Chapter 8
Slight side note; why do OC protagonists for DDLC seem to focus heavily on Monika? (For romance, anyways.) There's still three other girls here guys..
And why so many self-insert stories?
Eh, whatever. That ain't got nothing to do with this.
Onwards, towards the eighth chapter!
Morgan grunted as he dropped down a cliff. "Ugh!" he gasped, staggering upon impact. "Man... still shaky from that last battle..."
They had done it. Through a brilliant strategy they had managed to defeat the Conqueror Walhart.
Though not at a heavy price. His face lost his smile and an overwhelming urge to scream rose from within him.
"Cynthia..." The word came out. The Pegasus Knight had taken a harsh blow and was currently in a coma, though her wounds had mostly healed. At the same time, Yarne had been struck by a Beast Killer, which had left him in equally bad shape.
And Nah...
Morgan shook his head. "Should've seen that Wyrmslayer coming," he growled out through clenched teeth. As he spoke, however, he felt an odd tingle along his left arm. He grimaced, recalling the Arcwind spell, cutting through some of his nerves, weakened from the spear fragments from that day that seemed so long ago, though in reality was not even a month ago. Brady had managed to use a Mend spell to reconnect the severed tendons, however.
He gritted his teeth. Thinking about the past wouldn't change anything.
At least there weren't any casualties among the Shepherds. Morgan glanced along the ground, the rich green grass flowing outwards.
He breathed out, staring out over the sea the cliff overlooked. The sun shone down on the glistening waves below, which lapped at the coarse, dry (and gets everywhere, he thought wryly) sand, washing it away to reveal a few shining stones.
"Huh... nah, this ain't it." He palmed his face at his wording. "Ugh... what was it again...? Large cliffs... far away from human civilization...?" Morgan looked outwards over the wide view. "Hm... nope, not here." He pulled out an Elwind tome and used the spell's momentum to propel himself from the cliff he'd dropped down to, back to another cliff.
"Hm...? Morgan." Gerome was sitting next to Minerva, within a tall tree's shade.
"Hey, Gerome." Morgan withdrew his tome and walked over to his companion. "It's a really nice day, isn't it?"
"Yes," replied the Wyvern Rider, closing his eyes.
Morgan narrowed his eyes. "Hey... have you heard of Naga's Bell?"
"No." Gerome looked at him. "Why do you ask?"
Morgan shrugged. "Nah wanted me to find one... and it'd be a pretty good gift for when she wakes up." He looked back to the masked Shepherd. "Hm... hey, uh..." What do I say? "Do you... like Cynthia?"
The Wyvern Rider sighed. "Begone, Morgan. I don't wish to speak about that." With his words, a slight blush underneath his mask.
"Heh... sorry." Morgan looked elsewhere, beginning to walk away. "Huh..."
We're not gonna be staying here too much longer... we're only still here because the army and the Shepherds have so many injured.
Is Naga's Bell even here...?
Morgan sighed. "Well, just gotta keep trying." He waved to Gerome, who waved back. The tactician walked along the dusty road, with little attention as to where he was walking.
Well... there is one location I can see from here that meets the criteria. He looked at a distant mountain.
Why's it have to be so far away from where camp is, though?
"Oof," grunted Morgan, reaching the top at last. "Ugh... that took a while." He rolled his shoulder with a sigh, taking a seat. "Phew..."
It had been midday when he started towards the mountain; despite his great physical ability the climb was... exhausting, to say the least.
He breathed out, looking up at the stars, letting himself simply relax, the cool night air branching to scratch at his skin.
Morgan removed his cloak with a groan, standing up despite the protest of his muscles.
Illuminated by the moon through some clouds was a single, seemingly apparent flower.
A smile came to his face as he walked over to said flower, inspecting it. To say the flower was beautiful would be a gross understatement. Though it looked fragile at first glance, as he bent over to take a better look. it carried strength within it. And there was a visible aura surrounding it, as if it was taking in the moonlight as an augmentation for its beauty.
"This has to be it," he spoke aloud. "Naga's Bell." He then paused. "Wonder how I'll take it home with me without damaging it."
A growl came from in front of him, and he leapt away as he heard a heavy weapon swing at him.
The Steel Sword missed, though the Risen wielding it simply hissed and lunged for him.
Morgan turned and ran, forcing his cloak haphazardly around his body as he went by. He looked behind him to see more Risen joining the first to pursue him.
"Damn!" he cursed, drawing the Iron Sword inside his cloak and blocking a slash. "Hah!" Stepping in close, a reverse grip stab felled the unholy foe.
Forcing his blade out the side, Morgan rolled from a Silver Lance. Getting back to his feet he threw his sword up and readied his Thunder tome.
"Wha..." Looking around him there were quite a few Risen. More then enough to surround him, in fact.
"Aw, man... this isn't my lucky day," he commented. "Well, it kinda was, finding Naga's Bell and all, but..." Morgan shook his head. I gotta think! There's has to be a way to do this without getting killed!
"HAH!" shouted a familiar voice; the harsh roar of a wyvern sounded, and Morgan could see Gerome use a Steel Axe to cut a Risen apart.
"Hey, Gerome!" he called, casting a Thunder spell to defeat another Risen, the lightning magic enough to fell the enemy in one blow. "Cover me for a second!" Without waiting for a response he ran for the flower.
"Morgan, what are you-" A loud sigh came from the Wyvern Rider, and his mount roared, using her powerful jaws to snap up a Risen.
Morgan grunted, pulling out his sword to block an axe strike. Pretty strong... but... "Checkmate!" he smirked, channeling his magical reserves into his arm, cutting the foe in two with ease.
He ducked under another attack and dashed ever closer for the flower. Mother taught me how to better wield Ignis, but I still don't have the hang of it! Morgan maneuvered into a slide, managing to get right next to Naga's Bell.
"Gotcha!" With a careful hand he picked it, and looked up to see an axe rush at him.
It was too close. Much too close.
"GWAH!" he screamed, staggering back from the heavy swing. "Ugh!" Despite the pain flaring throughout his body, he didn't drop the flower.
Morgan grunted and rolled away from a Swordmaster. Hissing, he dropped Naga's Bell in his pocket and pulled out his tome, firing spells in random directions behind him as he ran.
Looking forward he could see Gerome take to the air, using his axe to cut apart another Risen. "Morgan!" he called, extending a hand toward the tactician.
"Yeah!" Morgan panted as he ran, dropping the Thunder tome in his other pocket and taking longer strides. He leapt to his companion, reaching out with a hand.
In the corner of his eyes Morgan saw an archer release an arrow, and Gerome quickly jerked back his steed's reins to evade the attack.
Which left Morgan tumbling over the side of the cliff.
"OH NO-" The tactician gasped as he hit a rock jutting out the face of the cliff, and rolled off it to hit something else, and off that to fall further. "AGH!"
"MORGAN!" he heard somebody shout. Then a strong hand grasped his body, halting him from landing on a rough, painful surface.
"Ugh..." he groaned, trying to look at whoever had caught him. "Gerome...?"
"Wha... no, it's Cynthia!" The Pegasus Knight's chirpy voice sprang across his drowsy senses.
"Cynthia...?" Morgan shook his head, hissing in pain as she heaved him on the back of her mount. "You... when'd you wake up?"
"A little while ago," she answered, turning her attention to her pegasus, and dodging a throwing axe. "Whoa, whoa, whoa!" With expert control, Cynthia maneuvered her mount around, ascending towards Gerome and Minvera. "Hey, how are your wounds?"
"Oh," spoke Morgan, wincing as he opened up his cloak for a better analysis at his body. The sharp puncture wounds were oozing worrying amounts of blood. "Ugh..." He pulled a Vulnerary from his pocket. "This should be enough until Brady can look at me..." He ingested the medicine, the rather pleasant taste of several herbs sweetened by honey sweeping his taste buds. "Ah..."
"Morgan!" The tactician looked to the side as he heard Gerome's voice. "My apologies... are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," he spoke, cracking his neck. "Don't worry about it. I'm not dead, so everything's alright."
Gerome sighed. "Still, that does not-" He flinched, gasping as an arrow struck Minvera. The wyvern screeched and fell, struggling to stay up in the air despite the harsh injury to its wing. The quick drop was enough for Gerome to fall from his mount, releasing a cry as he fell.
"Ugh... get him, Cynthia!" shouted Morgan, and the Pegasus Knight descended sharply. Shifting to one side Gerome was caught. "Gh..." Peering over the side, Morgan saw Minvera land on safe ground at the bottom of the cliff. "Huh... all three of us together are probably too heavy for your pegasus," he realized.
"Watch out!" spoke Gerome, using his axe to deflect an arrow coming at Cynthia's face. "Are you okay?!"
Cynthia nodded, sweating as she got her mount to drop down beside Minvera. "Unh..." She leaned heavily against her pegasus, which whinnied back at her. With a shaky hand she stroked its mane, whispering nothings in its ears.
"Are you sure you're alright?" asked Morgan. It wasn't that long, but she's sweating like... He shook his head. Of course. When I left, she was still in a coma. She couldn't have regained much energy.
Wait... if she still in a coma, how'd she get out here so fast?!
"Cynthia," spoke Morgan. "I'm grateful that you're here... but how'd you know I was here?"
"Oh, that...?" She managed to chuckle, wiping her forehead. "I woke up and asked where Gerome was... he was still at camp at that time, on night patrol." clarified Cynthia. "He said he saw you scale this cliff and was gonna go after you..." She swallowed, grasping at her side with a wince. "So... I went as soon as Aunt Lissa left, saying I should rest. I mean... if he's being a hero, I can't just let him go alone!"
"Foolish, Cynthia," murmured Gerome, still looking over Minvera. "You should be stayed at camp."
"No use arguing about it," spoke Morgan, interrupting Cynthia's response. "What's done is done, and... huh?"
He glanced upwards at a loud growl to see Risen descend the face of the cliff. "Oh, shoot!" He pulled out his tome as a few dropped in front of him. He used a Thunder spell, and the foe in front of him fell. "Guh?!" He staggered as a couple spells struck him. "Wha..."
Looking to the side, quite a distance away, he found the culprit. The Sorcerer Risen seemed to... smirk somehow, preparing another Mire attack.
"HYAH!" roared a familiar female voice, before a Javelin impaled the enemy.
Clutching at his new wounds, Morgan smiled at the new arrival. "Lucina."
"Hello, Morgan," spoke the princess, pulling out her Falchion. "It seems that you have gotten into... a bit of a mess this time." She looked over the rest of her allies. "Are you all alright?!"
"Mostly," spoke Morgan. "But Minvera took a bad hit and Cynthia and her mount are fatigued." He glanced the Lucina again. "How did you even find us?"
"Gerome wasn't the most stealthy and I took quick notice of my sister's absence," spoke Lucina, looking at the Pegasus Knight with stern eyes. "And from there, the sounds of shouts, cries and fighting was enough."
"Alright..." Morgan shook his head. "Wait, no! We gotta run and get everyone else! We can't take on this many like this!" He neared Lucina, pulling out his sword. "You and I cover the rear as we retreat, Cynthia and Gerome are too..."
"Mm." Lucina glanced toward the sheer number before them all. "Cynthia, Gerome. The two of you retreat. Morgan and I will be right behind you."
"We can't just leave you like that, Lucy!" called Cynthia, posture improper and slumped despite her words. "A real hero wouldn't-"
Lucina swung as a Risen rushed for her, cutting it apart with ease. "GO! Now."
Gerome gritted his teeth. "Cynthia." Morgan heard the wyvern rider sigh before a cool. windy breeze rushed forth behind Lucina and himself, signalling the two's leave.
Lucina breathed out, glancing forward. "What were you even doing here, Morgan?" With a harsh grunt she cut down another Risen.
"Well... Nah wanted me to help find something for her," he replied. "Hah!" He streaked forward and slashed, the monster falling in two pieces. "And... she specified that it could only be found on sheer cliffs faraway from human... civilization, I think? Something close to that." He winced as he used his sword to slay another Risen. "Tch..."
The princess glanced towards him. "Take this." She reached out and passed a Concoction. "You run. I'll be right behind you."
Swallowing the bitter medicine he shook his head, feeling a great degree of his wounds fade in intensity. "Thanks!" He started to dash away, looking back at Lucina as he did so. "Lucina!"
She gave a deft nod, utilizing her Falchion to cut down those nearest to her before running after him.
He released a heavy breath as he leapt over a boulder in his path, a low growl betraying the hiding Risen just before it came out with a lance to stab him. "Whoa!" Raising his sword instinctively he managed to divert the attack to scratch the side of his body. "You...! Checkmate!" He channeled some magical energy into his arm, feeling it burn red hot before his next swing sent the two halves of the now dead Risen's body flying, turning to liquid shadow mid-air.
"Hah... hah..." Morgan groaned, falling to one knee, the agony of using Ignis fading from his limb. "Damn..." He withdrew his sword, staggering as he arises. "Hah..." He clutched to his arm, every jolt that came with each step causing pain throughout his entire body. "Lucina?!"
"Still behind you!" he heard her declare, the "swish" and grunt signalling a swift swing of her Falchion. "Keep going!"
He panted, forcing himself to look ahead, where a few Risen waited. "Let's see..." He pulled out the old Thunder tome, noting its ragged condition, before raising his arm to aim. As he did so, the aftereffect pain of Ignis seemed to strengthen, and his arm dropped causing his spell to rush past them. "That's not good...!"
Lucina's breath seemed to give a soft kiss to his face as she ran past, pulling out her Javelin to slay the Risen in their path with one toss. Retrieving her weapon she turned back to him, drawing her sacred blade once more. "C'mon, Morgan!"
The tactician nodded, managing to dash after the princess, into the dark, away from the many monsters still following.
"Where did you go, Morgan?" Robin looked at her future son. "You've been missing for half the day and you show up with Lucina and a few dozen Risen following you. And before that, an injured Gerome and Cynthia return to warn that you two were in trouble against an insanity's worth of Risen."
Morgan rubbed his weary eyes, feeling his arm twinge as he used it. "Nah wanted me to find Naga's Bell, so I went to that mountain to try and find it." Reaching into his cloak, it came up in his hands, and he blinked, eyes widening. "Huh... it survived... whole."
"Must be a miracle," spoke the Grandmaster, standing from where she had been sitting. "Well... above all else... I'm glad you're safe. That's the most important part. Though in the future... I would like it if you told me you were going on any expeditions like that before you do so. I was worried sick."
"I'm sorry, Mother." He looked down into the flower in his hands, feeling her gaze on him.
She sighed. "So long as you understand." Robin's eyes shifted onto Naga's Bell. "You wanted to give that to Nah, right? Well, she awoke just a little before we went out to help you and Lucina against the pursuing Risen." Her eyes twinkled with her next words. "Now may be a good time to give that to her."
"Mm... thanks, Mother." He stood. "I'll see you tomorrow, then."
"Have a good night, son."
Morgan exited the tent, breathing in the night's cold air, looking upwards to where more clouds gathered. Placing the flower back into his cloak he made his way over to a certain, fairly large tent.
He swallowed, entering before any excuses could settle in his mind.
Cynthia was lying in a bed, a peaceful expression present on her face. Next to her was...
"Nah," he spoke, voice quiet.
Her green eyes opened in the darkness of the tent in response to her name. "Morgan..." Her eyes drift to the pegasus knight beside her, toning her own voice down. "Are you alright? Gerome said you and Lucina were..."
"I'm fine," he spoke, walking over to her. "Well... anyways..." He reached into his cloak again and pressed Naga's Bell into one of her small, warm hands. "Here."
She stared at the flower. "This is..."
"Naga's Bell," spoke Morgan. "I... got lucky. I was, uh... just taking a, a nice hike, getting to see the surrounding area before we left to go home... it was just right there, almost unnoticeable. I guess Naga must've sent us some good luck or something, right?"
"Mm... well, thank you for doing this, Morgan." Nah offered him a smile. "Naga should be happy with this. I know I am."
"That's great to hear!" he replied, grinning. "Whenever you're happy, I am too." Morgan swallowed, his face feeling hot after his words. Ugh, why'd I say that? "And... uh... I hope Naga grants that prayer of yours too."
"I'm sure she will," spoke Nah, holding up Naga's Bell.
Morgan yawned, grunting as he cracked his neck. "Anyways, I'm pretty tired. Good night, Nah." He walked over to the entrance, drawing the cloak's hood over his face. "See you tomorrow."
"Ah... good-bye, then, Morgan. And thank you again!" The half-dragon nodded towards him.
He exited with a breath, looking up towards the late night sky, rubbing his heated face.
Morgan sighed, rubbing his eyes as he made his way back to his own tent.
I shouldn't feel this way about Nah, but...
"I love her," he whispered.
Nah rubbed her eyes with a brief sigh. "Stop pretending you're asleep, Cynthia."
The pegasus knight opened her eyes with a groan. "Wow... you and Morgan are really good friends now."
"...Yes." Nah looked at the flower in her hands, twisting it around for different angles to more closely admire its beauty. "If you were awake, you should've shown it. I'm sure he was worried about you."
"Yeah, I guess," mused Cynthia. "But how could I ruin such a moment between you two? That's a big step forward in your relationship! Like... at least one fourth of a step!"
Nowi's daughter rolled her eyes, resting the flower in a small vase.
Cynthia released a breath. "Are you still hung up on Morgan killing Laurent?"
"I... can't say I can just ignore that," spoke Nah, turning away.
"Look... that's in the past. Morgan's trying to atone now, you can see that, right? He was the one who found that flower for you, and he got really hurt when he was doing it!" Cynthia's bed shifted; she faced Nah now. "What do you honestly feel for him?"
The half-dragon girl sighed again, facing her friend again. "I... he's kind, funny, smart and studious..."
"Yeah...?" The expectant look in the pegasus knight's eyes seemed to pry into Nah. "But under all that... what do you really think?"
"He's... he's my best friend."
Cynthia groaned into her pillow. "You can't be serious." She looked at Nah with a more intense look now. "Look... don't try to lie to yourself because of Laurent!" Her eyes softened. "He would've wanted you to be happy."
That's easy for you to say, thought Nah, glancing away. You never loved him. And...
"Well, good night, Nah." Cynthia allowed her head to rest on her pillow. "Really, though. If anything else, don't lie to yourself about what you feel." She turned on her side and was still, drifting off to sleep.
Nah looked at the lower in the vase again, sighing, feeling her face grow warm.
I love him.
"But..." Her next words were a whisper as she looked to her hands, which were shaking.
"I don't want to be left alone again."