Author's Note: What's up guys? How you been? Been waiting anxiously for my next chapter I hope. I love the positive feedback from you guys. Say anything you want to me, I don't mind the hate mail. It isn't really a confidence boost, but still one thing will not appeal to everybody. Just don't insult any of my favourite anime and we're good. If you insult any of my favourite anime, -dark aura appears around me-, you are going to feel the wrath of the Fell dragon Grima. Just kidding…or am I? –eyes turn red- In any case, don't insult my favourite anime. In other words the anime I mentioned in the last author's note. I received a request for the charades game that I did in the last chapter. It'll be somewhere in this chapter. Wow, this story has been going on for over a year now. Sorry about the slow updates.
'We need to stop Validar. He has the Fire Emblem.' Robin thought to himself. 'We need to head to the Dragon's table as quickly as possible yet… "WHY IN THE WORLD ARE WE HAVING A PICNIC, NOW OF ALL TIMES!" Robin yelled angrily and all the Shepherds who were eating sandwiches and various picnic items were staring at him.
"The troops were hungry and we brought picnic baskets so why not?" Chrom took another bite of a sandwich. "Plus froop fromale was frinda frow."
"What? Chrom, I can't understand you it sounds like you said 'Dust Fruit camel was grinding slow?' which I do not believe is what you said." Robin said slightly irritated.
"Plus troop Morale is kinda low. Robin, you're not thinking properly right now. I know you want to stop Validar, but we need to keep up our strength." Chrom picked up another sandwich.
"I'M not thinking properly. The world is in danger and we're having a picnic!? I know we need to eat and rest, but a PICNIC?" Robin reached into the pocket of his coat and pulled out his Mjolnir tome.
"Wait, Robin should you really be using that legendary tome for a situation like this." Chrom backed away nervously while grabbing another sandwich.
"Anna said to use the 25 uses of this tome wisely. I say this qualifies." Thunder gathered in Robin's hand and clouds started to darken.
"Robin, calm down. I know you're stressed, but try to calm down." Olivia put her hand on Robin's shoulder.
"But, the world is in danger and we need to-mmph." Robin's head was forcibly turned to the side and was suddenly kissed by Olivia.
"Shh, calm down. Look into my eyes." Olivia held the two sides of her face with her hands.
"BUT-agh." Robin was bonked in the head by Olivia's head.
"Shhhh." The thunder clouds that were created by Mjolnir disappeared.
Robin and Olivia continued to stare at each other for about 30 seconds.
"Wow, actually I'm a lot more relaxed now." Robin said relieved.
"That's good." Olivia let go of Robin's head.
"Where'd you learn that trick?" Robin was pleasantly surprised by the effects.
"Well, Morgan used to do this to me when I was needed to calm down. It's a little embarrassing when you do it to someone else." Olivia smiled remembering a pleasant memory.
"Morgan?" Robin said confused.
"I meant my sister, Morgan."
"Oh yeah, you mentioned that your sister was named Morgan before. Oh! Maybe that's why we named her 'Morgan'. Wait, you also had a friend named Inigo. Oh, now their names make sense." It suddenly occurred to Robin.
"YOU JUST FIGURED OUT THE REASON BEHIND YOUR CHILDREN'S NAMES!?" CHROM YELLED.
"Well, I just never thought about it. Now that you mention it, what are the reasons behind Lucina and Cynthia's names?" Robin pushed his index finger against Chrom pushing him backwards.
"We named Lucina because her name means light in another language. Sumia insisted on it because she read the name in a book and she decided that it was the perfect name. I can't remember how we gave Cynthia her name." Chrom scratched the back of his head.
"See, you don't know the reason behind all your children's names either." Robin smirked proudly.
"Chrom!" Sumia whacked Chrom with the picnic basket.
"Ow! What was that for?" Chrom rubbed the spot on his head that had been hit by the picnic basket.
"Cynthia is my mother's name!"
"Oh right, her. Lovely woman." Chrom chuckled nervously.
"How could you forget that!?" Sumia yelled angrily.
"She's the only person in Ylisse who doesn't treat me like the Exalt. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO REMEMBER HER NAME WHEN SHE MAKES ME CALL HER 'MA'AM' ALL THE TIME!?" Chrom yelled in response.
"Maybe we should go somewhere else for now?" Olivia pulled Robin's arm in the opposite direction of Chrom and Sumia's argument.
"Agreed." Robin nodded his head
"EXCUSE ME! YOU NEED TO TREAT PEOPLE MORE RESPECTFULLY. REMEMBER THAT NOBLE WHO WAS GOING TO FUND FOR SOME WELL-NEEDED SUPPLIES FOR THE SHEPHERDS AND DIDN'T BECAUSE YOU WERE AN HOUR LATE!"
"MAYBE WE WOULDN'T NEED MORE FUNDS IF YOUR PEGAUSES ATE LESS!"
"IT'S PEGASI! AND WHAT IF YOU-"
"I don't want to listen to any more of this." Robin started walking off with Olivia.
Earlier, in other spot of the picnicking area
"Crystal, I think Father was trying to kill Chrom again." Morgan pointed at the thunderclouds gathering.
"That's like…. What, the fifth time today?" Crystal counted on her fingers.
"Should we make an attempt to stop the horrible future happening that occurs because of Robin killing Chrom?" Owain asked.
"Nah, Mother and Aunt Sumia are there. They stopped Father already …probably." Crystal shrugged.
"Mmm, this sandwich tastes like it was made by the finest chefs in the world." Owain took another bite happily.
"It can't be that much better than mine." Crystal scoffed.
"You should try this divine-tasting sandwich." Owain put the sandwich in her face.
"Wh-why are you giving me the side you bit already?" Crystal crawled backwards.
"Because that is where the divine sandwich tastes even more divine." Owain pushed it closer to Crystal's face.
"Indirect kiss. Indirect kiss. Indirect kiss." Morgan started chanting.
Crystal imagined kissing Owain. 'NONONONONO.' Crystal stopped her thoughts and shook her head back and forth. Crystal stood up and started running.
"Where are you going?" Owain started chasing after her.
The two ran around a not-particularly large picnic blanket. About the size of a door.
"Why are you running?" Owain was panting.
"Why are you chasing?" Crystal was blushing.
Crystal tripped over a corner of the blanket and since Owain was very close behind Crystal Owain tripped and fell down too. The two of them rolled down the hill for a while. The two ended up with Crystal being on the bottom and Owain being on top with their noses being inches apart. Both of them were blushing intensely.
"Are you uninjured?" Owain swallowed hard
"Ye-yeah." Crystal tried to move but was unable to get out without Owain moving first.
Owain's lips started getting closer to Crystal's.
And closer
And closer
Strangely, Crystal wasn't fighting back. In fact she was getting closer to Owain as well.
And the lips were so close that you could barely fit a jellybean in the space between the lips.
"OOOOOOOOHHH, actual kiss. Much better. Much better." Morgan yelled from the top of the hill.
Both of them looked at Morgan who was giving two thumbs up. The two of them looked back at each other and blushed madly.
"Owain, what exactly were you just about to do with Crystal?" Lissa asked.
The two of them realized that they were in front of the Shepherds right now.
"OHOHOH, Busted." Morgan said as she ran down the hills with the picnic blanket and picnic basket in hand.
'Father, Mother, Aunt Lissa, and Uncle Frederick. We're doomed.' Crystal swallowed hard.
"Crystal, I think our secret is no longer a secret." Owain looked at all the staring eyes.
"Mhmmm. I really want to beat you up right now and say this is all your fault so could you get off of me so I can do that." Crystal tapped him.
"I kind of don't want to…. when you put it like that." Owain swallowed hard.
Out of nowhere, Inigo tackled Owain off of Crystal.
"How could you do this to me? You started getting close to my sister." Inigo held a hand in the air as if he was about to slap Owain. "Why didn't you tell me that you were getting so close to her? I thought we were friends." Inigo gave Owain a bro hug.
"Wait, what?" Owain was extremely confused.
"Listen to me buddy, RUN. Don't look back. In situations like this, you need to run for your life. An angry woman is a scary sight. Escape." Inigo whispered to Owain.
"Why? What woman of extreme rage?" Owain was even more confused.
"Owain, what exactly are you doing with MY daughter." Olivia started to smile scarily.
"Never mind, the woman of extreme rage is within my vision." Owain swallowed hard.
"See, now run. I have lots of experience running from women. Best way is to run and don't look back. If you look back, you end up going slower, running into a wall or both." Inigo knew what he was talking about.
"My sword hand is telling me to run, but my heart is telling me that I must stand my ground. Robin, the triumphing tactician and Olivia, the delicate dancer. I AM IN LOVE WITH YOUR DAUGHTER. I HAVE ALREADY PROPOSED." Owain yelled proudly.
"Oh really? Then I guess you're willing to do anything for her, right? Like dying for example." Olivia laughed evilly.
"Snap, Ol-evil-ia is back." Morgan and Crystal both started running.
"O-Olivia, what might you be planning on doing with that sword." Owain took a couple steps back.
"You should've listened to the sword hand, buddy." Inigo sighed.
"I have a feeling I should stop Olivia, but I am going to let this drag out for a bit." Robin sat down a blanket and started eating a sandwich.
"Robin, we should do SOMETHING." Lissa protested.
"Don't worry. Owain is two spaces away from Olivia and they have the same movement stats. As long as Owain keeps running, he'll be fine. Well, he might have that little flap thingy at the bottom of his shirt cut off but other than he's fine. Mmm, this IS a good sandwich. Chrom was right." Robin took another bite.
"I didn't totally get all the battle strategy stuff, but you said Owain will be fine so I guess it's fine." Lissa sighed a breath of relief.
"He might be slightly traumatized though." Robin whispered to himself.
"What was that you said, Robin?" Lissa turned her head towards Robin.
"Nothing, just mumbling to myself about how this sandwich tastes good." Robin smiled innocently.
"AHHHHH. Crystal, I'm sorry that I ever doubted you when you told me about your mother being very scary when she's angry." Owain yelled as he just barely stayed out of Olivia's sword slashes.
'Hmmm, Olivia seems to be slightly faster when she's in "Ol-evil-ia" mode as Morgan calls it. Better not tell that to Lissa.' Robin thought to himself. "Okay, we should pack up this picnic and head to the Dragon's Table. Owain start running in the direction we're marching." Robin picked up and folded the picnic blanket.
"It requires some effort to choose the direction in which I am sprinting. I require your assistance, Robin the triumphing-ACK! Never mind, just help me Robin!" Owain turned his direction toward the direction they were marching earlier.
"Don't worry. She'll get tired sooner or later. Just don't get tired before she does." Robin forewarned Owain.
The Shepherds marched until they reached a roadblock…..Aversa. Validar had ordered her to stay behind and stall the Shepherds. Aversa had summoned 12 elite risen that she called "Deadlords." The Deadlords looked like they were no ordinary risen; these risen looked and probably were seasoned warriors with lots of battle experience.
"We're down one dancer and myrmidon. This is going to be tough." Robin said as he started strategizing.
"Maybe if you had stopped them earlier, they wouldn't be sleeping right now." Chrom said obviously upset.
"You're just in a bad mood because you had to walk instead of riding on Sumia's Pegasus because you made her mad."
"Be quiet!" Chrom smacked Robin on his back.
"As the Exalt wishes." Robin bowed mockingly. "Okay, Shepherds. We're going to go in pairs and trios. One pair or trio per Deadlord. Once you defeat your Deadlord, help out the person closest to you or the one that needs the most help. Do not underestimate the Deadlords for a second. Inigo and I will take on Aversa. Chrom as soon as you finish off your Deadlord, come assist us in defeating Aversa. Crystal and Morgan will watch the fatigued. Shepherds move out." Robin pointed towards the Deadlords.
"Robin, could I help with defeating Aversa instead of a Deadlord?" Chrom asked nervously.
" No, it's much smarter to have you come up on a sneak attack later."
"Please, I can't be alone with Sumia right now." Chrom begged.
"You two work best together, so no. Let's start this battle." Robin ran onto the battlefield.
"R-robin, you left me alone with an angry woman." Chrom swallowed hard.
"Come on, Chrom." Sumia yanked Chrom onto her Pegasus by his cape. Chrom yelled in pain as he was yanked up.
At the spot where the Shepherds left their supplies and where Morgan and Crystal were watching a sleeping Owain and Olivia.
"Hey, Crystal." Morgan tapped Crystal's shoulder.
"What?" Crystal wasn't really paying attention as she had her hand in Owain's hair.
"Who was supposed to defeat that Deadlord?" Morgan pointed at a approaching Deadlord.
"What do you mean? Oh, that Deadlord. A female swordswoman. This is going to be fun." Crystal unsheathed her sword.
The Deadlord was in front of Crystal in the blink of an eye. Crystal deflected the sword slash with her sword, but barely.
"Morgan, a little help here." Crystal pushed her own blade against the Deadlord's.
"Got it. ARCFIRE!" Morgan shot a fireball. The fireball was heading towards, but was stopped by an arcthunder blast. There was a deadlord sage approaching as well.
"Two on two is good during a normal battle, but not when the opponents are never-tiring warriors whose breath's smell like Sully's cooking." Crystal barely kept up with the attacks being dealt from the Deadlord.
"He's got a Bolganome tome. EEKK." Morgan barely dodged the eruption caused by the Bolganome tome. The attack was so close that Morgan's cloak was on fire on the edge.
Crystal was being pushed back so far that she was right in front of the wagon that Owain was unconscious on.
"Owain wake up! WAKE UP NOW! IF I DIE, I WILL COME BACK AS A RISEN AND I WILL KILL YOU SO GET UP!" Crystal yelled panickedly.
"What?" Owain muttered sleepily. "What's going….AGHHHH." Owain woke up to see a sword and a risen in front of his face. "What is going on!?" Owain yelled.
"Never mind that. Kill the Deadlord." Crystal yelled a groan of pain as she was pushed backwards.
"What?"
"Kill the Deadlord!"
"I said put the pointy thingy into the ugly thingy here." Crystal was irritated.
"Oh, that's what you meant. Sorry, I'm a bit sleepy." Owain went behind the Deadlord and stabbed the Deadlord in the back.
"It took you THAT long for you to understand the situation we were in." Crystal yelled frustrated.
"Sorry?" Owain swallowed hard. Crystal raised her sword at Owain. "Wait, please forgive me." Owain closed his eyes and prepared for intense pain.
…..
…
…
…
…
Owain opened his eyes and saw that the sword was not in her hand. Owain panickedly checked his body to make sure that the sword was not sticking out of him. He looked around and saw that the sword was stabbing the sage that Morgan was fighting. Owain sighed a breath of relief. "Oh good." then he fainted.
Author's note: Okay, so I think my battle scenes need some work. The summer 2015 anime season is almost over. I'm in an emotional state because of all the anime I am watching are ending so if this chapter seemed emotional, I apologize, but I don't think it is emotional. I got a request for some more of the Shepherds to do more Charades, but I couldn't find a good spot to put it in so I am just putting it in the end as a bonus. I'm actually thinking of doing one of these every chapter. They do a little imitating one of the other Shepherds game at the end of every chapter. depending on the reviews of these little charades.
Bonus snippet. thingy-whatever you want to call it:
"This time neither Crystal or Noire are coming to 'the acting game.' They get too violent. I am still feeling pain from those books she hit me with." Morgan rubbed her arms remembering the pain.
"You're always hitting yourself with books. I don't see much of a difference." Gerome scoffed.
"It's different if you're hitting yourself. There's a limit to how much you can hit yourself because you will go unconscious. She was hitting me with the books even after I lost consciousness." Morgan defended.
"That would make sense." Laurent nodded his head in agreement.
"Anyways, let's start the game. I got a new rule to add though. I have a bucket with the names written on papers in here so nobody does the same person over and over again. Who wants to go first?" Morgan held up the coin.
"I'll go first, I guess. Since Noire isn't here. I probably won't get strangled." Inigo picked a name out of the bucket. He read the paper and got actions which for some reason really frustrated Inigo. He smacked his head in frustration.
"Who smacks their head like that?" Nah asked.
"Robin when Emmeryn died?" Yarne suggested.
Everybody looked towards Yarne and their facial expressions practically read 'You're really bringing that up?'
"Right, sore topic. Look Inigo is doing some….thing?" Yarne said confused.
Inigo was on all fours jumping left and right.
"Brady, get your mend staff ready. I think Inigo has contracted some sort of a disease." Laurent whispered.
"That looks familiar for some reason." Yarne tilted his head.
Inigo grunted angrily.
"Inigo, are you having problems in the outhouse recently? I am just trying to figure out what you might have contracted." Laurent opened up a journal.
"time's up." Morgan flipped the timer back.
"I was imitating Panne!" Inigo yelled frustrated.
"Ah, that's disappointing. I thought you had contracted a new rare disease." Laurent closed his journal.
"WHY IS THAT DISAPPOINTING?" Inigo yelled angrily.