Hello, The Sax Pax here with the newest chapter! I was amazed at how many people looked at my story and thank you so much for the reviews! It made me want to write straight away and so here is Chapter two. I hope it's up to par with my first chapter since I had less time to write this one than I did the first chapter.
I played Fire Emblem Awakening on Normal mode then moved on to Hard then "attempted" Lunatic (got very angry when trying to save all units on classic) and gave up and just replayed on Hard and Normal (Got all supports)
Enjoy and please review, as I said, it gets me motivated and helps me as a writer, even if you don't like the story, tell me why!
The air around swirled with an evil substance, darkening the forest more than night itself. Nia could feel something astir not only deep within her bones but in her surroundings themselves. Her muscles cried out in pain when she sat up, attempting to rub the grogginess from her eyes.
"Hey…-?!" She paused in mid-sentence, searching frantically. She was alone. Her new companions had left her. Teeth nibbled on her lower lip as she twisted her head in multiple directions. A familiar horse whinny behind her finally gave her breath. She spun on her heel, facing the horse charging in her direction. A small yelp exited her mouth as the knight did not stop yet wrapped his left arm around her waist, dragging her on the horse while still moving. She bobbed up and down with each gallop, finally latching on to the knight between his armor plates.
"Where are Chrom and Lissa?" She could only yell, hoping he had heard her. He only shook his head and dug his calves into the horse's side. And there it was, a scream piercing the air as a fiery blue light lit up the sky.
"Over there!" Frederick didn't need anything more, turning the horse towards the screams and the light.
The bumps of the horse only caused Nia's muscles to twitch in pain. It was most definitely her first time riding a horse. A small pang gyrated in her mind as a blank face with red hair flashed momentarily. Her brow scrunched with the thought but shoved it aside as Chrom and Lissa came into view.
An unfamiliar man stood next to Lissa, fending off an attacker. Nia flinched, theses attackers were vile. Waves of disgust and evil rolled off their bodies, dragging out goose bumps on her arm. She detached herself, half-falling off the horse in the process.
"Lissa!" The girl seemed ready to pass out from fear. The staff in her hands shook as her knuckles turned white. Nia stumbled on rocks, branches, and a few dismembered arms as she made her way over the cleric. She pulled the girl into a hug, feeling her shirt being drenched. Chrom stared at the man who had come to her untimely rescue, noting the dual Falchion now sheathed. His mouth opened to speak but he snapped it shut as more of the creatures dragged themselves out of the purple muck leaking out of the ground.
"Frederick, take care of Lissa!" The knight nodded, pulling the girl up behind him once more. Chrom let his eyes trace over Lissa's savior, before shooting off with Nia on his trail.
"What are these things?" Chrom spat, slashing another one as he had with the bandits earlier. This one was not felled by his strike and threw itself on Chrom, growling violently. Everything seemed to move in slow motion for Nia. She felt her hair sway gently as a small object fizzed by her head, smashing into the monster and dissolving it into muck.
"Oi, Captain?!" The trot of a horse's hooves drowned out the small moans and rumbles from the monsters.
A spiky, red-headed woman pulled into view. Her armor was red, just like her hair, and full of battle scars. This woman knew battle. Behind her was a man with ruffles and a noble look that contrasted with the woman.
The woman clicked her tongue at the newcomer, trying to maneuver her horse away from him. He, ignored this fact, and pulled himself closer to the woman.
"Ah, my dear sweet woman, the moment my eyes fell upon your beauty was enough for me, would you marry me?" The archer beamed at the woman whose eyes widened and her mouth fell open in confusion. Nia and Chrom both shared the same expression, ignoring the fight behind them. Even Frederick had paused to assess the situation.
"You're serious? Does this look like the time to be playing around?!" The woman roared, smashing the butt of her lance into the man's stomach, forcing him to stumble backwards.
"Play around? Never when there is a beautiful woman around! But alas, you are correct. Then, when this is resolved I shall ask again!" The man smirked before launching another arrow at an approaching creature. The woman looked determined to beat the life out of the man but she sighed and drew close to Chrom.
"Huh? Who're you?" Her eyes fell on Nia who raised her hands in submission.
"Nia and you are…?" The woman pulled an eyebrow up in slight amazement.
"Sully, a Shepherd. Chrom, what's the situation here?" Nia bowed to the cavalier who bent her head in response. The woman's eyes hardened at the smoke rising past the tree line.
"What a beautiful name, dear Sully!" The archer had returned and quickly pulled himself on the horse behind her. The woman reared her elbow back, narrowly missing the archer's head.
"What do you think you are doing, Ruffles?" She roared at the man who only smiled at her anger.
"Joining you on an epic quest for glory, love, and an adventure! Alas, my name is not "Ruffles" but it a noble name indeed! I am Virion, an archer from Rosanne. Let us be off and kill these foul beasts so I may soon get to know my new wife!" The man laughed, rearing another arrow into his bow.
"Who is your wife?!" Sully rampaged, stabbing the nearest creature. Nia could only watch in amazement as the two worked perfectly together, even with Sully's complaints about the man. She felt a tug on her hood forced her toes to move, barely avoiding an arrow from an enemy.
"Pay attention, Nia!" Chrom shouted, still pulling her along out of the enemies' way. She felt his hand release her cloak, lunging towards the nearest monster. As his arm arced upwards she let loose a bolt, aimed perfectly, watching it sizzle underneath his arm, finishing the creature.
She heard it before she could react. One had swerved behind them, concealed in darkness. Her body acted before her mind could stop. She had shoved Chrom with her left, stumbling backwards at the same time. The blade dug into a small part of her skin, pulling blood along the sweep of the blade. She felt it before she made a noise.
She clasped the small portion of her skin, darting backwards and allowing Chrom to finish it off. Finally there was silence. No enemies arose from the ground as the fog nearby dispersed. Nia cut off all sounds, clenching her palm harder on her ripped skin. Someone was talking to her but she couldn't pick out a name.
Join me…
Her eyes refocused and Chrom's voice broke her out of her trace.
"Nia, you okay?" His eyes clearly placed on her wound.
"I'm fin-"
"You are most certainly not fine! Now let me see your arm!" Lissa pushed between the two, cutting off Nia's protest and tugging off her robe. All she could do was grumble and comply; the two wouldn't let her be otherwise. Thankfully the wound wasn't deep and the situation ended with Lissa placing a vulnerary across the wound, sighing when it closed up.
"You've got to be vigilant. One must always expect an enemy around the corner and such acts next time will more than likely end in death, maybe not even your own." Frederick loomed near Lissa, wary of an impending doom likely to spring up again.
"Ah, my Lady Tactician, you are a sight indeed!" Sometime during the lecture, Sully and Virion reappeared, with Sully wiping her weapon clean of blood and Virion throwing himself off the horse.
Yet another smile stretched across his face as he pulled Nia's hands into his own, causing her to tug back in surprise.
"You are most beautiful, ravishing if I may say so. Dear Sully has refused my marriage offer, perhaps I may hope to win your heart instead?" His face neared hers and she leaned back, trying to escape. It ended with Chrom ending the two's attachment, breaking apart both of their hands.
"My, my, it seems I may be too late to win your heart, though I would never think of taking another man's woman." He placed his knuckles against his forehead, pulling his head back at the same time.
"M-my what?" The blue-haired man blurted out, staring with wide eyes at the man.
"Oh? By the way you fretted over her wound I thought…well then! Dear Nia, would you take my hand in marriage?" He reached for Nia's hand once more.
"I…thank you for the offer but I must refuse. We have only just met." Nia stepped back, returning the smile at the man.
"Oh? Only just met? Then perhaps once we have known each other longer?" Virion chuckled lightly, stopping only to straighten his cravat.
Finally the man introduced himself as Marth but didn't bother to mention how he had gotten there nor how he held a similar Falchion. He also had no intentions to stay and disappeared as quickly as he had arrived.
"Shall we be off as well? The Halidom is only a hair away." Chrom watched the burning forest slowly falling into the sunrise as the city drew closer and closer with each step.
It was a diamond compared to the city Nia had visited earlier. Her mouth propped open, never closing as she looked around in wonderment. The hustle and bustle of the townspeople kept her eyes the entire time, ignoring the looks from the rest of her party.
"This is AMAZING!" She turned around, throwing her hands into the air like a small child. A woman in a light robe with a holy feeling about her waved to citizens. At first, Nia thought it was a normal citizen, until the guards behind her tripled.
"That is…your…?" She turned towards Chrom and Lissa, pointing at the woman.
"Yeah, our Exalt. Emmeryn often visits the public to keep the peace. She's loved by all." Chrom replied simply.
"She's also the best older sister too!" Lissa laughed at Nia's question.
"I would ima-…Sister?! Then that means…?!" She swerved to look at the two once more.
"The prince and princess of this country too." Frederick closed his eyes, either in irritation or annoyed at her reaction.
"I…uh…well-…is there a way I should address you? Milord maybe?" Chrom frowned at her, not bothering to hide it like Frederick. They were certainly a comedic trio. She barely caught Sully's and Virion's goodbyes; rather, they didn't make it too noticeable. They left with an argument about whether Virion was capable of defending Sully in a fight.
"Just address me as you have been before, titles are meaningless in battle. By the way, would you like to meet Emm?" Nia only blinked at Chrom's suggestion. She nodded, unable to speak.
Even up close, the Queen was radiant. She commanded all attention in the room, even when another spoke. Yet again, Frederick let loose his suspicions about Nia once more, though it weighed more in front of the Queen and her guards.
"Chrom, you trust this woman?" Her kind eyes fell on her younger brother.
"Yes, I've already decided she'll be the Shepherd's tactician." It was a simple statement that caused Frederick to pinch the area between his eyes. He was not an easy man to please at all.
"Chrom, I have matters I wish to discuss with you…ah…" The woman stared at Nia and then at Lissa who straightened up.
"I'll introduce you to the other Shepherds, c'mon Nia!" Lissa pushed on the tactician's back, half forcing her out of the room though Nia held no complaints. She wasn't used to politics of royalty and had no wish to learn it.
"Here we are! Ta-dah, the Shepherds!" Lissa waved her arms as they arrived into the barracks of the castle, inhabited by few people. A man sat in a corner, cleaning his axe with a small cloth. At their entrance, he stood and letting his face fall into a giant grin.
"Oi, Lissa! Teach needs another fight, where's Chrom?" He placed a hand on his hip while hanging his axe slightly behind his neck and back.
"We just got back and already itching for a fight, Vaike? Besides, Chrom would wipe the floor with you!" Lissa pointed at the large man, edging him on.
"Oi oi, are you saying that Teach is weak?" Nia could see the blood pumping in his head as he got angrier and angrier.
"Lissa, darling, you shouldn't be talking to such…UNCOUTH people. Why don't you sit, I'll brew you some tea!" An older woman with curls down to her shoulders leaped on Lissa, pulling her into a big hug.
"And who is this?" Her eyes fell on the new tactician that Vaike had failed notice.
"This is Nia, the Shepherd's new tactician. She's amazing Maribelle!" Nia only flushed at the compliment. The woman peered over Lissa's shoulder, glaring somewhat.
"And here I thought you were someone of high-caliber. I must get my eyesight checked once more…" She mumbled before disengaging herself from the hug. Another woman, delicate looking, stood behind the others as Nia began to get crowded.
"Shepherds, The Exalt has decided that we are to head north to ask Ferox for troops to fight the Risen." Chrom leaned against the door, watching the group, warily.
"Uh…Risen?" Nia tilted her head at the word.
"We had to give a name to the monsters we fought, can't call them all "monsters", confusion would definitely be a factor!" Chrom straightened his body, looking over the Shepherds.
"Get ready to move out." He was about ready to turn when the quiet woman sprinting forward and collapsing to the ground as the papers underneath her shifted. A few snorts and giggles sounded as she pulled herself together, brushing the newly acclaimed dirt on her clothes off in a graceful manner.
Nia took extra notice of her shoes, rather heels that looked highly uncomfortable. Nia shifted her weight in her boots, glad for the comfort they gave her.
"Your shoes again, Sumia?" His voice wasn't one of annoyance, more concern than anything. She only blushed, admitting it though her eyes protested against every word.
"It seems like the Shepherds are a great big family." Nia, feeling like the third wheel, let the words out of her mouth.
"But you're part of this family too now." A voice shot up near Nia.
"Who?" Her eyes scanned the area, trying to find the voice.
"Umm…here…" A man, clad in armor stood practically in the center of the Shepherds. Nia mentally smacked herself…how had she missed the man?
"You shouldn't barge into other peoples' conversations, Kellam!" Lissa shrieked when she noticed him standing next to her.
"I've been here the entire time though!" He scrunched his eyebrows, appalled by the situation.
"Dear, shouting is beneath you…" Maribelle patted Lissa's shoulders, smiling at her friend with gentleness that Nia hadn't seen before.
Nia followed after Chrom, tensing as more footsteps sounded behind her. The other Shepherds, Vaike, Sumia even though she couldn't fight, and Lissa all followed behind her. Lissa walked along with Vaike scolding him on only wanting to beat up her brother with him adamantly claiming otherwise.
They walked for what seemed like hours and personally Nia just thought Chrom had gotten lost. It wasn't until she heard a cry from behind that she halted her steps forward. A man riding a horse rode into view, waving his arm frantically in an attempt to get Chrom's attention.
"Wait up!" The green cavalier panted and wheezed, holding up a hand for Chrom to wait while he caught his breath.
"No one told me…that we were leaving…didn't even get to eat food…" He gasped for breath as sweat dribbled down his face. Lissa turned her head towards Vaike.
"You were supposed to let Stahl know! You forgot didn't you…" Her voice turned sour on her last words as Vaike held up his hands in surrender.
"The Vaike never forgets…he just…sometimes doesn't always do what he's supposed to…" He looked frantically between Stahl and Lissa who both shook their heads at him.
"You said your name was Stahl?" A nod was his only answer.
"You know…you remind me of someone…now who was it…" Nia scratched her head, something about him was familiar but what was a better question. The man only looked at her, along with Chrom and Lissa who knew of her amnesia. Stahl pulled his horse next to Frederick and Sully's and awaited Chrom's next orders.
"Everyone, get ready for battle! We have Risen!" Chrom was already in place with Nia trailing behind, their usual formation already setting up. Virion had already joined Sully while the others stood awkwardly in a semi-circle.
"Oi, who took my axe?" Vaike's roars overpowered the Risen's noise as he looked around, patting himself down at the same time.
"This is no time to play Vaike!" Lissa still remained next to him, staff already in hand. He only looked at her with mild frustration.
"I swear I just had it…maybe-" He cut off with scooping up Lissa, checking where she had stood.
"What are you doing?! Let me go!" She squealed as he lifted her off the ground.
"Teach thought the axe may have hidden under your dress, guess not." He stuck his tongue out at her, setting her down all the same. Her mouth turned into a pout and within a moment, her staff smacked down on his head, causing him to grunt and scowl.
"To those that BROUGHT weapons, be wary, our adversaries aim to kill us not capture." Frederick pinched the area between his eyes. In a few minutes, he'd have more to deal with than just a couple of Risen.
A:N/ Congrats, you made it to the end :) Hope you enjoyed it! Yet again, please review, it really helps!
Also brownie points if you can figure out who Stahl reminds her of ;)
