Chapter 3 - The Beginning of the End
The Shepherds and I had finally started on our slow but steady march towards Ylisstol. I had been told the capitals name by Ashur who was attempting to refresh my knowledge of the area we were currently in. Unfortunately most of it was useless as none of it sounded even remotely familiar to me. I was really confused by my lack of memories and why that one dream, or was it a memory too, kept nagging at my brain. It kept plaguing me as I wondered of it's importance, I just wished I could remember what exactly happened in it clearly.
Still Kira had been talking to Lissa a bit, apparently my thoughts on them having a few things in common seemed right. I was still trying to figure a few other things out about myself. Ashur and Kira knew more about me yet they seemed to be keeping a few things secret. I didn't want to think that to be honest but, that look when I asked about Plegia, It just bothered me greatly. Did they know something? Did I have a connection to that country? My head would always be met with an intense pain if I thought those things. It made me wonder even further though what it was that had taken away my memories.
"Man it's getting dark already. And the bugs are out! Noisy disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when.." Lissa's little rant about the current conditions was interrupted by what looked like a huge insect flying into her mouth. Most likely it attacked her for her insults to his kind. I inwardly chuckled as she started to try to spit it out. Ashur was looking at me for some reason and I attempted to quell my inner self from cracking up.
"Aw, Come on now, Lissa. It builds character! Want to help gather firewood?" She was still attempting to get it out of her of mouth and I was struggling to not laugh a little more at the expression on her face.
"I think I swallowed it.. I'll pass on finding firewood, I think I built way too much character today!" She had been loud about this. Maybe it was just her as a person though I worried slightly about not only my own impending starvation but my friends who apparently needed some food too.
"We need food... Badly." Ashur had said slightly. I guess I was right that they were hungry at the moment. Kira seemed in agreement with him and I smiled a little weakly now that it seemed to bother me as well.
"We should get some food. I think we are starving at least me and my friends." Frederick had nodded at my comment. I was surprised he seemed at least a bit friendlier from earlier. Maybe there was more to him that I just didn't know?
"Then I suppose some hunting and gathering is in order? Now who wants to clear a campsite?" Frederick had given us each a job of some kind. Kira though had been insistent on attempting to make whatever we got slightly more edible then meat over a fire. She had rushed off into the woods to gather a few things. I had cleared the campsite with Lissa, Chrom went hunting, Ashur went off on a quick search for any potential threats. A thing that Frederick and I had agreed would be better given his ability. Frederick himself had made a fire and gathered the wood as well. Apparently he held some sort of thing for making fires. Not sure why though.
After everyone had gathered, Kira being the last who had come with ton of different things. She had stomped her foot in anger when Frederick said that the meat would be fine as is.
"I know it won't if just cooked over the fire! Trust me!" Frederick had shook his head slightly but allowed her to continue. Still I wondered why she seemed really eager to try and make it better. I looked at Ashur who had come back reporting all was clear for now, He seemed a bit off. I wasn't sure how to explain it, he just seemed really angry or annoyed or something. I stood from my spot and I heard Lissa shout about it smelling like boots and Kira complaining about needing more time. I had walked over to him where he was standing a little bit away from the rest his back against a tree. He flashed me a quick grin and I leaned against the tree next to him.
"Hey, You seem angry Ash." He shook his head slightly, the long strands of his blond hair had shook slightly. His eyes seemed to be staring daggers at a certain blue haired lord. I wondered what the issue was they seemed fine in battle.
"I am not angry Lana. I am, Annoyed by our new 'friend'" He used a lot of sarcasm on the word friend. It made me wonder what he was thinking about Chrom. He seemed ok at least to me.
"Why? I mean he seems ok." Ashur shook his head a little and I heard him mumble 'exactly' under his breath as if he were trying to hide that from me. I looked at him but he hadn't answered yet as if he were trying to choose his next words carefully.
"Ash, tell me the truth. Does he looking at me bother you? Or is it something else? I mean, you seem bothered that I think he's ok." Ash nodded again, I let out a slight sigh. I wasn't sure what to think. Was it jealousy? Worry that Chrom might steal me away?
"He's a Lord, Lana. Some rich bastard, Has a Knight to protect him and his sister. His whole presence bothers me." I blinked a few times and looked towards the fire where the group was. They seemed to be getting along save for the fact Frederick wouldn't eat the bear no matter how much the other three pestered him about it being good. Though Lissa did complain more then once about the smell only being covered up.
"Ash, be honest. Are you scared of like, him taking me away from you? Because, seriously I don't know him, I know a little about you. There's nothing between me and him or you and me. Not yet, There could be but, not yet." I bit my lip slightly and Ash sighed heavily. He placed his hand on my shoulder and whispered softly.
"Sorry Lana, I won't worry so much then," I smiled and then hugged him a little with one arm, wrapping it around his stomach. He placed his own around my shoulders and I laughed a little.
"Maybe give Chrom something to be Jealous about?" He laughed weakly and nodded. Chrom had looked at the two of us and I noticed the same look that had been on Ashur's face moments earlier was stuck on Chrom's. Ash softly laughed again at seeing this.
"He's been Jealous awhile you know? I think that he thinks, that I will say some things about us being together before all this happened." I nodded a little and let go of him a bit. I felt a slight pain in my chest though for a second after leaving his side.
"Was there something between us? Once?" Ashur shrugged a bit and shook his head. It was slightly surprising to me that he wouldn't try to make something up. Though Kira could deny it later.
"We were Friends Lana. A team of three. Maybe I did feel something but, we never talked about it. I mean we've known each other for four years but, it just didn't seem like the right time. It doesn't matter anyway, I will be your friend no matter what ok? Just if anyone even him hurts you, I swear they will be missing a certain tool of theirs." I closed my eyes in thought then they snapped open. I looked at him in surprise and he nodded. The two of us laughed for a bit and went to chow down with the others.
It had been a few hours and I had fallen asleep for awhile. I heard something moving around near me and my eyes opened to see Ashur picking up his sword and cloak off the ground. Chrom and Lissa were missing, Frederick and Kira though were sound asleep.
"What's wrong?" Ash rubbed his temples, he seemed on edge as if something bad was coming.
"I got a bad feeling Lana. Like my powers are raging, Something Dark is coming." I stared at him as he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly.
"Come on, I think it's over here. I could use your help if shit goes down." I nodded and grabbed my cloak as well tossing it over my shoulders. Ashur and I had maneuvered though the woods together in silence. I wondered about this feeling he had, and yet I noticed my head had started to hurt, it seemed familiar to me somehow. I took it as a bad sign of my own and steeled myself for what was coming.
Ashur had stopped me for a second and I noticed him shaking in what seemed like fear. The woods and ground also shook and Ash had then pointed up. A huge orb had appeared in the sky and my headache increased in intensity while I stared at it. I tried to breathe a bit and Ashur had took my hand in his and rushed forward towards it. My breathing was erratic at best, and I had at least figured out that this headache wasn't a normal one. Ashur and I had burst into a clearing just as Chrom sliced some dark skinned monster thing. It's head had twisted back to face him without his body moving, it's eyes were like red lights and I gulped slightly. This wasn't a normal enemy that I had ever seen before.
Chrom had quickly ended the second, Ashur and I had been frozen in shock at what we had seen as the thing burst into black smoke. There was a scream, Lissa! Chrom was too far as were we, I bit my lip hard in fear as the three of us rushed forward together in a vain attempt to stop the thing. That's when I fell to my knees suddenly, A voice had crept into my head just as someone stopped the ax from hitting Lissa. Kill her! Kill the one who dares ruin our plans! I blinked a few times as the strange person and Chrom ended the thing together in similar motions. I was helped up by Ashur whose face was covered in worry.
"Damn it, what was that." I said weakly and then, well it started. The person had run off for a second towards what sounded like a group of approaching enemies, I shook off the dust from my clothes and the battle had begun. I pushed aside the fear of not only the enemy but that voice that had screamed in my mind. Frederick and Kira had rushed over to the rest of us and I scanned the field quickly. I didn't have time, next to none in fact so I just shouted out a simple command.
"Everyone deal with them quickly, They use mostly Axes but be prepared for any surprises, Frederick and Kira, Ashur and I, Chrom and Lissa. That's the pairs ok?" They all nodded and we rushed forward, the battle itself had been intense, These things could take a hit and punch out one much stronger. Chrom, Lissa, Frederick and Kira had holed up in one of the forts. Ashur and I were tearing through a few of these things to the north. I heard a shout of something and noticed two others had paired as well, An Archer with blue hair, and A Woman riding a horse. I figured they were either friends of Chrom's or just some help either way it was a small blessing in this hell that had shown up. Ashur stabbed the leaders neck after I had blasted it with wind knocking it off it's feet. The smoke rose from where it's body should have been, I breathed a slight sigh of relief that it seemed a headstrong tactic could work sometimes.
We had gathered after a quick round of introductions to Virion and Sully. Sully was a Shepherd as well and this Virion was some Weirdo or something. That's when that person had shown up again. I remembered what the voice had said though I felt no control over me nor had it's voice reappeared.
"The battle is over, It seems this man has dealt with the others." Man? I wondered why the voice had mentioned it being a woman though I wasn't sure either way especially now with conflicting opinions. The person had stayed silent and Lissa had thanked him a little though he seemed to ignore it a bit.
"You save my sister's life. My name is Chrom what is your name?" The person looked us over though I noticed his eyes had lingered on me a bit more then the others. Ashur though had been going back forth between Chrom and this person with his eyes as if trying to piece some connection.
"You may call me Marth."
"Marth? After the Heroic King of old?" I heard Kira say in surprise though Ashur's eyes had narrowed slightly. He continued his looking back and forth between them.
"He fights like a hero that's for sure. Who taught you to fight?" Chrom had asked and yet the person shook his head slightly. It seemed he wanted to keep secrets. I noticed that Ashur had vanished at my side and I looked around wondering where he had gone and how I hadn't noticed his disappearance.
"I'm not here to talk about me, This world stands at the brink of a horrible calamity. What you saw tonight is only the beginning, You have been warned." I stared after as he left and that's when I saw Ashur sneaking near where he had disappeared in the forest, he waved then followed after him. I bit my lip in worry as I talked to the others about him not being so talkative. Still I wondered what Ashur was doing or if he found anything out.
(About a mile away – Ashur in hot pursuit of Marth – A few minutes later)
Damn it this guy doesn't stop does he. I was curious and I knew I could avoid detection mostly but this power didn't last forever. I needed him to stop or something though he seemed determined to press on. I was about to give up my legs tired from the walking and the spell slowly decreasing in duration when Marth finally collapsed to his knees. He hung his head in his hand and burst into tears quickly. I stared for a moment as he cried, his words though caught my attention.
"Father... I wish I could stay... Please be safe till we meet again soon." I leaned against the tree as he cried still, he kept mumbling things, I bit my lip slightly as I felt my power end. I did the only the thing I could think of. I walked forward and stood next to him. He hadn't noticed me yet though I had noticed something. His voice in this act of desperation and sobbing seemed to change more and more feminine. Was he actually a She?
"Hey..." I spoke reaching down placing my hand on her? Shoulder, She snapped up and slid back from me reaching for her sword. Her mask had fallen off in her own haste and I could tell it was a girl now for a a hundred percent positivity.
"Damn it, Should have known you would..." I shook my head slightly and bent my knees as though I were sitting slightly.
"How could you have known, Unless you know of me?" She opened her mouth and I noticed her teeth grind in slight frustration over what appeared to be some blunder of hers. I shook my head a little.
"Don't worry ok? I won't told that blue haired lord about this. I figure he's your pop?" She glared weakly and then nodded. I wondered what was going through her head if she trusted me. Hell, I was still surprised she knew me at all.
"So you want to talk? I mean, Lana always told me to talk stuff out with someone when it bothers me. So like talk and I promise no one will know." She stared at me and I noticed she was biting her lip slightly.
"yeah, Just don't tell anyone ok? Not even Lana." I smiled and sat down. She had told me a bunch of things, Things that defined insanity. Her was Lucina, Chrom's daughter though she would not tell me of her mother or if it were Lana or not. The future would be destroyed by Grima and Chrom would die at the hands of his best friend. I took in this information and stored it tightly, I didn't know of Lana's true connection with Plegia, knew she lived there when she was very young. I considered her a possibility but then dismissed it. She wouldn't do that ever. Lucy as I called her for short and only revealed a few other things, I had a child, which was amazing to me. Her friends were around or could be around eventually, and that she hated that she had work on this in secret.
"Then why? Why act in secret."
"I can't change too much Ashur. All I have told you can't be known by anyone else. Ok? I just needed it off my chest. So please promise me that?" I smiled and nodded. I gave her a small hug and she had told me her next move was to head to Ferox and get in the tournaments. I smiled and bowed to her a bit.
"Till next we meet Milady."
"Don't call me that Ashur."
"Of course not I won't ever again. Milord." She hit her fist on top of my head slightly and I laughed. We left each other then still I wondered deep in the back of my mind, why she had told me as much as she did.
