I did something AMAZING yesterday! I completed Radiant Dawn on the Hard Difficulty for the first time ever!

Never doing that again! NEVER!

5 - Shinon (96 Wins), 4 - Nephenee (99 Wins), 3 - Ike (112 Wins), 2 - Mia (116 Wins) and 1 - Haar (147 Wins)

Paralogue Five

Aertoklys and Temasheen

"Look!"

Talia looked up, the caravan was nearing the Castle but that is not what the soldiers were speaking off. The barrier surrounding Numengate was fading and breaking apart. The woman shook her head and smiled "They did it."

Wilt nodded "Now it's our turn..."

"The time is now…my Fell Lord…"

The Fell Lord turned "Yes…Kanahana, Versha and Jyuugo did all that was required of them. Now we begin..."

"Shall I call all of our undead armies to us?" Kino asked.

The Fell Lord grinned "Yes…bring them here…this Bastion will be the center of all death."

"If you don't mind me asking my Fell Lord, without Drake we cannot bring everything back to a blank slate we desire."

The Fell Lord turned to Ushnae and smiled "If I didn't already have an extremely convenient second plan you'd be right. We will have our blank slate. We just need those pests to come to us. With them they bring all that we need..."

As the Fell Lord laughed the men around him bowed.

"Has word been sent?"

Vassaan, Iltar'Elm and Re'Zin bowed as Talia entered the room with the sniper speaking first.

"Yes my Queen. The armies are forming and preparing to move in to hold the Border Wood pass."

Talia nodded slowly "Do we know the battle plans of our allied forces?"

Vassaan stood this time "Yes my Queen. The Regalshin Army is stationing in Bohks their border city north of the Gray Rapids. From there they will cross the river and move in behind the Midnight Bastion."

Re'Zin stood last "The Sarharans are going to move in across Myillheim. There was some debate over whether they should go through or around the Void Treant. Moving an army through the forest won't be easy but it will cut down on time that would be otherwise waster from taking the circular route. The last I heard they decided on cutting through and approaching the Bastion from the Citadel Bridge."

The Queen turned to Vassaan who cleared his throat "Finally the Pozem forces are going to move across the Ilse Pond headed for the riverside Drakwaeter. If all goes well the Bastion will be surrounded…"

Talia sighed "All will not go well. We know this…but we must…"

Eyre stepped into the room and bowed "The armies await your order my Queen. The very second you say so we commence the invasion."

Upon exiting the meeting Talia noticed Soren and Mia waiting. The Queen approached them and held up her hand to stop their bow "Please…you have done so much for us..."

She noticed the looks in their eyes and shook her head "…and I apologize for the pain we've caused. If I may ask…what happened?"

Soren sighed deeply "During our battle at the Grove Tower we lost Wyre Reh the Thunder Sage of Hitenticul and we just met with Mikel and Leena's team who went to Pozem. Gatrie of Tellius' Greil Mercenaries has also fallen in combat..."

Talia put a hand on Soren's shoulder "I wish there was something we could do for those you've lost. I understand if you wish to stop for the sake of your friends' lives."

Mia smiled "Thank you, Queen Talia, but we are going to continue for those who died. We can't stop now…"

Talia moved away and nodded "The armies are preparing to move, have you all decided what you are going to do?"

The trueblade looked to Soren whose expression was still very dark so she spoke up "We are joining with Mikel and Leena's group and moving in with your army. We'll be fighting alongside the advance forces to secure your armies forward motion but once an opportunity presents itself we'll be breaking off for the front gates of the Midnight Bastion. The other teams will meet us there. I know they will…"

At that moment To'Eltz and the Western New Emissaries found themselves in Aertoklys the Historic Vale south of Myillheim. The city was known for being the oldest historical center in Ymarkteg. The Archives in each nation did not exist during the Warring Ages, instead there was one city devoted to history and it was in Numengate. In today's world most of its content is in the Central Archive but since it was destroyed along with the Numengate Citadel the information in the city is one of a kind and much more valuable than ever.

Despite all that it was merely a stop for To'Eltz's group as they headed towards the Midnight Bastion. The group passed by many hordes of the undead on their way to Aertoklys and the hordes were growing in size and becoming impossible to avoid.

Even now Eien stood on a roof in Aertoklys and looked out over the midday landscape. Shaking her head she whispered "There are so many."

Michalis landed near her and Kay'Shera jumped off "From what I could see the numbers are unbelievable. Trying to pierce through them might work but we'd be in no shape to tackle the Bastion."

Eien sighed "Indeed. If I transported us there we'd be good but I'd drain all of my energy. I need to face Ushnae and the Apothecary at my best…"

To'Eltz joined them "Well…I'll have to figure something out…in the meant time we've got to get some rest. The fighting is going to begin soon."

The three retreated down into the library the group was holed up in.

Zey'Yu sat spinning one of her knives, bored while watching Volke read through yet another book.

"Are you actually reading everything that fast?"

Volke just grunted as Zey'Yu shook her head "Are you actually retaining anything?"

"Only what might come in handy in the future."

The woman turned as the other three appeared, she smiled at Kay'Shera before turning to To'Eltz "So, what's the plan?"

"We're resting on it. Not much else we can do at the moment."

Teiaya, Heather and Nephenee walked over with the Edge Sorcerer speaking "How many did you see?"

Eien shook her head "In a gross understatement…there are a lot."

"Great…" Heather muttered as she turned away and shook her head.

"No use worrying about it right now. Bunker down, we'll be here a while…"

At To'Eltz order there were a few nods and grunts as the group moved to sit and wait.

"Ike!"

The team burst into the massive room with weapons drawn. Any worry was gone upon seeing Ike sitting in the center of the room. The group sheathed their weapons upon closer inspection; next to Ike laid the body of Norad Jyuugo.

Mertre walked over to him "Ike?"

He sat still looking at Jyuugo's hand still clutching Alondite. Standing slowly Ike turned to the rest of the group "Let's go..."

"What about the Orichalcum?" Ranulf asked.

The Legend shook his head "It's gone. The Midnight was not here to defend the Orichalcum because it sustained the barrier. Rather they were buying time until the Orichalcum completed its job…reviving the Fell Lord's Students."

Rhogam shook his head "So one of them revived and took off…"

Ike nodded "I assume so…I was a little preoccupied to notice."

The Legend stopped and turned back to face his fallen enemy "Ranulf?"

The Laguz nodded and walked over to the Dread Fighter, prying Alondite from his grip. "What happened?"

Ike coughed and fell to one knee; Mertre apologized and took out her staff quickly "I'll have you fixed up in no time."

Titania had been surveying the room the whole time; she couldn't believe the damage the two men caused. There were holes of all sizes in the walls and the ceiling and even some silver and blue flames still burning all around. No battle Ike had been in led to this much collateral. What had they missed?

A flash came over Ike and Altina was before him again.

"Why are you so down, Ike?"

The Legend shook his head "I never truly uncovered Jyuugo's means. Why he did what he did..."

Altina nodded "Archanea is a land covered in a bloodstained history of constant war. The Hero King fought the demented dragon for his lands freedom only to have to pick his blade up again against a former ally. Even with this knowledge the once peaceful land of Archanea is now in the midst of a world changing war against itself."

Ike shook his head "It shatters any belief I have that any change we try to embed into any land will be undone in any number of generations…"

Altina sighed "I know the feeling all too well. Dheginsea, Soan, Lehran and I fought for the Goddess to bring peace to Tellius and yet so many more wars were fought to claim a different version of peace than what we brought to the realm..."

"What I truly want to know is…whose side was Jyuugo on?"

The two glanced one last time at the Dread Fighter with Altina's fading words being a simple.

"We'll never know…"

"Meltraitis Regalshin..."

The Spear Lord bowed "My Fell Lord. I didn't see Drake Pozem when I walked in."

The Fell Lord nodded "We lost him."

Meltraitis turned to the other men before facing the Fell Lord again "Then-"

"There is another way to achieve our goal. We just to patient and wait..."

Shinon sat alone in a dark room, he was aware the rest of the Emissaries were preparing to leave. The Queen was already gone along with Vassaan, their army was going to move out in a matter of minutes and he had no desire to move.

Even Gore Eye remained surprisingly silent as the marksman stared at the wall.

"Shinon."

Soren? Mia? Uhnie?

Turning the marksman saw Janie standing at the doorway, the second his eyes met hers she tensed up and it looked like she was about to run away.

The man turned away and remained silent as Janie took one step forward "I'm sorry Shinon. I know you don't want to hear this but it was my fault. I let my personal problems get in the way. I wasn't paying attention and he….I tried to move and I knew what was happening but…"

"Stop."

Janie instantly went silent as Shinon sighed "We talked a lot before leaving for the damn towers…he was the same idiot I've known most of my life. Still obsessed with women yet never settling on one…yet no matter how I looked to anyone else there was no one I'd rather have as a friend at my side…"

Janie nodded as Shinon stood up and turned to her "He believed in you for many reasons and I saw something in the way he looked at you. I'm not sure to what level it was but I wish he had more time to decide for himself..."

"I knew about his behaviors from Soren and Mia but he was just so nice to me…even in the end…throwing all his belief at me. He had more trust in me than I've ever had in myself."

Shinon nodded "He had that much trust in you so now I have to put my trust in you as well…I have to believe that he was right about what you could do. So don't apologize. Let us both move on with his trust."

Janie smiled "Yes…we will…"

The marksman motioned for her and she turned "I'll tell the others you'll be out soon if you want a few moments."

The Elder Sage left Shinon to his thoughts again; he looked up and inhaled deeply as an unfamiliar wetness stained his left cheek.

Realizing that the barrier around Numengate had fallen, the Northern Emissaries decided on the quickest route to the Core Nation.

Ike gave one last look to the Frost Tower before focusing on the road and battles that lie ahead. Together the team cut through Yinshire which seemed like a ghost town, no one was daring to leave their homes out of fear. While it was a sad sight it made for quick travel and soon enough the group was nearing the Froghul Village.

"Rhogam! Well, you all seem to be in quite the hurry."

The Reaver nodded "Yes indeed Herzoltz, we are needed in Numengate."

The group turned as Master Ghul approached "Trying to cross anywhere near the Ymtar Range would be a problem. If you travel east you will come to the Cerulean River, follow it south to Temasheen. The city was the Overwatch for Numengate Citadel in the Warring Ages. A massive tower built in Temasheen gave advance forces very early warnings for incoming enemy attacks."

Zihark bowed "Thank you Master Ghul…will you and your people be safe here?" The old Froghul nodded "Of course, we've lived here for many years and have no intention of moving. If war comes to us we will defend ourselves."

Rhogam shook Herzoltz and Master Ghul's hands "Be safe, we're going to finish this."

The team took off with the Froghuls waving after them. Herzoltz turned to the elder "Do you believe they will succeed…"

Returning to his home the old man scratched his chin before smiling "Of course I do."

"The Border Wood will be flooded with the Midnight's Undead Army! I cannot guarantee anyone their lives! But I can assure you that what we fight for is worth that and more! We will succeed! Let's move!"

At Eyre's rallying call the armies of Anondye responded with powerful roars before advancing forward. The massive flags of Anondye billowed in the wind near Queen Talia's Caravan.

Wilt swallowed "You don't have to come with us…"

"I do…staying in the castle with a skeleton force will only assure all of our deaths. Remember, the Midnight is not the only threat…"

Wilt nodded slowly "The Altar will not get past me. I swear it."

Near the supply convoys Mia spotted a pair of old merchants and smiled while waving at them "Fistivus…Lune…"

The old merchants smiled back with the old man speaking "You didn't think we'd sit this out…did you?"

Mia laughed "Of course not. It's great to see you two still doing well."

Lune sighed "I wish we could say the same about you. We heard about Wyre and Gatrie…those poor boys."

Mia turned away "There was nothing that could be done…this is far from over. All we can do is finish the fight."

Meanwhile, Soren neared the Halberd who fought alongside him for so long. "Wayu."

She looked at him and smiled "Soren…what is it?"

"I know you'll just say yes but are you truly alright?"

The Halberd looked ahead then back at Soren "I have to be…"

Shaking his head Soren spoke "You don't have to be…we all lost him but I know what you lost…you don't have to push yourself."

Wayu remained silent as Soren put a hand on her shoulder.

"He made me stronger…and by giving his life I've seen his strength and resolve. I'll never match up to him…but I'm going to try because it will help everyone in the end. I want to grieve and mourn but there is too much to be done…"

Soren saw the look in Wayu's eyes and smiled despite everything "You're right. We're going to finish this. All of us…together."

"There you are."

A large man smiled, grabbing his familiar weapon and tearing it out of the ground "Who thought to put you here? Who would even bother?"

Upon hearing someone breathe in harshly the man turned.

"Well. The surprises continue."

The woman shook her head "Ashnard?"

The former Mad King of Daein just shrugged "Almedha..."

The woman looked at the man before her; in his grip was his blade, Gurgurant.

"Why are you…how…?"

Ashnard looked up at the sky "He's grown strong."

Almedha followed Ashnard's gaze to see birds flying in the sky high above "Do you mean…"

Upon turning back the Mad King was gone, Almedha turned around quickly but he was nowhere in sight. If she truly saw what she thought she saw, he was long gone by now and never coming back.

Mertre got down from her Pegasus, the woman now stood on top of Temas Tower the obelisk that reached high into the sky. She could see the dark magnificence of the Midnight Bastion and swallowed "To think we have to go there."

The group arrived at Temasheen as the night began to fall; they saw very sparse groups of Undead with most of them congested around the Midnight Bastion.

"Mertre…"

She turned to see Ike climb up to join her "You aren't going to ask me to sit back are you?"

He laughed "You wouldn't listen no matter what I say but I still feel the need to say-"

"Be careful…I've got it…if anything I should be worried about you. What exactly happened with Jyuugo?"

Ike sat down and looked over Numengate "He made me question everything I've ever done…but not in a manipulative way. Nearly everything he said made sense and the events he went through in his past…brutal and true evidence…"

"Like what?" Mertre asked as she sat next to him.

"We are fighting to attain peace…not just for Ymarkteg but for any land that the Fell Lord might seek to taint. Jyuugo did the same in past. I don't know what side he fought for but he fought for an ideal. He soon realized whatever ideal won out in the end it would eventually decompose and give way to another clash of ideals. How can we be certain the peace will be true? In a generation or two the new rulers of the land could become corrupted and war will wage again. There is no way to stop it."

Mertre nodded "Indeed…but one thing we have to remember is that our intention was never to wipe out all war. That is something no one can do…we can however, give freedom and if we truly want to maintain it we need to manage it and keep it strong. The second we stop working for peace the decomposition will begin…"

Ike turned to face Mertre "You're right…it's the Altar that seeks to control all human behavior…we just want to shift it for the better."

"And we will…"

As the two sat atop the tower biding their time, the invasion of Numengate was underway.

Night would fall on the Core Nation again and this time the armies of Anondye would surge forward and clash with the Fell Lord's Undead Horde.

With Soren and Mia within the army their goal was clear: break through and reach the Midnight Bastion. From there the end would write itself.