Invisible Ties Bonus Chapter 3: Outrealm Training Part 1
A small hush fell over the Shepherds as Chloey spoke of her plan. It was clear that not everyone was going to agree with her on what was going to happen, but they had to follow through with it. Going into the Outrealms wasn't everyone's cup of tea. Mostly because they'd all gotten one hell of a defeat the last time that they tried to do it. Chloey however insisted that they make use of the outrealm as much as possible to increase their time training. Not even Frederick could agree with Chloey on that. However it seemed that Both Chloey and Chrom had spent some time in the Outrealm and the others hadn't even noticed it. Both said that everyone would be fine and Lucina had to agree with her parents as she'd joined them on their journeys through the Outrealms. It wasn't the first time that Lucina had trained with her mother in the Outrealms and quite frankly it was part of the reason that Lucina was so strong. She knew what was coming; surely the others knew too.
As Chloey walked through the Outrealm Gate, Chrom had her hand in his own. This place was different to a degree, it was Ylisse clearly but it was a small island that looked to have soldiers preparing for battle. Chrom spoke with his wife briefly as the rest of the Shepherds were busy adjusting their weapons and armour, it was then that a loud voice cut the air, "Warriors?! Warriors from afar! Thank the gods," an old man approached hobbling as fast as his legs could carry him, his wheezing was concerning to say the least. "Pl-please noble warriors I, Old Hubba a humble fortune teller need your help," The old man was bent over panting faster than a hot dog, "The army just beyond are Einherjar, phantoms of a sort...if I were twenty years younger I would be able to help you...and yet alas I'm too old even for that..."
"Slow down there old-timer," Chrom said, "What's going on?"
"W-well, you see," Old Hubba sighed, "Some of my Einhanjar cards were stolen but I don't know who it was, but now they are after my blood! If only I could still fight,"
"So is there anything you can tell us about the Einherjar?" Chloey asked the man. He looked at the tactician and suddenly spoke,
"Perhaps I should show you, and add some support!" He pulled a card out of his robes, "Hear me, O ruler of ancient Altea, true lord of the seven realms," He drew in a deep breath, "I summon thee; Marth, the Hero King! Come forth and grant us your protection!"
A burst of magical light shone as a phantom appeared before the Shepherds. The light faded to reveal a lightly built young man with short blue hair, a blue tunic, long cape and tall boots. His amour was light and he carried a rapier at his side. He wore a headpiece that was uncannily similar to the one that Lucina wore and Chloey could see quite the resemblance. The Phantom opened his eyes and spoke, "As you wish, I will answer your call," Chrom gaped opened mouthed at the fact that his ancestor was standing before them,
"Marth?!" Chrom was shocked, he couldn't believe what was before him, "As in the Marth?! What in Naga's name is going on here?!"
Old Hubba coughed and it was clear that the time for talk was done for, they had a fight to have.
Of course it didn't help that the old man had kind of...started it. Chloey had to roll her eyes at the stupidity of the old man. Chrom and Chloey worked with the Einherjar that Old Hubba had summoned (Ike and Alm as well as Marth) and in the end the Shepherds had won...with Chloey vowing that the old man was going to need some form of attitude change to be tolerable to her. However the worst part about the whole business by far was the somewhat lecherous looks that old man was giving some of the female Shepherds, especially Chloey's own daughter. She gripped a blade and held it to the man's throat before Chrom could stop her,
"You look at my daughter like that one more time old man," Chloey threatened, "And I will have your head,"
Old Hubba had coughed nervously and remarked that the Shepherds would receive the old man's Einherjar cards for helping him get them back. A fair trade it seemed to Chrom but Chloey knew that the old weasel was trying to worm his way out of trouble. He surprised her by giving Chrom the Hero King Marth card that he'd used earlier (although he'd said that as the tactician Chloey should keep Marth with her but Chloey felt that since she and Chrom were a team they would both welcome the "new recruit". Chloey didn't know why but she got a sense of an aura within the card, not like those that appeared whenever an active skill activated, it was more like a type of magic that seemed to resonate with her. She wondered why that was then she jumped as Marth literally spoke even though he'd not been summoned,
"Well met," The figure on the card actually moved to make a slight bow it seemed. Even Chrom was surprised. Old Hubba was nowhere in sight now having gone home to rest apparently, "The old one bade me to accompany you; if I can be of service. It seems that at least one of you have heard of me. Pray milady, do you know of me as well?"
"I know a little," Chloey responded feeling slightly weird that she was talking to a phantom that was held in a card. It was weird to say the least,
"You have," Marth seemed to smile, though it was a soft one that could have been missed, "That is wonderful." He looked thoughtful, "Strange it seems that you remind me of a good comrade of mine who was the member of the royal guard that became a lifelong friend of mine," Marth seemed to reminisce about times long past. He paused and asked the couple, "Might I know who you both are?"
"I'm Chrom and this is my beloved wife, Chloey,"
"A pleasure to meet you both," Marth seemed to be thoughtful and he spoke, "Pray another question if I may...Chloey I understand that as a tactician you must take a wider view of the battle field and direct your comrades accordingly...but," Marth faltered slightly, "what if you had to make a choice between a narrow victory over saving a fallen comrade? Would you put victory for all above the life of one?"
Chloey looked thoughtful for a brief moment then she said, "I can't in my right state of mind allow victory at the cost of a comrade, however I have little doubt that even the best laid plans are going to go awry,"
Chrom looked down knowing what Chloey was talking about. There had been a cost...Emmeryn. Even now she couldn't recall what her life had been like and Chrom found it hard to work out how to help her. He held little doubt that Chloey's mother felt the same. He knew that she was trying to help Chloey but it seemed to Chrom that Chloey was naturally avoiding the Valkyrie, why Chrom didn't know or understand just yet. He would have to help Chloey, support her as best he could. He heard Marth say that his advisor, Jagen would advise against the choice of sentiment and Marth admitting that he simply hated the thought that victories were paid by lives.
With Marth joining them things got interesting to say the least. They decided that Marth would have his own "tent" (located in one of Chloey's strategy books that Marth had chosen to rest in, one that was safe from harm). With that said and done the Shepherds moved onwards back to Ylisse and back to get more weapons to do it all over again.
Lucina heaved a sigh as yet again they were in another Outrealm with another group of people that needed saving. It would have been laughable to think that she would not have seen it all but between the risen that stole gold (that place was frequented by the Shepherds of late and it did allow her mother to get some important items to help with the war they had yet to partake in) and risen that gave more experience to the Shepherds as they destroyed them, Lucina would have to say that she was getting pretty close with her family, Amelia and Morgan were wonderful to be around, if Amelia had a little more confidence in herself at times. Morgan was like their mother and seemed to take after Chloey the most. His Falchion had gleamed a few times now and Lucina was certain that something was up. Morgan however seemed to be of the thought that if there wasn't anything that was happening there was no point in fixing it.
Of course the fact that they had travelled to the Outrealm in the first place was to be expected. It was quite normal of Chloey to do something to this affect as she wanted to make sure that all of the Shepherds got the training that they needed. It was clear that there were a few Outrealms that Chloey preferred to train the others in, like the Outrealm that had risen that were packed with gold. She was quite please with how that was coming along. At this rate everyone would have the Second Seals that they needed and Chloey would be able to get them all up to scratch with the skills that they needed. So far it was clear that there was going to be a lot of training required. Even Chloey pushed herself to join them. She wanted to make everyone as strong as possible for the up coming war, perhaps preparing them for something else it seemed. For the Shepherds there were few moments of rest, but Chloey did make good her promise to give them time off when they needed it. After all they were going to need all the help they could get to gain strength that they could...and Chloey knew that it was a long and uphill battle.
