A/N: How's it going everybody!

2019

"Ailell?" The forest green-haired boy questioned. "Isn't that the same place that has dried up centuries ago."

"Yes, it has." Ms. Gregory confirmed. "Research indicates that it may have dried up during the 15th century, after the volcano, Mt. Firembl became dormant."

"I can't imagine staying there." The girl with the cap said. "I mean, I'm all for a good sauna, and hot stone treatment, but there is such a thing as too much heat."

"Dorine, I don't think that's a good analogy…" Eden shook her head.

"I'm just saying!" Dorine pouted, her cheeks puffing up slightly.

"Correct me if I'm wrong," The bespectacled boy said. "But I heard there was a guardian that lived there. Was that true?"

"Ignis, there is no such thing as monsters." The angular purple-haired boy simply said.

"Well same could be said about pegasi, and wyverns Lawrence, and look what happened." Ignis countered.

"Eventually…" Ms. Gregory began. "The army knew that they had no choice, so they prepared to make their way to Ailell, the Valley of Torment."

Pegasus Moon, 1186
One Week Later

As planned, Niya, and the rest of her students made their way to Ailell, where they would meet Lady Judith of House Daphnel, where they would be able to receive the necessary supplies, and soldiers that they desperately needed, following the attack on the Monastery.

As they neared the Valley, the heat grew stronger. It was as if they were suddenly plunged into the fires that cooked their meals.

"Ugh!" Hilda whined, as sweat droplets flowed down her body. "It's so hot! I'm all sweaty and gross!"

"I now understand how our food feels before meals…" Dorothea said, as she wiped her sweat with her sleeve.

"If it's for the sake of food," Raphael began with confidence. "Then I am willing to tough it out."

"I change my mind. I would like to return to my cozy bed now." Linhardt said, as he tried to turn around and walk away, but was stopped when Caspar grabbed his collar.

"Sorry Lin," Caspar spoke. "You're needed here."

"If I remembered correctly," Marianne suddenly said. "There is a legend that stated that this valley was born due to the wrath of the goddess. They say a pillar of light poured from the heavens, and completely burned of the forest that used to be here."

"Somehow it doesn't sound that far off that a benevolent goddess would burn an entire forest to a crisp." Yuri stated. "It's how it always goes."

"The legend also stated the appearance of a fierce guardian that roams the area, protecting it."

"Is this a legend, or a children's fantasy?" Balthus said. "A goddess' rage is one thing, but a guardian? Please. Isn't that a bit too much of a stretch at this point?"

Ailell, The Valley of Torment

"I'm so used to the chilled temperatures of Faerghus, that adjusting to the heat seems almost impossible." Ingrid said, wiping her forehead.

"Something tells me that what decided battles in this area weren't blades, but rather who didn't overheat the fastest." Sylvain added.

"I just hope that this ordeal with Judith goes quick, so we can all get home quickly." Ignatz hoped.

"I'm surprised such a place existed in Fodlan." Bernadetta squeaked. "I miss the confines of my room now."

"Well…" Ferdinand struggled to say a word. "Let us just be careful I suppose."

"I think my head is hurting now. I am seeing what you call a… mirage? Look over there!" Petra began, pointing to a far of location.

"I see it too." Niya said. "Are those Kingdom soldiers?"

Without warning, an arrow shot suddenly lands just mere inches from where Niya was standing.

"It's an ambush!" Niya shouted out. "Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

Meanwhile

"They're just as you expected Lord Gwendal." A Sniper said. The same Sniper who shot the arrow.

"I figured as much." Gwendal huffed. "This would be a good place to finish off my life as a knight… if they are able to kill me that is."

"Lord Gwendal, don't say that!" A Bishop said worriedly.

"Calm now my dear soldiers." Gwendal began. "The moment I was tasked to go here, I knew my life would end eventually. My only wish is that my only daughter, Gwyneth survives."

Meanwhile

"Everyone, we should split." Niya ordered. "I'm not entirely sure if Judith has been ambushed as well, but we should hold of for as long as we can."

Later

Ashe was part of the group that took the path to the north. As he was the first, in order to scout ahead, an arrow shoots up, just narrowly missing the wing of his wyvern.

"What the-?" Ashe began in surprise, before he carefully made his way down to the ground. As he lowered, he was shocked to see just who was the person who had shot the arrow.

"Seto? Is that you?" Ashe said in surprise. Seto was his best friend while he grew up under Lonato's care.

"Hello Ashe," the man greeted coldly. "I see that you still sided with the enemy who killed Lord Lonato."

"It's not like I had a choice Seto!" Ashe frustratingly said. "Believe me, I didn't want to do it. In fact, I have to live with that memory, and it haunts me to this day!"

"You liar!" Seto shouted back. "You had a choice to back out, but no! You mercilessly cut him down like a savage. Did you forget about Cristophe? Your dear brother and sister?"

"Everyone has regret over it!" Ashe countered. "Just ask everyone I joined with. We're not happy with it. I'm not happy with it as well."

"SHUT UP!" Seto shouted once more, getting angrier. He then let out an arrow, and shot it directly at Ashe.

Ashe barely dodges, but the arrow strikes clean through a portion of his wyvern's wing, causing his wyvern to fall to the ground. Thankfully, they were just a foot, or so from the ground.

"Lonis!" Ashe called to his wyvern. "Are you all right there, buddy?"

The wyvern let out a weakened growl. He wasn't dead, but it would be a while before he would start flying again.

"Seto, please." Ashe pleaded to his best friend. "Turn back now."

"I'm sorry Ashe, but as a servant to Lord Lonato, I will not back down."

"If that is how it has to be…" Ashe realized, before he drew out his bow. "I'm sorry Lonato."

And the two former best friends fought each other. Their bows letting out arrows, narrowly dodging the other person, and landing into the smoldering grounds, or landing, and burning into the flowing lava. Eventually…

.

.

.

"GYAH!" Came the cries of pain of one of the two archers. It was Seto. He had been fatally impaled by arrow to his heart. As quickly as he fell, Ashe rushed up to him, and managed to catch his dying friend.

"Seto, I'm so sorry." Ashe blinked away his tears. "If only there was another way."

"Don't be." Seto said through a weakened voice. "I should be the… one. I was… a fool. Heh! If Lonato saw us, he would be… you know."

"Yeah, he definitely would have." Ashe agreed, thankful that his last moments with his friend was happy.

"Sorry Ashe…" Seto said weakly. "I hope… you succeed." With that, Seto's eyes closed, his heart stopped pumping, and his body went stiff. Seto had died.

"Sorry Seto." Ashe spoke softly, before he continued onward, tugging his wyvern's reins.

Later

"Gah! That took longer than expected." Judith grumbled, finally entering the valley. She had taken many precautions to avoid any suspicions of aiding Niya's army. She then surveyed her surroundings.

"Wait a second, Ah! I see old man Gwendal is here. And he doesn't look to be an ally this time around."

Gwendal too had spotted Judith. "Oh, I see the Hero of Daphnel is here as well. I expect her to bring more than these children." The knight then charged towards Judith.

Meanwhile

"Professor," Ingrid called out. "Lady Judith has arrived from the northeast, and it seems Lord Gwendal is making his way towards her as well."

Niya simply nodded, before changing direction to help Judith. Thankfully for her, two of her former students made their way first, and were already meeting Gwendal head-on.

"Does a whelp like you really expect to kill me? I am Gwendal, the Gray Lion, a knight by the hand of Count Rowe! Do your worst!" Gwendal roared out, seeing the two that had come to face him.

"Hey, Lord Gwendal…" Sylvain sheepishly began. "What's up? How have you been? How's Gwyneth been doing?"

"You!" Gwendal raged. "You're that Gautier boy! How dare you mention my daughter's name, after what you have done!"

"To be fair, I honestly regret doing it now!" Sylvain panicked, as he dodged an axe swing.

"And you!" Gwendal turned, seeing Yuri was the other person who joined Sylvain. "So. You've chosen to turn your blade against the count. Heh. Never thought I'd see the day, mongrel."

"And yet you are seeing it, aren't you? Say what you will. I know your true feelings for me. Sure, you watched my back by order of the count. But you cared too. You were the only one who treated me as an equal." Yuri replied, unfazed by Gwendal's choice of words to him.

"That is all in the past. This is no time for misplaced sentimentality. I must do what I came here to do." Gwendal spoke back, not feeling an ounce of sentiment upon hearing what Yuri had to say.

Meanwhile

As Sylvain and Yuri continued to engage Gwendal, Niya had finally made her way to where Judith was.

"Byleth... No, let's leave the pleasantries for later. First, I want you to take this. It's nothing important, but it may prove useful." Judith hastily said, before tossing an Energy Drop to Niya, and moving on to fight any more of Gwendal's forces.

"Uh…" Niya spoke confused, not knowing how to react, as she stared at the Energy Drop in her hand. She knew the circumstances, but still.

Instead, she simply pocketed the Energy Drop, and helped Judith as well.

Later

Back to Sylvain and Yuri.

The duo were still teaming up against Gwendal. They both knew just how powerful the Gray Lion was, and dared not underestimate him.

"I will not waver!" Gwendal shouted, launching another axe swing, which Yuri barely dodged.

"The lion's fury!" Gwendal shouted again, launching yet another axe swing, this one shattering Sylvain's Steel Shield.

"Gah!" Sylain groaned. Feeling the pain, which had resulted in his left arm breaking. "Shouldn't have done that…"

The trio would eventually continue, until Yuri feigned an attack, before quickly rolling aside, and leaping, striking Gwendal right on the back of his neck, while Sylvain used his still-functioning right arm to impale the Gray Lion with his Steel Lance, launching him of his horse, landing to the heated ground.

"Ah, so I have found a place to die… Young ones… I thank you…" Gwendal eventually passed on.

"You all right there?" Yuri asked, turning to the red-haired knight.

"I should be… although something tells me I won't be able to use my left arm for a while." Sylvain groaned, as he held his now-broken arm.

"Lord Gwendal!" came the voice of a Kingdom knight, who had seen that Gwendal was now dead.

"You!" Another knight pointed accusingly to the two, before charging towards them. "You both shall pay for this!"

"Oh great…" Yuri groaned.

"I do not need this right now…" Sylvain worriedly said. "Really wish some kind of miracle happened."

Just as Sylvain finished his words, a furious bubbling could be heard from the lava pool near them. Eventually, a slender-looking beast with a sail running along its spine, and a fish-like tail leapt out from the lava, landing in between the two parties. Its body was gleaming thanks to the lava coating it.

The beast looked to both parties, before facing towards the Kingdome army, roaring at them, its beak-like mouth producing a clacking noise afterwards.

Near-petrified by fear, one of the soldiers slowly walked towards Gwendal's corpse, which was just before the beast, who was still staring intently at them. He slowly took hold of the body, pulling it away from the beast, as well as tugging the reins of his horse, before he, and his fellow Kingdom Soldiers left.

After the Kingdom Soldiers left, the beast turned its attention to the duo, before eventually deciding to leap back into the lava, where it slowly disappeared into the depths of the lava.

"I don't believe it!" Came the voice of Ignatz, along with the rest of the students. "The guardian beast does exist."

"Well, Ailell WAS known to be a former ascetic training ground for monks." Flayn said. "How this guardian came to be though, I don't really know."

"Perhaps it existed well before that time." Ignatz theorized.

'Maybe the Goddess' rage isn't so far of after all.' Marianne thought to herself, upon witnessing such an event.

Later

"To think a scrap would happen hear of all places…" Judith said. "We're lucky we all made it out alive."

"Sorry for this Judith," Niya started. "If I had known, I wouldn't have agreed to this, and involve you."

"Save it." Judith said. "These days, it's a miracle I've gone this long unscathed. I can see why Claude talks about you a lot."

"Wait, Claude? Really?" Hilda began. "Not to be rude Lady Judith, but Niya never fully taught the Golden Deer."

"So that's your name, professor?" Judith said with a raised brow, to which Hilda immediately cupped her hands over her mouth. "Anyway, he suggested I help because you seemed trustworthy enough."

A Brief Pause

"Anyway, let's get this hand-off done quickly. It's not that I suspect you of anything, but... I must warn you that these are very important soldiers for my territory. Don't treat them like expendable equipment."

"Off course," Niya agreed, nodding. "I make sure every soldier is treated fairly, and respectfully."

As Judith was about to say something, an Alliance Soldier came rushing to them.

"Lady Judith," the solider began. "The Great Bridge of Myrrdin has been taken over by the Imperial Army. We require aid immediately."

"Guess what I was about to say will have to wait." Judith sighed, before turning to Niya. "Niya listen. I know all of you want to return to the Monastery, but I feel that we would need to secure the Great Bridge first. Will you aid us?"

Niya looked to the rest, who had a mixture of both annoyance, and willingness. "We shall help, but I am allowing half of my students to return if they wish."

When the two turned to see who wished to return, surprisingly, none of them decided to speak up.

"My arm may be in pain professor, but I'm still willing to help." Syvain said, still clutching his arm.

"I may not have Lonis for the next fight professor," Ashe began. "But either way, I shall aid you still." Lonis growled in agreement.

"House Gloucester may be allied with the Empire," Lorenz began. "But I shall aid you, and even convince my father to aid our cause."

"Very well," Niya turned back to Judith. "We shall aid you."

"All right then." Judith began. "There is a place that's a fair distance between here, and the Great Bridge. We can rest there, and continue onward." And with that, the group left.

"You're a fool you know that." Ingrid scolded Sylvain. "To engage Gwendal like that, and break your arm."

"Oh, come on," Sylvain nervously chuckled. "I did say I regret doing it."

"Just promise me that you'll stay alive." Ingrid said, with a hint of worry in her voice.

"You know I will." Sylvain slyly winked.

A/N: And we're clear!

First off, I added that Ashe segment since I know that in non-Azure Moon routes, he's there to be recruited in certain circumstances. But since Ashe was needed for the first chapter, I came up with this so Ashe can have a bit of the spotlight. Sorry Ashe! The same thing will happen to Lorenz next chapter.

Secondly, I had Sylvain and Yuri deal the finishing blow because 1. Yuri has special dialogue with Gwendal. And 2. Sylvain did flirt with Gwendal's daughter, and I am quite disappointed that he doesn't have unique dialogue, so I decided to fix that. Also, because I don't want Niya/Byleth to always deal the killing blow.

Thirdly, Yes, I am well aware that there is no guardian beast in the chapter itself, but I thought why not add one. For the curious, the monster is Agnaktor from Monster Hunter. I wanted to incorporate it into the fight, but I sadly could not, without it looking extremely forced.

Fourthly, final scene was added between Ingrid and Sylvain because I'm pretty sure Ingrid would have a few choice words for Sylvain, before eventually getting worried. Think of it as my way of adding some romance in this story.

Fifthly, I made the Great Bridge immediately after because I always thought it made sense. Also, after the Great Bridge chapter, the story will take a turn, and finally be different. Yes, this story won't be just Silver Snow minus the staff. I felt these chapters were necessary, so I tackled them first.

Anyways, next chapter will see the return of Divine Pulse because I couldn't find a way to fit it in previously.

Until the next chapter, BYE!