... Well, this one was certainly interesting to write. While it's still ultimately more of a breather chapter, I still ended up doing a couple of things that I hadn't really considered doing up until now. Certain liberties have been taken, but I promise it's nothing too mind blowing. Before we get started, and since I've already responded to everyone via PM, let's respond to some guest feedback!
Last Shogun: Well, I don't know that I'd call it "brilliant", but it's nice to hear that you're familiar with the original. Here's hoping this fic trumps it in each and every way!
Guest: You are correct; Lyn was not present in the future timeline that Lucina is from, meaning that certain events may play out completely differently and certain new characters might be thrown into the mix in the process. The Anna that teamed up with Gaius is not the Anna from Regna Ferox, but it is meant to be the same playable Anna from Awakening proper. Gangrel is... interesting, but I think that's all I can really say for now without getting into spoiler territory.
GuestWithIdeas: Thank you! I wanted to really begin fleshing out some of the supporting cast over the next couple of chapters, so I'm glad it's paid off so far. You bring up some excellent points regarding how Lyn wants Robin to be stronger but also tends to be overprotective of him. I could definitely see this causing some strain in their relationship as the story progesses, so we'll just have to see if Lyn can shake her old habits. I'll make more of an effort to have the Shepherds refer to Lyndis simply as "Lyn", the Grimleal are indeed frightening, and I'll definitely remember to give the video and its comments another look!
Arthogawa: I don't blame you; I definitely plan to flesh out the backgrounds and relationships of the Shepherds. Robin and Lyn are still the heart of the story, but everyone else is the... other vital organs. This portrayal of Gangrel is definitely a bit more internally conflicted than the game's, and Lyn definitely has more actual combat experience at this point in time (regarding wars, at least) than nearly all of the other Shepherds. As for Validar and Grima... Well, you're in luck tonight!
JP I'm Italian: Henry, like Gangrel, is... interesting, to say the least. I quite enjoyed those chapters of the fic you suggested; I'll have to go back and catch up on it sometime. As for Anna... I think Gaius already has her taken care of. The issue with Lucina's pronouns was an error on my part that I've gone and fixed. I've definitely taken some freedoms with Stahl's character, and Gangrel... Well, what he really wants has yet to be seen. Also, Tanya will return. Thanks again, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you too!
I hope that I've adequately addressed all of your concerns. As always, you're more than free to leave your feedback for this and any chapter. Thanks again for reading, and let's get on with it!
When Validar finally reawakened, he found himself floating in a dark, empty void. The realm was completely devoid of life, human or otherwise, and for a brief moment the sorcerer concluded that he was in purgatory.
"But… How? What did - "
He suddenly fell onto the cold, invisible ground. He gasped as he felt a horrible burning sensation in his mind and chest, his most recent memories coming back to him. Images of those numerous accursed meddlers flashed before his eyes, ending with the unnerving sensation of cold steel in his chest.
Validar took a sharp breath and brought his hands to his chest. He was more than a little stunned to find that they passed through where his lungs had once been. His shriveled and blackened heart hung between the two gaping holes, no longer pumping any blood through his system, and he emitted another raspy breath as he realized just how mutilated he had been.
"D-Damn those Ylisseans! They shall pay for their insolence!" he snarled into the darkness. "But… Just what is this place? How am I still...?"
"Don't play dumb, Validar. I expect better from the longtime Hierarch of the Grimleal."
Turning, he noticed a well-dressed man sitting in a fancy purple chair not too far from him. He wore a sharp black suit with purple accents, and his smug face bore a striking resemblance to that of the Ylisseans' tactician. While two crimson eyes burned brightly in his skull, four more rested on his cheeks; two on each side.
Validar's jaw fell as the realization settled in. "... You… You're…"
"That's right, baby," he crooned, flashing a toothy smirk. "Your Dark Lord and Savior himself, Grima. Also referred to as the Fell Dragon, the Fell God, the Harbinger of the End Times... The list goes on, really."
"Master!" Validar cried as he fell to his knees, bowing before him. "I… I have failed you! Killing the Exalt was meant to be a simple task, yet I could not do even that! Please, Your Omnipotence, punish me in any way you see fit!"
Grima crossed his leg over his knee and began stroking his chin. "Tempting. Very tempting…"
His underling trembled, still bowing, as the Fell Dragon went on. "You know, you're quite lucky to be in the presence of a god. Not everyone can say that they cheated death long enough to quite literally meet their maker."
"Ah… F-Forgive me, O great one!"
"And why should I, mmm?" he inquired in a quiet, chilling tone. "If I recall correctly, and I always do, I believe it was you that the Grimleal entrusted to kill the Exalt and sacrifice her to me. It was also you that failed to do so. Ruined my entire night, you know. I was really looking forward to devouring her. I bet she tastes just like her mother… Guess I'll never know now."
Validar took in the harsh criticisms from his master, knowing that he had ultimately failed in his mission. "Master, I - "
"Shut up," the Fell Dragon snapped. "I hate being interrupted. Honestly, I should just absorb your pathetic soul now and be done with it. The only reason I haven't is because I still need you active in the land of the living."
"Master?"
"Yeah, you heard me," Grima spat, materializing a wine glass from the void and filling it with a red liquid. "That fool Gangrel is too much of a wild card to be trusted, even with Darksphere's influence, and I seriously doubt that your magic will have any effect on that daughter of yours for much longer."
"Aversa," Validar muttered to himself, thinking about the dark sorceress he had practically raised. "... Yes, you're right…"
"... Tell me, fool. Who was it that finally did you in? They had to have been either incredibly strong or incredibly lucky to have felled such a powerful sorcerer such as yourself. Or maybe you just suck. That's also a distinct possibility."
"No, Master! My foes were more formidable than they first appeared. I nearly defeated the Shepherds until that aggravating prince showed his face!"
"Chrom," Grima muttered with contempt as he examined his glass closely. "Hmph. The Chrom of my time was no match for the likes of me, and he was responsible for defeating both Gangrel and Walhart's men. To lose to such a weaker incarnation of him… This does not bode well for you, sir. Not at all."
"He was not alone," Validar said. "He and that meddling child were aided by a living taguel and a green-haired swordswoman."
The Fell Dragon held out a scaly hand, narrowing all six of his eyes at his underling. "Stop. Did you say green-haired?"
"Yes… Yes, I remember now… She definitely had green hair. Like a forest!"
"I may have met her myself, actually," Grima mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "Yes… She was the one who tried to stop me from bringing my vessel back to this world. And here I thought her little more than a nuisance…"
He reclined in his chair and chuckled as he poured the rest of the fluid from his wine glass. Grima flung the empty glass over his shoulder, letting it shatter in the void, before speaking again. "Well, this is interesting. An unknown variable arrives in this land and defeats my star pupil in his debut appearance. What a delicious twist of fate!"
Validar's eyes lit up at the indirect praise, a smile growing on his decrepit gray lips. "Star pupil? Do you truly mean that, my Lord?"
"Yes. Which is incredibly sad in retrospect, seeing as you're dead now," Grima snarked. He rubbed his temples and mumbled under his breath, "Gods, good help is so hard to find these days."
Shaking his head, he turned to the Plegian with a determined expression. "Listen here and listen well, Validar. I, against my better judgment, have elected to take pity on you. I will restore you to life with power greater than you've ever had before, but this will take a great deal of time and effort on my part. For now, you will reside here in the void with me. And don't worry about your precious little 'daughter'; I'll deal with her myself."
The Plegian sorcerer grinned and nodded in satisfaction. Despite his Lord's comforting words, Validar still felt an overwhelming sense of dread well up in the pit of his stomach. He felt a disturbing tingling sensation all across his body, and he looked down to see that his hands were now beginning to deteriorate. They trembled and shook as the flesh began to disintegrate into ash. "What… What is happening to me?!"
"Calm down," Grima groaned, rolling his eyes. "I'll return you to the land of the living soon enough. This is just part of the process."
Validar closed his eyes and let out a guttural roar of pain as he felt himself dissipate into dust, floating upwards in a spiral before eventually disappearing from the void altogether. The Fell God stood up from his chair with a grin and clapped his hands together, and another figure materialized before him in an instant. A white-haired woman with facial features disturbingly similar to his own, complete with extra eyes, stepped out of the darkness in a silky black dress.
Grima walked towards her and stroked her cheek lovingly, brushing two of her eyes in the process. "Well, aren't you a vision of beauty."
"You are such a narcissist," his female counterpart deadpanned, shaking her head in disgust.
"I think I'm well within my rights to be, thank you very much."
The woman threw her hands up in annoyance and faced away from him. "I just don't see what the point of all of this is. We should have just stayed in the future where we had already won. What was the point of chasing those Ylissean princesses to this other world?"
Grima's sick smile left his visage. "When I arose from my slumber, I swore to myself that I would eradicate every man, woman, and child of that era. No exceptions. Besides, ruining their world was just too easy, Grimelda. Why stop at just one? Why not destroy as many measly human lives as possible?"
"Do you really think this is what Father would want?"
"Forneus is dead, my dear," Grima spat, wearing a triumphant smirk. "That old fool perished a long time ago, and it was all by the hand of his dear 'Creation'. Gods, how I loathe that moniker he bestowed upon me!"
Grimelda shook her head once more, giving her "brother" a look of sadness. "... So that's it then. There's really nothing I can say or do to convince you to give up this fool's errand of yours? You had already won, Grima. Why not enjoy your victory? Who cares if a few survivors escaped?"
"I care!" Grima growled back, clenching his fists. "... I care. If that bastard princess achieves her goal, then the Grima of this time will ultimately cease to be. We'll be unable to merge with them, unable to return to our own time should I desire it, and we'll either disappear altogether or be stuck in this worthless void forever! Is that really what you want, Grimelda? Is it?!"
The white-haired woman gazed at the angered Fell Dragon emptily, showing no emotion. "Well, I suppose you should have thought about that before pursing the children to this time."
The Fell God scoffed and folded his arms. "What do you know, anyway? You're not even real. You're just a mirror to talk at for my own enjoyment!"
"Perhaps," Grimelda conceded with a grin. "I'm merely a creation of yours, Grima. Everything I say and do, no matter how much you may dislike it, is ultimately a reflection of your own - "
"Enough!" Grima shouted, waving a hand dismissively in her direction. Within mere moments, Grimelda faded away into the darkness, and the prideful demon was left alone once more. "The nerve of her. Of me! Who do I think I am?!"
He sighed bitterly and sank to the ground. "Who am I really…?"
In one of many occupied infirmary rooms in Castle Ylisstol, Chrom sat by the bedside of one of his childhood friends. Lissa, Maribelle, and Emmeryn herself were casting their strongest healing spells on an unconscious Stahl as several of the other Shepherds aided in removing the bodies from the main hall. The staff-wielding trio worked tirelessly for what seemed like hours, and only stopped once the green knight began to stir in his sleep.
"That… That oughta do it," Lissa panted, wiping her forehead with her sleeve. "And I thought fixing his stomach ache was a workout… Phew!"
Chrom perked up at his younger sister's sense of humor, the corners of his mouth curling upwards. "I take it he'll live, then?"
Emmeryn ran a cool hand across Stahl's forehead and smiled. "It will be some time before he can properly fight again, but he'll pull through."
"Oh, thank the gods!" the prince exclaimed joyously. After last night's insanity, the last thing he needed was the death of someone close to him. Chrom received some amused looks from the blonde healers before regaining his composure. "Er, I mean… This is most good news!"
This only made them giggle madly, save for Emmeryn who stifled a chuckle.
"Darling, there's really no need to be so reserved at a time like this," Maribelle chided the prince softly, still wearing a grin. "I remember feeling the same sense of elation when Ricken made it out of that harebrained scheme of his in one piece."
"Uh… I think Chrom and Stahl's relationship might be a little different from yours and Ricken's, Maribelle," Lissa said.
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"... Yeah, fair enough. Big Bro could have a secret crush on Stahl, after all."
Emmeryn couldn't help but laugh softly as both Chrom and Maribelle's faces went beet-red at the implications. Lissa nearly doubled over, snorting in a decidedly unladylike manner.
"H-How dare you! I don't have romantic feelings for Ricken!" Maribelle protested fruitlessly.
"Then how come you always blush whenever you're near him now?"
"I do not!"
"You do too!" Lissa shot back with an amused grin. In an irritating sing-song voice, she chimed, "Maribelle and Ricken, sitting in a tree~!"
The troubadour's entire face lit up like a tomato on fire as she glared at her best friend. "Don't you dare finish that nursery rhyme!"
Chrom and Emmeryn looked at each other and nodded, indicating that the two of them should take their leave for the time being. The blue-haired royal hated to leave his friend in the midst of their bickering, but it was usually better to leave Lissa and Maribelle alone whenever things got this heated between them, and Stahl was still asleep...
"Chrom, we need to talk," the Exalt said firmly once they were well out of earshot of everyone.
"Ha. You read my mind… What are we going to do about Plegia?" he questioned in a voice that was barely above a whisper. "If last night was any indication, we can't afford to keep you here for the time being. It's just not safe anymore."
Emmeryn closed her eyes and took on a pensive expression, taking her brother's words into consideration. "... Perhaps you're right. Even still, where would I go? It would be quite remiss of me to abandon our people in their time of need, and it's not as if we have many options to begin with…"
"Regna Ferox," Chrom suggested instantly. "Plegia doesn't know that we're allied with them, right? The Khans could take you under their protection while we fight Gangrel and his men."
"Well, I suppose, but - "
"Emm, listen to me. I know your heart's in the right place, but… Even our best and brightest were nearly defeated by those assassins. Were it not for the combined forces of Lyn and the others..."
"I know, Chrom," Emmeryn stopped him, a stern frown on her otherwise gentle face. "We'll have to discuss this with the High Council immediately. Tell Lissa, Maribelle, and anyone else who can use a staff to make sure that everyone is healed before the day is done."
"Will do. Should I bring Robin to the Council as well? He might have a few suggestions for us."
"Yes, I think that would be for the best. He's quite the brilliant tactician for his age; he might be able to come up with a few contingency plans just in case."
Chrom smiled slightly and hugged his older sister, feeling her familiar warm embrace. The Exalt grinned and sighed in relaxation; she was fully prepared to die for her people, so any time she could spend with her family was more than welcome. She only wished that her family and their people would live and prosper well beyond her own lifetime...
"But… What are we going to do about the Fire Emblem?"
"For now, it stays in the royal vault. If the time comes wherein we must remove it, I want you to hold onto it, Chrom."
He stared at her incredulously. "... What?"
"I meant what I said. I… You're the only one I can trust with it," she admitted, sighing. "You're the most formidable fighter I know, and you understand its worth better than most. If the Fire Emblem were to fall into the wrong hands…"
"... We'd be powerless to stop whatever catastrophe Plegia has cooking up," Chrom finished with a slow nod.
Emmeryn shot him an unimpressed glance. "Now, Chrom - "
"I know," he interrupted harshly. He winced upon seeing her slightly saddened expression, and Chrom mentally cursed himself for being so curt. "Sorry… It's just…"
He felt a tender hand on his shoulder as his older sister's eyes met his. "... I know. What happened to Mother was a terrible tragedy… To tell you the truth, I don't think I'll ever forget, and I feel as though part of me still holds some resentment towards the Grimleal for what they've done."
"Resentment? You?"
"Is it truly that hard to believe?"
"Frankly, yes. As far as I can remember, you've always been this... 'paragon of purity', as Miriel put it," Chrom said with a frown. "Even as a child… Even when that one commoner threw a stone at your head… I simply can't recall ever seeing you angry. I just don't know how you do it, Emm."
Emmeryn giggled and shook her head before meeting his gaze. "Oh, Chrom… Time heals all wounds, but the deepest scars never fully fade. I bear no ill will towards innocent Plegians, or even Plegia as a whole, but even I realize that there are indeed some evils in the world."
"... And what about the Mad King?" her brother questioned, his face growing darker at the mention of the monster.
"I sense… great pain within him. He might not have a proper outlet for his anguish, but… Gangrel is hurt… and afraid."
Chrom laughed bitterly, raising an eyebrow. "Really? Big bad Gangrel is scared?"
"Everyone has something to fear," she stated, still smiling despite her words. "Everyone."
The prince felt a sudden chill run down his spine at his tranquil sister's words. When had she learned to be so... scary? "Emm…?"
The Exalt's kindly green eyes flashed with uncertainty for a moment before she resumed her usual serene expression. "... It's nothing. I shall summon the High Council for guidance."
"Right… Should I get Robin, then?"
"That would be for the best."
"Understood. Godspeed, Sister."
As Emmeryn departed, Chrom stopped by Stahl's room to remind Lissa and Maribelle to check in on the others once they were done with the cavalier. Leaving, the warrior prince resolved to find his tactician. The infirmary wing of the castle was large, with numerous healers running back and forth between the rooms, but he was told that Robin's injuries were not quite as severe as some of the others'. Perhaps he was getting better at controlling magic after all...
The prince frowned as he walked near Lyn's room. The strange girl was still quite a recent addition to the Shepherds, but she clearly wasn't lacking in combat skill. She had mentioned before that she was from a land called Elibe, and that she had known Robin there, but… How could that be? There was no mention of that continent on any of the maps Chrom had ever seen before…
"Just a few more seconds, aaaand… Presto!" a peppy voice called from inside the room. "See, what did I tell ya? Does Anna know her way around a staff or what?"
Chrom heard Lyn reply, "Color me impressed, Anna. Who would have thought that a thief would have some healing expertise?"
"A merchant-thief, thank you very much! And you kinda have to lug a few staves around when Gaius is your partner. Did I tell you about the time he tried to stick his tongue in a beehive? Cause let me tell ya - "
Chrom shook his head and sighed inwardly, walking away from the room. He wasn't even sure why part of him had expected his timid tactician to be with Lyn in the first place. Though, given that little nap they had shared together… Maybe Robin wasn't quite as innocent as he appeared.
"C-Captain!" a light voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts as she stood before him. "Chrom? Yoo-hoo?"
He was brought back to reality by the sight of the cheery pegasus knight before him, a warm smile on her delicate face.
"A-Ah, Sumia," Chrom answered with slightly pink cheeks. Clearing his throat, he said, "Sorry. What is it?"
She grinned and leaned forward with her arms behind her back. Chrom immediately winced upon remembering what happened the last time she had taken on such a pose, but relaxed as he saw Sumia maintain her balance. "Frederick and Phila wanted me to deliver a report on last night's injuries. We lost a couple of guards in the attack, but Stahl suffered the worst injuries of the Shepherds. That taguel woman, Panne, is being tended to, as is Marth."
"Well, at least it could have been worse," Chrom admitted as he sighed and scratched his chin. "I suppose we should consider ourselves lucky... How's Marth holding up? Panne is pretty sturdy from what I've seen, but Marth… The boy's pretty lean, wouldn't you say?"
Sumia blinked. She then giggled before saying, "I'm pleased to announce that she is doing quite fine, actually."
"Ah, I see," came the response. "Well that's good to… Wait a minute. She?"
"Oh. You mean you didn't know?"
"No! I thought he… she was a man this whole time," the prince replied, bewildered. "Though I suppose her voice could have raised a few flags… But that still doesn't explain why she has the Falchion in her possession. Or how she knew that Emmeryn was going to be killed last night..."
"Maybe we should interrogate her?" Sumia suggested innocently. Seeing her captain's mildly disturbed expression, she gasped and shook her head frantically. "A-Ah, no! I meant in a nice way! You know, like 'Good Cop, Bad Cop' except we're both the good cop!"
"... You've been spending time in the library after hours again, haven't you?"
She glanced off to the side and fidgeted with her hands, laughing nervously. "Aha… Maybe. Is that a bad thing?"
"Far from it," Chrom answered with a smile. "I've never been one for books - Miriel can attest to that - but I've always admired people that take it upon themselves to engage in something other than fighting from time to time. It really makes them feel more well-rounded, you know what I mean?"
Sumia's heart went aflutter at the indirect praise, and it took every ounce of her self-control to not faint then and there. "O-Oh, I do! Maybe we could read some novels together sometime?"
"Ah… perhaps," Chrom answered with an awkward cough, clearly unsure of the proposal. "Perhaps when the conflict with Plegia dies down a bit… or is stopped in its entirety. In the meantime, have you seen Robin anywhere? The High Council is meeting in a bit and I want his input when I'm there."
"Have you checked the barracks?"
"No, I don't think I have. Thank you, Sumia. Until next time," the prince greeted kindly before heading in the direction of the aforementioned barracks.
Once she was sure Chrom was gone, Sumia sighed dreamily and leaned against a nearby wall, sliding to the floor. One of the castle's maids shot her a confused look to which the pegasus knight simply replied, "He called me round…"
The maid pretended to nod in understanding, complete with a friendly grin, before turning away from Sumia and shaking her head in silence.
It was going to be a very long day.
Once Anna had finally stopped talking her ear off (and trying to sell her various objects of dubious origin), Lyn changed into her traditional blue Sacaean attire and left her armored longcoat nearly hung on a nearby rack. She had decided to get a little fresh air in the courtyard for a few minutes. Lyn figured it would be alright; she had no other orders at the moment, after all.
Last night's brawl still hadn't quite left her mind, and she still couldn't wrap her head around the idea that Plegia had such powerful magic users at her disposal. Lyn could hardly believe that Robin was becoming a powerful magic user. She had been so used to the idea of the tactician - her tactician - being defenseless, with her acting as both his sword and shield. But with just a few more months of diligent training...
"... What if he doesn't need me anymore?"
Lyn put those pessimistic thoughts of hers to temporary rest as she reached her destination. The sun was shining beautifully, as if the previous night had never happened, and a lone figure stood in the middle of the courtyard as she contemplated her fate.
"... Panne? What are you doing out here?"
The taguel whirled around to face Lyn, her ears standing tall in the air. Seeing her made Panne relax, if only slightly, as her ears slowly returned to their natural position. "... Oh. It's you. What brings you here, man-spawn? Come to turn your nose up at me?"
Well, Lyn certainly hadn't been expecting that. "... No, of course not. Why on earth would I do that?"
"Don't act so surprised. You might look and even smell different from the rest, but you are all the same on the inside."
The Sacaean closed her eyes and took a deep breath before responding. She'd never met a person quite like Panne before, but Ninian and Nils… Maybe there were some similarities between them? Maybe, as with the two manaketes, Lyn could find some common ground with the woman standing before her. "I take it that humans have wronged your people in some form or another?"
Panne let out a heavy sigh, the exhaustion evident on her face. "More than you know. My people, the taguel, were hunted to extinction not too long ago. We've been around for centuries, perhaps even millenia, yet I am now the last of my kind."
Lyn took in the severity of her words, biting her lip as she recalled her own past. "Yes, I… I suppose I can relate."
"Really now? As far as I can tell, humans still populate the world in spades."
"Humans, yes, but my humans… Er, my people, the Lorcans… They are gone too. Murdered at the hands of the Taliver bandits."
The scorn faded from Panne's face as she took on a more neutral expression, gazing at the girl before her with an indescribable emotion. "… I see…"
Lyn nodded solemnly. "Yes. The bandits are all dead now, but the fact still remains that I am ultimately the last of the Lorca. Losing my people… my parents… It was just awful. There were nights when I couldn't sleep because I could still hear their screams ringing through my head over and over again. I nearly gave up all hope of living before… Well, before I met Robin."
Hearing her tale made Panne shut her eyes and clench her teeth. The killings, the nightmares, the lonesomeness… It all hit too close to home for the taguel. The murders of her parents and her younger brother, Harry, were already horrifying and heartbreaking enough, but when Panne's warren was ambushed... When she lost both her mate and their litter…
"Ugh," Panne groaned in irritation, wiping some stray water from her eyes. "I…"
"I'm sorry about what happened to you and your people," Lyn apologized empathetically. "I know all too well what it's like to lose the people you love, and not a day goes by when I don't miss mine. Even so…"
She took a few steps forward and placed a hand on Panne's shoulder. The taguel slightly winced at the contact, but soon calmed down and saw the sincerity in Lyn's deep green eyes.
"... They live on in us, Panne," the Sacaean finished with a somber smile. "Their traditions, their memories, their entire existences… Without us to carry those things on, no one else would remember them. And it's only once they've been forgotten that they are truly gone."
"I… Yes, I suppose that makes sense… Thank you, human. You are quite possibly the first that has shown me any sort of kindness in a very long time," Panne said in her usual stern voice, though there was a glimmer of happiness underneath her stoic exterior.
Lyn smiled, her heart feeling slightly lighter. "You're welcome, but I'm afraid I'm not the only one. Remember the cavalier, Stahl?"
"... Yes, I do. He threw himself in front of me when that Plegian sorcerer was about to kill me," she said flatly. "But… Why? How could that have benefited him in any way?"
"People aren't always in it for themselves, Panne. Stahl seems like one of the purest people in the Shepherds; he probably saved you because he saw that you were in need of help."
"I…"
Panne felt a strange sensation come over her. Never before had a human risked their life to save hers; it was not an uncommon practice among the taguel, but the thought of a human acting so selflessly was baffling to her, doubly so since he put his life in jeopardy for a taguel. She would definitely have to ask Stahl about his intentions later on.
"Heh," she chuckled, turning away from Lyn in embarrassment. "How strange."
"Indeed. You know, I've been meaning to ask… What brought you here?"
The taguel sighed. "A very persistent and annoying Plegian child."
Lyn paused for a moment, blinking. "... Really? Why would a Plegian want to save Ylisse's Exalt?"
"I could direct that same question towards the tactician, Robin," Panne retorted bluntly. "His clothing alone could distinguish him as Plegian if his scent didn't already do so…"
"Robin… A Plegian? You think so?" Lyn asked earnestly. It didn't really matter where he was from, as the Sacaean didn't care about that in the least, but there was a certain curiousness to it all the same. Still… How could he be Plegian? Lyn had always assumed that Robin was born somewhere in Lycia or Ostia or -
"A taguel's nose never lies," Panne said with a small grin. "And right now, my nose is telling me that he is your mate."
"My… what?!" Lyn blurted with wide eyes, her jaw dropping. "I… I don't know what…"
"Human pheromones are very potent to a taguel, and your scent spiked the moment I mentioned the tactician."
Lyn, meanwhile, didn't quite know how to respond to this. Sacaeans were often considered to be too proud to beg and too proud to lie, but she didn't quite know if she would say that Robin was her mate. Maybe that was just how taguel referred to their spouses, but they were a long way from being at that level, and the word itself just sounded so carnal to Lyn…
She shook the impure thoughts from her head. "Robin is… important to me, yes, but…"
"But you do not wish to scare him off due to your desire to procreate at such a young age?" Panne suggested bluntly, not realizing the impact of her words.
"I don't want to procreate!" she yelled a bit too loudly, getting some odd looks from a few passerbys. Cringing, she clarified, "I… I m-mean, not now, of course, but… I suppose I wouldn't mind having children someday."
"With Robin?"
"Ye - NO! I mean… I don't know," Lyn groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to ignore the blood rushing to her face. "Ugh… It's just… far too soon to be thinking of that."
"I am only teasing, Lyn."
"There wasn't a hint of humor in your voice!"
"I always sound like this."
"..."
"In any case… Thank you, Lyn," Panne said genuinely. "I… I believe I have some thinking to do. Goodbye for now."
The taguel left the courtyard without another word, quite a bit on her mind. Lyn watched her walk away before sitting on a nearby bench, having some things of her own to ruminate on. Even back in Elibe, she would have been lying if she had said that she didn't have some modicum of attraction to Robin. He was largely the same person as before, even without his memory, but… What if he didn't feel the same way?
Lyn sighed and shook her head. "... Well, there's no need to rush things. If it's meant to be, it will be. For now, I should just focus on staying alert and lending my assistance wherever it's needed."
Feeling better, the Sacaean rose to her feet and stretched for a bit before heading back into the castle the way she came. She'd check in with Frederick in the main hall to see if he needed anything in particular, and maybe even get some sparring sessions in with Sully or Phila if they were feeling up to it.
She'd have to do something to get her mind off of all of this, after all.
It took a bit of literal sniffing around, but Panne was finally able to find the room housing Stahl. She peered inside and silently grimaced at what she found. The soldier had clearly seen better days if the bandages wrapped around his chest and forehead were any indication. There didn't seem to be anyone else present, so Panne took the opportunity to enter the room and make her presence known to him.
"Oh, hey," Stahl greeted with a cough. "It's you… Panne, right?"
"That is my name, yes," she said, perhaps a bit too harshly. "I… Er…"
Stahl chuckled, holding out a hand. "It's fine, you don't have to say it… You're welcome, by the way."
"H-How did you know that was what I was going to say?!"
"I mean, you don't exactly strike me as a people person, so I can't think of any other reason why you'd decide to chat me up," he admitted with a soft laugh. "Ouch… Maybe I shouldn't do that so much for a while."
"Why did you do it, man-spawn?" Panne interrogated him sharply.
"Huh?"
"What did you stand to gain from mutilating yourself in such a way?"
"I saw a person in need, and I helped them out. Simple as that," Stahl answered earnestly. "Is that so hard to believe?"
Panne paused, remembering Lyn's words from not too long ago. Maybe this man really was this noble deep down, but the taguel kept her guard up regardless. "... Perhaps. I am not used to such kindness from humans, after all."
"Oh, yeah. I heard about what happened to your people," Stahl admitted, looking down sadly. "I… I know this probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but… I'm really sorry. Us humans should have just minded our own business…"
"There is no need for you to apologize, Stahl. You haven't done anything wrong."
"But - "
"Were it not for your actions, the taguel would have ceased to exist entirely," Panne said with a small chuckle, taking in the irony of the situation. She sat on a nearby chair and claimed, "... You have my gratitude."
Stahl grinned and shook his head. "You don't have to thank me. Any decent person would have done the same thing. You know, when me and my brother were growing up, our mother always told us, 'Boys, judge someone by what they do, not what they look like!'"
"Really now? A human said that?"
"True story! Of course, that didn't make her super popular with some of the other neighbors, but… It ended up shaping me as a person. It doesn't matter if someone's Ylissean or Plegian, male or female, human or taguel… What really counts is what's in their heart."
Panne snorted. She wasn't aware that humans were capable of such overly sentimental platitudes, but the message itself was one many of her people would have agreed with, herself included. "... Your mother sounds wonderful."
"Yeah… she was," Stahl agreed quietly. Closing his eyes, he said, "Alf and I took it really hard when she died in a bandit raid. I guess our grief just manifested in different ways; he decided to become an apothecary like Dad, and I decided to take up the sword and defend the weak with the Shepherds."
"I see… Well, I'm sorry to hear about your mother," Panne muttered, a pang of sadness hitting her heart. "I… I know all too well what that's like."
The pair fell silent for a few moments, neither knowing quite what to say, before Stahl suddenly perked up. "Well… I'm sure that she'd be proud of you if she saw you today, Panne."
The taguel turned back to him with wide eyes. "What…?"
"Yeah! I mean, you're so strong and fast," he complimented her. "I'll never forget that time you rushed in and saved me from those Risen. I thought I was a goner for sure!"
Panne felt her face heat up, if only slightly. Coughing, she said, "Yes, well… I suppose we are even now."
"Heh, yeah… Guess we are."
"..."
"Hey, Panne?"
"Yes?"
The cavalier deliberated over his words for a moment, not wanting to scare her off. "I… I was just wondering if you were planning on joining the Shepherds. You know, permanently."
"I suppose I should have seen this coming… Why do you ask?"
"Well, we're always looking for strong allies to defend the people, and I'd say you definitely have what it takes. Hell, if Chrom hired those two thieves, I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting you join."
She eyed Stahl suspiciously. "... And you're sure that the others would be okay with having a taguel in their midst?"
He coughed, both out of nervousness and out of pain from his injuries. "W-Well, maybe not everyone would understand at first, but… So what? If anyone gives you guff, I'll be there to set 'em straight at a moment's notice!"
This caused Panne to giggle slightly before recomposing herself. "Ah… heh. My apologizes. It's just... You remind me so much of Corduroy."
"Huh? Who's that?"
Another pang of sadness and guilt hit the taguel as she remembered her old mate, lost to senseless violence. Gone, but not forgotten. "... Someone I loved dearly."
"... Oh," Stahl mumbled lamely, oozing with guilt. "Uh, sorry…"
"Fret not. He was an admirable man, as are you," Panne asserted confidently. "Being like him is one of the highest honors a taguel can bestow."
"Oh! Well, in that case… Thanks!" Stahl exclaimed, feeling a bit better. "... Say, Panne? Could you tell me some more about the taguel sometime?"
She turned to him and smiled beautifully, feeling a sense of elation that she hadn't experienced in what could have been years. "Of course. Anything."
"... What do you guys normally eat?"
In the dining hall of Castle Plegia, a sour tyrant glared at the hooded girl sitting on the opposite end of the table. Aversa stood behind Gangrel, massaging his shoulders as the other girl coughed in an attempt to break the tension.
"So, uh… How can I help ya, Ya Majesty?" Tanya asked weakly, hiding under her cowl.
"You can help me by telling those fanatic idiots to hold their damn horses!" Gangrel spat, slamming his fist on the table for emphasis. A server came by and offered him a glass of wine with a shaky hand. The Mad King accepted it and took a sip before continuing to rant. "That bastard Validar took an already tense situation and made it worse! He wasted countless soldiers' lives, and he didn't even nab the Fire Emblem before he died like a cad!"
"With all due respect, Ya Majesty," she started, "Uncle fought tooth and nail ta' destroy those schemin' Shepherds before the real war even started."
"I don't care about that ragtag bunch of losers!" he screamed. Gangrel paused for a minute to take a deep breath and calm himself down, Aversa watching with interest. "... We had a deal, Tanya. If I continued to spread the 'good word' of the Grimleal across all of Plegia, you lot would heed my every command. Just in case you've forgotten, that includes attempting to prematurely assassinate the Exalt!"
The girl opened her mouth to say something, but found only remorse. "I… I'm sorry, Ya Majesty. I'm sure Uncle's heart was in the right place…"
"The road to Hell is paved with good intentions, dear cousin," Aversa pointed out. "I want to see Emmeryn's lifeless corpse just as much as you do, but Daddy… Well, I'm afraid he jumped the cannon on this one. I'll miss him all the same, but - "
The temptress froze as she heard a voice calling out to her. 'Aversa…'
Gangrel and Tanya watched her confusedly as she turned around, looking for the source of the noise. It sounded almost disturbingly familiar, and her eyes widened as it called out to her a second time. 'Aversa… Daughter of mine…'
"Father?"
"Who the hell are you talking to?" Gangrel barked, gesturing outwards to the entire dining hall. "There's only two of us here, Sweet Cheeks!"
"I… Forgive me, milord," Aversa apologized, bowing her head. "I… must have been hearing things."
The Mad King raised an eyebrow at her before muttering, "Mm, quite," and turning his attention back to Tanya. "You there, girl… Take off your hood."
"Huh?"
"Take it off!"
The Grimleal quickly removed her hood, still confused at the strange request. She had short white hair, but Gangrel was more intrigued by the difference in her eye colors. A red eye on the left, and a purple eye on the right.
Aversa looked at her cousin and chuckled quietly. "Not bad... Not bad at all. But I'm proud to reveal that's not all she can look like."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"... Show him, Tanya."
The mage took a deep breath and concentrated, grinding her teeth together as she felt each individual strand of her hair lengthen and change in color until it was a fine deep green. Her once mismatched eyes followed suit and became similarly green in color, and her face and physique also shifted to match her new features. In a charming new voice, she inquired, "... How do I look?"
Gangrel's jaw hit the table. "Impossible! You… You look just like that new girl in the Shepherds! How…?!"
"Ah-ah-ah," Aversa taunted, pressing a finger to her sultry lips. "It's a secret."
"Thankfully, it's not permanent," Tanya said, rolling her eyes. "Unfortunately, I can only turn into someone if I've touched 'em or collected some of their essence first. Hair, skin, nails, blood… that sorta thing. I can change back at will too, if it helps."
The Mad King watched with great intrigue as the Grimleal girl shifted back into her natural form, shrinking in height and regaining her facial features and proper hair. Aversa, meanwhile, looked on with a proud smirk. 'That's our girl...'
With her hands on her hips and wearing a cheeky smile, Tanya asked, "Are you impressed now, Bossman?"
"Very," Gangrel said with a nod. A grin slowly spread across his sickly face as the wheels began to grind in his head. "And I think I know just the task to give you…"
