Disclaimer: Still don't own Fire Emblem. Be awesome if I did though.
Songs to have on hand: "Id (Dilemma)" and "No Reaction…Was I Wrong Then?"
Chapter 3- The Exiled Siblings and the Former Emperor
Darkness had fallen over the camp of the Shepherds for an moonless night as they camped in the midst of a small forest. There were few awake, only the sentries that kept watch at the edges of the camp to make sure no Risen could sneak up on the resting Shepherds unmolested remained alert.
Among them was one Walhart.
He stood watch away from the light of the torches - as to avoid lessening his vision in the dim night. His consent companion, Wolfbreg, was in his hands, ready to cut down any who thought themselves a match for it. But unfortunately, the night so far proved to be a calm one and no trouble had presented itself before him.
At least, from outside the camp.
There was a small matter of a pest that thought itself protected from his sight in the shadows. He didn't particularly care to break the self-illusion of the rather poorly hidden pest, except for the fact that this was but one of many instances where the pest had spied on him. This event had occurred for weeks now. He had grown tired of the long game of cat-and-mouse and wished to end it - especially when the mouse thought itself the cat.
"Well? Shall you keep hiding like a rat in a gutter? I thought you had moved beyond such conduct since you found refuge with the Shepherds, princess."
(Cue "Id (Dilemma)")
There was silence, then: "Aye, so had I. But that was before you found the same with the Shepherds."
"Bah. I need no refuge. Only those who find themselves my enemy require it." He turned his head slightly to catch sight of the flame-lit figure that was the Princess of Chon'sin, Say'ri, who stopped with ample space between them and a chilly mien that permeated the air.
"And yet Chrom had defended you time and time again. If those of Valm knew you yet live, their fury would be great to behold indeed. Only Chrom's protection saves your neck from the bite of their steel." Her eyes were as daggers that cut with no mercy when she said so.
"Hmph. You speak of the same that had failed to stop my conquest, whom of which you are numbered among them. They hold no fear for me. Only Prince Chrom holds the power to defeat me." He turned his back on her and went back to scanning the surrounding area.
"You are the same arrogant man who I faced at the gates of Castle Valm. Do you still feel no remorse for your actions? Did I not tell you that I would bring you back down to the hell you made of Valm? To make you see the pain and suffering you brought upon the people?"
Walhart scoffed. "You act as though you played the role of the one who did so. You never wielded the power capable of bringing me down to my knees. You were weak, and so you ran as Chon'sin fell. You hid for two long years while my rule continued and expanded. You had little power. Arranging skirmishes to lessen my hold. Leading bands of rebels to scratch at my boots. Such meaningless actions." He shook his head. "Even then, must I remind you that you were at the full mercy of Excellus? You were never in a position to defeat me."
"I may not have had the ability to do so, but you have not answered my question: do you feel no remorse for what you have done to my people? To the people of Valm!?" she shouted, her rage shattering her already thinly-veiled calm composure.
Walhart glanced at her, regarding her. "Does a dragon feel remorse for killing and eating a cow? Does a king feel remorse for executing those who threaten his rule? I was the conqueror. It is my very nature to have all under my rule and therein bring about a united nation. Those who stood against me threatened the peace that came under my hand. For their actions, I deemed it necessary for them to be crushed. You act as though you have not done the same."
"I never have! I fought against your tyranny-"
"In the name of the peace that you envisioned," he shot back. "You slew many of the men and women that served me, knowing the possibility that they might have friends, families that they cared for. Yet you did so without hesitation. Because you believed that you were in the right and I the wrong. You rationalized that they had chosen to serve me, and thus you allowed no hesitation to stay your blade from cutting them down."
"Some may not have been forced to fight for you," Say'ri admitted softly then went on with renewed vigor, "but regardless they still chose to fight! Nor is the privilege to claim the right in the war yours to have. By your hands did my people suffered for years! Under your rule did they lose their lands, their families! Never were you in the 'right,' Walhart!"
"Bah. If you are forced to parrot yourself with the same words then this conversation is pointless. All people suffer in war. Only after war is done and the enemy eradicated can they live in peace and safety."
The Chon'sin princess made a noise that was a mixture of a scoff and a growl at him. "So the ends are the justification for the means? What peace then, was there when you completed your subjection of Valm? Bandits roamed freely, ravaging the lands as they wish. The people had no safety!"
Walhart was tiring of the princess's words, but before he could say anymore…
"Say'ri? Why are you here in the cold?"
The duo turned, and Say'ri gasped softly when she saw who it was.
"Yen'fay!"
"So," Walhart began calmly as the former king of Chon'sin from another world approached, "the false siblings stand together once more. Why are you here, Yen'fay?"
"I am here to relieve you of your post, Walhart," the former Chon'sin king replied. "Go and rest for the marrow. You as well, Say'ri. I shall stand guard until dawn."
"Yen'fay!" Say'ri examined in shock. "Pray, how can you speak so civilly to this monster!? He and his empire was the reason for the ruin of both of our countries and the death of my brother and your sister! How can you stand here without anger for his crimes? You of all people should ken of the horrors that this man brought about!"
"…" Yen'fay remained silent as he stood with his back to them, his gaze fixed on the forest.
"Yen'fay…"
"My shift is done," Walhart declared, turning his back to them. "Your squabbling is of no interest of me. But remember, princess, what use does a kingdom have for a weak ruler whose emotions wax so easily?"
Say'ri moved toward him with fists clenched, but was surprised to find Yen'fay's hand holding her back. His head moved slightly from side-to-side to warn her against her action as the Conqueror walked away. And they were left alone in the dim light of the stars.
(Stop "Id (Dilemma)")
*Time break*
The next morning came without calamity, and with yet more marching for lands diseased with Risen. It was during this march that Walhart learned he was to walk alongside the man from another world, Yen'fay. If Walhart believed in fate, he would have said it dared be against him.
The walk under the hot sun through the forest was one of silence. The quiet Swordmaster only spoke once to politely greet the Conqueror then nothing else. The hours passed, and while Walhart was no novice of silence, the cold intent had to be addressed.
"Yen'fay," he began, breaking the quiet between them during a short period to drink and eat, "I am aware of your feelings regarding the sister of the Yen'fay who followed me until his dying breath. What pain it must bring to see her serve alongside the man who brought her the loss of brother and parents."
"…"
"No reply? Not even to the man who bears the face of the one who brought about the death of your own sister? How disappointing. I am aware of your origin, Yen'fay. I would have thought such events would bring forth greater strength, but you have proven otherwise."
"…Your words mean nothing to this husk," the Swordmaster finally spoke, his emotional voice little more than a whisper. "My anger for the Walhart of my world flickered out of existence alongside his life. With that, to search greater strength became meaningless. No amount of strength can return the dead."
"Nonsense!" Walhart proclaimed. "With blade in hand, you carved your way to this world. A world that held the very object of your desire. If your potency was insubstantial then you would've fallen to the wayside long ago. You triumphed over the so-called 'law' of life and death, and so you reaped the reward: the life of the princess back from death's grip. So take it!"
"…"
Walhar's eyes turned razor-sharp at the Swordmaster's pitiful display. "Hmph. So the Yen'fay that served me was the stronger man in the end." The Conqueror's clenched fist raised towards the silent man. "Tell me: do you truly dare not claim what is rightfully yours!? Do you plan to flounder around like a coward, too afraid of the past that haunts him!? Need I repeat the past, and lay the head of this world's Say'ri at your feet to make you see reality!?"
If Walhart had not foreseen the attack, he would have been very well spitted like a pig with the first stroke. In time however, he had risen Wolfberg to catch the (aptly named in the Swordmaster's hands) Killing Edge. That did not slow Yen'fay's rhythm; he instantly pushed onwards with his superior speed, gliding through Walhart's defenses and nicking him in the upper leg. The Conqueror swung his weapon wide to earn himself room, forcing Yen'fay back.
Walhart paid his leg a brief glance before setting his sights on the man standing him. He was impressed. This was a man with more power than his counterpart indeed. Perhaps this battle would be even better than the one with the fallen Yen'fay from long ago. He could feel his bloodlust rise at the thought.
Walhart grinned. "Good, very good! The husk still can fight with the fury of a demon! Come, Yen'fay, and see if your strength earns your reborn sister respite from me."
"No hand shall touch her so long as I wield a blade in my hands," Yen'fay declared. "No matter the cost - this world shall see the death of yet another Yen'fay if need be it."
"Ha! What use is a corpse to the living!? Only the living holds any power to lay a hand on me! So come and try!"
And he did, lunging forward with blinding speed. Yen'fay's Edge came closer and closer to the Conqueror, and he raised his axe to swing back.
"Stop!"
A flash of fear entered into the Swordmaster's eyes as a person broke through the crowd that had quickly formed around the two and leaped between them.
The Killing Edge stopped an inch from the breast of Say'ri, hovering over her heart.
"Say'ri! Fie!" Yen'fay shouted as he quickly backed away from her, his blade pointed earthward. 'Tis foolishness to stand in the path of my sword! Pray, what possessed you to do such a thing!?"
"No, brother, pray, what possessed YOU to abandon who you are!? No matter how reprehensible that man is for you to strike him down in anger is not the way! That is not the action of the Yen'fay I know," she said softly, her fists clenched so tightly they were bone-white.
"…" Yen'fay sheathed his blade, his face strained. "No, I am not him. Nor can I be that man. I am but a ghost, bound by my mistakes and forced to atone for them for all of my days."
"Yen'fay…"
At the dark silence, Walhart cast a wide gaze at the audience that was draw by the commotion, promising a horrible fate with his stare if they did not leave – and quickly. As they received the message and fled, he faced the siblings from different worlds.
"So you have proved me wrong, Yen'fay."
The man from another world merely sent him a questioning look.
"Your strength is intact. Impressive for a ghost. Yet you still deny what that strength has brought you. And you, Princess Say'ri, you have learned from my words before. Emotion is not a tool of use for a ruler."
"'Tis not a matter for your meddling, Walhart," Say'ri warned him with a dark glare.
"No? Yet it is I who stand at the center of this battle between brother and sister. I am-"
"Silence."
Walhart narrowed his eyes at Yen'fay. The urge to strike him down was strong for his gall, but Walhart did fall quiet.
"It is true," Yen'fay conceded. "Your actions lay at the heart of our woes. In this world and my own. The debt was paid in full however. With your defeat at the hands of Lord Chrom in this world…and your death by my hands in the world that saw the death of my Say'ri…"
"Yen'fay! You…" Say'ri could only stare at him in shock. "Why did you not tell me?"
"…My past is one with many dark memories, Say'ri," he told her. "To burden you with them would only bring you pain. I vowed never to have you suffer as I did."
"That…That is not your decision to make, older brother or no!" she argued fierily. "You may not be my brother nor I your sister, but we are all we have. I have no wish to see you torture yourself when I can be there to ease the pain!"
"…"
"…I see, then. If that is how it must be, I will not fight with you on it anymore. I have lived with the silence of one brother, I shall survive yours. …Good-bye, Yen'fay." With that she left, eyes dim and withdrawn. Yen'fay only stared after her, his emotional mask in place but his own eyes was lost in contemplation.
(Cue "No Reaction…Was I Wrong Then?")
Walhart was shaking his head when Say'ri was gone. "Hmph. So the past is renewed once more as you watch on with hesitation bore from your fear, paralyzing you like venom." With no response, he continued. "Before my will and might clashed with that of the Shepherds, one man alone held any hope of defeating me: the Yen'fay of this world. I knew this from the moment when he first withstood my blow as he fought me for the fate of Chon'sin, standing tall as though a wall of iron against my axe. I crushed him in the end, but allowed him his life for his worthy struggle. How different the two of you are."
"…I see. So that is why I faltered," Yen'fay mused, appearing as though a great revelation had shown itself to him.
"Explain your meaning."
"…In my own world, when the choice came before me to stand with my sister against the empire…I did so because of my weak heart," the Swordmaster explained. "And because I could not protect her when it was needed most…she fell. 'Twas after then, when the Shepherds of that world came, my blade joined their cause. The long war commenced, and by its bloody end I faced you and slew you out of fury. …I had never matched steel with you before that time nor suffered a defeat by your hand. Perhaps the clash between you and the Yen'fay of this world changed the river of fate…"
Yen'fay shook his head, turning away from the former emperor. "But for what reason he stayed true to the correct path, it no longer matters. My heart is lighter to know the tragedy shall not repeat. Nor shall I allow it," he added, a hidden edge directed towards Walhart.
"Hmph. My threat was to determine if your strength had been corroded by your silly grievances," Walhart stated. "We are the strong, to deny that fact is to cast aside our very power to act and be slaves to the whim of others! If you had forgotten that feeling, I would simply had behead you with my axe and be done with it."
"…I shall not forget," Yen'fay acknowledged with a nod. "Very well. My weakness dies here. Let it be buried here along with my grievances. The Shepherds have no need for a dull blade to fight for them."
"Good. The Yen'fay of this world would be pleased indeed."
"…You show respect for him," Yen'fay observed, a question left to hang in the air.
"Yes. Despite his defeat at my hands and Excellus's black hold over him, his strength was to be admired. He approached my standing as a conqueror among men that no other on Valm could hope to surpass. I was surprised by his defeat when I was informed and, for the first time in my life, chose caution as a tactic against the Shepherds," Walhart confessed, the reminder of that action still a bitter taste on his tongue, and he shook his head. "It was for naught. I fell in my own throne room as a gutted cow."
"I see…"
The silence began as they continued their march with the convoy. Yen'fay gazed off into nothingness as Walhart thought back to the past.
"Though the rift that divides us is too wide to overcome," Yen'fay spoke up, "your words have made clear what I must do. My weakness and Say'ri's weakness are twin to each other. I must go to her, and beg forgiveness. Perhaps she shall grant it if the fates smile upon me. To bring her further sadness is an insult to the memory of the Yen'fay of this world."
"Leave then," Walhart told him. "Claim the fruit of your strength. The princess is still a youngling in the way of the world. If she aspires to greatness she requires more power to be a worthy ruler, and to rebuild the fallen Chon'sin. If you were to grant her your own the result would be…impressive."
He nodded and made to leave, but paused. "…There was once a point when Valm and Chon'sin could be allies and be united in the pursuit of peace."
"That point has passed, in your world and this one," Walhart replied coldly. "Peace such as that would also be far too slow to usher in for me to approve."
"Perhaps…But the cost paid is too dear for your peace. Farewell, Walhart."
Walhart watched as Yen'fay walked ahead of him, a lone ghost among flesh-and-blood humans. Walhart couldn't help but chuckle at the absurd thought. In a certain way, he himself was like a ghost. Once, he was left for dead only to cling to life with vengeance driving him onward.
And now…
He chuckle once again. "To think that our might are levered together once more – even if the man is but an imitation. How humorous." he crossed his arms, shaking his head at the thought of how nothing appeared to impossible for the Shepherds. From winning wars wrestled out of the jaws of obliteration to convincing their former enemies and even warriors from other worlds to join their cause, the Shepherds brought these events about. He wondered what could possibly be next.
With these thoughts in his mind and a thin smile on his face, he continued onward alongside the Shepherds.
Ending Note: First off, apologizes for the wait on the new chapter. College is kicking my butt and writer's block is at large, but kicked their butts long enough to make this. Second of all, shout-outs to GameLord The Hitman, Latteas, Makmix, and the Guest twins for their reviews. Always glad to know I'm doing good work. Thirdly, I am wondering if the 'immersive reading with the soundtrack idea' is working out for you all or if it actually subtracts from it. For those who feel like reviewing I hope you mention your thoughts on this. Lastly! Due to popular demand, Henry will most likely be next to pay Walhart a visit (that should be fun). So I hope you have a great morning/evening/night!
