Electrike: How come you're the one holding the chapter? Where's ShadowedTactician?
Imppala: This? I had to wrench it from that bugger's vault. He's left it there for so long on the pretext of having... er... what's that phrase...
Grim: Writer's block?
Imppala: Er... yeah, I think that's what he called it. Plus other commitments... like these. (drops a whole bunch of FE: Lycian League cards)
Electrike/Grim: (snatchfights) I GOT DIBS!
Imppala: (face palms)

Gijinka Renamon
Imppala: I'll be handing out Shadow-mobbing kits when this is all over, so don't worry.

RubyVulpix
Imppala: Well, I suppose you can't expect less from fighting two bosses.

Hurricane's Quill
Imppala: Strange, I could've sworn people thought Karel was cooler. His weapon is at any rate.

Frodo007
Imppala: This is exactly why I don't do scenes like this.

Brendan Aurabolt
Imppala: (muttering) And our favourite bugger's only got one... anyway, moving on...

Chapter 28: Battle Before Dawn/VS Ninetales

Two assassins in the employ of the Black Fang move in. They've been set loose in the palace to murder the crown prince, Zephiel. Eliwood hurries to prevent them from fulfilling their contract.

In the dead of the night, Jaffar and Nino crept through the softly illuminated halls of the Palace of Bern, on their mission to murder Prince Zephiel by order of King Desmond. While Jaffar was as calm and collected as ever, Nino was shaking like a leaf.

"The prince's room... Is that the door?" pointed Nino. Jaffar answered her with a silent nod.

"General Murdock, the prince's bodyguard, should be away. The king concocted some errand to call him from Zephiel's side," Nino repeated. "There are no guards around... This is an... easy job, isn't it? I... I can do this!"

Jaffar sighed as Nino's nervousness reminded him of the cruel task he still had to perform later on. Strange, he thought, that this girl would have such a powerful emotional impact on his soul and mind. He had slaughtered dozens of people with those blades of his, irregardless of who they were and how they pleaded or fought for their lives. To him, emotion was futile, as was resistance. So why was this young mage, who was ever-ready to impress her perpetually displeased mother, any different?

"This is my first mission, you know?" continued the mage. "I guess I'm a little nervous, but... I mustn't fail. Mustn't let Mother down... Are you ready, Jaffar?"

"...I've... no desire to be a part of your blundering," responded Jaffar icily. "If you fail, I will, without hesitation, finish the target, then you."

"What!" Nino squeaked.

"Do not be so naive as to expect help from 'friends'," Jaffar finished. "...Remember that."

"I... I knew that. Don't have to tell me..." laughed Nino nervously. "I'm a member of the Black Fang, after all. Ha ha..."

"..." Wordlessly, Jaffar proceeded to the locked door of the Prince's room, as Nino continued to speak to herself, "...I won't fail. I will become worthy... I will. Mother will be proud of me. She will see the daughter I've become, and she will love me."

Following her colleague up the steps to Zephiel's bedroom, Nino looked around. "...There are no guards," she noted. "It's just like we were told, but... something's strange." Pressing her ear against the door, Nino frowned. "Listen! A voice!" whispered Nino. "Someone's talking in the room."

"No..." disagreed Jaffar, his sharper senses picking up every word from the middle of the hall. "Someone's praying."

"You're right," Nino nodded, straining her ears. "It's the prince, isn't it? I wonder what he's praying for..."

Inside, Zephiel had knelt down beside his bed, eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer.

"I offer this prayer onto thee: My coming-of-age ceremony is tomorrow," began Zephiel. "As the prince of Bern, I've tried... I've tried my best not to be an embarrassment to my father. I know I've not met with his expectations. But I will try harder. I will please him. I vow to do better. For him."

"..." Nino listened sadly. She knew exactly how Zephiel felt.

"...Hear me: Tomorrow, I will be a man... So this is my last wish as a foolish child," Zephiel continued. "It's the same one I've asked of you every night for all these years, but... Please, bring Father and Mother together again. Please, let the day come when Guinivere and I and her mother... When all of us can live together happily in the castle."

"...It's time," Jaffar nodded, unlocking the door in one swift movement.

"Oh! Jaffar..." Quickly, Nino followed the assassin into the room, as he flung out his Pokéball. "Sneasel, Fake Out!"

"Snea-SEL!" With unmatched skill, Sneasel struck the Prince down, dealing little damage but stunning him as well.

"What! Villain..." groaned Zephiel as he fell.

"That will leave him unconscious for some time," said Jaffar as he turned towards Nino. "Now, the time has come for you to do your part... Do it."

"...O...Okay." Trembling, Nino raised a hand over the Prince's head, fingertips fizzling with fiery magic... then stopped. "I... cannot," she admitted sadly.

"What!" Jaffar could not believe his ears. "What did you say?"

"Listen to him... All he wants is his parent's love. To be accepted. That's all..." Nino whispered. "He's just like me. No matter how hard I try, Mother always looks at me as if I were nothing. Her eyes are so filled with disappointment. She's never held me... not even once..."

"Stop this foolishness!" hissed Jaffar. "I told you! I will not permit you to ruin my opportunity!"

"I know... Do as you must, Jaffar," smiled the young mage weakly. "I won't resist. You can do it easily. But... please don't hurt the prince. For pity's sake..."

"...!" Jaffar nearly dropped his blade. Surely, she couldn't be thinking of...

"...I'm ready to die." Still trembling, Nino knelt down in front of Jaffar.

CLANG! went Jaffar's sword as it fell from his shaking hand. For a moment, the assassin's eyes were wide open in shock, then narrowed as the Angel of Death frowned deeply, his mouth set in a thin, determined line.

"...Come," he whispered. "We're leaving. Hurry."

"What?" Astonished, Nino could only follow Jaffar as he grabbed her hand and ran out of the room, leading her to a huge hall.

"...This is it," beckoned Jaffar. "Come here."

"Bu... But if you do this..." Nino replied worriedly. "Jaffar, you'll..."

"Don't worry about me. Hurry up," Jaffar urged, just as he sensed footsteps down the hallway. "No!" Quickly, he pushed Nino back into the shadows, just as Ursula came riding with some of her vassals.

"Hello, Jaffar," greeted the Bue Crow. "Finished already? Such magnificent skill. Is this why you are called the Angel of Death? Sonia told me you were behaving oddly, but... it appears her fears were groundless." Jaffar remained silent. As long as Nino didn't show herself, everything would be...

"I'm sorry! It's not Jaffar's fault!" pleaded Nino, running out of her hiding-place. "It was me! The prince... I couldn't..."

"Nino!" hissed Jaffar.

"What's all this?" frowned Ursula. "Why is the girl still alive? You received Lady Sonia's orders, did you not? You were to dispose of the worthless little..."

"...No!" Nino screamed.

"Hold your tongue." Protectively, Jaffar stood in front of Nino, glaring daggers at Ursula. "You will not speak another word."

"...So that's how it is?" Ursula shook her head, "Jaffar, do you plan on betraying Lord Nergal?"

"I will not let Nino die," Jaffar growled. "Get in my way, and I'll kill you."

"Jaffar..." Petrified, Nino clung to the assassin's robes.

"Ha ha... So you do have some human emotion in you after all. You always seemed just like those creepy morphs," smirked Ursula. "And I'll bet you didn't kill the prince, either. Maxime!"

"Yes! I'm here!" A paladin riding a giraffe-like creature with two heads rode up to Ursula and saluted.

"Take your men and put out all the lights," ordered the valkryie. "Block out the entrances. Your targets are Prince Zephiel and two traitors. Finish this before we draw attention to ourselves. Go!"

Instinctively, Jaffar pulled Nino away before the Black Fang could nab them. In no time at all, the entire place was cloaked in darkness. Ursula's men had done their first job, and did it well.

"Go now," nudged Jaffar. "I will buy you time."

"No!" yelled Nino. "You must come too, Jaffar!"

"Nino... You must live." Allowing her eyes to meet his, Jaffar softly spoke. "You are worthy of living..."

"No! Wait!" Nino shouted after Jaffar's fleeting figure. "Don't go! Jaffar!"

Meanwhile, outside...

"This is the royal manse," noted Eliwood.

"The lights have been doused. And that's the sound of fighting," observed Lyn worriedly. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, but if they're still fighting, we might not be too late!" nodded Hector. "Let's hurry, Eliwood!"

"We have to get inside!" Eliwood shouted. "We have to protect the prince!"

"I've sent Grim to map the situation," declared Shadow. "How's your side?"

"Sh... Nils' just beginning," hushed Imppala.

"...You want to aid the Prince of Bern? He has a protector, but you must hurry. Time is short," warned the bard. "I see someone... a girl... wielding magic? She's not evil... Speak with her, and she may become an ally... That's it."

"That's not a lot," Imppala remarked. "But at least we know we've some bought time. Shadow?"

"It's coming together... and it's not good news," Shadow replied grimly, holding up the map for all to see. "Besides the central hall which seems to be Prince Zephiel's bedroom, there are two main halls, as well as several corridors that could very well be swarming with Black Fang members. The darkness isn't making it any easier... I vote we split into two groups, each with one thief," he proposed. "We'll have to empty half our key supply and distribute it amongst the faster members of the teams. Some of the mounted units can create a living barrier in front of the prince's bedroom door while one of the lords sees to it that he's alright."

"Sounds good to me," agreed Imppala. "Alright, let's move out!"

At the same time...

"Jaffar! Jaffar!" screamed Nino, hoping that her friend would hear her calls. "Kyaaaa!" Suddenly, a flash of Lightning came out from nowhere, nearly striking the young mage down.

"Flarey, Mary!" Quickly, Nino threw out two Pokéballs, revealing a red canine Pokémon with a long, flowing yellow tail, as well as a pink sheep-like Pokémon with electricity overflowing from its wool.

"Iron Tail, now!" Issuing her order, Nino flipped through her crimson spellbook. "Elfire!"

"Arrrrgh!" screamed the enemy monks as the Flareon and Flaaffy slammed them with their metal-hard appendages and Nino finished them off with a dash of flame.

"Phew," Nino breathed. "That was close... Now we have to find Jaffar!"

Meanwhile, the assassin in question was busy fending off his ex-colleagues, all trying to lay claim to polishing off the Angel of Death, who had been declared a traitor to the Fang.

"Do what you want with me," growled Jaffar. "But harm one hair on Nino's head, and you'll die."

"Hurry up! Let's move it!" snapped Hector, rounding his group past a corner. Suddenly, the burly Ostian stopped as a bright light ahead caught his attention. "Hey, what's..."

"Oh, no!" gasped Shadow. "It's..."

"Flash attack!" hollered Maxime. Immediately, the bright light exploded, blinding Hector and everyone besides him.

"Hector!" shouted Lyn, running up with the rear group. "What happened?"

"Someone's attacked us!" Hector grunted, his eyes still wincing from the brilliant flash. "But we can't identify who!"

"Let me try... Grim, use Foresight!" At Shadow's command, the Duskull fired a beam of its own, illuminating the corridor. Against the light, the silhouette of Maxime and his Girafarig stood out. "There!" Shadow pointed, his vision now clear. "There's the enemy!"

"I'll handle this! Swellow!" Lyn flung out one of her Pokéballs, bringing forth her Flying-type. "Peck!"

"Girafarig, Psybeam!" Maxime ordered. The Long Neck Pokémon tensed, then fired a beam of mental energy from its horns, hitting Swellow right in the face.

"Don't give up, Swellow!" Lyn encouraged. "Aerial Ace, now!"

"Swellow!" Its wings brimming with energy, the Swallow Pokémon charged valiantly through the energy blast, slamming Girafarig with its forearm.

"Thunderbolt!" At Maxime's new command, Girafarig's horns began to charge up with electric energy instead, and a second later it released the vicious attack.

"Ha!" Deftly, Lyn leaped to the side with Swellow, barely dodging the blast. "Go on first!" she yelled to the others. "I'll deal with him!"

"She's right!" Beckoning to the others, Hector began to lead the charge. "Let's go!"

At the same time...

"Ahh... Ow... What's... My room..." Rubbing his temples, the Prince of Bern slowly came to. "That man... he's gone. What's going on?" Silently, Zephiel listened hard to hear the sounds of battle echoing everywhere.

"Ah! We're under attack!" he exclaimed. "Coming this way... ten, twenty... I have to get away..." For a while, the prince frantically ran around, before grinding to a determined halt.

"No. That's wrong. That's not the way," Zephiel told himself. "If I run, they'll simply follow and surround me... Rather than run, I should wait and face them here." Grabbing onto a silver blade, the crown prince of Bern assumed a combat position, ready to fight for his life is necessary.

"Come on!" urged Eliwood. "Let's hurry!" Guiding his team past the corner, the Pheraen noble caught sight of Nino with her two Pokémon.

"You! Are you from the palace?" asked Nino. Noting that the strangers were not robed in black, the young mage felt safe to leave Zephiel in these people's hands. "The prince is in his room! Save him! I'll take care of anything that happens out here!"

"Wait," frowned Imppala. "You're... Nino, right?"

"What!" exclaimed the young girl. "How..."

"We overheard some things," Eliwood cut in. Before long, the two men had begun to explain the truth behind the Black Fang, from Brendan Reed's marriage with Sonia to the organisation's transition from acts of chivalry to heinous crimes.

"...What?" whispered Nino. "But... you must be lying..."

"I'm sorry, but it's all true." Imppala shook his head sadly, "The Black Fang is no longer what you once thought it was. They're being manipulated by Nergal to achieve his own ends!"

"It can't be..." Weakly, Nino collapsed on the floor, as her Pokémon tried to comfort her.

"I don't expect you to take in all of this at once," said Eliwood kindly. "You should come with us. You're not evil... I think you'll see what's right."

"...Alright," Nino nodded. "I'll... come with you."

Meanwhile...

"Wing Attack, Swellow!" shouted Lyn.

"Girafarig, Thunder Wave!" countered Maxime. As the bird Pokémon drew near, Girafarig fired a shockwave of electricity, striking Swellow's left wing and paralysing it. Helplessly, the Flying-type lost its balance and crashed down onto the floor.

"Swellow, return!" In a quick movement, Lyn recalled her fallen Pokémon, and sent out her other one. "Venusaur!"

"Girafarig, Psychic attack!" Maxime demanded.

"Venusaur, Sweet Scent!" Instantly, the huge blossom on Venusaur's back began to emit a pleasantly enticing aroma. Without warning, the rear end of Girafarig began to shake violently, before the Long Neck Pokémon broke into a backwards run towards Venusaur.

"Stop, stop!" shrieked the paladin. "What are you doing!"

"Girafarig's tail contains a small brain of its own! And it's particularly sensitive to strong smells and will look for its source!" Lyn grinned, before sounding the next command, "Skull Bash!"

"SAUR!" Lowering its head, Venusaur began its own charge, slamming into Maxime and sending him across the horizon. "Aaaaaaaaah!" he screamed.

"That's that," nodded the plainsgirl, returning Venusaur to its Pokéball. "Now to join Hector!"

"Imppala! Take half of the group to meet up with Hector's!" ordered Eliwood. "The others will guard Zephiel's bedroom!"

"Will do, milord!" nodded Imppala, before leading some of the team further down the hallway. Eliwood, in the meantime, had his units positioned outside the door, before he went inside the room to find Zephiel defending himself.

"Are you Prince Zephiel?" Eliwood asked.

"Ah!" exclaimed the prince. "Who are you?"

"We're here to rescue you," explained Eliwood. "Let us protect you, Prince Zephiel. Please, stay back."

"I will not," retorted Zephiel. "I know neither your name nor your motives. Why should I trust you?"

"...My apologies," Eliwood sighed. "But... I cannot answer you."

"You cannot?" Zephiel questioned.

"...No." Deep down, Eliwood's heart sank. He realised that this was the end...

"...I see," nodded Zephiel. "I place my life in your hands."

"Prince?" Eliwood could not believe his ears.

"If you were assassins, I would be dead already," smiled the prince. "I must trust you."

"Upon my knight's honour," swore the Pheraen, "You can."

"Heh heh heh." Smirking, Ursula rode on her Rapidash as she faced Jaffar, tome already in hand to match his twin swords. "Tell me, Jaffar. Are you afraid to die?"

"...I ensure that Nino lives," answered Jaffar coldly. "That is all."

"I cannot understand you." The Blue Crow shook her head, "You serve perfection in the form of our masters. Yet you abandon such happiness?... Oh, that's right... you don't know what happiness is," she grinned nastily.

"Jaffar!" The bright sound of Nino's voice caught the two Fangs' attention, causing them to turn and see Nino run towards Jaffar, along with Eliwood, Imppala, and some of the other units.

"Nino?" Jaffar whispered, then frowned. "...I told you to flee."

"No, these people came and helped me! Hurry Jaffar! Come with me!" urged Nino.

"Go," instructed Jaffar. "There's no need to save a life without worth."

"Jaffar..." Sadly, Nino gazed at her only friend.

"I am a corpse," Jaffar continued. "I have been dead since the day I was born. Leave me..."

"No! If you're not coming, then I'm staying!" Nino yelled. "I do not want you to die, Jaffar!"

"Enough of this jest!" Ursula's snarl brought everyone to look at her, as her hand brimmed with magic energy. In front of her, a yellow vulpine Pokémon stood there, glaring meanly at the crowd. Its nine tails fanned out menacingly and moved like flickering flames.

"Why won't you die as Lady Sonia wishes?" sneered the Blue Crow. "You, born of garbage. This was your one chance to be useful."

"My mother... She would not say such things. I... don't believe it." Angrily, the young mage retorted, "I don't believe anything you have to say!"

"Stupid child... I'll see that you don't suffer at least." Flipping through her yellow spellbook, Ursula shouted, "Bolting! And Hidden Power!"

"Niiiiine!" As its mistress began to attack, Ninetales started generating a ball of energy at the tip of each of its tails, forming nine energy orbs altogether. The nine orbs suddenly combined with Ursula's electric attack, creating a huge electric blast that slammed directly into the ground in front of Nino.

"Ahhh!" screamed Nino as she was struck down, the impact of the shock sending her flying.

"Nino!" exclaimed Jaffar, then turned to Ursula. "You're dead," he growled.

"Bring it," grinned Ursula.

"Imppala! What's going on?" yelled Hector as he, Lyn, Legault and Shadow rushed to the scene. Suddenly, noticing Jaffar, Hector frowned. "Hey, isn't that..."

"It's Jaffar!" noted Legault. "But why is he fighting against Ursula?"

"He's here with Nino to assassinate the prince!" Imppala answered quickly. "But Nino's joined our side now..."

"Good grief, Nino's here as well?" Legault breathed. "Well now, you lords really keep your lips tightly closed, no?"

"It's him!" Hector growled. "That's the guy who stopped us from rescuing Lord Elbert! And I'll bet he's the one who killed Leila! I'm going to..."

"Wait, Hector!" Lyn shouted, grabbing onto the axeman's armour. "Jaffar's fighting against the enemy, isn't he? That mean he's not on their side anymore!"

"And he also left the prince unharmed," added Eliwood. "That gives us reason enough to trust him."

"How can you be so calm?" screeched Hector, but it wasn't the time or place to argue any further.

"Sneasel, Quick Attack!" ordered Jaffar. The Sharp Claw Pokémon dashed across the floor, mimicking the assassin's movements as they charged at Ursula.

"Ninetales, Imprison!" The Fox Pokémon raised two of its tails, arranging them in a cross position while emitting a furious red glow. Without warning, Sneasel tripped over its feet, apparently unable to continue its swift assault, prompting Jaffar to run to its aid. "Burning Blight, now!"

"Niiiine!" Howling, Ninetales breathed out a brightly shining orb of flame, which floated nastily around Jaffar and Sneasel before sinking into Sneasel's body.

"Sneasel!" Jaffar cried out as his Pokémon winced in agony.

"Burning Blight?" echoed Shadow.

"It's Ursula's combination move!" explained Legault worriedly. "It makes use of both Will-o-wisp and Confuse Ray to wear down the opponent over time!"

"Grrr..." Realising that Sneasel was severely weakened, Jaffar threw his cloak over himself and Sneasel, and a split second later, he wasn't there anymore.

"You can run, Jaffar..." cooed Ursula. "But you can't hide! Heat Wave!"

"Blast!" Hector cursed, as Ninetales reared its head for the attack. "Wartortle! Protect and Rapid Spin!"

"Niiiiiiiine!" A huge breath of fire emerged from Ninetales' mouth, sweeping across the entire hallway in a ferocious blast of wind.

"TOR!" Emerging from its Pokéball, Wartortle withdrew into its shell, spinning around while generating a protective shield. The force of its spin managed to allow the forcefield to spread out, thus shielding the entire group. Jaffar, on the other hand, was not as lucky. The Angel of Death staggered out from his hiding place, still clutching his Sneasel, before collpasing onto the floor.

"Jaffar!" screamed Nino.

"Ha ha ha... So ends the Angel of Death," Ursula smirked, before she realised that Jaffar and Sneasel... had crumbled into dust. "What!"

"Hail attack!" shouted Jaffar's voice from above, followed by a flurry of sharp ice particles that rained down on Ursula and Ninetales, slashing at their skin.

"Ugh..." Feeling the red liquid flow down her neck, Ursula cringed as Jaffar and Sneasel appeared in front of her. "That was..."

"Substitute!" realised Imppala. "It's the attack where the Pokémon generates a clone of itself for a quarter of its health, which absorbs all status effects and damage, leaving the original unharmed!"

"Ninetales!" shouted the Blue Crow. "Burning Blight again!"

"Sneasel, Taunt!" At Jaffar's command, Sneasel grinned cheekily at Ninetales, angering it and halting the disruptive attack. "Snowstorm Assault, now!"

"Snea-SEL!" Leaping into the air, Sneasel began to spin around with Swords Dance, as its fists started to generate ice around it from its Ice Punch. Suddenly, it charged at Ninetales, spinning like a mini-tornado of ice, furiously slashing away with Fury Cutter.

"Ninetales! Flamethrower!" cried Ursula. Her Fire-type immediately unleashed a pillar of flame at the incoming Sneasel, but to no effect. The determined weasel Pokémon drilled through the fire like a ballista missile homing in on its target. At the moment the two made contact, Sneasel slashed furiously at its enemy, dealing considerable damage. In a matter of seconds, Sneasel jumped up, landing metres away from Ninetales who fell to the marble floor, dead.

"What!" Ursula exclaimed, but she had her own problems to take care of...

"Hya!" Jaffar flew towards her, a cloak of shadow, his eyes glinting like his swords...

SCHING! SCHING! SCHING! Everyone else watched silently as Jaffar administered his silencing technique, before landing next to Sneasel in a backwards flip.

"...Uww...gaa... This can't... Lady Son...ia..." With that final whisper, the body of Ursula slipped into pieces where Jaffar had slashed her, collapsing into a small heap.

"...! Footsteps!" noted Shadow suddenly. "The guards must be coming!"

"Seems like it," agreeed Eliwood. "We should go while we still have the time."

"Ah! The lights are back on... Am I safe? What happened to those people?" Zephiel looked around, then realised with a jolt that he might not have been the only target. "I have to make sure Mother is well... Hello! Is anyone there?" he called.

"Prince Zephiel!" shouted the guardsmen who barged into the room. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," smiled the prince. "Maybe... I suppose those people can wait," he thought.

Meanwhile, outside...

"Jaffar!" squealed Nino, hugging her friend tightly. "I'm... glad you're well..."

"Nino..." Silently, Jaffar breathed a sigh of relief. Nino was safe now, at least. Looking up, he saw the towering figure of Hector. "...Why do you not kill me?" he questioned.

"Me, I'd like to rip you limb from limb right now," replied Hector in the calmest tone he could muster. "But this kid Nino is here and all..."

"You didn't take the prince's life," explained Lyn. "So we won't take yours. It's that simple."

"So naive," sneered Jaffar. "Do you know how many of your friends I've killed?"

"You monster!" Hector snarled. "I'll...!"

"Hector! Calm yourself!" interjected Eliwood.

"Get out of my way, Eliwood! I'm going to kill him!" Fuming, the Ostian raised his Wolf Beil high above his head.

"Stop it!" Nino screamed.

"...Hey!" frowned Hector, noticing that Jaffar had not moved an inch. "Why don't you draw your sword?"

"I've not been ordered to," Jaffar replied simply.

"Ordered to?" repeated the Ostian.

"Please... forgive Jaffar," pleaded Nino. "I beg you..."

"Bah..." growled Hector as he lay down as axe. "You live, for now."

"I know some sins cannot be forgiven... but right now we need all the help we can get to defeat Nergal." Kneeling down in front of the assassin, Eliwood extended a friendly hand. "Jaffar... you were planning on throwing your life away, correct? If you've really come to regret all that you've done, why don't you come with us?"

"Regret?" sniffed Jaffar. "Such emotions mean..."

"Jaffar!" Nino nudged the assassin in the side.

"...If you wish," relented the Angel of Death.

"That's good, isn't it, Nino?" Lyn smiled.

"Mm! Thank you! Thank you!" squealed the mage.

Elsewhere, the figure of Limstella stood over Ursula's body. The sage had warped into the castle unnoticed and picked up the dead valkryie before teleporting out again.

"Ursula... Beyond hearing so soon?" murmured Limstella, holding an open palm over the corpse. Instantly, Ursula's dead body disintegrated into billions of glittering particles, which gathered into Limstella's hand and coursed through her body.

"...This is quite excellent quintessence," Limstella remarked. "I believe Lord Nergal will be pleased."

Without warning, Limstella then vanished into the night, as if she was never there.

The next morning...

"What could His Majesty be thinking?" grumbled Murdock as he entered the castle grounds. "Detaining me for so long, with no just cause... What!" he suddenly exclaimed, realising something was amiss. "No... It can't be... The prince..."

"Commander! Commander Murdock!" shouted a soldier running towards the General. "You... You must come..."

"What's happened?" Murdock questioned.

"My apologies for the wait," bowed the steward in the waiting room. "The queen will see you now."

"Very well," nodded Pent.

"Let us proceed," declared Louise.

"The queen of Bern... Even if it is a private audience, courtly niceties aren't my strong suit," remarked Hector.

"Mine, either," agreed Lyn.

"Let's go," urged Eliwood. The five lords and two tacticians followed the steward down a hallway before arriving in a regally decorated room.

"Ah, so you've returned," Hellene smiled serenely. "And you were successful? You recovered the Fire Emblem safely?"

"...Queen Hellene. Has no one told you?" Eliwood frowned. "Last night in the manse..."

"Oh, something about assassins sneaking in, wasn't it? I've no time for such trifles," sniffed Hellene. "Quickly, the Emblem."

"..." Wordlessly, Eliwood reached into his pocket, producing the blazing jewel.

"Ah... Without a doubt, this is the Fire Emblem," grinned the Queen as she held it up to the light. "Ha ha! With this, my Zephiel holds rightful claim to the succession! Now, it will never pass to that annoying Guinivere... Ha ha ha."

"Queen Hellene..." prompted Eliwood.

"Oh, yes. I'd forgotten," smiled the Bern royal. "Your promised reward... The road to the Shrine of Seals, was it not?"

"I have a pressing question to ask of you first," Eliwood interrupted. "What is His Royal Highness Prince Zephiel to you?"

"I... beg your pardon?" Hellene frowned.

"His Highness Zephiel is your trueborn son, isn't he?" questioned the Pheraen. "Or is he, like the Fire Emblem, nothing more than a tool for securing the throne?"

"How dare you!" seethed Hellene. "Such insolence! To whom do you think you are speaking?"

"This has nothing to do with title!" shouted Eliwood. "You are free to possess your own desires and aspirations. But your own innocent son... How can you do anything that places His Highness' life at risk?"

"What? What do you mean?" frowned the Queen. "Of what do you speak..."

"Didn't you hear us?" Lyn interjected. "Assassins nearly killed..."

"Lyndis. That's enough." Turning to the Queen of Bern, Eliwood quickly bowed. "...I beg your leave."

"Wait right there! We are not finished!" Hellene screeched as the seven people turned and walked out of the room. "Someone! Someone stop these insolent children! Someone!"

"My lady Queen." Suddenly, Murdock entered the room and presented himself.

"Murdock!" exclaimed Hellene. "I thought you'd been summoned to the castle by His Majesty."

"That's correct. I've only just returned," nodded Murdock gravely. "One of my men told me all that happened last night... There's something I must inform you of, your Majesty."

Outside...

"Well, that's that, huh?" remarked Hector.

"...Lord Pent, Lady Louise, I ruined a perfectly good opportunity," apologised Eliwood. "I'm terribly sorry."

"You said nothing that I did not agree with," replied Pent, placing a hand on Eliwood's shoulder. "Do not think long on it."

"Lady Hellene has changed," lamented Louise. "Before she got married, she was a kind woman who wanted to be a good wife and a good mother.

"She and the king are ill-matched. She has suffered much," Pent nodded. "And now, she is obsessed with the succession. Such a sad life..."

"...His parents are alive, yet they're both awful," commented Lyn. "I feel so sorry for him."

"Even if it was just, I should have left it unsaid," Eliwood sighed. "I angered the queen, and in doing so lost the only aid we had in Bern."

"It's over and done with, milord. No sense worrying about it now," comforted Shadow.

"I agree. We should move on and consider our next course of action," proposed Imppala. "...Wait! Who's there?"

"Go no farther." Everyone else turned back to see...

"Queen Hellene?" Hector exclaimed.

"What are you... Where are your guards?" asked Eliwood.

"Your name... It is Eliwood, yes? Take this book and this seal." So saying, the Queen placed her two items into the surprised Pheraen's hands. "My reward to you."

"Your Majesty?" Eliwood frowned.

"This book contains the road to the Shrine of Seals. The seal was a wedding present from Count Reglay from Etruria. I was saving it for Zephiel, but... I believe at this time that you need it more," explained Hellene. "Furthermore, your path will remain clear for the next three days. No matter what happens during that time, Bern's soldiers will not move. I can make no promises about the king's own troops, though."

"You have done more than enough. You have my heartfelt gratitude," smiled Eliwood. "But, Your Majesty... Why all of this for us?"

"I want to thank you, not as a queen, but as a mother," Hellene replied softly. "For saving my son, I am forever in your debt... Now, you should get going."

"...Queen Hellene." Silently, everyone watched the Queen as she retreated back into the manse.

"Zephiel."

"Mother?" Looking up, Zephiel saw Hellene standing next to him. "Is something amiss?"

"You... You've endured much heartache because of me," whispered Hellene, bringing her son into a close embrace. "...I'm sorry."

"Th... That's not so!" Zephiel protested.

"Zephiel... My dear, irreplaceable son." Hellene smiled, then declared, "From this day forward... I want us to live together as one loving family. Your father and I... and your sister, Guinivere, too."

"Mother..."

"I am ashamed of the way I have behaved," continued Hellene. "The king may not forgive me for the woman I have been. Yet I shall make recompense, no matter the time. I want to change. If I speak to him from the heart, someday, he will understand. After all... we are a family."

"That's right!" agreed Zephiel. "He will see."

"So the book is a map, but what's this 'seal'?" pondered Hector.

"This is a... Heaven seal," recognised Eliwood. "To receive something so valuable..."

"She really listened to you, didn't she?" Hector grinned. "Let's take them and go!"

"She listened to us, didn't she?" Eliwood smiled.

"That's right," agreed Lyn. "All of us!"

"I guess..." shrugged Hector.

"Let's make for the Shrine of Seals!" declared Eliwood. "Once we make it there, something's bound to happen!"

Imppala: So... I suppose we'll wait for the next chapter. Dang, now I wish I had dragged ShadowedTactician along by the collar with him screaming and flailing and...
Electrike: How about I trade you a Merlinus' Gulpin, two Groznyis and a Bartre's Phanpy for your Lowen's Exeggutor?
Grim: You know... you could just go over to the printer and print a copy of the fake card like a good author's underling's underling.
Imppala/Electrike: (mull over the last remark)...Hey!
Grim: ...Review.