Chapter 10: The Perfect Plan
"Gangrel, what is the meaning of this?" Emmeryn exclaimed as she offered parley with the Mad King.
"Whatever could you mean, Exalted One?"
"First you consistently send bandits into Ylisse to attack innocent villagers, and then you kidnap Lady Maribelle, and then you call me out here to discuss a truce. What kind of truce could you possibly have?"
"Well, I glad you asked! In exchange for this lovely little noble girl, I want the sacred treasure of Ylisse: The Fire Emblem!"
"What could you possibly need the Fire Emblem for?"
As the look on Gangrel's face changed, one could easily see that he had lost his grip on reality.
"According to legends, the Fire Emblem is said to grant great power to anyone who is able to collect five sacred gemstones."
Emmeryn's face changed to a look of shock. "Why would you need the power that my father so horribly misused so many years ago?"
"That's enough talking, Miss Exalt! I need my answer! If you give me the Fire Emblem, I'll return this girl safe and sound. Otherwise she'll become nothing but a severed head of her house."
At that moment, Chrom and the Sheperds appeared.
"Sister, are you all right? Did Gangrel do anything to you?"
"No, I'm fine. But they still have Lady Maribelle in their clutches. And I can't just let them have their way with her. So, I will give them the Fire Emblem."
"Are you MAD!? Even if someone's life is on the line, you can't just give it up, no matter how sacred the life."
"I don't care. If it spares at least one person, I will give it up."
As the two argued about it, Robin stepped in and offered his opinion.
"Lady Emmeryn, you don't have to give up the Fire Emblem."
"But if I don't, Maribelle's life will be in-"
"Don't worry. I have a plan that will allow us to not only keep the Fire Emblem, but rescue Maribelle's life as well."
"Alright, let's hear it."
"Very well, but I'll need Chrom to get the troops ready."
Chrom was obviously mad by this as he attempted to voice his opinion. However, Emmeryn quickly quieted him down.
After he left, Robin went over his plan to have Ricken save Maribelle, and then have Lissa use a Rescue staff to transport the two to safety, and then have the Sheperds finish off the Plegians.
She loved it. She gave Robin her full support as Phila showed up and whisked her away to safety.
…
Running as fast as he could, Ricken knew that in order for Robin's plan to work, he would have to appear on the battlefield directly at the right moment, and then the plan wouldn't work. Too early, and the element of surprise would be lost. Too late, and Maribelle's life would be in grave danger.
"I hope I'm not too late." He thought as he finally arrived on the battlefield.
He noticed that Gangrel was still talking with the Exalt.
Good, he thought. He had made it in time.
He then pulled out his Elwind tome and aimed a blast directly at the fighter holding his Axe to Maribelle's throat. His blast hit the enemy directly in the back, leaving a gaping hole in his chest, yet unharming Maribelle.
"Ricken, why are you here? Isn't it dangerous for you to be here?"
"Why does everyone treat me like a kid? I keep telling them I'm ready for this!"
"It's not that! It's just that we're surrounded, is all."
"Don't worry! Robin has a plan to rescue both of us. I mean, I'm sure he does… I hope so."
Maribelle was obviously mad, as the two began to run, Maribelle hitting Ricken with her Parasol as they were running away.
…
Robin's plan was going without a hitch. Lon'qu and Vaike were dodging the mage's blasts quite well, and were doing a fantastic job of protecting Lissa. Meanwhile, he and Chrom, along with Sully and Stahl, were slicing their way through the north. At that moment, Ricken and Maribelle appeared to the east of their position. "Right on time" thought Robin.
He signaled Lissa to use the Rescue Staff, and with a few short motions, the staff began to shine. Maribelle, who was holding on to Ricken at that moment, disappeared in a flash of light. Robin thought that maybe the Rescue staff had malfunctioned. However, a moment later, the two appeared right beside Lissa. Phila's Pegasus Knights rescued them.
At that moment, though, Orton appeared.
Chrom noticed this and signaled Robin to him.
"Are you ready, Robin?"
"I was born ready, my friend!"
"He'll be hard to beat..."
"Don't care, let's go!"
With that, the two of them charged at Orton.
...
"This isn't going according to plan." Robin thought as he dodged and weaved out of the way of Orton's attacks. According to Robin's studies, Wind magic was supposed to be very dangerous to Flyers, especially ones like Wyvern Riders.
But for some reason, Robin's magic tome, the Arcwind he had received from the Exalt, was barely doing anything. And Chrom, whose sword would have a profound effect on the wyvern, couldn't get close enough due to all the enemy archers.
Robin then had an idea. If he could create a big enough tornado, he could clear a path through the archers and allow Chrom to strike. He began to charge up as enemy archers saw him and began to nock their arrows. At that moment, Chrom and the others struck them all down. The archers dead, Robin directed his tornado at Orton. The wyvern rider was torn to shreds in the wind.
They had done it. Maribelle was rescued.
End of Chapter 10