Hello readers and welcome back to another chapter of lost hope. I really hope you enjoy this chapter as I feel it's the best one yet. Also bi-weekly yeah uhh screw consistency cause when I say bi-weekly I don't mean exactly 14 days apparently. anyway I hope you enjoy.

Owain glared at the dark figure in front of him as he readied his killing edge. The risen around the two just stood silently as a howling wind blew across the field.

"I sense a dark aura emanating from you!" Owain said, "now explain thyself!"

The figure simply stood there in silence.

"Though words do not escape from those dark shadows I have my answer" Owain said.

"Prepare to face my true power" Owain said as he charged the figure.

"Blazing sword!" Owain shouted as he swung his sword at the mysterious person.

The cloaked figure moved their arm and effortlessly caught the sword by it's blade. Owain's eyes widened in shock as he tried to pull his sword free.

The figure released their grip on the sword allowing Owain to leap back a few feet.

"Impressive, to have blocked my special technique like that takes skill" Owain complimented.

The figure remained silent.

Still the way they moved and how effortless it was. it's as if they've seen me use that move before, Owain thought, just who is this person?.

"Tell me what lies beyond that shroud of concealing darkness?" Owain asked entering a more passive stance.

"I am nothing more than a servant of lord Grima" The figure spoke up with a female sounding but distorted voice.

That voice, Owain thought as he listened to the figure.

"Though..." The figure continued pulling out what looked to be a lightning tome." if you wish to know my true identity, I guess I could give you a little hint"

Owain saw the tome and got into a combat stance.

"THORON!" The figure shouted as she held out her arm and shot a massive lightning bolt at Owain.

(with Lucina)

"Hyaaa!" Lucina cried out cutting down a sword master risen only for a few more risen to take it's place.

Gods how many more of these are there? She asked herself as she panted in exhaustion.

Lucina then glanced over at the direction Cynthia and Nah went, I have to hurry in order to help Cynthia and the manakete.

The sound of a nearby explosion then rang out across the plains causing both the risen and Lucina to stop and look over in that direction.

That's where Owain is fighting! Lucina thought her eyes widening in realization.

Lucina then tried to dash over to the source of the explosion before being blocked by several risen. One of which swung it's axe at her causing her to leap back.

Damn so long as these risen are here I'm stuck, Lucina thought as she looked at wall of risen before her. I guess I have no choice; Owain I just hope you're alright.

(With Cynthia And Nah)

"What was that sound just now?" Nah asked as she slowly crept back behind Cynthia and Crystal.

"I don't know but it sounds like the others could be in trouble!" Cynthia said. "We have to go and help them!"

"Yeah but right now we have our own issues to deal with" Nah reminded Cynthia.

Several Risen closed in on the two girls from all sides boxing them in.

"We can just fly away on Crystal" Cynthia said.

"Yes but they would surely follow us and we'd have to land eventually. Plus what if there is an archer risen just lying in wait? We'd be shot out of the air in no time" Nah explained.

"Yeah that's probably true and here I thought I had a good idea" Cynthia lamented, "guess we have no choice but to fight huh"

"It would appear so" Nah said.

"Alright then I've got this; you just hang back" Cynthia said as she and Crystal got into a combat stance.

"No let me help" Nah said.

"I can turn into a dragon and-" Nah said before being interrupted by a sharp pain coursing through her body.

"No you're too injured and I promised Lucy I'd keep you safe" Cynthia said. "A hero never goes back on her word."

"B-but I-" Nah said weakly.

"Don't sweat it we're allies now so just leave everything to me" Cynthia said looking back at Nah with a smile.

"A-a-alright" Nah conceded.

"Good" Cynthia said as she turned to face the risen and readied her lance.

Cynthia and Crystal then let out a war cry as they charged at the surrounding risen.

(With Lucina)

A beserker risen charged at Lucina who parried the attack and followed with a horizontal slash. The risen then groaned in pain as it dissipated.

An archer risen then shot an arrow at Lucina from the side. Lucina noticed this and quickly turned around to deflect the arrows with Falchion. A sword master risen ran at Lucina from behind and swung it's sword. Sensing danger Lucina spun around and locked blades with the risen. Lucina glanced to the side to see the archer readying another arrow.

Thinking quickly she pushed the sword master risen away and leapt back. However as she landed she felt a sharp pain in her leg causing her to stumble a bit. Wincing she looked down to see blood gushing from a medium sized cut on her leg.

The sound of pounding footsteps caused her to look up to see a sword master risen speeding towards her. Unable to dodge and too tired to block in time the young princess screamed in pain; as the risen slashed her across the abdomen. She stepped back slightly clutching the fresh wound as she fell to her knees and panting heavily.

The risen then tried a follow-up slash on the now heavily wounded girl. Lucina's eyes widened in horror as the silver blade was just seconds away from ending her. However just before the sword made contact the risen and it's sword suddenly dissolved into shadows.

What the? an arrow? Lucina thought as she watched the risen dissolve leaving behind a singular arrow that fell to the ground.

"BLOOD AND THUNDER!" A maniacal female voice rang out as several arrows flew through the air and took out more risen.

Lucina turned her head towards the source of the voice to see a white haired archer walking towards her.

"Noire?" Lucina asked quietly as she continued to watch the archer move beside her.

"AHAHAHA! Insolent creatures shall repent now before I tear you limb from limb!" Noire shouted as she readied another arrow.

The risen(the few that remained anyway), having really no sense of awareness, ignored Noire's threat and charged the two girls.

Noire simply laughed maniacally as she fired arrow after arrow at the advancing risen. One by one each risen fell swiftly to Noire's relentless onslaught. However a few managed to get through and continued their advance.

"Noire be careful seems a few of them broke through!" Lucina warned Noire.

"Oh no they're getting too close! I can't aim like this" Noire said as she returned to her usual meek self.

Before the risen could reach the two girls they all stopped suddenly, and looked down at the lances pierced through their bodies before dissolving. Behind the risen stood Kjelle and Cynthia(well Cynthia was on her pegasus but you get the idea) as they pulled their lances back. Nah ran up to them panting heavily.

"Whew made it" Kjelle said pulling her lance to an upward position beside her.

"Are you okay Lucy? You look horrible" Cynthia asked getting off her pegasus and rushing to her sister's aid. The young pegasus knight ran a couple feet before tripping and falling flat on her face.

Everyone sweat dropped at this.

"I'm fine all thanks to Noire" Lucina said looking up at Noire then back at her sister.

"More importantly how are you doing Cynthia?" Lucina said struggling to her feet.

"I'm doing just great because of Kjelle" Cynthia jumped to her feet.

"That's good. Now we have to go help Owain" Lucina stood for a brief moment before wobbling and tumbling to the ground only to be caught by Noire.

"D-don't push yourself" Noire said as she put Lucina's arm over her shoulder.

"Yeah Noire's right you're too injured you should rest" Cynthia said.

"But what about Owain?" Lucina asked weakly.

"Severa went to take care of it, so they'll be fine. Don't worry about it" Kjelle reassured her.

"Ya see Lucy so please just take it easy" Cynthia said to her older sister.

"Alright" Lucina gave in as Noire helped her to sit down.

(With Owain)

Owain leapt to the side as another lightning bolt scorched the grass where he once stood. He looked up to see the dark figure running towards him with a steel sword drawn. Almost instinctively the young myrmidon raised his own sword to block the vertical slash.

"Interesting so you wield a partnered fang in combination with mystical energies fired from ancient texts" Owain said noting the sudden use of a sword by his opponent.

The figure remained silent as the two pushed away from each other. Owain quickly followed with a vertical sword swing. The figure leaned to the side and stabbed forward.

Owain dodged the attack but was nicked on the cheek. He then leapt back creating some distance between the two. Collecting himself he dashed at the foe before him.

The figure dropped their sword and pulled out the lightning tome from earlier. But before they could act, Owain slashed at the figure forcing them to catch the sword with their free hand. Smirking the cloaked figure activated the tome. Their hand crackled with electricity. Electricity flowed through the sword towards the theatrical myrmidon. Owain winced in pain as electricity coursed through his body.

The figure let go of the sword stopping the electric current and leapt back while swapping for a different tome. Owain panted in exhaustion and fell to his knees as the pain began to sub

"This next move is checkmate!" Owain heard the figure shout. The blonde prince looked up to see the cloaked figure readying a fire spell.

Owain tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword as he prepared for the oncoming attack.

However just as the figure was about to unleash the powerful spell they suddenly stopped.

Why doesn't she fire? Owain wondered as he continued to look at the figure. Owain then saw someone creep up behind his opponent.

the mysterious person then jumped to the side avoiding the vertical slash from behind by a twin tailed orange haired female mercenary..

Severa? Owain thought looking at the mercenary.

"But how did that person sense my approach?" Severa asked in slight frustration.

"Hmph it wasn't a bad plan to ambush me like that but you underestimate me." The figure said "Even so it would appear as though I miscalculated"

"I wasn't expecting any reinforcements and it would appear as though the risen I summoned have been disposed of. Be it by me or someone else" The figure continued.

Severa and Owain listened on in silence awaiting their opponent's next move.

The figure sighed, "Oh well I guess I'll have to strategically withdraw for now"

"Wait just a minute you're not going anywhere!" Severa said as she dashed at the mysterious figure.

The figure suddenly disappeared in a flash of light before Severa could reach them.

"Hmph coward" Severa said stopping and sheathing her sword.

Owain still sat there as various thoughts about the recent battle whizzed in his mind.

Who was that person? Owain asked himself, and why do I get the feeling I knew her from somewhere?

Owain pondered those questions for minute before being interrupted by a familiar voice.

"Hellloooo? Anyone in there?" The voice asked, "Geez the least you could do is answer me"

Owain snapped back into reality to see Severa standing over him.

"Huh? What?" Owain said looking up at the hot headed girl.

"I asked if you're alright! Gawds do you ever listen?" Severa said now visibly frustrated.

Owain slowly ascended to his feet and said. "Yeah I'm okay thanks Severa"

"You better thank me cause if it weren't for me you'd be six feet under by now" Severa boasted.

"Ha you never change!" Owain said confidently, "but you should know the grumpy blast is rendered ineffective against me!"

"Geez would you stop acting like that! It's childish and embarrassing" Severa said getting more heated.

"Alright alright geez no need to be mean about it" Owain said putting his hands up in defense.

"Anyway we should go meet up with the others" Severa said as she began walking away.

"Yeah you're right they could probably use our help" Owain said putting away his sword.

"I wouldn't worry about it cause Kjelle and Noire probably made sure they're okay" Severa said.

"That's good" Owain said following the twin tailed girl.

(With Lucina, Cynthia, Noire, Kjelle, and Nah)

Nah watched the other four girls hesitant to join them as they sat and talked amongst themselves.

"Hey what are you doing over there? Come and sit with us" Cynthia waved over to Nah.

"Yeah don't be shy we're your friends" Lucina added looking over to Nah.

"Friends?" Nah said faintly visibly confused at the word. The young manakete grew up alone in a somewhat abusive household after all. She didn't know her real parents and her foster parents would just shun and neglect her. So the word friend was sort of foreign to her.

"Yeah we only came here to save you after all" Cynthia said happily.

Tears started to run down Nah's face as she was overcome with happiness.

"Why are you crying? Something I said?" Cynthia asked pulling her hand down in confusion.

"Wouldn't blame her for crying after all that's happened" Kjelle said.

"I don't think that's it you guys" Lucina said.

"Y-yeah she's probably just really happy" Noire interjected.

"Yeah she's right it's just this is the first time I've been called something like that before." Nah spoke up as she wiped away the tears.

"My foster parents were-" Nah said before realizing something." Oh wait I forgot are my foster parents ok? They should've been somewhere around this house"

Lucina looked at Nah with a solemn expression and said, "I'm sorry but aside from you I saw no one while I was fighting"

"What about you two? Did you two see them?" Nah asked worriedly looking at Kjelle and Noire.

Noire and Kjelle looked at each other. Their expressions beginning to sadden.

There was a moment of silence before Kjelle finally spoke up.

"Well we did find a couple people around as got here but…" Kjelle said. "By the time we found them they were…"

"They were what?" Nah asked.

"They were dead" A new female voice spoke up.

All of them turned to the source of the voice to see Severa and Owain walking towards them.

"Oh" Nah said solemnly as her head drooped down.

"I'm sorry w-we tried to save one of them but…" Noire said trailing off. "We were too late"

A loud silence then echoed around them. All of them saddened by what they just heard except for Nah. She had very mixed emotions about this. A part of her was glad her foster parents were gone so they couldn't antagonize her anymore. However on the other hand they were still people and in this time human life was the most sacred treasure of all.

Finally Lucina spoke up and broke the silence, "it seems as though for everyone we save there are at least two lost" Lucina clenched her fist.

"Yeah no matter how hard we try we can't seem to save everyone" Owain spoke up.

"At any rate we never got your name" Cynthia said to Nah trying to change the subject. "Would you like to tell us?"

"Nah" Nah answered.

"Well that was rude" Cynthia pouted while folding her arms.

"For once I agree" Severa said.

"Yeah if my sister said anything offensi-" Lucina said before being cut off.

"No my name is Nah!" Nah said, "Why did I have to be named this way?"

"Well that's a silly name" Cynthia said.

"Well it isn't my fault" Nah retorted.

"Certainly makes introducing yourself a tad confusing" Kjelle spoke up.

"Yeah" Noire agreed.

"Well regardless of her name we're happy she's safe" Lucina said.

"Our spirits rejoice further if this girl makes it so we may cross the endless dark path together" Owain interjected.

Nah turned and looked at Owain in slight confusion, "um what?"

"I think he's saying we'd be happy if you joined us" Lucina translated as she got to her feet. "You are Mrs. Nowi's daughter aren't you?"

"Yeah I am but how did you?" Nah asked now looking at Lucina.

"I saw your transformation before I reached you" Lucina said. "It really is something"

"Wait transformation?" Kjelle asked.

"I-I think she means that Nah is a manakete" Noire said.

"Wait really?! Such a small thing can really turn into a dragon?"

"I'll have you know I'm much older than I look!" Nah glared at Kjelle, "Manaketes just age slower is all"

"Whatever you say" Kjelle said sarcastically.

"Anyways, we'd love to have you so what do you say?" Lucina asked.

"Well" Nah said pondering for a moment.

"Come on it'll be fun" Cynthia said happily as her pegasus neighed in agreement.

"what have you got to lose? I mean your house is a wreck and your foster parents are well y'know" Severa said folding her arms.

"She's got a point" Noire said.

"Alright yeah I will join you guys" Nah smiled and nodded happily.

"Alright! We got a dragon on our team!" Owain and Cynthia both cheered.

"Good and welcome to our group Nah" Lucina said as she wobbled towards Nah.

Lucina then stretched out her hand as she stopped in front of the young manakete.

Nah immediately understood and shook hands with Lucina.

"Well now that that's settled what should we do now?" Severa asked walking up to Lucina.

"Well I think we should rest up and then head for Regna Ferox in the morning" Lucina said after shaking hands with Nah.

"Sounds good to me" Kjelle said.

"I like the idea" Nah said.

"Our divine powers must recharge if we are to win the coming battle so I must concur" Owain said boisterously.

"Well I'm not complaining" Severa said. "I'm exhausted"

"Whatever you say Lucy" Cynthia said happily with her pegasus neighing in agreement.

"I-I-I see no reason not to" Noire said timidly.

"Then it's settled we leave in the morning" Lucina declared.

"Yeah!" Everyone else cheered in unison.

Well that was interesting honestly though I feel like I could've handled the dialogue better but other than that I feel I've outdone myself here. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed and take care.