Chapiter elevon! Yippie! (jumps for joy)
OHMIGOSH MAJOR DRAMA LATER IN CHAPTER WE ALL GONNA DIE. RUN FER DA HEELS.
Chef Colette: Yeahhh, it really made me sad typing the flashback. I cried, too! (shares a tissue) Let me know if you have a specific pairing you want with for Mihara! (evil laugh) Thanks, as always, for your awesomesauce reviews!
Knowlee: Yay new reviewer! I'm glad that you don't think this is a Mary-Sue. I was worried about that at first, but as I got deeper into it, I really didn't care if it was or wasn't, haha! YAY MY FIGHT DETAILS ARE GOOD! HAPPINESS! Fight scenes are actually my weak point... It's also okay, because you're reviewing NOW! (evil laughter) Ah-haa...someone votes for a Mihara x Ranulf! (more evil laughter) Thank you so much for your review! Read to find out about Shoen...
Disclaimer: Oh, man, I want to collect all the Fire Emblem games........NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! I HAVE NOT ALL THE GAME SYSTEMS! (No, I own nothing)
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Chapter 11
"Yes, Leonardo. I approve use of force if talking doesn't work." Micaiah's face grew worried. "Please bring them in alive. And be careful."
"Of course, Micaiah. We always are. I'll have our troops move out now." Leonardo bowed before his queen – and friend – and left the throne room.
Once he left, Micaiah sighed. Sothe went to her side. "Are you okay, Micaiah?"
"Hmm? Oh, I'm fine. I'm just...really worried about these rebellions. I'm fearful that someone innocent will get hurt."
"Yes, I am as well. But don't worry." Sothe rubbed her arm. "Leonardo will catch them."
There was a chirp in the throne room as Yune left Micaiah's shoulder. The light priestess looked after the goddess. "Yune? What is it?"
"It's nothing. I just have to go see someone. I'll be back within a few hours."
"O...kay...?"
The goddess flew from the room and out into the alleys of Nevassa. She looked around, became her other form, and called softly, "Volke?"
With his name called, the assassin stepped from the shadows. "I found her."
"And?"
"She said that she has heard a goddess's voice in her mind."
Yune paused to catch her breath. "Thank you, Volke." Yune held out a large bag of gold. "Here is the rest of your payment."
Volke stared at it for a moment before shaking his head. "This is your one-time favor, goddess or not. Is there anything else you need?"
"No. But that is extremely selfless of you."
"Hey, offer it again and I may change my mind."
"Yes, that's so like you, Volke. Thank you, again. I will find you if I need anything more."
"Very well, then."
XxXxXxX
Karoline stared at her brother and whispered harshly, "I still don't know what you're thinking! Why didn't you let me put up a fight?!"
Stasik, from his spot in a corner of their cell, yawned without concern. "Just be quiet. Save your strength. I have a plan. Seriously, is your faith in me that thin?"
Satsik's sister crossed her arms after growling. "I would just like to know what's happening...!"
"Hey..."
"What?"
"What spells do you have memorized?"
Karoline's face contorted into a frown of confusion. "Only elwind and thunder."
"Mmm..."
"Why?"
"Come over here. I'll tell you."
Once Karoline sat down on the cell floor, Stasik's head shot towards their barred door. "Someone's coming," he whispered.
They both looked towards the door before Janaff and Ulki appeared, both of their faces written with anger. Ulki entered a key into the door and turned it, the door opening. Janaff tossed his head. "Out."
The siblings slowly stood and walked towards the door. Karoline snuck a glance at her brother, but he didn't make eye contact. Wait...nothing yet.
Although...I think I have a feeling I know what Stasik's up to.
XxXxXxX
"Are you sure that you want to watch?"
"Yes. Vlas is busy with the other captives, and I don't feel much like going anywhere today."
Tibarn shifted uncomfortably. "Just stay in the corner of the room, okay?"
Mihara nodded understandingly. "Thanks."
Just as Mihara began walking towards the corner of the throne room, a side door opened, and Janaff and Ulki were herding Stasik and Karoline towards the Hawk King. Tibarn stood tall, glaring the two siblings down. Their hands were bound in front of them with chains, and they were forced to their knees. Mihara looked back and forth between her father and the prisoners, waiting on someone to do something.
"Talk," Tibarn finally commanded.
"About what? Lovely weather, isn't it?" Stasik smugly replied.
Mihara winced when Janaff delivered a hard blow to the man's skull, knocking Stasik forward. He groaned quietly and straightened himself. "Fine," he grunted. "You can pick what we talk about."
"Why did you decide to attack my country?" Tibarn took a step forward.
"Because it was the best place to begin an attack," answered Karoline.
"Why attack? All the countries and all the laguz and beorc worked together to win this peace. Now, you are simply going to give it up by causing chaos?"
"We told you. Revenge for our mother." Stasik narrowed his eyes and Mihara could sense the anger in his voice.
"Then why do I have the feeling that there's more to it than that?"
"Bad instincts?" Karoline offered, Ulki slamming her in her stomach, making her keel over with pain.
"Come on, sis." Stasik looked over towards Karoline. "Obviously, they don't feel like playing around."
Karoline looked up into her brother's eyes. They were hard and determined.
Now!
To all the hawks, it sounded like Karoline was just murmuring under her breath, but Stasik knew she was chanting a spell. Before any of them knew it, sharp wind blew around in the room. Caught off guard by this sudden action, Janaff and Ulki both fell backwards, their grip on the captives loosening. Tibarn, enraged, transformed.
However, while he was transforming, Stasik pushed himself to his feet and charged towards Mihara. The Hawk King's daughter, seeing him coming, began transforming herself. Stasik ran faster. Just as Mihara was about to finish her extremely swift shift, Stasik threw his chains into the light and pulled. Tibarn had flown towards Stasik with his talons, but he froze when he saw that Stasik's chains were around Mihara's throat. Tibarn's daughter's transformation had gotten disturbed, so she was still in her half form. Tibarn stared down Stasik with unspeakable rage.
Stasik grinned evilly at Tibarn. "How does it feel, Hawk King?"
"You let her go, you human scum," spat Tibarn.
"How about you let my sister and I go, give us a transport to the mainland, and when we arrive, we will let your daughter go free?" Stasik tightened his chains, making Mihara gasp for breath. She wished that Ranulf, Skrimir, and the others weren't interrogating the other captives at the moment!
Tibarn narrowed his eyes. He slowly shifted back to his half-beorc form and nodded at Ulki and Janaff, who had gotten Karoline under control. They hesitantly let Karoline go. As soon as they did, Karoline spoke a quick incantation, and lightning zapped away her binds. She walked over to her brother and added, "We would like our weapons back, too. And I would do it soon, Lord Tibarn."
XxXxXxX
"So, umm...where are we headed?" Shoen looked back and forth between Muarim and Tormod.
"We are going to escort you to Altiaire. It is one country – the hawks and ravens combined tribes. The herons were going to combine with them as well, but they decided to stay in their own country," Muarim explained.
"Oh. Okay. May I ask why there?"
"Well, maybe someone will know who you are, regardless of whether or not your appearance has changed." Tormod glanced around their surroundings. "We're only near Sienne, the Begnion capital. We're good friends with the apostle, Sanaki. She'll give us a ship so we can go to Altiaire."
"I see... Have you got any friends in...Altiaire?"
"Yeah, sure. The king of Altiaire – Tibarn. He's a bud. Then, his subjects Ulki and Janaff. Umm..." Tormod looked at Muarim as though the next ones were a bit tricky. "There's a raven – Nealuchi. He served the former Raven King, Naesala. They're sort of more acquaintances, though."
Muarim added, "I hear that Tibarn has a daughter, though. We have not had the pleasure of meeting her yet."
"Oh, yeahhh. Almost forgot about her. I think that Vika told me her name was...Mihara? Something like that. Appearantly, she's- whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa." Tormod frowned, looking out into the distance. "Who're they?"
Muarim instantly looked up, his face alert. He looked out to where Tormod was focused, but he relaxed. "That is the horse tribe." He turned towards the lost Shoen. "They have recently arrived on Tellius. They have been looking for a place to stay."
"Are they...friendly?"
"I guess so. There was a meeting between the other laguz tribes, but we didn't make it in time. By time we arrived, they'd already moved out." Tormod halted. "But should we go around?"
"I don't think they would attack us if we walked towards them," Muarim reasoned with amusement in his voice.
"I suppose you're right. Let's go, then."
The three continued walking, the horse tribe in the distance stopping for a break.
XxXxXxX
"Those dragons are ridiculous..." Keenan grumbled, he and Aislyn watching over their tribe from a small hill.
"I don't even think their lands would've suited us, Your Majesty. They were much too barren." Aislyn rubbed behind her horse ears. "I think that aside from the wolves' land, the only laguz country we've yet to visit is that hawk and raven country."
"Yes... The wolf land is still much more forest than field. The bird country is across the sea."
"From what King Kurthnaga told us, it isn't that far. Three hours away. Much closer than Staltone."
Keenan kicked the ground with his black boot. "I think we'll move a bit closer towards the coast before moving on. We'll stay the night at the border of the ocean."
"Very well, sire. I'll go spread the word." Aislyn walked down the hill, scanning the surroundings for danger.
Keenan had already spotted three shadows approaching his people, but they had small packs, so he supposed that they were simply travlers. Still, he would watch them carefully. The wind picked up, sending his grown out hair into his eyes. He grumbled and shook his head, sending his bangs elsewhere. Also on the wind were scents. Of the three, he supposed. One was somewhat desert-y smelling, but he smelled fur. A beast. One was an obvious beorc, but he had laguz smell all over him. The third was a bird. However, Keenan frowned. The bird's scent was familiar.
He smelled like the hawk king and his daughter. He wondered if they had any relation between them.
After a while, Tormod, Muarim, and Shoen came to the Horse Lord. Instantly, Keenan demanded, "Who are you?"
"We're just passing through, Horse Lord," Tormod assured. "I am friends with those you met at the Griel Mercenaries' place."
"I see. Well then, you may continue on."
"If I may ask, where are you heading?" Muarim inquired before Tormod began walking.
"We are stopping by the coast this evening. We are going to find a way to go to the bird country." Keenan stared at them suspiciously. "Why?"
Tormod, seeming to have gotten an idea, filled him in. "We're heading to the capital city of the country we're in now. The queen there is a friend of ours. We are going to see if she will grant us a ship so that we can go to Altiaire. You can come with us."
"I see..."
Aislyn quickly came up behind her king and looked back and forth at the three travelers and Keenan. The Horse Lord told her, "They are also heading to the bird country. They are offering us to go with them to get a ride."
The other four waited silently for an answer.
"I suppose we will. We are in need of getting to Altiaire. What are your names?"
"I'm Tormod. This is Muarim, and that's Shoen."
"Thank you, you three."
"It's no problem. When are you planning on moving out again?"
"Soon. Perhaps after another fifteen minutes."
"Okay, then. Just let us know."
As the three turned to walk a little ways away, Keenan said, "Wait. You."
The three turned, but Keenan's gaze was on Shoen. He stuttered, "M-me?"
"Yes, you. Have you any relation to the Hawk King or his daughter?"
Shoen seemed shocked. "What? Umm...not that I'm aware of..."
"He's a little confused at the moment," Tormod informed. "That's why we're taking him to Altiaire."
Keenan nodded, allowing the three to continue walking. However, Tormod and Muarim shared a thoughtful glance.
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They all stared with anger, worry, and helplessness as the small ship sailed away from Altiaire. Tibarn growled in his throat, then turned to Janaff and Ulki. "We will have to find a way to follow them without their knowledge."
"Yes, Your Majesty." The two ran off to search for a way that Tibarn had ordered.
Skrimir offered, "We will do whatever we can to help, Tibarn."
"Us, as well," Nailah reminded. "Volug and I will aid."
"Thank you." Tibarn turned back toward the fading ship and fell into thought.
"We can go towards the edge of the island, since we all know they're heading for Begnion," Ranulf suggested. "And we can figure something out there."
Tibarn listened to the idea before nodding slowly. "You go ahead. I'll be right there."
Without another word, the wolves, cat, and lion all shifted and took off, running as fast as they could towards the plains of Altiaire. Tibarn sighed – almost shakily. That's when Leanne placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Mihara will be fine."
Behind her, Reyson and Rafiel nodded in agreement. Tibarn gave the three heron siblings a weak smile of thanks. He then went to go find Ginia and Vlas to leave instruction with them.
XxXxXxX
Ike read Soren's letter with alarm, his eyes wide. Felicity appeared beside him. "What is it? Something wrong?"
"Altiaire was attacked!" Ike told her, scanning through the letter as fast as possible, Ragnell sitting before him.
Felicity then shared his shock, for all the stories that Ike had told her seemed peaceful just before he left. "Somewhere on Tellius?! By who?"
"By some rebels...from Begnion and Daein." Ike narrowed his eyes.
Felicity looked at the warrior for a moment, allowing him to take in this information. "...Do you want to go help them?"
"I want to, but..." Ike trailed off.
"Ike, we can abandon the mission for a few hours to a couple of days. Who knows? If you return to Tellius, you might even find what you're looking for." Felicity tapped the letter lightly. "I know you miss them, anyways."
Ike fell into deep thought. "Okay. We'll return first to the Griel Mercenaries to speak with Soren. Then, we'll see what's what."
Felicity sighed, but knew she wouldn't get anything better, nor did she expect anything less from Ike. "When will we leave?"
"As soon as we can. Let's finish gathering our herbs, first."
Felicity nodded, watching Ragnell as it released a bark and turned back into Ike's sword, sticking into the ground.
XxXxXxX
Stasik laughed triumphantly as he tossed Mihara into the small brig below deck. "That went even more perfect than I planned! Good work, my sister!"
Karoline smirked evilly, sharing her brother's joy. "Indeed. I'm just glad that I realized when you wanted me to attack."
They turned to the barred prison, where they threw Mihara into the small space. Much too small for her to transform. She backed up into a corner and simply said – as bravely as she could - "You're going to pay for this."
"Oh, yes. You believe your daddy's gonna save you. Because you can't help yourself, can you?" Karoline tapped the bars.
Mihara growled quietly at her, rustling her feathers. Mihara then watched them as they walked back up to the deck, snickering at their success. As soon as they disappeared, she looked around for something she could use to get out of her cell. However, if the cell was still built in Altiaire...she didn't have much hope for that.
"There isn't any real problems in Altiaire. An argument there, a fight there, but nothing in need of a jail. So, since we would only have real use of them, we wanted to make sure they were inescapeable. We even had Naesala come in and try it out." Tibarn smirked slightly.
"Well, if Naesala couldn't escape, I don't think anyone can." Ranulf chuckled.
"No kidding," Janaff said, scoffing.
Mihara groaned quietly. She knew that they were probably right. Still, she glanced around. It was very crowded down below deck. There was just a little table, two chairs, some lit candles, and... Mihara squinted her eyes before widening them. There were the keys on the floor below the table!
What idiots, she scoffed silently. She just had to find a way to get them over to her. The bars were only so far enough apart that she could just reach her arms through. Then, a light bulb went off. They had assumed that since Mihara was a laguz, she had no beorc weapons on her. However, she did have one – a small curved knife that Tibarn had given her. She had taken Lethe's idea and had taken a small strap and tied the knife around her upper leg, beneath the flaring of her capris. She pulled the legs on the clothing up and unsheathed it. She then glanced at the lock, grinning. She put the edge of her knife in and went to work.
Thank you, Earthen experiences with paper clips and locks!
XxXxXxX
"Hahaha!! Can we go higher, Dad?!" Shoen's small wings flapped with enthusiasm.
"Okay. A bit higher," Tibarn replied with a smirk, flying up after his six year old son.
"Hey, Dad! Check out this awesome trick!" Shoen flapped harder and sent his body into a backwards loop. He quickly lost control a lost a few feet in altitude, but he recovered.
Tibarn raised an amused eyebrow. "Very impressive, Shoen."
Tibarn's son's face lit up. "Really?!"
"Yes, very. I doubt I could do that if I tried my hardest."
Shoen made a face. "I don't think so, Dad. You can do anything."
"There's lots of things I can't do," insisted Shoen's father.
"Like what?"
Not wanting to make the lighthearted conversation drop away, Tibarn said, "That trick you just did."
Obviously, Shoen seemed to buy it. "...Seriously?"
"I swear. Now, why don't you show me it again? Maybe if I practice, I can do it."
"Okay!" Shoen increased his speed again before doing another backloop. He didn't lose as much control that time, causing Tibarn to smile warmly at Shoen.
"Good job, Shoen. I think that would take a long time for me to learn."
Shoen smirked triumphantly. "Ha! I'm better at you than some things!"
"Indeed, you are." Tibarn lightly and playfully punched his son's arm. "But don't think that you're better than your old man at too much!"
"You're not old, Dad!"
"You wanna bet?"
"You're not!"
XxXxXxX
Tibarn soared with the currents, Janaff, Ulki, Reyson, and Leanne following him, and Skrimir, Ranulf, Nailah, Volug, and Rafiel in a small boat below. He sighed quietly, wanting to increase his speed, but he knew that they had to be cautious while approaching the vessel.
He glared at the horizon. I'm coming, my daughter. Just wait for me.
XxXxXxX
Goodness. My character likes causing problems for everyone, doesn't she? OH NOES MAJOR FLAW IN HER. TROUBLEMAKER.
Please review! I know you love me-! Er...I mean...you love the story!
