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:
To Frodo007: Hopefully, this chapter will be enough to laugh-and-crack (laugh-and-crack?). To answer your question, I really don't know how many chapters there are left. However I can tell you that the final chapter will be based on Vigarde's death (quick spoiler). A very serious chapter in the story, but it will take a long time for this chapter to be available.
To Northernsword (Ch.5): Well it could take a while for all the events that were mentioned in the game to take part of the story.
To Legendary Double-edged sword (Ch.5): Innes has done enough mean things to Tana, so I had to give her a chance in the spotlight. : )
To Legendary Double-edged sword (Ch6): Unfortunately I don't watch "South Park" :(
Now back to the story:
Ephraim and Eirika – The Sacred Twin Life
—The One with the Hidden Treasure—
-Castle Renais Library-
"Why on earth do I have to study the geography, history, and politics of Magvel?" a complaining Ephraim whined, sitting at a table full of books, periodicals, and encyclopedias. Sitting with him was his sister Eirika and an elderly man dressed in a religious garment and carrying a Fortify staff.
"So that you could be prepared to rule when you become King." The elder answered his question, "Now get to work. You still haven't answered my question."
Ephraim sighed frustratingly, "This is hard Father MacGregor." He said, "I rather train the lance with Duessel than read about trees and the republic."
"Hey! Trees are fun to learn about, Ephraim." Eirika argued. "It enhances my taste in the environment."
"Great!" Ephraim faked a smile, "Then go make a protest about not cutting them up!"
Eirika only shook her head as she returned to her studies. The elder—MacGregor—sighed and closed an encyclopedia. He stared down at both the twins and spoke, "Instead of answering to my questions, how about you solve a certain riddle."
Both twins jerked their head up, "riddle?"
MacGregor nodded, "It starts like this: 'Deep through these walls, deep through the unseen, lies hidden riches that are hard to reach.'"
"Huh?" Both twins said in unison. MacGregor sighed, pulled out a piece of parchment and placed in on the table. The twins stared down at the paper.
"That's a map!" Ephraim exclaimed.
"Of Castle Renais." Eirika finished.
"Before I settled in Grado, I used to tutor your father Fado." MacGregor said, "At that time, I have found this piece of map in this very library. And it's not just any map."
"A geography map?" Ephraim asked.
"An architectural map?" Eirika asked.
Father MacGregor slapped his face and ran his hand through it. "No, no, NO!" he said, "It's a treasure map."
The twins looked at each other then at the map then at MacGregor enthusiastically.
"A t-treasure map?" Eirika stammered, "F-For treasure?"
"You're not bribing us are you?" Ephraim gravely asked.
"Bribing? No. I'm not bribing you." He shook his head, "I'm enticing you. This ancient map was actually a sketch of your ancestors of Renais: Sigmund and Sieglinde. While building this castle, they settled from underground a chest full of gold, jewels, and rare artifacts. Enough to make a poor man a billionaire."
"And Father never told us about this?" Eirika asked.
MacGregor scoffed, "No. He was always a good student, so why should I tell him about the treasure?"
-Fado's Suite Study Room Area-
"The city of Taizel is located east from the Grado Capitol and has a population of 20,000 people." Ephraim responded to a question.
Eirika shook her head and corrected him, "Actually, it's a population of 2,000 people, and it is located in the west." She flipped to a page and kept reading the answer, "East from the capitol is the border between Grado and Jehanna towards the desert."
"Aw man!" Ephraim grunted and collapsed at the chesterfield. Eirika sighed as well as she walked around the study room. "What are we going to do?" Eirika said, "If we don't pass this next geography test, we won't be able to check out this treasure."
"Tell me about it." Ephraim huffed, "What's even frustrating about this old thing is Father MacGregor. He is so strict."
"I know!"
It took a minute for Ephraim to realize something, as he turned to face his sister in confusion. "Hey wait a minute." He said, "I thought you enjoyed studying. What's up with the 'we'?"
Eirika froze. Ephraim got up from the chesterfield and pointed the finger at his sister, "You hate studying as much as I do."
Eirika bit her lips.
"You're busted. Admit it dear sister."
"ALL RIGHT! I HATE STUDYING!"
"Ah-HA!"
"But not as much as you do."
"Darn!"
There was a quick silence between the siblings until Eirika spread a malicious smile. Ephraim noticed the grin and puzzled, he raised an eyebrow. "What's wrong with your smile?"
"Oh you know."
"No, I don't."
"Well," she cleared her throat, "just in case we're to be a failure…" Eirika pulled the ancient map from her left pocket and waved it in front of Ephraim.
The prince gasped, "You didn't!"
"I did." Eirika giggled.
"You are a bad girl."
"I know."
"I'm so glad to be your brother."
The twins slammed a high-five and left the study room.
Adrion was passing by the hallway when he saw Tana coming towards him.
"Princess Tana." Adrion stammered and quickly approached her to give her a warm welcome, "I'm surprised to see you here."
"Father is visiting King Fado." Tana explained.
"Oh, that must mean Prince Innes is here also."
"Unfortunately."
"Ephraim and Eirika are inside Fado's study room, at his suite." Adrion told her, "May I escort you there?"
"Thanks for the offer but that's okay." Tana smiled, "I can find them myself."
Tana left for the family room instead. It didn't take a second for Adrion to come across another character. This time it was Joshua.
"Excuse me? Who are you?" Adrion asked.
"Friend of Eirika and Ephraim. The name is Joshua of Jehanna." The myrmidon introduced, "and who are you?"
"Future knight of Renais at your service," Adrion greeted with a bow, "Everyone calls me Adrion."
"Why would they call you that?"
Adrion stayed puzzled at his question while looking aimlessly around the room.
"Hey, do you believe in luck?" Joshua asked the young recruit.
"Luck?"
"Yeah! But hey listen; since you're just a recruit, I'm not going to bribe you into putting your wager on the spot." Joshua paused for a second then went on and said, "How much do you have? 100, 200 gold?"
"What?"
"Let's see what Lady Luck has in store for me." Joshua flipped his coin in the air and let it fall on the ground. It took about eight seconds for the coin to twirl before it remained still on one face. Joshua gazed on it, grabbed his coin and smile. "Well what do you know? Lady Luck loves me! Thanks to you Adrion, today will be the best day of my life."
Joshua left in haste leaving Adrion, even more lost and puzzled than before. The recruit tried to reach him out regarding the compliment he didn't deserve, but Joshua was gone already.
"Just when you think they (the twins) have stopped acting weird, they bring in some weird friends." Adrion muttered then walked away.
Seth was walking down the halls from the other side of the castle. He was looking around the hall but his most attention was at the castle gardens outside through the line of pillars. The green grasses and the flowers provided quite a little reflection to the midday sunlight, making the meadow itself looking radiant and scenic. At that sight, Seth knew that this afternoon will be even more peaceful than any others.
His train of thoughts came into a complete halt as he saw Father MacGregor coming through another room, a worried look on his face. "MacGregor," Seth said, "I'm surprised to see you here."
"Ah Seth," MacGregor replied, "I left something in the Library. That's why I came back."
"I could escort you there in no time." Seth offered.
"Why thank you Seth, but don't stress yourself." MacGregor smiled, "I can find the Library on my own."
The elderly bishop walked down the hallway until he suddenly stopped. He looked around the hallway, from the large columns of pillars to the many framed portraits on the walls of fine minerals. He looked at Seth who still stayed a yard away, "Umm…Seth?"
"Yes?" He responded.
"Do you know where the Library is?"
-Library-
"Here we are." Seth and MacGregor were inside the library. Even though there were many books in many shelves, most walls in the library were nothing but full of books. The library had two floors. The first floor was below the second floor and had a large stairway connecting ways. The second floor was located above the study area and the History section of the library on the first floor. The study area was where the twins and MacGregor were having their tutoring session earlier. There were two glass windows in the library facing each other and were located at a small free area adjacent to the stairs going up the second floor.
MacGregor headed for the study area, gazed at the cleaned table with no books and encyclopedias sitting on it. It was as if everything was cleaned up after their meeting. MacGregor panicked, "Oh no!"
Seth approached him and saw his expression, "Father MacGregor?" he asked.
"It was here before I left!" MacGregor sounded alarmed.
"Father MacGregor! Did you lose something?" Seth asked him.
"Well…I don't know how I should tell you this but," MacGregor sighed, "I showed a piece of parchment paper to Eirika and Ephraim and I thought I took it with me after our tutoring session."
"A piece of parchment paper?" Seth cocked his head on one side, "what was on that paper?"
"I don't think I can give you any details." MacGregor said, "But please, find the twins and tell them that I need it back. Maybe they have it."
"Well…" Seth scratched his head in thought then spoke, "don't worry MacGregor, I will find them and asked them for your paper in no time." Seth left the library in haste heading for Fado's study room, assuming that the twins are in there studying.
MacGregor spread a sly smile and left the library.
-Family Room-
"What does the map says?" Ephraim gazed aimlessly at the map his sister is holding.
"I'm not good with riddles, but this one says…"
Before Eirika could finish, a face popped out of nowhere and creepily moaned "Boo!"
The twins shrieked, fell on the floor and dropped the map right on Tana's hands. Frelia's princess giggled, "That was the best scare I've given in years."
Ephraim looked behind his back then at Tana, his eyes looking terrified. Eirika still shaking from the scare yelled, "TANA! What are you doing here? And why did you do that?"
"I was in the neighborhood, why?" Tana answered but looked lost in the discussion as her eyes scrolled around the map. The twins looked at each other then quickly got up and snatched the map from Tana.
"Hey!" Tana yelled, "Didn't your father ever teach you not to snatch anything from a woman?"
"You're not a woman!" Ephraim yelped, "You're a ghoul, skulking in the shadows to scare people in FULL-PRIVACY."
"Does a ghoul have a beautiful face?" Tana modeled.
"A beautiful ghoul," Ephraim pathetically corrected.
Innes entered the family room, looked around, then stared straight at the twins and his sister, "well, well, well." Innes grinned, "Doing something illegal behind me, aren't you guys?"
"The twins have a hidden treasure in the castle Innes." Tana blabbered.
"What?" Innes raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah! It's says so right here." Tana snatched the map from Ephraim's hand and pranced towards her brother to show him the riddle MacGregor cited earlier.
"Why, it's nice to have you here Prince Innes…" Eirika laughed nervously, "and to correct Tana's big mouth, it's not a treasure map…just a sketch… and a riddle."
"Hello Innes." Ephraim greeted the prince, staring at him covetously.
"…Ephraim."
Ephraim sighed, "Are you still mad on that Nicole thing?"
"Oh it's not just the Nicole thing." Innes snapped, "It's the whole thing!"
"What whole thing?"
"The facts that you think you know your town well by taking guises."
"I told you NOT to expose your identity to the lady." Ephraim said, spreading a grin on his face, "You've seen the consequences no?"
"That's it, right there!" Innes pointed, "That smile! You bring that up every time you think you know everything that you think that I do not know. And you think you all-that!" Innes snapped his fingers left and right after saying the word "All-that"
Ephraim scoffed, "I'm not 'All-that'" he snapped his fingers as well.
"Oh! Yes you are." Innes snapped his fingers left and right once more.
"NO I'M NOT!"
"YES YOU ARE!"
"Nuh-Uh!"
"Yuh-Uh!"
"Okay! Can you guys stop snapping your fingers like now?" Eirika interrupted the argument, "We have a job to do. Come on Ephraim."
"We're coming with you guys!" Tana offered.
"What?" Eirika and Ephraim cried.
"Yeah! I think you might need backup on your little mini-quest." Innes said, "And also, since Ephraim here gets to have a hidden treasure and I don't, I think it should be mine."
"What?" Tana shrieked, "I think it should be mine!"
"You're already spoiled and rotten, Tana!" Innes blared, "At least give me my moment to be spoiled and rotten!"
"I think both of you need to—"
Before Eirika could finish, another eerie face popped out of nowhere. The twins, Tana, and Innes shrieked and tumbled on the floor altogether. Joshua stood in front of the room, the map now at his grasp.
"A treasure map?" His eyes locked on the map hungrily, "I knew it! Today is my day!"
"Your day?" Eirika moaned.
Joshua glanced at the foursome, "Oh hey guys. I didn't see you there."
-Fado's Suite-
Seth exited the study room of Fado and saw Adrion at the hallway. He called to him, "Adrion!"
The recruit stopped and saw Seth exiting the king's suite and approaching him, "have you seen Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika?"
"They're inside King Fado's study room why?" Adrion responded as he pointed towards the room.
"They're not in there."
"What?" Adrion hastily entered the room and saw no one in there. He shuddered, "m-maybe they went for a study break."
"Oh you think?" Seth cried, "Their books are gone. It as if they are done with their studies."
"And yet they haven't locked the study room." Adrion pointed out.
Seth used his spare key to lock the king's suite and turned to Adrion, "We have to find them."
"Right."
The duo scampered through the hallway until Adrion stopped at his track, looked down the floor and saw the Renais treasure map. He picked it up and examined it: "Hey Silver Knight!" he called.
Seth slowed down and looked back to see Adrion at about a yard from him. He sighed and walked towards the recruit: "What now Adrion? And I thought it was Silver Lance."
"I like Silver Knight better, besides Silver Lance is taken."
Seth simply nodded.
Adrion waved him the map, "Isn't that the paper Father MacGregor's looking for?"
Seth, in shock, snatched the map from Adrion and examined it as well, "That's a treasure map!" he gulped.
"Of Renais." Adrion added.
Seth and Adrion looked at each other, "Why would MacGregor keep a treasure map of Renais' hidden values to himself?"
Seth gazed into space with a stern look on his face, "He can't be an impostor. But if he is, we must inform the king immediately."
"But what about Ephraim? And Eirika?" Adrion reminded him, still disturbed of their unknown whereabouts.
Seth directly looked upon Adrion, "I will go look for them. You must inform King Fado of this treasure. Convince him to send our royal knights and soldiers to look for and keep that treasure in full-protection."
With that says, he handed the map to Adrion and the recruit headed in haste towards the throne room. Seth left as well, carrying a distraught expression: "Prince Ephraim. Princess Eirika. Please be safe."
Ephraim, Eirika, Tana, Innes, and Joshua wandered in the darkest hall of the castle's underground, still in search of the hidden treasure. One by one, they felt afraid. The torches in the underground could provide little light and the road felt narrowed, causing the five friends little space to walk.
"I'm scared." Eirika quivered.
"Don't worry Eirika," Ephraim said, "It's just the underground of our castle. We'll be fine."
The moment he said it, a herd of bats flew right at them. The teens screamed in fear.
"What were you saying Ephraim? Just an underground?" Innes yelled.
The bats left the teens immobile. Eirika bit her lips while Tana grinded through her fingernails. The boys only stayed silent.
"Like I said Innes, we'll be fine." Ephraim spoke a calm voice, even though there was little impediment in his speech. "As long as we have the map with us, right Eirika?" Ephraim faced his sister, assuming she still had the parchment paper.
Eirika blinked. Everyone began worrying in reply of her silence. Ephraim turned around and gave her a direct stare, "you do have the map with you right?" he sternly asked.
"Well, I still would have it if Tana didn't snatch it from my hands." Eirika pointed the finger at Tana. Everyone glared at her.
Tana quickly responded, "Well last time I saw it, Joshua had it."
Everyone now turned their attention on Joshua. "By having it," he slowly spoke, "you don't mean…"
Everyone shrieked, "YOU LOST IT?"
Joshua jabbered, "I was so excited about this treasure hunt, that I parenthetically dropped the map!"
"Parenthetically?" Innes raise an eyebrow.
Joshua nodded, "Yes."
"What does that mean?"
Tana grabbed Eirika by the colon and shook her madly, "get us out of here Eirika! It's your fault that we're lost!"
"M—My fault!" It was Eirika's turn to shake Tana, "If you didn't show up with your little posse here in the first place—"
"Calm down ladies!" Ephraim lowered the tension between the princesses. "I just thought of another way to find our way out."
The girls, Innes, and Joshua glanced at Ephraim, waiting to share his plan, "Another way!" Joshua said.
"What is it?" Innes asked.
Ephraim took a deep breath and with all his might, screamed, "HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"
The four companions joined in the prince's cry.
--- --- ---
Seth was at the other side of the underground and easily could navigate as he carried a well-lit torch. His navigation was as if he had lived in the castle all his life. Of course, he was so far away that he could not hear a muffle of the desperate heirs' cry for help.
He walked across a river of heavy mud that felt like quicksand or cement and he heavily grunted at every step, "I don't know where…uh…the twins are…unh…or the whereabouts…grunt…of the treasure. But I must…ugh…find them at…gah…all cost!"
The exhausted Seth dropped the torch in the mud and fell flat on his face.
-Private Conference Center-
Adrion entered abruptly on the kings, sitting at a large table of rich solid oak with many comfortable chairs with tapestry cushions. It was as if they were having a meeting. From across left were Hayden and Ismaire, at the right were Mansel and Vigarde, and across from each other were Fado and Ismaire's husband, the King of Jehanna, whose identity remains unknown.
Adrion breathed heavily and every time he tried to speak of what was happening in the castle, his lungs will give away.
"Adrion!" Fado boomed, "Must you barge in here without permission of access?"
"Y—Yo—You---You're Ma—M—Ma—Maj—" he kept breathing heavily and dawdled towards the king, the map at his grasp, stretching towards the table.
"Adrion! What's the matter?" Fado worryingly spoke.
As soon as Adrion lay the map down, he collapsed. The monarchs rose up in haste and glanced a little towards the recruit's weak corpse.
Adrion, like a zombie, rose back up and alertly placed his arms on the table in an effort to get up. "Your Majesty," he finally spoke clearly, "It's Prince Ephraim and Princess Eirika! They're gone missing."
Fado's heart stopped beating for a second. He rose up from his chair, slammed the table and exploded, "WHAT?"
"They're missing sir!" Adrion stammered at Fado's response.
The king, after hearing this once more, collapsed on his chair and blankly stared in horror. The other monarchs looked worried as well.
"How can they be missing? It's impo—" Hayden abruptly spoke no more. His eyes filled with concerns stared directly into Adrion's, "…where's Tana and Innes?"
Adrion gulped, "I only saw Tana about thirty minutes ago, but I'm assuming they're gone too."
"This is bad." Mansel shook his head, "we have to find them."
"Where is Seth?" Fado spoke, his voice a little lower.
"He has gone to look for them sir." Adrion said.
"Then what does this has to do with this map?" Vigarde examined the map closely, "of Renais' castle interior?"
Everyone took a glance at the map and there the king of Jehanna proclaimed, "That's no interior. That's a treasure map!"
The monarchs began to chatter on this situation.
"Ah yes," Adrion stammered. "Well see the thing is—"
"Where did you find it Adrion?" Fado asked.
"At the library." Adrion replied, then began rapidly, "well it wasn't at the library actually, it was on the floor down the hallway. We, I mean, General Seth and I assumed that Father MacGregor could be after this treasure, since he's been carried it with him for a while now."
"MacGregor?" Vigarde boomed at the sound of that name.
The door swung wide and in came a furious Lyon along with the Imperial Three, "MacGregor knows of Renais treasure? And he didn't tell us?"
Vigarde faced Lyon and shook his head, "of course he couldn't tell us."
"Well if he couldn't tell us, then that makes him an impostor." Lyon argued.
"Why are you here?"
Hayden breathed; no longer was his concern for Tana and Innes but for the treasure, "An actual hidden treasure is in this very castle. And this map provides proof." The others felt this way as well.
"I'm requesting we should look for this treasure." Mansel said, "Maybe we could run on those little tykes by chance."
Fado rose up, "Wait a minute! Are you actually telling me that treasure hunting is more important then the safety of my children?"
There was a deep silence in the room. Mansel sighed, "You're right."
"What other choices do we have?" Vigarde asked.
"I'm getting that treasure!" Fado ran towards the exit and everyone except Adrion and the king of Jehanna followed in haste, like a stampede of enraged buffalos.
"Wait!" Adrion cried, "What about backup? Backup! I wanted to request backup! We soldiers need to safeguard this treasure instead of hunting for it!"
They were gone. Adrion turned around and his eyes stared directly at the king's, "how you doing?" he smiled.
The king grinned as well, "that's no way to speak to a foreign monarch."
"I—I'm sorry."
"You should be ashamed of yourself."
"How long have we been screaming?" Tana hoarsely asked. Ahem!
"Ever since Ephraim began screaming," Eirika responded hoarsely as well. Ahem!
The five friends, due to all of the screaming, could not talk clearly anymore. Their throat felt tired and raucous. At every minute, they were attempted to clear their throat entirely. Ahem! Ahem!
"Way to go Ephraim." Joshua moaned. Ahem!
"Yay! Hooray for Ephraim for he makes a come-back of best plan, Ever!" Innes sneered. Ahem! Hem!
"Alright guys. I get it," Ephraim said. Ahem! "My plan did not actually work. No one heard us."
"So, do you have any other plans that you would like to share?" Innes provokingly asked.
"I actually have one," Ephraim brought in a perilous smile as he turned to face Innes, "how about shutting up?"
Eirika came between the two princes, "all right goofies." She smiled, attempting to ease the tension that was rising, "We are lost and you two are officially losing your minds."
Ephraim glared at his sister, "Have you gain some?"
The offended princess replied in haste, "When pegasi learn how to fly!"
"You mean when pigs learn how to fly with their wings from their snouts!"
Eirika was now caught in the argument and it was now Tana's turn to come in between them, "both of you should stop this fighting." She said.
"Yeah," Innes responded lifelessly, "what Mimi said."
Tana was offended at her brother's remarks, "It's Tana!" she corrected him.
"Actually it's Mimi," he countered. "It's stands for 'Ms. Immature Mc. Immaturington."
Tana pulled out a Killer Lance and pointed at Innes, "SAY THAT AGAIN AND IT'S YOUR HEAD ON THE SPIKE!"
The Frelian and Renais siblings began arguing. Joshua, feeling left out and uncomfortable to this situation, whistled and immediately, everyone settled down.
"People, people!" he said, "Why all this fighting over a treasure that hasn't been found yet?"
Ephraim, Eirika, Tana, and Innes all breathed, seeming to understand. "Ah yes," Ephraim said, "The treasure."
Joshua smiled.
"Now I know why we're here."
The others nodded to Ephraim's statement with assent and continued onward. Joshua stopped smiling.
Seth—the muddy knight—dawdled on shore. He spat a great amount of mud and groaned painfully while holding his stomach. He approached a secret shop nearby at his left. The clerk and only worker Anna giggled at Seth's sight (she was supposed to giggle simply to attract customers.)
"Hello," she greeted. "Welcome to the secret shop."
Not noticing that she was alive, Seth passed by her. Anna kept smiling, even though behind that smile was the sense of rejection.
Fado, Hayden, Ismaire, Mansel, and Lyon escorted by Grado's Imperial Three and six of Renais' soldiers made way towards the castle's underground as they followed the map.
"Remind us again Your Majesty," Selena politely asked, "why are we been dragged into this?"
"The point for your dragging into this hunt is to clear us the way of dark creatures that may loom underground." Vigarde said, "These soldiers here are willing to fight as well."
"Uhh…correction Vigo, there is my soldiers." Fado told him.
"Does that mean there's going to be…s-spiders?" Glen quivered at the thought.
Ignoring Glen, Lyon zeroed in on his own anger, "I can't believe MacGregor had been keeping the hidden treasure map of Renais on him." He said.
"Well it doesn't matter now because this treasure is mine!" Fado replied as he paced onward.
"Oh no he didn't!" Hayden yelped as the monarchs followed in haste, hoping to catch onto the treasure before anyone else.
Hours had passed and Ephraim and Eirika's secret trek to the hidden treasure had turned into a full-blown treasure hunt involving almost everyone in the castle. The young heirs had to encounter many living nuisances like more bats and cockroaches. Most of these nuisances involved themselves. The fuming twins turned on each other and Tana got crankier and threatening every time Innes offered her agony for no apparent reasons. Joshua's belief in luck diminished at every second. At one point during the hunt, he actually shook his fist to Lady Luck.
Seth, still looking for the heirs, got closer to none other than the treasure. Assuming that the twins will be inside, he penetrated through a portal of silver glass with gold highlighted borders, and collapsed right through a flipping trap-floor.
The monarchs penetrated through the grotto. They were on another side from Seth and the heirs, and like Seth they could easily navigate. They of course have encountered many hardships, including trampling on hot plates and seeing dead corpses, and they didn't managed to notturn on each other.
The heirs are almost to the treasure's reliquary and have avoided crossing the mud pit, since the road they have taken was a separate road. However, their clothing, now torn, seemed to resemble those worn by cavemen and barbarians. Ephraim, Innes, and Joshua's bare medium-built chests were mostly exposed, but Eirika and Tana's torn outfits showed only their bare shoulders.
"I'm exhausted and hungry." Innes moaned.
"I have a nut we could all share." Eirika pulled from her pocket an old nut filled in confetti and dirt. Innes cringed.
The five headed towards the secret shop. Anna smiled at their sight and greeted, "hello! And welcome to the secret shop."
"We have a secret shop?" Eirika blinked.
Anna kept smiling, yet that smile kept behind it a grave insult, "Eh-Eh!" she mirthlessly laughed, "That's funny, innit?"
"I'm sorry lady," Innes said, "Wish we could buy some things but…"
She abruptly interrupted, "See, I haven't had a customer for thirty-five years," she paused in thought, "well actually, I did had a customer, except that it wasn't really a customer…more of a freshly, flesh, muddy, and spoiled zombie in armor."
The five blinked at each other.
"And instead of getting a 'hello', I get a 'we have a secret shop?'" Anna mockingly mimicked Eirika.
The princess bit her lip. Ephraim hesitated, "We're…sorry?"
Anna pulled down all of her merchandises and folded them together on a sack. She pulled down the sign, threw it in the mud river, and with a tap of her foot, the entire stand collapsed within seconds.
"I'm leaving!" she cried at them, dragging her heavy sack behind, "I'm moving my business to Grado, where people can see you!" and with that she was gone.
Everyone stared at each other. Eirika shrugged, "I didn't know we had a secret shop."
"Guys! Look!" Joshua pointed towards the Silver portal at about a yard from where the secret shop stood. The four friends smiled at that sight. They have found the treasure's whereabouts.
"Do we actually have to…ugh…dig all of…gah…this thick mud?" Duessel complained as he used the plate of his Silver Axe to move the mud aside, allowing a safer road. Glen, with much effort although impossible, also tried to pull the mud aside by using his Spear yet his wyvern pulled out a great amount using its mouth. Ugh! Selena's job was quite easier, for she could use her Elfire spell to coincidentally form the mud into rocks. Her horse helped in by kicking those rocks.
"Of course you must do this job." Vigarde said, "We monarchs can't afford to filth our own garments."
Glen snapped, "Have you all realized that you monarchs are nothing but spoiled—"
Glen did not finished his sentence when Selena's Bolting spell bashed Glen's hand, "OW!" he blew on his injured hands then angrily looked at Selena who gave him a stern look and pressed her finger on her lip. Glen stopped frowning in reply.
"Do you guys think this is it?" Mansel pointed at the Silver portal. The monarchs, Lyon, and the Imperial Three smiled at the sight of the portal.
Trailing behind them was the exhausted soldiers, a pound or two of cold mud in their armors and clothing. "Your Majesty," a soldier wheezed.
Fado turned to the soldiers, "oh you guys, take a break." He selfishly told them and ran towards the Silver portal, "this treasure is mine!"
"Hey!" the monarchs cried and pursued Fado towards the portal. The river mud freely flowed back in the road, washing away the Imperial three and the soldiers.
Finally, inside the reliquary, stood a large treasure chest of ruby cushions and gold padlock at a pedestal. The five friends gasped at the sight of the chest they began viewing it as thought it was on spotlight and the angels were heard chorusing.
"The treasure," Eirika gasped.
"It's beautiful." Innes breathed.
"Let us touch it together." Tana suggested.
They slowly approached the chest when suddenly, the portal swung open. The monarchs and Lyon stood outside, facing them.
"It's the kids!" Hayden cried.
"Father?" Eirika, Ephraim, Tana and Innes called their respective parent, Fado and Hayden.
"Ephraim! Eirika!" Fado called the twins.
"Tana! Innes!" Hayden called the siblings
"Lyon?" everyone called him.
"The treasure!" Ismaire breathed at the sight of the chest as she pointed it. Fado began drooling as his eyes locked on the chest.
The five friends faced the chest and then their parents. They seemed to be afraid of what was going to happen.
"Father no!" Ephraim and Eirika shouted.
"GET EM!" Fado cried and everyone went onto the treasure and eventually turned on each other. Lyon first grabbed the chest and was surprisingly shoved by his father. Vigarde was then slammed on the wall by Ismaire's Wind Sword. Ismaire could not escape Mansel's Aura spell, blinding her sight and flinging her up the wall as well. Mansel came face-to-face with Innes, who pointed his Silver Bow at him. Mansel dropped the chest and Innes grabbed it. The sniper had his shoes stuck by yet another arrow. Hayden had planted him on the floor and snatched the chest from his hand. The venerable sage king found no respect to Joshua's killing edge, almost shredding his outfit completely. Joshua came across Tana. The princess slammed Joshua in the head with her lance, grabbed the chest, and fled. Finally she met Fado and the twins. Together they tackled her on the ground like it was football and there the chest fell on the floor, still unopened.
As soon as their eyes fixed back on the untouched chest, everyone jumped on it again and resumed fighting.
"It's MINE!" Ismaire cried.
"No, MINE!" Mansel cried.
"Why does it have to be yours?" Fado yelled.
"Well, don't we deserve it because of the long-time friendship of our nations?" Vigarde protested.
"It's my castle! It's my treasure!" Fado roared.
"Who cares about nations? Ephraim gets EVERYTHING!" Innes whined.
"What about me? I WANT MY TREASURE!" Tana whined even more.
"Lady Luck sent me here, NOT YOU!" Joshua barked.
"Ask Your Lady for ANOTHER mission!" Eirika hissed.
"I worked HARD for my country and I should GET this treasure!" Hayden bellowed.
"People! PEOPLE! PEOPLE! THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" Ephraim hissed so stridently, it had everyone keeping quiet and cease fighting. He glared at them absurdly, but his attention was mostly on the monarchs, who were supposed to act more like mature adults.
"What's the matter with you people? It's just a treasure chest!" he continued, "and since it's a treasure chest, we must start acting like real adults here and decides how we should use this hidden wealth."
Everyone lowered their heads. Ephraim continued, "We've been through this challenge and we've come this far only to what, succumb into failure instead of success by fighting?" Silence occurred again. "Now, together we will open the chest. As soon as it is open, we will split each range by five percent. The remaining will belong to the city. Our city."
"That's sounds like a fair deal." Fado concurred, and everyone nodded and spoke in agreement. Each lay a hand on the chest. Ephraim and Eirika's hands were in the middle.
"All right on the count of three." Ephraim leaded.
"One"
"Two"
"THREE!"
Everyone swung the chest opened at "three"; and like a jack-in-the-box, a pale lifeless face in a sea of slimy substances and waggling creatures popped out.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" The gang screamed at the sight of the horror, almost lost their balances and tumbled from the pedestal.
"WhAt…Is…ThAt?" Eirika shivered.
"WoRmS…AnD sPiDeRs!" Innes quivered.
Entering the chamber were the Imperial Three, covered in mud. Glen at the sight of a loose, crawly spider jumped onto Selena's arms, "SPIDERS!" he screamed. Selena, at the sight of a worm and unable to hold Glen, fainted. Duessel unsheathed his Axe, ready to ambush the creatures.
"WhAt'S gOiNg oN?" Tana shed a tear while taking step back. She stepped on the flipped floor and turned pale thinking she might have fell deep into the abyss. But the floor ejected somewhat a living creature in a brown suit, looking like a zombie. The corpse fell right next to the gang.
"AAAAAAAAAAH!" They screamed again at the sight of a lifeless Seth, in torn armor and in a mud blanket.
"Seth?" Eirika approached the inert paladin and held his face.
"…Ephraim…Eirika…guh…" he moaned.
"What's going on?" Hayden cried, "I'm freaking out!"
"Father!" Innes sniffed, "You're crying?"
Ephraim faced the bony face packed in worms and spiders and spotted a note attached to the forehead. He pulled the note from the forehead and read: "You've come this far, you've come too deep, but the treasure you've seek is none other than a…con trick?"
Everyone turned their attention on Ephraim with shock and betrayal flowing on their mind. It was as if they were smacked upside the head.
Ephraim turned back to the letter and read, "Signed, MacGregor."
"You made me fight for nothing?" Joshua angrily pointed his Killing Edge at Ephraim.
"This whole thing was a hoax?" Tana hissed.
Everyone began hissing and jeering at Ephraim, finding this his fault entirely. Lyon leaned by Ephraim and whispered, "So when do we split this?" as he pointed at the chest.
Ignoring Lyon, Ephraim rose up and seized the tension, "Calm down! I have nothing to do with it! Besides, aren't you people decided to get involved in this?"
"This is all MacGregor's fault!" Vigarde shrieked in frustration.
Everyone resumed their argument.
"That MacGregor is gonna pay!" Eirika's eyes shot venom everywhere.
"Hey guys." A familiar voice was heard from outside the room. Everyone turned their eyes on MacGregor and like an assembly of zombies, approached him. The bishop smiled and took steps back. "Was this about me?"
No response from the group. MacGregor gulped and rapidly began, "Can we talk about it over a cup of chocolate? Biscuit? I can be peaceful. Come on, blink a little. At least once!"
The Royal Nursery. Seth lay peacefully on a comfortable bed of woolen sheets and quilts. A heating pad rested on his cold forehead and a temperature stick hanged between his lips. Seth was still groggy yet he was getting better at the minute.
"How are you feeling Seth?" Ephraim asked, "You had us worried."
"I'm fine now, thanks for your concern Lord Ephraim," Seth hoarsely said, "It's just a fatigue."
A cleric, working for the palace turned to the trio, "his throat are still scratchy from the mud he had swallowed." She said, "But after a few days of long rest, he will be fine."
"Thank you." Fado said, "You may be on your way."
The cleric bowed down and left.
"I can't believe Father MacGregor set us up!" Ephraim harshly said.
"Yeah! Telling us of a hidden treasure stacked by our ancestors Sigmund and Sieglinde?" Eirika complained, "Which turns out to be a head…full of maggots!"
Ephraim shivered after hearing this sound. Fado faced Eirika a little surprised, "he actually said that?"
"Yes!"
"Well," Fado said, "for once, I begin to agree of MacGregor's plan here: setting up that treasure, making up stories and sketching a map…"
Ephraim and Eirika both glared at their father, "What's wrong with you?" Eirika asked.
"No, no, what I'm saying is," Fado cleared his throat, "it was smart of him to at least get you guys hyped up about studying. The fact that he had you guys putting the treasure hunt and the map only to help you study more."
After hearing these words, the twins looked at each other feeling regretful. Fado continued angrily, "but the fact that he had to set a chest full of creatures that eat manure three times a day was too cruel!"
"You must have gone through a lot Your Majesty." Seth told Fado.
Ephraim cleared his throat and slowly approached Fado along with Eirika, "Father?"
Fado faced his son. Ephraim continued, "See the truth is, we didn't study."
Fado's eyes widened, "WHAT?"
Ephraim recoiled. Eirika grinned and tried her best to approached her fuming father, "well…" she stammered, "see the thing is we were so excited about the treasure that we lost focus on our studies."
"Right!" Ephraim nodded.
"And so Ephraim and I have decided to t-take a short break, g-go on a little trek to check out the treasure and then c-come back in the castle to finish our studies."
"Yeah" Ephraim approached gently and slowly, "and besides this whole thing would've happened if you and the others weren't dragged into this!"
"I wasn't dragged into this," Fado lied, "I was worried about you!"
It was now the twins' turn to fume. Eirika placed a hand on her hip while Ephraim crossed his arms, "Really?" Eirika scoffed.
"Then can you explain why the treasure map was in your hands earlier?" Ephraim finished.
Fado hesitated. He looked at his palms where the map used to rest then back at the twins.
"You were treasure hunting?" Seth gasped at the king.
Fado shook, "it's none of your business!" he turned to Seth and pointed, "You! Go to sleep" then at the twins, "and you two are grounded."
The twins, no longer a pair of angry souls, were now in pain and betrayal. "What!" Eirika shouted, "That's unfair! We didn't do anything!"
"Yeah!" Ephraim agreed, "And you can't ground us!"
Fado shot a glare and the twins recoiled again, "okay, you can ground us." Ephraim grinned.
And so ends the Renais treasure hunt, which turned out to be a hoax all this time. A hoax that was set up only for the heir of the kingdom who was too lazy to study and eager to take this "treasure" quest. The twins were grounded the next day and have decided to go study and research at the fullest, with or without MacGregor's presence. Yet they were to spend fun times and take break to replenish their mind. After all, "all works and no play make Jack a dumb boy."
The twins were not the only one to be punished. Tana and Innes were grounded as well; even Father MacGregor was punished too. The bishop was thrown in jail for a semester and was sworn to Grado and Renais' government to never cause a cruel joke like this one, only to teach young people, who are reluctant to study, a lesson.
Vigarde sat at his office from his Imperial Suite, having an interview with a certain character, "so it's true that you haven't had a single customer for thirty-five years?"
Anna, all dressed up in her red formal kimono, smiled, "Yep." She looked up in deep thought, "Well, actually I did had a customer not long ago before I left, except that it wasn't really a customer…more of a freshly flesh…"
"Okay I get it! Thanks."
Vigarde and Anna shook hands.
END OF CHAPTER
