Part Two: Jade Tides
Garland Moon
Chapter Eighteen: Start For Unity
With Rhea defeated, Seteth was placed in charge of the Holy Church State. His first order of business was to join the Fodlan Coalition and apologize for the destruction that had been caused. With unity achieved throughout a majority of Fodlan's nations, the Coalition turned its attention to the Empire who was still holding out. The council holds a vote and decides to invade the Empire, with the Meritocracy at its head in the invasion of Enbarr.
"As you all are probably very excited to hear, we are finally making a push into Enbarr!" Finn said with a smile.
"It's about time!" Olaga joyfully banged her fist on the table.
"I've been waiting for this. It has been too long since they trampled our lands. Finally they get what they deserve." Keola agreed.
"Don't get overzealous, as always our first goal is diplomacy. If they choose to bow down, however unlikely, then we will hear them out." Atamai warned them.
"We want to minimize casualties, not only theirs but ours too." Penina added.
"Regardless this is exciting news, the war is going to end soon." Hukai smiled.
"Yes, one way or another the Empire will lay down their arms." Finn cheered.
"What exactly is the plan?" Lawe asked when the cheering died down.
"At the end of the month we are meeting with Seteth's forces near Enbarr. We will march together and as Seteth surrounds the palace we will storm it and capture Eliana." Finn told them.
"Sounds simple enough. But why are we tasked with going to Eliana?" Kai asked.
"I convinced the other members of the Coalition that since the Empire's attack was first towards the Meritocracy that we should be the ones at the forefront ending this." Finn said.
"I saw Eliana train a few times back at the academy. She was very strong, we can't underestimate her." Fiafia warned.
"I will personally confront her." Finn announced. "I can't have any of you risk your lives going up against her."
The room erupted in protest until Fetu rose and shouted for everyone to stop.
"Finn has gotten us here. He should be the one who takes on Eliana. He is the Supreme Leader for a reason, no one in this room is stronger than him. We have to trust that he can win out."
"Thank you Fetu." Finn smiled. "I want answers and I plan on getting them."
"Finally, we will bring down the abomination that is the Empire. My friends, today you shall have your vengeance against those who betrayed you." Oceania cackled to herself in her room. "My plan is almost complete, only a few more pieces must fall into place and I will have my victory. None of them suspect me, none of them realize, none of them know. When the last of that line of rulers is snuffed out I will finally be able to act!" Oceania pulled out a drawer and pulled a picture of Edelgard and Eliana out. She threw it up and watched it disintegrate with fire magic.
"Even now you still have your reservations, don't you?" Atamai asked Finn when they were alone.
"I won't lie to you Atamai, something feels off about this." Finn told him as he paced back and forth.
"You already promised the Coalition, our hands are tied." Atamai reminded him.
"I know that, but deep down I don't feel they are our true enemy. Those Who Slither in the Dark are out there plotting. I feel like they play a larger role in all of this." Finn started twirling his staff as he walked.
"I agree, and we will find a way to go after them, but we can only do this after the war is over." Atamai stuck his crutch out in front of Finn to stop him from pacing.
"You are right." Finn sighed. "I just want to know why they came after us. Eliana and Akemi were so supportive of our nation before. Why did they change their tune?"
"That bothers me too. But we will figure it out by confronting Eliana. All of that has to happen in order for there to be any answers. Who knows, maybe she even has some information on Those Who Slither in the Dark." Atamai suggested.
"Maybe." Finn said pensively. "Thank you Atamai. You always help ground me."
"That is my job. And I am happy to serve you." Atamai admitted before hobbling off.
"My Teacher. What have you learned?" Eliana asked Wynne as he approached her throne.
"The Holy Army, accompanied by the Emerald Shark Squadron, will attack Enbarr soon. I must advise you to leave." Wynne said with concern.
"No. I will stay with my people and fight. Finn may have fooled everyone else but I know what is really going on over there. I will end him here, and then I will come for her." Eliana said coldly.
"Then I will stay as well. I won't let any harm befall you." Wynne pledged.
"That most likely means going up against your sister." Eliana worried.
"I will handle her. If she has resigned herself to the darkness then that is a fate that she chose." Wynne said sadly.
"I can't believe I trusted him and aided him in the Academy days. He fooled everyone then." Eliana was getting frustrated with herself.
"We didn't know. All we can do is move forward and win the next battle. We have to make our own luck." Wynne tried to motivate her.
"You are right. From now on I push forward without looking back. I will change the tide of the war here." Eliana stood up. "They will never forget this."
"You are nervous." Sothis noted.
"I know Wynne, he isn't going to leave Eliana's side." Maira said.
"Do you have the strength to face him, maybe even…" Sothis was cut off by Maira.
"It won't come to that!" Maira said angrily. "Wynne will back down."
"And if it means the death of one of your students? Will you still hold back?" Sothis asked.
"I don't know. I can't lose him." Tears started to form in Maira's eyes.
"I wasn't able to save your father, but I will do everything in my power to ensure that your brother lives." Sothis assured Maira.
"Thank you Sothis. But if it comes down to him or any of my students I will cut him down." Maira was really telling herself that.
With the support of the Fodlan Coalition Finn begins his march down through Fodlan to meet with Seteth and the Holy Army. Simultaneously the Abyssal Army and Kingdom Army march into the Empire to eliminate any threats. Eliana holes up inside the palace and orders the citizens of Enbarr to evacuate. A showdown between two great forces will forever change the landscape of Fodlan.
"Seteth! It is good to see you on the same side of the battlefield." Finn stuck his hand out for a shake.
"Yes, I must agree that having you as an ally is much more helpful than an enemy." Seteth shook his hand.
"I must again apologize about Rhea and Demeter. Had there been any other way…" Finn was cut off by Seteth.
"That is all in the past. Rhea and Demeter both made their own choices. Though I wish they had listened to me, things played out this way for a reason." Seteth assured Finn. "The Holy Army will support you."
"Thank you. The Meritocracy has been looking forward to this day for a long time. I hope this marks the last days of this war." Finn said.
"As do I. Fodlan needs an era of peace." Seteth agreed.
"Indeed it does." Finn laughed.
"We have reached Enbarr." Maira reported to the two leaders.
"Is there any resistance in the city?" Seteth asked.
"No, all scouts report that the city is completely empty." Maira said in a worried voice.
"Sounds like a trap. My forces will surround the city and make sure there are no reinforcements coming." Seteth told Finn.
"The Emerald Shark Squadron will enter the palace. Eliana has to be there, she is making it so we fight on her terms." Finn told Seteth.
"Be careful Finn. Eliana is no pushover, we can't have you fall here." Seteth warned.
"I appreciate the concern Seteth but I assure you we will be fine. I am no pushover either." Finn smirked and the two forces separated.
When they entered the palace the Emerald Shark Squadron wasn't confronted with any enemies. It wasn't until they got to the throne room that they encountered Eliana's forces. At the front of the soldiers was a large reptilian monster with a large horn on its head and huge claws that were razor sharp. The entire squadron clashed with the small army while Finn and Maira moved past them to confront Eliana who was sitting on her throne.
"So you came." Eliana was somewhat amused by Finn and Maira. "You came far, Finn. I guess the other leaders were gullible enough to believe your lies."
"End this nonsense Eliana. This can all be over if you join the Coalition." Finn pleaded as Eliana got up and grabbed her giant axe, Fosite, and shield.
"My mother fought so that the likes of you would never rule Fodlan ever again. I will not give you the satisfaction." Eliana said calmly and then slammed Fosite into the ground to unleash her personal combat art Inferno. Power flowed through the earth to Maira and Finn and the ground around them swirled with fire and trapped them in a hellstorm. Finn used Wai to quell the flames but by the time he countered the attack Eliana was already charging. Eliana swung at Finn's chest and he used Griovalr to block but the impact knocked Finn back twenty feet. Maira separated Ultimus and brought both blades down on Eliana but Eliana caught the blades when they pierced the shield. Eliana then pulled the shield back and threw it in another direction. Maira called Ultimus to return but before she could it was blasted further away because someone cast Fire to push the shield away.
"Hey sis!" Wynne called out. "So glad you could make it!"
Wynne pulled out his sword and swung at Maira's head as Eliana came for her legs. Maira quickly pulled out her sword and lunged forward to avoid both attacks. By now Finn had recovered and unleashed the power of Griovalr through Riptide. The blast of energy hit Wynne in the shoulder and knocked him backwards.
"Finn!" Maira yelled. "I'll take Wynne. You take Eliana."
"Alright." Finn was unsure but let Maira take charge.
"Just like old times." Wynne was already back on his feet. The two siblings circled each other until Maira made the first move. She stabbed at him and Wynne blocked and countered. Maira parried his counter and kicked Wynne in the chest. Wynne took the hit well and grabbed a dagger from his belt and threw it at Maira. It hit her in the shoulder making Maira scream out in pain. Wynne lunged and aimed for Maira's head. Maira brought her sword up to block and the two continued to fight as Eliana and Finn were also locked in intense combat. Finn's magic barely affected Eliana so he was forced to fight staff on axe. Both pairs looked like they had reached a stalemate until Finn decided to cast Ke Kai and flood the entire room with water knocking everyone except Maira off balance. Maira leaped on Wynne and held the tip of her sword to his throat.
"Don't make me do this." Maira was crying.
"You chose to work for the enemy. You chose the darkness, so now it is time for you to commit." Wynne was also crying.
Maira was preparing to end it when Sothis stopped her. "I understand now!" Sothis was excited. "Tell Finn to stop fighting!"
"Finn!" Maira called out. "Stop fighting Eliana!"
"What?" Finn was bewildered. "I thought that was kind of the point."
"You better know what you are doing." Maira muttered to Sothis.
"Who is the one person that has influence over Finn, who the Empire would think would control him? Who is the person who has been weird the entire time we have known them? Who is the one person Yuri said he doesn't trust? And what group of people can take people over like they did with Catherine?" Sothis was leading Maira to the answer and when she got it her eyes widened.
"We've been playing her game the entire time. She wanted all of this. They hate the Empire." Maira said.
"You didn't know." Wynne realized. "Eliana! They don't know!"
"Know what!" Finn shouted.
"This entire time I thought you were playing us, but you were the ones being played." Eliana dropped her axe.
"I am starting to get really annoyed. Will someone tell me what is going on?" Finn said.
"Finn, I think that Oceania isn't actually Oceania." Maira told Finn.
"Do you think that…" Finn was starting to understand.
"Finn, before I started the war I found out that Oceania was actually an Agarthan that my mother thought she had killed long ago. She was once Cornelia, but her Agarthan name is Rebyx." Eliana explained. "I thought that you knew and had a plan to bring the Agarthans back. That is why I have insisted on fighting you."
Finn stumbled and fell to his knees. "I've been fooled this entire time. When her personality changed I never would have guessed."
The Emerald Shark Squadron was still clashing with the Imperial Army when Oceania walked in.
"Oceania, what are you doing?" Lawe flew over to her.
"Mom? I thought you were holding things in Kapena?" Atamai rode over to Oceania.
Oceania thrust out her arms and powerful dark energy filled the room freezing everyone inside it. Oceania then just walked past everything into the throne room.
"Rebyx." Wynne's eyes narrowed when Oceania walked into the room.
"So my identity has been revealed." Oceania said. She started to twitch and then the body fell to the floor. Above her stood a pale woman with frizzy white hair and a horrible smile. "That's just too bad."
"I will end you here!" Eliana picked up Fosite and swung at Rebyx but was slain by a blast of dark magic. Her lifeless body fell in front of Finn as he sat, paralyzed.
"You disgusting welp!" Rebyx snarled. "You were only good for your relic." Rebyx picked up Fosite.
"Eliana!" Wynne attacked Rebyx but was stabbed by a hidden dagger.
"Your brother was a bit slow." Rebyx laughed.
"Sothis, turn back time!" Maira yelled.
"I'm trying!" Sothis strained.
"She can't." Rebyx smirked. "My magic prevents it."
"Wynne!" Maira sobbed.
"I'll be taking my leave but you can expect an attack on Kapena anytime." Rebyx smiled and then warped away leaving Finn and Maira stunned.
When the Emerald Shark Squadron rushed into the throne room they saw Finn and Maira holding each other, sobbing.
"Mom!" Atamai screamed. "What happened?"
"Atamai, she was…" Finn started but then Oceania started to stir. The white ring on her left ring finger glowed.
"Mom! Are you okay?" Atamai held his mother.
"Atamai!" a softer voice then Maira was familiar with cried out. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long!"
"Gone? What do you mean?" Atamai asked.
"We have a lot to discuss." Finn's voice was weak.