If the last chapter seemed anticlimactic, it's because I didn't want to cram everything into one chapter. Please enjoy.
Chapter 6: A Torn Paradise
"Your majesty, the provinces of Klath and Gwor have split away from the rest of the kingdom. A major uprising has broken out in every province south of Arsh, and rioting has broken out in the Capital itself..." A laguz official reported to Caineghis.
Skimir turned to his uncle: "What have our brothers done?"
"It's probably unsafe for Ike and the others to be here... Speak of the devil!" Ranulf gasped to himself when Ike and Lethe burst in, along with their friends.
"Your majesty..." Lyre began.
"I know, the rioting in the streets last night. They started in other neighborhoods, and spread to the area outside your hotel. I apologize..." Caineghis nodded.
"Forgive me, but you don't understand. They kidnapped my sister! They're parading her and Ilyana around the streets, clamoring about some laguz pride issue..." Ike yelled.
"Ike..." Lethe hissed.
"Your majesty, we will have to call upon our friends The Greil Mercenaries for assistance..." Soren spoke.
"... And it seems that you'll need to call upon my Royal Army as well. These people seem to be revolting all across Gallia. Two entire provinces have rebelled and are mobilizing troops against me!" Caingehis growled.
"So it's come to this... We come to a vacation to enter another war. Muarim, it looks like you'll have to stay for us awhile. We won't be able to reunite with Tormod anytime soon..." Soren sighed.
A Gallian messenger quickly ran north towards Crimea, while Ike, his small band of comrades, and the Gallian Royal Army prepared themselves for the inevitable.
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"Zihark! It's so surprising to see that you've come!" Titania greeted the lavender-haired swordsmaster as he entered the Mercenary Fort.
"I need to deliver something to Ike. Is he available?" Zihark asked, his eyes scanning the fortification.
"He went to Gallia a few days ago. We haven't heard from him since." Rhys answered.
"But, anyways, come in! It's great to see old friends." Oscar smiled as he stepped aside to let Zihark tour the fort.
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The next day, the Gallian messenger arrived. Upon hearing the news that Ike needed them, the Greil Mercenaries moved out to Gallia. (1.) By, then, however, all of the southern provinces of Gallia had revolted and came together to create the "nation" known as "True Gallia." Led by the "Genuine Gallian Militia," these rebels rallied behind Tonerk and his men. Apparently, the LPS was split between extremists and those idealists who stood by those ideals of laguz sovereignty. Tonerk, gathering support among the Gallian populace, sent his armies marching towards the capital, a capital that was already being divided between Tonerk's supports and the Gallian loyalists.
Arriving at the capital gates, the Greil Mercenaries found their way barred by the revolutionaries. All around the palace, hundreds of these rebels marched towards Caineghis and his Royal Guards, demanding that Gallia be "Genuine," and that Caineghis, the Cowardly King, surrender to Tonerk and allow Gallia to become a genuine nation. Ike, Ranulf, Muarim, Soren, Lethe, and Lyre found themselves among the bands of Gallian Royal Army troops stationed in the capital and the Gallian Royal Guards. With their comrades beside them, the King's men found themselves in a precarious position indeed. "Why must it come to this? The last thing any of us wants is to kill our laguz siblings, but they have forced us into this position..." Muarim sighed. "No matter what we think, they obviously won't hear us out. We'll have to set things right again. Move Out!" Ike ordered.
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1. This includes Zihark, just to let you know.