Author's Note: Yeah. Writing has been slow and tiring, along with a combination of depressing life, horrible events, and even worse outcomes; I had thought I would have to abandon this. But this is all that keeps me going for now; so I have decided to continue this. Sorry for the delays.

It's almost near the end, too. Which I have 2 endings. I'll post them once I finish them.

Chapter 38:

"Has there ever been a time where you think you finally belong?" Trigger asked. Peth'Mael sat silently, listening. "My life had been horrible; I looted, I vowed revenge, I even resorted to violence. But when I met them..." Trigger said, trailing off.

"Them? Them who?" Peth'Mael asked. Trigger looked around warily. Though he was close to the Begnion borders, they were still in Daein territory. He knew in his mind that the villagers didn't want to fight; but in the enemy's territory one could never know.

"A group of mercenaries. One that... I found shared my ideals. They wanted acceptance, and they tried to hard to work at it. I even found the person... the person I had looked for all my life." Trigger said. He stared at the ground sadly, feeling water race down his cheek. Peth'Mael smiled and wiped away the tears.

"If everything was so good, why did you leave?" Peth'Mael asked. Trigger looked at the priest, and shook his head. More tears flooded, and soon there was a stream going down his face.

"Because... I did things... that I didn't want to do. I killed.. out of... of... happiness." Trigger mustered. The priest didn't look shocked, but interested. Trigger wondered why the priest wasn't scared, he just confided that killing had made him happy.

"Sometimes, we do things when our emotions go out of control. Others, we need those emotions or else we do nothing..." Peth'Mael started. Trigger stood up angrily, and shook his head more.

"You don't understand! That wasn't even me!" He yelled, through tears of anger. "I... I became a monster! All because..." He said, trailing off. Peth'Mael looked at the boy sadly, and Trigger sat down again. "Because... that one person got hurt. To the extent that they didn't have a chance at survival."

"Now I'm a little lost. You transformed because of emotions?" Peth'Mael asked. Trigger nodded, sniffling. He wiped his eyes and face dry, but still felt the heavy sadness inside, as he remembered all that had happened.

"I transformed. Into a laguz. Which should have never of happened. I transformed, Peth. I became an abomination..." Trigger started. He felt tears well up again, until he felt a hard slap across his face. He looked at the priest shocked. Peth'Mael only stared back in anger.

"So a gift from Ashera, nay, a gift from Fate itself is a curse? An abomination? When you first came I thought you were mature and smart, but how naive are you? Life has its ups and downs, and sometimes we might get a little lost. Sometimes, it might seem that life doesn't want us to exist anymore, and it's always trying to get in our way. But if we give up, then we give up on ourselves, and we give up on life. The traits we all have, we should neither fear, nor hate them; but accept them." Peth'Mael said. He looked away, and rubbed his palm with his other hand. "I'm sorry for hitting you..." He started, but Trigger smiled.

"No, that's okay. Really." He replied. He sniffled again and tears fell down his face, but he was smiling; almost laughing. "You're right. You're so right... and it seems that I always have to learn the lessons of life the harshest ways. But you're right." Trigger said. Peth'Mael smiled.

"Sometimes, the harshest lessons are the ones best remembered." Peth'Mael replied. Trigger let out a chuckle, remembering his first true battle with the Mercenaries. He was about to open his mouth, when someone came running down the hill.

"Father! I'm sorry to interrupt!" The townsperson said. Peth'Mael shook his head, and looked at the man willingly.

"What's wrong?" Peth'Mael asked.

"It seems there is commotion at a church! From what has passed to here, priests are being held hostage! You should get out of here, or else they might get you too!" The townsperson said. Peth'Mael nodded.

"I understand. Thank you." The young priest replied. The townsperson nodded, and ran off. Peth'Mael began to walk away.

"Wait! I want to thank you!" Trigger said, running after the priest. Peth'Mael turned around, and smiled.

"Save the thanks for later. Right now, we should be heading to save some priests." Peth'Mael replied. Trigger looked at him oddly.

"I want to help too, but the church, which one is it? And if it's too far, what if we're too late?" Trigger said. Peth'Mael smiled.

"There are always ways to get to the places you need to get to. When is not the matter of importance; it is only a positive of negative factor. What matters is that you get there." Peth'Mael said. Trigger looked at the priest, lost. "Of course, I'd rather the positive factors, over the negative ones. Wouldn't you agree?" Peth'Mael said. Trigger still looked at him oddly.

"So you have a plan?" Trigger said. Peth'Mael shook his head.

"All I have, is hope. However, all I need is hope." The priest said. Trigger smiled, finally understanding. "Let's go."

Chapter 39:

The bandits were smart. Or at least, they were evasive. Now the Mercenaries were faced with a problem; just the two dozen priests trembling in fear and yet being able to bar their way.

"Move for them, and we'll kill the rest of ya!" The bandit leader said. The priests shook in fear, staves at the ready. Few of them were actually prepared with anything less than a heal staff; though it was evident they were better stocked the further back they were.

"We can't kill any of the priests! Knock em out or disable em; but don't do anything too harsh! Remember, these are not men of battle; but men of grace!" Ike said. The few mercenaries with him nodded. "Greil Mercenaries! Move out!"

---

"Where are we going?" Trigger asked. Peth'Mael hushed him. He brought him to a deserted chapel, which was starting to break down. "Peth... I doubt this is the one they're attacking." Trigger said solemnly.

"Ah, but there is much to be seen other than the decaying walls, my young Branded friend." Peth'Mael said. Trigger smiled; the priest called him friend regularly and yet they had just met that day. It was an odd feeling; as if Peth'Mael understood everything about Trigger.

They entered the rundown chapel and Trigger looked around. Crushed pews littered the floor as Peth'Mael headed to the altar. None of the candles burnt, most of the windows were shattered, and it smelled of death. Peth'Mael exclaimed out in joy as he apparently found what he was looking for.

"What's this?" Trigger asked. Peth'Mael smiled, showing him a translucent gray stone. It was somewhat see through and had still a shine like glass; but Trigger saw his own reflection in it. Gazing deeper, it seemed to have smoke inside of it.

"I once met a man who used stones like these to teleport to places. I asked him for a few." Peth'Mael said. Trigger looked at him oddly. "It was some time ago; though I can remember everything clearly. His wife's name was Aurora, and they had two children. In fact, his wife was an angel. Interesting story, isn't it?" Peth'Mael said. His face beamed, reminiscing about old times. "However, I should tell you later; the only important thing is that this can teleport us to the chapels around Daein." Peth'Mael said.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Trigger said. He looked at the stone more intently.

"Now, what was it he said?" Peth'Mael began to think aloud. "Chaos Distortion: Time Warp!" He said aloud. It was almost spontaneous; as if he didn't even say it himself. Trigger looked around him, as time began to be warped. Everything spiraled and bent, and soon they were in a black nothingness.

"Peth... are you sure you know what you're doing?" Trigger asked. He looked around; but Peth'Mael wasn't there anymore. Then, he felt the ground shake. He looked down, and found he wasn't on ground anymore. He reached upwards, grabbing at anything possible, as he plummeted from the sky. He didn't even notice that below him was a chapel.

---

The small group moved quickly and efficiently. Most of the priests allowed themselves to be knocked out; willing to get out of the situation. Others suffered minor bruises, and a few were simply foolish enough to trip over something and knock themselves out. The job seemed easier than expected.

"Alrighty boys, bring em out!" The bandit leader said. Soon, more bandits filed in from the side rooms; bringing along with them the Feral Ones. The Feral Ones growled with hunger and rage, and drooled incessantly. Already transformed, their sizes were much bigger compared to their normal laguz counterparts; and the mercenaries knew they were much stronger.

---

Mist sighed as she jutted her staff into the stomach of a priest; who curled over, smiling. He fell to the ground, unconscious, as Mist looked behind him. At the top of a small four-step set of stairs, growled a Feral One. She stepped back in fear, as it growled louder. The Feral One leapt off of the steps, and landed just a few feet away from her. Mist quickly brought out a staff and held it towards the Feral One.

"S-s-sleep!" She mustered, as her wand began to glow. The Feral One looked at the brightness intently, but did not fall asleep. Her wand cracked; its last use gone, and crumbled into glass shards in her hands. The Feral One looked back at her and growled; the distraction gone. Not wanting to yell out for help in case she angered it more, she backed away slowly. She found herself against a wall, as the Feral One creeped closer; the scent of meat too strong now to get it distracted by anything else.

Chapter 40:

Trigger reached for anything. A branch, a bird, anything that could stop him from falling. Peth'Mael hadn't done this on purpose, had he? Or, was it that, since the magic wasn't his own, he wasn't attuned to it? Trigger wondered how he even had the time for thoughts like this.

Then, he hit something. It didn't hurt at all; but the shock made him scream anyway. Glass shattered underhim, and soon he found himself falling through a roof window of the chapel. As he fell, he heard the slightest sounds of battle. Then, he hit the ground; or at least something like it. It was softer, and yet still hurt upon impact. He closed his eyes, as the pain dulled into slumber.

---

Mist blinked once, twice, and finally a third time; looking and absorbing what happened. out of nowhere, Trigger had fallen from the sky. Onto the Feral One, no less. Though; she doubted that through this miracle, that he had come unscathed. Pieces of beautiful glass lay about, and she walked up slowly.

The Feral One seemed to be knocked out; and Trigger's dead weight was on top. He was okay, right? She prodded him until he awoke; which he did so with a startle. Mist yelped and jumped back, but then coughed.

"Trigger!" She exclaimed, once he was awake. "You're alive! Thank the Goddess!" She said. Trigger got up weakly, moaning. He arched his back and cracked it, then reached out; stretching his sore limbs.

"Yeah... mmph... seems so." He said. He smiled awkwardly, and then looked around. "So what have I missed?" He asked. Mist pointed around. Trigger's eyes darted around the chapel; the Mercenaries were fighting. How is it that Mist was left unnoticed?

"These bandits have taken the priests at this chapel hostage..." Mist started to explain. "Ike didn't want any major damage to happen to the priests, and so I was knocking one out when the Feral One leapt at me." She said, pointing behind Trigger.

"Feral One?" Trigger said, looking behind him. They both watched as the Feral One began to move slightly, and Mist inhaled a breath and stepped back. She held her breath, as Trigger moved in front of her. Mist held back the urge to scream. "Go get Muarim." Trigger whispered.

"What?" Mist asked, a little too loudly. The Feral One stirred, and began to rise to its feet. Trigger leapt back, pushing Mist to the ground; as the Feral One suddenly lunged above them. The two fell off to the side, Trigger arcing his jump so he broke Mist's fall.

"Go! Get Muarim, anyone! I'm not going to be able to hold this one off for very long." Trigger said. Mist stood up and ran, instantly heading into the fray. Trigger took his defensive stance, but then a sharp pain rose up his left arm. The fall must have hurt him more than he thought.

He glanced back at the Feral One, who leapt at him fiercely. Trigger raised his right arm in defence; which felt awkward because he usually defended with his left. He caught the Feral One in mid-jump; as the beast began to bite down on his dagger. He shifted his weight to the side, sending the Feral One off to the side as well.

The beast landed neatly on all fours, and let out a roar. Trigger stepped back, wincing as his left arm brushed the wall. This wasn't good.