One year has passed since that battle, everyone live a peaceful life. But something evil, old and new enemies, try to once again destroy the humanity. The heroes will fight again, this time with new allies and not in Elibe. Friendship and love.

Seth's Madness

Ephraim breathed heavily, the healers treated him and found that arrow contained poison. Many Restore staff already broken and they didn't have antidote for this unknown poison. Tana and Eirika stood beside him with worried expression. Outside that room Eliwood, Hector, Innes, and Reina stood in silent, no one could speak for now. The assassin who knew about the poison already dead, he bitted his tongue and dead after that.

"So...How?", breaking the silence, Reina spoke to Innes. "What will we do?".

"What do you mean?", Innes stood beside her. "Don't ask me.".

"For now, we will wait here. The healers will heal him, we will decide our action after that.", Hector spoke to the female tactician. Eliwood nods

Everyone stay silent. Then, they saw Eirika came from inside, tears flowing from her eyes.

"Thank God. He is fine.", Eirika approached them in relief. "They cure the poison.".

"Really? That's good.", Eliwood smiled.

When they entered the room Ephraim was sleeping, the healers said he must rest so everyone decided to talk about this matter later. Innes and Reina went to somewhere, Hector said he wanted to search Seth to discuss about something, and Tana would stay inside beside Ephraim. Then Eliwood walked alone until he saw Eirika stood in balcony. The sunshine made her white skin look bright and wind played with her blue hair, she was beautiful in his eyes.

"Hey.", Eliwood didn't know what to say so he just greet her.

"Oh Eliwood, I am sorry for not notice you.", she turned around after saw he came.

He stood beside her and saw Renais, a beautiful and green country but also had many traces of war everywhere. They stood together in silence, no one started a conversation until Eirika started to speak.

"I am afraid. I am afraid Ephraim will dead before.", she spoke in low voice.

"Huh? Oh, but he is alright, he just need few hours of sleep and he will be alright.", Eliwood noticed Eirika had sad expression. "Don't worry.".

"I know that. But...", Eirika stopped. "But I just afraid, everyone always left me behind.".

"What do you mean Eirika?", Eliwood didn't understand her words. Eirika looked to him.

"Everyone, my father, my friends, my knights left me, they met their end in war.", she gazed away. "And...the one I loved. That is why I am afraid I will lose Ephraim too".

Eliwood felt pity to the Princess of Renais, he experienced what she does too. He lost his father, many of his friend and soldiers in war against Nergal. And he lost something more precious, the woman he loved and cared about. He lost Ninian.

"His name is Lyon, he is a prince and a childhood friend of mine.", Eirika continued her story. "He is timid but gentle and care, but...he was changed because an incident.".

"I understand Eirika, I experience something similar to yours.", Eliwood closed his eyes.

"Huh? Oh I see. I won't talk more if it hurts you Eliwood.", Eirika saw a sadness in him.

"No, I want to hear more. I can understand your feeling and maybe you can understand mine too. I lose many in war, I can't forget that until now.", Eliwood back to his usual expression, cool and gentle.

"Oh...I understand. War is terrible, but sometimes it is needed. A cruel reality, isn't it?" Eirika looked to the sky.

"Maybe yes.", Eliwood also looked to the sky.

The stayed here silent until Seth and Hector came.

"Princess. Can we talk for a moment?", Seth bowed.

"Sure, excuse me Eliwood.", she walked to Seth. Eliwood nodded.

"Sorry for disturb your date.", Hector walked to Eliwood with weird smile in his face.

"Shut up Hector.", Eliwood sighed. "So? What the matter?".

Hector serious now. "It's look like Renais get ready for a war. But that stupid knight say he won't tell me anything because it's internal matter.", he glanced at Seth.

"I see. And how the other?", Eliwood asked.

"Well...You know. Maybe they think they are in vacation. All couples go for date except Kent and Fiora. Reina go with that Innes and I don't know where Raven is. Farina stayed in my room with Florina.", Hector sighed. Eliwood laughed after hear that.

(-)

"We must arrest them. My soldiers already following their companion and wait for my order now.", Seth spoke to Eirika far from Eliwood and Hector. "I and Kyle can handle those two.".

"We can't do that Seth!", Eirika shouted to the Silver Knight.

"My apology Princess but we must do it. I know you befriend them, but this incident happen after they come here. I can't trust them.", Seth spoke to his Princess.

"I know! But do you have any proof? Neither I nor Ephraim won't do that without good reason.", Eirika stared to the Silver Knight and he still silent.

"I'm sorry for interrupt.", Kent and Fiora walked toward them. Seth and Eirika looked to them.

"I understand you don't trust us, we are stranger after all. But we won't do anything unnecessary.", Fiora talked first.

"It's not good to eavesdropping.", Seth stared to Fiora.

"We don't mean it. And it is you who talk in corridor.", Kent stood before Fiora, protecting her from Seth's stare.

The Silver Knight turned around and bowed to Eirika then left them. Eirika sighed.

No one noticed if someone watched them, and he was waiting until they were separated.

"So he is Seth. Riev is right, I think I can use him.", he said and approached Seth.

"Hello knight.", he spoke to Seth. "I want to talk with you.".

"Who are you?", Seth stopped and asked him.

"Name, huh? People usually call me Foxy.", he answered and chanted a spell to Seth. "SOUL BREAKER"

Suddenly Seth felt something weird in his head, he fell on his knees and screamed in pain. His mind was lost. He couldn't think anything and some feeling raised from his heart. He killed it a long time ago, an honest feeling for his Princess, for Eirika. But he knew Eirika always thought about another man, that Prince of Grado. Since that final battle, he endured it for one year, but he couldn't get rid this feeling until now. He loves Eirika, not as princess or sister, but as woman. He admits it knowing it will hurt himself, he endured it until that man came. A stranger with red hair, he came and suddenly become close with Eirika. He must admit if he felt jealous, the Silver Knight was still a human after all. At last, he lost his mind and fainted.

"It is easier than I think.", Foxy smiled. "I have a job for you, you can have your princess after that.".

(-)

Eirika heard someone screamed, she was sure that was Seth. She ran to the voice and saw Seth, he was with an unfamiliar man but he was fine. She felt relieved and approached him. When walking she could see that man smiled to her, but she felt chill in her back because that smile.

She tried to call Seth. But before she could do that, Seth turned around and punched her in stomach. Soon, she collapsed and lost consciousness.

(-)

Raven sat under a tree, he closed his eyes. He had ability to feel people's presence, and now he felt many people surrounded him in a formation. He opened his eyes and stood up, he unsheathed his sword and looked around.

"Come out!", Raven shouted. He slashed a nearby tree.

Few minutes of silent and then, twelve knights came out from their hideout. They were armed and surrounded Raven. Their leader walked toward Raven, he had a lance in his hand.

"You have a good sense, lad.", he spoke to the silent Raven. "I don't want a fight, just surrender and we will give you a quick death.".

".....", Raven still silent. "It's easy to beat them, but that knights are our ally, aren't it?", he thought.

"Don't do anything unnecessary kid.", the commander warned him. He gives a signal and the knights surrounded him more closely.

"Huh, no one can order me except the one who hire me!", Raven roared and attacked the commander.

Surprised at first, the commander tried to block Raven's slash. CRASH!!! His lance was cut into two pieces, after saw an opening Raven kicked his face with a roundhouse kick. The commander collapsed after that blow. The other knights charged to him, but Raven always fought alone as a mercenary and he used to be surrounded. He defeated them one by one easily, but didn't kill them.

After defeated the last knight, he saw Heath and Priscilla was running to him.

"Raven, what happened!?", Priscilla asked him. "They attacked us too.".

"Raven?", Heath called him. "Do you know what I'm thinking right now?".

Raven nodded and then started running. Priscilla tried to call him but Heath grabbed her shoulder.

"Let him go Priscilla, we must do something else. Our friends is in danger.", Heath spoke to her.

(-)

"Can you explain this to me?", Innes asked Renais soldiers with an angry tone, Reina was hiding in his back.

"I'm sorry Prince Innes. It is General Seth's order to kill this girl.", the commander answered.

"And why???", Reina yelled. "I don't do anything!!!".

"I'm sorry but general tell us to do it no matter what. It's mean if you resist us, we will arrest you Prince Innes.", the commander moved closer.

"...", Innes stayed silent and drew a short sword from his belt. "Then try.".

"Stupid! You're an archer, you can't defeat them in close combat. And they are ten you know???", Reina shouted but Innes moved forward and unsheathed his short sword.

The soldiers surrounded him but....

"SLEEP!!!", someone casted a spell and the soldiers fell one by one.

"What!", the commander saw a girl chanted a Sleep Spell. "Damn! Stop her!".

The soldiers charged to that girl but stopped by another man. He moved very fast and knocked them in instant, and then he stood and protected the girl.

"What are...? Eh...Huh???", the commander wanted to shout but stopped after he saw that Reina also chanted a spell.

"THUNDER!", a thunder came out from her hand and hit the commander, he fainted.

"Reina! Are you alright?", that girl ran toward her.

"I'm fine Nino, that is because you teach me how to use a magic tome.", she smiled. "But I think I am going too far, he fainted in one blow.".

"We're not safe here.", Jaffar approached them. "We must regroup with the other.".

"It's okay but...", Reina looked to Innes. Innes shake his head.

"I will go to search Eirika, I will talk directly to her. You must go for your safety.", he said.

"We will go with you. It's better to stick together Prince Innes.", Reina looked to Jaffar and Nino, after traded glance they nodded.

(-)

"You must be joking!", Hector shouted to Seth.

Few Renais soldiers stood behind Seth and Kyle. Eliwood and Hector were cornered to balcony and they didn't have their weapon.

"I am Seth! I will give you punishment for your crime. You come here to destroy us and pretend to be kind. You're lucky our princess was kind and accept you, but you misused her trust and try to assassinate our king!!! Prepare for your death!", Seth pointed his sword to them.

"Seth...", Eliwood sighed. "Where Eirika? I want to talk to her.".

"Don't call our princess name! She can't face you after you trick her. She feel shameful for bring someone like you here!", Seth shouted.

Kyle couldn't believe his eyes, the Silver Knight didn't act like usual. Today, he was full of anger and hatred to the red haired man. He wasn't calm like usual but acted rashly and ordered his men to execute all Eliwood's companion. Then Kyle looked behind, Kent was lying in a pool of blood and Fiora stood there to protect him. Kyle remember, he heard from his soldiers if they see a knight who could match Seth in battle, but what he saw was Seth defeated Kent in one blow. Now Kent had a big wound in his chest.

"Kent? Are you alright?", Fiora gripped her lance, she fought Renais soldiers to protect Kent.

"Ugh...Y-yes. But I'm surprised, h-he was much strong-er than before.", Kent tried to speak. His right hand gripped a broken sword, his sword was scattered when blocked Seth's slash.

"It's bad, we are in checkmate situation.", Fiora blocked the continuous attack desperately.

In the other side, Seth walked toward the weaponless Eliwood and pointed his sword to Eliwood's neck. In that state, Eliwood was calm although Hector prepared to attack Seth.

"Any last wish?", Seth asked Eliwood.

In that time Hector wanted to jump to Seth, but before he could do that....

"HEAAAAH!!!, Raven jumped from higher place..

In an instant, Raven parried Seth sword's from Eliwood's neck. He attacked Seth furiously but Seth could block all of his attack. Raven's sword never got its target. Seth didn't strike back instead he just blocked all attacks. Raven did a wide slash and Seth blocked it, as the result their sword was locked each other. No one could avert their eyes from a great fight between two skilled fighters. Suddenly, Raven felt chill in his back, he also felt a murderous aura from Seth. Sensed a danger, Raven believed his intuition and jumped behind. But he was late, Seth gave him a blow. Raven success blocked it but he was thrown backwards and crashed to Hector. Everyone surprised, that attack destroyed its surrounding and left a big hole in the ground.

"Wha-What?", Fiora gasped. "That isn't human strength!".

Eliwood picked Raven's sword and pointed it to Seth.

"Come on Seth. Let we settle this.", he said.

(-)

Someone watched that commotion from Eirika's room, he laughed.

"Of course not! With my spell anyone can has a superhuman strength! You will dead if you try to fight him.", Foxy spoke to himself with proud for his power.

Then he looked behind, Eirika slept in bed. Although under a spell, Seth carried her here and placed her in bed. That because his feeling to the Princess was strong.

"Well, this princess is truly beautiful.", he walked towards Eirika. He sat beside her and caressed her hair. "No doubt he has that strong feeling to this beautiful girl.".

"Mmmmn...Ah...", Eirika opened her eyes slowly, she felt pain in her stomach.

"Oh? Do I wake you Princess?", Foxy spoke to the defenseless Eirika. Then he chanted a spell, a magic rope appear and tied her arms.

"What? Who?", Eirika still didn't understand what happen because of her dizziness.

"What luck! In this room is just me and you, I can do anything I want to this beautiful woman.", Foxy laughed. "Now, excuse me Princess, I am not a nice guy but I am gentle to woman.".

He never had a chance to do anything. That because suddenly an arrow pierced his shoulder.

"AARRGH!!!", he shouted in pain.

"Damn I missed. It is hard to aim your head because you are so close to Eirika.", Innes walked inside the room. He aimed his second arrow to Foxy's head.

"Uurgh, the Prince of Freila. How dare you wounded me!!!, Foxy shouted.

"I want to arrest you and interrogate you, but you do something bad to my friend. So, I will kill you here.", Innes fired his arrow after finished his words. "Die, trash.".

"Don't underestimate me!", he blocked Innes' arrow with magic. Before Innes fired his next arrow Foxy chanted a spell. "SOUL BREAKER!!!".

Innes felt his head almost explode, a magic attacked his mind. He screamed in pain and fell to the ground. Then he remembered, his match with Ephraim, his countless matches with his rival. He never liked defeat, he never surrendered and always tried to best his rival. But, he must admit a fact. Ephraim was always one step above him no matter how hard he tried and practiced, there was a limit for him. Many emotions rose to his brain and once again he screamed because of the great pain. His mind wasn't lost for now, but it was just a matter of time.

"Hah! I will get one more puppet .But I think I will kill you because you disturb me in my good moment.", Foxy raised his hand and a thunderbolt appeared from his hand. "Bye bye loser.".

The thunderbolt had enough magic energy to blow Innes body to pieces. And Foxy threw it straight to the Frelia Prince.

"Look out!", Reina pushed Innes, the thunderbolt almost hit him and hit the wall instead.

"Oh! An another guest.", Foxy walked toward Reina, he had a fireball in his left hand.

Suddenly a shadow appeared behind him, Jaffar held a Killing Edge and slashed Foxy without mercy. But....His body disappeared and just left his robe and a doll. Jaffar was confused and looked to Nino who stood beside the door.

"What the meaning of this?", Jaffar muttered to himself.

"Oh, you kill me buddy. But it is just my doll, you must try harder if you want my real body.", suddenly the doll spoke to Jaffar. "Next time it won't be this easy.".

Jaffar surprised but he regained his calm and then stabbed the doll.

(-)

Suddenly, Seth collapsed. Everyone surprised, the Renais knights ran beside him to protect him. But Eliwood didn't do anything, that because he wouldn't attack someone who unconscious. Kyle walked to Seth body and checked his condition. Then he stood and faced Eliwood.

"I am Kyle. I will fight you as General Seth replacement.", he said.

"We must fight? Can't we solve it peacefully.", Eliwood lowered his sword.

"I'm sorry, I just follow General's order.", Kyle unsheathed his sword.

Suddenly Heath came with his wyvern, beside him was Priscilla, Rath and Lyn. The two Pegasus Sisters, Florina and Farian flied behind him. The flied close enough and then Lyn and Rath jumped from the wyvern. They landed and stood after Eliwood. Florina and Farina landed near Fiora.

"Florina, Farina, we will show them the strength of Three Pegasus Sisters.", Fiora spoke to her sisters and they nodded. Actually Florina was worried about Hector.

"I'm your opponent.", Rath faced Kyle with a sword in his hand.

"Eliwood! Hector! Catch this!", Lyn threw Armads and Durandal to them and then unsheathed her Sol Katti.

The situation was dire, they were ready to kill each other. Until.....

"Stop it! Stop it you all!", Tana came from inside castle and ordered all Renais soldiers to stop.

"Queen Tana. She come in the right time.", Hector lowered his Armads.

(------------)

It is taking too long again, that is because my stupid exam. -_-

The magic SOUL BREAKER is my own creation, that is Foxy's magic.