"

"I'm sorry Father."

"You don't have to apologize." Hayden smiled, "but if you're to give them away for the Manakete festival, at least let our chefs help you."

The chefs and Eirika nodded at Hayden's suggestion. Tana snapped, "No, no chefs! I can make them my own. I mean, it's not my first time to make them right?"

"Oh yeah, during Family Fun Night. Neat." Hayden faked a smile, turned around and silently made a gagging sound. He turned back around; unaware that Tana had noticed this.

"Wait a minute." Tana stared at her father.

Eirika and the chefs backed away, leaving Tana and Hayden alone. Hayden laughed nervously, "Well, like you said, it's not your first time, so sugar away."

"Let me ask you a question Father," Tana approached him, "do you or do you not like those sugar balls I make for Family Night?"

"I loved them."

Eirika shook her head and the chefs muttered either, "nah" or "bad answer" simultaneously.

Hayden sighed, admitting defeat, "Okay. Truthfully Tana, I love your sugar balls. But sometimes, you either pour too much milk and it's…uh…sloppy, or you put too much sugar and it's so sugary, it makes your brother hyper."

Tana stared blankly at her father, as she reorganized her thoughts. She had always believed that her brother Innes was born hyper and the sugar balls were ineffective to calm him down. She then stared at Eirika, wanting to get a second opinion from her. Eirika only stared, her eyes twice their sizes.

It took a minute for Tana to speak, "Thanks for being so honest to me, Father."

"Are you okay?"

"Of course." Tana smiled, "but since you told me that I screw up most often, at least you still like my sugar balls."

Knowing Tana's next move to this situation, Eirika closed her eyes shut, bracing to what is to come. Tana continued, "And so I'll make more sugar balls and don't worry, I will not screw them up this time!" she turned towards the lined chefs and yelled, "chef! Flour."

"Oh no." Eirika muttered.


"Let us put our gold in guys." Lyon suggested, as he pulled out his gold gem from his pocket.

Innes and Ephraim both stared at the stone, "Where did you get that?" Innes exclaimed.

"By luck of course!" Lyon squealed, "Thanks to my shining coin and Eirika's truthful theory, I've decided to collect good luck charms."

"You know luck runs out sometimes." Lyon scoffed at Innes's statement.

Innes pulled out his bag of gold and counted, "I have 1000 gold. What about you Ephraim? How much to you have?"

Ephraim searched through his pockets and pulled out his bag of gold as well, which was as weightless as Innes's. Ephraim counted, "I have 300 gold."

"300 gold? HA!" Innes cackled, "You are as broke as the sewers itself!"

"Innes please, enough with this rivalry." Ephraim said, "Just because I'm short on cash, doesn't mean you get to gloat."

"Well you got a point there…shorty." Innes snickered.

"At least we have enough cash to grab lunch," Lyon pointed, "put the sooner I sell this gold gem, the more gold we'll have for the rest of the festival. Let's go."

Lyon and Innes trailed onward to the markets. Ephraim stayed behind shouting, "I'll be right there." He pondered while watching the citizen swimming and sunbathing at the gentle and brilliant West Sea by the bridge.

He stared at his remaining gold and sighed, "Maybe Innes is right. I am broke." He said, "How can someone from a high social status be able to collect some money?"

He felt a single tap by his ankle, looked down and saw a crystal ball by his right foot. He picked it up and stared at it, "well that isn't a gold gem but it could be worth sell—"

Before he could finish, he saw through the ball a cinematic scene of a young girl and her pet pooch prancing towards an orange stand. The vendor accidentally knocked down the pile of oranges and all fell on the pooch. The girl gasped at this sight and cried for her pet.

Ephraim was horrified at this sight. He looked away from the ball and saw the same girl and her pet pooch prancing towards the orange stand. As the vendor was about to knock down the pile of oranges, Ephraim cried: "Watch out!" ran towards the young dog and dove to grab it.

The vendor knocked down the pile of oranges and, instead of falling on the dog, fell on Ephraim. The girl gasped and cried for her pooch: "Biscuit!"

"Oh no!" the vendor breathed. Everyone gathered at the scene and Ephraim surfaced from the oranges with the pooch, safe at his grasp. The dog immediately kissed Ephraim nonstop.

"Biscuit! You're safe!" the girl rejoiced.

"I believe this dog belongs to you." Ephraim gave the happy pooch back to the girl.

She smiled, "Oh thank you so much sir! You saved my dog!"

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry for what had happened sir Ephraim," the orange vendor approached the prince and helped him up, "I didn't mean to knock all those oranges and…"

"You don't have to apologize." Ephraim smiled, "just be careful next time."

Everyone began chatting of what just happened and left. A woman, the mother of the girl, approached Ephraim, "Sir Ephraim, I don't know how to thank you for what you have done. Biscuit would have been gone if it weren't for you."

Ephraim grinned from ear to ear, "Oh please."

"No really Sir, thank you." The girl exclaimed, "What you have done was so out-of-this-world…"

Ephraim cocked his head one side, "Out-of-this-world?"

"Yeah! Are you psychic or something? It's like you can read the future!" The girl smiled and the pooch barked.

The woman laid a hand on her daughter's mouth shutting her up, "Don't take it personally Sir Ephraim. I mean it was just a twist of fate right?"

"Yeah!" Ephraim said, "Anyone can prevent something before it happen sometimes, somewhere…"

As everyone took their leaving, Ephraim ran toward the crystal ball, picked it up and, stared at it in shock. "Did I just…read the future?" he thought for a second and spread a smile, "I can read the future!"

--- --- ---

Eirika carried a gallon of milk and slammed it next to Tana at the kitchen's table. Tana yelped in response to the noise, "Watch it Eirika. I don't want to screw those sugar balls again."

"Why do you need all that milk for anyway?" Eirika gasped breathlessly.

"For the sugar balls of course." Tana decorated over a dozen balls of blended flour, eggs, and white sugars with whipped cream and honey.

"Tana. Hey girl." Eirika laid a hand on her friend's shoulder, "You gotta answer me truthfully, and truthfully you should answer." She cleared her throat, "Have you ever thought that…you're the worst cook ever?"

"Me?" she said questionably, pointing the finger to herself.

"Well…we know that you make those balls sloppy, you make them too sugary and you are a champion at burning them to charcoal."

"Eirika, you heard Father." Tana exclaimed, "He may have said the truth about my balls, but at least he likes them.

"That's because the first time you made them, they were done right." Eirika cried.

"And that's what I intend to do. I will make them right and right they will be made. Pass me the milk."

Eirika sighed.


"Oh my word!" Lyon screamed as he pranced towards Innes, who was at an archery stand admiring a Brave Bow.

Innes sighed and thought, "What now?" Lyon gave Innes a huge smile as he arrived to him, "You would NOT believe what I have found just now."

"What? More lucky charms?"

"YES!" Lyon squealed as he pulled out red dices, lucky marbles, coals, and many more including a pig on a leash.

Innes stared at the swine, "A pig?"

"Legend has it pigs brings more luck in wealth and prosperity. I always thought pigs were made for eating!"

"Wow." Innes said emotionlessly, "Well hooray for you Prince Lyon."

"That's not all. I have found another animal!"

"More pigs?"

"No. A live fluffy rabbit!" Lyon let an adorable fifty pound bunny out of his armor. The pet quietly purred, "and you have to do is to rub its feet and you get bonus for luck!"

"Wow!" Innes exclaimed while pointing an arrow at the bunny, "and you get extra bonus for shooting it with a Sure Strike!"

Lyon stopped smiling, "you're harsh Innes."

"Can't help it."

A voice caught Lyon and Innes's attention whilst beginning to drag the audience towards its direction. "Step right in! Step right out! Come and see the great Zephraiman for he will score you good tidings in your future. Come feast your eyes on what's yet to come! Will you get a girl tomorrow? Will you prevent death from happening tomorrow? Come on! Don't be shy!"

"Do you hear that?" Innes told Lyon.

"Yeah! That Zephraiman guy sure knows how to advertise." Lyon said.

"No not that. It's his voice. Doesn't it seem familiar to you?"

Lyon closely listened to the merchant's voice, "you're right. Let's go check it out."

Ephraim was behind a black-sheet covered stand looking fashionably unique in shaman costume, and his green hair were looking long with short end resting by his shoulders. The prince was more different than the prince we know and love. The crystal ball he had found by the bridge was sitting in front of him, allowing its gazing powers to be exposed at his sight. A sign at the left of his stand says: "Great Zephraiman Fore sighting! 500g per reading."

"Step right in! Step right up!" he said, encouraging his next customer in: a very young Grado civilian with blonde hair and emerald eyes. She only wore a white and violet ensemble and brown boots. She carried a wooden rod with a metal nail glued on top.

The girl introduced, "Hello sir Zephraiman! I'm Amelia from a small village in the Grado Empire."

"Ah Grado!" Ephraim nodded, "Gotta love that country."

"Yes! Umm… I was thinking," Amanda mingled her fingers, "Will I be able to join Grado's Army in… let's say three years from now? See, I'm kinda doing some training with my lance." She then made few lance tricks, proving her point.

Ephraim lowered his head, but his eyes were still fixing on Amelia and her baton, "that's a lance?"

"Are you telling my future or not?" Amelia embarrassingly asked.

"Oh, I'll tell your future all right. Just need a little wager first." Ephraim rubbed his fingers as if forming money then pointed at the sign. Amelia paid up and let Ephraim gaze in the crystal ball. He saw Amelia in a pink armor, carrying a slim lance, running through the mud along with other recruits on a dark and rainy day.

Ephraim smiled, "Impressive. It looks like your dream will come true, girl."

"Oh goody-goody-goody! Thank you so much!" she shook Ephraim's hand and pranced away.

"Just keep training with that wood of yours and have a grand time!" He yelled to her then turned around to count a large amount of gold he had collected so far, "life is good." He muttered.

He turned away from his money counting to welcome his next customer and at his surprise, saw Lyon and Innes. "Ahh!"

"Zephraiman huh?" Innes gloated, his left arm on his hip and his right arm at the counter.

"Gloat all you want Innes, but I'm twice richer than you." Ephraim showed him the bag of gold, "2000 gold."

"Where did you get that crystal ball?" Lyon's eyes glued on the ball.

"Who cares where I got it from?" Ephraim said, "All I know is that the future brings you my friend, more good tidings and more good luck."

"Don't be ridiculous." Lyon said, "Just because it's a crystal ball, doesn't mean the future is really—"

Before Lyon could finish, he felt something tapping his ankle then looked down and saw a glimmering white gem.

"Wow. You really can tell the future." Innes sighed as he watched Lyon grasping the white gem and squealing and jumping with excitement.

Lyon approached Innes, firmly hugging his good luck charms and his white gem, "and you say luck runs out."

"It's true!" Innes yelped, "You don't believe me?"

"Well, I'm lucky with the money I made." Ephraim said pompously, "and I'll make more until I'm up to a million. So there's no time for sight seeing or whatsoever."

"So you're free for lunch?" Lyon told Ephraim.

Ephraim licked his tongue, "I'm there!"


"Are you certain you left it at the altar?" an elderly woman wrapped in green druid gown and carrying a wooden rod told a young sage in a light green parchment cape and wizard clothing with a circlet around his forehead.

"Of course it was at the altar." The sage replied, "It was there before I left."

"What are we to do?" the woman gasped, "without that crystal ball, the festival will not go on."

Seth, Adrion, and Adam came across the duo and into their conversation, "Excuse me? I apologize if I'm intruding but are you looking for something?" Seth asked.

"Well young man," the woman grunted, "since your ears as large and sensitive to all private conversations as a Manakete, perhaps you could help."

"Grandmother." The sage gave her a glance.

"What? Is that a crime to tell people not to eavesdrop?" she hissed.

"I apologize for her manner sir." The sage told the trio, "My name is Saleh, and yes, we are looking for something."

"What have you lost?" Adam asked.

"Saleh lost a crystal ball. A very important artifact beyond doubt."

"Grandmother! I told you didn't lose it! It was at the altar before I left!"

"Then what? You think it JUMPED off the altar and walked away!"

"It's a very important artifact needed for the Manakete parade." Saleh told the three knights, ignoring the blabbering woman, "Without it the parade can't go on."

"That ball. How does it look like?" Seth asked.

"It's similar to a white gem, it's transparent and I hate to say it but most of the time it displays divergent events of what's yet-to-come."

"The future?" Adrion gasped.

"This crystal ball is dangerous." Grandmother explained, "Anyone using it for personal reasons will his or her future be severely harm."

Adrion and Seth grinded through their teeth, but Adam showed no emotions.

"Aye, that's scary." Adrion quivered.

"Please," Adam scoffed, "you believe in that fallacy? A crystal ball that tells the future?"

"Then why are you asking for help then?" Grandmother shrieked at the blonde journeyman.

"It could be true Adam." Seth told him.

"True, smue!" he flipped his hand, "the only time I will believe such thing is if a citizen comes right out of the blue and announces that a certain 'wizard-not-wizard' individual is reading people's futures for 500 gold at the port's plaza."

Suddenly, just like Adam stated, a citizen came out of the blue and made a public announcement, "Come at the port's plaza people! There's a 'wizard-not-wizard' individual who is reading people's futures for 500 gold!"

Adam's eyes took sizes, "say what?" he muttered.

"He's reading people's futures for 500 gold." The citizen said, "And they're all 100 accurate!" The citizen left and everyone glanced at Adam with a smirk on each their faces.

"You were saying?" Seth grinned at Adam, who's admitting defeat.


"Remind me why we're eating lunch inside this piece of junk and not outside, where there are people?" Innes complained, seeing that he and his friends were having their lunch in a dark dusty room behind a closed door inside the stand.

"That's how business works my friend." Ephraim answered, "An entrepreneur must always be there for his customers no matter what the situation."

"Including missing the Manakete festival?" Lyon grunted.

"Quit the whining, lucky rich boy." Ephraim teased.

"I'm not whining. I'm ticked!" Lyon blasted.

The crystal ball displayed yet another image. The display of two familiar persons grabbed the trio's attention in a second, "That's Tana!" Innes exclaimed.

"And Eirika!" Ephraim exclaimed as well.

"They must be here for the Manakete festival." Lyon stated.

"Uh…correction," Ephraim said, "They will be here for the Manakete festival."

"At sunset?" Innes said as he noticed the background painted in ginger twilight.

"They will be here for the parade!" Lyon exclaimed, "Ephraim, we have to finish lunch then be prepared to give them a…"

"Yeah, you do that. I'm staying here." Ephraim interrupted.

"Ephraim!" Lyon snapped, "Are you going abandon your friends and waste away all the time we have left together at Port Kiris just to gain some gold on some stupid psychic business?"

"It's not stupid!" Ephraim bellowed, "Have you even tried it?"

"Oh sure I've tried it…IT'S STUPID!"

"What about your good luck relics? How is it going? Are you running out of luck yet?"

"I'll run out of luck if YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY!"

"WELL BRING IT ON!"

"Hey-hey-HEY!" Innes cried, silencing the arguing duo. "Are you two loonies ever going to stop fight—"

Before Innes could finish, a slam sounded, causing the stand to lose its balance. The trio hesitated and quickly teaming up and used their weight to keep the stand from falling and cracking. They headed towards the front and saw almost a crowd of people struggling at the counter, trying to get to know their future before the other.

"Are you Zephraiman?"

"I heard you can read the future!"

"Do tell!"

"Me first!"

"You mean ladies first!"

"What about age before beauty?"

"What the—?" Innes breathed, "What's going on?"

"I-I think…we've been nailed!" Ephraim gasped.

"What are we to do?" Lyon gasped.

"Bring some of your luck!" Ephraim told Lyon, hoping for more explicit effects on the prince's good lucks.

"Oh, now you're relying on my luck." Lyon snapped at Ephraim.

"This is no time for that Lyon!" Innes cried. "You're our only hope!"

Lyon immediately wore a garlic necklace, kissed his four-leaves clover and gently rubbed the rabbit's feet. As a result, another horde of people rushed toward the stand and successfully knocked it down, exposing the vulnerable trio to the crazed customers. Lyon nervously grinned.

"Some luck." Ephraim grumbled.

"GET THEM!" A kid villager cried and the horde began chasing the trio. The chase lasted until dusk and like the crystal ball predicted, Tana and Eirika entered the festival. But what the crystal ball did not shown was that both Tana and Eirika carried a plate of the successful deliciously-looking sugar cake balls.

Tana and Eirika looked around and noticed most of the crowd missing, "That's the Manakete festival?" Eirika raised an eyebrow.

"Of course this is the Manakete festival." Tana said, "But something is amiss."

"Maybe we came too late. Maybe the festival has ended."

"No, it can't end now. It's only five-ish." Tana said, "how am I suppose to have my second opinion on my sugar balls?"

"I could give you second opinion by having second." Eirika reached for one on her plate but felt a slap on her hand, "Ow!"

"You had enough sugar balls Eirika." Tana told her friend.

"Only four! I'm craving for more!"

"You'll get more later if there are few left. Or I could cook another batch!"

"Oh heck no!" Eirika shook her head, "I don't want you to go back to making nasty sugar balls again."

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"No, no. That noise." Tana listened, "Don't you hear it? It's quite loud."

Eirika listened closely to the noise as well, "yeah. I hear it too. And it's getting closer."

The princesses immediately saw the stampede coming towards them.

"It's the crowd!" Tana said, "They're coming for my sugar balls!"

"I don't think so. They look angry."

The stampede got closer and closer to trampling the girls.

"RUN!" Eirika and Tana ran for their lives.

At the same time, Ephraim, Innes, and Lyon emerged from a crate they were hiding in. Innes looked around, seeing that the coast was clear.

"Have we lost them?" Ephraim asked.

"I think so." Innes said.

"There they are!" A voice jolted the trio. They turned around and saw Seth, Adrion, and Adam approaching them with Grandmother and Saleh in company.

"Are you all right?" Seth asked them.

"Seth? Oh we're fine." Ephraim said, "Just having a little…civilization trouble, but thanks to someone's luck, it's now a catastrophe."

"Oh now you're blaming me?" Lyon pointed the finger to himself.

"Did I say blame?"

"What about you and your crystal-future-telling ball?"

"Huh correction, it's future-telling crystal ball."

"You got the crystal ball?" Grandmother stepped in front. The trio turned around and all raised an eyebrow.

"How did you know about that?" Innes demanded, "And who are you?"

The meeting was interrupted when the scream of both Eirika and Tana pierced through the group's ears. They all turned around and saw that the angry swarm of customers has returned and headed towards them, this time chasing Eirika and Tana, the sugar balls plates missing from their grasps.

"It's Princesses Eirika and Tana!" Ephraim and Innes exclaimed.

"They're being pursued!" Seth gasped.

"GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

"I'll handle this." Grandmother waved her staff in the air and immediately the gang disappeared in thin air. The crowd stopped at their track and looked around.

"Where did they go?" a man asked.

-Caer Pelyn Altar-

"So that's the story heh?" Innes crossed his arms. The three princes were safe with the gang from the crowd, and already they had learned the entire story from Saleh and Grandmother. Ephraim was back in his own self and fashion and Lyon's good luck charms, including the rabbit and the pig were gone. Perhaps they were abandoned back at the port.

"Lyon. Innes." Ephraim told his friends, "I'm sorry for my behavior and ditching you at the festival." He then approached the weary druid, the crystal ball in his hand, "and Grandmother. I'm terribly sorry for all the trouble I have caused. I did not realize it was an important artifact for the Manakete parade."

Ephraim handed the crystal ball at Grandmother, who kept staring at him. Ephraim grinned nervously, "but look on the bright side, I saved a dog thanks to it."

Grandmother spread a smile, "Oh, you don't have to apologize. I was worried it had fallen into the wrong hands. In fact, I'm glad it fell onto your hands instead."

"What do you mean?" Saleh looked at the druid strangely.

"Well, young Ephraim here is a decent man." Grandmother explained, "If it was someone else, who knows what will happen."

"Are you saying that Ephraim finding that crystal ball was good luck?" Eirika gasped.

"Losing my sugar balls on the streets was bad luck." Tana muttered.

Grandmother ignored Tana and responded, "Of course dear. What else could have been?"

"A bad omen?" Innes muttered.

"I think it's time to take our leave. It's getting late." Seth proposed whilst everyone got up their feet and was getting prepared.

"Wait." Saleh stopped them, "don't you guys want to stay a little longer? I mean… we could let you ride our floats including the Great Dragon."

"You're letting us ride on the parade?" Tana gasped.

"As a thank you for returning the crystal ball." Grandmother said.

"That's great! Let's do it!" Adrion squealed.

"Man," Tana complained as everyone were getting ready for the parade, "this will have been the perfect opportunity to distribute those sugar balls."

"Tana please, can you drop this discussion?" Innes sighed.

"But I made them right this time. They were delicious. Ask Eirika."

"It's true." Eirika responded.

The discussion went on as everyone left their post for the parade's preparations, leaving the crystal ball resting harmonically at the altar. The ball displayed another picture, but this time it was a horrific scene of the villages and kingdoms of Magvel engulfed in flames and trampled by a sudden war.


The Manakete parade had finally started and it took place from Port Kiris to Caer Pelyn, bringing an end to the festival. Ephraim, upon returning the crystal ball to Saleh and Grandmother, has vowed never to bribe again even though most of the future displayed by the crystal ball were a hundred percent accurate. Tana and Innes returned to Frelia and the twins returned to Renais. They invited Lyon for a quick tea sip at the dining room before turning in for the night.

"What fun we had at the festival." Lyon said, "even though we spend most of this fun being chased by a swarm of angry customers."

"Well technically, they weren't angry." Eirika said, "They were just…enraged."

"Lyon, again I'm sorry for all this crystal ball business I've caused." Ephraim told his friend.

"It's okay Ephraim. I'm sorry for my behavior as well." Lyon replied, "Technically, you weren't the only one. I was caught up with my own pursuit."

"The good luck charms?" Eirika asked. "Yeah, how did it go?"

"Not good." Lyon said, "After being carried away with all this superstition, I learned the hard way. Good luck can also turn ugly."

"You don't believe it luck anymore?" Eirika asked.

"Maybe, maybe not." Lyon said, "I'm just going to lay low on that and not put much belief on it."

"You're kidding? Having found that crystal ball was luck enough for me." Ephraim said as he reached for the tea carafe and accidentally spilled both salt and pepper.

The twins and Lyon gasped, horrifyingly glared at what Ephraim has done, then looked at each other.


END OF CHAPTER