Oh, my gosh, everyone, I'm SOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOSOOO SORRY that it took SO LONG for me to update! I hit a roadblock and got so busy once school started...! I feel like such crap! ='(
Mihara: Well, then... I suppose everyone should be happy it's a chapter that's twice as long as your normal ones.
Me: Yes! That is true! In my Open Office, this chapter is twenty-two pages! I'm so happy about that! Most of it popped up over the course of, well...umm, tonight. Hopefully, that makes it up a LITTLE!
Mihara: I suppose they'll see! For now, let's just answer the reviews, huh?
Me: Let's? You mean ME?
Mihara: ...Whatever.
xTwilightxSpiritx: I'm so glad you thought that the last chapter was one of the best! The way I keep Tibarn in character (or try to, anyway), is trying to imagine his voice (the one they use in the game) in my head and trying to picture if he'd say that. Just a little secret there! (GASP!) Well, speaking of emotion...Ranulf and Mihara get a moment at the end of this chapter...! Thanks for reviewing!
EVILmuffins776: Oooh, a new reviewer! ...And yet another one who talks about the Star Wars moment! Haha, I seriously wasn't intending that!
Mihara: (watching Star Wars in the background) Yeah, sure you weren't.
...Anyway! Thank you for both of your reviews!
TheSilverHairedMaiden: My internet going out would give me a freakout, too. You're not alone. I do agree with you that the chapter did move a bit fast, but I honestly couldn't think of any good way to slow it down... It may get fixed up later, though! Most of my chapters are only grammar and spell-checked, and even then, I miss a lot of things. So, in other words, the entire story is a rough draft. Ranulfy goodness happens in the last...eight, ten pages! Look forward to it! More Shoen/Sylvia...? Hmm... (holds my celery stick and bucket of chocolate milk) Thanks for reviewing!
Shiya64: I'm glad you're liking the story so far! Everyone has to love the laguz... It's just a fact of Fire Emblem life... Thank you for reviewing!
hpboy111: I DO remember you, have no fear! Well, trust me, you aren't the only one who's had to read over from the beginning...
Mihara: Seriously, she's done it once a week lately!
Shut up! Why are you interrupting so much? Yes, anyway, and it makes me so happy that you think this is well written! Comments like that make me even more inspired to get off my roadblocked butt and get by it! The ending is coming soon... (sniff) Thanks for reviewing!
Disclaimer: If only III owned Fire Emblem...! (Yes, I've been hangin' with a buddy who talks about the Cowardly Lion all the time...)
XxXxXxX
Chapter 33
The group containing Tibarn, Zelena, Mihara, Shoen, Sylvia, Irea, and Yune left the Tower of Guidance shortly after the reunion of the royal hawk family. They returned to the palace, and depending on where they were, Tibarn either had an arm snaked around Zelena's waist, or his fingers were intwined with her own. The younger laguz, branded, beorc, and even Yune could tell that this was a side of Tibarn they had never truly seen before. They saw in Tibarn's eyes such powerful levels of love and longing. He gave his children the same look, but not with such intensity. However, this was to be expected. His wife had been so violently and suddenly torn from his life. His daughter was stolen, his son disappeared without a trace... Tibarn of Phoenics had a sad tale, indeed.
They headed back to the palace, and were, at the moment, gathered in the throne room with Sanaki and everyone else that was gathered because of Yune or other reasons. The young Empress sat upon her throne, absorbing what the Hawk King and his children had told her. Yune did not take part in the conversation, due to her lack of energy and was located somewhere in the castle, resting. Reyson and Leanne, who had flown to Sienne of their own account, were with her. Sanaki sighed, drawing it out. "So...you are telling me...that Ashera stole her soul all those years ago and held her prisoner? Why?"
Zelena's eyes became hard. Tibarn leaned over her and asked her softly, "Are you feeling up to telling us?"
"...Yes." She looped her fingers through Tibarn's. "I will be fine."
"Are you sure?"
Zelena laughed gently. "Yes. I'm sure." She made her voice louder so it could be heard throughout the room. "Ashera kept me prisoner because I knew the ultimate way to defeat her."
"The ultimate way?" Ike echoed. "There is another way aside from sealing her away?"
"Yes." Zelena's hazel eyes turned to the blue-haired hero. "I believe Yune somehow contacted me in a dream. When I woke, I knew I had to find Tibarn and tell him. At that moment...that was when he was chasing after the laguz that took Mihara." Her eyes glistened with sadness at rememberance of the event. "I forced Janaff and Ulki to escort me there, but..."
When she shuddered, Tibarn squeezed her hand with reassurance. She paused before continuing. "While I was being treated by Dheginsea, I had a...vision of sorts. I heard a voice talking to me, but I can't remember the conversation. I was too weak. Then, before I knew it, I was in Ashera's chambers. She was sleeping and there was a man there, standing by the door."
"Do you know who it was?" Nailah inquired.
"It was someone from the raven tribe. I never heard a name or got a good look at his face." Zelena frowned, as though she were trying to remember something more important.
Tibarn growled in his throat. Janaff asked his king, "Do you think it was Vlas?"
"It had to be."
"Wait, I'm wondering about something..." Xavier interrupted. He, Felicity (who Xavier had insisted should come), Hadrian, Keenan, and Aislyn had arrived during the time that the others had been in the Tower of Guidance. "If you knew how to defeat her, why wouldn't she have just let you die? The secret would've died with you."
"Because Ashera herself didn't know what it was." Zelena turned her gaze to the floor. "She kept me to try and get it from me once she woke up. However, since I was only a soul, she couldn't torture me. Nor would she let me die, because she feared I somehow told Tibarn."
"...This doesn't piece together for some reason..." Keenan swished his tail, thinking about the story they had been told about Zelena and her death.
"So...what is the real way to get rid of her?" Elincia asked.
"...I remember being told that it would be by a song infused with powerful magic. Not of the herons. Of course, at the time, I didn't know what that meant. Now I do." Zelena turned to Laurel. "It has to be a song by the swan laguz."
Laurel turned to Adrian and thought heavily. "Well, there...is a song I was taught by my mother. She told me only to use it once and for a true reason. She said it was powerful...but not by itself."
"Would it be like the galdr of rebirth?" Sanaki pondered aloud. "There was the harmony and the melody that had to be combined for it to work..."
"But that was only for awakening Yune," Mist pointed out.
Xavier cleared his throat. "Well, some of us otters have ancient powers within us. I possess it and so does Felicity."
"Now that you mention it... She did try some sort of spell to transfer Ashera into the other medallion..." Tibarn recalled.
Felicity nodded. "Magic taught to me by His Majesty and my grandparents. It appears that the magic now skips a generation, but is waning." She glanced away for a moment. "It's slowly leaving our people."
"What can this magic do?" Nailah demanded.
"Various things. Nothing like the swans or herons. It..." Xavier scratched his neck, thinking of a choice word. "I suppose you could say it restores things."
"That's it!" Lucia's eyes widened with realization. "Restore Ashera and Yune back into one goddess! Er...they were once one goddess, right?"
Ike grinned. "Yeah, Yune said something about it..."
"So...the swans and the otters could somehow merge their powers together to make them into...Ashunera again?" Sanaki practically smirked. "That sounds like it might actually work..."
"I wonder why Yune chose to contact you," Ulki said. "There were probably plenty of others she could've tried to tell..."
It fell silent while everyone present tried to think of a reason. "...Maybe she'll tell us when she wakes up," Shoen suggested.
"At the moment, I don't really care who she told. All that matters now is that we all know. We just need to figure out a way to put that into action." Tibarn added, "It isn't like she's about to stand still and let us go ahead with it."
The Wolf Queen snorted with laughter. "You mean you're hesitant about fighting her?"
The Hawk King narrowed his golden eyes at Nailah. "Of course not. What the hell gave you that idea?"
"Well, usually, you're all, "Why are we still standing here? Let's go kill her!"... I'm merely saying." Nailah grinned.
Tibarn stared at her for another short moment before turning away, not even giving her the honor of replying. He then said, "I do want to get this over with. I'm sure Naesala and Volug can handle Altiaire, but still..."
"You're worried, of course." Sanaki nodded. "But, for now, how about we break for the time being and meet again together for planning this evening?"
XxXxXxX
All having agreed with Sanaki, the large group split apart and drifted their own separate ways, deciding to meet about up at six o'clock to plan how to take down Ashera on the unfamiliar territory of Earth.
Out in the courtyard sat Mihara, Shoen, Sylvia, and Irea, the lightning mage and branded girl finally having found some warmer clothes. Tibarn and Zelena were on the other end of the courtyard, conversing quietly while they held hands. Sylvia gave another glance at them. "I still can't get over this! It's so cool! Your mom is just so pretty!" She hesitated and glanced away before looking at them again.
"Don't worry. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it." Mihara sighed, not having caught Sylvia's action. "But every time I try and think about it, I think of Ashera, which is only pissing me off."
"Now that you mention her..." Shoen looked at his sister. "It's kind of strange that she didn't contact you or anything when Yune freed Mom."
"I haven't even thought about it... It's like she just cut off from me when she got my bond." Mihara shrugged. "Not that I'm complaining. She just gives me a headache, in more ways than one."
"This bond... It allows her to go to another world?" Irea inquired.
"You could say that."
"...Hmm...no doubt she just wants to take over that world since she failed with Tellius." Irea's voice dripped with venom.
"Even if she weren't, with all the wars going on, she wouldn't hesitate to turn everyone to stone." Sylvia crossed her arms.
"How big is Earth?" Shoen asked, taking advantage of this opportunity. He had always been curious, but with Mihara's memory loss of her other home, he never really got too many answers.
"Over six billion people," Sylvia immediately answered.
Shoen and Irea's eyes bulged. "That big?"
Sylvia nodded sagely. She looked at Mihara, who didn't seem as shocked. "Did you remember that?"
"Not necessarily... The number just sounded familiar. That's the only thing I figured it could be." Mihara shrugged.
"Oh, I see..."
"Hey, now that I think about it, where's Harmony? She's been gone a while..." Mihara glanced behind them. Harmony had gone off to hunt down some food for herself almost a half hour ago.
"Wonder if she got lost." Sylvia chuckled weakly. "I sure as heck would."
"...Are you two ever going to snap out of it?" Mihara pondered, looking at her brother and Irea, who had just about frozen.
Sylvia stared at them for a moment before giving an evil cackle. "It's been a while since I did this!" She jumped over to Shoen and began poking his wings. "Poke, poke, poke, poke, poke..."
"...Stop that," Shoen growled.
"Ha! I win! It got a response from him!"
XxXxXxX Meanwhile, Harmony was... XxXxXxX
"Argh... Now where am I...? I think I'm only getting more lost..." Harmony looked around her, checking her surroundings for something familiar. "Geez, this is worse than the Biltmore..."
The new otter laguz was wandering down hallway after hallway, trying to find her way back outside to the courtyard. She hadn't gotten used to the scents and everything yet. They just overpowered her sense of smell and confused her. She tried, granted, but failed terribly. Now, she was even desperate enough to ask someone for directions...
If she ever ran into anyone, that is.
She came to yet another intersection of hallways. She glanced down the one that went right, then the one that continued to stretch on in front of her. She grumbled before turning down the left hallway, only to painfully bump into someone. Harmony yelped with surprise and stumbled slightly.
"Ah, my sincerest apologies, my lady! Are you okay?" a tenor male voice asked.
Harmony muttered at herself for not paying more attention. "Yeah, I'm fine. Sorry-" she glanced at the person who she had ran into. "Oh, you're-"
"Oh, it's you. Lady...Harmony was it?" Kieran of Crimea offered a friendly smile. The knight had stripped his armor and was wearing a white, close-fitting shirt, having cleaned up a little before the evening's meeting. "I apologize."
"N-no, it's fine..." Harmony flushed slightly, hoping Kieran wouldn't take notice. "I was the one who wasn't watching where I was going..."
Smoothly changing the subject, Kieran inquired, "Are you looking for something? You seem a little lost."
"Uh, actually...I am. I can't find my way back to the courtyard..." Harmony sheepishly admitted.
Kieran cracked a grin and managed to swallow a laugh. "Forgive me for saying so, Lady Harmony, but that is a bit odd." When Harmony gave him a puzzled look, he added, "A laguz with a poor sense of direction."
"I've never been in a place as big as this," she defended. "The scents are all crazy. I'm getting a headache trying to figure this place out."
"I see. Well, come with me. I shall lead you back to the courtyard." Kieran gestured to her. When he walked past her, leading her down the original 'right' hallway, Harmony couldn't help but notice, despite everything else she smelled, how nice the knight smelled. She followed him, giving him thanks.
XxXxXxX
"...How long are you going to keep this up?" Shoen demanded with a tic in his eye.
Sylvia paused in her poking. "Keep up what?" she asked innocently before resuming.
Shoen sighed and counted to ten in his head. Mihara laughed. "You know, I am surprised you haven't done that in a while!"
"But I still have so much to do!"
The other three gave her questionable looks.
She explained, "I have to pet-slash-poke a cat's ears...a wolf's tail... I'd probably get eaten or something if I tried to do something to a dragon... Oooh, maybe I can play with one of the horse's tails! Oh, and the otters'!"
There was a pause before she continued to poke Shoen's wings. He groaned into his hands. "I can't take much more of this."
Irea smiled. "At times like this, I am glad branded do not have laguz appearances. You suffer at the expense of our entertainment, Shoen."
Mihara, Shoen, and Sylvia gave Irea a gaping look. Mihara slowly pointed at Irea. "Did...you just...say something...evil?"
Immediately, Shoen accused, "You've been hanging out too much with her! Both of you!"
"Are you calling us evil?" Sylvia stood, put her hands on her hips, and gave him the...well, evil eye. Hearing this, Tibarn and Zelena's eyes turned towards the younger laguz ("What's Shoen done this time?" Tibarn pondered).
"Pretty much."
Mihara stood beside her friend, giving Shoen the same look, but with her arms crossed. "Is that so...?"
"...Oh, dear..." Irea whispered, more to herself than anyone else.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Mihara asked Sylvia without looking at her.
"Only if you're thinking what I'm thinking," she replied.
"Then I think I'm thinking what you're thinking."
"Then that means I'm thinking what you're thinking."
"Good."
"Ready?"
Shoen frowned. Then, seeing the dangerous look in Mihara's eyes, he jumped up and got a head-start, jumping into the air. Sylvia pointed at Shoen's retreating figure and whooped, "Attaaaccckkk!"
Mihara ran after her brother, jumping into the air, closing in on him. Shoen cried, "Can't you take a joke?"
Mihara only responded with an evil laugh. Those below watched with amusement. Zelena commented, with a smile, "It's nice to see that they get along so well."
"Yeah... You could say that." Tibarn chuckled. "It was fairly calm until her friend arrived."
"The mage?"
"Yeah. She was from Earth."
"Why is she here?"
"To put it simply, Yune had to use her for something. In a way, she saved us."
"...From that fire." Zelena's eyes dropped towards the ground with a knowing look.
"How did you know...?"
"Ashera told me...to make me angry."
Tibarn growled in his throat with rage. That damn goddess is going to pay...
"Oh, Harmony! You live!" Sylvia suddenly called.
Indeed, Kieran had successfully led her back out to the courtyard. The otter nodded. "Yeah. Although, I doubt I would've made it back here if I hadn't run into Kieran. This palace is beyond big..."
"I agree." Irea fidgeted. "I'm not used to large places like this. It makes me uncomfortable."
"Yeah..." Harmony nodded, then looked around with confusion. "Uh...where did Mihara go?"
Sylvia cackled and looked back up at the sky. Harmony glanced up and saw her 'sister' chasing after Shoen, both yelling things back and forth at each other. She looked back at the sane branded, who wasn't cackling like the Wicked Witch of the West. "Do I even want to know?"
"...Probably not," Irea replied honestly.
Kieran watched with an amused expression. "Does this happen often?"
"You betcha!" Sylvia told him. She then called up to Mihara, "C'mon! Don't let him outfly you! You said almost last week that he was no match for you!"
"That's because he's not!" Mihara shouted back. She then began flapping harder, gaining speed.
Shoen glanced back at her and saw her coming. He looked around quickly for an escape route. He tucked his wings in a dove towards the ground. He was actually aiming right at Kieran. He had a plan, though, so that he wouldn't accidentally hit him. He heard Mihara closing in on him. At the last second, he snapped open his wings and tilted his body up so that he caught enough wind to clear over Kieran's head. However, due to the blast of wind there was when Shoen opened his wings, it caused Kieran to stumble on his feet. Then, when Mihara saw what her brother had done, she quickly copied it, barely managing to avoid Kieran and Harmony, who was standing just behind him. Shoen had touched the ground behind the two and hadn't managed to get anywhere before Mihara caught him. She jumped up a little to match his height, then slung her arm around his neck, trapping him in a noogie. "Hahaaa, I finally caught you! Accept your punishment!"
"Owch-! Okay, okay! Get off!" Shoen managed to wrestle out of his sister's grip and pushed her away slightly, which only resulted in her wings bumping Harmony. This, in turn, caused her to stagger backwards into Kieran's chest. She instantly froze and a flush formed on her face again.
Sylvia droaned, "Daaammmn, why do you and Mihara have all the luck?"
XxXxXxX
After the...awkward moment out in the courtyard, Kieran left to go see if Elincia needed anything, though he doubted it, since all the others were more than likely with her. The afternoon dragged on and on for the younger ones present in the Sienne Palace. The hours seemed to become lifetimes while the minutes felt like hours. The sun slowly began its descent, the temperature outside becoming frightfully chilly. So, the groups that had been outside talking amongst each other migrated inside to warmer temperatures. For at least an hour, Mihara and Shoen spoke with their mother and father before inviting Sylvia and Irea in on their conversations. Around four-thirty, a messenger from Sanaki went around and announced that dinner would be served before the strategy meeting. So, at the moment, everyone was making their way to the dining hall...
"...and I'm tellin' you that it's just gotta be this way!" Sylvia cried, pointing down the right hallway. The large group had come to a wall of the palace, which left them with only the right or left to choose from.
"I remember it being this way." Ike pointed down the opposite hallway while the laguz and branded behind them sighed, letting the two battle.
"Follow your nose!" Boyd encouraged his friend.
"We don't have a sense of smell like the laguz." Mist rolled her eyes.
Soren rubbed the bridge of his nose, pushed impolitely through the crowd, and headed down the right hallway, all the time, not saying a word. Everyone watched silently after him. Then, in pods, the laguz and branded followed after Soren. Sylvia whooped triumphantly and pointed at Ike. "I told you so!"
Ike grumbled under his breath. Titania laughed loudly. "Ike just doesn't have the greatest sense of direction!"
"Great. I'm not the only one," Harmony whispered.
"Which is strange, since he is – was – the general of an army..." Ranulf trailed off with a grin on his face.
"Yes... It would've been bad if he didn't know his way around the battlefield to the other general..." Nailah chuckled.
The Greil Mercenaries snickered. Mia spoke up, "At least he knows his way to the kitchen back at the fort!"
"You'd think he'd be able to remember it here, though." Gatrie shrugged. "I mean, I know in any direction where a pretty girl is-"
Shinon "accidentally" bumped him in the head with his bow, which he had refused to put down. "Easy there, tiger."
"Can we just all get to dinner in one piece?" Tibarn demanded back at them.
"True. Let's go!" Mist urged them. "Something tells me that the cooks are going to be working extra hard, what with all the laguz and you, brother!"
Ike smiled. "I just have a healthy appitite!"
So, the group was led...safely by the ever-silent-and-annoyed Soren. After successfully making it to the dining room, they all claimed their seats at the enormous table quickly, knowing that with a group this large...you had to move fast. No one sat yet, obeying Tanith's swift order. She said, "Allow the Empress to enter first."
After a quick glance around, everyone saw that she was right – Sanaki wasn't in the room yet. They all remained standing, some shifting from foot to foot, waiting the arrival of the Empress of Begnion. Meanwhile, the servents went about setting the food on the table. All of the food was still covered, the lids not yet taken off of the silver serving dishes. All the ones present eyed the dishes with awe. Sure, it was very lovely, pure silver. However, about half of them were move inhaling the delectable scents coming from underneath the lids. Once all the food was set, an awkward silence fell in the large room. Everyone looked at everyone else.
"So..." came Ranulf, wanting to break the silence.
"So...?" returned Xavier, with a quizzical, raised eyebrow.
"May I say something, my good friends?" Bastian inquired, smiling from ear to ear, looking as innocent as one could.
"How much are you planning on saying?" Lucia dryly demanded.
"I would just like to say... That it is truly beyond a pleasure being here with such admirable comrades and brothers and sisters in arms on this daring full-moon evening-!"
"...The moon isn't even out yet..." Shoen commented quietly.
"I don't even think it's going to be full..." Mihara whispered in reply.
"-and that we may all dine this beyond-delicious food so graciously strewn before us by Milady Sanaki! Indeed, it is traditional to inhale these lovely scents whilst we await the arrival of our young, but lovely and wise, host!"
Keenan cocked his head. "...Is he...?"
Geoffrey, who was close to the Horse Lord, told him, "Don't worry. He's always like this."
"Why does he talk funny?"
"There is no telling. None. At all."
Tanith then cleared her throat to catch everyone's attention. Once silence fell throughout the room, she announced, "Empress Sanaki will now be entering the room."
On cue, the young Empress of Begnion strode ever gracefully into the dining room. She stood beside her chair at the head of the table, paused, then said, "Everyone, I am glad that you are here. Not only for your aid with the goddess Ashera, but for your own presence, as well. Please, feast as much as you like and enjoy the evening before our meeting." She gestured with her hands for everyone to sit while she did so herself. With a glance towards one of the servants still standing in the corner, he called many others back. Moving at the same moments, the servants dressed in white lifted the lids from the platters of food. Everyone awed for...perhaps four seconds before they all moved in to grab food to put on their plates.
Conversations began amongst each other, though it had quieted significantly, everyone being preoccupied with eating. There were scattered murmurs of approval with the taste of the food. Ranulf gestured to the man sitting across from him. "Ike, this is delicious! You absolutely need to try it!" He waved a piece of meat in the air.
Ike eyed it with curiosity. "Hmm...that does look good..."
Mihara, who sat two seats away from the hero, inquired, "What is that?"
Sanaki, apparantly overhearing, answered for Ranulf. "It's turkey."
Ranulf chuckled, taking another bite of it. Mihara glanced at her brother, who sat across from her, frowning. Would eating that make her a cannibal...? Peering around, she saw none of her brothers or sisters eating it. She decided to stray away from it. She reached for a roll of warm bread, her hand crossing someone else's. She shot a quick, nervous look at Reyson, who sat beside her. They hadn't spoken since the surprise kiss he had given her on her birthday. She had to admit to herself, it felt rather awkward. She had wanted to sit by Ranulf, but with the crowd filing in like they had, she couldn't claim a seat fast enough.
"Sorry," Reyson apologized sincerely. To Mihara, it felt like he was saying sorry for more than accidentally brushing against her hand. He took a bread roll and offered it to her with a warm smile. "Here."
She paused a moment before accepting it with her own smile. "Thanks."
Maybe he's accepted it, after all... Mihara thought back on Reyson's puzzling words from that day.
Leanne, who sat on her other side, leaned over. "Are you okay?"
Instead of looking right at the heron princess, Mihara turned her attention to Leanne's strictly vegetarion plate of food. "Yeah."
Her friend gave her a stern, scolding gaze. "That does not sound convincing."
Mihara then looked in her entrancing green eyes. "I am, really. But you shouldn't be worried about me – how's King Lorazieh?"
Mihara couldn't help but notice that Reyson's voice faltered in his conversation with Ike and Leanne's eyes shone with sadness. Leanne breathed slowly before answering, "He isn't well. His time... It will be here within a few months. He calls out for our mother in his sleep, and also talks about her while he's awake."
"Oh, no..." Mihara clasped Leanne's hand in hers. "I'm so sorry..." She wasn't sure of anything else she could say. As Leanne knew, she wasn't the best at saying things to comfort people. "I'm here for you – all of you."
"I know you are. We are all grateful for that." Leanne offered her a weak smile. "You are truly a good friend."
Sylvia decided to put in her two cents from the other side of Leanne. "Good friend? You didn't know her when she gave me bruises!"
Leanne and Mihara faced her with puzzled expressions. Sylvia viciously bit of some corn from a cob. Mihara slowly said, "I have the feeling this is something that was from a long time ago, but you're trying to not let me forget..."
"You're exactly right!" Sylvia narrowed her eyes. "Even though you were five years younger than me, you were a really abusive kid. I believe you got that from your, er, 'dad.' -You two messed around a lot."
Mihara nodded. Leanne laughed softly into her hand. "That sounds both odd and pleasant."
"Pleasant?" Sylvia practically choked on air. She coughed roughly to emphasize her point. "You gotta be kidding!"
"I agree," spoke Harmony, raising her glass of water from beside Shoen. "She was – and probably is-" she smiled innocently, "as evil as they come."
While Mihara glared at her, Shoen, who had been listening, all but slammed his hand down on the table. "That's what I've been trying to tell everyone!"
"You're my brother. I'm supposed to be mean to you." Mihara grinned, then took a bite of a random food on her plate.
Shoen muttered darkly and he, too, bit on his food brutally. Irea blinked at him before indiscriminately turning to Ranulf's attempt at communication with Soren.
"So, Soren... How's it been?"
The branded tactician froze, glanced at the cat warrior, then went back to what he was doing. Just as Ranulf was about to comment on how rude Soren was, the young man replied with a grunt, "Usual."
Once again, Ranulf responded with a slightly shocked look. He then nodded. "Right, of course... So what's the genuis plan for taking down the big bad goddess?"
If it was possible for Soren to give an expression that called someone dumb, he just did. "Do you think I am going to tell just you? You will find out in the meeting."
"Owch. That was cooollld." Ranulf pouted.
Irea broke the silence that fell. "Is he the strategist?"
"For the Greil Merenaries, yeah." The blue-haired laguz nodded. He glimpsed at his plate of food, or rather, at the turkey, then at Soren. He smirked. "So, Soren... What do you think of this turkey?"
He was answered with complete silence this time.
"No comment, hmm?" Ranulf looked across the table. "Ike! Tried this yet?"
"What? Oh, no. Not yet." Ike's eyes drifted around the closest food dishes, scanning for the turkey.
"Here. Just try mine. I think the turkey's been wiped out." Ranulf picked up a piece and stretched his arm across the table, trying to get it to his friend.
Ike also reached for it. The table was too large, however, for their reaches were not long enough. Ranulf frowned with disappointment. He then got an idea. He stabbed the food with a fork, then tried again to get it to Ike. They still couldn't make it. The cat laguz growled. "Blast it! Here, just take it!" He then threw the cooked bird across the table. It landed on Ike's plate perfectly, save for the fact it landed on his gravy, which caused some of it to leap off the dish and land on his face. Before Ranulf could apologize, he fell into laughter. Even Irea couldn't suppress a giggle. Ike slowly wiped the gravy from his face, glaring playfully at his friend all the while. Mist saw the gleam in her brother's eyes.
"Umm...Ranulf... You might wanna watch-"
"No, there's no need to warn him, Mist... After all...I want him to try this, too." Ike scooped a spoonful of the gravy after he moved the turkey aside.
Ranulf immediately stopped laughing. He chuckled nervously. "Actually, Ike, I've, uhh... I've already had some."
"Oh, really. I insist."
"Now, Ike... How old are we turning this year?" Titania narrowed her eyes slightly at him.
"Not nearly old enough," he replied with an evil smile. Without waiting another instant, he chucked the gravy at Ranulf. The laguz, with his quicker reflexes, ducked. The gravy splattered on the chair. Silence fell in the dining room.
"Ike..." Sanaki's voice was drawn out and held a warning.
Ike looked at the Empress with a sheepish grin. "Don't mind us. Just having a debate is all."
"...A debate?" Her tone obviously said she wasn't buying it.
"About the best food."
All the head at the table turned back and forth, looking between their host and Tellius' hero. Sanaki's eyes drifted over to Ranulf, who instantly pointed a finger across the table. "He started it."
Tibarn rubbed the bridge between his eyes. In laguz years, Ranulf wasn't all that much younger than him, yet he acted like a child. Then again, Ike wasn't much better. Many chuckles were heard around the table as a result of Ranulf's childish accusation. Ike picked up the turkey Ranulf had thrown at him. "Traitor!"
"How am I a traitor?" the feline demanded.
"You ratted me out, even though you're the one who threw this at me! You started it!" Ike threw the turkey back.
Ranulf skillfully caught it, then tossed it back. They also threw remarks at one another. It was so amusing that no one could bring themselves to stop the close friends. They continued eating their own food while watching their entertainment. However, when they graduated to throwing messier food articles, someone stepped in. Mihara took an apple and sliced it in half. She then threw them at both of the men. The one that flew at Ranulf slammed into his chest while Ike's hit his shoulder. They both froze before turning their heads to the daughter of Tibarn. She gave them a light scolding look, but it also displayed amusement. All she said was, "...Really?"
"Such a waste of perfectly good food," added Boyd.
Nods went around the table. The laguz and beorc looked at each other before they broke out in grins, followed quickly by laughter. Sanaki sighed heavily. "Perhaps when they finish, we can move elsewhere to discuss things."
"That sounds good to me!" a new, younger voice chirped.
They all looked towards the doorway to see Yune standing there in her child's form. Mist smiled with relief. "You're feeling better? It's only been a few hours."
"Oh, yes. I'm feeling loads better, thanks to Leanne and Reyson." Her eyes then landed on the man standing behind the heron prince. "...Goodness, what in the world...?"
"Trust me when I say you would be better off not asking," Titania immediately told her.
Yune bobbed her head slowly. "I believe I will agree with you on this one..."
Ranulf smiled angelically at the goddess. "Just for the record, Yune... It wasn't me."
Ike grumbled, shaking his head, not bothering to start that conversation again. Xavier glimsped over at Yune. "Well I, for one, am ready for this meeting."
"I'll second that," Tibarn muttered. Zelena laughed and placed her hand on his arm.
She whispered, only for him to hear, "You must admit that's it's better than...then. I prefer the childish to the dark."
Tibarn couldn't help but smile at his wife and mate. "...Yes. You're right. Still..." He raised an eyebrow as conversations arose again. "It's just another headache."
"I wouldn't say headache..."
"Then what would you call it?"
Zelena's eyes suddenly jumped over to their children, who were also standing to follow to the meeting. "Hmm? What's that, Mihara? Yes, I'm coming!"
With a sly wink to Tibarn, she stood and went to her daughter's side. When Tibarn stood and turned, he chuckled at the puzzled look on Mihara's face. She acts as though it never happened... he mused to himself. That's only another reason on why I love her so much.
"It is still hard to get used to, no?" Nailah's voice suddenly cut through Tibarn's thoughts. He slowly shifted his head so that he could see her talking to Muarim and Tormod, both of which had happened to be at the palace.
Muarim nodded sagely, an almost evil smirk upon his lips. The three were looking directly at the Hawk King. The tiger answered, "Indeed, it is."
"It still kinda creeps me out, if you ask me," Tormod said.
"...Dare I ask what in the goddess' name you three are talking about?" Tibarn inquired.
"It is still strange to see you displaying so much emotion openly," Nailah replied without any hesitation.
Tibarn furrowed his brows. "It's barely been a day."
"Well, once you got Mihara and Shoen back, y'know, it was still obvious!" Tormod threw his arms in the air, as if trying to say there were no hope in talking to Tibarn about something like this. "I mean, it's even more obvious now."
"Of course it is. Lady Zelena is a very beautiful woman," Muarim pointed out.
Tibarn gave him a hard, cold stare. Muarim didn't move until he chose his next words. "I was merely stating the truth."
Nailah resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "You look like a jealous little boy, Hawk King."
"...Tread carefully, Wolf Queen."
"Why do you say that to me?" she demanded.
"Well, you've always had to. I just felt like...reminding you." Tibarn then went to follow the crowd into another room.
Nailah watched after him with a frown. "...What the hell?"
XxXxXxX
Everyone was getting situated at the new table they were instructed to sit at. It was an enormous round table, sitting in a rather plain room. Much to her delight, Mihara had managed to snag a seat next to Ranulf this time, and had Sylvia sitting on her other side. Everyone then filed in, claiming a seat if they could. There wasn't quite enough room, so Tibarn stood behind Zelena's seat, Ike stood by his sister, Geoffrey and Kieran remained behind Elincia's chair, and Janaff and Ulki leaned against the wall. Yune sat in a chair inbetween Sanaki and Mist, two of the three girls she was closest to. Micaiah, obviously, was not present. Boyd couldn't help but give a wink to Rhys, who was sitting beside of Aislyn. Rhys, being Rhys, gave him a light glare, trying to hide his slightly embarassed face.
Once it settled down, Tibarn began speaking. "Before we get started, Yune, there is something we want to ask you."
"What would that be?"
"Why was it you told Zelena about Ashera's weakness, out of all people on Tellius?"
"Oh, dear, I thought that would've been obvious." Yune giggled lightly. "It's quite simple. I was upset that she would grant that dragon laguz his wish and send Mihara away. I didn't like it, so I had to use all the power I could to try and help you two. I know what it feels like to be separated from loved ones..." Her voice became more sad. "And I didn't want my sister to be the source of more pain. When we had been one, her half was so peaceful... I wanted her back."
"Why would you tell them about us before they knew of us?" Laurel asked lightly.
"Well, I never said swan specifically... I don't think..." Yune's gaze went to Zelena, who shook her head.
"No, you didn't. You just said a song."
Yune nodded. "Yes, that sounds right. However, our more current problem...would probably be her shield. The barrier she can put up is more than likely a lot stronger than it was a few years ago."
"Why is that?" Tormod frowned.
"Because there aren't any battles going on? No war?" Harmony guessed, using her knowledge from the Fire Emblem video game.
"Exactly."
"Can you not grant Ike your power again?" Elincia inquired.
Yune sadly shook her head. "No. We would be an even match. It is true that only a goddess can..."kill" another goddess, but we are not aiming to "kill" her. We merely want to wound her so that she can't do anything while we try and fuse our souls again."
"Even so, could he not still severely injure her?" Keenan pointed out.
There was a hesitation. "We would still have to get her barrier down. Honestly, I'll be a little weary for a few days. Correctly and carefully replacing a soul into a body takes...a lot of energy."
Zelena's eyes flashed with grief. "I'm sorry."
"No, it isn't your fault," Yune insisted. "It was Ashera's fault. There might have been a chance that I could've helped you when I was Ashunera, but during that period where neither of us existed, you might have disappered."
"When neither of you exist?" echoed Xavier.
"During the period of time we'd actually be merging," the goddess explained. "In some technicality, we don't exist then."
"Umm… I suppose that makes…some strange sense…" The Otter King blinked with thought.
"So…how about we start at the beginning now?" Ike crossed his arms. "How do we get in the Tower? Do you think she'll have resistance set up already?"
Soren then nodded, his area of experitise surfacing. "She will more than likely have some soldiers. I figure they'll be guarding the first floor and the room just before Ashera's chamber."
While they thought about this, Sylvia cautiously asked, "What about when we get to Earth? There's a portal in Ashera's chamber somewhere, right?"
"Yes, it should be. This is the part I'm willing to admit that I'm not sure. She could be preoccupied with examining the land and its layout, the people…among other things. I would assume that she will at least have a small group that would protect her." Soren narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
"We know of at least one good fighter she has with her," Shoen pointed out. "Vlas."
"Vlas?" Sanaki repeated.
"He was one of my generals. He was training Mihara and Shoen before he showed his true colors." Tibarn gripped the top of Zelena's chair tightly. "He's actually the dragon laguz who went to Ashera. She changed his race to hide his identity."
"How well can he fight?" Oscar rested his head in his hand.
"He has more speed than power…" Mihara replied, thinking of her personal spars with her old teacher. "He's really sly. He can maneuver really easily and turn on a dime."
"Does he have any specific, noticeable style?" came Titania.
"He likes to attack from above. That's pretty much it…" Mihara trailed off.
"He'll come in from behind and below if you fly in the air," Shoen added.
"Are there any threats from Earth we should be aware of?" Ranulf looked towards Sylvia and Harmony.
They glanced at each other. "Well, there isn't any magic on Earth – none like this, anyway," Harmony began. "But there are much tricker, umm, beorc weapons."
"Like what?" questioned Aislyn, her ears forward, listening.
"There are these things called guns," Sylvia told them, her voice serious. "They work something like crossbows. You pull a trigger and this thing called a bullet comes flying towards you."
"A bullet?" a few voices reaffirmed.
"It's a little ball made of different types of metal," she explained. "The bad part is, it goes towards you so fast that you can't hardly dodge. The bullet can get lodged in your body a lot of times, depending on where it goes."
Most of those present in the room flinched.
"Those are the most commonly used weapons. There are some things called flamethrowers…" Harmony recalled.
"I thought you said there was no magic," Lucia pointed out.
"No, this isn't magic. It's technology. It's similar to the gun, only, when you pull the trigger, fire comes shooting out. It can be really destructive." The new otter laguz looked towards Ranulf. "So I know that'll be tricky for you and the others. The guns are bad news for everyone."
"Are there no bows and arrows?" Shinon inquired, speaking for the first time.
"There are, but they aren't used as common weapons." Sylvia leaned forward in her chair, setting both her arms on the table. "They're more used for hunting and recreational purposes. In our world, they're really old-timey weapons."
The ones at the table who fought with the said weapon scoffed. Their weapon? Old-timey? Ridiculous. Boyd barely managed to suppress a snicker – mostly directed at his younger brother. Harmony leaned over and told Sylvia, "They'll see."
Yune looked over at the Greil Mercenaries' tactician. "Can you use this information to form a sort of plan?"
Soren nodded his head once. "Yes. I will think on it tonight."
"How will we return here?" Irea suddenly brought up. "Do you think she will have another separate portal over there, or…?"
No one had an answer to that one.
"If I can have the aid of Mihara, Harmony, and Sylvia, I should be able to bring everyone back without using too much power…" Yune said, not too assuringly.
"I suppose we'll just have to wait and see, then." Xavier shrugged, appearing not too worried about it. "I think we'll figure something out."
XxXxXxX
After the meeting finally broke, Mihara managed to sneak away from her friends and family. She found Ranulf wandering about the halls, not too far from the room she was sharing with Leanne, Harmony, Sylvia, Mist, and – strangely enough – Queen Nailah. She couldn't help but smile at his shadowy figure. She saw his ears twitch, and he turned to look at her, a warm smile dancing across his face. As Mihara walked up to his side, he took one of hands into his own.
"And what are you doing out here at this time of the evening?" he inquired teasingly.
"Looking for you," she responded with the same tone.
The cat laguz chuckled lightly. As they walked, Ranulf mostly deciding which hallway to go down, he asked her, "Is everything okay? I thought you seemed a little…unnerved around Reyson at dinner."
"Umm…" Mihara wasn't sure whether or not she should tell him. Well, it wasn't like she had been going behind his back or anything – the kiss had happened before Ranulf even confessed to her! "Well, a while back…just before I fought Kyo…Reyson gave me a birthday present."
"That bracelet you've been wearing?" he guessed.
She grinned. It made her happy that he actually noticed it, even under her winter clothing. "Yeah."
"That made you unnerved?"
"No, it wasn't that… Just after he gave it to me… He…kissed me."
Something shone in Ranulf's eyes for a second. Mihara noticed that his grip on her hand tightened, ever so slightly. "…Did he…say anything, then?" His voice was quiet and almost threatening, though not directed at Mihara.
"…He told me, pretty much, that he had feelings for me. But then, he also said he looked into my heart and decided he didn't stand a chance against you," she added quickly. "I suppose…he just wanted to let me know. I only felt awkward at dinner because we haven't seen each other since then, so we hadn't really talked about it…"
"I see…"
The silence that fell killed Mihara. She almost felt like he was… "Are you upset?"
"What?" Ranulf practically laughed. "Why would I be upset?" Before she could answer, he kissed her hair. "I could never be upset with you."
With how his voice was so low and quiet, and how his touch felt, Mihara's stomach flipped around a little. She looked into his amethyst-emerald eyes, not faltering in her walking. His eyes sparkled back at her, shining in the light given off by the torches that lit the halls. He glanced away for a moment before saying, "Ah, here we are."
The Hawk Princess' eyes drifted over to where Ranulf was looking. He had led her to a balcony, where there was a bench that sat there, the moon shining in the sky, nearly directly in front of them. She let him lead her to the bench. When they moved to sit down, Ranulf's hand fell away from hers, and he wrapped his arm around her. She leaned into him, inhaling his scent, which smelled distinctly like the forest of Gallia. She closed her eyes for a minute, wishing this moment could go on forever. When she opened her eyes again, she saw two figures walking down in the courtyard. She squinted her eyes, not being able to see much but shadows. "…Who is that?" she softly wondered aloud.
Ranulf followed her line of sight before laughing lightly. "It seems Rhys had the same idea as me."
"Who's with him? Is that…?" She looked at little harder. "Aislyn?"
"Sure is."
The two figures down below were quietly conversing and moving to sit on a small stone wall that went around a tree. Mihara watched them for a moment, looking away when she saw their fingers entwine. She looked back towards the moon, a small breeze blowing through the area. She liked the feeling of Ranulf gently running his free fingers through her long black hair. "…Ranulf?"
"Yeah?"
"I just wish…that this night didn't have to end."
"Me either. But we need to get through tomorrow in order to enjoy more nights like this," he pointed out.
"I know… But…if only there were a spell to stop time." She leaned in closer to him. "I'm just worried about tomorrow… I don't want you to get hurt."
"I won't," he promised. He paused a moment, then added, "You do know that your father is going to try and force you and Shoen to stay tomorrow?"
"I figured." Mihara sighed. "And Sylvia, Harmony, and Irea, too, right?"
"He's most concerned with you two."
"…You want me to stay, too, don't you?"
Ranulf brought his fingers out from Mihara's hair and tenderly leaned his head down on top of hers. "I would like it. I don't want to have to worry about you. I want you to be safe, considering all that Ashera's put you through."
"But I don't want to be somewhere else while you're in danger…" Mihara placed her hand over his. "I don't know if I could take it."
"You want to know how I know I'm not going to get hurt? I have to come back to you. As long as I remember that, I know I'll make it through. That way, you could take it, knowing I'd come back just fine. The same goes for Tibarn, too."
"Yeah, but Earth is… It's so much more dangerous than it is here on Tellius," she pointed out.
"All the more reason to be careful, then, huh?" Ranulf leaned forward and looked at Mihara's face. It stung at him how worried and sad her eyes appeared to be. Not only that, but she wasn't making eye contact with him. "…Mihara, look at me."
Hesitantly, she looked away from the ground and fully into his eyes. He leaned in and kissed her cheek. When he leaned back, he gazed into her golden eyes. "I love you. That's why I'm coming back to you."
Those words brought a smile to her face. Out of curiosity, she questioned, "What all do you love about me?"
"Aside from everything?" He chuckled. "Your smile… Your sarcasm, your strength, your determination…your stubbornness. The way you laugh, the way you joke around…and not to mention, the way you try to act tough, but you actually get embarrassed easily."
Pointedly, Mihara blushed a light shade of red, making Ranulf laugh. "Just like that."
"What-? No, I'm not-!"
"You so totally are." He grinned and cupped her cheek with his right hand. He rubbed his thumb back and forth across her skin.
I really do love him… While I do believe that he'll come back, there's just this pit in my stomach…and it won't go away. It's like something is reminding me that there may be more dangers on Earth than I can remember or that Harmony and Sylvia talked about. And because of everything Ashera put me through...it makes me want to be part of her end.
-Oh, do you, now?-
Fear shot throughout Mihara's body, making her tremble. Ranulf gave her a concerned look, and though she saw his lips move, she didn't hear anything he said.
-Did you really think I forgot about you, daughter of Tibarn? You are sadly mistaken.-
Ashera…! What…? What the hell do you want with me now?
-Oh, nothing in particular. I merely want to cause you pain. It will surely enrage your parents. Hopefully, it will affect your mother more, since I threatened to harm you should she try and contact anyone. She obviously thinks I wouldn't know that Yune managed to recreate her body and put her soul in it.-
Why can't you just leave us alone? You've got an entirely different world to be more concerned with now!
-Please. I know that your mother told all of you how to defeat me.-
"Mihara?" Ranulf shook her shoulders, unwrapping his arm from her. He felt her body shaking, and her eyes were focused on a point directly in front of her. She wasn't responding to him at all. Rage burned in his veins. That could only mean…!
-That is just merely another reason to harm those closest to her. I would go after your brother, as well, but I cannot connect with him as I can you.-
Mihara growled menacingly in her throat. Don't you even try to touch my brother!
A laugh rang inside her head. –Oh? What could you possibly do to me?-
I would find a way, believe me. I'm beyond sick of you.
-Don't worry. The feeling is mutual. That is why I don't have to worry any longer. You will soon be dead.-
Before Mihara could retort to that, the pain came. Her hands shot to her head, nearly hitting Ranulf in the process. Her wings folded tightly against her back, as though they were crumpling up. She attempted at restraining her scream of pain that she wanted to let loose. Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated. If it was possible, her body quivered even more. Before her, Ranulf's eyes were narrowed with worry and anger. He gripped both her shoulders tightly and shook her. "Mihara? Mihara, snap out of it! Come on, I'm right here…!"
"Agh-!"
"Come on; don't let her do this to you, Mihara! Fight her! Don't let her have her way!"
"Ra…! Ran…ulf…!" Mihara managed to choke out through her clenched teeth. "Hel…! Help…me…!"
"Mihara, come on! You can-!"
Suddenly, Mihara's body fell limp, forward, into Ranulf's arms, her eyes sliding shut.
"Mihara!"
XxXxXxX
Okay, that is the conclusion of this chapter! I'm still so happy it's a good length...!
Mihara: (nod)
Me: With any luck and some encouraging reviews, the next one might be just as long.
Mihara: Or long-ER. -ER is nice. Very nice.
Me: ...Why are you smirking really evilly at me...?
Mihara: Oh, no reason! Thanks for reading, everyone! Please drop off a review in the review box!
