Author's Note: I just saw the fire emblem direct today. I'm actually pretty happy to finally get a chance to officially play Fire Emblem Gaiden. If I had ever gone back to find a rom and/or translation patch for it, I get the feeling I wouldn't give the game a fair shake due to my love of the style the gba and 3ds games have had. Not only that, but I love support conversations and I get the feeling this remake might not have them. Which makes me sad-ish. But like I said, I'll give it a fair shake in may.

Fire Emblem Warriors… still exists? They showed literally nothing about it. They could have left this in the switch presentation with the extra 10 seconds and that would've been fine. No others characters shown, no details about the story or gameplay specializations, nothing. I be sad. It'll probably still be a good game though.

A Fire Emblem Game in the works for switch, which is cool. Yuri Lowenthal as the narrator, that was fun. Oh, and Fire Emblem Heroes.

Sigh… it's alright, I didn't need to eat next month when it releases. I could lose all my weight.

As always, please review if you have the time. I'd really appreciate it.

Chapter 82: Battle Before Dawn

I wonder why people change. I don't feel as if I've ever changed. As long as I've been alive, it was always myself alone. I fought. Or I died. So I fought. For years I fought.

And then that man came to me. Gave me work. Paid me well. I could eat. I could sleep. One eye could rest it's never ending vigil against the reaper. Yet… no one else was satisfied.

Mark wanted something. Will wanted something. Nino wants many things. I…

What do I want?"

"The Prince's room… I guess this is the door then." Nino muttered in the darkness, holding her fire tome close as she inched forward. Silently, Jaffar followed behind her. "General Murdock should be away."

"Sonia confirms the General was called by the King to perform some kind of errand for him. That should keep him away from Zephiel's side." Jaffar replied softly.

Nino glanced at Jaffar. That was the most he had spoken to her in a while. She usually had to pry details from him inch by inch. Was it because she was on a mission with him that he was being more open? It made her a little happy. "There aren't any guards around either… this is an easy job." Nino reached for the doorknob, but something stopped her. "Isn't it?" She glanced at Jaffar again, before looking hard at the doorknob. Her hand was shaking. "I… I can do this. This is my first mission, you know? It's normal to be nervous, right?" She shook her head. "Concentrate, Nino! You can't fail! You can't let Mother down!"

"I…" Jaffar faltered. Something was compelling him to speak. He never felt compelled like this. But for some reason, he had to. "I've no desire to be part of your blundering. If you fail, I will finish the mission and then you. Without hesitation."

"What?" Nino asked, genuinely sounding terrified. She looked back at Jaffar, her eyes incomprehensible.

"Don't be so naïve as to expect help from 'friends.'" Jaffar said softly. "Remember that."

"I…" Nino trailed off. She turned away, her eyes fixing on the doorknob once again. "I knew that. You didn't have to… I'm a member of the Black fang, after all! Hah! Ha…" Nino quietly pinched herself, trying to will the shivers away. "I won't fail." She muttered. "I will become worthy… I will. Mother will be proud of me. She will see the daughter I've become, then she'll love me… There's no guards. It's just like we were told." She reached for the door, but a sound from inside the room stopped her.

Without realizing it himself, Jaffar stepped in front of Nino. Quickly he put a hand to his lip to motion her to be silent, before lowering himself to the keyhole. Inside, there was only a single light. A young man was kneeling next to his bed, eyes closed and hands clasped. "Prayer, is it?" he whispered. "Perfect timing."

He would have reached for the door, but Nino's hand on his shoulder stopped him. The Prince, unaware, began his prayer. "I offer this prayer unto thee, St. Elimine. My coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow. As the Prince of Bern I've tried…" he trailed off for a moment, stopping a tear from forming in his eyes. "I've tried my best not to be an embarrassment to my father. I know I've not met with his expectations. But I will try harder. I will please him. I vow to do better. For myself and him." The prince paused again, seeming to catch himself from becoming too passionate in his prayer. "Hear me: Tomorrow I will be a man. So this is my last wish as a foolish child. It's the same one I've asked of you every night for all these years, but… Please, bring father and mother together again. Please, let the day come when Guinivere and I and her mother… when all of us can live together happily in the castle." The Prince's prayer finished, and he began to rise to put out the light next to his bed.

"It's time." Jaffar said decisively. Within a moment the door was open, and before Nino could open her mouth Jaffar was more than halfway inside, his hands raised. As the Prince turned at the creaking of the door, Jaffar smacked him in the throat, followed quickly with a blow to the back of his head. The prince instantly slumped over onto the floor. It was only then that Jaffar realized he may have made this too easy for Nino. How would he finish the mission Sonia had given him if she succeeded easily? Would that mission even be necessary? Was there truly no room for Nino in Sonia's heart? Jaffar paused. Something was wrong. Something was wrong with him. He needed to stop. "That will leave him unconscious for some time. Now, the time has come for you to do your part." Nino tottered into the room, her spellbook trembling in her arms. No, her entire body was trembling.

Nino looked at Jaffar, then to the Prince. For a moment, she raised her tome, taking in a deep breath. When she was done, she dropped her tome to the ground. The resounding 'Thump' was much more noise than Jaffar ever would've wanted made. "I can't."

There are far worse things than facing the reaper's scythe. You'll find that out for yourself soon, surely. Why were those words haunting him now? There wasn't enough time for philosophical debates or discussions! That noise would wake any guards still within the walls! "Do it!" He hissed.

"All he wants is his parents' love." Nino said sadly. "To be accepted… That's all… He's… he's just like me!" Nino's face began to sour, as tears formed in her eyes. "No matter how hard I try, mother always looks at me as if I were nothing! Her eyes… they're always filled with disappointment. She's never held me… not even once."

"Stop this foolishness!" Jaffar's voice, so calm and composed, broke through its whisper as the silence continued to break down around him. "I told you I would not allow you to ruin my opportunity!"

"I know." Nino sniffed sadly. "Do as you must, Jaffar. I won't resist. You can do it easily. But please… don't hurt the prince." She pointed to the unconscious boy. "For pity's sake…"

Something broke. Jaffar couldn't understand. Why, when she was so determined to win her mother's love, would she willingly sacrifice her life to request a stranger to spare him? Had that little prayer touched her so much? No… she had never had it in her in the first place. He knew that. He had only wanted to pretend… pretend what? That those who shone so brightly would dwell with him? He had only done what he needed to survive, yet the weight that felt like it never left his shoulders… it seemed so much lighter on those who followed their strange ideas. Mark, as twisted as he was, laughed and enjoyed his time in the dark. Will, who never fit with the fang, fought his way from the Dread Isle, only to return to fight Nergal himself. Nino, this shy innocent girl who only wanted the love of her mother… and she would never get it. Somehow, she knew that. Even if she carried out the mission, she knew Sonia would not look her way, and that was… So tragic. And beautiful.

"I'm ready." Nino said softly, spreading her arms.

Jaffar reached down, picking up the tome that had destroyed his world. No, perhaps it had been cracked long ago. It was why the marquis' words stuck to him no matter how hard he tried to forget. He has always feared the reaper for himself. But here, standing in front of him, was a girl embracing that same reaper. He couldn't let death have her. It didn't deserve her. "Come." He said quickly, grabbing her arm. "We're leaving. Quickly."

"Jaffar?" Nino asked, confused as the man pulled her from the Prince's room, leaving the boy unconscious inside.

"We must get out of the castle before Sonia's back-up arrives." Jaffar said. "If I know that woman, she'll… damn." He pushed Nino into the shadows. "Stay here." He said through gritted teeth.

"Ah, is that you, Jaffar?" The strained voice of the lady mage-general said from the darkness.

"Ursula." Jaffar said curtly, trying to remember how he spoke to those of the fang.

"Oh, so you did know my name." Ursula chuckled. "Funny, it's the first time you've said it. Finished already, I presume? Such magnificent skills with the blade… it's no wonder they call you the Angel of Death. Sonia told me to keep an eye on you, but it appears her fears were groundless."

"It's not Jaffar's fault!" Nino piped up suddenly. "It was me! The Prince… I couldn't…"

"Nino!" Jaffar shouted.

"What's this?" Ursula's eyebrow rose. "Why is this girl still alive?"

"What?" Nino yelped, looking quickly between Jaffar and Ursula. Jaffar said nothing.

"You received Lady Sonia's orders, didn't you?" Ursula pursed her lips. "You were to dispose of this worthless little-"

She paused. Her morph companion had found his body in front of her own, which was fortunate as one of Jaffar's daggers was now firmly implanted in its head. "Hold your tongue." Jaffar muttered darkly. "You will not speak another word."

Well, that was far from true. "So that's how it is? Even the tauted Angel of Death will betray Lord Nergal in the end?"

"I will not let Nino die." Jaffar said firmly. "Get in my way, and I'll kill you."

"Jaffar…" Nino cried softly.

"So you have some human emotion in you after all." Ursula's smirk grew into a full blown grin. "Hah! I always found you too much like these creepy morphs for my liking. I bet you didn't kill the prince, either… Maxime!"

From behind her emerged a human companion, one of the few with the eerie golden eyes. "I'm here."

"Take your men and douse the remaining lights." Ursula commanded. "Then I want you to block all the entrances. Your targets are Prince Zephiel and the two traitors. Finish this before we draw attention to ourselves. Understood?"

"But milady-"

"Go. Even you and I together are not enough to stop his blade." Ursula reprimanded.

Maxime shot a glare at Jaffar, who kept himself in front of Nino. Ursula and Maxime turned and quickly rode away. With little time, Jaffar turned to Nino. "Go. I'll buy you time."

"No!" Nino shouted quickly. "You're coming with me!"

Jaffar looked at the little girl, the one who may not have even realized how important she truly was. "Nino… you must live. You are worthy of living." He glared into the shadows, where his enemies now awaited. Without waiting for Nino's response, he entered them once more.

"No! Wait!" Nino called into the darkness, clutching her fire tome to herself. "Don't go! Jaffar!" Sadly, Nino looked on into the darkness. She was alone.

Inside the Prince's room, the young man slowly found himself returning to consciousness. "Oww…" he clutched his neck in pain. Pain… so he was still alive, after all. Father would be disappointed again. "My room…" He looked around. Had someone come to his rescue? That seemed unlikely, since he was still alone. "The man in black… he's gone. What's going on?" Suddenly, The Prince perked up. There was something in the air that wasn't natural. More so than before. "Ten… Twenty… I have to get away… No, that's wrong. That's not the way. If I run, they'll simply follow and surround me. Isn't that right, Murdock?" He smiled slightly, reaching under his bed for the short sword he kept nearby. He drew the sword, looking upon the shining blade. "I shall wait and face them here."

"We've arrived." Eliwood stated to the rest of the group. Though tired, they had marched without rest until they arrived. They could only hope they were in time.

Before they had time to gather their bearings Wil let up a small gasp before quickly notching an arrow and firing it into the grounds. A strained cry sounded as a man on horseback, dropped, having just doused the torch leading inside the manse. "Have they been dousing lights? Why would they do that?"

"To prevent anyone's face from being seen." Will growled. "It's the Black Fang."

A scream sounded from inside, followed by deadly silence. "Is that fighting?" Lyn asked, slightly taken aback.

"Dunno, don't care." Hector growled. "If they're fighting, we need to be in there. We may still be able to save the prince!"

"Yes. We will protect the Prince." Eliwood declared. "No matter what."

"Not you two." Will said suddenly. "Them." He pointed to Marcus, Wil, Lowen, Rebecca, Isadora, Harken, Priscilla, Erk, Raven, Lucius, Kent, Sain, Rath and Hawkeye. "I need you horseman to charge the gates. Lucius, you're going to be their source of light with the Lightning spell, but I want Erk to take this and use it as a backup."

He tossed a rod to Erk, who looked at it in confusion. "A rod?"

"A torch staff, to be specific." Will explained. "You should be able to use it to create magical lights inside of the castle. If they have back-up, the easiest way to spot them or scare them off is going to be with this."

"Why not have Priscilla use it?" Erk asked.

"And have her healing tied up with the staff?" Will shook his head. "If the Prince needs any sort of healing, Priscilla is the best one to handle it."

"Understood." Erk nodded calmly.

"As for the rest of us…" Will turned to the group. "I want Guy, Karla and Bartre to remain here to guard our supplies and Merlinus. Nils, Serra, Matthew and Leila are to remain on standby. I need one of you available to relay messages to each group. And Serra is too exhausted to keep up."

"How rude!" Serra stomped her foot in annoyance. "I'll have you know I can-"

"I'm not risking it." Will cut her off unceremoniouisly. "As it is Eliwood, Hector, Lyn and I shouldn't be fighting. But we'll be too shorthanded otherwise, so I'm having us back-up group two."

"Group two?" Lyn asked.

"Florina and Ninian, Fiora and Legault, Farina and Dart. You're our scouts. Most specifically Legault."

"I'm honored." The thief said with a slight bow.

"Our main fighting force is Geitz, Karel, Pent, Louise, Dorcas, Oswin, Canas and Heath. Can your Wyvern remain silent in the halls?" Will looked to Heath.

"Duessel will be fine." Heath said. "Please allow me to fight."

"Alright, that's the plan." Will said. "Group A will find and protect the prince. Group B will take the other door, and take down anything in our way. If by some chance we find the prince instead, we'll relay the message through our meeting point outside."

"We'll be ready." Leila said. "Be safe, everyone."

"Move out!" Eliwood called.

"Right!"

Kent and Sain took point right after Marcus reared his horse into a frenzy, kicking down the castle door with a mighty neigh. The enemies just inside were caught off guard, giving the two the moment they needed. Kent's lance twirled as it quickly disarmed two swordsmen, Sain following from behind and finishing them with a stab of his lance as well. In his other hand, Sain was wielding a sword, which he quickly used as he leapt from his horse to block an axe user from throwing the dangerous looking hand axe. His momentum overpowered the larger man, knocking him to the ground where Sain quickly finished the job.

Raven was next, parrying a sword blow from a man with a shield and forcing him back. "Go! He's mine!" He shouted. Very quickly the rest of the group passed him by, Kent and Sain bringing up the rear. Raven rolled his shoulders experimentally, grimacing in pain. "You're a strong one, aren't you. My arms already numb from parrying that attack."

The shield user stood, but the golden glow of his eyes told Raven all he needed to know. "There you are then… morph."

Raven charged, sliding under the morph's sword swing and slashing at the monster's chest. His sword scraped against the armor, but without his feet planted he didn't have the power to penetrate. He quickly rolled as the morph slammed its shield onto the ground, missing him by mere inches and ruining the tiled floor. Reaching for his back, Raven grabbed an axe with his injured arm. He had been practicing on and off since the dread Island, but he knew he wasn't ready to use it. He only needed it for one thing. The morph's demeanor didn't change. So, they faced all enemies the same, whether or not new weapons were brought into play? That seemed like a major flaw. The fact that they had no emotions… that was their downfall. The morph's sword swung again, and Raven dodged it with a nice backstep. Quickly, he stepped back in while gripping the axe with both hands, dropping his sword to the ground. There was a sharp clang as it did so, and the morph looked towards it for a moment. So, they reacted to sound then? These things didn't make a lick of sense.

"I'll take that shield of yours." Raven declared, the axe sinking into the morph's shield arm, before the sheer force behind his attack cleaved straight through. The arm, still firmly attached to the shield, fell to the ground. His momentary victory was belied by the morph head butting him. He fell to the ground, writhing in pain as he felt blood dripping from his forehead. He was lucky his skull hadn't caved in. "These things don't even need weapons!" He shouted painfully.

The morph closed in, raising its blade to strike. Before it could Raven kicked out, shattering the Morph's kneecap with his heavily armored toe. The morph collapsed onto the ground as well, but not even a sound emitted from it. Raven coughed painfully, before grabbing his sword from nearby. The axe lay nearby, but the armor the morph had on its arm had managed to crack it.

"So much for axes." Raven scoffed. He staggered over to the morph, and unceremoniously slammed his sword into the monster's chest. Slowly, the golden light faded from its eyes. Raven sighed in relief, before collapsing on the ground.

"Geez, already so injured so close to camp? You really do play the daredevil." The voice of someone Raven recognized whistled from nearby.

"Shut up, Matthew." Raven growled. "At least I killed the thing."

"I'm not saying you didn't!" Matthew exclaimed. "Just glad you aren't dead too. Now come on, let me bring you back to Serra."

"Grab that shield." Raven grunted, pointing to the Morph's protector. "I kept it intact for a reason. Consider it my pay for fighting that thing."

'Hah, claiming your spoils?" Matthew chuckled. "Well, I suppose I should give in. Lord Hector would probably say it's rightfully yours anyway."

Raven scowled as he staggered past Matthew. "Good."

Matthew winced. "Perhaps mentioning Lord Hector wasn't the best move, Matthew my boy. Ah well, I'll grab this up and head back, I suppose."

"There's enemies right here!" Legault declared as he dodged an axe after heading just up the stairs.

"We can see that!" Dart roared angrily. He locked his axe with another combatant.

"On your left!" A woman shouted. Dart quickly moved aside just as farina's lance came rushing in with a ruffle of feathers. The man fell dead in an instant. "Nice work, partner!"

"I ain't no one's partner!" Dart returned.

"Aw come on, no secrets between buddies!" Farina chuckled, placing her arm around the irate pirate. "Speaking of which, how much are they paying you?"

"What?" Dart seemed taken aback. "You crazy, woman? I ain't being paid a single dubloon!"

"You serious?" farina seemed even more taken aback than the pirate. "Wow… you're like… the stupidest pirate ever."

"Watch that mouth of yours, lassie, before I turn it sideways!" dart roared, but farina was already walking away, muttering to herself.

"So wait, my twenty-thousand gold really is the highest wage here?" She seemed bemused. "Well, I am worth it, after all. The finest mercenary money can buy."

"Twenty-thousand?" Dart, who had followed her (he was, after all, supposed to remain with her and her Pegasus per temporary captain's orders) scoffed. "You put your life on the line for that chump change? Man oh man… some people really are stupid for cash."

Farina rolled her hands into a fist. She could probably punch him right now… but no, they were in battle. Poor manners and all that. "Well then, what are you here for?"

"I got big dreams, missy." Dart declared. "I'm here for me."

"Hah, a man without two coppers to rub together, talking about dreams." Farina spat. 'Let me know how starving to death feels, alright?"

Dart growled. "I ain't starving or nothing! You'll see!"

Legault sighed as the other axeman fell after a swift cut to the throat. He really wished they had helped him instead of arguing. He wouldn't have to put in the effort if those two fought seriously.

Once again, Kent and Sain took point. They each took on a swordsman while Wil fired an arrow into the enemy archer before they had a chance to draw. He was lucky he had that arrow ready while waiting on Lowen's horse. Lucius meanwhile, threw up a shine spell which blinded the mage among them, allowing Marcus to charge in and finish the enemy with a swift strike.

Hawkeye leapt from Marcus's mighty steed and brought his ridiculously huge axe down upon the knight. The knight's lance had been positioned to attack Marcus, but the hefty armor prevented him from moving to counter Hawkeye's attack.

Another morph stood nearby with a mage and swordman. They began to approach, but Harken and Isadora quickly took point with Lowen. "We'll handle this." Isadora stated. "Please, continue on without us for the time being."

Marcus nodded. "Follow me!"

Lowen and Harken engaged the swordsman and mage respectively, leaving the morph for Isadora. Though she knew they would make quick work and join her, Isadora had something she wanted to prove to herself. Raising her Silver Lance and Silver Sword, she reared into battle.

This morph tried to use its shield first, raising it to defend itself. Isadora's horse used its hooves to smash into the shield, knocking the shield back. This allowed Isadora to stab forward with her lance. The morph, however, quickly parried with its sword. As it jumped away, Isadora closed the distance instantly with her horse, not wanting to give the monster a moment to breathe. Her sword came down, blocked by the shield. Her horse leapt back as the morph swung its blade, before her lance struck out, this time landing a blow on the morph's arm. The gash seemed to injure it, causing it to retreat slightly and raise its shield again.

Isadora's lance struck again, bouncing off the shield. Her horse was next, its hooves smashing into the shield. This time, the morph did not budge. She tried to angle her sword around it, but the morph predicted it. Behind the shield, she could see the morph glaring at her with golden eyes, as it's injured arm prepared an elixir.

The next moment, the morph sputtered as an axe lodged itself in its back. Cursing herself, Isadora quickly finished the job. She looked over o harken, standing over the corpse of his fallen foe, without an axe in hand. She glanced also at Lowen, who appeared to have only just defeated the swordsman. "Come on, we need to rejoin the group." She said calmly. It was not the time to let her emotions get the best of her.

Nino could hear it. She could hear the sounds of fighting nearby. It seems like the guards had come. What would happen if they found her? No, no she couldn't think about that, not now. She needed to save the Prince. She had to. It was the right thing to do. Somehow… she knew she had to. As she tentatively stepped towards the sounds, she saw an amazing sight.

A large man with an axe was knocking away a different axeman. His blue hair flopped about funnily as he threw the axe, ending the attacker's life. A red-haired boy (Well, maybe he was a man, but he certainly didn't look that much older than her) had just finished off a different axeman, and stood gallantly next to a man in a green cloak, who was firing a light spell at a mage. The mage dodged easily, but a woman with a long green ponytail appeared from the shadows, defeating the mage with a single swipe.

As she stood in awe, a Pegasus landed next to her. She yelped, but was quickly grabbed by the short blue haired rider. "Lord Eliwood, I've captured someone. It looks like a young girl."

"A girl?" Eliwood asked. He looked Nino up and down momentarily. Nino stayed silent, hoping they wouldn't decide to kill her. "I don't think she's involved in this attack."

"Lord Eliwood, I could take her back to the others." A girl in strange garments said to the prince. She was beautiful, with long flowing locks and a sash type thing that fluttered in the breeze. Nino wanted one.

"Yes, perhaps that would be for the best." The man in the green cloak said. "Should Florina escort you back?"

"We should be fine, the way is clear." The dancer said softly. "Thank you for your concern."

Nino's eyes were stuck on the green cloaked man. Something about him seemed familiar. Something… "Will?"

The man looked surprise, eyeing her with some amount of interest. "I am."

"Will…" Nino's eyes began to water. "Jaffar told me… they all said… I never thought we'd meet again."

"Jaffar?" Will replied. "He's here?"

"Yes!" Nino said quickly. "He's protecting me and the Prince from… from mother's forces. Please, you have to save him! You have to let me save him!"

"No." Will said, suddenly. "We can't do that."

"Why?" Nino asked. "Why not?"

"Because… We can't trust you. Not yet." Will said. "Ninian, if you please."

"Now hang on Will." Eliwood said sternly. "Even if she's of the Fang, the words you're using-"

"It's me!" Nino cried. "It's Nino!"

Will looked at her, and in his eyes she saw a deep sadness. "I'm sorry." He said, his voice falling silent. "I don't remember you."