"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Ananias sighed. "Okay, you've been staring at me for who knows how long now. Either there's something on my face or I did something wrong. Either way, I'd appreciate it if you told me so that we could actually start dealing with it instead of, well, you know."
"O-oh! I'm sorry! Truthfully, I didn't realize I was staring so much until you pointed it out to me just now."
"So you've been staring at me subconsciously? That's... probably concerning."
"It's nothing serious, I assure you. It's just... the way you look and the way you and Anna look out for each other, I can't help but be reminded of my brother when I look at you."
Ananias' eyes widened in surprise. "I didn't know you had a brother."
Celica looked down and nodded. "Well, technically, he was my half-brother. He and I shared the same father, but we had different mothers. My mother died shortly after giving birth, and his mother was a Rigelian."
"I'm guessing being Rigelian is important back in your world?"
"In a way. You see, my father and I, and everyone else in the kingdom, were Zofian, and, well, Zofians and Rigelians don't exactly see each other in the most positive light. Because of this, my brother was treated quite unfairly by everyone in the Zofian court."
"Man, that's rough. But it sounds to me like you were the exception, weren't you?"
Celica smiled. "Yes. It didn't matter whether he was Zofian or Rigelian. To me, he was always going to be my precious older brother."
"You keep using the past tense. Did something happen to him?"
Celica sighed. "That's just it. I don't know. There was this fire and, well, we got separated. I had barely escaped with my life, so when he was nowhere to be found, I can't help but fear for the worst."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but hey, as long as you didn't find the body, then there's still hope, isn't there?"
"I understand what you mean, but... oh, Ananias, you should have seen it! The fire, it was so intense, and it was practically everywhere! It was a miracle that I made it out at all! What hope is there that he made it out as well?"
"Well, just extend that miracle and hope to him then," Ananias nonchalantly replied. "I mean, it's not like only one miracle can happen at a time."
"Well, yes, but -"
Ananias sighed. "Look, take me for example. You're aware of the future that I come from, right?"
Celica nodded. "Yes, of course."
"And you know of how bad it was?"
"I do."
"Well, think about it. A guy like me, survive a future like that? There's no way that that should have happened! But it did. For some inexplicable reason, I'm still here, alive and relatively well. I'd say that that's nothing short of a miracle, don't you?"
Celica gave him a small, but appreciative, smile. "To be fair, I think you're giving yourself far too little credit."
Ananias shrugged. "Maybe. But the same could be said for that brother of yours."
"Hmm?"
"Well, if he was strong enough to have survived all of that abuse he received and you admit that you made it out of that fire even though you shouldn't have, then what's stopping him from escaping that fire too?"
"Well, when you put it that way, nothing, I suppose."
"Yeah. I mean, if you couldn't find the body, then the only reason why you believe that he didn't make it is because of you. Or, you know, your own fears and doubts. Take those two things out of the equation, and there's really no reason as to why you should think he didn't make it out alive."
"Yes, I suppose you have a point. But if that were the case, then why hasn't he come and found me? Or why haven't I heard a single word about him? You would think that we'd have heard at least something about one another over the years."
Ananias simply shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he doesn't believe in you either. The two of you could be completely fine, but because you don't believe in each other enough, neither of you went looking for each other or found each other, even though the two of you are right under each others' noses. I mean, it's dumb, but it's a believable and unfortunate type of dumb that any world is kind of used to at this point, you know?"
Celica couldn't help but chuckle at this. "My, how eloquent you are! With such a strong talent for articulation, you could've been a priest for the Earth Mother herself!"
Ananias' eyes widened in surprise. "Was... that a joke? Did you tell a joke just now?"
"What can I say? We all show a different side of ourselves when we're around family."
"Um... family?"
Celica nodded. "Yes, family."
"...you do realize that I'm not him, right?"
"Oh, but the two of you share so many unique qualities! Like having red hair, for example!"
"...so?"
"And how meek you are."
Ananias' eyes widened in surprise. "Meek?!" He pointed at himself. "How am I meek?"
"Well, you're not exactly the talkative type, and even when you are, you're so endearingly awkward! But in an entirely lovable sort of way! And you're always willing to help anyone you can! Oh, and you're such a wonderfully protective sibling! The way you look out for Anna is exactly how he would try to be protective of me! Admittedly, he would fall short most of the time, but it's the thought that counts, don't you think? And hey, you could say that that's another trait that you have in common!"
"W-wait. You only knew him when you were kids, right? So does that mean you're basing these similarities off of the kid version of him?"
"Well, yes, of course," Celica answered. "How else could I compare the two of you?"
"By not comparing me to a literal child!"
"Oh, but I haven't seen him since the fire! What traits could I possibly compare otherwise?"
"By not comparing us at all?!"
"Oh, and he would frequently get nervous and agitated over the tiniest little things, just like how you're being right now!"
"How am I being nervous and agitated?!"
"Oh, it's okay, Ananias," Celica said, giving Ananias a comforting pat on the shoulder. "You don't have to put a tough-guy act in front of me. Just relax and be yourself."
Ananias gaped between the hand on his shoulder and her. "I'm sorry. But how did we get here?! Weren't we just talking about how your brother probably could have survived that fire?"
Celica nodded. "Why yes, we did. And you were right. I should place a lot more faith in him. Like you, he's a lot stronger than most people think. Myself included, apparently."
"Okay, so how did we get here then?"
Celica smiled knowingly. "Hmm? I don't understand the question. What exactly is 'here'?"
"Here here!" Ananias frantically cried. "You comparing me to him and treating me like him for some reason! When did we get here?!"
"Oh, I'd imagine he'd act just like this when he's cranky!"
Ananias couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What is going on?!"
Dual Special #1:
Ananias: Celica, can you back me up?
Celica: Of course! Let's finish this together!
Dual Special #2:
Ananias: The unlikely duo!
Celica: We'll finish this our own way!
Dual Special #3:
Celica: Please, don't hold back, Ananias!
Ananias: (sighs) I'm being outdone by a pacifist.
Dual Special #4:
Celica: Let's show them our strength!
Ananias: Hopefully, it'll be enough.
Author's Note: The next Warriors supports will be:
6. Sakura
7. Owain
8. Marth
9. Lianna
10. Chrom
