Chapter 1: Survival Instinct
Cordelia didn't have time to think. She knew she had to fly. As soon as the horrific images flashed before her eyes, she knew she had to fly. Was she doing the right thing? She didn't even have time to think about her morals. Risking a quick glance behind her, Cordelia felt a tear form in her eye. She wasn't doing the right. But she was doing the smart thing. Wasn't that a good enough reason to fly? To flee. Her pegasus whinnied, sensing her master's distress. Cordelia managed a regretful smile. She didn't deserve this. To have such a loyal steed. She didn't deserve what she had. The sounds of screaming and death flooded her ears. But she just had to keep flying. She didn't dare risk stopping. To do so would be to invite certain death. The same horrible murder her fellow pegasus knights were suffering. The same fate Cordelia had left them to. What kind of a pegasus knight was she? She should go back. She had to go back. But… They would already be likely dead. Her comrades were already gone. She was alone. As she always had been, she supposed. Did her fellow sisters-in-arms ever care for her? Would they want to be saved by her? Saved by 'Little Lady Genius'. Cordelia felt anger surge in her body. She wasn't a genius. She was just the same as anyone else, wasn't she? She wasn't any different to the other Shepherds. No. She was. The other Shepherds wouldn't have abandoned their comrades to die.
"Why? Why did I give in to my fear? Why didn't I stay?" Cordelia choked back tears, as she started to unleash her guilt upon her steed. Though she knew her pegasus wouldn't respond, Cordelia just wanted somebody, anybody would listen to her. Who would make her feel better. Make her feel like she wasn't worthless. But there was nobody. She was alone. Without. Without friends. Without comrades. Without a purpose. Why was she even doing this? In her head, she was telling herself she was going to Breakneck Pass. To save Captain Chrom. But she wasn't headed that way. She didn't know which way she was flying. Just that she was. Flying. Away. Fleeing. Why wasn't she headed to Breakneck Pass? Why wasn't she going that way? The Shepherds were there. Chrom was there. Chrom. Cordelia felt her heart ache. What would she do if Chrom… If Chrom were to die? What would she do if she knew she had failed to save Chrom? Would she be able to carry on? With the guilt and shame of learning that she had caused the death of the exalt's brother? Of the death of the next-in-the-line? Though that wouldn't be too much of a problem. Emmeryn's reign was going strong. They had averted her death. She wouldn't be killed, at least. But that was a horrible way to think. Measuring somebody's worth on how much chaos their death would cause? What of Cordelia herself? She was just a young pegasus knight, not even high in the ranks. Nothing more than that. She shook her head. Everyone's life meant something. She couldn't sacrifice anyone. Not like she had sacrificed… No. She hadn't sacrificed them. They were going to die anyway. They were doomed, from the start. It was a harsh way of thinking, but it was the truth. Cordelia hadn't sacrificed anyone, had she? Could she have made a difference? Could she have done anything? No. She hadn't sacrificed them. She had just tried to continue their legacy. So she couldn't mope around. She didn't have that luxury. She had to fly. She had to soar.
"There she is! The last survivor!" Shouts of anger erupted from behind Cordelia. Wheeling her pegasus around, she readied her lance as the first wyvern rider flew into view, wielding a bloody steel axe. They were the ones. Who had murdered her comrades. They were going to pay. Gripping her weapon, hatred flashing in her eyes, Cordelia charged, directly at the Plegians. The savage barbarians who had taken her squad from her. Made her the only survivor.
"We can't let her escape! Kill her, before she can run back to the exalt." But Cordelia was done running. She was done flying away from her problems, and pretending they weren't there. She was going to fight, survival instinct be damned. Striking forwards like thunder, she impaled the first rider, letting his body tumble down. Another wyvern flew into view, and her pegasus rose up, allowing her to attack from above. Her spear rushing through the rider's brain, she flew back down to face the rest of the army. A hand axe rushing towards her, she snarled angrily, as it reflected off her leg plates. Checking her armour, making sure it hadn't been pierced; she advanced forwards, hurling a javelin at the unprotected face of what looked like a novice rider. Though one part of her felt sympathy for the young Plegian, she knew this was war. And she couldn't afford to have mercy. Especially not for the monsters that had killed her squad. Not for the monsters that were threatening the life of the Shepherds. Not for the monsters that could be at this point, be killing her captain. They deserved no mercy. And they would get none. Hatred flashing in her eyes, Cordelia threw another javelin, once again killing another apprentice. It was almost like routine. Blocking a steel axe, trying not to let go of her lance, she pulled the reins of her pegasus backwards, forcing her opponent to drop his axe. Now that he was defenceless, Cordelia struck, a scream ringing out from the unarmed Plegian.
"What are you doing? She's one pegasus knight! She withdrew from combat with us! Why are you failing against one weak recruit?" Cordelia snarled at the commander's comment. She wasn't a weak recruit! Just because she withdrew from combat didn't make her a weakling! She was fighting, wasn't she? She was getting her vengeance upon the wyvern riders, wasn't she? How dare that commander call her weak? She wasn't going to be weak! She wasn't going to allow herself the luxury of being weak! She would show them that she wasn't weak. Thrusting her lance forwards, she eliminated another wyvern rider, leaving just two left. Wheeling backwards, avoiding a clumsy hand axe, before replying with a precise javelin throw.
"Do I have to do this all myself? Useless, incompetent… Listen up, you stupid pegasus knight. You'll never save your precious captain!" The leader rode forwards, armour plating his wyvern. A massive, sharpened axe was in his hands, and various throwing weapons were strapped to his back. His wyvern letting out a mighty roar, he hurled his first hand-axe that bounced off Cordelia's armour, though not without heavily denting it. Another axe flew towards her, this one piercing through a weak spot in her plates, cutting into her flesh. Tears of anguish and hate formed in Cordelia's eyes, as she dodged another axe strike. An angry snarl on her lips, she dived forwards, trying to attack the wyvern captain, but her lance failed to find flesh. Flying backwards, she struck out again, to much the same result. Gripping her pegasus' reins tightly, she avoided a heavy, unbalanced axe blow. Exploiting her opening, she quickly hit the wyvern's unprotected side, though her lance didn't pierce the skin deep enough to kill. Retreating, she threw a spear, which deflected off the wyvern's leg armour. A snarl came from the rider, as he swung his axe, hitting Cordelia, nearly pushing her off her pegasus. Grabbing onto its' back as hard as she could, she desperately tried to stay on. Swinging back onto her mount, she avoided the next attack, before flying off, trying to lose her attacker.
"Flying away, are we? Flying away again? Just like how you abandoned your comrades!" Cordelia stopped, turning to face the wyvern lord.
"Fool. That was a really genius move, wasn't it? You should've kept flying." A calm, controlled anger burned through Cordelia's veins.
"Oh yes, I know all about your little nickname. Your comrades uttered it on their last breath. They cursed your name. 'Little Lady Genius'." Without warning, Cordelia flew forwards, her lance narrowly missing the Plegian's brain. Attacking again, she speared the captain's throat, ripping her bloody lance out, her body still full of rage. Taking a deep breath, she started to calm down, her body tiring as all the adrenaline surged out of her. Directing her pegasus down to a small clearing, she dismounted her steed, preparing to take a short rest. Though she knew she had to reach Breakneck Pass, she also knew she would have to recuperate her strength. Looking up to the sky, she made sure there were no more wyvern riders. Made sure the skies were clear. Despite the fact they were, Cordelia still felt uneasy. She should have gone straight to Breakneck Pass, as fast she could. To make sure Chrom was safe. But her mind was a whirl. Anger, hatred, despair, sorrow, guilt. Every single emotion had a place in her head. Every single emotion was fighting in her brain, vying for control. Fatigue washed over her, like a funeral shroud over a corpse. Trying desperately to fight her tiredness, eventually she succumbed to her exhaustion, her eyelids closing despite her protestations.
Cordelia woke up with a start, sweat pouring down her face. The voices of her dead comrades had taunted her in her sleep, asking her why. They demanded to know why they were dead, why she had fled them. They roared at her, demanding to know why 'Little Lady Genius' had failed them again. Like she had always done. Cordelia had desperately hoped it was just a dream. But the reality was that she had failed. She fled. Obeying her survival instinct, ignoring all sense of what was right. And now where was she? Nowhere close to her goal. Nowhere close to saving Chrom. Instead, once again, she had tended to her needs first. From behind her, her pegasus made a small noise, and she turned to look into the steed's seemingly-forlorn eyes.
"I'm sorry. I've probably failed you too, haven't I?" Cordelia sighed. "Pushing you around all the time. Forcing you to fly, high-adrenaline situations. You'd like nothing more than to have a nice rest somewhere comfortable, and leave all this war nonsense behind. But I need your help one more time. I need to get to Breakneck Pass. I've been running from it, for far too long. For far too long, I have been avoiding that place, for fear of seeing if I was late. I know it was a stupid thing to do, that by doing so, I was just increasing the chance of Chrom being killed, but I couldn't stop myself. I was giving in. But no more. I'm going. I'm going to avenge my fallen pegasus knights. And I'm going to kill every one of those Plegian bastards. I'm going to make them pay." With a new determination, Cordelia mounted her Pegasus, setting off for Breakneck Pass. She had delayed for far too long, because she was scared. But she could no longer afford to give into her fear. Not yet. First, she would give into her anger. Give into her rage.
Breakneck Pass. Chrom looked around him. There were an advancing host of Plegians marching towards their position. Checking around him, to make sure his Shepherds were nearby, he prepared himself for conflict. Robin had their plan in motion – they were to wait, until the first wave of enemy troops hit them. Then, when the Plegians were weakened after their initial assault, they would attack, driving back Gangrel's forces. They had gone over the strategy many times, making sure everybody understood. One wrong move could spell the end. Chrom had to give Robin credit – coming up with such a plan, in such a small amount of time – it had only been a couple of hours after the Hierarch had betrayed them. But Robin knew it would take time for the Plegians to reach time. Time they could use. And Chrom was thankful for it. It gave him a chance to prepare, to rally the troops for the assault.
"Captain Chrom – look!" Sumia flew to her captain's side, now able to quell the feeling of unease she had.
"I can see them. Nothing more than organized bandits, seeking to ravage Ylisse."
"But why are they even doing this? We seek no war with them."
"Their king is mad, consumed with nothing but hatred for Ylisse. He is unwilling to move on, and is trying to drag us back, into a time of darkness, and turmoil. He wants us to be cloaked in the same vengeance he feels, so that he can strike, and wipe us out."
"But..."
"I know, Sumia. But we do what we must. How long do you think we have, before the conflict starts?"
"Another hour, at most." Sumia looked sadly at Chrom, still not understanding the reasons for this. Chrom tried to feign a smile, tried pretending it was all alright. But he knew he wasn't being believed, and he himself knew this wasn't going to be alright. The Plegian forces would be more well-rested than the Shepherds, and though they had a brilliant tactician, the Ylisseans had not entered Breakneck Pass expecting a fight, and therefore were not fully combat-ready. Robin had tried his best, but not all the Shepherds were all as ready as they could be. Chrom could only hope that, when the fighting started, everyone was prepared. If someone were to be caught off guard... That would be unthinkable. Chrom knew he would never be able to forgive himself. Or the Plegians.
"Chrom, a message from Lady Emmeryn – she wants to retreat. She says Phila hasn't heard from her pegasus brigade yet." Chrom just shook his head, indicating they could not. If they were to show their backs to the enemy, the Mad King would surely take the opportunity to land a heavy blow to the Ylissean army, perhaps even cut off its' head. Chrom couldn't take that risk.
"I'm sorry. But we cannot afford to expose ourselves to the Plegians. They would surely try and destroy us. There is no more peaceful solution – we have to fight." Chrom knew the truth of his words, and though he wished he didn't have to speak them, knew that they were urgent for survival. Grabbing his Falchion, he thrust it into the air, letting the Ylisseans know they would have to fight. That it was time for war.
Cordelia didn't have time to think. She knew she had to fly. As soon as the horrific images flashed before her eyes, she knew she had to fly. Before those thoughts became a reality. She had dawdled, wasted time. How long had it been since her pegasus knight comrades were killed? Six hours, at least. Was Chrom's army already dead? Had the Ylisseans already been wiped out? Cordelia shook her head. She had to cling onto whatever little hope remained. If she fell to despair... She couldn't dare risk doing so. Taking a deep breath, she imagined the faces of those who killed her squad. That was better. Her sorrow had turned into anger. That she could use. It might not have been the most moral choice, but Cordelia couldn't care less. It wasn't moral for the wyvern riders to wipe out an unprepared opponent, but they did so anyway? What did the Plegians know of morals? What did the Mad King know of morals? Nothing. If he did, then Chrom wouldn't have been walking into an ambush, and there wouldn't have been a fleet of wyverns pursuing both him and Cordelia! Turning behind her to make sure that nobody was pursuing her, Cordelia felt her teeth clenching. All of her despair and anguish was now rage. Against the Plegians. Taking a deep breath, Cordelia let out some of that in the form of verbal insults. Though her fury would be useful, too much of it would force her into committing an act of reckless, which was possibly more harmful than being shell-shocked and traumatized. Once her anger had subsided, she felt her mind was working much more clearly. She had to find Breakneck Pass. It was east of where her squad was ambushed, but she had diverted slightly south. So she needed to head north-east, until she found the familiar wave of blue that represented the Ylisseans. Simple. She wasn't expecting to be attacked, having wiped out one of the groups of wyvern riders. Though there were bound to be more, she knew she'd have a significant distance on them, not to mention she could out speed them if necessary. But that didn't mean she could slow down. She was racing against the clock. She wasn't so much fighting the wyverns with her lance, but with the speed of her pegasus. Because that's what it boiled down to. How fast could she reach Breakneck Pass with the diversion she ended up taking? Her battle against the riders that had murdered her fellow pegasus knights may have ended up giving her a lead, but that was diminished due to her need for rest. But she knew she had to have that rest. Otherwise... She would have moved slower, for sure. She could have possibly been picked off by the Plegians, meaning her message would never have reached her destination. Meaning that there was no hope for Chrom. And Cordelia wouldn't let that happen. Chrom would survive this. The Ylisseans would survive this.
"So Chrom will not retreat? Very well, I cannot blame him. Though I had hoped for a peaceful resolution, it seems the Mad King will not retreat."
"He will not, Lady Emmeryn. He seeks only our destruction. Only when Ylisse has fallen, and her people have been scattered to the winds, will his bloodlust be sated."
"I fear you are right, Phila. But we mustn't give up hope. I mustn't give up hope." Emmeryn stopped, taking a deep breath, closing her eyes.
"Lady Emmeryn?"
"Do you have any information on the whereabouts of Marth?"
"The lady who saved you during the assassination? No, I'm afraid I do not."
"Have we had the chance to thank her?"
"No, but I'm sure we'll meet her again."
"Perhaps. Has word reached you from your pegasus knights yet?"
"No, my lady. It is unusual for them to be delayed."
"Do you fear the worst?"
"Not yet, my lady. Not yet."