Training he said. Fun she said. Ariel spun around, knocking another risen away from herself with her stave. This hadn't been how today was supposed to go in the slightest. From behind herself she could faintly hear Ford yelling out orders, not that it helped much.                   Today was supposed to be a light training session for her and the twins. As the Stans were family, and had been in the Sheppards much longer than the three kids had, it only seemed right they'd be the ones to teach them. After gaining Chroms premission, the five headed out to the fields near the Plegian boarder where there had been reports of a few scattered risen ambling about and messing with crops. The Yslillian comander had been certain at the time the five could take care of it...  Thwak. Ariel pulled away from another risen as it slashed at her, anxiety growing as she heard her stave crack. She was a healer for Naga's sake! Not a brawler! Looking quickly around she moved to an area she hoped was out of it's range. Beathing heavily she looked around again for any sign of the Pines. The hoards had quickly gotten out of hand and Risen mingled around helplessly, tearing up the field they were in. Right now they seemed more content devouring carrots than her, a thought she was grimly grateful for. She took the moment to inspect her stave. The rod was bent at an odd angle, the blue stone at the top cracked nearly in half. She maybe had two good healing spells left in it if she tried.  A sudden shout made her jump. Looking out through the field she made out a shape... She gasped, dashing forward, blood in her ears as she swung the stave forward again, hitting a monster square upside the head. The risen was thrown back a few feet, laying stunned on the ground.  "Ariel!" Ariel pantted, glancing back to where Dipper stood, looking deshevled, el fire tome at his feet in shreads.  "Dipper!"  "Are you ok?" The words were spoken in unison, both grinning helplessly at each other despite the circumstance.  Dipper looked tired. His hair was singged at the tips where a spell had most likely blown up in his face, his robes torn and covered in purple slime... and His el thunder tome was missing pages, now that Ariel got a beter look. Nothing to bad injury wise surprisingly. She could see him taking her in as well. "Where are these things comeing from?" Ariel asked before he could comment. The boy pushed back his hair, looking around in distress. "Someone has to be making them!" "Making them? These aren't like faceless, you can't just make them Dipper...c-can you?" A low hiss sent the two of them closer, looking back towards the risen they had been fighting before as it morpher back into shape. Dippers hand twitched towards the sword at his side and Ariel's grip tightened on her stave. "We can't beat them like this!" He moaned as it moved closer. The risen circled slowly around them, the two not even daring to move as it's eyes looked them over. Ariel tried desperatly to think of a defensive strategy as it's eyes glew brighter.  "A-any ideas?" She asked hesitantly, "You gotta earn the class of tacticain right?" the words where laughed and nervious.  "I just started training, Ariel..."  "I-It was worth a shot." The creature infront of them suddenly hissed, it's form shifting as it lunged towards Dipper and Ariel's world moved in slow motion.

One hit would end it.

Without thinking, She moved herself infront of Dipper, stave put out as a barrier between them. "I've got you!" The risen's claws scrached at the metal, a sharp clang filling the air before it was blasted by a stream of electricity. "Ariel!" The monster dissipating infort of them was forgotten as he gapped at her, incredeoulous. "What were you thinking!" "She wasn't." A chuckle was heard from besides them and the two spun again, pressing up against each other. "Gideon?" Dipper's eye's narrowed in confussion. The Dark Mage stood infront of them, looking more like he had walked through a town then a field of undead.  

"W-what are you doing here? Chrom said-"  "I know what Chrom said." Gideon smirked. "And I'd thought I'd spice things up for you."  "What?" Ariel felt Dipper tense slightly beside her, her own fingers sparking slightly, ready to heal him if needed.  "Y'see, I've found much better oppertunitys in Plegia. Dark Mages are needed now more then ever! And well, with my postion and all...y'all could say I'm highly wanted!"  Ariels gut twisted uncomfortably. "Gideon, plea-"  "What 'yah gonna do 'bout it, Pines? Or 'yah gonna let the little cleric fight your battles for you?"  "Dippe-"  The boy next to her growled-growled? The air felt tense, and Ariel was begining to feel sick. "You two, please."  "Sorry Doll," Gideon laughed. "Can't sweet talk 'yer way out of this one! I've already made up my mind. And I'm sure Mabel will see I've made the right choice. She'll come with me- War Cleric's are needed in Plegia to, y'know."

Dipper began to move forward, "Don't you dare talk about my sister that way you-" His words were cut off by a patch of earth igniting in front of him, the flame  begining to incircle the field.  "Sorry, Pines. But do have fun."  "Gideon!" Ariel put a restraining hand on Dipper's shoulder, her own heart acheing. "Dipper... we need to go. Now. We can deal with him later."  "But-"  "Please!" Frantic was not even close to what she was feeling as she looked behind them, noticing the flames boxing them into the field, the risen suddenly relizing Barbeque sounded better then greens.  "We really need to get going!"  "F-fine." The two begain to run, Dipper pulling her along, the fire closing in from each direction, risen screeching as they made thier way twords the duo, not caring for the fire that theatened to consume them.  

The ground suddenly lurched benieth Ariel as she tripped forward, hitting the ground with a thud. "Ahh!"  She scrambled up, only to be cought by the neck of her hood, a risen looking down at her, glassy eye's reflecting the flames around them. "Ariel!"  And like that she was falling, hitting the ground as a figure lept infront of her, and a comfoting chill overtook her despite the flames. Shield.  She looked up as Stan decked the Risen in the face and despite herself let out a breath of awe. Mabel was on them in in instant, her own stave in relitivly good shape as it glew softly, healing minor scrapes and cuts that littered the two.  "Here you two are!" Mabel looked rather put off as she took in the flames, before glancing back to Stan, the man having lost his bow and resorting to punching.  "Who's next!"  "Evidently, no one." Stan looked back to see Ford heading twords them, looking just as messy. "The locals are chacing us off thier property for setting it on fire. They were under the inpression that the risen were...are rabbits-" Ford looked understably baffled at the explaination the towns foke cooked up for themselfs, "and you solved thier vermain problem by burning thier carrots. The police will be coming soon."  "But the risen-"  "Are retreating. No food, no reason to stay. They're moving over the border as we speak."  Stan looked down to the kids then, lips pursing. "Well, hope you kids are fine with being labeled Arsonists."  Mabel shrugged, "I'm fine with that."  "Let's get out of here."

Hot wind seeped through Ariel's clothing, the thin fabric sticking to her arms as she moved the wooden wheel barrel in front of herself, flipping it over and leaning it against the shed. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, a grin splitting her face as she slipped under it, bringging down her book with her.

Laying across her stomache she propped the novel up, it's faded pages offering adventure. Scaning the page, Ford's voice filled her head as if he was reading it to her again. 'A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and-'

"Ariel!"

Ariel jumped, smacking her head against the wheelbarrels lid and letting out a loss hiss. A pair of feet rounded the shed, and she vaugley recognized the shoes as Dipper's. "Ariel?"

Dipper's face was in hers then, his dark hazel eyes looking her over in confusion. "What are you doing down here?"

Ariel smiled lightly, "Reading."

"But why out here?"

"Ac's out." She shrugged, pulling herself out.

"Ah." Dipper sat himself down next to her, looking over the books cover. "Are you reading that again?"

"Well, yeah. It's-" she stopped herself, a thought hitting her suddenly. "Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Shouldn't you be in school?"

"Haha, Dips, very funny. You know my situations a bit diffrent then ditching!"

He chuckeld, "Okay okay, you got me, but Mabel and I always skip seventh today."

Ariel's eyebrows knit together. "What do you mean?"

"Todays the countey fair's first day the fairs open. Ever since freshman year we've ditched this day and gone while everyone else has been in school."

"Oh."

"We just wantted to know," Dipper looked away, looking slightly abashed."Do you want to come with us?"

Ariel blinked once in surprise before spluttering. "You have finals!"

Dippers waved his hands apeasingly. "N-no that next week! I swear!"

"Dipper Pines, if your lying to me-"

Suddenly he was laughing, "Ariel it's ok! Seventh is my free period anyways! And," he ran a hand through his hair, "We hate that your stuck in the house while we're all out doing things..."

Ariel felt her face heat up, growing embaresed by her earlier out burst. "O-oh... well in that case...I guess we could go...as long as you promise your not skipping anything to important!"

Dipper laughed again, "Prep!"

The fairground smelt like popcorn and oil and Ariel couldn't be anymore pleased. She and the twins spent the day visting the various atractions it had to offer and spendding thier well earned allowence on carnival food that tasted like cardboard and rigged games.

The three stopped in front of the game stalls. "Well, see anything you like?" Mabel asked, swinging an arm around Ariel's shoulders.

"Hmm..." The girl scanned the prizes where they were hung, most being of the generic carnival varriety- was that a snake? Then something cought her eye. "What about that one?" She asked, pointing twords a stuffed animal.

The twins followed her finger before Mabel's eyes lit up, gaping audibly. "OMG thats so cute!" She rounded on her brother, grabbing him by the shoulders. "You have to win it for her!" Dippers face twisted, looking horrified.

"Mabel! Not after last time!"

Mabel rolled her eye's, pushing Dipper towards the carnie manning the game. "Oh come on Dipper! You were like, twelve! Now get over there and win the lovley lady a stuffed whatever before i have to do it for you!"

Ariel snickered, watching the two banter back and forth good naturedly. It was oddly placating, but it could go on for ever. "Mabs, I could play for it if you want?" She offered. "Afer all, I was the one who"-

"Stop right there missy!" Mabel's lips purssed. "That's not how fairs work! Nobody is suposed to win thier own prize!"

Ariel laughed. "Ok,ok. Dipper you heard your sister. You have to!"

Dipper looked uncomfortable. "Well...how much do you want that thing?"

Ariel looked him in the eyes, growing serious. "More than anything."

"Well..."

"For the love of Moses, Dipper!" Mabel throw her hands up, "I'll do it!" She slammed a five on the counter. "Give me a ball!"

Dippers face flushed, "M-mabel!" He fished around in his pockets and dug out his own cash, "One play please!"

Ariel was soon there one women cheering section, as they blew about twenty dollars trying to outdo each other for the top prize, a small pile of felt snakes growing at their feet.

"Goal!" Mabel shouted as Dipper knocked over the last target. The carnie handed him the toy, it's head lolling to one side. Both girls clapped as Dipper gave a mock bow. "Here you go, Ariel."

Ariel laughed, taking the giant deer into her arms. "Thanks, Mabel."

"H-hey!"

The three broke into laughs again, the sound somehow overpowering the sound of the rides.

The three stumbled off the colt bus, laughing amound themselves as they made their way home, each adorned with a rediculous stuffed animal and other treats.

"You should have seen your face Dips!" Ariel laughed, "That was perfect!"

"No no no man! Your face when Mabel wanted to go on the fire ball! That was perfect! I thought you were going to have a heart attack!" He shook, the stuffed lion fish in his arms bouncing against his chest. "and Mabel-"

"Never bring up Caramel Apples again..." she groaned, burring her face in the stuffed owl she held, face paint smeering into it's feathers

The laugheter started again as they approched the house. "We're home!"

Stan's face peered around the corrner. "There you kids are," He chuckeled. "You look like you had fun."

"We did!" Ariel gushed, spinning around. "Look at these babys!" She held up the deer, grinning widely.

"Hehe, that's pretty cool kiddo." Stan guestured over his shoulder "Ford found your nerd book out back."

Ariel gasped, nearly dropping the deer. "Oh no! Is it alright?"

"It's fine." Ford apeared in the living room's door, holding up the worn copy before smilling at the kids. "Story time?"

"Dude!"

The family got into the living room, getting comforable on the floor.

Ford cleared his throat, flipping it open, and began in what Ariel called 'The voice.' "A surging, seething, murmuring crowd of beings that are human only in name, for to the eye and ear they seem naught but savage creatures, animated by vile passions and by the lust of vengeance and of hate. The hour, some little time before sunset, and the place, the West Barricade, at the very spot where, a decade later, a proud tyrant raised an undying monument to the nation's glory and his own vanity."