A/N:

Ah, you didn't have to wait half a year for a new chapter this time! Haha. I'm still sorry about that. Anywho, Comcast internet sucks and is patchy as hell, so while I was waiting for the internet to come back, I thought I could do some writing! Yay! Also, I listened to the Awakening OST. I mean, I love Fates and all, but Awakening has the far superior soundtrack of the 3DS games. Anyway, back to main chapter stuff. This one is pretty good, I think. Keeps the plot moving, and hey, no more nameless bandits. It's usually around this time that the games switch things up, yeah? Also, we meet a new character. I won't tell you who yet! Just read to find out. I will tell you Iris already knows this character. So. Sit back for some R&R. And most importantly, ENJOY! Word Count (1,882)


"Home." Iris commented, as the palace she was born in, raised in, stood out over the city below.

Celeste had to catch her breath at the sight. "In all my years, I never thought I'd be this close to the Archanean capital."

"I wouldn't get too excited if I were you, mage." Interjected Kaiser. "People here aren't too fond of people like us."

At that comment, the young woman stared downward. He was right. He was a thief, she practiced dark magic. Who could possibly accept her? She knew Iris would protect her, but what about when the princess wasn't around?

"Don't let that old fart get you down, Celeste." Iris burst in. "The knights and I are here for you."

Yes, the young mage got along quite well with the crimson and verdant knights, as… strange as they could be. Their newest addition was a bit of a different story though. He was loyal to his god and princess first and foremost. That included any of the princess' allies. "I suppose."

The hunter took a moment to process the earlier statement though. "If I'm old, then that woman is ancient!" He said, earning a scowl from Diana.

"My lady," the halberdier spoke up. "We still need to inform Queen Aveline of… recent events."

Well, with the way she said "recent", Iris knew she was talking about the whole cathedral incident, not just the news of her brother. "Right…"


Millenial Palace. It was a truly magnificent structure, having withstood the tests of time, the turmoil of many wars, serving as the Seat of Archanea since its founding. To think of how many kings and queens ruled here was awe-inspiring. At least in Iris' mind. A mind that was always set on her bloodline and stories instead of her own accomplishments which were few and far between, compared to her brother.

The meeting with the queen was not set in the throne room this time. No, it was late at night when the group arrived, and at their arrival, many pardons had to be made for the three unfamiliar with palace customs. Diana made sure to keep them close, as per the orders of their young princess.

They met in the halls, close by the library. Unusual, yes, but Iris always had a talent for finding others. Especially her mother.

The woman was at a desk, studying a piece of parchment as orbs of light hovered around her workspace. Usually held in a loose braid, the woman's locks of navy hair tumbled down her shoulders this evening. Sapphire eyes fixed on the document in front of her as delicate fingers adjusted the half-rim glasses which sat upon her petite nose. Those eyes looked up at the creak of a door, and thuds of footsteps before her. "Iris."

The princess wrung her hands as she faced her mother. The way she called her name was not an endearing one. More like a prelude to a long lecture. "Yes, mother?"

"Diana."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Iris watched as the guard led the group away. "I… thought you might want to know whom I met on my travels?"

The queen raised her hand, taking a moment to adjust her glasses once more, before retrieving another seat for her daughter. "While I would love to meet your companions, we have more pressing issues to discuss." There was that tone again. How Iris hated that tone. "Are you aware your guard sent a letter ahead of your arrival?"

"No, I… wasn't."

"Pity," the queen said, looking down at the parchment before her. "And here I thought you could handle such a simple task."

"Simple?" Iris burst out. "Mother, you have no idea how many setbacks we had on that mission-"

"Oh, I am well aware of your setbacks, dear." Picking up the letter, Aveline handed it over to her daughter. "That woman has served this family well, and she included everything. Including… your little breakdowns."

"I…"

"Iris, you're sixteen years old. When will you learn to act your age?"

The girl's eyes closed. The only feature she shared with her mother. "Mother, I try."

"There is no try, dear. Do. You are Princess of Archanea, Scion to the Hero's Blood. You must set an example for the people." The queen paused, taking a moment to gauge her daughter's reaction. "I won't be around forever, dear. Harold is a wonderful young man, but you can't rely on him for everything. And with the way events are unfolding…" She looked out the window, it was obvious there was more she was keeping from her youngest child.

"Mother?"

The queen gently placed a hand to her daughter's cheek. "My dear, sweet little Iris," Aveline pulled away once more. "I know you think I'm harsh on you, but I only want what's best for you." Sigh. "Sometimes I wonder where I went wrong. But enough of that."

Iris got up from her seat, "So…"

Aveline chuckled, so much sweeter than that stern tone she had taken with her daughter earlier. "You're dismissed. Tomorrow, I'd like to hear more about your companions."

"Thank you, mother." As Iris left, there was a grin reaching ear to ear. But she couldn't grow too complacent. She still had to keep her mother's words and act more her age. Something hard to do, when she always felt so overshadowed by her older brother.


"We have the prince, why don't we strike now?"

A robed figure sat upon a throne in an ebon room. "Patience."

"You've been waiting for this moment longer than I have, master, why?"

"The board is not yet set. To strike now would be to lose all we have left.

"They will come to us."


"Your mother certainly is… interesting." Celeste stated as the two walked the market streets of the capital city.

"Yes, that's certainly one way to describe her." Iris chuckled. "I would use intense, personally."

The comment elicited a giggle out of the dark mage. Something Iris thought she would never hear. "You know you have quite the cute laugh. Why don't you do it more often?"

"Oh, that…" Celeste quieted, turning her gaze off to the side. "I, um…" Her cheeks painted red, only made worse once the dual cavaliers approached the two ladies.

"My, my," started the verdant knight as he approached. "What could these two young women be doing out on the streets all alone?"

"Ain't it obvious, Algar?!" Called out his crimson companion, following close behind. "Women, market, shopping. Two and two 'ere!"

Algar sighed. Of course Rufus would ruin a moment. "Yes, I know."

Iris was caught up laughing at the whole situation, leaving her mage friend as red as Rufus' armor. "I could ask you the same question."

"Kaiser found something and wanted us to find you."

"And when did you start taking orders from Kaiser?" Iris posed. "I thought I was your commander?"

Algar adjusted a loose strap on his breastplate. "Yes, my lady, but something important has come up."

Iris noticed this, and thought of how out of place the armor was here. "Where?"

\

The area they headed through was cordoned off. Only city garrison and watch remained. Whatever happened, it wasn't pleasant.

"Iris, there you are!" Called out the hunter.

As their princess was noticed, all regular troops bowed calling out titles and everything else Iris didn't want to be caught up in.

"Okay, okay, get out of here you lot!" Kaiser demanded, earning apologies from many of the soldiers. "I hate regulars." He thought aloud.

"Kaiser, what's happened here?"

"Well…" The man reached a hand up to rub the back of his neck, glancing around at the company they held with them. "C'mon, Princess."

The scene he led them to was rather gruesome. Something much too horrifying for words. "What… happened here?" Iris gasped.

"No one has any idea." The hunter explained. Looking around once more, but finding no one else but the princess' ragtag group of knights. "It's definitely not a regular murder, we know that much."

"I know what it is." Celeste mentioned, drawing the attention of the others.

"Well?" Whatever this was, even as horrible as it was, Iris wanted to know what could possibly cause something like it.

"It's… the kind of magic I practice."

"Dark magic." Algar commented.

Celeste flinched at that phrase. She never liked the sound of it, but it was something she practiced her entire life. "Look at those markings. That's not caused by anima spells. There was… someone else here."

A chilling screech sounded from the city guards. "C'mon!" Iris shouted, running out ahead of the others. She was met with the sight of innocent guardsmen already dead, and others held captive by strange people garbed in dark robes.

"My, my, look what we have here." One of them, clearly the leader, spoke up. There wasn't much to distinguish him from the others but the golden pendant around his neck.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Iris demanded, looking around as the others laughed.

"Oh, how rude. You'll know who we are soon enough."

Iris drew her rapier, never one to leave it behind. One by one, all others did the same. "Tell me who you are, and…" As much as she wanted to rush into this, she had a promise to keep. The princess bit her lip. "We'll let you go free."

Her friends looked at each other, she was crazy. "Iris, if you let them go, they'll just keep murdering more innocents." Kaiser spoke up.

"He's right, you know." The man with the pendant said.

Iris tightened up. What was this man getting at? "Then… in the name of the Hero's Bloodline, I sentence thee to death." Well, that was certainly a phrase she never got to use.

All he did was laugh.

The princess rushed forward. This wasn't the style of combat she was used to. So much magic, but these men could not get away with these vile deeds. True, if it was just her and Diana, they would've stood no chance, but things had changed. They had Celeste, Kaiser, and Abner now, and Iris trusted each and every one of them.

But that man didn't seem human. The way he moved and flung spells. He was, for sure, for when Iris came face to face with the man, she saw what he truly was. Warped by the curses he wove. "I hope you had a good look, Princess. For it will be your last!" What he didn't expect was Iris' own movements. How much she had grown since she left on that simple little mission only a few weeks ago. Her sword pierced his left lung, but she could only look down at the man in sorrow for what he had become. "As long as there is darkness, in the hearts of men…" He slipped away, leaving Archanea's princess to ponder his final words.

"I think we should tell your mother about this." Kaiser said, bringing Iris out of her dark thoughts.

"Agreed."


"The party failed their mission, my lord!"

The dark one did not speak at first, but a satisfied grin kept itself locked on his features. "No, they haven't."

"But they're all dead, even-"

"He performed exactly as ordered."


A/N:

Dun dun dun!

And yay, we meet Iris' mom! I know I choose some non-traditional names for this story, but a lot of FE games have older names. Yeah, Aveline's a bit of an old fashioned one, and no, it's not from the same root as Evelyn, even though they look similar. But I think it's kinda funny, when I first came up with these characters, Aveline was supposed to more resemble Elice while Iris resembled Shiida. Obviously I changed Avie's design though, heh. Also I'm still mad that Fates has a character named Harold (Arthur's JPN name) after I already named my own character that name! Er... sorry XD

And this fic is still T rated so use your imagination for that horror scene they found. And no, I'm not gonna go into full detail for the battles, cause even though I'm trying to keep this traditional FE and have a battle every chapter, writing them all out each time gets old. So I'll probably keep some of them briefer than others.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed the read. Leave a review, follow, favorite. Yada yada.

As always, this is your lovely Squish, wishing you all a wonderful day!