Well, it has been a long time since I have posted now hasn't it? Oddly enough, I have still been writing and in the time I haven't been posting I have amassed quite a bit of Fire Emblem fanfiction hahaha. Well, I came back because I felt the need to post some of this, so I will be starting with the Fire Emblem 6 stories and maybe go to Genealogy of the Holy War later. Now, before I get murdered for not pairing Tate with Klein, I know a sin right? Its just…. BAH I DON'T NEED TO JUSTIFY THIS TO ANYONE! I LIKE IT! Hahaha. Well enough of my rambling and explanations, it's time to get to the fic, so lets get started. Read, review, comment.
Disclaimer: I have nothing interesting to say for this right now, so I do not own Fire Emblem or its characters, though I wish I did.
Alan drove his lance through his opponent and withdrew it; the enemy bow man fell to the ground. Alan reared his horse and looked around him. There was nobody left to fight. Probably a good time to take a rest, Alan swung off his horse and stood there for a minute. he noticed he was breathing heavily, his strength reliant fighting style was exhausting.
The red haired cavalier heard a thump behind him and spun around sword drawn, he lowered it. Tate, a pegasus knight with short, teal hair, climbed off her flying horse and walked towards Alan.
"Why do you fight like that?"
Alan was rather taken aback; no one really questioned his fighting style except for Marcus. He wasnt really insulted, but he just found it odd.
"Excuse me?"
The teal hair girl continued,
"It just that you rely on so much brute strength. It leaves you wide open for a counter attack."
Alan nodded, she put out a valid point but he fought like this to show the enemy the power of Pheraen knights, not out of choice.
"I realize that, but I cannot change my fighting, a knight has to display the strength of his country. If I hesitate, or flee, the enemy gains more moral and momentum. That isn't good for anyone."
Tate still wasn't convinced; Alan realized there was a battle still going on.
"Speaking of momentum, I must be off to the battle. It was nice talking to you."
Alan rode off, Tate sighed.
"That man is going to get himself killed... I cannot let this continue." Tate felt the need to change his rash fighting habits; she couldn't just let the man die. It was her responsibility to help out the army.. So she decided she would seek out Alan later and teach him some of the finer aspects of lance work and sword play.
l********
The battle ended well, no deaths in Roy's army, everyone was in a good mood and it was clearly showing back at camp. Friends huddled around campfires and shared stories of their exploits. Dieck was talking with some of his mercenary friends about his days as a pit fighter. Clarine could be seen in the bushes behind listening with interest. Tate scanned the camp, no Alan.. Where could he have gotten to? She sought someone to ask, that man in purple armor, she was pretty sure Marcus was his name, seemed like a good choice.
"Hey do you know where Alan is?"
Marcus looked up from a conversation with Roy,
"Yes, he's in that forest over there with Lance." he pointed to the nearby trees, then raised an eyebrow. "Why do you ask?"
"Oh I was going to try to teach him some Ilian lance work. I feel as if he fights with too much reliance on strength."
Marcus gave a short chuckle,
"Go then, although I think what you will find when you see Alan and Lance is quite different from what you are thinking."
"Thanks..."
Tate walked away confused, what a cryptic old man. Yet as soon as she saw the sparring match between Alan and Lance, she realized what he meant.
Alan's sword work was actually graceful, much different from the brute strength he had been relying on earlier. His attacks were actually highly skilled and very refined. She continued to watch them, trying to figure out why Alan fought the way he did.
l*******
"We are being spied on Alan." whispered Lance.
Alan parried another blow from Lance, he gave a short chuckle.
"You are just trying to throw me off guard. Have at you!"
Alan attacked, Lance deflected it,
"I am dead serious, I will make an attack to your left, then glance right toward the large oak tree."
Alan saw the truth his in eyes and did as Lance said, he was right. There was a small figure in the trees.
"What shall we do." whispered Alan, the two were keeping up their fight.
"On the third shot I take to your head we will sprint to the tree, then we will catch the villain."
"Alright."
First shot.
Second shot.
Third shot.
The two broke to the trees in perfect unison. The figure tried to pull back but Lance was already there. Alan was near as well. Lance grabbed the figure's hands and pulled them behind her.
"Ah! Stop it! That hurts!"
Alan stopped and gave a laugh; he recognized the voice and teal hair immediately.
"Let her go Lance."
Lance looked at him like he was crazy,
"She's an Ilian knight! She could work for anyone!"
"She's Thany's sister, she joined up the other day."
"Oh!" he let go, and Tate took a step back and rubbed he wrists.
"I'm truly sorry Miss, but you must realize spying on someone like that only makes them assume.."
Tate waved it aside,
"It's no trouble." shoot, how embarrassing, caught spying on two members of her own army! What would the other squad members think? Thought Tate.
"Why ARE you taking such an interest in my fighting Tate? It's quite strange you know!"
"Well..." Tate's cheeks were burning red, "I just was afraid you would get yourself killed... You fought with such rashness, but seeing you now. I don't know what to think. "
Lance laughed,
"Tell me about it! Alan always fights in battle like all he knows how to do is charge! It makes him look brain dead!"
Alan rolled his eyes,
"Oh for Pete's sake! Come on Lance, your little plan to run after Tate saved you from a terrible defeat."
Tate tried to sneak away in the ensuing argument, but Alan quickly grabbed her arm.
"Since you know so much about swordplay, why don't you join us for a bit?"
Oh boy, now she had done it. Still, it's not like she could back down now, Tate had to prove what she knew.
"Alright..."
Lance tossed her his sword,
"I'll just leave you two alone for a bit..." Lance trotted off
Alan chuckled and Tate blushed a little redder. Alan raised an eyebrow,
"Are you ready?" Tate nodded
"I suppose so." Tate gulped, she had no idea what to expect from Alan, for all she knew he could potentially be a master swordsman and destroy her. In the end though, they fought. Alan came out on top after a rather long battle, his sword point under Tate's chin.
"Still think I cannot handle myself?"
Tate shrugged,
"I'm not quite sure, will you keep fighting like you do?"
"Yes."
Tate threw her hands up in the air, this man was infuriating. All she wanted to do was help him! Why on earth wasn't Alan letting her help!
"Why!?"
"Because I have to! I told you this earlier!"
"It makes no sense though! If you die it adds more to the enemy's moral than if you hesitate!" Snapped Tate, the fact that Alan wouldn't change his fighting style was beginning to annoy her. That man was going to get himself killed!
"Well I haven't died yet! And until then I will diligently do my duty as a knight of Pharae! I will show them our unflinching strength and push forward!"
"... Fine... I did my best to help..."
Tate turned and walked away, she looked sad, disappointed, and irritated. Alan sighed, he didnt want their conversation to end like this.
"Tate wait!" he ran up to her, she glared at him.
"What do you want; you've made it perfectly clear that you do not want my help!"
Alan sighed, maybe she was right..
"Tate, your advice is useful.. Next battle I will try to mix up my fighting style."
Tate was rather taken aback by this sudden change in heart,
"why now?"
Alan shrugged,
"I don't want you going off and thinking your advice was for naught. I thought about it and many people have said that to me, it may be best to at least try another method."
Tate finally smiled,
"I look forward to seeing a change."
Alan chuckled,
"We will see. Have you had dinner yet?"
This surprised Tate more than the first change in heart.
"Well, no... Bu-"
Alan cut her off,
"Well than come on! If you are going to be so obsessed with teaching me to fight correctly, I may as well get to know you! Besides, you are being too reserved and anti-social, notice how Lance didn't have any idea who you were?"
Tate realized he was right, she didn't know anyone save for the Eutrian generals, Klein, and her sister. Maybe this was for the best.
"Alright Alan, I'll come with you."
Author's notes:
Well, that's it for the chapter, things will pick up in my typical fashion if any of you have read any of my other stories. I do enjoy this pairing, maybe it's because I am a sucker for the typical peg knight+cavalier pairing, but hey it's a personality flaw. My one concern is that I will make this too much like my Forde and Vanessa story, but considering this is already written out and ive read it over several times it shouldn't be too much alike. I will post another chapter sooner or later, im not sure exactly when though. Please read and review, but do not be critical to a crazy extent… as much as I like to be ridiculed on tiny grammar points…. I really don't…. but if there are any GLARING problems feel free to mention them. I hope you enjoyed!