So. It has been a while, hasn't it? Well, I'm back with another chapter of this horrible story. A story with a Gary Sue protagonist, awful grammar, a disgusting plot, and other such things. But it seems like you guys think otherwise. I will never understand why you all like this fanfic to be honest. But I guess I'll shut up. You have a chapter to read, and you probably don't want me talking your ear off anymore. So, enjoy I guess.
Chapter Twenty Nine: Plegian Crows
I have to say, coming back to Plegia to ask for aid in invading Valm is leaving a bad taste in my mouth. Everyone in the Shepherds had a bad experience here, some more than others. After all, I did almost die when I had my chest ripped open while fighting that Plegian Berserker. That counts as a bad experience I believe. If I was in charge, I would never go to Plegia for assistance.
But, I'm not in charge sadly. Chrom and the Robins are. I trust their judgement seeing how they managed to topple an entire kingdom. Plus, they pulled off some miracles on the battlefield; some of which that saved my life in one way or another. If they say we need to get aid from Plegia, then we are going to get aid. Question is, will Plegia give us that aid? But I'm not going to worry about that until it becomes a big issue. Like, storming the palace and slaying the new ruler type of issue.
Which will be a problem seeing how the Shepherds, minus the top brass, had to camp a pretty good distance away from the meeting between Plegia's new king and Chrom. Our camp is also in a pretty bad spot; a little dugout with towering cliffs all over our flank and backside. Any ranged enemy would be having a field day if they got onto those cliffs, especially if they use Magic. Gods, why did we have to camp here and not find a better place?
"Rider man, you still with Gregor?" I jump slightly, snapping out of my thoughts as Gregor stands next to me while I sit on a food crate.
"Yeah Gregor, I'm still here. Continue with what you were saying." I answer back, leaning back a bit to look Gregor in the face.
"Well, as Gregor was saying; Gregor thinks that it is good that we use Plegian ships. Better to destroy them than our own. Gregor is right on this, yes?"
"You do have a point, Gregor. But we still don't know if Plegia will give us aid or not."
"That is also correct. Hopefully Gregor and others get aid." If there is one thing I like about Gregor is that he is simple. But I also hate that about him. He can be too simple at times.
I give Gregor a hum and turn my head to look around. My gaze sets on a few shapes coming towards the camp, one of which has only one sleeve. I guess our leaders are back from the negotiations. Hopefully it went well. What am I talking about; of course it didn't go well! The Shepherds either have good luck, or bad luck depending on the situation at hand; and Plegia has been nothing but bad luck for us. I expect to kill the Plegian king soon. It would give me something fun to do.
I, Gregor, and a few other Shepherds go to greet our commanders and hear the news of how the meeting between monarchs went. I'm personally betting that it went terribly and we are going to have to overthrow the current Plegian king.
Sadly, my hopes are dashed as Jack says to us, "The negotiations went wonderfully! We will be getting 800 warships and 200 transport ships along with a majority of the Plegian treasury to help with the campaign against Valm."
"No way, Jack." I say to Robin as the others cheer and happily walk away. "It couldn't be that easy to get such a deal out of them." There had to be some sort of loophole in the deal. There is no way that the Robins and Chrom got such a good deal out of the new king of a nation that Ylisse defeated in war.
"Well, there was some strange incidents during the negotiations. But other than that, the deal went exactly as said. Why? Is something the matter Aiden?" Jack asked back, paling a bit when he talked about the 'strange incidents'. What in Naga's name went on in there?
"That deal just seems too good to be true. Why would a nation disadvantage themselves like that?"
"No idea, but we can't afford to refuse their help. Valm is at our doorsteps and we need everything we can get to stop them." He makes a fair point. Valm is the superpower around here and it's going to take a lot of grit and resources to take them down.
"Alright, Jack. But next time something like this happens, make sure to bring Anna. I'm pretty sure she could get a much better, and more reliable deal than that." Jack simply laughed at my suggestion before nodding. Just as he was about to speak again, Jill called him to come to the tent for a council of war with Chrom.
"Excuse me Aiden. I have to go do some more talking…" Jack says as he half-heartedly walks over to Jill and enters the tent. I guess I'll go and see if Anna has come back. She sort of left early in the morning to 'Expand her market in the Plegia glass industry.' I love that woman, but she really needs to tell me when she will be leaving for one of her business trips. I worry that she might not come back from some of those trips, especially with the ones that she calls 'Super secret meetings.'
I maneuver among through the camp until I reach Anna and I's tent, the entrance to the tent open slightly. Someone is in there, and I am betting it is my gold-loving wife. I enter the tent and see Anna counting out a large stack of gold coins on our portable table.
"I'm glad to see you're back." I say as I walk over to her and place a hand on her head. "Did you eat? You missed breakfast at the camp."
"I'm did eat, handsome. How were the negotiations?" Anna said as she patted my chest with the back of her free hand while she continued to count coins.
"It went better than expected. Plegia will provide ships and gold to the campaign. Simple as that, no loopholes or anything. Which sucks because I was expecting some resistance."
"I imagine those ships will be not the best quality, honey." That is actually a good point that I didn't think about. "But i they are good quality, then the new Plegian king is probably the dumbest deal maker in all of history."
"Yeah. I imagine so. Anyway, how was your meeting? Did you get some new markets?"
Anna let out a sigh as she finished counting the gold, shoving it into a bag for safe keeping. She then got out of her seat and hugged me, saying "It went not as well as I wanted it too. I only managed to get one market and a few thousand gold. I was hoping to get at least three times that much, but it turns out the glass making industry is full of old geezers trapped in tradition."
I hug her back and say "Well it could have been much worse. You could have left empty handed. At least you got something. Now, I bet you plan on driving them out of business with your market."
"You bet, handsome. I'll get five times as much before I'm done with them."
"That's my girl."
After a while of talking, a simple army dinner, and a little exercise session; Anna and I went to bed. We were almost asleep when we heard some people begin to yell and scream. It sounded a lot like Jack and Jill, but I was too tired to figure out who the voices were truly. So; I just burrowed deeper into my blanket alongside my wife, trying to fight off the cold of the Plegian desert.
And just when we were about to go into the blissful state, an arrow came through the roof of our tent and slammed into the desk. Okay now this is something that is going to wake me up! Anna and I quickly get out of bed, surprised at what just happened, when we hear the alarm bell begin to ring. Great, an enemy attack. I knew those damn Plegians were up to something. So they decided to ambush us while we were asleep.
I rush and get some clothes on as quick as I can. I don't have enough time for my armor sadly, so it looks like I'm going into battle with a deathwish alongside my wife who doing the same thing. I can't wait to make those Plegians pay for attacking us! After I get my clothes on, I grab my sword and shield and rush outside; ready to go kill some Plegian scum.
Instead, I get a face full of crows as an entire horde of those black birds swarm our camp. What the fuck is going on! This has to be the worst start to a battle ever! I see a group of Shepherds, huddled together for protection, look at the storm of crows while on their guard. Anna joins me outside, and is also overwhelmed like I was when I stepped outside.
"Hold on to me!" I say as I grab Anna's hand and lead her over to the others, dodging crows as they fly everywhere. Once we get to the others, Anna and I join the circle and prepare ourselves for the worse.
After waiting for a few moments, I hear Chrom scream out as he exits his tent "Wh-what's that? A storm of...crows? Gods, it's upon us!" I then hear some laughing in the horde of crows.
"CAW! CAW! Are you folks lost? Or perhaps a lost CAWs? Heh ha!" No fucking way… It can't be…
"Who's there?! Show yourself! Gods' breath, I can't see anything through all these damned birds! Shoo! Scat! Away with you!" As soon as Chrom said that, waving the Falchion around like a flyswatter. This somehow scares the horde of crows off, revealing motherfucking Henry. Holy shit; I did not think I would be meeting this mad man again.
"What's wrong? CAW-strophobic? Nya ha ha! Oh, I slay me!" Henry said, cackling at his own joke. Yep, this is the same person I met back then. This is going to be good…
"Not if these Risen do it first! This is no time for japes! Hide yourself, boy! Risen are attacking!" Wait, the Risen are attacking us? Now that doesn't make any sense! How did Risen be able to sneak so close to the meeting spot and sneak attack us? I have so many questions but not enough time to get the answers!
"You know, I thought you were all right... Turns out you're all FRIGHT! Nya ha ha! I'd wish you good luck killing these monsters, buuuuuut... They're ALREADY DEAD!" Goddamn it Henry.
"We are well aware!"
"The ravens wanted me to give you a message. "Caaw... C-caw-caw." Roughly translated, it means... Hmm, now what was the human word for that again? ...Traipse? ...Tripe? Oh, TRAPPED! Right! ...They say you're trapped."
"We know that Henry!" I say, leaving the circle and confronting the Plegian magic caster.
"Oh hey! It's you again! Nice to see you buddy! The ravens wanted me to give you guys a message. 'Caaw... C-caw-caw.' Roughly translated, it means... Hmm, now what was the human word for that again? ...Traipse? ...Tripe? Oh, TRAPPED! Right! ...They say you're trapped."
"We are well aware! Do you know where they came from?" I asked, glancing at the massive horde of Risen sitting on the ridge, preparing to attack as we talk.
"Well, see, when a mommy zombie and a daddy zombie love each other very much... Nya ha ha!" Henry doubled over with his laughter, thinking his joke was the best thing in the world. Now is not the time Henry!
"Henry…"
"Okay Okay, party pooper… I'll help you fight those guys. Like a jester. Ever talk to a jester when he's off duty? Those guys are some sick dastards!" Henry said as he took out his book of dark magic and faced the Risen who had begun their attack. I readied myself as well, raising my shield up as I spot Archers among the enemy's ranks. This is going to be an uphill battle, that is for sure.
An arrow bounces off of my shield as I begin to move back to my allies, one of the many coming our way. I manage to make it back with no injuries and readied myself again as another wave of arrows come towards us. After that failed wave, and a quick plan from Jill, the Shepherds separate into two columns to attack the enemy from two sides. As we move, a wave of Risen come at our behind and Sully, Donny, and I turn to face them. We'll hold them off while the rest take care of the main horde.
I rush over to the wave and engage a Fighter Risen, an easy opponent. I block the undead's attack with my shield before shoving my sword through its chest. I push the Risen off of my sword with my shield as it disappears, and run over to Donny who is finishing up a Myrmidon. Just as I get to him, a Risen Berserker comes charging towards us; swinging its steel axe wildly. Why is it always Berserkers that the enemy throws at us? I want something different than a man swinging an axe around. Ah well, no use complaining.
I meet the Risen's attack with one of my own, our metal clanging on each other in a shower of sparks. I push the Berserker off of me with my shield and swing my sword, cutting a wound across the Risen's chest. The Risen then attempts to strike me, but Donny comes in and stabs the Berserker in the arm; making it drop its weapon. I then finish off the opponent with a swift decapitation, shoving the disappearing corpse with my shield so it falls over. I know the enemy was already dead. I just wanted to do that so I looked cool.
"Alright guys! We finished up cleaning these jackasses. Let's go help the others now!" Sully said as she rode past me and Donny, tossing a decaying corpse of a Risen at our feet with a flick of her lance. Hell yeah! Let's kill some more of these undead dastards! Shit, I just called them 'dastards' instead of 'bastards.' I think Chrom and Henry are rubbing off on me.
Donny and I follow Sully's path back to the other Shepherds, and see that the Risen's Chief is also a Berserker. What is with the Risen and having Berserkers? Is it because they have a fetish for axes and muscle men? Actually… I'm going to stop there because I do not want disturbing images in my mind when I go to sleep. Anyway, me and Donny reach the main battle and quickly head over to help Vaike and some guy in massive white armor. Who is that guy? Doesn't matter.
"I will break you!" I shout to a Risen fighter as he whacks Vaike with the handle of its axe. I jump into the air, do a tiny flip, and slam down onto the Risen; slicing it in half. The other Risen, a Myrmidon, is skewered with a single stab from a charging Donny. I look around and see that the battle is ending as the Risen Archers experience despair at the hands of Sully and Frederick. I am glad that I am not a Risen right now.
I pat Donny on the back and go to check with Chrom and the Robins to see if they need any help. Once I make it to them, I plant my shield onto the ground and wait as Chrom says "That's the last of them. Gods, I thought it might nev-" Suddenly, an Assassin jumps out of some nearby bushes and charges Chrom; a Killing Edge blade aimed straight as the Exalt's heart. Are you fucking kidding me?
"Chrom, look out!" Jack yells as he tries to intercept the Assassin. Sadly, Jack is too far away and the Assassin soon closes the distance between Chrom and him. The Assassin swings his blade, Chrom gasping in surprise at the situation at hand. I can't believe this is happening! Chrom's going to-
"Father, no!" Suddenly, Marth comes running out of the bushes and blocks the Assassin's swing. Marth pushes the enemy away from Chrom and readies herself for battle. Thankfully, after his failed attack, the Assassin spits onto the ground and teleports away; leaving everyone either confused, stunned, or angry at the attempt on Chrom's life.
Now that everyone is no longer in danger, I think I have a few new questions. Like, why did Marth call Chrom 'Father.' Another question is who sent that Assassin to kill Chrom. One more question is what if that Risen attack wasn't random but rather staged for the Assassin? I don't think I'm going to get answers to most of my questions, but I think I can get one answer today!
"Thank the gods you're safe!" Marth says as she turns around and looks at Chrom, breathing a sigh of relief at her 'Father's' safety.
"...You called me 'Father.'" Chrom said as he looks both confused and amazed at Marth. Can't say I blame his confusion. I would also be super confused if a woman called Marth came out of the bushes calling me 'Father', and saved my life from an Assassin.
"Did I? I... ...Perhaps we might speak privately?"
"Perhaps we should, yes." With that, Chrom and Marth went off to the side and began to talk. Jack, Jill, and I exchange looks of confusion as wait for Chrom and Marth to come back. After a while, we begin to hear sobbing coming from where Chrom and Marth are at. Do you think that… No way. There is no way.
Jack, Jill, and I decide to go see what is going on with Jill leading the way. Once we find the two, we see Chrom and Marth hugging and laughing. What?
"I'm sorry—Chrom?" Jack asks, a worried smile on his face. I think he is thinking the same thing I am thinking right now.
"Hmm? Oh, Robin. What is it?" Chrom asks, looking at us with a smile on his face. Marth, meanwhile, separates from Chrom and begins to fidget while staring at the ground; glancing at Jill on occasion. Oh boy this is going to be spicy!
"It's just that... You two are out here alone, and Marth is...crying. This is how ill rumors are born." Jack meanders as he looks everywhere but at Chrom.
Jill then steps forward, resolute, and asks "I trust you, Chrom, but is there a reason you and Marth need to be alone?"
Chrom then looks at Marth and says "Can we tell her, Lucina?"
"Of course." Marth, or now known as Lucina, replies. What a damn second. That's the name of Chrom and Jill's daughter! What is going ? I expected a cat fight, but now I get this! What the fuck?
"Robin, this is going to come as a shock, but... I'll just say it: This is our daughter." Chrom places his arm around Lucina, smiling at Jill like that statement was natural.
"...What?! Have you gone mad?!" I agree with the Robins here. I think the Exalt has gone senile.
"It's true, Robin. Please, look closely. Prove it with your own eyes by looking into mine." Lucina says as she walks up to Jill. The two look at each other eyes and Jill lets out a gasp.
"Ah! You have the Brand" The Brand? Is she talking about that weird birthmark on Chrom's arm?
"The same Brand carried by all House Ylisse's bloodline." Chrom explains to Jack and I as we stand off to the side, confused at everything in this situation.
"Lucina's eye bears the exact same pattern…" Robin whispers as she looks in amazement at Lucina.
"Do you see now?"
"...No, no I can't say that I do. If this is Lucina, what has befallen our baby back at the palace?" Holy shit, Jill's right! What happened to the baby for this dark magic to take place!
"Nothing. She's fine." That's not going to help Chrom. Three words will not help in a situation like this!
"Your baby is right where you left her, and perfectly safe. I am her from another time. From a time that is yet to be." Lucina says, placing a hand on her chest. What a motherfucking second. Did she just say that she was from the future? What? I don't… What?
"You mean...the future?" Jack and I say together, completely terrified and confused.
"Yes, more than 10 years hence. After history takes a dark and most destructive turn…"
So. Here is the 29th chapter of Mercenary. I imagine a lot of you are happy to have another chapter. Or very angry and/or scared that this fanfiction got another chapter. Can't say I blame you guys for thinking like that. I would be scared too if something suddenly came back out of nowhere. Anyway, I think I'm going to go write the next chapter to this fanfic. I hope you guys have been doing well and reading better fanfiction/making your own fanfiction. I imagine it is better than this. Anyway, bye!
