A/N : Hello there! I began working on this story years ago and stopped, never having finished it. Now, with all my work deleted on some computer I don't even have anymore I decided to start from the beginning with a fresh brain with hardly anything but the story concept to rewrite perhaps one of my best works. For the purposes of this piece, please consider the events of Radiant Dawn null and void. Also, as you all know I don't own Fire Emblem or it's characters. Original Characters will be included in this tale.
Enough commentary, here's the story!
CHRONICLES OF A SNIPER
PROLOGUE
It was a dark and quiet night in a small uninhabited forest in Crimea. One adventure had long since been over, and another was soon to begin. It had been five years since the Greil Mercenaries had saved the continent of Tellius from the Black Knight, the evil King Ashnard, and the Daein army. After this great quest, most of the Company was content retiring to the shadows to silently do the work cheap mercenaries who protect the weak from the strong, and uphold justice without the law in a land of the prominently lawlessness.
MOST of the Company had no problem fading away after their brief mark in history, but there was one member in particular who was not content with becoming a small name, all but forgotten, in a significant section of history that he would never truly be credited for. This particular mercenary had never desired to protect the weak or save the world. For this talented, albeit arrogant individual, personal wealth, fame, and legacy was far greater than then the naïve goal of "making the world a better place".
Shinon, the Crimson Archer of the Greil Mercenaries had never been interested in the quest to save Queen Elincia from the tyrant dictator Ashnard. He had never even been truly loyal to the commander of the Greil Mercenaries, Ike. Shinon, in all honesty had a great loathing to the spoiled son of a once great mercenary and at one time even aimed his bow to kill the now Iconic War Hero. In that particular battle, things didn't go the way the red haired sniper had intended, the soft Commander spared his life, and Shinon switched to the winning side of History in the name of self-preservation and to live to fight another day.
Now, five years later, in a dark and quiet forest on the outskirts of Crimea, the sniper made his mind up to leave in the dead of night. He was severing his roots with the Greil Mercenaries to find his fame and fortune elsewhere. As Shinon moved quietly through the brush, it wasn't long before he heard the footsteps of a large armor clad man behind him. The mercenary stopped, rolled his eyes, and spoke to the figure tailing him.
"You are by far the loudest and clumsiness oaf I have ever had the misfortune of sharing fine wines with. You didn't really think you could sneak up on me, did you?"
Shinon turned around to look upon the large muscular, and handsome knight covered in shiny blue armor. Gatrie smiled as he looked back at his friend, fully accepting the fact that stealth was never his strong suit.
"So you're just leaving without so much of a good bye or anything, then?" he asked his comrade and longtime battle buddy.
"Ugh," Shinon grunted in disdain. "Our time with Ike and his merry men of do-gooders has made you soft, Gatrie. Since when do warriors like ourselves take time to put on a dress and say our good byes to each other as if we're star-crossed lovers? We're Men, and Men need Purpose. Our "fearless" Commander may be content with saving kittens from tall trees and finding an old grandmother's lost wallet for the payment of a freshly cooked meal but I crave much greater adventure, glory, and wealth. After five years of mind numbing boredom, it is clear I won't find it with this company. So I am out."
"I couldn't agree with you more." Gatrie said as he moved closer to his best friend, "Which is why I am coming with you. Besides, if you're gone who else would be my drinking buddy?"
"Whatever." Shinon responded as he continued to walk away. "Just don't slow me down. Seriously Gatrie, you may be talented with a lance but you're such a softie under all that rusty armor!"
As the two walked away from the Greil Mercenaries' hideout, Shinon smiled to himself. He would never admit it in a million years but he was grateful that Gatrie had joined him on his new adventure. The two spent the greater part of the past fifteen years looking out for each other. Whatever perils and evils was ahead of the sniper, he was comforted to know his best friend had his back.
Shinon didn't know then how fortunate he was…..because soon he would be facing perilous danger unlike anything he knew existed.
I treasure your thoughts, readers! If you took a moment to read this prologue please take another and let me know what you're thinking! I will update soon. Stay Classy.
