UPDATE # 10
SYSTEM RESTORATION RESTORED.
PROGRESS: ABOVE FAIR.
NO MAJOR CHANGES DETECTED.
RECALIBRATING USER CONNECTION.
MODE: OVERVEIW.
Unbelievable.
I still can't my head wrapped around it: Streaky is a girl. I mean, I didn't know the difference in genders. I feel like an idiot and a sexist now though.
=Flashback=
Knoll rubbed his head, "Oh it's not- STREAKY IS A GIRL!?"
Panne looked surprised, "Yes she is a female… you didn't know?"
"Well… I am not an animal expert… no I didn't…" Knoll hung his head down.
=End of Flashback=
I've never felt so bad in my life; thankfully, Panne said that she enjoyed the name Streaky and wished to continue being called that. When I asked Panne where she came from, Panne said, "It's a secret."
Now I have a translator for Streaky, but she won't tell me anything… Panne says that Streaky is unusually sentient; she is smarter than most other animals and even some of her old people, which makes me even more curious about her.
But back to the physical world, I'm helping move weapons and inventory into a caravan. After the disastrous fight here in the castle, we decided to go with the plan to move Emmeryn to the eastern castle. Despite the snide and joking comments saying how I jinxed the plan, No one opposed the idea when Lucile mentioned it. (Cruel dastards.)
+What happened here?+
(Chronos?! Where the heck where you? I almost died several times last night!)
+Really? I didn't know, I was… following a lead I had on the Interferer.+
(Dude, I had to deal with two rhyming clichéd assassins! I'm not letting this one go!)
"Knoll, I need you to help move some of the food and rations in the other caravan." Lucile called him over.
"On it!"
+I actually met the Interferer… in a sense.+
(What you- wait… "In a sense?")
+You know, evil guy taunting: "I know more than you do, Hahaha!" I found out he wasn't just messing with the dragons and humans here. He was messing with the architects of the world, the Spirits. I met with one named Neptous, the major Ocean spirit, he told me how the spirits were abandoning their posts and being more active within the war between mortals. Neptous then tried to devour me and attacked me.+
(So you were attacked too?)
+Yes.+
(… You beat him up didn't you?)
+Yes. It was in self defense, and I enjoyed it a little. It let me get a chance to let out some steam+
(What problems do you have? I might never see my family and home again, because I might die in the next mission!)
+I have to do my job of fixing the timeline while dealing with a far more powerful being who keeps taunting me and made me hunted by the spirits and Great Dragons of this world, not to mention, I have to work with a whinny little boy who is a walking disaster!+
(…Point taken…)
+Sorry for that… I'm just as frustrated as you Knoll. So far, the only lead I actually had of finding answers was taken away from me. We are, or I am, back to square one in finding out what The Interferer is doing in this world.+
(Well, this sucks.)
+Actually I take that back, I think I do have one last lead… Neptous told me that there was one powerful Spirit trying to bring the others back to their jobs. Unfortunately, Neptous was incapacitated by the Interferer before I could find the identity of the Spirit.+
(Hey, that's something! Maybe I can keep an eye out for something like that, any clues about the mysterious spirit?)
+As I said, no. Knoll, you know the story here right?+
(Yes, it's a game from where I come from.)
+Keep it in your mind, I want to see it…+
(Chronos? What do you-)
"Hey Knoll are you done there? I could use some help connecting the horses to the caravans." Stahl asked.
"… Hey? What is with him?" Ricken was nearby.
They both walk over to him and notice his face frozen, while he is making a goofy face.
"Pfft… HAHA! Knoll, you are quite the jokester. You get back to work." Stahl said, but Knoll didn't say anything, he didn't even blink.
"Knoll, Are you ok?" Ricken and Stahl started to look concern, what was going on with their friend?
"GGGGAAAARRRRGGGG!" Knoll suddenly snapped out of it and screamed.
"AAAAHHHH!" Both Ricken and Stahl cringed back.
"Uh… sorry guys, I was in a bit of a daze…" Knoll said.
Both of the two relaxed and Stahl said, "Just help us over here and then we will start getting ready for the trip."
"Y-yeah sure…" Knoll followed them.
(Chronos what the Flip?! What did you do?!)
+I needed to see what the story in your world was, so I looked into that part of your memories. Right now, this man is supposed to betray us and Emmeryn turns herself in… Hmm, you're almost at the end of the first war, what are you going to do at the span of two years?+
(First thing first, I have to survive that long… Oh right, Emmeryn is going to die soon… And Chrom wanted me to play a song- Wait a sec!)
"Guys! Where is the Shepherd's convoy again?" I ask.
+Knoll?+
"Alright thanks! Be right back!" I then ran over to our convoy, I searched for a while and I found what I was looking for- my old guitar, still unscratched.
+What is that?+
(Chronos, if you hadn't yet, I need you to look into my memories for this journey so far.)
+…+
(Well?)
+The unusual amount of Risen, the appearance of Streaky, the disappearance of Lucina, the breaking of the bridge, the exorcism of Lala, the early arrival at the long fort, the parallel of dynamites under the tournament, and lastly the appearance of the Forty Assassins. Those were all the major changes that were not in your game.+
(Let's also compare how I potentially saw the Interferer twice, on the way to Regna Ferox and in Nagon Rue. In those only two meetings, he helped me or hinted to warn me; despite that, he immediately tried to kill us at the tournament. His actions don't make any sense!)
+Knoll, wait… Who is this Red Man?+
(Wow, I forgot about him too- wait, he told me you sent him to help me with my social problems.)
+Knoll, I don't have a subordinate, let alone a therapist. How did this being invade your dreams?! Besides Naga, the Interferer, and I (Grima is implied) how did this being get into your head?+
(I-I don't know… but wait how are you sure he isn't the Interferer?)
+He might be… might not. He is a shift shaper remember? Hmm… this, Red man, seems to be for saving this world, but he is definitely not on our side.+
(Concurred, I can't believe I trusted a guy with black eyes that screams evil!
…
Hey Chronos? Did you also happen to see the gold man in my dreams?)
+Yes… I recognize the same symbol you're wearing, but I don't recognize his other one. However, I don't believe him to be the Interferer.+
(Why?)
+I thought it was coincidence, but now I'm certain. Your symbols didn't form by chance, you were destined to represent it.+
(What do these symbols represent?)
+I know that gold man is not the Interferer because of this symbol; it belonged to my best friend. The symbol you wear represents one of the most powerful elements in existence: Life.+
(Life?)
+Life, in our old language life is the translation of all. Peace, war, hate, and love, you name it. Even death is a part of life.+
(That's all pretty cool, but I feel there is another reason why it's all over my arms… You know, come to think of it, despite the amount of cuts and tears I get on this tunic, when I get healed my clothes get restored too.)
+You noticed this only now? Your clothes are made from a specific fabric that can be healed by magic as well. While this universe did give you a lack of proper weapons, I think it balanced you out with more efficiency stats like your tunic.+
(So how does this auto balancing work?)
+Ask the guardian of space when you get the chance. Now with that topic organized, let's move on to Streaky.+
"Hey! Knoll we have to go now! You're partnered with us for da march!" Donny called me over and Ricken and Maribelle were with him.
"Coming!" I take an iron lance and bring my guitar.
+Back to your wolf, the recent events show how she seems to be mysteriously connected to each anomaly. I have reason to believe she as an agent of the Interferer.+
(What, but she saved my life countless times; how could you suspect her?!)
+I'm going with the flow; I want to assume that the Interferer has a split personality, one where he is helping you, and one where he tries to kill you because of his actions in both helping and trying to kill you.+
(Great, all-powerful and insane, just like almost every villain in existence.)
+I think Streaky was sent by the half that needs to help you. This isn't necessarily a good thing because we don't know how we fit into the plans of the Interferer. Streaky maybe influenced to help us into working under him.+
(But that doesn't explain why the Interferer is also trying to kill one of his subordinates.)
+Knoll, first: nothing has ever stopped villains from sacrificing their subordinates. Two: the idea of split personality is our best THEORY. Right now, it's the only thing that seems to make sense to the Interferer's actions.+
(So… Streaky might be in the clear?)
+Yes and no. Right now, she is our only lead in finding out about the Interferer and maybe, just maybe, finding out the spirit who is trying to fix this world. You need to do it quickly because I haven't detected Naga in quite a while; she might have some great plan to remove us or worse kill us.+
(Roger, Chronos.)
+Alright that is all we can discuss for now. Keep an eye on Streaky and make sure to stick to the story. Make sure nothing tries to upset the story more than things already have.+
(I don't think I have power over things like that, but you right. I'll make sure nothing happens to us!)
…
Oh my-
You know what? I hate my life.
Guess what self? Remember when I said I'll make sure nothing happens to us?
IT HAPPENED.
NOTHING.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!
We are now passing by the battlefield of chapter 7 and we are actually heading to the eastern castle called Castle Wasser.
No fight, no enemies, and no traitorous hierarch.
Actually, about that…
=Flashback=
"Uh… hey Captain?"
"Oh, Knoll, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your post?" Chrom asked.
"I just wanted to know: where is the Hierarch?"
Frederick said to me, "Did no one tell you? During the assassination attempt of the Exalt, Lord Fuyret was killed by the Crossbow Assassin. The Exalt was heartbroken to see her oldest advisor dead. May his soul find peace." He bowed his head in respect.
Chrom then looked at me, "Knoll are you OK? You suddenly look pale."
"Oh, its fine, I guess I'm just getting a little tired of walking. I'm going back to my post." I walk out of there with a disturbing feeling.
=End of flashback=
+ I am an idiot! Knoll, you were right! I assumed that even though the Interferer was posing as a black marketer, he didn't pose a threat because of the weapons he was supplying, but I neglected the amount of money he had accumulated to pay for the death of the traitor beforehand!+
(Chronos this is bad; If Gangrel is attacking right now, by the time Cordelia comes to warn us, Ylisse will have lost the war before we even get to fight!)
+This leaves only one option; I'm going to force your group back with a fight. I'm going have to directly intervene to bring the story back into place, but note that this fight will be harder than the one in your game.+
(No choice Chronos, we can't let this happen! I think we are pretty OK to handle Risen, or Plegians.)
+ Here goes… Good Luck!+
*Rumble*
"Is this an earthquake?!" Ricken shakes.
The ground shakes violently around us. I understand how an earthquake can slow us down, but why did Chronos say a fight-
SCREEEEEEECCCCCCHHHHHHH!
If I ever get back to the grand hall, I am flipping all of those tables with every ounce of my somewhat-super strength!
"Everyone! Turn Back! Giant Scorpions!" some soldiers were screaming and running away.
Giant Scorpions?! Are these the ones that breathe fire in Morgan and Noire's support conversations?!
A fire blast explodes in the front of the group.
Oh you sunnuva-
(Chronos! You said nothing about Giant Fire-breathing Scorpions!)
+You said you were all ready.+
(I didn't know you meant unstoppable forces of nature! I thought you were going to summon Risen!?)
+I'm the guardian of time, not necromancy. These scorpions were hibernating underground, I just woke their internal clocks.+
"Shepherds! To arms! We need to distract the beasts, so the rest can escape with our equipment!" Lucile screamed and she was riding with Frederick.
"You want us to fight those things?!" I ask.
"Yes, either that or distract them! Hurry Up! Maribelle, go to Lon'qu's group and call them over. You guys are with us!" Ricken, Donny, and I run after Frederick and Lucile, when we get over a hill we see the chaos Chronos unleashed.
Want to know how big one of these things were? Alrighty then, imagine a truck (game wise or life size it doesn't matter) now double that size and multiply it by around thirty five, and that is how sincerely screwed over we are right now.
"How are we supposed to fight those things?!" Ricken screams.
"I don't know, aim for the eyes?!" I scream sarcastically.
"Good idea fair sir!" Virion says that out of nowhere and shoots an arrow right into the closest giant's right eye. It wails loudly in pain before turning its last eye towards us.
"I WAS KIDDING!" We all split up and avoid being roasted. I take out my lance and head toward the new blindside of the beast. When it spots me it breathes fire and I go right under it. There I stab my lance right under its belly, and it just makes a sound not even denting the exoskeleton.
After that fail, the Scorpion starts moving and instead of aiming for the skeleton, I aim for the limbs. I run up and stab one of its legs right in the joint. It screeches in pain, but I see a shadow over me-
Crap! I forgot about its stinger! Is the ground rotting where it just stung? Poison and Breathing Fire?! That is unfair on so many levels. I hide back under the body so I won't get hit by the stinger.
"Elwind!"
I look over to see Ricken blast magic on the creature, but it barely moves. I on the other hand have to plant my lance on the ground to prevent being blown away.
"Watch it!" I yell.
"I tried to help!" He protests.
"NO, I mean watch the tail!"
Ricken looks at it and barely avoids the stinger.
Suddenly, I see another Scorpion heading right towards the one I'm under. I run as fast as I can and avoid the first's stinger and get back to Ricken.
"Regroup!" I heard Chrom shout.
Every Shepherd regrouped to higher ground. As Ricken and I were going back up, I noticed the second Scorpion was attacking and eating the one we injured.
When we all regrouped, Lucile asked, "What is the status?"
"Their Exoskeleton is too thick; we can't pierce through it." Stahl said.
"Hitting their eyes only seemed to make them mad." Virion said.
"These scorpions are immune to high temperatures. They resisted Elfire without exertion." Miriel said.
"I think they are hungry." I say.
Everyone looks weirdly at me.
"Knoll, why do you say that?" Frederick asked.
"Because I just saw one of the Scorpions attack and devour the one Virion and I damaged a while back."
"Wait how did you injure it? It has a tough Exoskeleton top and bottom." Gaius asked.
"I aimed for the joints between one of its legs, though it almost got me stung." I say.
"But why would they eat each other?" Asked Lissa.
"Hey! Take a look down there!" Donny pointed below us were we left the giant monsters, the half that was farther away from us looked like they were fighting each other and eating each other.
*Howl*
"Oh, there you are Streaky." I look over to see Streaky with Panne.
"I'm not sure if it applies to these beasts, but when an animal comes out of sleep or hibernation, we always search for food, and sometimes more savage animals eat each other." Panne tells us.
"How do you suggest we deal with the ones after us?" Maribelle asked.
+Knoll I forgot to mention, they have a soft spot right between their tail and exoskeleton. If you hit it, their poison will leak out and soften their armor.+
(Why didn't you tell me this earlier?!)
+You seemed very upset.+
"… *Sigh* Hey, I think while I was dodging one of the stingers up close, I noticed a soft spot right between the body armor and the tail, it looked exposed compared to the rest of the body." I say out loud.
"Virion? Can you see something like that from up here?" Lucile asked.
"It's hard to say…"
"Sumia, give Virion a lift. Virion, try and see if this spot really is a soft spot." Lucile said.
Screech!
"Blast, two of them are on their way here!" Sully said.
All of us got ready to fight until two arrows dug behind the Scorpions and they screeched in pain. Their venom started to leak outward and rotted their entire back.
"Knoll! Good job! That was way more effective than we thought!" Chrom said.
"What kind of sound are they making?" Lon'qu quickly asked.
The melting scorpions were making an odd sound along with the hissing from the poison melting their bodies, a form of tick tock sound from a clock.
"Everyone! The last of the scorpions are heading over here!" Sumia cried from above.
"Uh oh, was that some kind of call for help? From a species that eats each other?!" I complain.
"Everyone retreat!" Chrom yelled.
"Virion! Sumia! Cover fire!" Lucile yelled as she ran.
A good number of twelve were all charging at us and one by one Virion kept picking off the ones closest to reaching us.
Despite his best efforts, three were left right on us.
"Engage now, these are the last ones!" Chrom said.
Virion tried to aim one more time, but one of the scorpions breathed fire, and forced Sumia to move and Virion to miss his shot. His arrow dug into a leg of the scorpion I was facing.
(Hey Chronos? Remember how you said I have some super strength?)
+Where are you going with this?+
(How high can I leap?)
+Don't try it; they might get suspicious about you if you were to do that! But, I have an idea how to hide it. Listen carefully.+
Hmm… crazy enough to work, alright let's do this!
"Hey Teach! I have a favor to ask!"
Teach and I run towards the scorpion with an arrow on its leg. It breathes fire, but we avoid it. Teach runs ahead then turns around and faces me. I run towards him and he gets into an assist stance.
The scorpion tries to bash both of us with its claws, but Sully and Kellam throw a javelin between a joint. It stopped the claw and distracted the Beast.
I jump on to Teach's hand, he throws me above and I throw my lance right for the soft spot. Yes! Bull's-eye!
It hit, but before the poison truly melts the beast, its stinger heads straight towards me!
"KNOLL!" Vaike yells.
Out of nowhere a javelin from above stops the tail from making contact.
I fall down to the ground and the scorpion melts to his own poison.
"Is that… gods, Cordelia?!" Phila? Where we she and her knights when we were fighting these blasted monsters?!
Oh wait, that is all of them right now isn't it?
"Everyone move out of the way!" Lucile commanded.
Everyone ran away quickly as all of the knights launched a volley of javelin right at the last two Scorpions. Some of them hit the right weak spot and the last of the giant scorpions melted away.
"More Plegians are coming, not a half day's march behind you!"
(Here is the cut scene… We had to bite the bullet for this one.)
+Yes those poor scorpions now there is only two of these clans in the whole world.+
(Next time, tell me what you're going to do before unleashing monsters on us!)
+You said you were ready.+
(For something around our size, yes!)
+Hey… Emmeryn is saying her goodbyes…+
(… Sunnuva- I never got to play that song Chrom wanted me to play.)
"Dry your tears, love this is not good bye." Emmeryn tells Lissa.
(Chronos… isn't there anything we can do?)
+Who knows how the fates play? In one world or another, the most beautiful of beings are the ones that die an undeserving death, but willing embraces it. Her wish however, will never fade as long as you keep the memories close to your heart.+
(Still… It really isn't fair.)
+Existence is everything, even the worst. It is true that peace may never truly last, but the same can be said of despair and war. The world at times can be twisted, at times it is wondrous, but above all else it is a balance. Because of this balance, we get to enjoy our lives to the fullest, through ill or well. However, only you can decide your own ideas and views.+
"Fortuna! Report!" Philia shouts.
"Yes Commander Phila!" Fortuna salutes.
"Both you and Cordelia are staying with Chrom."
The two Pegasus knights say, "But, Captain-"
"This is how it must be. Your knight sister will be with you in both spirit and life, wherever you go."
They remain silent, but say. "As you command, Captain. We will pray for your safety."
Chrom then continues on about how they all need her, but to no avail.
Emmeryn and the Knights then leave us. We now have to trek all the way to Regna Ferox.
Everyone is silent… compared to the usual liveliness of this group, it really feels like we died inside.
Streaky comes over to my leg and we all just watch them leave, and never come back.
=Elsewhere=
"There is a man collapsed on the ground!" A woman said.
"Stop the carriage! Give treatment to his wounds now!" A man nearby said.
The collapsed man was breathing heavily, "…Where…I…?"
"You are in Chon'sin's border good sir. What happened to you?" the woman asked.
"Say'ri, he is out cold we need to get him medical attention."
"Yes Brother. Isn't this symbol he wears on his tunic, the same as Naga's symbol?"
"A question for another time sister, He still need attention."
Both Yen'fay and Say'ri bring the man towards the small nation.
Sorry I had to end this chapter a little early than most of my usual length. I have other plans this summer and maybe regaining points in League of Legends… Heheh. A bit lack luster for my tenth chapter, I kinda wanted to do something big, oh well.
The Interferer Strikes again! He had hired the assassins a side mission of killing the Traitor before his appointed time, forcing Chronos to intervene. However, because of Chronos' intervention, another anomaly has appeared.
Oh and no one wins when Chronos intervenes -_-
You know an odd thing about this fire emblem that was different from the others was that this one lacked a triangle attack.
For those who haven't played the previous games, a triangle attack is when you position three of the same exact class (mostly three Pegasus knights) right around an enemy unit and if one of those three units attacks they get a guaranteed critical hit.
So I'm gunna try and bring that back here with my Character Fortuna, along with Sumia, and Cordelia!
Wait as sec…
PhiliA
CordeliA
SumiA
CynthiA
(?) SeverA (Doesn't she become a knight in the future of despair dlc?)
Wow, all the Pegasus knights characters have an "ia" in them, so my character was also a part of this because her name also ends with an "A". I didn't know that till now. If only I thought of a name that ends with "IA"
Streaky's identity is finally brought into question as Chronos takes a look at her. Is she really an Agent of the Interfer? Or is there something more than the theories the two have? What of the mysterious Guitar Knoll keeps? What secret and destiny does it hold? (Also note, Knoll had the guitar the entire fight sequence.)
Lastly who is that man who ended up in Chon'sin? And how much can the Interferer change the timeline?
All pieces will eventually fall into place, but where will they fall to?
Find out next time on-
Wait, already did that.
Never mind.
So thank you for your time and Please review.