Author's Note: Sorry for the wait! Been at work and at rehearsal pretty much non-stop. When I've had free time I've been recording videos for fun and haven't really been working on this. I know, guilty as charged for taking too long. My own fault. Also, I lost my little laptop which had a good amount of a one-shot on it, so debating how best to find it in me to rewrite that.

Let's get into this! As always, please review if you have the time. I greatly appreciate it.

Chapter 79: Pale Flower of Darkness

Commander,

I present you with this, my resignation letter. Though I personally do not plan to give this to you at this time, I can no longer lie to my heart. If I find your actions are disagreeable with my beliefs, I will leave without hesitation. However, as long as your goals coincide with my desire to truly fight for and protect the innocent, I will be at your command.

I sincerely hope you will not disappoint me. I've grown tired of distrusting everyone who has even the smallest amount of power placed in their hands.

Heath

Taken from the records of Ostia

Heath's brow creased worryingly as he felt his lance give way under his grasp. A single attack or blow would cost him the weapon. Looking down at the pouch at his side, he did have three javelins at his disposal, and there was always the sword that hung at his belt just in case. However, a sword wouldn't be helpful against a lance. Especially not with Bern's style of fighting.

"Come on then!" Vaida spat, grinning happily.

His time to think was over. As their Wyverns battled in the air once more, Vaida and Heath met atop their heads. Vaida struck out with her lance, Heath dodged and attempted to grab it.

"Trying to take my lance since yours won't cut it?" Vaida chuckled. "Not bad, but it isn't going to work!"

She withdrew the lance quickly, the edges catching both Heath's arm and side, opening angry gashes on both which immediately began to sting.

"Come on, little rider! You gotta do better than that!"

Heath leapt back as their Wyverns began to draw apart. Vaida did the same, but from the pouch on her wyvern she drew a javelin. "Of course she'd have some." Heath sighed, drawing his sword. "Evasive maneuvers."

His wyvern dived wildly as the first javelin was thrown. Heath met the javelin with his sword, parrying it away from his descending comrade. "Not bad!" Vaida chuckled.

The second javelin missed as Duessel sped up closer to the ground. As he did so, Heath spared a glance towards the three groups. Lyn, Florina and William were consulting each other with their small group. The forces on the ground were definitely losing to their own. They must've been relatively inexperienced mercenaries, rather than Vaida's personal forces or the morphs he had heard about. After a moment, they nodded to each other, Florina taking to the air and passing on a message to Fiora and Farina, who were both hovering over a different group of their own. Hector's group had retreated, Serra working on healing the blue haired lord and berating him over something he must've done recklessly. Eliwood's team was still finishing the last of their mercenaries, but with Isadora and Marcus at the head of the group it wouldn't be long before they were done. It gave him small comfort.

"Umm… you haven't forgotten about me, right?" Nils cried desperately from behind him, grasping desperately to the saddle as the fighting continued.

"I'm sorry." Heath said kindly. "I wanted one of the other fliers to take you away from the fighting, but to spare that time…"

"Just… be careful!" Nils said sheepishly. "I can hold on, but when they go nearly vertical while fighting each other…"

"I understand." Heath agreed. He reached into his pouch and grabbed one of his javelins. "Time for a change of tactics."

He hefted the lance as Duessel climbed back to equal height with Vaida. Vaida threw a javelin of her own, which Heath knocked away with the sword he kept in his left hand. He wasn't ambidextrous, but he had practiced enough to make use of his non-dominant hand while fighting. He'd have to get Sain to teach him how to improve on that. His javelin was thrown, but it bounced off the front of Vaida's Wyvern's armor. Heath clicked his tongue angrily. Any injury would likely get Vaida to withdraw, but she was too skilled for him to manage it.

"I'll manage!" Nils called from behind him. "Just win!"

Heath nodded. Duessel roared, charging forward to meet Vaida in combat once more. Vaida countered, her lance striking out and catching Heath in the leg even as he attempted to get atop Duessel's head. With a huge effort, Heath ignored the pain and brought his sword to meet the shaft of Vaida's lance, breaking it. This meant the tip remained lodged in his leg, but it stopped her from using that weapon further.

Duessel roared angrily as his claws failed to meet flesh, Vaida's wyvern opening several gashes upon him. For a moment, his wingbeat paused, causing himself and his two riders to fall several feet. Vaida's grin of victory was stopped short as Heath's lance, which she had forgotten about after nearly breaking it, penetrated through her right arm's guard and pierced the skin. A moment later the lance broke, falling away to the ground below, but the damage was done. Leaping back, Vaida grabbed the reigns of her wyvern with one hand, wincing in pain as the wind shear nearly caused her to injure her second arm as well.

"You've done enough!" Nils called to Heath, "It's time to withdraw! The others are safe!"

Heath grit his teeth. He knew Nils was right, and yet… she was right in front of him. One of the people responsible for the loss of his comrades. He wanted nothing more than to keep fighting. He glanced at his injured arm, his injured leg… he saw the blood dripping from Duessel's gashes… "Withdraw, Duessel. We've done enough."

Duessel roared in both agreement and appreciation, his wingbeat turning them towards the ground.

"You think you can just walk away and I'll… tch." Vaida spat. Her arms throbbed painfully, and looking at the ground that woman had given her nothing but cannon fodder for a fight. So, she was to be a sacrificial pawn, was she? She couldn't have that. "I've had it with being pushed here and there… Anyone still alive, withdraw now! Pull back and move quickly!"

Heath was now being treated by Priscilla, but aside from him everyone else had been healed and were in decent shape. Serra was still berating Hector, who seemed unable to do anything but take it. It was quite an interesting sight to see. Eliwood sighed in relief. "I guess that worked out."

"For now." Will agreed. "You're sure you're alright, Nils?"

"Fine." Nils said, still a little shaken. "Heath was very kind to me. I'm afraid I only held him back."

"You know that's not how he sees it." Will said with a soft smile.

"Nergal's power… is returning." Ninian said worriedly. "That woman Heath was fighting… she was being protected by Nergal's magic."

"So I wasn't seeing things." Nils murmured. "I was afraid of that. Poor Heath's Wyvern's claws weren't even making a scratch on Vaida's! I thought it was weird, since he was aiming for spots uncovered by armor."

"Her strength was also being enhanced by him, I think." Ninian said. "the way she threw that javelin…"

"It won't be long until he's active again, then." Will muttered. "If his power is restored and we don't have the means to stop him…"

"We'll recover the Fire Emblem, Will, fear not." Eliwood said, placing a hand on the tactician's shoulder. "Once we've done that…"

"Time to move." Lyn suddenly cut in to their conversation. "Our window of opportunity is shrinking."

"What do you mean?" Eliwood asked.

"Florina and I tagged a Black Fang member fleeing the battle. It's clear she has a separate destination." Lyn said proudly. "We may be able to find the Black Fang's Fortress."

"Then what are we waiting for!" Hector exclaimed. "Let's go!"

As the group moved, Priscilla continued to care for Heath and Duessel. "I said I'm fine." Heath repeated. "I'd prefer you to care for Duessel. He took the worst of it."

"Oh come now." Priscilla huffed. "I covered for you after Duessel ate all those supplies, didn't I? The least you could do is be honest with me."

Heath quickly looked around to see if anyone was listening in. "I asked you not to mention that…"

"Doesn't mean I have to listen." Priscilla smiled. "I'm getting used to dealing with difficult men."

"All I meant is that a few scratches won't kill me." Heath explained. "As long as the battle is won, I can rest afterwards."

Priscilla pointed to the lance head they had yet to remove. She raised an eyebrow knowingly.

"Fine, you win." Heath agreed.

Priscilla smiled happily. Concentrating, she readied herself to pull the lance remains from his legs. Heath had no choice but to agree.

"I remember when I was back in the knights, my captain would tell us: 'If you can feel the pain, you're not badly wounded.' He was a true soldier. Charging straight into enemy fire to draw them away from his troops… even with an arrow in each shoulder, he kept charging…" Heath trailed of in pain as Priscilla's attempt to remove the lance head succeeded.

For a moment, Priscilla felt faint. The blood that poured from the wound, alongside the tale, had likely triggered something she hadn't been ready for. She quickly closed her eyes and raised a heal staff she had borrowed from Merlinus to close the wound.

"Apologies." Heath managed. "I suppose dealing with war stories on top of bloody injuries are a bit too much to be telling a young maiden."

"It's fine." Priscilla grimaced. "I prefer feeling nauseous to feeling like I could've done something to help, but was too afraid to."

"You're a gentle soul." Heath smiled. "To worry about everyone, regardless of their importance… right, I'll be sure to accept treatment in future, then."

"You promise?' Priscilla said, opening her eyes.

"Promise." Heath sighed. "Now I think I should get some rest."

"You should." Priscilla agreed. "We'll be there soon."

Heath leaned back in the wagon. Slowly, his eyes began to close. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt safe going to sleep in someone else's presence. There was always the unease, the fear of betrayal. Yet here… The last thing he saw as his eyes closed were those clear and trusting eyes.

"This way." Lyn said quietly. "The signs are beginning to fade, but they're moving quickly."

"They?" Will muttered.

"She's joined up with others." Lyn explained. "I should be able to track them as long as we keep up this pace."

"Are you sure?" Hector whispered loudly.

"I'm from Sacae." Lyn said pridefully. "Bern's foot soldiers are slow and clumsy. To a Sacaen, people are easier to track than rabbits."

"If anyone can do it, Lyn can." Will agreed.

Lyn blushed ever so slightly, but now wasn't the time to let her emotions run. "This way."

As they followed Lyn through the winding paths, Will began to make quick notes in his journal. From Bern's Palace, following the Black Fang South. Lyn is tracking some of the fleeing combatants from last battle near the palace to find their hideout. Currently going through Bern's impassable mountains. These peaks know no seasons and the snow covers all in a bright blanket. I remember briefly visiting these mountains with Wallace while we traveled, but we didn't stay long enough to find anything. The reflection the snow casts on armor and weapons is too blinding for my liking.

"I see it." Lyn said suddenly, pointing. In front of them, as if it had been waiting for their arrival, a large looming ancient structure appeared.

"Everyone, get ready." Will said. "Once we enter, we're going to be thrown into a fight. And it won't be pretty."

The high heels tapped impatiently, arms pressed against an impressively angry bosom. "So, in the end, you failed to defeat them." The voice said unimpressed. "Didn't you?"

Vaida had no words. She could only look at the ground in shame. After a healer had patched her up, she had come straight here to submit her report. By the way Sonia looked at her, though, she was beginning to wish she hadn't. It wasn't as if she knew anything of combat.

"I only introduced you to Lord Nergal out of respect for your rank." Sonia spat. "I was mistaken, apparently. To think a former Royal Soldier would be-"

"Next time will be different!" Vaida insisted. "I swear it! I beg you, give me one more chance!"

Sonia scoffed. "One more chance? Surely you jest."

Vaida's brow furrowed. "Without Lord Nergal's good word, I'll never get to fly again! Not as a royal wyvern knight, nor as…" She touched the eyepatch on her left eye. "Please! Another chance!"

Sonia giggled. "At least you are skilled in the art of begging. But stop now, for your own sake. You have fallen from our graces and nothing can change that. Just be grateful that you, an outsider, will be spared the Fang's judgement."

Vaida glared at the woman. When she had come, offering her what she had needed, she had said Vaida had all the time necessary to finish the job. She said she had all the troops necessary to finish the job. Apparently, none of that had been true at all. She was a skilled manipulator, if not a stupid and brazen one.

"You stink of failure." Sonia spat. "Leave me to breath in peace."

"Hm." Vaida didn't have any more words to say, and she had grown tired of begging. She rose, leaving the room. Before she did, she paused, glancing back. "Careful, little witch." She warned. "You make enemies as easily as you draw breath. If not me, then one of the very enemies you've created will end your pitiful life."

Sonia scoffed again and shooed Vaida away. Once the eye patched warrior was gone, she giggled. "Ursula, you are there, are you not?"

The purple haired woman strode into sight, bending to one knee as she was addressed. "Yes, Lady Sonia."

"There are two types of people in this world, Ursula." Sonia explained. "Those chosen to lead and those only fit to serve: human refuse." She gestured towards the departed warrior. "That's all. Only two. I am the former, a perfect specimen chosen by Lord Nergal. You want to be like me, don't you Ursula?"

"…Yes, of course."

"Then you must use the refuse to your advantage." Sonia explained. "Treat them as equals and they will only drag you down. That Vaida woman is a good example. She follows orders like a good soldier, but continues to treat trash like people. That is what ultimately causes her failures… Demotion, exile, being blamed for the crimes she did not commit… she truly is a fool." Sonia giggled again. "You, however… I like. You must take care. It would be a shame to see you fail as Vaida did."

"I… understand. Thank you, most gracious Lady Sonia." Ursula said, head bowed low.

From the front of the fort, they could see almost no guards. The few there were weren't paying any attention, likely due to having their fortress so far in the mountains nobody traversed that it seemed impossible to ever be under attack. Eliwood watched as a wyvern took off, flying into the distance back towards Bern. "That was the same woman leading the group we fought earlier." He was glad this confirmed their theory. "Proves this is where they went, then."

"Now that they've come this far, they've let down their guard." Lyn said, jerking her thumb towards the lax guard on the wall. "You can see their tracks clear as day in the snow as well."

"And you tracked them without fail." Will chuckled. "Amazing."

"Anything to say, Hector?" Lyn said, puffing out her chest to the incredulous lord.

"I was wrong to doubt you." Hector admitted easily. "Is this their headquarters?"

"Let's sneak in and see what we can find." Lyn said.

"Only a small group." Will said. "Guy, Karla, Bartre, Lyndis, Eliwood, Hector, Serra and myself. That should be enough to fight back should we be caught. I'll be the one to retreat and bring reinforcements should things go south."

"Make it simpler." Erk said. "Shot a lightning blast into the sky. We'll know that's our cue to come save you."

"Right, we'll do that. I'll have to be careful with my magic then." Will chuckled.

"Magic is flashy anyway, so best you do nothing." Canas said.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better." Will replied sarcastically.

The small group infiltrated the fort with sad amounts of ease, as none of the guards seemed remotely interested in doing their jobs. Once they were inside, however, a new problem presented itself. "Now this is… a complicated place." Hector growled, seeing the maze of walls and corridors around them. Despite being ruins, several paths remains relatively intact.

"It's little more than whispers, but I can hear people talking." Eliwood said softly.

"It's coming from this way." Guy said. "Let's take a look."

Through a gap in the rubble, and just safe from notice, they could see a large hulking man, a rather curvy woman and a young girl with green hair talking excitedly. "You're giving me a mission? Really Mother? Really and truly?"

"I am." The woman said calmly. "It's a very big job at that. It's for the King of Bern."

"The King?" Will muttered. "That's…" He trailed off, eyes caught on the young girl. Something about her was… no, that's impossible. Was it? He couldn't remember. A young girl being with the Black Fang seemed so… impossible.

The young girl yelped in surprise. "The King! Such an important job… for me?"

The large man, for the first time, spoke. "Sonia, I'm against this. Giving such a dangerous job to this child?"

The girl looked crestfallen. "Father…"

Sonia turned to him. "Yes, I agree. It would be a better job for your sons. However, we've seen nothing of them since their last report."

"Lloyd… Linus…" The young girl said sadly.

"Wait, nothing?" Eliwood whispered. "But Linus was the one…"

"Something must have happened." Will whispered back. "I was a fool to let him go. I should've… damn."

"So my daughter will do this, and you will give me no complaints. Understood?" The woman said easily.

"I would say it's clear to see who's running the show, but…" Hector grimaced.

"Is it some form of mind manipulation?" Karla wondered. "That man's mind is barely here."

The large hulking man, Brendan Reed, walked away. The young girl yelped again, though she reached out as if to stop him. "But, father!"

Sonia scoffed. "Do as you please then, you stupid man!"

"Maybe not entirely gone." Eliwood muttered.

The young girl turned to her mother. "Mother, I…"

Sonia shook her head. "First, business. Jaffar! Come!"

The cloaked man appeared, as if seemingly from mid-air. More likely, he had been there all along, at Sonia's request. Will shivered slightly, Hector's grimace deepening. "Glad we didn't bring Matthew for this one…" He muttered.

"Jaffar!" The young girl yelped in surprise. She seemed to have quite the well of energy. "Should you be up? Don't your wounds hurt?"

"Hurt?" Will whispered. What had Jaffar been hurt from? The Dragon's Gate? No, that seemed unlikely. Then again, Jaffar was the type to not tell anyone if he was injured… wait, how did he know that?

"Must you be so discourteous?" Sonia growled, though they couldn't be sure if she was saying that to Jaffar or the young girl. "It really is quite irritating. You heard the King's request, I presume?"

"Prince Zephiel… the King wants him assassinated." Jaffar said softly.

"WHAT?" Nino shouted, mirroring the silent surprise of those listening in. "The prince? The King wants to kill the prince? But why? He's his son, isn't he?"

"Nino!" Sonia barked. "Be quiet!"

"Ah… I'm sorry." Nino said sheepishly.

"Nino…?" Will muttered softly to himself.

"Jaffar, this mission is yours to take." Sonia explained. "And you're to take Nino."

Jaffar was silent for a moment, blinking in what they could only guess was surprise. "…You're not serious."

"Yes, I am." Sonia replied. "This girl is my daughter. She must prove herself as soon as possible."

"Don't." Jaffar warned. "This is too much for her."

"As long as you're with her, there should be no problem." Sonia smiled sarcastically. "I'll brook no disagreement. We must have the king in our debt. Those are Lord Nergal's explicit orders." Jaffar didn't respond. Sonia took that to mean she had won their little argument. "Nino! You understand the consequences of failure, don't you?"

Nino shivered. "…yes." She said in a small voice.

"Then you're to come with me to investigate the Prince's manse. I'll provide you more details on the way there." Sonia patted Nino on the head. "Kenneth! Jerme!"

Two figures appeared, one garbed in the robes of a priest, and another as an assassin. They both bowed low. "Yes, Lady Sonia?" the priest asked, in a deep voice.

"Where is Brendan? I was going to make this a family outing." Sonia asked.

"He went outside with Jan." Kenneth reported faithfully.

"I wonder what he's on about…" Sonia muttered suspiciously. "I'll deal with it later. Listen, you two are in charge of guarding this place until I return. Do not let anything happen to the item. Understood?"

"I had Jerme place it inside the main throne room." Kenneth said. "There shan't be any errors."

"Bah, I was top dog until that cretin Jaffar showed up." Jerme growled at the superior assassin in his nasally voice.

"Jerme." Sonia warned.

"I know!" Jerme spat, before vanishing into the shadows, no doubt to return to guarding the item.

"We shall guard it with our lives." Kenneth grinned. "Never fear, Lady Sonia."

"It only take a single failure for our plots to fall apart." Sonia muttered. "I shan't tolerate a single piece of trash."

The three left, leaving Kenneth alone to contemplate how best to handle his new free time. After all, with Sonia gone, it meant he didn't have to play second fiddle any longer. And if that was the case, he'd best worm his way above her in Lord Nergal's book. Jerme could waste his time brewing in his own inadequacy. He…

"Do they seriously intend to assassinate the prince?" Eliwood whispered frantically as they made their way back to the infiltration point.

"Aye. On orders from the King, too. Unbelievable." Hector growled angrily.

The Emblem is essential to the prince's ceremony, right? Having the Emblem becomes useless if the prince is dead!" Lyn exclaimed in her whisper.

"We have to stop them." Will muttered. "Nino… If we speak to her, I think she might listen. But Jaffar…"

"He's dangerous." Hector growled. "He's proved that once already. I don't like it, but if talking can avoid a fight against him…"

"Hello… trespassers." The deep voice of the priest caused them to pause. A moment later, he appeared in front of them, using that same teleportation magic that Nergal liked to use. "I bid you welcome. Imagine, the stronghold of a guild of assassins, infiltrated so easily. I suppose the guard is too lax for their own good. I shall remedy that later. Though I do find it quite amusing." He chuckled.

"You're a Holy man, aren't you?" Serra spoke up shakily. "Why would you-"

"Are you referring to my relationship with the 'gods?'" Kenneth's laugh grew in volume and insanity. "Are you still held in thrall of such a concept, little priestess? You've met Lord Nergal, haven't you? Then there is something you must know." He raised his arms. "'Gods' are lies. Creations made by the weakest minds of mankind. If a god truly were to exist, it would by my Lord Nergal. Only him."

"Insane." Will stated.

"So what?" Kenneth replied. "You are still trapped. And now you all shall die. Nothing is more beautiful than the suffering of men. While I watch, afloat in an ocean of bliss… you will suffer. You will suffer for a long, long, time." Kenneth teleported away, the sounds of alarm spreading quickly through the fort.

"Lucky I don't follow instructions, aren't you." A voice behind Will made him jump.

"Matthew!" Will gasped.

"Glad I came to back you all up just in case." Matthew said.

"As am I." Leila said from behind him. "We've got ten fighters here, Lord William."

Will sighed. He tried firing the signal flare, only for the barrier to prevent it from rising above the fort's walls. "I should've expected this."

"We'll make do." Eliwood stated firmly. "We always do."

"We have to move forward as a group." Will said. "If we split, no more than three groups. I don't want anyone to be on their own or with only one person to back them up. I don't know how many forces this madman has at his disposal, but if we kill him our fight is won. Our reinforcements can handle the rest from there."

"Got it." The group said firmly.

"Intruders?" The man said in a hoarse voice. "No matter. I've no time to waste with them. I must gain the trust of the Black Fang and get close to that man. I must avenge the death of Lord Elbert…"

He took up his axe and shield, both battered by several conflicts over the course of the last year, and looked at the nearest guard. To prove himself to these murderous dictators, he must appear a murderous dictator himself. Well then, they would have to die for his ambition.

"Forgive me, nameless ones." He croaked. "No one shall remember your names. For at the end of it all, I too shall be dead."

On the other end of the fort, a lone swordsman lifted his eyes curiously from his slumber. There was something in the air he hadn't felt in a while. It wasn't simply the smell of blood, it was more like… the anticipation before a difficult battle began. It was something he hadn't felt for years. He couldn't remember the last time he had felt it, in fact. "Interesting…" He mused. "Is there a swordsman who can finally give me the battle I've been looking for? The peace…"

He rose, drawing his sword from its sheath. He would find out, one way or another. After all, no one could best him with a sword. Not yet.