The Shepherds had split into three groups. Two groups were in charge of holding out the Risen on top on the hillside. A smaller group led by Chrom and Robin were moving towards the leader of the Risen.
Robin had wanted to help with the distraction but Chrom had told Robin that he would most likely be needed to help with the more powerful Risen down the middle. In truth Chrom wanted to keep a close eye on Robin. Ever since he was told that Validar was Robin's father he had been acting strange.
"Chrom its time to move out", Chrom was robbed of his thoughts and turned around to find his wife Sumia running up to him.
"Right, let's do this".
"That's why I'm called Teach" Vaike said as he threw his axe into the air.
"Vaike the only reason we call you that is because you don't respond to anything else"
Vaike caught his axe and then slammed it into a nearby Risen. Sully and Maribelle rode up to Vaike with Donnel following close behind.
"Come on now Sully I am called Teach for my brilliant teaching of battle skills" Vaike replied with a smirk. "Pff yeah right" Maribelle mumbled.
What seemed like an endless supply of Risen came rushing towards Group 2 which contained Vaike, Miriel, Sully, Maribelle, Donnel, Nowi, and Ricken. Ricken and Nowi had headed up the hill to the left and started taking out archers that were firing at Chrom's group.
"Seems like these archers aren't made of anything special if they perish with in one hit" Nowi said as she transformed out of dragon form.
"Nowi another archer over two your left" Ricken yelled as he shot a beam of Elwind at a nearby fighter.
"Why can't these things just leave me alone for once" Nowi wined and turned into a dragon once more. She shot an ice ball at the archer and once more, with one hit it perished.
Miriel was standing next to an abandoned fort and was taking out unsuspecting Risen with fire magic.
Risen were falling fast, there might have been a boat load of them but that didn't mean they were all that challenging.
"Ha what a loser!" Lissa shouted as she threw an axe into a nearby Risen. "Lissa are you sure you know how to use an axe? After all yesterday you fell over by lifting the axe above your head" Anna said running up beside Lissa.
"Oh I'm fine besides that axe weighed way too much for anyone to pick up" Lissa replied as she went to retrieve her hand axe.
Group one had split was the largest out of all three groups. This group contained Lissa, Lon'qu, Panne, Frederick, Anna, Tharja, Kellam, Stahl, Gregor, Cherche, and Virion. Group one was originally supposed to head up the right hill but Risen had started coming at them from abandoned forts that were behind both hills.
"Damn this isn't good" Lon'qu said drawing his killing edge.
Swordsmen and mages came from the fort; their red eyes seemed to become brighter with power. They all charged at the group at once none of them seemed like the normal cowardly Risen.
"We need to hurry and take them out so we can had up the hill" Stahl exclaimed silver sword at the ready. "There is no way that we can take them all out before the archers spot Chrom's group" came a voice from above.
Everyone looked up to see Cherche and Virion fly down on Minerva. "The archers are already advancing to the hill side".
Lissa turned pale "what do we do now?" she asked shaking a little.
"We have no choice but to split up" Frederick said in his usual calming tone.
Everyone turned and looked at him with a shocked face.
"Where did you come up with that idea?" Lissa asked swaying from the weight of her axe.
"Do you think Robin is the only one that can come up with ideas?" asked Frederick "stronger fighters will stay down here and hold off these Risen. The rest will head up the hill and take down the archers".
Within a few minutes group one was split into two, the stronger group was made out of Lon'qu, Lissa, Frederick, Panne, Virion, and Cherche. The group headed for the archers had Kellam, Stahl, Anna, Gregor, and Tharja.
'It's now or never' Lissa thought she held her axe firmly in her hand and stared into the endless Risen…
Chrom's group was moving at a swift pace swiping through any Risen that stood in their way within a few seconds.
"Cordelia now!" Robin shouted, the red head Pegasus knight threw her javelin at an arrow aimed at Chrom. The javelin intercepted the arrow before it hit its target. Chrom turned his head and was met with another arrow which he quickly blocked.
'Why are there so many archers'? Robin thought as he countered a sword attack
"I think that's the last of them, for now" Chrom said wiping sweat from his face.
Suddenly a flock of crows appeared in front of the Shepherds. "What the…heck?"
"Looks like you got yourself in a CAW-tastrophe" said a voice from inside the crows.
"Is someone there?" Chrom asked "Gods I can't see anything through these damned birds, shoo scat"
As the birds parted Chrom was surprised to see a dark mage smiling right at him.
"What's wrong CAW-strophobic?" The dark mage asked "nyhahahaha, oh I slay me"
"…Not if these Risen do first" Chrom muttered.
"Wow I thought you were all fight but turns out your all FRIGHT nyhahahaha" the dark mage continued at telling jokes to himself.
Chrom sighed "you know what I think I'll save the Risen some trouble and silence you myself" Chrom said and drew Falchion. "Whoa wait I want to join your CAWs- I mean, I can help you. I know magic! What do you say? Birds of a feather and all that"
Chrom examined the mage carefully. "Wait those robes… you're a Plegian dark mage. Why would you help us"? Chrom asked
The dark mage looked at Chrom and it seemed as if his smile grew bigger. "Oh don't let all the joking fool ya- I got a thing for killing"
"Well alright then feel free to join us" Chrom said
"Oh goody, by the way my names Henry" the mage said
"Well Henry let's hope you really do know how to use that tome" Chrom said as he went to join the others who were fighting the ground Risen.
"Miriel we need to take those forts out" Vaike said. Miriel looked around the corner of her and Vaike's hiding spot and spotted even more Risen emerging from the forts. Group two had successfully made it up the left hill and started taking out the Risen spawning from the forts. Nowi and Ricken had managed to take out all of the archers on their side of the battlefield. This meant that the group could now focus on reinforcements.
"The Risen seem to be staying in one spot, they must be expecting us" Miriel implied. Sully groaned "if they are expecting us then how are we supposed to jump them while keeping a low profile?"
Everyone turned to look at Miriel. Being the smartest in the group Miriel was in charge of leading them all to victory without serious damage. "We will need to have those of us that can attack from a distance will attack first from the top of this fort" Miriel exclaimed. "Everyone else will then charge at the remaining Risen"
"Uh there is one problem with your 'master plan'" Sully said cross armed
"Only three of us can attack from a distance" she motioned to Ricken Nowi and Miriel.
Miriel pulled on two tomes and threw one to Maribelle which she barely caught. Sully looked back and forth between Miriel and Maribelle. "You're kidding right?" Sully said dumbfound
"I will have you know that I am actually quite good at magic" Maribelle stated mounting her horse.
"Alright fine, whatever" Sully said as she mounted her own horse.
"Then it's settled then" Vaike said everyone nodded.
"Let's end this"!
"Ha yah!" Panne had just finished disposing of a Risen wielding a beast killer. The Risen had managed to nick her in the shoulder but luckily, in her Taguel form it left only a scratch even if she was hit with a beast killer.
"You alright"? Cherche asked jumping off of Minerva
"Fine" Panne replied swiftly. She had noticed Cherche rubbing one of Minerva's wings slowly concern was visible on her face.
"Is your Wyvern ok?" Panne asked she had never cared when an animal wasn't doing well but now seeing Cherche ignoring all of the Risen by her to worry about Minerva must have meant something was up.
"Minerva was shot with an arrow from afar" Cherche explained "Luckily it wasn't that bad but there is no way that she will be able to fly anytime soon"
This was bad. Everyone knew that Wyvern Riders were not as accurate of fighters without their mounts.
"Come on" was all Panne said "hmm?"
"We need to hold these Risen off and you and I both know that neither of us can do it alone"
Cherche grabbed her silver axe from Minerva and got into a fighting stance in front of her Wyvern. Panne joined Cherche in her beast form, the two looked at each other and then started taking down all of the Risen that approached them while successfully defending Minerva.
"And that's the end of that" Stahl said as he pulled his sword out of the ground. Upon late arrival, the Shepherds had managed to take out all of the archers within a few minutes. Anna had attempted to take out some Risen that were on the lower level of land thanks to her Levin Sword. Tharja had joined with Anna and was using her magic to hit the Risen below them.
"Gregor sees no more" Gregor said as he approached Stahl
Stahl plastered a grin on his face "good now we can rejoin the others and- huh?" Stahl was interrupted by a flash of light appearing right before him. When he could he again he gasped.
Out of nowhere more Risen had appeared but they weren't archers. Instead they were mages and swordfighters along with a couple warriors and tricksters.
"Damn where are they all coming from?" Stahl murmured and grabbed his sword again. Gregor had already started advancing towards the Risen. Tharja and Anna turned their attention back to the battle at hand. Tharja threw some dark magic out and took out a few Risen. Anna was helping Gregor with an advanced swordfighter while Stahl was picking up the pieces of any leftover Risen he could find.
"Chrom to your left"
Chrom turned around once more and stabbed a Risen right through the chest. The Risen made a gurgling noise and then disappeared.
Sumia had just taken down a mage with Elwind. She had barely managed to dodge its cast of Elwind before she slammed a miniature lance through its shoulder.
*Huff* *huff* I don't know how much longer I can *huff* keep this up" Sumia gasped between breathes. As if on cue, Olivia had rushed over to Sumia and did her usual combat dance. Sumia suddenly felt energized again. "Thank you Olivia" she said gratefully. Olivia smiled back at Sumia "no problem".
Olivia picked up a nearby steal sword dropped by a Risen and headed back towards her companion Libra.
Sumia looked over to Olivia and smiled then she returned her focus back to the Risen charging at her…
"Chrom were almost at the leader of the Risen" Robin said running up to Chrom.
"If we take out their leader the remaining Risen should disappear" Robin finished wiping sweat from his forehead. This was music to Chrom's ears; he was tired of fighting these lifeless figures (especially since there seemed to be an endless supply of them).
"Good, Robin lets finish this" Chrom said. Robin nodded and followed Chrom up the narrow pathway up the hill.
She watched as the Shepherds had fought all of the Risen. She had been in a situation like this once herself. This battle however she had studied very carefully, for this battle was very important in her history.
As she watched from afar as the battle went on something caught her eye from a long ways.
The blue haired youth looked to what had caught her eyes attention and then remembered 'oh no' she said to herself eyeing the blue haired exalt that stood hundreds of feet from her.
"I can't let this happen again, not when I have come so close" she said to herself. As she climbed out of her hiding spot in a tree she made a mad dash to where the leader of the Risen stood. She prayed she would make in time before it happened. 'I won't fail, I mustn't fail!' she kept telling herself over and over again. She ran as fast as her legs could take her. The long blue hair she had flew freely behind her. She was halfway there, halfway to victory.
There in the middle of a bridge stood the Risen chief. The weapon it had was a short axe. Chrom had run up the hill and onto the bridge newly found confidence filled him as he prepared to end this horrid battle.
The Risen turned his attention to Chrom and readied its axe. Chrom readied Falchion as well and was prepared for an attack from the Risen Chief…but it didn't attack.
Chrom was confused but he dare didn't lower his fighting stance.
Robin ran up to Chrom and pulled out his tome joining Chrom in a fighting stance.
As soon as Robin arrived however the Risen suddenly shot his axe straight at Chrom. Chrom easily blocked the axe and charged at the Risen who stood helpless. He swung Falchion at the Risen and stuck in right through the chest. Since it was the chief however it was still 'alive'.
Chrom pulled Falchion out of the Risen and ducked. In perfect timing Robin shot his arm out and Elthunder came spiraling out and landed straight into the Risen's stomach. The Risen made no sound and then disappeared into purple dust.
"And that's the end of that" Robin smirked
"Maribelle to your left" Donnel yelled.
Maribelle turned her steed to the left and shot out two fireballs ending the Risen advancing towards her. "Hmm looks like they never learn to not mess with a lady" Maribelle giggled and turned her stead to the other side of the fort and shot out more fireballs.
Nowi was shooting out some ice balls at the Risen attempting to take over their fort. After it faded Nowi transformed into her human form again. "Ha ha you just got Nowi-fied!" she laughed out.
Ricken had finished off his Risen and had turned his attention to Nowi and gasped. A warrior Risen was advancing on Nowi and was about to attack her; in her current form she was helpless.
"Nowi watch out!" Ricken shouted but it was too late… Nowi turned around and saw the Risen approaching her. Nowi covered her face and prepared for the worst then all of the sudden the Risen vanished.
"Wha-what happened?" Nowi asked trembling.
"…We won…" Miriel said. All of the Shepherds started cheering for the battle was won.
Chrom and Robin were standing on the bridge overlooking the battlefield they just fought on.
"I think that's the last of then" Chrom said "Gods I thought it might nev-"
"CHROM LOOK OUT"! All of the sudden an advanced Risen appeared in front of Chrom and Robin. The Risen had a killing edge in its hand. It turned to Robin and kicked him in the stomach and Robin flew through the air and landed a few feet away.
"Huh-ahh" Chrom turned around and found the Risen charging at him.
"Father no!"
Before Chrom could draw his sword a blue haired girl pushed Chrom out of the way of the Risen's attack and blocked it with her own sword. The Risen growled and then vanished.
The blue haired girl sighed and turned around to face Chrom. "Thank goodness you're safe" she said with a smile.
Chrom looked at her with a blank face "…you called me father?"
Her face turned into a worried stare "did I? I…"
She turned her head slightly behind her and saw Sumia and Lissa helping Robin out of his dazed state.
She looked back at Chrom "perhaps we may speak privately" she said in a lowered tone.
Chrom looked to where Lissa, Sumia and Robin were. "That may be best yes"
Chrom and the blue haired girl had walked to a nearby riverside. Chrom looked over at the blue haired girl who had gone by the name Marth ever since they first met.
"I…I don't even know where to begin" the girl sighed
"Look I already know you're not 'Marth' but I have nothing better to call you. I ask nothing of you that you don't wish to reveal" Chrom said.
"Thank you, but…I would prefer you know the truth" the girl said
"As you wish"
"Here look closely and all with be revealed".
The girl took a deep breath and started walking up to Chrom. She stopped right when she reached his right shoulder. She then turned her head and looked at Chrom dead in the eye her blue eyes staring into Chrom's.
Chrom looked into her eyes and gasped. In her left eye was the mark of Naga, a mark that only the royal family of Ylisse had.
"That's the brand of the Exalt" Chrom said as he looked at the girl once more and realization hit him
"Lucina" Chrom said looking over the girl once more his eyes made there way down to the blade attached to her hip. "You deserve better from me than ones sword in a world of troubles…I'm sorry".
Lucina bowed her head. What started as a single tear had turned into a full on sob. Chrom had reached out his hand on instinct and wiped away Lucina's tears with his thumb. Lucina looked up at her father, more tears began to fall.
"Oh father!" she sobbed and jumped into her father's arms hugging him tightly. Chrom returned the gesture and hugged his daughter back. He let her cry on his shoulders, each tear he felt he wondered what kind of world his daughter lived in.
A few minutes after the reunion of father and daughter, Lucina had stopped crying.
"…"
"…"
"Better Lucina?" Chrom asked
"yes, I'm so sorry father it just all came back at once" Lucina said rubbing at her red eyes.
"…Father" Chrom said to himself
Lucina looked at her father with a worried glance "should I call you something else?" she asked
Chrom noticed his daughters discomfort and quickly added "no, it will take so time to get use to but I like it"
Lucina smiled "father heh heh"
"I'm sorry Chrom?"
Both Chrom and Lucina turned to see Robin looking at them with the blankest expression Chrom has ever seen.
"Huh, oh Robin what is it" Chrom asked
"Well it's just that you and Marth are out here…alone" Robin started
"This is how ill rumors are borne" Robin finished and motioned to Sumia that was standing a few feet behind Robin. Her back was turned to them but you could see that see was picking petals off flowers.
"He loves me…he loves me not…he loves me…he loves me not…" Sumia said picking more petals off of the flower she had in her hand.
Chrom walked over to his wife. "Um Sumia, why in god's name are you shredding the poor flowers for?"
Sumia jumped and turned to face Chrom "I'm not spying on you, you can't prove that I am!" she yelled. Then her eyes looked at met Lucina. "Oh gods you brought, HER! *sniff*"
Chrom turned to Lucina and smiled. "Can we tell her Lucina?" Lucina nodded
Sumia's head perked up "Lucina but that's…"
"Sumia this is going to sound crazy but, I'll just say it" Chrom said looking at his wife straight in the eye.
"This is our daughter Lucina"
"W-what?"
"It's true Sumia, I'm your daughter look closely and see for yourself" Lucina said as she showed Sumia her brand
"That's the brand" Sumia gasped
"Don't you see now"? Chrom asked
"No Chrom I DO NOT see" Sumia said
"Wait a second is my Lucina alright? What did you do to her"? Sumia nearly shouted
"Peace Sumia" Chrom said.
"Your baby is right where you left her and perfectly safe" Lucina said
"I am from another time, a time that is yet to be"
Sumia gasped "you mean the future"?
Lucina looked at her mother "yes more than ten years hence. In my time the fell Dragon Grima is resurrected and all of the Shepherds are dead" Lucina said.
Chrom looked at Lucina's sword it was Falchion. "That explains why you carry Falchion" Chrom mumbled.
Lucina however heard her father's comment and tears started to form in her eyes. "It was, it was the only thing I had left of you".
…
"Are you really my daughter?" Sumia asked still doubtful over the whole future thing.
"I swear on my life" Lucina responded without any hesitation
Sumia smiled "my daughter" she said as she looked at Lucina "I can't believe how beautiful and strong you've become"
Lucina smiled "thank you Sumia".
Sumia looked at her daughter again "don't you want to call me mom?"
"I…I thought you might mind" Lucina stuttered. "Oh of course not, I love you more than anything in the world" Sumia said
The tears that were building up in Lucina's eyes were now freely flowing. "Oh mother I've missed you so much" Lucina sobbed as her mother pulled Lucina into a hug.
"You don't have to miss me any longer Lucina" Sumia whispered into her daughter's ear.
A/N:
I hoped you enjoyed Of Sacred Blood. Now before you ask the reason why there were so many archers is because there were A TON of archer Risen when I played of scared blood so...yeah