Chapter 1: Brief Diversion (Ike)
Year 646, Gallia
"Well old friend? How will you choose, you who seen them at their most foul? Will you vote with me and put an end to this most heinous of spawning grounds?" A large figure in heavy golden armor speaks in a powerful voice. On the back of his golden armor are large wings made out of fire and light.
Ike looks around to see that he is not himself nor is he in his mercenary clothes. His face hidden from the robes he wears. His tendril-like wings glow from the back of his armor and the hilt of the sword glows in light. Ike replies in a voice that is not of his own, "I did call them abominations...and I was wrong! My vote is for them...For I would see what they might become...and marvel in it."
Is it really Ike or...
"I don't suppose our Daein pursuers were willing to let us just slip away." Ike snapped out of the vision that he just had as Titania went to talk to Greil, Ike's father, discussing the situation.
"There is no doubt that we will be attacked again. Without knowing their numbers and logistics, it is difficult to advise a course of action." Elliot jumps in with a high-pitched voice. Elliot is a young man, tall and slender thin, fair skin and golden eyes. A red ponytail that let loose down over his back. He became the tactician of the Greil Mercenaries at the age of 14.
Ike watches his father discussing a plan on how to avoid the Daein army. With every second, Daein continues to pursue them with haste even when it involves attacking Gallian borders.
Why is the Daeinian army after them? First thing is that how Daein conquered Crimea with ease and chase after the princess of Crimea, Elincia. The Daeinian Army provoked the mercenaries with steel as for the mercenaries, negotiation was a lose-lose situation. Second, they attack again at their own base in Crimea one night before they moved out of their base to escort Elincia to safety to the laguz Kingdom of Gallia.
"Take your best guess, Elliot. With the limited info we have, what do you believe to be the best way to proceed?" asked Greil.
"Well," Elliot rubs his chin to think, "since some of us can't fight. If we are caught, we'll have a difficult time defending them and attacking the Daeins. I propose we separate into two groups: a small fighting force to engage the enemy and buy the main group some time, and the rest of us–who will escort the princess to Gallia at full speed."
"You want to divide our combat strength? The main force aside, don't you think the risk to the smaller group is too high?" Oscar, the former Crimean Royal Knight, asks nervously.
"I believe this is the only way to achieve our goal and keep casualties to a miminal. It's possible there's an ambush waiting for us at the edge of the forest. If we proceed with no plan, we may be caught between the pursuit and the ambush, which would be the end of us all." Elliot replies.
"Looks like we've no choice but to give it a go." Greil speaks with his axe over his shoulders, "All right, let's split up. The diversionary team will be Gatrie, Shinon, and me. The rest of you guard Princess Elincia and proceed to Gallia straightaway. Got it?"
"Are you sure you're taking enough men?" asked Ike.
"Idiot pup! Smaller numbers equal better mobility. You should worry about yourself than about us." Shinon snap at Ike who looks dumbfounded.
"Listen up! This will probably prove to be the biggest fight this company's faced. Remember–you've got only one life. I don't want any of you dying on times like these, it matters not what our blood ties are. We are family. If you don't want to cause your family any grief, then live! Ike will be commanding the main force. Titania, you're his support. All right, let's move out! See you all in Gallia!" Greil announced before he moved out with Gatrie and Shinon while Ike and others wait in the forest.
Ike looks out of the forest, seeing Daeinian soldiers in the area, some sharpening their weapons while in their light armor of steel. There are two bridges to cross to the other side which is being guarded by a man wearing light steel armor. His helmet is unlike many soldiers that they faced. His helmet is unique style or common as he thought the soldiers they faced are all in same uniform but no. The commander on the other side fights for House Favian as he was to help lead the vanguard to Gallia. The eagle crest rise from the top of the helmet shows the noble house it fights for unlike the dragon crests that rise from House Imperius centurions. Their pole weapons are neither spears or poleax but some sort of halberd yet they fight with it like it's a spear.
House Favian... A noble house in Daein. Rumored to be powerful enough to fight their liege lord, House Imperius. Known for their famous griffon knights and rigorous military training that make them the greatest military vanguard in history of the world. In the past, they had lead the vanguard against Begnion Empire during a Great War and was a success as they drove the Begnion Empire out. Even for Ashnard, House Favian have been of great use for conquering parts of Begnion.
"Seems they're watching out carefully. There seem to be too many." said Elliot.
"Do we rethink our strategy?" ask Ike, readying his sword.
"Too late but I think I could..." Elliot holds out his arm, resulting a tree behind some Favian soldiers to lit up in flames.
"What the?" Favian soldiers distracted to see a tree burning up out of nowhere.
"Now..." Elliot signal to attack as Oscar held up his bow and fire an arrow at one of the Daeinian soldiers.
"Ready arms!" The Daeinians ready their weapons and stare at the forest where two teams of mercenaries charge out of. As they fight the Daeinian soldiers in this battle, they see that these soldiers are more of a match compare to the others in terms of equipment and fighting prowess.
Ike charges through the bridge, only to be fired upon by crossbowmen and archers. He ran through their arrows as two hit him. One on the chest and the other on the shoulder as he ignores the pain. As he rushes through the bridge, he slashes his sword aggressively, imperfect form yet good enough to slashes his enemies swiftly.
To many soldiers, the fighting style is too familiar like they had seen it before. What kind of person is Ike? None of these soldiers know for Ike and the other mercenaries continues to overrun them. Titania and Oscar were at the front, distracting some of Daeinian men to them while Boyd and Elliot fight side by side for Boyd have trouble fighting some of the soldiers from Daein. Rhys stay back to wait for anyone to receive any wound.
The commander of Daein turns to Ike and throws his halberd at Ike. The pole weapon was thrown a spiral that anyone that gets in the way of the spinning crescent blades, that were below the tip, will get sliced.
Ike move to the side and slash down at the spinning halberd before facing this centurion who held up his shield and draw his sword. His sword is normal but shorter that seems to favor stabbing than slashing. His kite shield covers his torso area and the edges of his shield could be used to slice enemies as well as the spike boss on the center of his shield.
As the two about to fight, the commander raises his sword and shout through the silk mask that covers his mouth, "For Daein!"
Ike walk closer to face the commander with his sword pointing at him. When they fight, Ike notices that they fight in a similar style but his style with a sword is not great but better than average. The Daein commander is more defensive as he holds his shield up as Ike continues to hit him with series of attacks. There were some that the commander will just try to stab at Ike before Ike slew his arm off and plunge his sword through the commander's chest as the Daein commander speak his last words, "I am too old to fight yet I show valor and honor and proud of my 30 years of service. With my life taken and you flee to Gallia... You will... still fall to Daein... I hope Lord Favian will avenge us."
I kinda don't like doing this battle. It's too unreal in my opinion which makes it hard for me to write. I mean, two bridges and yet an army with more men couldn't win... I really don't like this chapter to be honest.
No, I'm not saying classes. It just confuses me(well, not really but storywise it does). Like samurai as a class in the game is not really a samurai, that's just a peasant wielding a katana.
Pairings:
Ike/Mia: 9
Geoffrey/Elincia: 5
Soren/Micaiah: 6
Gatrie/Tree: 5
Gatrie/Shinon in a dress: 5
Mist/Sothe: 4
Mist/Rolf: 4
Lethe/Mordecai: 3
Pelleas/Lucia: 4
Haar/Jill: 3
Oscar/Tanith: 3
Zihark/Lyre: 3
Ranulf/Lethe: 3
Ranulf/Lyre: 3
Gatrie/Astrid: 3
OC/Marcia: 1
OC/Naliah: 1
OC/Fiona: 1
Ike/Marcia: 1