Dude? You haven't eaten or slept for the past two days…or drank.
I know.
Without sleep.
I know.
A little crazy.
I know.
…
I hear a knock on the door.
"Who is it?"
"Umm…beg pardon, sir. Lady Robin is asking for you." I hear an unrecognized voice from the door.
Probably a maid.
I sigh. "Roger that, I'll be down there in a moment."
Get a fresh shirt; the one you're wearing
Is ink stained and problematic, I know, I know…
…
"Ash, are you…" Robin asks as soon as I enter the room.
Looks like we're having a conference, judging by the fact that every Shepherd is here sitting in a chair.
"I'm fine. Just…yeah. Fine." I mumble.
"If you say so." Robin frowns, but turns toward Chrom, who looks…pretty good, all things considered. "Everyone's here now, Chrom."
Everyone except, well, y'know.
Chrom nods. "As you all are aware, two of our members have been abducted by Plegia. They have demanded that Emmeryn be present for the…ransom." He spat out.
I don't think those were Plegia's exact words.
"She has…agreed to this meeting, and we're heading out as her bodyguards." Chrom continued. "I don't think I need to tell you what our plans are."
Vaike punched his other (open) hand.
Is there a technical term for that?
"Yeah. We bust in and rescue our two ladies. No questions asked."
Chrom nodded. "Plegia has committed actions that would constitute a war in any other time. I will not stand by and let them play out this farce."
Chrom then looks at me, and then…at Lon'qu? Huh. "With that in mind, I need to have men dedicated to rescuing Maribelle and Lissa."
Oh, is that what it is?
"I'll get Maribelle." Ricken said firmly. "I swear it upon my family's honor." I can't see his face from here, but from his voice…he's ready to fight his way out. I seriously hope that's not actually his plan.
"Understood, and then…" Robin looks between us two. Me and Lon'qu.
I sigh. "Lon'qu, you're responsible for Lissa."
Lon'qu flinches. "And here I thought you were pining for her."
"Oh, don't worry. Just get her out of there, and I'll handle the rest."
I had 48 hours to refine and produce some of the lesser techs I didn't get working before.
Plegia won't know what hit them.
"Are you sure you're ok with this?" Robin asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Well…" I look around. "As all of you might be aware at this point, I am an Outrealmer, outsider, whatever you want to call it; there's a little theory we have that any minor alterations to a world will cause it to change in a great way, so I feel a bit responsible for getting Lissa into this mess."
Donnel looked mildly surprised that I came from the Outrealm gate, but doesn't seem to be all too bothered by it. I look similar enough to your average Ylissean, I guess.
"I see." Robin sighed. "Of the stories I've read, most Outrealmers are pretty quiet about their status." She knows about it, so I think she was just saying it for effect.
I shrug. "The world is changing. My goal is to make it change to benefit me."
Virion laughs. "Spoken like a true gentleman!"
Robin shakes her head. "Well, if that's how it is." She then looks around the table. "We will discuss our plans on the road; for now, check your gear, we leave in half an hour."
…
"Yo, Ash." Stahl claps me on the back. "Did you get any sleep?"
"Too little time." I mutter. I don't plan on sleeping a lot during the trip either, since I'm packing some of my research material and all the Spirit Dust I can realistically carry.
In other words, about a small pouch full.
"Oh really? Get some proper rest during the journey then. Robin will have your hide if you mess up because you were too tired."
No kidding.
"I will. Thanks, Stahl."
…
…
…
I would just like to mention that what he did during the entire week-long trip would qualify as "sleeping" under the loosest definition possible.
Shush. It's not like anyone else got their eight hours either.
…
…
…
So…we're now here at the valley of chapter five.
Robin's plan is pretty simple. We would still be bodyguards (because we still need to keep Emmeryn safe, it's not like she gets plot armor just by leaving the map here) but there will be two small detachments in the form of Lon'qu and Ricken.
Robin's assuming that both of them will be kept in largely the same area (to save space, as she called it) and both teams, as a result, will approach the targets from different areas.
Under vaguely different plans.
Ricken will be dressed as a local shepherd boy (hmm…) and skirt through the wooded hilly areas, while Lon'qu will pose as a Plegian mercenary from Chon'sin.
I added in that last bit as a bit of cover and Lon'qu nearly slit my throat.
"How many other Ylisseans do we know spell their names with an apostrophe?" Was my explanation for knowing.
You could've just claimed immunity as an Outrealmer.
I don't think diplomacy works like that.
Anyways, Robin gave me permission to move as I pleased around the battlefield, since, as she puts it, "You are too unstable right now for me to formulate a plan around, so go do your own thing."
Which effectively makes me an NPC in this fight. Joy.
She's right.
I know, and I'm glad.
…
…
"Ah, her…highness, Emmeryn." Gangrel said with a toothy grin. By the way, those commas were his pauses for effect.
"Gangrel, I have come to parley; what is your intention for hosting a diplomacy meeting here?" Emmeryn said neutrally.
"Ah, well." Gangrel snapped his fingers, and holy shit that is a lot of soldiers. "We wanted to be prepared for any other…Ylissean treachery."
Snickers from the Plegian Peanut Gallery.
Chrom narrows his eyes, but didn't say anything.
Robin's quickly scanning the surroundings, her eyes darting back and forth.
Yeah, this map was not balanced with playability in mind.
"I can assure you there will be no such thing." Emmeryn said smoothly.
I think the funniest part is that Gangrel is actually right about Ylissean shenanigans.
Heeheehee.
"Now then, what can you offer us in exchange for your…visitors, upon our territory?" Gangrel said with a flourish, showing us…
Maribelle and Lissa a cliff level higher. I can't see their physical status from here, but judging by the fact that they're still standing they haven't been treated too badly.
I let out my held breath. When was I hold one?
"You bully!" I hear Lissa shout as her guards escort her out of sight. She also needs better taunts.
Estimated distance to captives, around 50 meters uphill, not counting sheer cliff face.
We can probably make it in one jump if we need to.
"Ah, as you can see, not the best of manners." Gangrel laughed. He sounds almost normal. "Well, I think…if you give us the Fire Emblem, we'll gladly return the Lady of Themis and the Princess of Ylisse. Not a bad trade, I feel."
Everyone looked suitably shocked, except, interestingly enough, Emmeryn.
And us?
And us.
"And what do you plan to do with the Fire Emblem once you have it?" She asked politely.
The Fire Emblem, mind you, is inside a box being held by Kellam, per Robin's suggestions.
Which means nobody here have any fucking clue where it is. I mean, I know he's right next to Stahl, but for the life of me I don't see anyone there.
"Do? It will be a national treasure, worthy of display upon the grandest of pedestals!" Gangrel says with an extravagant flourish.
…does…does he not know what it's used for? Did the Grimlead not fill him in on that?
Cross our fingers and hope so.
"I see…the Fire Emblem has served the bloodline of Naga for countless years, it is indeed priceless. It would be…remiss of us to simply have it be cheated away." Emmeryn frowned slightly. "Though I suppose the price of a national treasure is a small one compared to that of two living, breathing people."
Gangrel shows his toothy grin. "I'm glad you think that way…"
Emmeryn smiles in kind. "But, as we have stated, it is an important part of Ylisse; it would only be in Plegia's favor if you should, say, grant us one of your officials as a sign of goodwill on the part of Plegia."
Goodwill?
"Goodwill? Plegia has no intention" Gangrel snarled.
But Emmeryn cut him off. "For peace to occur, both parties will need to be dedicated to mutual growth and understanding, not a system of petty give or take."
"Petty?! Ylisse seems to be fond of accusing others of wrongdoing, Exalt." Gangrel practically spat her title out.
"I do not accuse, Gangrel." Emmeryn's voice isn't as warm as it usually is. "I am stating a fact, as your Dark Flyer companion is well aware."
…
Note to self, Emmeryn is actually very, very terrifying when she picks up on hints.
What kind of hints?
The kind that implies that Aversa might be one of the bigger fishes around here.
I suppose you don't become a master diplomat by just smiling and being nice.
"Did you tell her anything?" Robin hisses to me.
"Not a thing." I mutter in reply.
Aversa and Gangrel were at least put on the back foot for a minute.
"My reputation seems to be misunderstood, so I shall clarify." Emmeryn's voice is…very much "tranquil fury". There's no increase of volume, no change of tone, but everyone listening can tell that she means business.
"Plegia has invaded Ylisse, on multiple occasions, and with a standing army." Emmeryn walked forward, her robes flowing elegantly behind her. "My purpose, first and foremost, is the protection of my people...my country. I am an instrument of peace for that reason."
She is standing…very close to Gangrel. This is…what is this?!
She's standing far enough to be out of strike range, though. At this point everyone is looking at her transfixed…us included.
"If you should tread on that peace and strike down my citizens for your…foolish, childish antics…then I shall gladly respond with force."
…
Can we just appreciate, for a moment, the fact that Emmeryn has called the plan to revive a giant fuckoff dragon of infinite evil "childish"?
…
"Ah…" Gangrel snarled. "War it is, then."
And with lightning speed, he dashed forward.
And was blown back with a brilliant light.
"I am the Exalt of Ylisse." Emmeryn's voice carried across the battlefield. "Our qualm is with the crown of Plegia, with the man who foolishly decided to resolve to threats and kidnapping as his first course of action." She looked down at Gangrel. "Pull back your men, Gangrel, and spare yourselves of this folly."
Gangrel smirked. "I like stubborn women."
…
Ok. Spell circles ready.
Deploying…engage!
…
[3rd person camera]
…
Gangrel's smirk was suddenly replaced by surprise as a man from the Ylissean lines zoomed forward with incredible speed straight toward the king of Plegia.
Gangrel leapt backwards and drew his Levin sword, casting a bolt of lightning from it with one swift motion.
His attacker, however, was already in his face, and Gangrel could see the fire wrapped around the man's fist.
…
[1st person camera]
…
Sheesh…I had initiative, element of surprise, and a charging attack, and he still dodged it.
Gangrel's probably a lot better than you are.
"The mysterious wizard, I see." Gangrel snarled, his Levin sword out in front of him.
"Nice to meet you, Gangs." I'm dimly aware that the Plegian troops and the Shepherds are too stunned to fight right now. That's gonna change real soon though.
"Hmph." Gangrel then raised his voice. "We have our war, lads! Kill them all!"
A roar from the Plegian side, and their soldiers charge down the hills (not the cliffs; they'd just fall and die).
I'm suddenly very, very glad that practically none of them were mounted.
Also Gangrel is gone. It's been like five seconds and I have no idea where he is.
Fuck that guy is fast.
You don't become a king of a nation of "Bad Guys" by being complacent.
"Ash, was it?" I hear Emmeryn say. I turn a little; she's actually a little blinding, given that light is practically emitting from her body.
"Yes, your highness." I can't physically look at her without hurting my eyes.
"Rescue my beloved Lissa and her best friend." She says with the friendliest of smiles.
I…
I feel…power.
Like, "holy shit is this what Rally Spectrum feels like?" power.
"By your command." I bow.
…
How's our spell power?
Good enough, if the raging power that's inside my body is any indication.
…
[3rd Person camera]
…
Maribelle and Lissa looked on, feeling helpless as they saw the Plegian troops rush down to meet the Shepherds.
Maribelle heard Lissa fearfully mutter a sentence with the word "Chrom" in it.
"He'll be alright, Lissa; Our Prince will never die to these lowlifes." Maribelle said confidently.
"I know, I know. But still." Lissa moaned. "Look at the number of them!"
"And some of them are here, too, princess." The two girls turned at the savage voice.
Maribelle and Lissa, per their status as healers, were given limited amounts of freedom in the Plegian camp to work as clerics for the Plegian army (an opportunity Lissa fully embraced). Due to Lissa's never-ending optimism and adherence to the clerical code of helping everyone in need, the guards stationed to protect the prisoners of war worked extra hard to ensure that the girls would at least be safe from the less appealing elements of war.
At the moment, however, their guards weren't here.
"Gotta hand it to Mustafa's men; they're damned loyal when they want to be." The Plegian Captain said. "But they're not here now, are they?" He motioned to his men, many of them wearing some very nasty smirks.
"You…" Maribelle snarled.
"I didn't want to scratch that beautiful face of yours, but I'm not a picky man." The captain grins evilly. "So how long do you think it'll take an Ylissean to come up and rescue the two of you?"
"More like how many of us can these two handle?" One of the soldiers said, rousing the rest of them to laughter. Lissa instinctively cowered behind Maribelle, whose power of speech seemed to have been momentarily robbed by her fury.
"And you call yourselves soldiers?" Maribelle finally managed to say.
"Yeah. The best in Plegia." The captain cracked his knuckles. "Now then, girlies. Resist a little. This'll be more fun that way!"
Maribelle spared a glance behind her; the Shepherds were being pushed back by the sheer weight of the Plegian force. She could only guess at the effort Robin was making to make sure the Shepherds kept themselves fighting. She then looked at the Plegian captain, and against her best self-control, felt fear creep into her before it was replaced by burning fury.
The captain had nothing but Maribelle's chest in his eyes, as he continued to move forward.
"Nowhere to run now, princess." He taunted as Maribelle looked around for a weapon (Plegia had, in a moment of competence, confiscated her parasol).
And suddenly the poor captain found himself staring down an odd tube of sorts.
"Sup?" The man holding it said, and pulled the trigger.
…
[1st person camera]
…
"Ash?" Lissa asked, looking at me with a mix of fear and astonishment.
The fear I can understand; the Plegian asshat I was just aiming at is now missing a head.
The astonishment might have to do with the fact that I'm floating on a pair of green-ish shoes.
"Yeah. Sorry I'm late, Lisse." I…wow, Maribelle, you look like hell.
Lissa is perfectly fine, mind you. A little on the dirty and unkempt side, but otherwise of perfectly good health.
Maribelle…has marks on her face and clothes that implies that the Plegians thought nothing of roughing her up a little. I'm going to assume that she's ok underneath the clothes too.
You're just worried if they were raped.
…Well, yeah. Not exactly a fun subject.
"Y'know." I say, turning towards the Plegian soldiers. "I was going to be like Emmeryn and give you all a chance to surrender. But I changed my mind." I aim my gun. "If you want to live, start running."
…
So how many people do I kill before my stomach stops feeling hollow?
…
…
Apparently, not enough of them.
The Plegian soldiers were shocked enough at their captain being suddenly decapitated that they couldn't move fast enough when I started shooting.
As a result, where there used to be a batch of soldiers there is now just a pool of blood and separated body parts. And moaning. And crying. And generally people who wish they died fast enough after they saw chunks of their body vanish.
"That's that. Let's get out of there." I mumble. Around twenty shots into my rampage I realized that having the two ladies I wanted to protect witness a bloody massacre might not create the best of impressions.
And yet you finished them off anyways.
They started it.
I look back: Lissa had squeezed her eyes shut (probably when the Plegians started screaming in agony) and turned entirely away, and Maribelle's pale in the face and isn't looking at me.
"Yes, let's." Maribelle said softly.
…
"Ash! How did you get here before me?!" Ricken demanded, emerging from the nearby trees.
"I took a shortcut." I say. I say while pretending to be jovial.
Ricken, having higher intellectual capabilities than a rock, wasn't fooled. "What happened?"
"I…war happened." Oh shit there actually is still a battle going on.
I dart to the cliff side to look down.
…
The Shepherds have retreated step by step, but their capabilities are pretty evident: there's a trail of Plegian corpses between where we started and where Robin is making her stand: near the…fort-ish thing, really just the burned out remains of a house.
"Should we go help them?" Ricken asked, looking around at all three of us.
I think Maribelle and Lissa just desperately wanted something to take their mind off of the…overkill.
"What can we do from here?" Maribelle squinted her eyes. "There're too many people between us and the Ylissean lines."
"Above you!" I hear a yell.
And I look instead of dodge.
A Wyvern rider. Probably the boss of the stage.
Our eyes met, and he swerves and flies away, running from a blast of wind from Ricken.
"Ash! Are you ok?!" Ricken asks, looking at my…
Oh.
Ok.
There is a javelin embedded in my side.
Oh.
Uh…
Slightly surreal, this is.
Hmm…
I unsling my rifle as the Wyvern rider is turning around.
"Ash!" I hear Lissa yell. I'm probably losing blood right now.
Yes, pain is starting, definitely losing blood.
Focus, and aim…
…
His Wyvern charges in at a frankly terrifying speed.
Which I would be worried about…
If I wasn't cheating my ass off.
FVOOM!
…
What's-his-face sails over our head with his Wyvern and I hear the sound of flapping wings, followed by a wet-sounding crunch. Let's…not worry about him now.
Especially since he actually had a few Wvyern Riders coming straight at us.
"Ash! Stop moving!" Maribelle demanded with her staff in hand, since I was turning to aim.
I obediently stop.
…
Insert accurate description of the physical pain of having a spear roughly pulled out of your body here.
…
Yes, yes. That.
"Uh…ow?" I say weakly, looking at the bloody spear lying on the ground and Lissa and Maribelle patching me up with their staves.
"Yes, yes, you're a big boy." Maribelle said impatiently, getting a giggle from Lissa.
"Uh…are you ok, Ash?" Ricken asks weakly.
"Do I look pale to you?" I'm slurring a little.
"A bit." Ricken…if Ricken is as pale as me I must've lost a lot of blood.
Look down…yeah. Maribelle's dress is now a nice shade of red.
"Ok, you're fine now." Maribelle sighed, slumping onto the ground.
I look up because I just remembered there were Wyverns.
"Don't worry about them; the Pegasus Knights are fighting them." Lon'qu said, leading a small group of men to us. "They're Chon'sin mercenaries." He waved to them with his sword.
He then looks at us "I see that the rescue operation went smoothly."
"Yeah, I think. We'll still need to have these two checked out by a doctor at first opportunity though." I say.
"They didn't do anything. Maribelle made sure of that." Lissa said quickly.
"Damn straight, like hell am I letting…uh." Maribelle stopped when she saw us (me excluded) look at her funny. "W-well, we still have a battle to focus on, let's not get sidetracked!"
"I agree." I pull out a pair of legs for my rifle, and set it on the ground. "Is there anything that can attack me from behind?"
"As far as I know all Plegian troops are trying to kill the Prince and the Exalt." Lon'qu said. "What are you doing?"
I turn and see him stare at me. For the record, I'm lying flat on the ground about to snipe through my gun. "Cheating." I say after a moment. "Wait." I unclip all of my nails and set them within easy reach. "Now I'm cheating."
"I feel sorry for the Plegians." Lissa mumbled, earning a look from Ricken. "I mean…Ylisse wasn't safe from bandits and thieves just because she was a nice person."
That's…that's actually a very valid point. Just because Plegia couldn't attack during the ten years doesn't mean bandits couldn't attack, and if Ylisse has lost no territory to bandits…
Then I might need to reassess exactly how powerful Emmeryn is.
But first, time to cheat.
…
…
…
[More 3rd person camera]
…
…
When the Plegian army charged down the hill, Robin took immediate action.
"Everyone fall back. Long range units start firing."
Virion and Miriel unloaded a barrage of arrows and fire upon this command, devastating the Plegian front line (of a couple of people).
"There's about sixty of them." Robin murmured. "Fredrick, Sully, Stahl, prepare to charge."
"At once!" Fredrick readied his spear, staring down the Plegian mass of troops.
Robin counted silently to herself, and then…
"Go!"
The two Cavaliers charged in a slanted line through the Plegians, following the path cut out by Fredrick as he and his lance dove through the Plegian troops.
"Chrom!"
With a roar, Chrom, Vaike, and Donnel fell upon the Plegian troops temporarily cut off from their brethren, and quickly cut them down before falling back again; the ones that were left standing were blasted down by Miriel and Robin.
"Woo! Easy as cake." Vaike said, sticking his tongue out as a taunt.
"They're going to be more organized this time." Robin warned, drawing her own sword. "Front line, fall back and brace for enemy charge, use the trees as cover." She gets a few acknowledgements in response, and then fires up a puff of fire in response.
Sumia, flying high above the sky, dove down into the battlefield.
An archer saw her and drew his bow, but since she had tossed a javelin at his face first she won the initiative and Plegia was short an archer.
"Search and destroy enemy archers, she says." Sumia grumbles, flying high up again in case an archer she doesn't see try to shoot her down.
…
For the next few minutes in the battle, Robin continued to shout orders while fighting, orchestrating a series of defenses where the Shepherds constantly maintained a tight formation and forced the Plegians to break themselves on the airtight defense, complete with the occasional surprise as one of them slam into Kellam by accident and get stabbed for their troubles.
However, Plegia still outnumbered Ylisse, and the captains, sensing the situation change, quickly ordered their men to fight defensively, retreating when tired and rotating in fresh troops to harass and batter down the Shepherds, hoping to turn the battle into one of attrition, especially as the Shepherds retreated to the burned down house and started using it to shelter the wounded units from the Plegian's sporadic arrow fire.
…
Well, they would've turned it into a stalemate if not for the sudden cries of pain from within the middle of their ranks.
…
"Damn, not enough penetration power." Ash muttered from his sniping position, as everyone around him alternated between looking at him in confusion and looking down on the battlefield in fear and anger.
…
"What's going on?!" Robin demanded.
Virion hopped on Sully's horse with a deft move and narrowed his eyes, watching…as the back line of the Plegian troops suddenly shuddered as if something impacted the lines.
"The Plegians are being hit! I don't know by what!" Virion yelled as he used his new perch to fire arrows into the Plegian crowd, much to Sully's dismay.
Must be Ash. Robin thought, running her sword through the chest of a Plegian soldier.
"Robin, you're too far forward." Chrom warned as his Falchion swing blew three Plegian soldiers back with its sheer force.
Vaike, not to be outdone, swung upwards with his axe (not unlike a golfer) and tossed a Plegian into the sky.
Robin found herself roughly manhandled by a Plegian who charged into her. She stumbled back, rolled, and crouched back on her feet.
Unfortunately, her sword was lost in the Plegian corpse she made.
The Plegian soldier lunges forward with his spear.
Robin darts to the side and immediately rams into the (comparatively beefier) soldier, to little effect.
The soldier grins, then his eyes widen in mild surprise when Robin grabs his throat.
And then convulses uncontrollably as Robin runs her thunder spell through his body.
Robin drops the smoking corpse to the ground and then looks around. "Cavalry, begin strike!" She shouts and takes the now dead soldier's spear for herself.
Fredrick waves to Sully and Stahl, and the three forms into their mini-wedge formation again.
…
[Back to 1st person camera]
…
This is stupid. I'm literally out of ammo. I packed twice the ammo I thought I would ever need and I actually ran out ON CHAPTER FIVE.
Maybe you should shoot slower.
And the rails of the gun are smoking.
I didn't think spirit dust could actually overheat, but apparently I was wrong about that.
It's not like you're actually generating heat.
I'm using magic. Literally anything can happen because of magic.
Also, Robin is a badass for perfecting that move of hers.
"How's the battle going?" Lon'qu asks, crouching down next to me.
"Robin's got Fredrick doing mop up." I say as I sight a Plegian healer, wishing that I had ammo to shoot with.
Emmeryn had explicitly forbidden the killing of noncombatants.
Oh yeah.
"Did you actually help?" Lissa asked, looking at the smoke rising from the four "rails" of the gun.
"I think so." The back lines of the enemy ranks seem to be more disorganized, in any case. "This thing isn't very useful at the range I want it to be. Shame, really."
"This is the first time I've ever seen you use this thing, I think." Ricken said, squinting down at the battlefield.
"Yeah, yeah. No more Wyverns?" I see the enemy lines starting to buckle.
"None that we can see; they're probably still tangling with the Pegasus knights." Ricken said, scanning the sky.
"Overall, the rescue mission is a success." Ricken laughed. "I didn't think it would go this smoothly!"
"We got Emmeryn to thank for that." I mutter. "Seriously though, I didn't think she would be this…eager? To get into a scuffle."
I look down again. I think the giant ball of light in the middle of the Shepherds is Emmeryn, which means that although she declared her intention to fight she hasn't actually hit anyone.
Buff supporters are powerful though.
True. Imagine if she had Rally Spectrum and Rally Heart on stage five. Total Gamebreaker Status achieved.
"Well, I'm not gonna achieve anything by staying here." I oh WOW the barrels are hot. I'm not slinging them on my back any time soon.
"So…" Lon'qu signals for the mercenaries to rally; they've just been kind of watching the crowd down there tremble every time I pulled the trigger.
"Yeah, we're heading down there." I sigh. I don't have free hands since the rifle head is too hot to wear, and I don't want a source of potential fire near my head.
"Ok. We're going first then." Lon'qu said, his men heading toward the gentler part of the cliffs to go down.
"Ricken, girls, go with them." I add unnecessarily.
"What are you planning to do now?" Maribelle asks wearily.
"LEEROY—" I charge toward the cliff and brace my rifle on my shoulder so I can have a free hand.
"What the hell?!" Ricken stares as I jump off.
"JEEEEENKINS!" Old joke, still good. Activate spell circles in my shoes, and pull out my spell notebook with my other hand.
Spell notebook: the little book of spells every mage carries that contains their favorite spells. Ricken's is like a few pages thick, Miriel's would pass for an Encyclopedia."
…
…
[Everyone]
The Plegians and Shepherds were momentarily distracted as a bird made of flames appeared out of nowhere and descended towards the battlefield with a shriek.
…
…
[Ash's mind]
This is simultaneously the coolest and dumbest thing I've ever had the balls to do in my life.
…
…
[Robin]
"Now!" She shouted, getting the attention of the Shepherds and driving into the distracted Plegian line with awesome force, scattering them entirely.
…
…
[Ash's mind]
Oh shit, she just took away my landing.
…
…
[Everyone]
The battlefield watched as the bird of fire made its landing… and then promptly sputter and roll and in general act as if the bird had crash landed into the ground.
…
…
[Back to first person camera]
…
O…kay. That was…the most horrible landing I think I've ever accomplished.
You didn't technically land.
I see Robin walk over to me, a smile playing on her lips.
"Nice trick." I hear her giggle. "Do you need a hand?"
I currently lack the ability to speak due to the wind being knocked out of my lungs forever, so I make some nonsensical hand gestures.
"No?" She cocks her head. I nod. "Ok then." She looks around. "Thanks to your little play the Plegian morale broke entirely. Did you know they would do that?" I shake my head. "I see…thanks!" She laughs openly. "Next time, let me know before you pull a trick like that, ok?" I nod.
Ok, breathing now. Sweet, sweet air.
Robin keeps on laughing as she walks away and leaves me lying on the ground.
…
…
…
"I still don't know if that was incredibly brave or incredibly stupid of you." Maribelle deadpans.
"It worked, didn't it? It's all good." I shrug.
We're on the return trip to Ylisstol. A fast return trip, since for all intents and purposes Plegia just declared war.
She rolls her eyes. "Keep that up and you'll die long before you get anything done."
"By the way, what did you yell as you…well, y'know." Ricken asked.
"The name of a famous warrior from my world." I say as solemnly as possible. "His name is a reminder for us to charge forward without fear." I think I deserve a reward for saying that line without cracking a smile.
"It was a charge without something, all right." Robin said lightly.
Fake lightly; while the Shepherds came out of the battle relatively unharmed due to her strategies and Emmeryn's buffs, the Pegasus Knights weren't nearly as lucky.
I think we lost about half of the force that was sent, around…eleven girls.
Not men?
They're not men, it feels weird to say "eleven women", and "eleven units" sound a bit heartless.
What about your favorite Pegasus Knight? The one who you still don't the name of?
She seems to be fine; when I asked about her the rest of the knights giggled and gave me no straight answer, so I think that's a good sign.
In any case…
"What about the Pegasi?" I ask.
"They're trained to fly back to the stables if they lose their riders." Robin answers quickly.
…Well, at least we won't have to worry about that.
…
Now then, how about that guilt trip?
Number one: I feel zero guilt about killing the asshat guards.
Number two: I feel some level of guilt about killing the asshat guards in such a way that litters their innards across the landscape.
Number two and half: I feel a moderate amount of guilt after hearing some of them cry for their parents before they bled out.
Number three: I feel a severe amount of guilt from letting Lissa and Maribelle see the amount of savagery my weapon can cause.
Hmm.
…
"Ash."
Wha?
"Ash!"
"What?" I look around.
"About time." Robin sighed. "We're taking a break."
Oh. Okay. "Right." I hop off the cart.
Let's see…check rifle. Rails are now cooled, but I should probably maintain them just in case.
I'm amazed they weren't damaged when I birded myself into the ground.
…
"You okay over there?" Robin frowned. "You seem to be…a little more unfocused than normal."
Implying I was ever focused to begin with. "I'm alright. I got to see firsthand what I can do at close combat range." Let's see here…I really should've made this to be easily detachable.
"Uh…" Robin stares at me as I try to unplug a piece of steel from my rifle with all of my strength. "Want some help?" She asks after I fail.
"Nah." PULL! HARDER! C'MON!
It comes loose and we lose our balance for a moment.
It's a little hard since I have to make sure nothing spills out when I pull the rods loose.
Ok, whew. Now for the rest of them.
"I take it you were responsible for confusing the Plegians before your…bird incident." Robin continued to maintain a safe distance from me as I remove the other rails.
"Yeah, more or less." Let's see…the rail weight hasn't changed all that much, so the spirit powder wasn't burned away…but the casting paper is gone.
Well…shit, I guess? I didn't know that could happen.
Normal spell books have durability, why are we surprised by this?
Uh…hm. Nevermind then.
"Something wrong?" I guess it's written on my face?
"Nah, I just need to do a little more work when I get back." I pull out some spare paper (that all mages carry) and tie the end of the rails.
"I noticed that Lissa and Maribelle went out of their way to avoid looking at you. Did something happen?" Robin asked suddenly.
Did… "War happened. Does that count?"
"Hmm…because when I asked them about your daring rescue they would just avoid the question, so it made me wonder." Robin taps the binding on her spell book and doesn't look at me.
Something is being assumed here.
"This guy." I tap the base of my rifle. "Is powerful enough to blow a human body to pieces at close range, and my rescue of the two healers ended with a pool of dead Plegian kids because their captain was an asshole. Does that answer your question?"
Robin blinks in surprise.
You were a little too angry there.
Deep breaths, deep breaths.
"In other words…you think they're being unfair to you?" Robin said slowly.
…
"No, no." I shake my head. "It's just…Ugh. I can't read their minds. Point being, I turned twenty men into mincemeat without batting an eyelash. That probably got to them."
"Ah." Robin shifts uncomfortably.
"Oy! You two!" Vaike calls from…wherever he is. "Lunchtime!"
"We'll discuss this later." Robin mumbles.
…
In the end we didn't discuss this later.
I guess she had a talk with Maribelle and Lissa and figured something out.
Either way, we're well on our way of being alienated from the Shepherds.
Yay?
So how many support ranks do you think you have at this point?
Uh…is it possible to negatively advance in ranks? Because I'm pretty sure I lost some thanks to this chapter.
…
We're on the road again, two days later.
Two days of…hell, I don't even know, quiet on the road, I guess. We all have a lot to think about and a lot of resting to do.
Pretty sure I heard Lissa wake up one night and sob as quietly as she could.
Man, I feel like an ass.
"Sir Ash." Emmeryn said, looking right at me.
"Just Ash is fine; what's up?" Again with the slang.
Force of habit.
"What do you feel about Lissa?"
…
…
O…kay. What?
That one sentence just attracted the attention of every Shepherd. Also, Maribelle has her hand on her parasol just in case you have a bad answer.
What the hell qualifies as a bad answer?!
"What…I'm not sure what you mean, your highness. Uh…" I am terrified at this point. Being at the center of attention isn't good for my heart.
She smiles a little sadly. "I heard that you had overreacted to protect lady Maribelle and my dear Lissa, so it makes me curious." Her smile turns just a tad mischievous.
Remember she's still twenty four, all things considered.
Also, "overreacted" is putting it very, very mildly. Like… "The ocean is a little deep" mildly.
"Well, uh…" I'm still busy trying to piece my thoughts together.
"Yes, Ash, tell us how you feel about my dear Lissa." Maribelle…I'm not going to live through the night, I can just tell.
ROBIN. ROBIN. I SEE YOU SMIRKING.
Also I see Chrom idly palming the Falchion hilt.
"Uh…she is…"
Y'know what, fuck it.
"I feel responsible for landing her in this mess."
"Yes, yes. So how do you feel about her?" Robin's eyes are positively sparkling.
Can I just mention the fact that Lissa has her back turned steadfastly towards you?
"She is…a friend." And Maribelle takes out her parasol. "What, were you expecting a confession?" She stops for a second and finishes taking out her parasol.
"Aww, so there's no love for our little princess?" Robin grins.
"I like her, but not, uh, romantically. Why the hell are we talking about this?!" Defense, defense, defense!
"Well…" Robin leans over to peek at Lissa, who has now buried her face in her hands.
Y'know…we JUST had an instance of killing a shitton of people.
So maybe they're just trying to unwind…yeah, I get the picture.
I wonder how many kills the Shepherds had before the game started, though…
"I claim age difference." I say, raising my hands up. "And I think Lon'qu is a better fit than me."
Lon'qu, I apologize for throwing you under the bus.
"I feel the same about her as you do. Her energy as a princess is certainly attractive." Lon'qu said tersely.
Oh really.
"Got someone in mind already?" I ask lightly.
Lon'qu just rolls his eyes.
"So if you could court Lissa, would you?" Maribelle asks (almost compulsively, I might add).
"Uh…I claim age difference. I would otherwise, I think." Can I stop getting interrogated now?
COVER. COVER.
What oh shit right uh…how do I women? "For the record I would date Maribelle too under similar 'what if' conditions."
That…at least stopped her from shanking me with her parasol.
"Ah…you're no fun." Robin sighed.
Uh-huh. "So who has their eyes on Robin?" I ask to the crowd at large.
"Don't you dare." Robin says sweetly with electricity crackling around her hand.
"Ash, how old are ya?" Donnel asks.
I'm…uh. Calculating…
"I'm 24 in my world." Probably. It's hard to tell how age works when you move to different universes. "So I'm probably 24 here, too."
Miriel's eyebrows shoot up. "Fascinating...do you believe that time flows differently in different planes of existences?"
Uh...
"Yeah, kind of. There're…many theories concerning how time flows when we go to different places." I really shouldn't try to change my explanation half way through my sentence.
"Sounds like your civilization is quite advanced." Miriel says, peering at me over her glasses.
"We had the fortune of not experiencing any cataclysmic events." I shrug. "Doesn't make us better."
Oh god I attracted Miriel's attention.
"Fascinating." I'm…uh…creeped out. I'm really creeped out.
"For the record what I know doesn't even count as a tiny fragment of our world's knowledge." I'm not helping things much, since she has actually slid up to-MIRABELLE. YOUR GRIN is terrifying. "And most of what I know is theory and not practice."
"Excellent."
…Welp.
This would be an "out of frying pan and into the fire" moment…if this was Emmeryn's attempt to stop the Shepherds from breaking at the seams I say it went pretty well.
Can…can I have the frosty polite silence now? Please?
.
.
.
{ === + === }
So Chapter five came and went.
Hmm...
