Imppala: ...How's our unfortunate patient?
Electrike: We've tried everything... hyper-defribillation, repetitive sonic annoyance, threatening to throw away all his Pokémon-related stuff... It seems that ShadowedTactician's gone forever.
Grim: Wait! I think I saw him move!
The three other males bend over the reclining ShadowedTactician as his arm starts to twitch. Suddenly, he sits up, starts to dry heave, and manages to cough up a series of cards from Black Fang Minion to Ninian's Espeon... as well as the latest chapter.
Imppala: (picks up Nergal's Golbat) ...You mean all the time you should've been writing the new chapter, you've been doing this?
ShadowedTactician: That, homework, and getting over some severe writer's block. And before you ask, I'll be having examinations in the weeks to come, so... you get the idea.
Imppala: Why, you... c'mere and let me pulverise you before I get you back up to writing the next chapter!
Grim: (watches with Electrike as the two guys chase each other) ...Review replying.
Electrike: Alright. But first, a few parameters...
Grim: No Thunderbolting...
Electrike: And no Shadow Balling.
Grim/Electrike: Deal.

Gijinka Renamon
Electrike: Eight chapters... does that include side-chapters, and which mode is she talking about?
Grim: Search me... I suppose she'll tell us once ShadowedTactician writes it.

RubyVulpix
Electrike: Wow, I had no idea Swellow evolved into Swellow.
Grim: It was a typo error, dummy. And... yeah, both the Black Fang thieves have Sneasel. But if you've been paying attention, you'll note that both Sain and Priscilla had Rapidash.
Electrike: ...I'm supposing it's better than the other alternatives ShadowedTactician prepared.

Jeanie
Grim: ...If you're looking for Shadow, he's over there. Actually, Isadora doesn't play much of a role in this chapter... or any chapter for that matter. Stat-wise, she's only slightly better than Marcus. Moving on...

Frodo007
Electrike: ...Hector with a Combusken? I thought Guy should have had one but Hector?
Grim: Anyway, Hector won't be receiving his second Pokémon for a long, long time to come... and I don't think anyone would be seeing it coming. Otherwise, there have been several areas where ShadowedTactician tried to include his own plotlines... one example would be Kishuna obtaining Shedinja from Guy's Ninjask. But thanks for the review(s).

Elven-girl10
Electrike: ...Ephidel has a fangirl. Oh well, I guess we should've seen that coming.

TedToss64
Grim: Specifically, Ted, I wouldn't call it a waiting list. ShadowedTactician just put a list of what character should get what Pokémon for fun, with advice from Imppala here and there. He's even done one for Fire Emblem: The Sword of Seals. However, the chances of him writing a Pokémonised version of Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones are as slim as a tapeworm on diet. It'd only prompt him to create another series of card expansions... which would have to begin about five years from now anyway.
Electrike: Of course, you're more than welcome to see the list.

Imppala
Electrike: (stares at tanks and mobile suits) ...I thought it was getting a little crowded in here.

WARNING! Incredibly bad attempt at fluff dead ahead!


Chapter 21: New Resolve/VS Crawdaunt

At last, the group witnesses Eliwood's long-awaited reunion with his father, as well as their painful farewell. After escaping the Dread isle, they return to the city of Badon. Eliwood remains silent for the duration of the passage. He sits cradling his father's cold hand, as if to warm him back to life. Hector can find no words to comfort his grief-stricken friend.
As the trio of lords sadly carried down the body of Lord Elbert, Marquess Pherae, down the steps of the Dragon's Gate, they were greeted by their faithful companions, waiting to celebrate the reunion of Eliwood and his father. However, when Marcus and Lowen noticed the dead body of their sworn liege, the mood completely changed. No words were spoken as the melancholy company escorted Elbert's corpse through the Dread Isle's forest to Fargus' ship.

Once the vessel of the Davros reached the familiar port of Badon, everyone disembarked and checked into a local inn to stay the night. Fargus departed from the pier with his crew, saying there was some other business he needed to settle. This gave the three lords, as well as Nils and Ninian, the opportunity to catch up a little with each other besides catching their breaths...


"...Ninian, are you feeling better?" asked Lyn.

"Yes..." murmured the dancer, as she lay on a bed in the inn.

"That's good." Turning to the other performer, Lyn smiled as she ruffled Nils' hair, "Long time no see, Nils. You've grown, haven't you?"

"...Is it really you, Lyndis? It seems like it's been so long," commented Nils.

"Even though it's only been a year since I saw you last?" inquired the plainsgirl.

"So much has happened since we left you and Caelin," Nils sighed.

"Hey, care to talk about things the rest of us can follow?" grumbled Hector.

"Hmph," snorted Nils. "Who's he?"

"This is Hector. He's Marquess Ostia's brother. Don't let his attitude fool you," giggled Lyn. "He acts mean, but he's decent enough."

"'Acts mean' seems pretty mean to me!" Hector sulked.

"Heehee... And you might remember this one," Lyn said as Eliwood walked over. "He's..."

"Yep, I remember. He's the man who helped Ninian," Nils pointed. "You're Elbert's son, aren't you? Your red hair, gentle eyes, and even voice. You're just like him..."

"Where did you meet my father?" asked Eliwood.

"At the Dragon's Gate," answered Nils. "He set us free after we'd been captured. We escaped in a small boat, but I was thrown out in a storm. When I woke up, I was back on Valour. For a time, I hid in the ruins myself. Then... I sensed something really dangerous. When I raced to the Dragon's Gate, I... I saw everything," shuddered the bard.

"Nils..." Ninian murmured as she sat up.

"When we pulled Ninian up from the boat, she'd lost her memory," recalled Lyn. "I can't believe we brought her right back to her captors. What a horrible thing to do... I'm sorry," she apologised.

"Lady Lyn... Lady Lyn, you did nothing wrong..." began Ninian hurriedly. "When Nils fell overboard, I didn't know what to do. I became lost within myself... If only I'd been stronger, all of this could have been avoided," Ninian admitted, hanging her head in sorrow and shame. "I am... truly... sorry..."

"...Ninian's power is greater than mine, but it costs her physical and emotional strength," Nils explained sadly. "Nergal... exploited that... weakness..."

"...Ninian...Nils..." Lyn whispered, not knowing how to comfort the siblings.

"...Was Nergal after you because you have the power to call dragons?" Eliwood asked, deciding to change the subject.

"...I think it's because we can open the Dragon's Gate," frowned Nils after some thought. "Just calling them? Nergal can do that on his own."

"Are you serious?" asked Hector.

"Yes, but it requires a tremendous amount of quintessence," Nils nodded.

"Quintessence?" repeated Lyn.

"That's what Nergal called it," shrugged Nils. "The substance of the human spirit... Power. Energy. The essence of life itself... Nergal, he stole this quintessence."

"What happens to those whose quintessence is stolen?" Hector asked.

"...They... they die..." came the painful answer. Everyone sat silently as they realised that was what must have happened to Elbert.

"Neither Ninian or I have that power," Nils continued. "Lyn knows. We only have our special power... Anyway, Nergal needed to gather a large amount of quintessence. So he sent his henchman, Ephidel, to get close to Marquess Laus. He sought to plant the seeds of war in Darin's power-hungry heart."

"To what end?" asked Eliwood.

"It seems the quintessence in each person varies in strength," remarked Nils. "A person of strong body and mind has hundreds of times more energy than the average person. It sounds like there aren't many people like that, though. It took too long for Nergal to find people with enough strength. Although it would take time, Nergal said the easiest way to get that much quintessence was by starting a war."

"...So he planned to make up for quality with quantity? Is that it?" growled Hector. "Black-hearted fiend! Are all men nothing but pawns to him?"

"...Ephidel brought Elbert to the Dragon's Gate," Nils went on. "He said he'd found the ideal source they had sought. Nergal's plans for war had been stopped, and yet... he was happy. He'd taken so much energy from the knights travelling with Elbert; he was sure he'd get even better quintessence from Elbert..."

"Nils!" Lyn exclaimed sharply.

"Oh, I'm sorry... Lord Eliwood," apologised Nils.

"It's alright..." Eliwood sighed as he looked down at the floor. "...When I found my father at the Dragon's Gate, I knew his knights were no longer alive..."

"Eliwood..." Hector went over and placed a comforting hand on Eliwood's shoulder.

"...Your father told us he had a son," Nils recalled. "He said you were blessed with natural fighting ability. But he also told us you were compassionate and disdained fighting. He told us that his son would be a better ruler than he was. He told us that he would sooner sacrifice himself than see his homeland, Lycia, embroiled in the flames of war..."

"That's..." whispered Eliwood, not knowing what to say.

"When we'd lost all hope at the Dragon's Gate, your father always spoke to us of happy things," continued Nils. "...Well, he mainly spoke of his cherished son and his dear wife, but Ninian and I... we loved him very much. His stories about his family... they saved us."

"Oh, Fa... Father..." Slowly, but surely, Eliwood could feel a tear develop in the corner of his eye. Lyn looked at Eliwood, wondering how to comfort him, when she felt Hector's hand on her shoulder. "...Hector?"

"We should let him be alone for a while..." Hector whispered softly.

"...Sure," nodded Lyn. "Come on, Ninian, Nils."

"As you say." Without much further ado, Hector, Lyn and Nils all left the room, leaving Eliwood and Ninian behind. The dancer stayed where she was, gazing at her saviour as he placed his face in his hands, a tidal wave of guilt crashing upon her. "...Lord Eliwood..."

"Hm? Ninian... I didn't see you," said Eliwood as he looked up. "I'm sorry about before. I just... needed some time to think." Then, noticing her standing position, he asked, "Should you be up? You've had a rough time... Your colouring's not very good. You should rest."

"..." Ninian did not know what to say at all.

"...Look at you, all scratches and bruises..." Eliwood continued as he took her arm in his hands. "You need to be properly taken of..."

"...Why?" asked Ninian softly.

"Hm?" This reply surprised Eliwood as Ninian began to cry.

"Why was Lord Elbert so... Lord Eliwood, why were you both... so kind to us?" Ninian trembled. "It's... This is... This is all my fault... These nightmares... All these terrible things..."

"Ninian, crying ill suits a girl of your beauty," Eliwood whispered as he caught Ninian in a gentle embrace. "I'm fine... please don't cry."

"I'm sorry..." sobbed Ninian, burying her face in Eliwood's chest. "So... sorry..."

"There's something you must hear... You're not responsible for what happened to my father," comforted Eliwood. "You suffered as much as he did. Please, don't punish yourself further..."

"...Lord Eliwood..." Ninian looked up at her saviour, her tears and hair masking the furious blush she had on her face. "I... I... Ah!"

"Huh? What is it?" Eliwood asked. "Ninian?"

"Oh... Enemies..." whispered Ninian. "Enemies draw near!"


Meanwhile, outside the village, the two lords and Nils were waiting with their tacticians...

"Is that okay? Hector?" asked Lyn. "Shouldn't you go with Eliwood?"

"Mmm... thought about it," muttered Hector. "But... there was someone else who looked ready to start crying, too."

"Oh..." Lyn nodded.

"Hey! Ninian's gone! Where'd she go?" exclaimed Nils. "I'll go and look..."

"Hold on! Your sister's been through a lot, too," Hector halted. "Let her be for a while."

"I don't need you to tell me what she's been through!" Nils yelled defiantly. Lyn could say nothing at the bard's outburst.

"So, what do we do now?" asked Hector.

"I wonder what happened to Nergal," remarked Lyn. "Lord Elbert gave him a grievous wound when he stabbed him."

"His wounds do not kill him," commented Nils.

"That's what Lord Elbert said, too," Lyn frowned. "Do you know what he meant?"

"...Nergal uses quintessence on himself as well," Nils explained. "His wounds heal quickly. His body does not age."

"So he isn't... human?" asked Lyn.

"...If nothing else, he's... Ahh!" Before he could finish his comment, Nils was struck by a vision that left him staring in shock.

"What is it?" Hector questioned.

"Call everyone! Enemies approach!" cried Nils.

"Bah," grumbled Hector. "Eliwood deserves a little more time to rest..."

"Well then, we'll handle this ourselves, shall we?" Lyn smirked. Just then, the Pheraen lordling himself came rushing out. "Here you all are!" he said.

"Ah! Eliwood!" exclaimed the other two lords.

"Listen! Get ready for battle!" ordered Eliwood. "I want to get this over with quickly to protect villagers. Meet the enemy commander, and drive them out of here!"

"Okay!" Turning to Nils, Hector barked, "Hey, little guy! Go hide in the village!"

"No way!" Nils pouted. "I can help you out!"

"Nils, you really are a big help, but... shouldn't you be with Ninian now?" reminded Lyn.

"Ah... alright!" As Nils ran back to the inn, Shadow and Imppala had finished gathering all the troops. "Let's go!" Eliwood shouted.


"This place, it makes my bones ache..." groaned Hannah. "You need to care for your elders, not bring them to these horrible places!"

"That's strange," mused Imppala. "I seem to remember you were here before, and I don't recall you kicking a fuss."

"Imppala!" scolded Shadow.

"What's that?" Hannah put a hand behind her ear. "Speak up!"

"The augury!" bellowed the two tacticians.

"Oh, yes... the augury," Hannah muttered. "You will pay the 60 gold?"

"Here!" Imppala thrust a packet into Hannah's bony palm. "Now augur already!"

"Alright, alright! Youngsters these days, always in a hurry..." The fortune-teller grumbled as she and her Xatu took on their familiar glow. "This battle will be fought in darkness, so thieves are good," remarked Hannah. "Torches or light-bringing staves are also good. Bow-wielders... archers or snipers should come along. Antitoxin, the Sleep staff. These are heartening items... I can tell you nothing more."

"Hmmm..." Imppala rubbed his chin in deep thought. "What's Grim's analysis of the situation, Shadow?"

"There're several villages that may need attention," Shadow frowned. "Grim's map also shows an arena in the region, as well as two walls coming in from the north and south respectively, leaving a gap wide enough to be a gateway. The enemy leader is probably hiding behind those walls somewhere..."

"Okay!" The red tactician clapped his hands. "We'll inform the villages of danger first, then advance at moderate speed... Fast enough to get this over with quickly, and yet slow enough to not lose our footing."

"Sounds good to me!" nodded the green tactician. "Alright, everyone! Let's move out!"

"And I'll find someone to accompany me to the arena, of course!" Imppala thought gleefully to himself.


Meanwhile, back in the inn, Nils and Ninian were sitting in the room, waiting for the battle to begin and end as quickly as possible. Suddenly, Ninian stood up, with her mouth reduced to a determined line, and proceeded to walk out of the inn.

"Ninian! Stop!" called Nils. "Where are you going?"

"I... I'm going to help!" came the reply.

"Oh, no, you're not!" Nils held tightly onto his sister's arm, "You're still too weak!"

"But... I merely wish to help Lord Eliwood... even just a little..." Ninian turned around, looking imploringly at her brother. "I... I stole his father's life from him... I know this... this will never make up for it... Nils! Please..." she begged.

"...I understand," sighed the bard. "Give me your hands."

"Nils?" wondered the dancer.

"I'll give you some of my power," replied Nils gently. "You'll just get in the way if you go out like this."

"Nils... I'm sorry," apologised Ninian as the two siblings joined hands and closed their eyes. As they did so, a bright light illuminated the whole of the room which would have nearly blinded anyone present.

"Whew!" Nils gasped breathlessly. "That should do it. Help them for me, too."

"Thank you." Grabbing a Pokéball on the table, Ninian ran out of the room, as fast as her newfound energy would allow her...

"Lord Eliwood!" she called, once she was outside.

"Ninian?" Eliwood was shocked to see the dancer. "You shouldn't be here!"

"...Please allow me to help," Ninian requested.

"Help?" The Pheraen lordling raised an eyebrow. "I've no intention of making you fight..."

"...I'm no mere dancer," insisted Ninian. "My dances... they will help you." So saying, Ninian tossed out her Pokéball, revealing an electric rodent which looked very similar to Nils' Plusle. The only differences were that it had blue markings instead of red, and a horizontal line symbol formed its tail and cheeks' insignia. As the dancer and her Pokémon stood opposite each other, facing Eliwood and Charmeleon respectively, the two began to turn on their toes, making graceful motions while walking around their targets. During their ritual, Shadow and Imppala noticed that the ring on Ninian's finger was emitting a soft blue light. "That's..." exclaimed Shadow.

"Ninis' Grace!" Ninian murmured softly. "Minun... use Light Screen!"

"Mi!" Suddenly, Ninian and her Pokémon stopped dancing, and bent down slightly on their knees. A series of glittering stars surrounded Eliwood, slowly rising and disappearing into the night sky, leaving him with a faint blue aura. A similar event happened to Charmeleon, except for the part with the glittering stars.

"...This is..." Eliwood and Charmeleon looked down at their shining bodies. "I'm wrapped in... some sort of... energy..."

"I used Ninis' Grace and danced for you, Lord Eliwood," explained Ninian. "It will only last a short while, but while it does, your defence and resistance have been increased. Similarly, my Minun's Light Screen will temporarily boost Charmeleon's defence... Please... allow me... to remain at your side." begged the dancer.

"Ninian... Of course," nodded the Pheraen youth. "If it will make you feel better. Let's rejoin the battle. Don't leave my side."

"Okay!" Ninian smiled. "Minun! Mi!" cheered Minun.


"Hmmm..." The ex-Hurricane looked around while most of the other troops were advancing. "Not much to steal around here... Eh?"

"Snea! Sneasel!" Sneasel jumped up and pointed over to a south-western village.

"Ah, a village," mused Legault. "Might as well go over and warn them. Who knows, they might give me something in return." Moving in the shadows, Legault walked over to the village gate. "Excuse me!" he called at the man who was guarding the gate. "We're currently fighting some enemies attacking Badon. Please, close your gates."

"I know," sighed the man. "I was going to go back in to tell everyone when you came, but thanks anyway. I just can't believe Badon's under attack. If only Fargus were here..." Then, suddenly brightening up, the man turned to Legault. "Say, I've got something here you can use to buy time," he said as took out a round disc from his pocket. "Set up this Light Rune, and it'll block the enemies' advance. Only thing is, it'll stop allies, too. So... watch your step!"

"Another Light Rune?" Legault murmured to himself. "Maybe I should start collecting the things..."

At the same time, Serra was visiting another village while staying behind the battle's frontlines...

"Why all the noise? It's the middle of the night!" complained the old woman who had come out to greet her.

"It's not my fault!" Serra said without hiding her annoyance. "There's a battle going on right now!"

"What? A fight?" The old woman looked startled. "Are you going to do something?"

"Yes!" answered Serra exasperatedly.

"Really? Then... here, take this. It should aid you," muttered the old woman as she passed Serra a long yellow staff with a huge red jewel. "It's a Restore staff. It'll wake you from sleep and cure poison. Basically, it'll cure what's wrong and bring you back to normal."

"Thanks!" Serra put on her brightest smile possible.

"Now I'm tired... Why can't you people fight at a decent hour?" The old lady grumbled as she turned back to the village.

"Sheesh," thought the cleric. "Of all the people who could come out to greet me, it had to be some grumpy old coot thinking the same things as I am..."


"Rebecca! Wait!" The archer girl turned around to see her Pheraen friend run towards her. "I've been meaning to pass you this," Wil panted, revealing a small crest in his hand. It looked like two golden arrows with their centres fused together to form a cross.

"What's that?" asked Rebecca.

"It's an Orion's Bolt for promoting bow users like us. Shadow told me he found it on Uhai's body after they defeated him," explained Wil. "He said he couldn't decide who to use it on, so he passed it on to me... I thought that it'd be better used on you."

"...Me?" Rebecca repeated as Wil placed the Orion's Bolt in her hand. "But... but why?"

"Well, I thought about your comment one of the last times we met..." Wil sighed. "I realised I was wrong. It must have been hard on you, being alone for so long... this is the only way I can make it up to you. But, really, there's nothing between me and Lady Lyndis!"

"Wha?" The archer girl failed the hide the blush that instantly bloomed on her face. "You mean..."

"That was what she insisted on us calling her," replied Wil. Then, noticing Rebecca was silent, he asked, "Rebecca?... Are... you still mad at me?"

"Wil, you... you idiot!" Sobbing, Rebecca grabbed the archer boy around his torso and buried her face in Wil's chest. "How can you still blame yourself after I've been such a jerk to you? I didn't listen to what you were trying to say... I jumped to conclusions... I never even considered your feelings!"

"Rebecca... it's okay." Placing a gentle hand on her bandanna, Wil comforted the Pheraen girl. "I know it's been terribly difficult for you... what with me and Dan, leaving you alone for five years... And that's why," he said as he gazed into her tear-stained eyes, "when this war is over... I'm going to bring you back to Pherae, and we'll live together in the village like we used to."

"R... Really?" whispered Rebecca.

"I promise," Wil smiled. "Now, why don't you use that Orion's Bolt?"

"O... Okay!" Raising the promotional item over her head, Rebecca hollered, "Orion's Bolt!"

As the familiar electricity and light surrounded Rebecca, Wil had to cover his eyes to prevent himself from getting dazzled. When he could open his eyes again, Rebecca's appearance had radically changed. Gone were her signature bandanna and green pigtails, leaving her hair to cascade down to her shoulders. Her leather armour was replaced by a metallic blouse and skirt. She also wore gauntlets on her hands and her new, ornately decorated bow was at least half as long again as herself. The new sniper in question stared down at herself, astonished by the transformation.

"Rebecca, you look great!" exclaimed Wil. "Although... I think I preferred the bandanna and pigtails," he smirked.

"Wil... thank you," smiled Rebecca. "But... there is one more way you could make it up to me..."

"Er... there is?" Wil scratched his head with a perplexed look on his face. "How?"

"Like this." Before Wil could react, the sniper girl had already leaned forward and pressed her lips against his own. Taking a few seconds to register what had happened, Wil wrapped his arms around Rebecca and gently returned the favour. After a few moments, the two archers separated and gazed happily into each other's eyes.

"Wil..." Rebecca murmured, clinging on to her childhood friend turned soulmate. "Don't ever leave me again..."

"Don't worry," whispered Wil. "I'll always stay near... and protect you."


"Hmmm... Our allies would seem to be a state of turmoil right now, wouldn't you say, Murkrow?" mused Raven.

"Krow! Murkrow!" nodded Murkrow.

"Well then," muttered the mercenary as he brandished his sword, "I guess it's time to..."

"Ah, Raven! I was looking all over for you!" Raven stopped in his tracks when he heard the voice of the red tactician. Sure enough, Imppala himself had walked right next to him.

"Yes, Imppala?" asked Raven, silently cursing himself for his rotten timing.

"There's an arena over there," began Imppala, "and I was wondering if you could..."

"No," came the flat answer.

"Aw, come on!" Imppala pleaded. "You'll be able to become stronger there!"

"...Stronger?" The tactician's second last word echoed through the mercenary's mind. He then sneaked a peek at Hector, who was leading another group of people in the distance. He certainly seemed powerful... possibly more powerful than Raven himself. And that was a chance which the mercenary could not afford to risk.

"...Alright then," Raven conceded.

"Okay! Follow me!" At the mercenary's reluctant agreement, Imppala proceeded to drag Raven through the streets to the arena, much to the latter's chagrin.

"You'll have to register yourself!" informed Imppala once they had entered the colosseum. "I'll be waiting in the spectators' stands!"

"...Why me," groaned Raven inwardly.


"It ends here," growled a warrior in black clothing as the three lords and Shadow drew near, who was apparently leading the enemy forces. "Your journey is over, and only oblivion awaits you."

"...Black Fang?" realised Eliwood.

"I bring an invitation from my master, Nergal," the warrior, whose name was Oleg, continued. "'Return the children to me.' Seems foolish to deliver the message..." he mused. "After all, I can take them both myself and go now!"

"You'll never take them!" Eliwood announced. "Charmeleon, Metal Claw!"

"We'll see about that! Crawdaunt!" Before Charmeleon could land a blow on him, Oleg threw out a Pokéball of his own. The Pokémon that came out opened its enormous pincer and grabbed Charmeleon by the arm before it even materialised, and lifted the Flame Pokémon off the ground. Once the light had faded, the mystery Pokémon revealed itself to be a huge lobster creature that stood on its two pairs of unevenly sized legs. Its body was completely covered in red and white exoskeleton. Its tail ended in what looked like a spiky horseshoe. Two blue "V" stripes decorated its chest area and a shiny, yellow star sat atop its forehead.

"Crawdaunt! Crabhammer attack!" commanded Oleg.

"Crawdaunt!" The Rogue Pokémon complied by throwing Charmeleon high into the air, buying itself some time to allow energy to accumulate in its pincer, before slamming Charmeleon across the street as the Fire-type made its descent. The protective aura Minun had generated earlier shattered into a thousand pieces.

"Char!" grunted Charmeleon, skidding a few metres on the ground before coming to a complete stop.

"Darn it! Return, Charmeleon!" Eliwood recalled his fainted Pokémon back to its ball. "Hector, Lyndis! Go to the other villages and warn them of danger!" he shouted.

"But..." The other two lords looked at each other, hesitating.

"Do it!" yelled Eliwood.

"...Alright!" Nodding, Hector ran for the northern village, while Lyn dashed to the settlement in the south.

"Magmar!" Eliwood hollered as he released his father's Pokémon. "Flamethrower, now!"

"Grim, Will-o-wisp!" called Shadow.

"Water Pulse, Crawdaunt!" Oleg demanded. At their respective masters' orders, the Pokémon began to spew out separate streams of their own elements that collided in the middle of the town gate, causing steam to form where the attacks met. As time went on, neither Pokémon was intent on backing down, but Magmar and Grim seemed to be struggling.

"Lord Eliwood! Shadow!" cried Ninian. "Don't overstrain yourself!"

"Urgh..." The Pheraen lord gritted his teeth. Their two Pokémon were clearly disadvantaged, but there wasn't any other alternative for Eliwood...

"Leave this to me!" announced a voice. Eliwood turned to see Dart with a fist on his chest. "Captain Fargus couldn't be here to protect Badon, so it's up to me! Corphish!"

"Phish! Corphish!" The Ruffian Pokémon knocked its claws together, completely fearless about going against its evolved form.

"Brother Dart!" Hearing his pirate name, Dart looked behind to see his sister and friend running towards him. "We're helping too!" nodded Wil.

"Okay! Corphish, Crabhammer!" yelled Dart.

"Cor-PHISH!" Corphish leaped up, over the Magmar and Crawdaunt's crossfire, landing neatly on Crawdaunt's back. Before Crawdaunt could react, Corphish had delivered a blow on its back that made Water/Dark-type lose its footing. "Craw?"

"Whoa!" Oleg fell back as Magmar's prolonged Flamethrower screamed past Crawdaunt, nearly burning his hair off. "Crawdaunt! Get that abomination off your back!"

"No way!" Rebecca responded. "Roselia!"

"Cacnea!" Wil added.

"Combined Spikes attack!" yelled the two. Together, their Grass-type Pokémon spun around, spraying a storm of hardened wood across the street.

"Daunt! Crawdaunt!" As Crawdaunt struggled to throw Corphish off, it stepped on the spikes from Cacnea and Roselia, causing it to hop around it pain. Corphish merely held tightly on like a new cavalier on a raging horse.

"Fury Cutter!" shouted the archers. Roselia and Cacnea took a running jump before each jumping on Crawdaunt's pincers, and started to madly slash at the lobster's thick shell.

"Argh... Crawdaunt!" growled Oleg. "Knock Off!"

"Craw!" Swinging its claws wildly, Crawdaunt managed to send Cacnea and Roselia sliding across the ground, allowing it to reach behind its back and get Corphish off, too.

"Ah..." The three citizens of Pherae could only gape as their Pokémon were easily beaten. Lord Eliwood could do nothing as Magmar stared back at Crawdaunt defiantly, still willing to continue...


Meanwhile, in the arena...

"This fight between Raven the mercenary and the arena champion, Trinity the mage will now begin!" declared the judge.

"Go, Mr. Mime!" Trinity called as he released a human-like Pokémon dressed like a court jester. It had chubby cheeks, red hemispheres at its shoulders, pelvis and chest as well as wide, white hands.

"Murkrow, Drill Peck!" shouted Raven.

"Krow!" Flying straight at Mr. Mime, Murkrow began to spin around, generating a tornado from the tip of its beak.

"Mr. Mime, Substitute!" ordered Trinity. Before Murkrow could touch Mr. Mime, the Barrier Pokémon had created a clone of itself which Murkrow slammed into, while Mr. Mime took no damage from the Drill Peck at all. "Mr. Mime, now use Double Team!"

"Mime mime!" Grinning, Mr. Mime started to use its psychic powers to sharply increase its speed, thus spawning multiple images of itself that surrounded Murkrow. Glancing here and there at the crowd of "opponents", Murkrow had no idea what to do.

"Do you really think such cheap tactics can stop me?" Raven smirked. "Murkrow, use Aerial Ace!"

"Murkrow!" At Raven's order, Murkrow extended its wings, and prepared to slice its way through the fake Mr. Mime.

"Barrier!" Trinity commanded. Just as Murkrow was about to strike, the multiple Mr. Mime thrust their palms forward, as if trying to push something. Without warning, Murkrow slammed into a invisible wall, sending it toppling.

"And that's not all!" grinned the mage. "Solarbeam!"

"Mime..." Slowly, each "Mr. Mime" began to accumulate energy from the moon in their hands, before firing it at Murkrow simultaneously.

"KROW!" screeched the Darkness Pokémon as it was hit. Limply, it fell down onto the sandy floor.

"Curses!" thought Imppala as he watched on. Around him, spectators were yelling and booing Raven. "Even though there's an entire dome of Barrier around Murkrow, Mr. Mime's Solarbeam can still hit since it's simply light amplified by energy! Darn these mages... sometimes they're just too smart!"

"Ha ha ha." Trinity smirked, "Guess that's one down, one to go!"

"Grrr..." Raven saw red at Trinity's smug behaviour. "If Murkrow can't get past that Barrier... then perhaps I will!"

"Oh no you don't! Fire!" called the mage as Raven began charging towards the invisible dome, his sword raised above his head. Instantly, a fireball flew from Trinity's fingertips, hitting the handle of Raven's sword.

"Agh!" yelled Raven, instinctively dropping the red-hot blade and gently rubbing his scalded fingers. "Ugh..."

"Ra-ven! Ra-ven! Out! Out! Out!" chanted the irate crowd.

"Oh, curses!" Imppala swore inwardly. "Not only is Shadow going to nag at me for losing a unit, but I'll lose my bet of 650 gold!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Look at you!" laughed Trinity. "Your Pokémon can't fight anymore, and neither can you! You might as well give up!"

"..." Raven merely glared at the mage, in spite of his taunting. "Do you really think I'm finished yet?"

"What!" The mage took one step back at Raven's apparent determination. "You..."

"Since the first day I was able to hold a sword properly, I've been planning for my revenge!" spat the mercenary. "I'm not going to be defeated by someone like you! Murkrow!"

"Mur... krow?" Hearing its master call out, Murkrow opened its eyes.

"Haze attack!" bellowed Raven.

"Krooooow!" Complying, Murkrow spewed out a black smokescreen that penetrated the dome surrounding it, filling the entire battlefield.

"Ugh! (cough cough) How did he..." gasped Trinity as he choked on the gas. When the smoke had cleared, the mage was even more shocked to find Raven holding his sword, Murkrow perched on his shoulder, and only one Mr. Mime standing right in front of himself! "WHA?"

"Besides obscuring the opponent's sight, Haze is an attack that eliminates all changes to a Pokémon's abilities," Raven explained with a smirk of his own. "My Murkrow's Haze just negated the protective defence-increasing Barrier, as well as your Mr. Mime's evasion-increasing Double Team! Not only that, the Ice element of Haze managed to cool down my sword enough for me to hold it!"

"Ah... Mr. Mime!" Trinity nervously shouted. "Repeat the strategy!"

"That's not going to happen!" countered Raven. "Taunt!"

"Murkrow murkrow murkrow!" teased Murkrow as it stuck out its tongue.

"Mime...!" Falling for Murkrow's prank, Mr. Mime saw red and glared at the Dark/Flying-type.

"Taunt will force its target to be unable to use non-offensive attacks! Your Mr. Mime can't repeat its defensive strategy from just now!" Pointing at the Barrier Pokémon, Raven issued an order, "Faint Attack!"

"Krow!" As Murkrow spread its wings, it seemed to vanish into thin air... before a sudden bolt of darkness shot out from where it was, passing through Mr. Mime via the chest and rematerialising into the crow of darkness on the other side.

"Mi... Mister... Mime..." Unable to withstand the Dark-type assault, the Barrier Pokémon collapsed onto the ground.

"Ha!" Grabbing his chance, Raven threw his sword into the air, took a huge jump a split second later, caught his sword in mid-air and brought it down on Trinity's head.

"UNGH!" As blood poured freely from the gash on his head, staining his clothes and the sand beneath him, Trinity took one last flabbergasted glance at Raven before closing his eyes.

"Hooray!" cheered the crowd at Raven's unexpected comeback.

"Eh heh heh heh..." sniggered Imppala. "I'll get to fill my pockets once again!"


"Whirlwind!" shouted Florina.

"Shock Wave!" commanded Oswin.

"Pidgeo!" "Agggg!" While Mitch flapped its wings to create a powerful tornado, Aggron fired an electric bolt of its own. Shadow had tried ushering units with evolved Pokémon that didn't have an offensive elemental disadvantage, but it didn't seem to be working against Crawdaunt...

"It's no use!" grimaced Shadow. "That Crawdaunt's got higher defences than I'd thought!"

"Guys!" Hector's voice rang out as the Ostian lord came running from his assigned village, holding a strange whip with a yellow handle and blue rope. "Lord Hector!" Shadow exclaimed.

"Florina, catch! Maybe this will help!" So saying, Hector threw the item up to the pegasus knight, who caught it after some fumbling about. "Wha... what is this?"

"It's an Elysian Whip!" answered Hector. "It's a promotional item for flying units!"

"I get it!" Shadow snapped his fingers, "If Florina promotes, she'll be stronger than ever before! And maybe we'll be able to defeat this guy!"

"Al... alright!" Florina trembled as she gripped the handle tightly, "Elysian Whip!"

From the rope cascaded a brilliant aura that enveloped both Florina and Huey as they began to undergo amazing changes. By the time the light had dissipated, Florina was wearing a new set of armour instead of her old, battered suit, and her lance was pointier. Huey had a wider, stronger pair of wings, as well as cobalt metallic plates and a horn on his forehead armour. While this was happening, Mitch had also taken on its second evolutionary glow, giving it yellow and red head-feathers that reached its pelvic bone as well as a bigger, but sleeker build.

"Yup! Just as I thought!" nodded Shadow. "Thanks to Florina's promotion, Mitch has evolved into Pidgeot!"

"O... Okay!" Shaking with excitement, Florina ordered, "Mitch, use Sky Attack!"

"Pi..." Building up energy in its body, Mitch began to shine with a powerful orange light. Without warning, the Bird Pokémon dove in for the kill, straight for Crawdaunt's star symbol...

"Crawdaunt! Protect!" Oleg yelled. Before Mitch managed to hit it, Crawdaunt raised its pincers to create an impenetrable barrier, preventing the devastating Flying-type move from working. "Guillotine, now!"

"Craw!" Grabbing Mitch by the neck, Crawdaunt squeezed out every ounce of energy from the Pidgeot's body before flinging it at Florina.

"Kyaaaa!" screamed Florina as she tumbled off Huey, who followed after her as it lost its balance in the air.

"Aggg!" grunted Hector as the two collapsed onto his back. "Ow... not again..."

"Ah..." blushed the newly promoted falcoknight. "I... I'm sorry..."

"Oh, no..." Ninian gasped as Crawdaunt swung its claws around in victory. "...Now what do we do?"

"We fight!" said another familiar voice. Everyone looked back to see Nils and Plusle, glaring down the opponents on the other side. "Nils?" exclaimed Ninian. "What, what are you..."

"They're after us, Ninian!" Nils growled in a way unlike himself. "It's time we repaid Lord Eliwood for what he did for us on Valour!"

"I... I..." Ninian stammered, not knowing what to say.

"Nils! You shouldn't..." Eliwood began.

"Don't worry! We can do this!" smiled Nils.

"Mi?" Ninian's Minun looked nervously at its counterpart. "Plu! Plusle!" grinned the red electric rodent.

"Okay then, go, Plusle!" Nils yelled.

"You too, Minun!" nodded Ninian.

"Plu! Mi!" The two Cheering Pokémon dashed together, running around Crawdaunt.

"Ha ha ha! What's this?" smirked Oleg. "Is that all you have left?"

"Minun, use Helping Hand!" Ninian cried.

"Plusle, Charge attack!" commanded Nils. While Minun fired a series of blue sparks at Plusle, Plusle was busily using its tail to gather all the electricity in the surroundings.

"Rain Dance!" "Thunder!" The siblings shouted their orders as they raised their hands. Minun began to perform another dance, summoning drops of water that fell from the sky. "What... what is this?" Oleg shouted.

"PLUUUUUUUU!" screamed Plusle, letting forth all the electricity it had in its body.

"Uwaaaaaaaah!" Oleg and Crawdaunt cried out in agony as Plusle's powerful attack surged through them.

"Good thinking!" exclaimed Shadow. "Minun's Rain Dance helped Plusle's Thunder become more accurate! At the same time, Plusle's attack power has been boosted by Charge, Helping Hand, and it's own Plus ability with Minun's presence!"

"Ah..." groaned Oleg as he fell, defeated. Crawdaunt lay on the ground, bits of its own shell chipping off from the damage. "In defeat... there is only... death. Urgh..."


"Hey... are you okay?" asked Hector later on, when everyone else had gathered.

"Mm. Sorry to worry you," nodded Eliwood.

"You don't have to push yourself so," reassured Lyn.

"We'll have time for mourning when this is all finished," Eliwood declared. "For now, in my father's name... I will do everything I can to stop Nergal and protect our lands."

"I see... So, what do you have in mind?" Hector inquired.

"...We need to see Marquess Ostia," revealed Eliwood.

"My brother?" frowned Hector.

"After all we've learned... we can't not tell him, can we?" reminded the Pheraen noble.

"Sure, I guess..." muttered the Ostian lordling.

"Hector? Why that odd expression?" Lyn asked.

"Hector doesn't want to meet Lord Uther," Eliwood explained. "He's been lax in contacting him and is afraid to face him, right?"

"What!" Hector folded his arms in mock indignation. "And how did you expect me to send him any messages when we're traipsing about the isles like merchants on holiday?"

"Ha ha ha!" teased Eliwood, breaking into a run. "He is going to be so mad!"

"Why, you... c'mere!" Grinning, Hector chased after his friend, leaving Lyn and Shadow behind.

"Ha... They're both in good spirits," remarked Lyn, smiling. "...It's a lot better than giving into despair, I suppose."

"Hmmm... Where's Imppala?" frowned Shadow. "Don't tell me he's been at the arena again..."

"Alright then. I won't tell you," came Raven's voice.

"Lord Raven!" exclaimed Lucius, rushing to greet him. "Where have you been all this time?"

"Not much..." answered the mercenary. "...Just training myself..."

"A little help here please!" Imppala's muffled voice came from under a huge pile of moneybags, to which everyone else sweatdropped.


"Lord Eliwood... are you feeling better?" asked Marcus, as everyone starting returning to the inn.

"Marcus... I'm fine." Eliwood replied, "I know I worried you."

"About Lord Elbert..." Marcus began uneasily, then continued, "At my own discretion, I sent a messenger to Lady Eleanora."

"...I see," nodded Eliwood. "Thank you, Marcus. That was well done."

"...I thought she should know as soon as possible," agreed the paladin. "The marquess' final moments were so... very noble..."

"Lord Eliwood! Commander Marcus!" Upon hearing a familiar female voice, both Pheraens turned back to see a woman dressed in silver armour riding towards them on a horse. She was followed by an insect Pokémon with a lavender face, chest and wings, black limbs and torso, purple rings of exoskeleton around its head and limbs and yellow feelers.

"Is... is that you, Isadora?" called Marcus.

"I've finally found you," breathed Isadora. "I'm glad you're well..."

"Isadora, what are you doing here?" Eliwood questioned. "Don't tell me something's happened to Mother..."

"No, Lady Eleanora is well. Do not worry," Isadora assured. "When word of Lord Elbert's death reached her yesterday, she said not a word... she merely gave full attention to the messenger."

"Mother..." murmured Eliwood, realising how grief-stricken his mother must have been.

"Then, she issued me orders without hesitation," continued Isadora. "She commanded that I deliver a message to Lord Eliwood and remain at his side."

"But... the castle defences will be shorthanded," Eliwood protested.

"Lord Eliwood, please... Understand your mother's feelings," Isadora coaxed. "Lord Elbert is not coming home. All your mother can do now is pray for your continued safety. "Obey your father's dying wish." That is her message to you, and I have delivered it."

"Why not petition Ostia for reinforcements to help ward Castle Pherae?" suggested Marcus.

"Good idea," nodded Eliwood. "I guess it would ease my mother's fears and bow to her wishes."

"It's that thinking that makes you Lord Eliwood," smiled Isadora.

"Our battles are like nothing you've ever prepared for... Are you ready to face them, Isadora?"

"Yes," bowed the female paladin. "I will serve with my very life."


"Shadow? Is something wrong?" Eliwood asked the green tactician. The two male lords and their tacticians were in the same room, preparing to rest for the night.

"Yeah..." admitted Shadow. "I was wondering if you were alright..."

"Oh, you were worried about me," smiled Eliwood. "I apologise for all the trouble. I'm fine now. I have my friends to lean on... Hector, Lyndis, and the two of you. Thanks to all of you, I'm getting stronger. I am coming to believe that together we can overcome anything!"

"No problem, milord," Shadow smiled back. "You are my liege lord, after all. It's only courtesy that I be concerned about you."

"We're not having the greatest run of luck either," sighed Hector as he lay on his bed. "I'll wager you guys never thought things would turn into such a terrible mess, eh?"

"I'll say!" nodded Imppala.

"...If it gets to be too much, you guys can leave at any time," Hector suddenly suggested. "You're reliable and dependable tacticians, but... you're not our servants, you know? If you think our task impossible, you should get out..."

"Oh, come on!" Imppala whined. "We've been through so much together!"

"We know that your mission is tough," agreed Shadow. "But when the going gets tough, the tough get going. We're going to have to stick together before Nergal can succeed in his plots."

"You're as smart as they come," smirked Hector. "I know you don't need me to tell you that." Flipping over, he muttered, "Let's get some sleep, okay? Gotta rest while you can... that's even more true in middle of a campaign like this."

"Good idea," nodded the green tactician. "Lights off, Grim."

"Duskull!" Complying, the Requiem Pokémon extinguished the light glowing from its eye.

"Goodnight, everyone!" called Imppala.


While Eliwood's group was getting rested for the next day, their archnemesis was busily readying more of his evil plans...

"Sonia. Limstella." At the mentioning of those names, two women appeared in front of Nergal. One was Limstella, the one Nergal had summoned earlier together with Ephidel, and the other was a new face. Unlike Limstella, she had fuller lips, golden earrings, and a beautiful figure with a more revealing outfit to match.

"You called, Lord Nergal?" Sonia asked sweetly. Limstella merely stayed silent.

"My wound... needs time. It was a deep cut, and my strength is not what it was," began Nergal. "The man who did this to me is dead. I'd like his son's death as compensation." Turning to Sonia, he began to issue orders.

"Sonia. You will use Brendan to move the Black Fang. I do not need mere underlings now. I need the Four Fangs," he instructed.

"Hee hee, leave it to me," chuckled Sonia. "I'll have them bowing their heads to you, my lord."

"Limstella... I want you to gather me quintessence," Nergal ordered. "For this injury to heal, I will need much, and you are the strongest of all my morphs. Kill all those who bear signs of great power."

"As you will," nodded the other woman.

Without further ado, the two women vanished into the night, to carry out their dreadful deeds...


Electrike: Are they still at it?
Grim: I'm afraid so. At this rate, we won't be expecting anything from ShadowedTactician until after October.
Electrike: ...So what're we going to do?
The two Pokémon stare at each other, before giving each other a knowing wink.
Grim: ...Review. And now... Will-o-wisp!
Electrike: Thunder Wave!

Side note: In case the Rebecca/Wil scenes was not up to standards, I apologise in advance. Writing romance was never my forté.