Sacrifice

Chapter One

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A/N: Finally, I have the sequel thought out a bit. It should be rather interesting, as we'll get to see everyone's reactions to Lucia and Janaff's romance, and also some new pairings as well. Not many of the pairings are thought out, but obviously there'll be the main Elincia/Tibarn pairing, which should work nicely with the Lucia/Janaff one. I'm sure Bastian and Geoffrey wouldn't enjoy this fic, but oh well!

So anyway…on with the story!

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Their love would require sacrifices to be made. But can they overcome those sacrifices to be together?

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"You have got to be joking, right Oscar?!" exclaimed Geoffrey, clearly upset.

"N-no, General Geoffrey, I'm afraid I'm not…" replied the paladin-in-question.

"It's true, General. Though I hate to admit it, Lucia told me herself," stated Kieran, hoping for Geoffrey's outbursts to end.

"I can't believe my sister…"

"Cannot believe what, may I ask?" inquired Bastian, the Count of Fayre, walking into the room at a bad time.

"Oh, Bastian…you might want to sit down first. This news will probably…shock…you a bit."

The azure-haired knight looked uneasy and worried. Bastian thought him to be foolish.

"Ah, Geoffrey, my dearest friend. You should have it in that head of yours by now that I, Count Bastian, the grandest of sages, am able to take in any news you might throw at me. I mean, seriously, what news could trouble me so that I'd actually have to have a seat to hear it? Ta ha ha. Really, Geoffrey…"

The count just went on and on. Finally, Geoffrey decided to answer his question, whether he was seated or not…at least it would get him to stop talking for a moment.

"You're sure, Bastian?"

"Yes! Of course, dear friends!"

"Okay…"

"Out with it, boy!"

"Alright, Bastian, as you wish… Lucia and Janaff are dating now."

"R-really? Are you sure that you are not kidding? Or that you have not been told incorrectly?"

"I'm sure…"

"Oh…"

Bastian still had a calm look on his face, as if this news were no bother to him, which was very surprising.

"Wow, Bastian! You're taking this better than I thought you would!"

And at that, the count…fainted…

"Oh great! Someone get a healer!"

"Yes, sir."

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Meanwhile, Lucia and her foster sister, Queen Elincia, were chatting in the Crimean gardens.

The two were seated around a metal table, which was painted a very bright shade of yellow, on chairs that were equally as sunny in color. The table and chairs were situated on a stone patio surrounded by rose bushes with flowers of about every color you could possibly imagine.

The two were happily recalling events from their recent trip to Gallia--which they had returned from a mere two days ago.

Elincia sighed.

"It was such a wonderful visit, wasn't it, Lucia?" asked the emerald-haired queen.

"Yes, it surely was, Your Majesty," replied her advisor.

In fact, Lucia couldn't stop thinking about the said trip. It was quite perfect, if you looked past the fact that Amber, the young niece of the hawk king, Tibarn, had tried to sabotage the meeting.

Even though that happened, in the end, everything worked out. Now she could be with the one she truly loved.

And who knows? Maybe Bastian will even leave me alone now!

But her rather elated thoughts were interrupted by Kieran rushing into the room.

"Your Majesty! Please come quick! And bring your Mend Staff as well!"

"What is it, Kieran? Is someone hurt?"

"Oh, Your Majesty…it's Count Bastian! He's fainted!"

"Oh no! Lucia, we must hurry!"

"Of course, Your Highness."

Elincia grabbed her staff and rushed out of the room behind Kieran, to help their count-in-need.

This is just great…the count always picks the worst times to get involved into my life…

But she too, headed out of the room, for she was extremely worried for Bastian. Though he was a major pest, he was still one of her closest friends.

But that's all that he can ever hope to be!

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Lucia made it into the room shortly after Elincia had healed Bastian. The count was seated on the floor with Geoffrey, Elincia, Kieran, and Oscar, standing around him. Lucia could tell by the look on Bastian's face that he was very angry about something. That something, she did not have a clue as to what it could be. So she reluctantly approached the count.

"Count Bastian, are you well?" inquired the young sword master.

"No, I must say that I am not well, milady!" exclaimed the count.

This puzzled Lucia, because except for the fact that he looked upset, nothing seemed to be wrong with him.

"Whatever could you mean, Bastian?"

Lucia's brother, whom she was now standing next to, stepped on her foot lightly, causing her to look at him for an explanation. However, Geoffrey only gave her a look as if to tell her to get out of there as fast as possible.

Unfortunately, she did not follow his advice fast enough. The count suddenly had an outburst which was very out of his usually calm manner, causing anyone within earshot of him to stop dead in their tracks.

"Lucia! I cannot believe you! Dating a laguz! That's prohibited! Don't you know that?! Obviously not! I mean, honestly, it would be much more sensible to be with me! Not him! Not Janaff! Nor anyone else for that matter! You should be mine and mine alone!"

"Count…"

"No! I did not permit you to speak! I am not finished here! Just you wait until I see that traitor laguz! I shall use my Rexcaliber tome to wipe him off the face of Tellius!"

"Bastian!"

"Queen Elincia, do not tell me you agree with this atrocity! A beorc with a laguz! Why, it is not meant to be so!"

"Bastian, I see nothing wrong with it! Especially not so well as to have you use violence!"

"Your Majesty! You seriously believe that? I, myself, agree with the count. My sister is foolish to have fallen in love with a laguz!"

"Geoffrey, that is just plain crazy!"

"Is it, Lucia? Or are you just the crazy one?!"

"Geoffrey, I happen to agree with Lady Lucia and Her Majesty."

"What, Oscar? You too?!"

"Yes, sir, it appears so."

"Ha! Well I, Kieran, Commander of the Fifth Platoon of Royal Knights, happen to agree with you, General!"

"So I see how it is, Kieran, I think you are a complete fool for idolizing my brother so, because, well, how can I put it nicely? Right, he's a complete moron. And Bastian, anyone who thought I'd actually end up with you is utterly idiotic! Now, I have nothing more to say to the three of you."

So the six of them left the room: Lucia and Elincia back to the gardens; Kieran to the training fields; Oscar to the royal kitchen to prepare the evening meal; Geoffrey to care for his horse; and Bastian to his room to mope.

How dare she fall in love with a laguz…or anyone besides me for that matter! I'll fix that!

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A/N: Yeah, a lot of the characters were out of character…well, maybe not so much because I think Bastian really would blow up if this happened, which would anger Lucia. Of course, Elincia, who happens to like Tibarn, would agree with Lucia. And as I said in the last fic, Geoffrey wouldn't take his sister dating anyone very well. As it is known, Kieran would side with Geoffrey, since he's practically his role model, and Oscar would be sensible and side with Lucia and Elincia.

Maybe I'm just crazy though. Nothing really about Elincia/Tibarn in this chapter. That pairing won't be until later chapters most likely, after all the Lucia/Janaff drama settles down a bit.

I tried to make it sort of long, but I probably failed miserably at that. I'm not too great at making my chapters long. But this is only the first chapter of this story, so maybe the rest will be longer. But who knows?

Anyway, let me know what you thought. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter up soon!