AN: Here's a new chapter!

This is the regular weekend update, instead of last chapter's early update. I just wanted to get the interludes over with quickly so I could get back to the action.

Like this one! The chapter title 'The Road North' is a nod to the battle's location (Northroad), and also because the Shepherds are traveling to Ferox for the entire chapter.

As usual, I don't own Fire Emblem.

Enjoy, and don't forget to review!


Fire Emblem: Dragon's Claw

~ Chapter 7 ~

The Road North

It was early the next morning when Ryoko and Daraen found themselves ready to leave for an extended trip to Regna Ferox for their first mission as Shepherds.

They were just finishing up checking their supplies, though a mostly asleep Ryoko did so only halfheartedly, preferring to fuss over her new horse, who had a similar attitude to mornings as the rather short Dragon.

"Is everyone ready?" Chrom asked, "We've got a long march ahead."

Ryoko yawned. "Are you ready, Kamui?" she asked the horse, who snorted. "Yeah, I thought so, too."

Daraen looked at Ryoko worriedly. Was she always like this in the mornings?

"W-Wait for me!" Someone shouted.

The man rode towards them on his horse, slowing down once he caught up.

"Stahl?" Chrom asked, surprised.

"Why am I the last to hear about this expedition to Ferox?" Stahl said, clearly irritated.

"Huh? Vaike was supposed to…" Lissa begun confusedly. She stopped and glared at the blond Fighter. "Vaike! Did you forget to tell Stahl about our mission?"

"The Vaike never forgets!" The man in question protested. "…I just don't always remember, is all…."

"It's the same thing." Ryoko muttered darkly.

"Ugh… I swear, you'd forget your own name if you weren't constantly saying it yourself!" Lissa scolded in exasperation. "Speaking of which, are you sure you remembered your ax this time?"

"Hey! That was one time!" Vaike tried to defend himself.

Judging from the glares he was getting, he wasn't being very successful.

"Okay, twice, but training sessions don't count." He amended. "Anyway, I got it right here. Teach is loaded and ready for action! Glad to have you along, Stahl, ol' buddy."

"That makes one of us." Stahl ranted. "If Ryoko hadn't made that comment about going to Ferox, I wouldn't have even known! I was in such a hurry, I had to miss breakfast! There were muffins, and cakes, and…. Well, I can tell you all about it while we march…."

Chrom nodded, and they started heading North towards the warrior realm.

Ryoko mounted on Kamui expertly and waited until Daraen climbed behind her to have the horse move forwards along with Stahl.

"Your name is Stahl, right?" Daraen asked.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Daraen, Ryoko." Chrom said. "This is Stahl, one of our finest."

Ryoko yawned again and appeared to doze off.

Daraen didn't pay her any mind. So long as they didn't fall off, he could care less about what she was doing, really.

"Hello, Daraen, Ryoko." Stahl greeted. "Miriel told me we had a pair of new Shepherds."

He received a blank stare from both of the new recruits, revealing that Ryoko was not as unaware as she appeared to be.

"Er, Miriel's one of our mages." Stahl clarified. "She should catch up soon."

.

The Shepherds had managed to make good time on their journey. Their first two days on the road had seen them already halfway to the border, though they still had at least three more days of travel before they even reached the Longfort.

It was not too bad considering that, alone, Ryoko would have managed it in a day and a half. Even less if she flew.

But since she wasn't traveling alone, and she had no idea of how to start a conversation, the woman was absolutely and utterly bored.

In the end she had decided to give in to insanity and try to strike up a conversation with Grima, which was telling of just how desperate she had been for entertainment.

She had more or less spent the whole journey in a partially-aware state, ignoring most of the real world in favor of a rather heated discussion with the voice in her head about the merits of dark magic used by people with Shadowgift over that used by trained dark mages and sorcerers.

Which had somehow degenerated in wild speculation on different very creative and very gruesome methods of dealing with the strange monster-Summon Horde that nearly killed them all two days ago.

"Gods, have the Risen spread this far?" Chrom exclaimed, bringing Ryoko back to full awareness.

The green-eyed Dragon extended her senses and activated her Sky-Eyes to see what was ahead.

Chrom and Frederick were up front with Lissa. Stahl was slightly behind them with Vaike. Oh, Sully and Virion had come as well. Shame, she had missed some entertainment. Which seeing Sully kick Virion's ass definitively counted as.

She also easily managed to pick up Kellam's faint signature and a mage's aura in the distance following them, which she assumed to be 'Miriel'.

In front of them, however, was something much, much worse.

A group of the undead Horde Summons.

She stopped Kamui besides Chrom and Frederick.

"Risen?" Daraen asked, confused.

"We needed a name for this new threat, so the council gave them one." Frederick said as a way of explanation.

"Makes sense." Ryoko agreed.

'"Risen Hordes"… it's self-explaining enough that it should make dealing with telling people simpler.' Ryoko commented to Grima.

At least these are not as strong as the ones we fought. He grouched.

'Or the guy leading them.' Ryoko added with a shudder.

"Everyone, remember what we're up against!" Chrom warned.

Vaike scoffed loudly. "They'll remember me once I drive my ax up their-" the man interrupted himself, realizing he was missing something, "Wait… My ax. Where's my ax?! I had it a second ago!"

"Vaike, this is no time for jokes…." The prince all but growled.

"I'm serious!" Vaike protested, looking around for his weapon. "It's gone, but I just had it! It's got to be around here somewhere…."

"Then stay in the rear!" Ryoko snapped, "They're coming!"

"All right, listen up." Frederick said, glaring at Vaike in particular, "…Especially those of you who actually brought weapons! All weapons have strengths and weaknesses to bear in mind unless you master them. Lances have an advantage over swords, for example, while swords best axes. We'll want to work this into our strategy whenever possible."

Daraen nodded. "Yes. Especially in a battle with foes much stronger than us, it will give us significant advantage to account for the Weapon Triangle."

Ryoko spoke up next. "Alright, listen up! These things— the Risen Hordes —are much stronger than normal people. If you value your weapons, do not block unless it's strictly necessary or your weapon has been enchanted to have extremely high durability.

"Also, Summons like these have a set amount of health, or HP, which will keep them in this world until it's completely depleted. Do not turn your back to them unless they start turning into smoke!"

"The only way we know to take them out is to rout the main group." Daraen continued, "Which is the one with the 'Risen Chief'. Taking it out will severely weaken of not outright destroy them all."

There were a few seconds of silence during which Daraen thought of a plan.

"Vaike will stay back until either he finds his ax or we kill the Risen." Daraen said. "Sully, Stahl, Frederick, you three will use hit-and-run tactics to herd small groups of Risen into range, and pick them off if you can. Lissa, you stay back and be ready in case your expertise in healing magic is needed."

He turned to Virion. "Virion, can you shoot from a horse?"

The archer shook his head. "I'm afraid that it's not my forte, but I can manage well enough."

Daraen nodded, "Then you'll take Kamui and go around the battlefield to hit from where it's safe and, if Lissa is needed and we're too far, bring her to us. Me and Ryoko will alternate between staying at a distance to hit with magic and pairing up with Chrom. Sumia, since you're unsure of your skill, you'll be guarding the convoy and making sure Vaike doesn't do something monumentally stupid like charging in without his ax."

"What about me?" Kellam asked.

Daraen glanced at Lissa and Sumia.

Fortunately, the Knight seemed to catch the unspoken order, and stuck close to the girls, especially Lissa, in order to defend them in case some Risen managed to get past them.

Everyone got into their positions.

Ryoko and Daraen had tossed a gold coin to decide who went with Chrom first, and Ryoko ended up won that particular coin toss.

Sully and Stahl were already baiting a small group of Risen, running through a couple of them and then darting out of range closer and closer to the three warriors and an archer waiting for them.

Frederick had opted to sneak behind the group and cut them off, forcing the Risen to go closer to the group or be killed.

Ryoko glanced at Chrom.

They had yet to shift into a battle stance, though their swords were drawn and Ryoko had already begun to channel her magic through the blade to strengthen her attacks.

.

Not far from the Shepherds, a woman in Mage's robes stopped for a second to push up her glasses, causing the sunlight to glint ominously off the lenses.

"Splendid! It seems I've caught up." The woman exclaimed, "Now to extirpate these brutes…."

She readied her tome and walked towards the fighting Shepherds, noticing something on the grass.

She walked closer to the object to examine it.

"Hmm? Is that an ax? Why yes it is…. Perhaps someone mislaid it? I'd not thought such dereliction permissible among the Shepherds. Still, I'd be remiss to not return this implement to its owner. Perhaps along with a stern word or two of disapprobation!"

With a self-satisfied huff, the woman headed towards the convoy, the heavy ax in hand.

It wasn't long until she reached it, and she was greeted by Vaike.

"Whoa! My ax!" the man shouted, all but snatching the weapon out of the woman's hand.

"I wondered what manner of ignoramus fool would mislay their weapon." The woman commented. "Now I know."

"Thanks, Miriel!" Vaike exclaimed. He then realized she was insulting him and added, "…Er, for the ax, anyway."

"Perhaps next time I'll use a spell to fasten it to you hands… permanently." The woman muttered irritably.

She abhorred when people were disorganized!

.

Ryoko, Chrom decided, was absolutely terrifying in battle if she knew her sword wouldn't break.

Or if she was annoyed enough to actually bother using her full strength, as she was with the Risen.

The Ylissean price was giving the blue-haired woman who would have easily passed for a younger sibling of his if not for her green eyes and the fact that she was entirely too mature to be twelve a wide breath of space when it was her turn to be paired up with him instead of flinging spells.

Though right now, the woman's eyes were flickering between blue or purple and her normal green, suggesting that she was using her Sky-Eyes to keep watch over the closest enemies.

Chrom easily blocked a Risen's sword, and the monster was ran through by Ryoko's own electrified blade.

The pair stood side by side, ready for the next wave.

Sully and Stahl rode towards them at a somewhat slow pace for them, the two cavaliers followed by a small group of Risen.

Ryoko smirked, electricity already gathering at her fingertips.

"Can you not use any other element?" Chrom asked curiously, "I don't think I've seen you use anything other than Thunder magic."

"You wouldn't unless I wanted to show off." The Dragon replied conversationally, "Thunder is my best and main element, followed by Dark because of an inherited Shadowgift, but I don't like how unreliable it is unless you sacrifice or train your ass off for it."

The two cavaliers suddenly changed directions, speeding up to circle behind the group.

Ryoko took the chance to release a powerful bolt of thunder that looked remarkably like Thoron.

Chrom charged forward soon after, followed closely by the green-eyed woman.

He took out a Risen with an arrow buried in its head and let Ryoko vault over him as he turned to slash at the legs of another one coming from behind them and then finish it off with a quick strike.

Ryoko, on the other hand, was fending off three Risen at once, her skin now a silvery gray and dotted with black scales.

She was holding back two swords with her own, while her left arm was transformed and blocking an ax.

Chrom avoided a lance from a Risen Soldier.

Ryoko's left arm snapped down and threw the ax to the side.

He used Falchion to snap the spear in two.

She twisted back suddenly.

He charged the Risen.

She roared and destroyed the weaponless Risen, passing through its smoke to reach the other two.

His sword buried in the Risen's chest. It disappeared.

The other two were now being pushed back slowly by the annoyed Dragon.

"Switch!" they heard Daraen call.

"Right!" Ryoko replied, running one of her opponents through.

The woman dutifully returned to Chrom's side.

"What's with the gray skin?" the prince asked, parrying a sword.

Ryoko shrugged. "It's a Dragon skill, really rare and costly."

A Risen got its sword arm thorn off, and was quickly taken care of.

"It halves most damage and helps negate sudden attacks." She continued.

Daraen took out another Risen from behind while it was busy with Chrom.

Ryoko waved happily. "How's progress going?"

The tactician's Sky-Eyes flashed active, and the man smiled.

"We're almost done." He declared. "This area is mostly cleared, and Virion is taking care of the rest with Frederick."

"Let's take these guys on as a group, then." Chrom suggested. "We'll be done faster and then move on to the bridge."

The two new recruits took out a Risen each and saluted with a teasing smile on their face. "Yes, sir!"

The three warriors made short work of the Risen once they started working together and went back to the convoy.

.

As soon as they were done, Ryoko all but dropped to the ground panting while her skin and arm returned to normal.

She would have, too, if Chrom hadn't caught her in time.

Daraen, who wasn't as tired as the prince, helped the woman stay upright a moment later.

"Are you alright, Ryoko?" he asked worriedly.

The green-eyed Dragon nodded. "Y-Yeah. I might have overused Dragonskin a bit, though. Leave me to the back lines for a while, I'll need to recover before pairing up with Chrom again this fight."

Daraen grimaced. "I don't like this. We'll need more fighters than mages when we'll get closer to the Chief of the Horde, and you still haven't recovered completely."

"Sorry." Ryoko apologized. "I was caught in a bad spot and had to use it to deal with it without a major injury."

"Which means she was fighting four Risen at once and one of them neatly killed her while she killed one of them." Chrom teased.

Ryoko blushed. "It's not my fault those things seem to aim for leaders and more vulnerable!"

"You, vulnerable?" Daraen asked in disbelief. "Since when?"

"Er, childhood?" Ryoko teased. "And I guess they see me as a Summoner or something, and they generally are not too good with anything other than Summoning, so…."

"Nevermind." Daraen muttered.

They signaled the convoy that it was safe to move forwards a little, and waited for everyone to reunite.

.

Ryoko yawned tiredly as the group waited for the convoy to catch up.

She really had overdone it a little by using Dragonskin without activating the Dragon Mask as well, but there was nothing she could do about it now except lay off the more powerful spells for a while and just overpower weaker ones instead.

Considering the level of damage she could do with just twisting the basic Thunder around, it wasn't much of a problem so long as she actually stuck to the basic spell rather than try her luck with something with a bit more kick to it.

The blue-haired woman sighed to herself. She really wasn't looking forward to seeing Flavia again so soon, but she couldn't help it.

Hey, isn't that the Mage from the library? Grima asked curiously.

Ryoko resisted the urge to fry something with her thunder and instead turned her attention to the Mage who was coming with the convoy.

She assumed that the woman was the one Stahl mentioned earlier in the morning, Miriel or something.

Looking closely, she confirmed that yes, the woman was the same one who had taken the most interesting book she had seen in months.

'It appears so.' Ryoko replied. 'Now I'm glad that most people don't seem to recognize me with glasses.'

Afraid she might bombard you with questions? Grima laughed.

'Just for that, I'm throwing you in partial control and letting you speak if she does decide to interrogate me.' Ryoko grumbled in her mind.

The fearful squeak and sudden silence coming from the other side of the connection felt very satisfying to the blue-haired woman.

"Well, let's get moving!" Daraen shouted. "Miriel, you'll be with Ryoko taking out stragglers and anything else you can. Vaike, you're with me and Chrom. Ryoko, I'll be needing your blade when we face off against the Horde's Chief."

"So long as there are not too many of them, I have no problems joining in personally." Ryoko told him.

"Even better." The silver-haired tactician said.

Everyone split up to resume the battle.

"Right," Ryoko said, turning to Miriel. "What's your element?"

The woman pushed up her glasses. "I'm afraid I do not understand what you are attempting to inquire."

Ryoko already felt an headache coming up. "What element do you favor? Or have on hand, really."

"I prefer Fire tomes." The Miriel replied. "Is there a specific reason for your inquiry?"

Okay, Fire and Thunder elements combined. That one was always a challenge, if only because there was very little that easily and obviously connected the two.

Fire and Wind were the easiest ones, as the Wind aspect fed the Fire to make a truly devastating amount of damage if not properly controlled.

Wind and Thunder required some amount of coordination to push the air currents and enemies to the best position to make the most damage, and worked best against large numbers of armored units if they got bunched up together.

Thunder and Fire combinations were much harder and much more devastating.

The Dying Blaze spell was a bastardized form of it, now that she thought about it.

"We'd be better off finding a higher positioning to cast from, then." Ryoko replied absently. "I should be able to use Wind to strengthen your Fire so that we take out more enemies at the same time."

Miriel had a thoughtful expression on her face. "Are you perhaps referring to the Unison branch of spells?"

Ryoko nodded. "They're useful for weaker mages, so they can do more damage by combining their spells. And since I can't use anything stronger than D-rank spells right now…."

For the rest of the battle, Ryoko, Virion and Miriel took pot shots at enemies from any elevated position that was safe enough, even if by the end of it all the green-eyed Dragon had reclaimed Kamui and charged in the middle of the Horde towards the Chief, flinging all kind of weak spells left and right and generally causing more of a mess than strictly needed.

On the other hand, however, she had managed to get Lissa to a wounded Chrom and Daraen in time, so the woman's decisively insane actions were more than justified.

While Lissa healed the two men and the three mounted knights fended off Risen, Ryoko turned to Vaike.

"Guard her until she's done, will 'ya?" She told the man.

Before he had any chance to reply, Ryoko jumped at the Risen Chief, her new sword drawn.

The Risen moved out of the way before she could skewer it and counterattacked.

Ryoko ducked under the heavy swing and tripped her opponent.

It merely staggered back.

She slashed at it with all she had, leaving a large gash in its chest that would have killed most people in minutes.

As it was, the Risen merely roared in rage and chucked its ax at her.

The woman barely had any time to position her sword in a way that she could divert the incoming projectile since she still had her back to Lissa and the others.

She managed to hit the ax, but she was slightly off on her angle and the blade buried itself in her leg.

She took it out quickly, already having taken a herb from her pouches and begun chewing on it.

Hopefully the numbing effect would help her out.

She jumped back, mindful of her injured limb and launched a quick and slightly overpowered Wind spell in hopes of winning some time for someone to help her.

A powerful Fire spell followed her hit and enveloped the Chief.

"Thanks, Miriel!" Ryoko shouted.

A second blade of wind was already forming in the Dragon's palm, and was then directed into the sword.

The Risen, while still on fire, was charging at her.

Ryoko twisted on the spot, jumping backwards even as she slashed at the Risen Chief's neck.

The green-eyed woman fell to the ground painfully, her world spinning.

She was very glad to see the Risen burst into black smoke.

"Did you have to keep on fighting with that on your leg?" Lissa scolded irritably, "And taking out the ax like that only made it worse!"

Ryoko cringed, still chewing on the painkiller herb. "Shorry. Kept you shafe, at leasht."

Lissa raised an eyebrow.

The woman paused on her chewing and held the herb in her hand.

"Phantom Silkweed." She stated. "I can't use normal medicine since I'm a Dragon, and that's the most effective painkiller I've found that actually works longer than half a minute."

The blond cleric let out an exasperated sigh when Ryoko resumed chewing on the poisonous herb like it was nothing and patiently waited either for Lissa to heal her or for the natural healing to kick in on its own.

The princess raised her staff and focused on the wound. "Heal."

The gash in Ryoko's hand closed swiftly, and as the spell started losing power, there was a small burst of magic and lightning on the wound, which finished closing on its own.

Noticing everyone was staring at her, Ryoko shrugged.

"I may be crap at initiating healing spells, but I sure as hell know how to strengthen their effects on me."

.

They had settled down for the night not long after, deciding that it would be wiser to brave the harsh Feroxi weather while they were fully rested.

Ryoko halfheartedly agreed, if only because she was too tired to really protest and just curled up on the grass under a blanket and near the fire.

The next two days they pushed their marching speed to insane levels, always getting up as early as possible, and Ryoko just let herself pass out on top of Kamui for the majority of mornings.

She came to with a massive yawn just as they were about to enter the edges of the area where the Feroxi climate started.

"Uh?" she said sleepily, her thoughts still only half-coherent.

"It's starting to get cold." Daraen told her. "Thought you might wanna know."

It took her a while to process those words.

"…Dragons aren't cold-blooded, you know?" She deadpanned. "Besides, I mostly grew up here, and I like the cold."

Daraen shrugged. "You also skipped lunch. Well, slept through it."

Ryoko cursed lightly, but smiled when she was passed some bread.

She absently chewed on it, careful not to dirty her clothes.

Since they would finally be going to a place with decent weather (Ryoko grew up in the cold, and she loved it), the green-eyed woman had decided to change her outfit a little, if only to avoid catching a cold.

She had discarded her tunic in favor of a sleeveless shirt and a pair of semi-armored fingerless gloves that covered most of her arms, exposing a small part of the Seal. She had also decided to wear her scarf, which was orange with black designs on it. It was partially covering the lower part of her face, but it was too long and she had left its ends to flutter in the winds.

Personally, she loved her badass scarf, but it had made her too recognizable and she had honestly forgotten about it until now.

"Is that what I think it is?" Daraen asked, pointing to a lone spot of white in the pale green fields.

Ryoko lazily looked up. "A Pegasus?" she muttered, surprised.

The animal was a slender white horse with large white wings, one of which was held close to its body, and one of its legs was injured.

Daraen, Lissa and Chrom dismounted their horses to approach it.

"It's a Pegasus, all right." Chrom said. "I think it's hurt… let's have a look here…."

Chrom attempted to approach the wounded animal, but it reared threateningly and the man was forced to back up.

"WHOA!" Chrom shouted, surprised. "Down, girl! Easy there!"

That is the most idiotic thing he could have done. Grima muttered irritably. You do not approach injured animals like that.

'Not if you value remaining uninjured.' Ryoko agreed.

"Captain, one moment!" Sumia said, approaching quickly, only to trip and faceplant.

The woman stood up and sighed.

"Sumia!Are you all right?" Chrom asked, partially bemused. "…Those boots of yours again?"

"No!" she replied hastily, "I mean, yes! I mean…" Sumia sighed.

"Well, come no closer. This beast is crazed!" Chrom warned.

Sumia smiled, "It's okay, Captain. I can handle this."

The Shepherds watched in awe as the usually clumsy Sumia slowly approached the injured animal, whispering comforting words as she did.

"Shhh… Easy now, girl. I won't hurt you."

The Pegasus calmed down considerably, and let Sumia pet her snout softly.

"How did she calm it so quickly?" Daraen asked incredulously.

"That's incredible, Sumia!" Lissa exclaimed.

"I've never seen anything like it." Chrom complimented.

Sumia blushed bright red at all the praise.

"Oh, it's…it's nothing." She stammered shyly. "Really. I just have a way with animals, I guess."

"I should say so!" Chrom agreed.

Ryoko hummed in agreement. "Pegasi rarely let strangers close. You're amazing to have managed to calm her as fast as you did."

"You all go on ahead." Sumia said, still red in the face, "I'll dress her wounds and catch up as soon as we're able."

Chrom shook his head. "We can make time to wait for you."

"Thank you, Captain. But I can manage." Sumia told him firmly. "Every moment is precious when all of Ylisse is in danger."

"Right, then." Chrom said, smiling softly. "Be safe, Sumia."

"As you command, sir." Sumia replied.

When Daraen returned to Kamui, Ryoko smirked and whispered loud enough for only him to hear, "They're completely smitten with each other."

Daraen nodded in agreement as he steered their horse forward. "Do you think that we might need to 'help'?"

Oh no! Grima cried out in mock despair, Now there's two of them!


AN: ...Yeah, I have no idea of what I was thinking when I wrote the last part either.

The name Ryoko gave her horse, Kamui, is the Japanese default name to Fates' Avatar. I was not feeling creative, and most FE mounts are named after another FE character, so I chose that one.

About the little HP thing... well, I had to give an excuse for why the Risen survived being cut in half by Falchion, didn't I? Well, that, and I didn't want Summoners (or Grima) to have their Hordes so ridicuously overpowered when we reach the Endgame that only the Dragons can reliably deal with them.

Miriel's segment and dialogue are hell to write. As are Virion and Maribelle. They are surprisingly fun, though.

And about the Dragonskin skill... Dragons (like Ryoko or Grima) are different and have more raw power than Manaketes (like Nowi or Tiki). I changed Dragonskin's effect to make more sense in-universe, and made it a racial trait for Dragons. Yes, they have to train their asses off for it, and it costs tons of magic, but it makes the user nigh-invulnerable. Grima being Grima, he can use it permanently without even noticing, while normal Dragons will have trouble casting.

As for the ending... it wrote itself. Daraen and Ryoko are now shippers. You have to admit, Chrom and Sumia make a cute couple. As do Chrom and Fem!Robin.

Next chapter, the Longfort! And Ryoko finally gets to sleep.