A/N: Hello everybody!
Once again, quite a busy week I've had lately, but luckily, I've managed to fight through it, and deliver to you this update's chapter.
Also, I've just noticed that the view count has gone -wait for it- OVER 9000! I'm sorry, I couldn't resist. Anyway, thank you all very much, I love that despite the story being severely underrated, there are still people reading this. Again, thanks guys! :D
Today's chapter will focus on Robin's mysterious saviors and we'll finally learn on what Robin's blood was used for, as well as a bit of the Shepherds.
As always, Read and review. It helps!
Two Days Later
"Nggh… Gah…" Robin moaned. Slowly but surely, his eyes opened. Looking at his surroundings, he realized that he was in a small house.
The house was simple really. It was a lot less fancy that his house. In fact, it reminded Robin of those inns he stayed at many years ago. But still, it had pretty much everything that would make it qualify as a good place to stay.
As he was viewing his surroundings, he spotted the figure of a person. Based on her general look, the figure was a female. She wasn't exactly a tall one. Heck, she was a little shorter than Robin, but around the same height as Olivia. Robin eyes were still a bit blurry from having just woken up though.
By the time his vision cleared, he was finally able to see the distinguished looks of the two. The tall one in particular had a purple bandana.
'Hey, that one has a purple bandana. Almost like… Aerin… Oh damn.'
At that very moment, the tall figure looked behind her, and just smiled. After which, she then spoke.
"Robin, it's been a while hasn't it? Hope you still recognize me."
For a few minutes, Robin didn't say anything. He was frozen, frozen with emotions of shock and disbelief. A while was too much of an understatement however. It's been exactly almost nine years since they last met.
Eventually, after at least around five, maybe six minutes, Robin was finally able to get a few words out of his mouth.
"Aerin? No way… It… It can't be."
Aerin just smiled in response. "So, you DO remember me."
After a few more minutes, a voice called out.
"Mama! Is the guy still awake yet? Is he ok?"
"It seems that someone's been making sure you stay awake." Aerin chuckled.
To say Robin was puzzled by this was an understatement, perhaps a bit more. Nonetheless, when the owner of the voice came, his puzzled look however, soon turned into shock.
The figure was a small girl. She looked about the same height and age as present Lucina, but had obvious differences. For one thing, this young girl had black hair with maroon streaks, and not blue hair. Her hair was also shorter than Lucina's.
It didn't take Robin long on who this young girl was.
'Wait, is that… The present version of Rogue? Oh geez…'
Meanwhile Back at Risdom.
At the castle laboratory, the blood that had been gathered from Grock's blade was being dropped unto a mysterious object.
At that moment, Rayne started walking in.
"I assume that the finishing touches are being added, am I not correct?" She asked to one of the scientists.
"Yes your highness," One of them replied "Is there any reason you wanted the Tactician's blood? You've never told us anything, except on what we had to do."
"You'll see soon enough. It seems that we've talked long enough. I assume it's already completed?"
"Yes your highness. Do you wish to try it out?"
Rayne just nodded in response.
Later, in a secluded area of the castle, Rayne was using her famed orb. Since the battle against Robin at Arena Ferox, the orb has been infamous for not only being the first time a staff has been used as a weapon, but also the first orb that has the ability to turn into a wide array of weaponry.
At that moment, Zed entered.
"So, will I finally get to see this secret weapon in action?"
"I believe now is the time." Rayne said.
Without wasting anymore time, the orb suddenly started glowing, and a stream of red energy began flowing from it. Slowly, the streams began crossing each other, and a shape began forming.
The shape seemed reptilian in appearance, almost like a dragon. Emerging from the shape were three pairs of leather bat-like wings, each wing looked torn, as if it was reincarnated from a zombie. Its long, serpentine-like tail ended with two, long spikes.
Its head was like that of a crocodile with two curving horns, and three pairs of eyes. Its mouth was lined with rows of dagger-like teeth.
"I… LIVE ONCE MORE! MUHAHAHAHA!" The dragon said in a deep and menacing voice.
"What the hell?!" Zed yelled. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. He then turned to Rayne, who just smiled at the results. "You resurrected the Fell Dragon Grima? I thought-"
"Thought that Grima would never again be able to live?" Rayne finished. "Well, you thought wrong."
"H-how? How did this happen?" Zed was still shocked.
"It's simple really." She began, "Robin's blood still had a part of Grima's blood left in him. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to gather some of the blood, thanks to Chrom's interference."
She paused for a moment
"So, I decided to send the PackHunters, Specifically Grock to attack the camp, so I can get the blood."
"Wait, you mean Grock knew about this?"
Rayne simply nodded. "Absolutely. In fact, he was willing to sacrifice his life just so the blood could be obtained."
"I see it now. But wait, won't Grima be able to destroy everything, including us?"
"No. This Grima here is different from the one six years ago. It doesn't have a mind of its own."
"You mean it's simply a-"
"Puppet? Yes. That's basically what it is now. It just follows orders. Also, you may have noticed that this Grima is different from the one those many years ago."
"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask about that." Zed said
"Like I said, this Grima isn't the same one. Its blood isn't pure like it was before. As a result, its blood has been fused with blood from other Manaketes."
"Unfortunately, its power requires the entire orb's power. As a result, the orb is no longer usable."
"Well, what are you planning to use now?"
"I've had a special lance created, as well as a sword." Rayne answered.
"So, what're you going to do with the new Grima for the meantime?"
"It can revert back to the orb for now."
Rayne then made a few hand gestures, and Grima slowly turned back into the orb, shocking Zed in the process.
"When the time comes, Grima will once again be unleashed." She then left the room, laughing.
Zed took one long look at the orb. It was glowing a blood red, before reverting back into its natural green tone.
"I get the feeling that this won't end well…"
Later that night, at the Shepherds' Garrison
"Any sign of Robin yet?" Olivia worriedly asked.
"No, I'm afraid nothing yet Milady." Frederick answered. Frederick was apparently on lookout incase Robin had returned.
It's been immediately issued. Ever since Robin was able to slip out without any witnesses, Chrom has ordered that a few Ylissean guards are to patrol the Garrison, and surrounding areas to prevent another breakout.
A few of the Shepherds have also taken turns in looking out incase Robin returns.
Olivia slightly blushed at the thought of Frederick addressing her as such. "Frederick, I'm okay with just being called 'Olivia'. Thanks for the update. I really wish Robin would get back soon. It's been two days already."
"Let us not forget, Robin is a fighter. I'm sure that there's no problem that Robin can't handle." The Great Knight assured.
"I hope you're right about that. I just… I just have a bad feeling…"
Back to Robin and Aerin
It was just after dinner, and present Rogue has already gone to sleep, Robin and Aerin were just having a small chat.
"I find it hard to believe that after all these years; Rogue simply accepted that you're her father. Other children would've probably yelled." Aerin said.
"I'm just as surprised as you are. She must probably get it from you…" Robin joked.
"Am I really like that now?"
"Oh please, whatever challenge there was, you were always up for it. Remember the Risen attacks years ago?" Robin reminded.
"Well, I guess you're right about that one." Aerin chuckled.
After a few minutes of silence,
"If you don't mind me asking, what're your plans now? I mean obviously you can't live in this inn forever."
"I haven't really thought about that. We've recently moved out of Risdom, and have been moving from place to place for quite sometime now." Aerin said sadly.
"Rogue may look and appear strong, but she probably misses staying in one place. I do constantly feel sorry for her."
"Sorry for suddenly bringing that up." Robin apologized.
"There's no need, you had no idea." Aerin assured.
"Say, I've got an idea. Why don't you move into Ylisse. There are a few vacant houses I'm sure you'd be able to live in."
Aerin gasped at Robin's offer. "Are you sure its ok? I mean you are married after all right?"
"Don't worry about it." Robin assured, "I'll take the heat. I'm used to it after all. So, what do you say?"
"I guess it can work."
"Very well then. First thing tomorrow, we head on back to Ylisse."
A/N: And another chapter finished!
So, how do you like the sudden twist in the blood's usage? Normally, blood is often used for spells or such in FE's history, but I've decided to use it to revive a fallen villain. Hope none of you mind.
The result: Grima Lives once more!
Next chapter: Back to Ylisse! Looks like Robin should prepare himself for the ass-whooping he's going to get!
Until next time, BYE!