A/N: Well, first off, I'd like to thank Arbella Scott, and Lanayru for leaving me a review last chapter!

You know, I was thinking about this last night, when I was writing up that scene with Renning and Ashnard, that his could easliy become a Lucia/Renning fic, because Lucia is working for Ashnard, and Renning gets captured by him. But the problem is right there. Renning takes the feral drug and turn into... well...not himself. Also, last chapter, I was thinking that this could become a Geoffrey/Elincia too. But the thing is... I'm not great with writing romance... what do you think?

Chapter Three

My Sister

Everyone seemed as if they were everywhere. There was an ocean of soldiers fighting for the fate of Crimea, and perhaps even Tellius. However, as time continued playing on, the numbers began to diminish, and this ocean began to drain dry.

As this battle raged on, the general and his princess ran to escape, the tactician and the queen desperately searched for their king, and the crown prince stood battling on the front lines. But they weren't the only notable people in this war. There were still the opposing army, the Mad King Ashnard and his right hand, both of whom sought Crimean blood.

• • • • •

"Geoffrey," the princess began, halting her footsteps in a grove of trees to catch her breath; the general quickly followed her lead. "Geoffrey, what Lucia was saying earlier, do you think...? No...there's no way... But..." Elincia had contradicted herself, even before Geoffrey had gotten a chance to speak; but still, she wasn't sure of herself.

"Princess Elincia," he said, addressing her by her title. "I know very well that my sister would not kid about something as this. The way she had spoken, the looks she gave to us; these are proof enough that she was serious."

"Yes, but that is what frightens me," she said with a timid voice, gazing up at Geoffrey who had his sights fixed on the battle before them. She waited; she looked at him, hoping for a look back, or some response; just something to ease her of her worry. "Geoffrey..." she mumbled after receiving no reply.

The general had spaced out, looking absent minded but with numerous thoughts running through his head. The only sounds which he seemed to hear were the faded clang of metal upon metal in the background, and the voice of his sister, her harsh words endlessly playing in his mind.

"Geoffrey," the princess repeated, this time shaking his shoulder in hope to wake him from his trance.

"Huh? What?" he instantaneously replied, shaking his head as he returned to the present and reality. He blankly stared at the girl before him, the girl with the radiant emerald hair and simple orange dress. It took him a moment to finally make the connection. "Oh. I apologize for being so rude as to not respond to you. I was just..." he paused, searching for a concise way to explain himself. "I was just thinking."

"I realize that, Geoffrey," Elincia replied. "I know you were thinking about your sister; I am concerned about Lucia too. I would have never imagined her to turn on Crimea for Daein. She was always so loyal, so faithful and selfless. But now..."

"My princess," he began, picking up from where her words faded off.

She looked up at him as she felt two strong hands rest upon her shoulders. She loosened her clenched fists and began to relax as Geoffrey continued. "Elincia, no matter what, I will risk all to protect you, even if it means the death of my sister by my own lance."

"Geoffrey!" she exclaimed in alarm.

"I do not kid; I mean what I say. If she dares to lay her weapon upon you, I will raise my lance and battle. Though I truly detest fighting my sister, I will not allow her to hurt you, no matter what."

"But please, Geoffrey, she is my sister too."

"Would you say she was your sister if she were about to kill you?" he asked with a demanding tone.

Elincia turned away and avoided any eye contact with him. She took no more than the slightest of moments to think of her answer; she didn't even need to consider it. Before giving her response, she took Geoffrey's hands in her own and lifted them from where they rest on her shoulders, to the space between them. She looked up at him to meet his gaze as she spoke. "Yes," she replied with all assurity, holding her head up high with dignity. "If she were about to kill me, I would still call her my sister."

• • • • •

The azure haired swordsman bound down halls and up stairways of Castle Crimea. As she ran, she had only one thought in mind: her destination, the king's chambers. All other thoughts and worries she cast aside, for she knew these things would distract her, or even cause for her falter.

She pushed back thoughts of her brother and the princess, that tactician prince, and the king and the queen. Every time she put one aside, another would always rise to the surface; she just couldn't forget the ones who were dear to her. But nonetheless, she tried to forget. She even brought the Mad King Ashnard into her mind. How she had gone to do research in Daein, and how he got her for his army; how he threatened to kill... how she had no choice but to vow her loyalty...

These things she greatly regretted. But she wasn't supposed to feel regret; she wasn't supposed to feel anything, for she couldn't let anything get in the way of carrying out her job. So, she just continued running.

• • • • •

"Queen Diana," Bastian said, at seeing her stop to catch her breath. "My queen, please remain here and rest as I proceed to check upon these next few rooms."

She gave the count a smile for his concern as she stood up straight. "No, I rested the last time; I will be fine," she said with a nod of assurity. '"I now pity all those maids and servants who had to run round the castle, just to fetch one of us. I actually haven't realized the immensity of the palace until today"

"Yes, neither have I," he replied with a sigh and a smile. "In any event, we must continue on; we have no the time for idle chatter. Our objective is not to aimlessly wander about the castle to measure out the area, but to find His Majesty; so let us make haste in our search!"

• • • • •

It was the spar of the ages, the match to remember. Both participants fought well and with the best of their skill. But this was nothing as simple as a sparing match. No; in fact, it was far from it; this was a battle for their lives, in which the winner would walk off with pride, and the lose would be left to die.

Renning held his sword above his head as he deflected yet another attack from King Ashnard's sword, Gurgurant. By now, the two men were covered in wounds and their clothes covered in bloodstains; but nonetheless, neither were willing to give up.

The crown prince had been able to take down the many Daein soldiers that came his way without much trouble. However, he had begun to grow tired; and to add to that, his opponent was no ordinary foot soldier; he was King Ashnard.

He took a deep breath as he wiped the sweat from his brow and began his charge at the king. As he ran in, he swiftly evaded King Ashnard's attack but failed to dodge the next, resulting in a gash on his forearm. Renning yelped out in pain as the sharp edge of his sword dug into his flesh.

"I have to admit," the Mad King began,"You are a skilled fighter. It would be very useful to have you on my army, just as that Lady Lucia."

"What about Lucia?" he quickly snapped back in question. "What did you do with Lady Lucia?"

Just as Renning stood still in grim wonder, the king too the chance of the opening and flung his sword at his leg, the force of the impact causing him to stagger over. "Blast you Kings Ashnard," he cursed under his breath as he lay on the mud beneath him. 'If you had captured Lady Lucia as she was doing research in Daein...If you have used threats in order to gain information...If you had found out about the princess and have her too in your clutches...If you have hurt anyone in any way, I will not hold back. I will go all out in order to have your body laying lifeless for all of Tellius to see...'

• • • • •

She waited a moment as she stood before the entryway of King Ramon's chambers and let out a sigh to herself as she reached for the doorknob. Was she really going to do this? Was she truly going to murder the man who acted as her father for all these years? There was one simple answer: yes. It wasn't her choice, but the demand of another; it wasn't her own will, but that of King Ashnard. But in the end, she was the one left to carry it out.

Lucia slowly and cautiously opened the door, making no more sound than the click of twisting the knob. As she walked inside, she found the king standing by the window, solemnly gazing at the battle down below. "I have failed my country...I am sorry I could not have prevented this. I am too weak..."

"King Ramon," she suddenly called with a stern tone, interrupting the king's somber words. She carefully moved her hand towards the sword which rest at her hip before repeating his name. "King Ramon..."

"Lucia," he interrupted, turning around to look at the girl who stood behind him. "Lucia, I know why you are here."

Her body instantly tensed up and her grip on the hilt of her sword tightened as he spoke. She moved her gaze from the floor, to look up at him; but the look she gave him was not the sweet smile she had showed him a countless number of times in the past; instead, her expression resembled a glare, a look of wrath, vile, and evil.

"Relax Lucia, relax," he continued at seeing her nervousness. As he placed her two hands upon her shoulders, her felt her muscles drop as she began to clam down; her face even displayed a softer expression. "Lucia, I want you to know that I have always loved you as if I were loving a daughter of my own blood. And I want to thank you for enduring all that training, and for protecting Elincia all this time.

"When you meet up with your brother, please tell him for me, that I have always enjoyed watching him train, and the occasional spars we had together; and that I wish for him to improve, and to someday head up the Royal Army.

"And to Elincia, tell her to be strong in times such as these, and to fight along with her country. One day, I hope for her to inherit the throne, and to experience the true meaning of ruler ship."

The king peered deep into her eyes, looking as if he were looking into her thoughts. He slightly shook her, which caused her to peer back at him. "Lucia," he continued. "Please deliver these last words. This is my last wish, my final request, you final duty of me."

"Ki-King Ramon..." she mumbled with a saddened voice, just loud enough for him to hear. For a moment, she looked up at him with a face that look as if she were about to cry, but quickly looked off to the side as she felt a tear building up in her eyes. She stroked all tears away with the back of her hand before she look back at him and spoke, "As I have once swore all those many years ago: I will protect and obey every order of the Royal House of Crimea. This one is no exception."

"Thank you; thank you Lady Lucia. I wish there were some way to repay you and Geoffrey for your loyal service to us for these many years."

"Why, you already have my king, you already have."

"Oh, I am sorry," he abruptly apologized, this puzzling Lucia quite a bit. "I suppose I should let you do what you have come for. I wouldn't want to put you in any danger with King Ashnard. So go ahead; do it."

She knew all too well of what he meant. Her original intention was to carry this out with as little emotion as possible, without any last words that may cause her to falter; but that was no longer the case.

Lucia gripped a shaking hand onto the hilt of her sword and slowly removed it from its scabbard, quivering as much as she had when she first laid her hands upon a blade and sparred with Prince Renning. But the time had come. Now was the time for her to carry out the will of the Mad King.

She watched him take a deep breath and close his eyes as preparation. He looked ready, but it would take much, much more for her.

'King Ramon,' she thought to herself as she rose the sword above her head. 'My king, I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me in these past years. You've cared for us, you have taught me to be strong; and these things I will never forget. You have always been as much a father to me, as I was a daughter to you.' She looked at him one last time as she mumbled, "I am sorry Queen Diana, Prince Renning, Elincia, Geoffrey, Bastian, and all of Crimea. I am sorry King Ramon. I hope you all may find some way to forgive me..."

She closed her eyes as she let her blade fall; and like that, it was over. Crimea had lost its king, and was on its way to losing the war.

A/N: Well, I was actually going to add two more sections to this chapter, but I decided against that, because it would take longer, and would make the whole chapter long. Instead, I moved them to the next chapter.

As always, leave a review! :D Until next time...(I seem to say that every time...)

-Nami-san625