Review Time:
SuperNova23: Morgan is best daughter, she's so precious. :3
TriforceWisdom64: Thanks for the tips, the italicized wording in particular. I guess these minor things still creep up on me.
Raihan Sayuko: :)
Guest: :) :)
CompletelyRossome: In the recent one? I think it was Jill, Haar, Echidna, Lalum...and Nino and Reinhardt for a potential surge for both, but alas, Veronica and Ephraim won.
Sdarknecro: Wow, glad you're enjoying it!
In hindsight, while I still like what I did with the Anna origin, part of me wishes I was a little more subtle, but ah well, no point in going back just to change three names. And funny you should mention Jojo titles - I barely knew anything about the series when I started this fic, now I watch part 3 weekly and know a lot of the important plotpoints and stuff. With this title I only have two titles left to spoof!
Cyberchao X: But exhausting to write XD
Chapter 54 - Stoned Ocean
The army returned to the Outrealm space, the feeling of victory invigorating them for the next major battle. More people had been recovered from Anankos's world than when the escape had occurred, but there was no time to rest.
"Yukimura, I think you should stay here for the time being. You're in no shape to fight."
Now, was the time to keep the momentum going. The army's royals were huddled together, and Ryoma was assessing his tactician's condition.
"Lord Ryoma, I refuse to be idle…."
"But you being alive was a gift, and I won't waste it. You recovered my sword, and you did your best to protect Hoshido. Do not scold yourself. You've worked hard enough."
Yukimura was bandaged up properly, with Sakura and Elise healing. His glasses had even been replaced, courtesy of one of the Annas.
"So….you say Hans was prisoner with you?" Xander wondered. "From the looks of things, is it safe to assume Hydra ended his life?"
"I'm afraid so," said the tactician. "I suspect he was buying time for me to make my own escape from the castle, or maybe that monster was just that cruel…"
Ryoma saw a flash of anger across the other prince's face.
"You say Father gave you the Raijinto….and he wants to duel me."
"Correct, sire."
"…."
"What are you thinking, brother….?" Sakura whispered. "Why does Father want to fight you, specifically?"
"To see if I'm truly his son? I don't know. But I won't engage if he isn't in our way."
"Don't be absurd, Ryoma," Xander said suddenly, "if you were willing to confront your mother, what makes your father any different? It is obvious Anankos is using our loved ones just to mock us, and we cannot let sentimentality stop us."
"The same can be said for you, Xander," Ryoma countered. "Don't misunderstand me. I will not retreat if my father were to attack, but I have no intentions of leaving this army just to indulge him."
"Sire…"
"Yes, Yukimura?" he turned his head back.
"General Tokazawa….she was…"
"Hey, great job out there, Prince!"
"You're not half-bad, kid!"
As Corrin walked around the space, he was surprised to see members of the army give him a shout-out. "Really, I didn't do that much…."
"Prince Corrin, a word?" It was Kilma.
"Sure, what's up?"
Kilma's eyes traveled to the prince's neck. "You're wearing my wife's necklace. Did Flora give it to you?"
"Yes, Chief, but if it's too uncomfortable for you…"
"No, seeing you with it means she must trust you that much to give it to you." He spotted his daughters assisting with the new civilians. "Ah….I was never fair to Flora. When she and Felicia were children, my attention wasn't….equal. Felicia was skilled at combat, while Flora was lackluster."
"But she can summon those blizzards!" Corrin argued. "She's just as capable as Felicia."
"You don't understand, Prince Corrin. Being unable to control your frost is extremely dangerous. We of the Ice Tribe are used to subzero temperatures, it's in our blood, the essence of our god. But with around allies of normal temperament…..it could potentially kill them."
"She…helped me escape the plaza when Hoshido accused me by….freezing everything…."
"Perhaps she's learned to temper herself." Kilma quickly turned before Flora could meet his gaze. "Do you know why I am telling you all this?"
"You want to make amends?"
The response surprised Kilma. "…..yes, but I know my wife is part of Anankos's army. Fatima. I myself lack the power to take her on…these accursed burns…if you battle her, will you hold back?"
Now Corrin looked over at Flora, who smiled when she saw him. She even waved, before breaking out in a hefty blush.
"….No. This is war, and these poor souls need rest. If it's between my friends and family and something else….well, the choice is easy."
To his surprise, Kilma nodded.
"Chief Kilma?"
"I was testing you, Corrin. Don't let this new praise go to your head. Don't lose sight of the victory, otherwise it will be lost."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"…..why do the tribes hate each other?"
Kilma scoffed. "Hate is a narrowing word, Prince. Like Hoshido and Nohr, we are diametrically opposed. Fire opposes Ice. Wind opposes Earth. It goes as far back as the dawn of time. Our tribe would waver and die in intense heat. Kumagera's tribe would do the same in intense frost."
"But that's not a reason for hate. If Hoshidans and Nohrians can get along, surely the rest of you can."
"Do you believe that?"
"Why not?"
At that, Kilma spotted a tussle with the tribalists…
XXXXX
"HEY!" Rinkah came barging over. "They know what they're doing! Stop giving them grief!"
"L-Lady Rinkah, they're still of the Ice Tribe…" two onis were (trying) to be healed by the twins.
"I don't care! You're in this army, you suck it up and let them help, or I'll knock BOTH of your teeth out!"
"Y-Yes…."
Once they were gone, Felicia breathed a sigh of relief. "Thanks. Their skin was so hot! And they kept fidgeting…"
"You know, my father keeps giving you two dirty looks. Guess he still hasn't gotten used to this alliance, especially since his battle with your father years ago…"
It had happened before the birth of twins, and it wasn't something Kilma really mentioned to them. Felicia and Flora looked to each other.
"Say….Rinkah. We were thinking….would there be any way to combine our powers? Fire and Ice, into an effective combination? It could help for the battles ahead!"
"Hmm, it's been never done, but I'm interested if you are." Rinkah was silent for a few moments, before muttering: "….sorry."
"What for?"
"I heard your mother is part of…" she trailed off, seeing Felicia's saddened face. "….I guess you have better memories than I do. I never knew my own mother."
"Oh, she was so kind, and the tribe loved her!" Flora said. "But…..if we have to fight her, we will. Right Felicia?"
"No…."
"Felicia!"
Rinkah patted the younger twin's shoulder. "It's okay. I'm glad you two can still remember her. All the more reason why the Silent Dragon will pay for corrupting those memories."
"Rinkah, what will you do after all of this? You've engaged with us more openly than the others. Haven't they shunned you?"
She smirked. "Yeah, but I'll always be a member of the Fire Tribe. Doesn't mean we can't be friends."
"Chief! You ready for the next battle? We're heading out soon…"
Fuga opened his eyes and stood up from his meditation. "Yes. Hayato, you've done a marvelous job so far. I'm glad I sent you off with Prince Corrin's group."
"Heh, save the praise for when we kick more butt…"
"Are you ready to engage with the Earth Tribe?"
Hayato's bravado faded. "E-Excuse me?"
"Yes, I was battling Daichi and his revived men before Hydra conquered Hoshido. I must finish the duel, and put my old rival to rest. I hope you're prepared. Earth is not easy to combat."
"Chief, I….I haven't even seen the Earth tribe before."
"It will be a good learning experience, then," he said cryptically, before heading off to get his weapons. Hayato quickly followed.
News of Ikona's defeat and the loss of the Hoshidan capital reached the ears of the Vallites, who largely had no reaction outside of Iago's demand that they "find the rebel base". The generals all split off, except:
"Hold a moment. You two."
"Yes, Sir Iago?"
"Lord Anankos has a specific goal for us?"
With a glint in his eye, Iago nodded. "You could say that. I want you two to work together. Your earth and your ice! It's such a potent combo. I want you to find the Hoshidan prince and reclaim his sword, if possible. The same with Prince Corrin, only be sure to jam a spike through his naïve little brain, please."
Fatima and Daichi nodded and left, the latter's tribe leaving as well.
"Tch." Iago headed back into the castle. "It doesn't make any sense! How is this army just vanishing from any detection? They reclaimed Shirasagi, yet my soldiers can't find them. What could be helping them? The Archduke? The Sage's ghost?"
Another problem was the strange new power Anankos announced. Were they even aligned with the enemy?
"Sir Iago, you seem frustrated," said Katerina. She was standing idly by a suit of armor.
"Nohrian Queen…..why are you still here? You have your orders."
She took a graceful bow. "Forgive me, sire, but Sir Hydra has demanded I stay."
"Stay?! He has some nerve, the second the enemy is in his vicinity he flees like a coward, and now he drags perfectly good tools into the mix?"
Tools….
"You did the same." Hydra emerged from the shadows, his black eyes glaring at the sorcerer. "You could've killed the prince back at Windmire, and you let your arrogance get you."
"That's very funny, you hideous glob of gelatin. Talking about MY arrogance? Why don't you put some effort into figuring out where Lilith and Mikoto escaped to? Your vacation time of relaxing on the throne is over!"
"You…."
"You are not my sovereign anymore, Hydra. I am the smartest mind in this army, and it is through MY cunning our enemies will fall!"
"We'll see, human, we'll see…."
Katerina watched both figures leave, in opposing directions. Yet, her eyes drifted over to Hydra's slime. Once upon a time, it was Garon's mighty armor, in both mind and body.
Xander...I hope you don't have the same fate as your father…
Meanwhile, Nichol's group hadn't returned back to the base, but now….now, the size of the group had gotten much, much bigger. Every rescued civilian felt safer going off with the Shepherds than retreating into some spiraling vortex.
"Um….when did we pick up all of those fans, Morgan?" Nah whispered.
"I dunno! We've been fighting for a while….hey, Nichol!"
"Chief, you have a mission?"
Morgan looked over the crowd. "Um….is it really safe to have all of these guys with us? The bigger the group, the more attention we'll attract. We don't want Anankos to find us."
A few soldiers looked to the dead trees and destroyed stumps they had left in their wake.
"They want to follow you, chief, I tried to get them to retreat to our base, but they won't listen."
"About that….base?"
Nichol ignored Cynthia's query, looking ahead. "Damn, we're at the end of this little island. So maybe we will have to lighten the group. What way should we go?"
"Up!" Morgan suggested.
At the general's motion, the gate to the Outrealm space was opened back up, and the civilians were forced to retreat. There was no mistaking their looks of disappointment and reverence for the Shepherds, especially Robin's daughter.
"There's a lot this guy isn't telling us," Brady muttered. "Why should we trust him?"
"Because….if you stick by him….you will find your friends…"
"Lilith? What do you mean?"
"Chief!" Nichol snapped his fingers, catching Morgan's attention. "Are you ready?"
The wyverns soared through the sky, and Cynthia/Nah/Gerome followed with the Shepherds in tow. Once the group hit solid ground, however, they saw an entire chain of land with raised, jagged earth, as if it was a path...
"What's this….do Vallites usually do this?" Morgan wondered. "No, they've been just attacking us. They don't seem to know how to do anything else. Maybe we should follow this!"
"It's not man-made." said Lucina, "But it's something. Maybe we'll find Severa, Inigo, and Owain soon…"
"Achoo!"
"Here you go!" Elise passed three tissues around. "Boy, it must be allergy season."
"It's not that….the temperature has dropped. Lest you forget, it's supposed to be summer. The influence of Valla on this world knows no restrictions…" Leo looked around.
The army was alert and ready to take down any Vallites in their way. Their last victory invigorated everyone! However, it would not last….
"HOLD!" Fuga's mighty voice commanded.
"Chief Fuga, what's the matter?" Azura asked, but she got the answer - the path ahead was marred by a massive wall.
"That's a problem, and it extends for miles…we can't use our memory of geography to guide us. What lies ahead….we don't know," Ryoma said. "Let us proceed with caution down those side paths."
"What about the mounts? We can't cram everyone there, we'll be attacked!"
"I know!" Felicia suddenly said. "W-What if….we freeze it? Then we can smash it to pieces for an easier way through, plus our mages can make it melt!"
"It's worth a try…."
The Ice Tribe got to work, leaving the others to wait patiently.
"Damn it….this has to be a trap! The revived Earth Tribe shifted the land to make this, so that we'd be stuck! The rest of you, do not be idle! Guard the Ice Tribe!"
So each tribalist was flanked by a handful of soldiers, and the cavalry readied their weapons. Flora herself was shielded by Mozu, Shura, and Corrin, so she wasted no time either.
"Here goes….."
But they were distracted by a burning heat….emitting from Kumagera.
"Fire Tribe Chief, control yourself!"
"Do not order me around, Nohrian prince! Kilma's daughter has some nerve, saying mages will melt the ice?! We can conjure better fire than a paltry wizard!"
"Cease you tongue!" Kilma growled. "If you insult Felicia again, I will not spare you any reprieve, Kumagera!"
"Pssst, Chief! You're supposed to include Flora too…" Corrin whispered.
"ENOUGH!" Fuga shouted. "This quarrel will not accomplish anythin-!" He looked down, alarmed. "Brace yourselves! Wind Tribe!"
The ground had given away, and many soldiers took a tumble down into the crevasse. But Fuga's quick command saved their lives; the wind his tribe summoned eased their fall.
Unfortunately, this meant the army was now split into two - the portion up above that was freezing the wall, and the portion stuck down below.
Daichi…!
XXXXX
"Is everyone alright?!" Apotheosis shouted. "We just have to make our way back up to the higher level. Shouldn't be that hard with some Warps, right?"
Although the Izumites couldn't find their dropped staves in the cracks of this new canyon.
"…..We'll give it a second."
But in the same second, the rocky walls were morphing and molding, and one wall was pushed towards the group!
"LOOK OUT!" Ryoma roared. Some quickly rolled out of the way, but a few unlucky soldiers….
XXXXXX
"Chief! They'll be crushed down there!"
"Where are you, Daichi?! If you wish to destroy this army, you'll have to start with me!"
Vallites appeared around the higher group, but the Ice Tribe had to focus on their task. Flora's eyes briefly looked to try to see Corrin.
"Focus, Flora! We got your back!" Shura readied his bow. "Shit, Anna fell too!"
So she continued her freezing, but her ears heard the sounds of combat, the sounds of pain, the sounds of battle cries. Are…they all right? Anna….Felicia….Corrin…..oh this is too much! Flora's frost grew exponentially. I want to help them! If I can freeze this entire thing, we can proceed!
"That's got to hurt…."
Now the canyon was shifting, and members of the army were getting cut off from each other, dividing the forces even more. Niles was looking at the crushed remains of one poor soul.
"Are you serious?! We have to focus on getting out of here!" Oboro shouted, accompanied by Arthur, Setsuna, and Elise. "We'll be crushed too!"
"By the walls or the rocks?"
"What do you-"
Massive boulders were heading their way, but luckily a strong torrent of wind knocked it away from falling into the canyon.
"The Wind Tribe!" Elise clutched a Mend staff. "They'll help us! C'mon, Niles, you're in charge!"
"Me?"
"Him?!" Oboro gawked.
"Yeah! Niles knows how to get out of sticky situations! He might look shady, but he's got a heart of gold!"
"You flatter me, Princess Elise." Niles smirked. "But your wish is my humble command. Keep low, and let's hustle."
XXXXX
Another group - Takumi, Hinata, Charlotte, Xander, and Candace - were moving quickly for a way out. Both royals were surprised each time Charlotte blocked a moving wall with her bare hands.
"Doesn't that hurt?"
"Tch! You think I'm made of glass, Prince Takumi?! Besides, it's nothing like the first wall, those bozos are getting distracted. Just leave it to me."
"If you say so!" chirped the adventurer. "Now, where to go next….?"
Hinata, being Hinata, had to restore some of his ego lost to this blonde Nohrian. "I got it! We can climb the edges! I see the ledge above!"
"That isn't a good idea at all," Xander said. "You run the risk of being exposed!"
"Pssah! Lord Takumi knows my talents better than you, sire!"
He quickly ran towards the wall, filled with bravado, and began to climb at an impressive pace. His ears sensed a few Vallites about to attack, but the Fujin Yumi took care of that.
"Just be careful!" Takumi called up.
"What a schmuck!" Charlotte turned to her prince. "And they say Nohr is stubborn. Don't worry, milord, I won't try anything braindead like that. Keep your cool, okay?"
"I appreciate the concern, Charlotte." He raised his sword. "Let's fight those invisible menaces."
Hinata was almost there, and his confidence was booming! I'll have Lord Takumi's back every step of the way! Maybe I can be as strong as Effie, right?
But his eyes bulged once he realized his hands were now frozen to the wall. Said wall was getting colder by the second. "Huh guys?!"
"what's wrong, Hinata?!"
"I….um…..can't move my hands! Is this normal?!"
The others looked around for signs of magic, but the Vallites attacking seemed to be all melee fighters. A few soldiers from the Anti-Valla army appeared and joined in.
"S-Seriously, this isn't funny! Someone get Rinkah!"
XXXXX
But the flame princess was having a rough time of her own: she was shivering, much more so than the others - Kaze, Scarlet, a few of the berserker bros, Orochi, and Owain.
"Rinkah, what's wrong?"
"T-There's ice around us. The walls! They're frozen!"
"Phooey! It's nothing Orochi can't solve with some magic of her own!" The diviner declared, looking to Owain. "You! Assist me!"
"Your command stuns me, fair maiden! But I can see you recognize my raw potential! Unfortunately, I am but a sword wielder for this battle…"
"I still sense magical power in you," she whispered, examining his face. "Were you sired by a great wizard?"
"Well, actually-
"IF SOMEONE DOESN'T DO SOMETHING, I AM GOING TO STRANGLE YOU BOTH!"
The flyers were able to escape the canyon, but now they were caught in the crossfire of Wind and Earth. High-power currents blew their mounts off course, while large stones and larger boulders made flying extremely hazardous.
"Damn, there's no cover! And these Vallites are getting in the way!" Hinoka swerved to dodge a rather jagged rock aimed at her pegasus's head. "Camilla, have any ideas?!"
"Hmm….why yes. Isn't that a dragon vein over there?"
"That's too risky to pop, it's too close to the ground! Could Corrin use it?"
"Does he see it?"
"I will secure it for you, milady," Beruka said. She zoomed downward; her sharp assassin eyes made her dodge all the rocks, arrows, and magic aimed at her. She swung her axe to clear away some of the rubble, enough space for Marzia to land.
"…"
However, when she turned around to fly back up, she felt a frosty hand touch her shoulder. It was the coldest sensation she had ever felt.
"BERUKA!" Corrin came dashing forward, his Yato either smacking or cutting down any Vallite that got in his way. "Stop it!"
Fatima turned to face the prince….just as Beruka and her wyvern were frozen solid. "You're Prince Corrin…"
No, Beruka! I think Flora told me about this once….she has to be thawed out or else her heart will stop! "You'll pay for that, Lady Fatima!"
"So you know me….would you be willing to cut me down? And make Felicia and Flora sad?"
"They'd be just as sad to see their friends frozen!"
"I'm sorry….but we both have our goals to accomplish. As Daichi deals with the Wind Chief, it is my job to stop this army with him. Please. Hand over the Yato."
"No! That's insane!"
Fatima, with a rather disappointed look, raised her hand over Beruka's head. "A simple force will cause her to shatter. Please don't make me do this."
"You wouldn't…."
She would. Fatima closed her eyes and made a powerful chop, right down to-
"OW!"
-Severa's head. But the twintailed girl clutched the frozen Beruka tightly as she ran past Corrin. "It's all you, Prince!"
"…..goodness, where did she….?"
"You don't have a hostage anymore, so let's settle this!" Corrin jumped ahead, and aimed his blade directly at Fatima's chest. However, she quickly dodged, and a simple touch froze his arm, and he dropped the blade.
"AH!" He clutched said arm, wincing. "It's not over yet!"
"It is not!" An angry surge of frost blew into Fatima's face, giving Corrin enough time to pick up the sword with the other arm and run back. "This way, Corrin!"
"Flora?! I thought we said-"
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm such a bad maid that I can't even follow orders," she smiled. "But I couldn't just let you freeze. I can handle Mother."
"No, I can't make you-"
"Please, Lord Corrin."
Fatima regained her footing and watched the prince leave. "Flora…."
"Mother, I can't risk you freezing anymore people. As a warrior of the Ice Tribe, and your eldest daughter…I will save our people from your wrath and put you to rest!"
"Is that so….?"
"Severa! What happened?!"
She laid down the frozen Beruka by Mozu's feet. "Frozen, that's what! Where's a damn healer when you need one? Or a h-hot springs! Something!"
Shura called Azama over. "Can you do anything, monk?"
"Hmm…it looks rather bleak. Perhaps we have to accept it…."
"FAT CHANCE! You're not even trying!" Severa shouted. "You're just going to let her die?!"
"I didn't say that." Azama's annoyance was palatable. "But being frozen is not something you can fix with a heal staff."
"He's right," said a grim-faced Kilma. "We would need some Fire Tribe power to counteract it, before she perishes."
Kumagera was watching, carefully….before looking to the climatic battle between the other tribes.
XXXXX
Fuga and Daichi circled around each other, the former levitating on a bed on his own generated wind, the latter on a raised platform of earth.
"Yoi yoi….can you really go all out, Chief Fuga? And risk harming your comrades?"
"I know, I have more to lose than you….but that is why I must not hold BACK!" Fuga launched a burst of wind forward, only to have Daichi cover himself in a rock shield. It prevented him from falling off. The opposing chief rode the winds and struck the shield with a powerful club attack.
It broke, but Fuga jumped off before he could be impaled by some rocks.
"You were always a formidable opponent, Fuga! I'm glad…I'm glad we have the chance to settle this!"
Fuga's wind deflected the various rock spikes shooting from the canyon; he spun to make a cyclone, which sucked up some stray Earth Tribalists.
"This is not a true battle between tribes!" he shouted. He jumped out of the cyclone, where the tribalists fell, all sporting smashed in heads from his club. "This…is unnatural."
"Why? You never got the chance to prove yourself, given our demise…"
"At the whims of a dragon! We tribes are free! We do not serve other forces….we embrace our elements, and protect our own kind!"
"Fuga, you're too reserved….aren't you enjoying this battle?" Daichi waved his hand, and a few wind tribalists were smashed by a rising wall. "Don't you remember our tussles from years past?"
"I have put that behind me," he whispered. "I have new responsibilities."
"Oh?"
The two circled around each other once more, each deflecting the shots from the opposing tribe. Fuga threw away the club….and took out a sharp katana.
"That won't cut me, Fuga…."
But he ignored him, and got into a stance. His windy aura radiated outward, and the wind itself concentrated around the steeled edge.
"One lifetime, 36 desires….ten lifetimes….360 desires…..a thousand lifetimes…..36,000 desires!"
He moved the sword back….
"GET OUT OF THE WAY!" Hayato yelled to the army's flyers.
"36000 POUND CANNON!" Fuga swung the sword, unleashing a massive burst of wind, so dense it crushed all the earth, Vallites, and enemy tribalists in its way, curving and zooming right at Daichi.
"Hmph! I can block this!"
But his rocky shield split into hundreds of pieces, and the wind both sliced up his entire body….and caused him to tumble down below. Fuga relaxed his sword hand.
"Chief!" Hayato dropped down. "You okay?"
"Hayato….you fool…." He quickly blocked the boy, getting pierced by rock daggers from the remaining enemies…and soon, he fell as well…
"CHIEF!"
"What the hell is going on?!" Anna exclaimed. "That's two thuds now!" She looked to her sister. "We can't keep fighting in this canyon! They'll just squash us!"
"Well, the Wind Tribe has been distracting them long enough…."
But now all of the walls were moving inward.
"Aw crap!"
"Idea!" Anna looked around. "Heavier guys, you block this! Mages, archers, ninjas, you guys give cover!"
Soldiers like Keaton, Benny, Zhara, and Effie all dropped their weapons and pushed back as hard as they could on the moving walls.
"It's cold!" the wolfskin shouted. "You have a plan B?!"
"JUST…..KEEP PUSHING!" Effie roared. She wasn't even transformed, yet she was doing the most work. "We won't let you guys die!"
Members of the Opacare continued to shoot down the Vallites, even hitting a few Earth Tribalists. One in particular, a silver-haired maiden with two black hair ornaments, killed quite a few with Ruin.
"I'll take you up on that," Shade smiled.
But the walls continued to move inward, now generating spikes to pierce the pushes. Keaton and Benny both recoiled and fall down, but Effie pushed even harder.
For….Lady Elise! For….all of my comrades!
XXXXX
Daichi, bloodied and bruised, sat in the center of the canyon, manipulating it with his hands. "You…haven't won yet, Fuga…!"
"FOUND YOU!"
His eyes spotted an angry Hayato, who descended across from him. "Boy….you dare get in my way….?!"
"I'll avenge Chief Fuga and stop you!" He readied his fan. "EN GUARD!"
But Daichi was in no mood for games. The ground curved up and nearly smashed Hayato, who rolled out of the way. He fired some wind back, but it was but a gentle breeze to the facepainted man. "Boy….you're Fuga's spawn, aren't you?!"
"No!" Now came the torrent of Dragon/Ox/Horse spirits, all rapid but weakly concentrated. "But he raised me as his own! And if I'm going to follow in his footsteps…then I can't be afraid to fight!"
"FOOL!"
A rocky fist rose up and punched Hayato, who was shot into one of the walls.
"You're a child! You, the chief?! You still need training! But perhaps if I kill you, Fuga will surrender…"
"No…."
"Huh?"
Defiant, Hayato, rolled over. "Killing me won't do anything. The safety of the tribe means more….than MY LIFE!" His (literal) second wind pulled him up. If I can distract him….then Chief can finish this…!
"We'll see, pup!"
Up above, Flora and Fatima continued their own battle. Flurries and the like soared across the ground, and while Flora's anger gave her the advantage, it had its own problem.
"Weren't you trying to freeze and break the path ahead? You're not helping."
"If I don't best you, then we can't advance!"
Flora took out some daggers and embedded them with frost. She threw them quickly, but Fatima dodged each one with ease. "You truly are my daughter. So cunning!"
"I am not your daughter. My parents don't serve Anankos!" Flora yelled, which only made her power more intense. "I haven't seen you in over a decade, THIS is how you greet us?!" She summoned hail to rain down on her opponent.
XXXX
"WARGH!" Zola got pelted. "This chick is nuts! Lord Corrin, talk some sense into her!"
"Zola, please! You're supposed to be thawing my arm! And I can't get in the way! If I do, Flora won't be able to concentrate."
"She's going to freeze all of us!" the sorcerer shouted, shivering. "It has to be 10, or 20 below!"
"Just do it!"
"Lord Corrin!" Felicia ran over. "I k-know I'm supposed to be freezing the wall, but…..let me talk to her!"
"Felicia? I…I don't know…."
But she ran anyway. Kilma followed her in the shadows.
XXXXX
Flora noticed that her raw power was slowing down the flyers above. Reina and Hinoka were giving warning signals; their mounts couldn't take much more of it.
No…I have to finish this!
Icicle shards fired from both directions, but Fatima realized she was taking more damage. So she jumped back….and readied an attack for above.
"What….that stance!" Flora gasped. "Mother, no!"
It was the technique passed down to generations of chiefs, and their children. The most intense cold that could be mustered…..all life caught would freeze immediately and die.
"Ice…..Ag-"
"STOP, PLEASE!"
Fatima blinked. "F….Felicia…"
Panting, Felicia ran over to her sister. "Mother please! That's a sacred Ice Tribe technique, so dangerous it would damage the continent! A-And our friends would die!"
"Felicia, you know that isn't enough to stop me….."
"But….but….Flora do something!"
"Enough!" Kilma appeared next to his twins. "Fatima…..please don't do it. You are our enemy, but do you realize how many lives would be lost?!"
"Lost….Kilma….do you have any right to scold me? You lost our tribe to Nohr. You let our children be slaves to the king!" Fatima shouted, aura getting colder. "I cannot bare to fight you all….so I must do this!"
"Are you stupid?!" Flora shouted, her aura overcoming that of the lady chief. "I will NEVER let you Ice Age this land! How dare you blame Father, he had no choice…it was us or the tribe!"
"…."
"And….and your forces are the ones harming US! These invisible monster, they only know of war….you are better than that! Or have you truly fallen to Anankos…."
"Flora….."
But her daughter glared back at her. "Well?"
"Flora….where….where did you get that horrible scar?" Fatima asked, her voice stunned.
Corrin approached the group carefully, hiding behind some ice. His eyes widened when he also spotted someone else.
"I got it…..trying to save our people from Garon….or rather, Hydra. You taught us that the tribe always comes first, and yet…..I would've perished if my friends didn't save me."
Fatima felt the scar.
"Oh….it's….such a nasty burn…."
"A burn you say?!"
"Wha-"
Kumagera emerged from the ice, and fire punched Fatima hard enough to knock her down, into the canyon.
"Kumagera! You-"
"Kilma's daughter! Come with me!" he roared. "We will settle this!"
Hinata had been retrieved from the wall, but now his hands were frozen solid. He couldn't even help Takumi and the others push the canyon, or even hit a few Vallites.
"Sorry….Lord Takumi…"
"Just be quiet and relax. We got this!"
"XANDER! TAKUMI!" Elise's group ran over. "We found you!"
"Elise, it's too dangerous! Take cover!" her brother instructed. His regular sword was still enough to cut down any foe that dare cross his path. In response, Elise swung her staff to smash a Vallite head.
"No, big brother! I'm fighting, like the rest of you! I was there when we captured Windmire, and I'm here now!"
Xander looked to Takumi for an elder brother advice piece.
"You tell them, Elise! Those invisible chumps don't know what they're messing with!"
"BOO YAH!" Charlotte, completely invigorated, joined in the smashing of Vallite heads….while continuing to push the canyon's inferior, of course. "Let's crush these sons of bitches! We'll make them drink their own piss and rip out their intestines out!"
Xander had no proper words.
"Ditto what she said!" Oboro high-fived her. "C'mon, Prince Xander!"
"…r-right…"
"Lady Sakura, I hear some shouts! Be careful…"
"Oh, Hana, please!"
The two were alone in the canyon, and had avoided any moving walls or related hazards. Then, they found Fuga lying on his back, bleeding.
"Chief Fuga!" Sakura ran over. "S-Stay still, please!"
"Hng….I must get back up….to stop Daichi….!" He tried to get up, but Sakura forced him down.
"No! That's an order, p-please! Where is he?"
"Ah….not too far….but I know Hayato is fighting him…he will die. I have to…..urgh…." Fuga looked to Hana. "Kazahana, can you back him up?"
"ON IT!" She yelled, reading her blade.
"You….know Hana's name?"
Fuga nodded. "Kazahana II liked to hang out with me and your father. We laughed, drank, told stories….he always said he wanted a child worthy of inheriting his name."
"….."
"Lady Sakura….Hayato is a son in all areas except blood. When his parents died….his mother, a woman I used to love….I took him in, without hesitation. I know he's skilled….but…"
XXXX
"Is that it? Yoi yoi!"
Hayato was now bleeding just as much as the enemy chief, but between all the smashing and rumbling his body had took, he refused to fall down. In fact, his magic kept Daichi staggering….
"No….it's NOT it…." He hissed, getting back up. "I can beat you!"
"No you can't!" Daichi laughed, throwing another rock fist Hayato's way (the boy fired enough wind to smash it to pieces) "Eh?! Am I really losing power….?" He examined his bleeding chest.
"WIND STRIKE!"
Daichi barely dodged the sharp wind attack aimed for said chest. "Too slow!"
Then he reeled over in pain as blood shot out of his wounds. Hana sheathed her sword. "You're too slow!"
"Hana?!"
"Shut up!" She shouted, mustering enough strength to lift Hayato over her shoulder. "You can't fight him here!"
"Are you crazy?! Put me down! This is humiliating!"
Hana quickly ran away from Daichi, who wheezed and glared at the retreating samurai.
"YOU….DARE….MOCK…..ME, CHILDREN?!"
With a mighty roar, Daichi quickly formed a boulder around his body and spun towards the two. But Hana quickly jumped to the side and let his boulder form smash holes through the canyon.
"Ha! Now we can find the others!"
"Can you put me down?!"
"Nope!" Hana said casually, jumping through the first hole. She gasped when she found Izana. "Archduke! Is that Warp?!"
"Finally found it, right?"
"I need you to Warp me through the holes!"
"..."
"With your staff!"
"Well! Someone needs some soap later…" Izana quickly raised said staff.
Fatima got up, and the first thing she noticed was the burnt bruise on her face. "Ah….so hideous…." She looked around, sensing the vulnerable souls of the canyon.
"Not gonna happen!" Kumagera dropped down and pointed his club at her. "If you freeze anything, I'll melt it!"
"Fire Tribe….you always had a nasty temper."
"Tch…I would've loved to fight Kilma but you'll manage!" His aura sparked to life, and it was enough to raise the temperature across the canyon. This raised Rinkah's energy nearby.
"Very well….."
"LET'S SETTLE THIS, ICE TRIBE!" His fire burnt bright and just as hot, and it clashed with Fatima's ice in a steamy mix of competing temperature. The nearby soldiers quickly ran, but some either froze or got caught on fire.
Nevertheless, a few people took potshots at Fatima, and with Kumagera's fire, it was harder to deflect or freeze them outright.
"Hahahaha! Got you!" He upped the heat, which now the effect of melting the walls.
"Stop it!" Flora yelled from above, summoning her own flurries to attack Fatima from behind; the latter was clearly uncomfortable. "Don't just incinerate her!"
"Are you going soft, now?!"
"No! But I have an idea!"
Fatima summoned icicles to hit Flora, who flipped over them and landed next to Kumagera. She whispered something in his eye; the notion seemed to disgust him.
"It's the only way!"
"…..tch!"
In response, Fatima increased the intensity of HER frost, but Flora had enough power to match it. Then, Kumagera's skin turned boiling red.
"W-What are you doing?!"
"TEMPERATURE GRADIENT!" Flora surrounded the entire area with her frost, but Kumagera divided chunks of his own fire in the middle of it. They had to exhaust their energy to keep the gradient moving.
Cold then hot. Hot then cold. Fatima couldn't predict when each pattern occurred, so what happened was that when the fire melted her chilly defenses, the frost froze a piece of her skin. The temperature kept pingponging between extremes.
Elsewhere, Daichi had crashed into the edge of the canyon. "Urgh….my head…."
"There he is! FIRE!" Apotheosis's voice yelled. The chief quickly blocked all the arrows and spells with his shield, but he was still dizzy and struggling to get up.
This, of course, left his other side unexposed….where the Warp had taken Hana and Hayato.
"There! Hit him!" Hayato whispered.
"A samurai doesn't attack from behind!"
"You can't be serious!"
Daichi's ears perked up, but he had to focus on blocking shots.
"Hurry!"
"Have you no pride?" Hana huffed. "Fuga wants you to survive, and this is a Wind Tribe battle. I want you to defeat him, once and for all."
"But….." Hayato wiped some blood from his face. "You're right. I can use…the last of my power." He cleared his mind and put his hands together. Father, Mother….I hope you're watching.
"HE'S ALMOST DOWN!" Anna yelled out.
"Like hell I am!" Daichi yelled back, launched his earth to smash and crush his foes. "I am the Earth Tribe Chief! I will not lose to regular soldiers!"
"Then why don't you lose to the Wind Tribe?!"
"WHAT?!" Daichi looked back. "YOU! YOU'RE STILL ALIVE?!"
"YOU'RE NOT!" Hayato pushed his palms outward. "BREATH OF THE WIND: POWER PUSH!" The air was shot out as a dense ball, but Daichi didn't have the reflex this time, being wounded and dodging other fire.
So it crashed into his face, head on.
"LOOK OUT!"
The standing soldiers watched Daichi smash through his own barrier, and jet through the air until his head smashed into another part of the canyon.
"Whoa….did we do it?"
Poor Daichi's face had been smashed painfully out of alignment. He was done.
Meanwhile, Corrin helped Felicia and Kilma head down the canyon, to find their sister and wife. What they did find, however, shocked them all.
"Ha….ha…."
Flora and Kumagera were both exhausted and lying on the ground. Half of the wall was frozen completely, while the other half was on fire.
Fatima was stuck in the middle, somehow marred by both burns and frostbite.
"Fatima!"
"M-Mother!"
"Ha….I…..I can't move…." Fatima looked….so cheerful? "I've never….seen such an attack before. My body is so hot, yet so cold."
Corrin ran over to Flora. "Flora, are you….no, she's unconscious…"
"So is Kumagera…."
Fatima was tearing up. "I'm so proud of her, Kilma. We both thought…..we both gave Felicia more attention….and yet….she turned out to be just as brilliant as her sister."
Kilma picked up Flora, and hugged her body tightly. "My daughter…."
"Ohhh! I'm so sorry, sister!"
"Enough of that. Felicia, come closer." She smiled when she did. "Ah….you're just as beautiful. You two were….and always will be equals."
"M-Mother….ohhh….I missed you so much!" blubbered Felicia as she hugged her (ignoring the side heat). "I….I just wanted to say I love you, one last time!"
"Yes….and you, Kilma?"
Kilma's own sorrow couldn't be masked. "You were the love of my life, Fatima. To see you in such a state gives me more pain than the day you died. But…we both know what must be done."
"Yes. But….can you promise me, something?"
"Anything, my sweet."
"Make sure…our tribe survives. That's all I want, and it's all you ever wanted."
"…Prince Corrin."
"Me?"
"Yes…" Felicia pulled away. "Please do it. I don't have the stomach to do it."
Corrin didn't want to, but he accepted their wishes. Fatima closed her eyes…and Corrin plunged the Yato through her body.
Soon she dissolved into dust like Ikona did, and like Ikona she still had a smile…before leaving this realm forever.
"Lady Fatima….I'll keep Flora safe. I promise."
The battle had been won, but the army was exhausted and seriously wounded. Wind Tribe snuffed out the last of the Earth Tribe, and they too had suffered losses.
Camilla descended with Hinoka, and she got off to approach Severa. "How…is she?"
Kumagera had ordered his tribalists to thaw Beruka out, but she was still unconscious. Her frozen wyvern had been smashed to pieces prior.
"She'll….be alright….I hope."
"Severa….you saved her life," Camilla's voice was quiet. "I don't think I can ever repay the favor."
"No….don't say that. She….she's my friend, damn it, I owe you nothing!" Severa began to cry. "All because she was too stubborn!"
"Birds of a feather, darling. Wouldn't you do the same, if you were her?"
Severa sniffled. "Probably."
"Oh, sweetie….dry those tears…." Camilla pulled her into a hug, and she buried her retainer's face into her chest. "Sssh….we still won. Beruka isn't dead, and neither are you. I couldn't ask for anything else."
"General Nichol! Is that you?"
The Fire Tribe tensed up at the unknown faces with him, but Lucina pushed her way forward. "S-Severa! Is that really you?!"
"Wha….?" She pulled away from Camilla. "Lu….Lucy?!"
"I think you need to explain what's going on here," Gerome said coldly. "Where are Owain and Inigo?"
"They're uh…." Now aware of what the scene looked like, Severa turned bright red and stood up. "N-Never mind that! How did you find me?! Who sent you here?!"
The Shepherds stepped to the side, revealing Lilith.
"Hello….please, may I speak with Corrin?"
Anankos's head began to rumble violently.
"THE SOURCE OF NEW POWER…LILITH….SEVERA, INIGO, AND OWAIN….THEY'VE….IAGO."
"Yes, my king?"
"HOW DID YOU LET THEM CROSS PATHS? YOU ARE MY TACTICIAN. YOU WILL STOP THEM."
"I can always just-"
"NO. NO MORE BIDING YOUR TIME, HUMAN!" the room began to shake, mirroring the dragon's rage. "THEY HAVE DISPOSED OF MY GENERALS. MIKOTO IS STILL MISSING. ARETE HASN'T FOUND AZURA. SUMERAGI HAS DISAPPEARED! YOU! WILL! FIX! THIS!"
Iago stepped back, uneasy. "But Hydra has-"
"YOU WILL STOP THEM WITH THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARMY, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?! THEY ARE GETTING CLOSER, AND YOU STILL DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE?!"
"They….disappear!"
"WHAT KIND OF EXCUSE IS THAT?!"
"Fine!" Iago held up his hands in defeat. "I will stop them, sire. Give me the remnants of the Vallite army. With them, my Faceless, my Stoneborn…I will crush all of these rebels personally!"
"IS THAT SO….?"
"Yes…." Iago removed his mask. "No more games."
FIN
Ending notes: Took a lot of inspiration from One Piece's Aokiji from this one. Really it was just hard throwing in plenty of characters while also having solo battle moments. So clooose...
(I wonder, will I finish this fic before we learn of FE16?) Sorry it took a while, I've been REALLY busy.
Next Time - More of the Anankos flashback, and the reunion between the Shepherds.
