Chapter 12: Just Being Normal

"All coming along nicely..."

Gaston stared at his master, now it wasn't anything new for Phantom to lie in one of the luxurious chairs that dotted the ship, what concerned him was the constant amount of talking that Phantom did... to himself.

"And then tomorrow... yes that'll work."

Really, he didn't want to ask in case Phantom decided to go on another rant about how brilliant he was... Besides he had to put the silverware away from his master got careless and broke it again.

"Oh and they're so frustrated too!"

He didn't want to know... he really didn't

"Of course, then she'll soon warm up to me."

*CRASH*

"Gaston, now look at what you've done. Those were the ones I took from the treasury in Ariant."

Currently the butler wasn't very coherent, too busy with comprehending what he had just heard. Warm up to him? Somebody warm up to Phantom? The most arrogant man he had ever met? The one who had the talent to turn any civil conversation into an immediate argument?

"And now you're not even replying, oh well, just make sure that's cleaned up will you?" Phantom slid off the chair, suave as could be, as if he didn't already know he had dropped the proverbial bomb on his butler turned personal assistant.

Giving up at holding back his curiosity, Gaston threw out the question he knew Phantom was waiting for him to ask. "Master, who is this 'she' that you are referring to?" Gaston had never expected Phantom would find a person he liked outside of those he already knew, much less find a woman interested in him.

And just as expected the thief gave his trademark mischievous smirk before replying. "Oh Gaston, it will be my greatest achievement thus far…"

Gaston paled drastically, if Phantom was giving this the "greatest achievement thus far" title, it was either:

1. Life-threateningly dangerous.

2. Involved copious amounts of something he liked to call, "sucking up."

3. Phantom actually thought of this as something worthy of the title.

In any case it was serious business.

"I will soon have stolen the heart of Empress Aria, the ruler of the Maple World, and with it, he Skaia."

"…"

"What, no reaction? I knew I stunned you with my brilliant plan."

Completely uncharacteristically, Gaston grabbed Phantom's shoulder with one hand.

"Master, I know you despise me nagging you, however I implore you not to go through with this." The old man's face was completely serious, without any humor or previous uncertainty. Phantom just frowned slightly.

"It is never wise to play with anyone's heart, keep along this path and you will be no different than the Black Mage."

"…Nonsense Gaston, I will do nothing of he sort. Now leave me be."

Apparently his butler not agreeing or at least acquiescing to his prerogative was not something he was used to.

"As you wish, but simply remember, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned' master."

-Ereve-

"…Well, see you at dinner."

Mercedes and Freud had just left Aria's office after discussing the results of the Aria Knight's battle with the Black Mage's ferocious new general. The atmosphere was to say the least, not relaxed.

"I think dinner is the least of our worries Brains, we have to figure out who we're up against. Not to mention find a way to reinforce our army."

"Hey don't be so high strung, these things take time and worrying about them constantly won't help anybody."

"Yeah…" The Elven Queen seemed to hesitate before speaking again. "Freud… do you think we can win?" A look of shame covered her face as soon as the words left her mouth, seemingly depressed to be showing such a display of weakness.

The wizard on the other hand, had no answers for her. He knew what he thought deep in his gut, he just didn't want to admit it. Unfortunately Mercedes could already assume the worst from his silence.

"Thought so." And without another word set off at a brisk pace towards the room that had been assigned to her.

"…" Freud wondered why all he could do was worsen her mood. He wanted to help her, to take on just a piece of the crushing mantle on her shoulders…

"What am I thinking."

"Empress I must insist…"

"Nonsense, I haven't had anybody to talk to in the longest time."

"I have business to attend to-"

"Weapon maintenance can wait until later! We have to get you ready."

"Ready for what…?"

After reaching her room, Mercedes had begun to set down her things and wash up. Just as she was setting out some clothes in preparation to shower, the Empress had burst into her room, talking about prettying her up and dragging the bewildered Queen along.

"Empress… I really don't think this is necessary." Currently a the mercy of the young ruler, Mercedes could only let herself be dragged along, however unwilling she was.

"Nonsense, I don't want another word of complaint out of your mouth over this."

Humming a merry tune to herself while dragging Mercedes along, Aria was quite possibly in the best mood she had been in for awhile. Everybody who came to visit her were there for political reasons or for personal gain, at least this time there was somebody she could talk to.

And well, it wasn't like she could bring her other visitor to the dinner table, it was more likely he would be apprehended by the guards if he was even seen.

"Empress I really must insist…"

"Nope, not another word."

As she was pulled into what seemed to be the Empress' personal quarters, Mercedes let out a small sound of surprise. The place was decked, that was the only way to say it: an antique vase in the corner, an extravagantly large bouquet of flowers, jewelry, no doubt made of the highest quality gold and diamond, laid on the table. Even her room wasn't as lavish as this, and she was the Queen of her people.

All of it however, seemed… out of place somehow.

"Come now, you haven't bathed yet have you? It's been days since you left Elluel hasn't it?"

Aria seemed only too happy to push Mercedes into the bathroom by which the Elven Queen was surprised that it was only a modest tub, enough for a few people certainly, but nothing like the extravagance in the actual room. Her curiosity was piqued.

"Hurry now, we still have to be on time for dinner and it's horribly rude to make a guest wait." The Empress clearly could have cared less if there was a guest or not, right now she was being what she was meant to be: a normal female young adult.

"After this you're going to wear something more fitting than those regal robes you have on all the time."

"What? What's wrong with them?"

"They're much too formal, I can't imagine that it would be comfortable to sleep in them."

Seeing no point in arguing with the unexpectedly pushy Empress, the Elven Queen simply followed along, content for once, to be free from her responsibilities, even if it was a temporary reprieve.

"Certainly this is a slightly grand affair for 2 guests?" Freud's dubious voice echoed throughout the glistening dining hall. It looked as if someone had dumped gallons of soap across the floor before scrubbing it down for hours. That, and he was willing to bet that it must have taken a small army to cook the meal in front of him.

"Of course not, we would be ashamed if we had offered you anything besides the finest hospitality."

Gilehart had somehow found his way next to Freud's side as soon as the young Mage had set foot outside of his room. The two had lighted a quick friendship; finding a common ground in both magic and political issues. Nothing like some intelligent conversation to become familiar.

"Well if you say so… shall we sit? In my experience females take a bit longer than males to get ready." Pulling out a seat for both himself and his companion, Freud pulled out a set of cards and placed them on the table face up. Gilehart raised his eyebrow.

"I didn't pin you as one for gambling."

In response the brunette merely chuckled. "Oh no, these aren't cards for gambling. A friend of mine has recently persuaded me to attempt to use some of his magic."

As he spoke his hands went over the cards, causing a few to float up from the pile. They levitated from ages moments before slowly flying forwards, continuing to fly around their heads.

"Well whatever types of magic your friend practices they certainly aren't very destructive."

"Well… that's not necessarily true. I suppose mine just isn't as impressive as his."

"Still I do believe it's quite pretty." Indeed, the cards flew gently in he air, slight blue glow around each one as a sign of the magic imbued in them. Soon they began to layer themselves back onto the deck one by one.

"What is that, a magic trick to entertain our host?" Just as the last cards fell onto the top of the stack, the sharp inquiry of Mercedes echoed from the other end of the dining hall.

Looking up, Freud began his response. "You could say that. It'll turn into something much more in the futu-"

The words which had flowed in Freud's brain seemed to have chosen against making an appearance from his mouth when his eyes took in the sight of his partner.

Now in a flowing meadow green dress, Mercedes had never looked so… feminine. The dress hung around her body with a pair of comfortable sandals on her feet. A single silver necklace hung around her revealed neckline; flowers tied into her hair which was now in a neat bun.

"Go on… they'll become much more you were saying?"

Taking a moment to comprise himself, Freud succeeded in restarting his previously borderline comatose mind. "In the future; I plan to do much more with them in the future is what I was going to say."

Aria joined them nearly right after. "Well it seems we're all here, shall we start dinner?"

After the rest consented they sat down for what felt like well over an hour for Freud. He could barely taste anything with that maddening floral scent that seemed to float off of the Elven Queen sitting directly next to him. Said Queen had impeccable manners, even knowing which utensil was for the soups, main course, and desserts.

Of course by the end of this he was thoroughly distracted, forgetting to put away his cards. The top card of the stack being face down, leaving the back up for the world to see. A head of a blue crow.

"Hey… that emblem looks familiar. Where did you get those cards?" The inquiry came from Mercedes while she reached for the deck.

When he saw that he had left them on the table, Freud nearly panicked but played it cool.

"Oh, just a mages association in Ellinia that I've made frequent trips to." He reached out and tucked them back into his robes before Mercedes could stare at them much longer.

"Are you sure? Because-"

A terrific crash echoed throughout the castle, shaking the people inside.

"What was that?" Immediately the table's occupants rushed out into the courtyard. For two of the people present, their eyes narrowed, apprehension burning inside of them. For the other two, it was uncertainty and concern that shone through.

In the sky above Ereve was a lavishly decorated floating ship, outlined by the full moon behind it. On the very front tip if the ship, you could clearly see a solitary figure.

-End-

Well, I don't have much to explain myself besides the fact that I ditched this story for lack of time. Sorry everybody… but for now I hope that I didn't lose all of you in the process. I realize that there really is no excuse for leaving this story on hiatus for 6 months with no notifications for you all. Once again, apologies for that.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, the story is once again in motion.

Read and Review Please!

-Lunarfeather