I'm curious; is there a way that I can shift the default font of Microsoft word? I am tired of manually shifting it to Verdana every time I open a new document, and I refuse to use anything else.
Also, do I have to do a disclaimer every chapter? Just to be safe…
I don't own a thing, not even myself.
You know, it was definitely cold on the road to Regna Ferox. I mean, I knew it would be, but I was expecting worse. It wasn't any worse than winter back in Minnesota, so I was pretty acclimated to it. The other Shepherds, however, were fairing much worse than I. Vaike especially. You would have thought the dumbass would have at least put on a shirt. But then, it was the Teach, and you really couldn't expect much forethought from him.
"Brrr!" Lissa shivered, clutching herself as her teeth chattered. "F-F-Frebberick! I'm f-f-freebing!"
"Stand beside my horse, milady," the knight-butler said. "She'll shelter you from the wind." The horse's tail flicked, and the princess hurried over to hide from the snowy wind. I didn't think it was snowing; the wind was just blowing around what had already fallen. The scenery was beautiful, despite the conditions. I had always held an appreciation for snowy landscapes. Undisturbed snow looked so peaceful, and instilled a sort of serenity in me. The snow-covered evergreens added to the aesthetic.
"So this is the fortress?" Robin asked, and I returned my eyes forward. Indeed, ahead of us lay the Longfort. Fire Emblem Awakening's Great Wall. It was massive, but not as tall as I'd thought. It was perhaps two or three stories high. Perhaps the wall was just that: a wall. The real barricade, I wagered, was the guards that sat atop it. This chapter wasn't very difficult in the game, but then, none of the others had been exceptionally difficult in the game either, yet they were no pieces of cake here. I had to keep my wits about me in the oncoming fight.
"Yes," Chrom said, answering the tactician's question. "This is the Longfort. It stretches along the entire Ylissean-Feroxi border." Despite the cold, the prince seemed to be as calm as ever, though I could see him shiver occasionally.
"The khans that rule Ferox have grown quite wary of foreigners," Frederick said, his eyes narrowed at the top of the stretching fortress. "Still, don't mistake a lack of hospitality for open hostility. This simply calls for a bit of diplomacy." Maybe I should tell them about the fight. Would it be avoided then? Though, if I did, they would probably think me crazy and ignore my warnings anyway. I kept my mouth shut and let the scripted dialogue continue.
"Negotiation's not my strong suit," Chrom admitted. "But, I will do my best. Remember, everyone," he called over the whistling wind, "your actions here reflect back upon Ylisse." Atop the fortress, I saw shapes moving about. The snow blowing around made it difficult to see exactly what was happening. At least, that was the case for me.
Frederick saw them, as well, and moved his hand to where his lance was strapped to his horse. "Trouble in the wind, milord: the Feroxi Guard are mobilizing."
"What?" Chrom squinted, peering at the fort. "Why?"
"Who can say?" said the knight. "But they look ready to let fly at a moment's notice. We'd best prepare for combat, just to be safe."
"What was that you said about not mistaking open lack of hospitality for hostility, Frederick?" I called, and received a glare from the knight.
"Halt," a deep, but feminine voice called from the wall. "Who goes there?" Someone with a head of short, blonde hair stood at the wall's edge wearing full armor. Gods, what was her name? Raimi?
"In the name of House Ylisse, I seek audience with the khans!" Chrom shouted up to the border guard.
"Not another step, my bold lad," she replied. "I've lancers at the ready!" She held her hand up, and a number of other armored soldiers stepped up, javelins held in a throwing position.
"Hold, milady!" Frederick yelled, holding a hand up in peace. "We are not your enemy! Exalt Emmeryn herself sent us to discuss matters of mutual interest."
Raimi shook her head. "My only interest is keeping you out of Regna Ferox, brigands!"
Frederick's eyes shot wide open, as did his mouth. "Brigand?" he repeated, dumbfounded. "Now see here, you—"
"Do you think you are the first so-called 'Ylisseans' to try and cross our border? I have the authority to fell such imposters where they stand." If the Shepherds didn't have their weapons drawn before, they certainly all did now.
"How dare you?" Fredericked bellowed, his lance being held in a death grip. I could practically see his blood boiling, the outrage in his eyes. "You are in the prescence of Prince Chrom, the exalt's own blood!"
Raimi threw her head back in laughter. "Yes, indeed—and I am the queen of Valm! You do realize impersonating royalty is a capital offense, yes?" She placed a finger to her chin, as if in thought, then said, "Perhaps we should settle this the Feroxi way. If you claim to be the prince of Ylisse, then prove it to me on the battlefield."
Chrom's mouth was pressed into a firm line, his eyes narrowed. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off, instead shouting, "Hold, milady! He bears the brand of the Exalt! Surely that is proof enough!"
Apparently, it was not proof enough. "Brands can be faked, swordsman," said the border guard. "Now I've had enough talking. Attack!" With diplomacy thrown out the window, Raimi stepped back from the ledge as the armored soldier drew back their arms, prepared to impale the prince. As they threw their spears, I heard a whistle coming from behind me. Before I can turn to see it, something white wizzes above us and at Chrom, who is lifted away just before the spears hit the ground. Frederick, Lissa, Robin, and I looked up to see a pegasus—the same one as before, if the bandages on its side were any indication—flying above us.
The armored soldiers made to throw another round of spears, but the pegasus dived out of the way, swooping low and slowing to a stop just before us. I was not surprised to see Sumia atop it, Chrom holding onto her. Chrom dismounted, and Sumia let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, Captain, I'm so relieved I made it in time."
"That goes double for me, Sumia!" Chrom said, almost chuckling. "And this it—this is the same pegasus from on the road, isn't it?"
Sumia nodded. "Oh, she's a sweetheart, isn't she? I mean, once you really get to know her…"
"Well, many thanks to you both," Chrom said.
Lissa giggled, pointing at the pegasus. "Look, I think it's blushing!" The pegasus was not, in fact blushing. Its rider, on the other hand, was as red as a strawberry. I smiled a little, but Frederick's stern voice brought my attention to the more prevalent situation.
"I think we had all best focus on the situation at hand!" said the knight, and everyone's faces grew serious.
"Chrom, they're coming," Robin announced, pointing to the gates east and west of us, which soldiers were pouring out of.
"Alright," growled the prince, drawing Falchion. "The Feroxi way it is."
He almost ran ahead, but I stopped him by grabbing his shoulder. "Chrom, are we to kill them?" My stomach turned at the thought. I didn't want to have to kill these soldiers, especially because they were just that—soldiers. They weren't brigands attacking the innocent, and I didn't want to kill them if I didn't have to, but I would if the situation required it.
Chrom shook his head. "Not if you can help it, but I would rather my men came back alive then theirs, so do what's necessary to survive." I nodded, and he charged forward, followed by Vaike, Frederick, Virion, and Sumia. I turned around, seeing that only Robin, Lissa, Stahl, and Sully remained. Miriel wasn't present, so I asked the tactician why.
"She volunteered to stay behind," Robin answered, peering over the field. "Something about avoiding the needless fatigue in favor of climate research or something." I nodded. "Anyway, there are more pressing matters at hand. Chrom is leading half of us right, probably to avoid the archers for Sumia. We should take the left side then. Lets' go!" With that, the five of us charged the opposite direction as Chrom. Sully and Stahl rode ahead, but only barely, and collided into the soldiers there like a train, not killing them, but certainly knocking them unconscious.
As we ran, I looked back, something tugging at the back of my mind. Aside from a black spot in the sky, which I was sure was just a bird, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. That is, until my eyes looked at the ground, and I saw another pair of footprints behind us. Blinking twice, I stopped. Robin noticed and stopped as well. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Kellam, is that you?" I called. The knight was following us. I didn't know how we missed him, or how nobody heard the shuffling of his plate armor.
"Yes," said the knight, waving. I could see him clearly now. I guessed that the game wasn't exaggerating his uh, stealth. It didn't make any sense to me, but I supposed I should have just rolled with it.
"Oh," Robin said, confused with Kellam just as I was. "Well, I guess it would be best if you headed with Chrom's group. It would even out our numbers." The knight nodded and clambered off, toward where the other Shepherds were clashing with a few Feroxi guards.
Robin and I moved toward out mark, as well, but it seemed that Sully and Stahl made quite the efficient team. Their horses knocked the guards down, and the cavaliers bonked them on the helmets. When we arrived, all of them were on the ground, knocked out. "Nice job, guys," I said. If I remembered correctly, one of them dropped a key to open the door up ahead. "Did either of you see a key on one of them?" Both cavaliers shook their heads and I sighed. Kneeling down next to one of them, I searched him for the key. "Look for one. I'm sure they didn't leave the gate unlocked for us." Mine didn't have it on him, but a moment later, Stahl popped up, shining key in hand.
"It was around his neck," the cavalier informed, mounting his horse. I looked over to where Chrom and Sumia were. I didn't see them, but looking higher, I saw Sumia's pegasus over the fort, past the door.
"Chrom and the others are already up there," I said, running to the door. "We should hurry. Stahl, throw me the keys." He rode closer and tossed them. I caught them, popping it into the keyhole and pushing the door open. Waiting inside was one of the armored knights, who stabbed his lance at my chest. I twisted to avoid the jab, but it still scraped my chest and I slipped past him.
"Bandit scum!" he shouted, whirling around and swinging the pole of his lance at me. I ducked under, raising my sword. I backed away, waiting for the others to get up here and hit him from behind. He stabbed at me again, and grazed my arm. Gods, lances were hard to avoid, and he wouldn't let me get close. It wouldn't matter if I got in close; there was no way my sword was piercing that armor.
Thankfully, I didn't have to. My hopes came true, as a blast of thunder hit the knight in the back, causing him to stumble forward, electricity arcing around his metal shell. Sully and Stahl rode in, clanging their weapons against him, driving him to the ground. Another shock and he was out of commission, but I was worried. The lance-users are messing me up, lately.
Ahead of us were more of the armored knights; the ones that tried to skewer Chrom. They readied their lances, this time poised to throw at us. My blood ran cold, and I saw the same fear streak across the others' faces.
Time slowed down, but I couldn't move. What could I do? Was this where I would die? Oh gods, this couldn't be. There was no way I could die here. It didn't feel real. Yet still…could I get out? Sluggish, as if moving through mud, I turned toward the door. If I could just reach…
In the sky, the black spot I saw minutes ago seemed much closer and… much larger. It was a bird, I noticed. It was flying toward us. Actually… it was here. And it was HUGE.
With a screech, a giant black hawk crashed into the line of spearmen, its wings pulling it back up before it hit the ground, leaving the knights either dead or unconscious. I couldn't tell. I was too busy staring at the GIANT HAWK. Leaving the thought that my life had almost ended in the back of my mind, I stumbled backward, falling on my ass. "What the hell is that?" An equally shocked look was on Robin's face.
No one knew what was going on—not even the remaining Feroxi, which included Raimi. Everybody was staring in awe at the hawk, which landed on the fort. Then it folded its wings and began to… shrink?
It shrunk down to the size of a human, its bird features disappearing, all except for its wings. When the transformation ended, a man in a black trench coat stood in the bird's place; he had long, messy blonde hair and black and brown wings sprouting from his back. I peered at the man, but the remaining Feroxi guards were more forward, running at him with their weapons raised. Robin ran forward, tome open. I followed, my feet moving themselves.
The tactician shot a charge of Thunder at the mercenary, stunning him while I ran to the further fighter, who was closing in on the winged-man. I wasn't going to kill him. I didn't need to. Fear etched itself on the winged-man's face, the fighter right next to him. I was faster, however, and got close enough to tackle the Feroxi to the ground, knocking the axe from his hand. I drove the pommel of my sword against his head, and then again to make sure he was really out cold. Heh, get it?
Panting, I stood up from the fighter and sheathed my sword. The bird-man was staring at me, and there was something unsettling about the way that his blue-green eyes seemed to shift between the two colors. "So," I said, returning his stare. I KNEW that he wasn't part of the Awakening cast. The question was, just who was this guy? "You mind telling me who you are?"
He opened his mouth, then his eyes shot open and he cried, "Behind you!"
I whirled around to see another fighter about to bring his axe down. I reacted quickly, almost instantly. My hand shot to my sword, and I swung it from my scabbard, knocking the fighter's axe away in the same motion. I pointed the tip of my sword to his throat, muttering, "Surrender." The fighter put his hand up and placed them behind his head, kneeling in front of me. I let out a sigh and lowered my sword to the ground. "I wish you idiots would have just believed us." I sheathed my sword and picked his axe off the ground before pitching it off the wall.
Raimi was the only one left. Frederick stood in front of her, and I felt pity for her. I knew that no one insulted Chrom's credibility in front of the knight and got off easy. "Hold," the knight said, raising her hand. "I wish to battle with the one you claim to be the prince." I could feel the anger radiating from Frederick, but he stepped away, and Chrom walked forward. All of the other Shepherds were watching, now, all of the guards laying on the ground.
"I am Chrom," said the prince, sheathing Falchion.
"So you say," Raimi narrowed her eyes and hefted her javelin. "Let the battle sound the truth of your words!" She ran at Chrom, levelling her javelin with his chest. I noticed something shining at Chrom's waist in that moment, something aside from Falchion. Then, almost as fast as I had earlier, Chrom drew a slim, regal sword from his waist, and stabbed at Raimi.
The knight's spear grazed Chrom's uncovered arm, the one with his brand, while his rapier pierced through her armor. Raimi gasped, dropping onto her knees as her spear clattered to the ground. "Then your claims were…were true…" She fell to the ground and Chrom sheathed the rapier.
"Lissa," he called, waving for his sister. "Come heal her, quickly." The princess ran toward the collapsed border guard, her healing staff prematurely emitting a dull glow. Whe she began to heal Raimi, I turned back to the bird-man, finding him just as indulged in the scene as I was.
"What's your name?"
"Dylan," he replied, holding out his hand. "I get the feeling that we're in a similar situation."
I shook it, then paused. "Wait, are you from Ear—" He clamped a hand over my mouth, cutting me off. He shook his head.
"We should talk later."
I nodded. Right. Talking about otherworldly things in the presence of the other Shepherds would have been a bad idea. I would have to find him later. If he really was from Earth, which was pretty much guaranteed now, it meant that I wasn't alone here. It also meant that whatever brought me here didn't settle for just me. Did that mean that there were even more people from Earth?
"Zach," Chrom called. "Who is this?" The prince walked closer, his blue eyes studious of Dylan. The prince seemed particularly fascinated with the newcomer's wings.
"This is Dylan," I said, stepping to the side and gesturing to him. "That giant bird that crashed into the javelin-line was him." Dylan held out his hand again and Chrom shook it.
"Nice to meet you," he said, his eyes shifting between colors again.
"Likewise," Chrom replied, releasing his hand. "I would like to speak with you inside, once everything has calmed down a bit more." With that, the prince walked back through the door Raimi was guarding. Vaike was holding said knight up, her face pale. While everyone else funneled inside, I waited to enter with Dylan. I was a more than a little excited to talk with this guy.
"Let's go," I said when everyone else had gone inside, and I followed him through the door.
AN: HERE IS OUR SECOND OC! Introducing, Dylan. I feel like his introduction may have been a bit rushed, but I don't see a way to improve it. He will have more premise in the next chapter, I promise.
So, yeah. That's, what, a day between chapters? Yeah, I kinda got excited to bring Dylan into the story and wrote all day, whenever I had free time. It may be a little on the short side, as well, but that's fine, right? Quick update, short chapter. Don't expect this too often.
Anyway, like always, leave a review if you'd like. Or don't. If you see anywhere I can improve, do not hesitate to tell me. Fuck me up with that good shit(help), man!
All of the Oats have left the building.
