Chapter 18-Cacophany

After recovering my senses, I gingerly opened the door saw a strange woman in red armor, tan skin, and a large unruly blond ponytail confer with the Shepards. Chrom, Robin, Lissa, and Frederick were all having an animated discussion. I surmised that this was the newly crowned Khan Flavia. Lissa quickly noticed me, and waved me in with a beaming smile.

I entered the room in a daze, and gave the East Khan a graceful curtsey.

Khan Flavia burst out laughing, "Careful there missy; if you smile your face may crack!"

I flinched and tried to smile, although my feeble attempt only made the Feroxi leader laugh louder with tears forming in her brown eyes.

"Er…Khan Flavia, c-congratulations on your new title, Your Highness. I am Lady Mimika Paraglaive."

Chrom stifled a chuckle himself, "Mimi is a capable fighter and leader. She heads the Arrowhead Scouts, the reconnaissance squad for the Shepards."

"Indeed. You fought well against us. I wish I had more time to tease you, Mimi." The Khan grinned broadly, "Anyway, as I was saying, Ylisse may count on our support." She pumped her fist as she departed, "Come my new friends! Tonight we celebrate!"

I exhaled as my tension released, although a beefy hand on my shoulder made me jump, "Bah! That daughter of a dastard Flavia! Rubbing her victory in my face."

I whirled around to see a tough looking Berserker. West Khan Basilio up close was even more intimidating than he was on an overhead balcony. He was a bald, powerfully built dark skinned man, with a golden collar, gauntlets, vambraces, greaves, and belt over a black boots, pants, and shirt exposing his chest and belly. A massive golden axe was strapped to his back. He has a well-trimmed goatee and a set of leather straps criss-crossing his head to cover his missing left eye. He smirked at my flinching, "You're a woman, not a mouse, missy."

"Apologies, Your Highness."

"Bah, save it. I'm demoted back to West Khan. Still I must say having that motley Kasrin's Iridescents fighting for me was fun to watch. A masked sellsword, snake women, a Manakete and a fox girl…too bad they had to leave. They would have made great allies."

"I smiled weakly, "Kasrin's Irregulars, milord."

He burst out laughing, "Yah, whatever." He looked over at Chrom, You did well, young Prince. I'd wager you have some Feroxi blood in you after all."

"Thanks for being a good sport. Maybe in two years you'll pick the right side," Chrom replied with a smirk. "By the way, where did Marth go? I would speak with him."

"That delusional sellsword? Took off the moment he lost." He rubbed his chin, "Too bad about that, as I really wanted that pretty boy in my service. He defeated my old champion Lon'qu in five strikes."

Lissa daintily sighed as she blushed, "He's so dreamy, ya'know."

Both Robin and I spoke as one, "Indeed."

Chrom shook his head in mild exasperation, "If you three are done swooning…honestly."

Lissa burst into merry giggles, "Aw, I was kidding, big brother!"

Frederick cleared his throat, "Miladies, please focus on the main point. We had best return to Ylisstol and report our successful alliance to Her Highness."

Chrom looked thoughtful but he nodded in vigorous agreement, "Well spoken-"

"Before you race off, I want to chip in my own contribution to your effort. I would be loath to have Plegia at our doorstep," Basilio butted in.

I saw a silent Myrmidon who obviously hailed from Chon'sin enter the room, and immediately become agitated at the sight of the female Shepards. He was tall, handsome, with dark brown spiked hair and eyes, with his face set into a permanent frown. He had a long katana sheathed by his side. He was wearing a long blue robe with long tails a brown high collar, and intricate brown and tan spiral patterning at the fringes over his chest. A maroon obi secured the robe at the waist. Under that he had on light grey pants, brown boots, and both his sleeves and boot tops had white furred lining.

Basilio chuckled, "This is Lon'qu, my former champion that whelp Marth bested. He's superb with a blade, so how he lost I don't know. He speaks with his sword, not his lips."

I gently reached out to shake his hand, "It is a pleasure to meet you Lon'qu. I am Lady Mi-"

His face turned crimson as he barked, "Away, woman!"

"P-p-pardon," I blurted out in shock as I backed up five steps, as did Lissa.

Basilio burst out laughing, "Ha! Ha! Nothing personal, cuties. He doesn't like the ladies. But he's peerless with the blade. He'll serve the Shepards well. Consider him the West Khan's contribution to the war effort."

Chrom looked grateful, and then his face quickly fell. "Basilio, Plegia and Ylisse aren't at war yet."

Basilio firmly shook his head, "Get the fairy dust out of yer eyes, Chrom. That arsehole Gangrel has a score to settle, and he will provoke a war."

"Yeah. My sister will do whatever it takes to stop hostilities."

Basilio clasped his hand on the Prince's shoulder and spoke with grave seriousness, "Exalt Emmeryn will fail; although I admire her efforts. Look after your elder sister well, young man. Lon'qu will give his all for your cause, and hers."

"Thanks Basilio." Chrom grasped the West Khan's hand as they shook with a firm gesture of friendship. He turned to the Myrmidon, "Is this what you want, Lon'qu?"

"You give the orders; I'll stab them. As long as I partner with your men only, I'll be fine."

Lissa snorted, and pouted, "Hey! I'm not a snake. I won't bite'cha head off!"

Chrom patted his annoyed sibling, "Cool off, Lissa. Anyway welcome aboard Lon'qu." He gave a serious nod to Basio, "Thanks."

…

Hours later we were retracing the Northroad back South towards Ylisstol. Both Raquelle and Revellia aboard Serendipity deployed overhead tracking the forest to our SSE; Sonya and Xolette on Aysel headed to the SSW. I rode ahead on Slate with Siffra astride Butternut, Iniabi aboard Onyx, and Bhavin on his pony Whitesmoke. Much to my surprise, Therion had opted to go on foot. I turned to him, "Aren't you tired yet?"

The handsome Mercenary gave a slight chuckle, "Not at all. I can't sprint, but I'm a former spear fishing islander from the South Seas. I ran over my home island, speared fish from the rocks or beaches, swam between isles, ran more, and caught more fish. I did that every morning from age six until…until I left." His face grew dark and I could tell his departure from his tropical home had not been a pleasant one.

I joked, "We'll try not to gallop then."

"Please don't, milady."

Iniabi was reading over the map, "That fop Moon said turn left here, on that spur road that dead ends in an abandoned village."

I didn't like disharmony, so I gently corrected by canny mage, "It's only a two mile detour. He said he had a vision that it would be important. And he is an Astrologer, and not a dandy, Iniabi."

Iniabi flashed me an apologetic expression and read Moon's trance induced prophesy out loud with a sarcastic edge as he was peerless at deciphering impossible to read script, "On the road to the North by a stately tree…take a dead branch West and see…two noble warriors destined for fame…disparate in face, yet of the same name."He groaned, "What bull plop. This is a waste of time."

My Keep Priest displayed amusement in his violet eyes, "The Gods work in mysterious ways…perhaps Naga granted a vision of import to our Seer."

"And maybe his spiced wine made him hallucinate, Bhavin"

"Perhaps. But I feel it's best to keep an open mind."

Iniabi handed back the parchment to me by its corner as if it was a smelly sock.

I realized that he was in an uncharacteristically bad mood so I wordlessly urged him to ride ahead with me for a moment. "Talk to me, my friend. Was there a snag in your plans?"

His green eyes widened, but then he shook his head firmly. "No Mimika. My execution has gone off without a hitch…which took me by surprise frankly. The Shepards are far too trusting of strangers with unsolicited advice."

I chuckled warmly, "Let me guess: Sumia and Chrom didn't suspect a thing; but Robin nearly outed your plan?"

The black haired Mage burst out into a weary chuckle, "I see that very little passes your notice, milady. Do not worry, the rivers of destiny have already started to shift." His smile melted away and I saw his melancholic expression take over, "It's the first today isn't it?"

"Hmm? I…oh, yes it is the first of the month." I looked over and was about to ask about the significance when I noted the moisture in his eyes. I covered my mouth in horror, "This is the anniversary of her passing. Oh Gods, I'm so sorry."

He laughed mirthlessly, "Apologize for what? I never told you about April first, did I? The Fool's day…how bitterly ironic that the day everyone else makes merry, I want nothing more than to crawl into a hole." He looked over at the village ruins from atop the hill, "I was ready to die with her you know. I grew up with her, you know…and I've never figured out how to live my life without her."

I smiled comfortingly to him, although my own tears were now staining my cheeks, "She's out there somewhere. We'll find her."

He looked dejected, "I'm begging to think that it will never hap-"

A high pitched scream in the distance caught our attention.

I started to speak, but he waved at me urgently to stay quiet.

Now I could barely make out snatches of the high pitched voice ranting, "…dastards…feel my wrath…never loses…for great justice!"

"No," my Mage gaped with stunned disbelief in his eyes, "No. No. No. No! It can be her. It can't be!"

"Let's go," I yelled and urged Slate into a charge.

Iniabi cussed himself out for his stupidity and took off right behind me with a look of crazed determination.

The rest of my team must have been shocked by the insane charge but soon I heard their hoofbeats behind us. I could only hope Therion caught a ride.

…

We galloped into the village overgrown with weeds, will all the wooden buildings long ago rotted into kindling. The only stone elements remaining were the hearth chimneys and the collapsing Temple to Naga. Its windows were smashed, and the roof was half caved in, but the walls were still solid. The screams I realized were from innocents cowering inside the refuge from marauding Risen. Standing in between the peasants and the undead were two formidable warriors, both now wounded.

The beautiful maiden with delicate Eastern Features had just finished blasting a Risen Archer and Thief with a tome channeling the roar of an icy blizzard packed into a conical blue beam. She was a cute, curvy young lady with a deathly pallid complexion, coldly fierce sky blue eyes, and completely white bloodstained hair that reached past her waist. Her ripped uniform was unlike any style that I had ever seen. It included a waist-length cloak tied off with a sky blue cord. Under it was a white blouse with detached sleeves with light blue trim; below was a pleated grey skirt nearly to her knees and long white stockings from her sandals up to mid-thigh. She looked surprised by our sudden appearance as our horses trampled a Risen lanceman and another archer. "Good sirs, can you please help us?"

I finished chopping the head off the archer and as it turned into that awful reeking mist I turned to the Mage, "Are there any more Risen?"

Her companion was a spirited dark haired Knight astride a handsome roan red Pegasus. She winced as she yanked two arrows out of her shoulder and leg and spoke more in a booming yell rather than a normal conversational tone that any sensible person would use, "Ohmigosh! Virtuous warriors riding out of nowhere to save our bacon! What bliss to fight with righteous fury and vanquish evil with all our might! Mwah hah ha! The heroes of justice will always save the day!"

After I uncovered my ears and the ringing in my head stopped I belatedly noticed Iniabi's mouth was so slack I feared it might fall off his face. I hissed, "Iniabi!"

"What?" He looked at me with a completely white face and a look in his eyes that hinted he was teetering on the edge of madness, "It…can't be her…It can't be true."

I glanced back at the knight that had since dismounted. She was in the classic Pegasus dress with Navy and white panels paired with thigh high boots; however it was badly patched and resewn countless times. Over that she had badly dented and rusty breastplate, gauntlets, vambraces, and a black belt with a silver buckle. She was actually a rather short and underfed girl with peach skin, black hair that had an iridescent blue sheen tied into twintails and passion filled brown eyes. Her obvious deprivation had not deterred her enthusiasm at all however.

At that moment Bhavin, Siffra and Therion arrived. The Mercenary gaped as he hopped off the back of Butternut and yelled out in utter exasperation, "Cynthia, you idiot!"

Both warriors protecting the temple looked over to Therion in confusion and chimed in unison, "What?"

"What were you thinking? I told you to stay safe in the town I escorted you to, Cynthia," the irate sellsword barked at the dainty Mage.

The Pegasus knight cheerfully countered, "No you didn't, Mister Merc. I just got here, ya'know!"

Therion slowly turned to the peppy knight and sighed deeply, "Apologies, Miss. I was talking to Cynthia not you. If we could have a minute…"

"I'm Cynthia, not her." She crossed her arms, "So why are you claiming we know each other? I don't know you from the Exalt, buster."

The delicate albino looked over to her new ally and spoke in a delicate lilting voice utterly opposite to the cacophonic voice of the Pegasus knight, "Miss Cynthia…my name is also Cynthia."

"Really? What a coincidence! You look more like a Sakura or an Aki'ko to me though." She giggled as she extended a friendly hand, "I'm Cynthia, Miss Cynthia."

The Mage Cynthia bowed, "It is an honor to fight at your side Sir Cynthia. I am Cynthia."

My brain exploded, "Look, everyone stop, please."

Everyone looked at me with a mix of confusion in some of the Scout's faces, and amusement in others.

"Okay, Therion, you know Mage Cynthia, right?"

The serious young man pushed up his glasses and gave a vigorously affirming nod.

"Okay, you two go into the temple and hash things out there…please."

"Of course, milady" The dainty Cynthia walked though the empty doorway with her flustered acquaintance in tow.

"Okay, Pegasus Knight Cynthia…"

"Yep, yep, that's me!"

"Over here please."

"'Kay!" She rode off a few paces out of earshot of anyone but her far too overpowering voice.

"Siff, Vanny, look out for stragglers."

"Yes Mimi," Siff replied with a wink.

I dismounted, and followed Cynthia over to where she was caressing her mare's forehead. I called out to my friend, "Iniabi."

No answer.

I turned around and saw Inabi was standing next his mount with an utterly adrift expression. I snapped at him, "Iniabi, this is her, right?"

"Huh? Erm…yeah." He walked forwards in a daze and he slowly reached the confounded girl and embraced her like he was drowning, "G-Gods…Cynthia…I never thought I would s-see you again." He started to cry on her shoulder with an uncontrollable cascade of tears.

"Heh heh, there, there Mister. I'm sorry if I startled you." Surprisingly her voice had dropped to a high pitched but much more pleasant volume. "Wha'cha name good sir? It will be okay…there, there." She embraced the inconsolable mage and rubbed his back.

I started to sob myself and the girl grinned and pulled me into the hug too.

After a few minutes of humiliating sappiness, all of us had recovered enough to sit in a tight circle on the grass.

Iniabi looked at me dejectedly, "I failed. Somehow I blew it."

"Her hair color," I noted.

"Yeah." He looked at the maiden and gently squeezed her hand, "I know your mom was Lady Sumia Pinnargentgea."

She beamed brightly, "Yep! My mom is the best…my daddy is so funny too."

Iniabi exchanged confused looks with me, "I've never known Chrom to be jovial."

Cynthia broke out into merry giggles, "Oh yeah the hair. An intrepid merchant named Anna sold me a wonderful hair dye. This isn't my natural color."

The mage looked at his lap and clenched his hands, "Are you a carrot top, then?"

"Orange? Oooh a guessing game! What fun." She winked, "Bzzzzzzzz, wrong."

He gritted his teeth, "Brunette?"

"Ya'know, you suck at this game, Mister Iniabi."

His eyes couldn't meet his long lost love's, "J-just one more guess. S…s-silver?"

"Ding ding ding! You win the prize, Iniabi!" She gave him a giggling hug.

"Your father is Herny Mavraima," He asked in an awed voice.

"Uh-huh, that's absolutely right." She leaned in closer with an impish grin, "Are you a psychic?"

"Thanks be to Naga," Iniabi prayed sincerely. "No, I'm just a manipulative jerk."

I squeezed his shoulder, "We've been looking for you for a long time, Cynthia. You see we know about Marth, Kasrin's Irregulars and the ruined future. I am assuming from your rough condition that you just transited from 20 years hence and are seeking to link up with your King and fellow comrades."

Her eyes grew very wide and she nodded intently, blessedly silent for once.

"Both Iniabi and I already know much of what is yet to come. If you tag along with us, we can introduce you to Chrom, Sumia, and the rest of the Shepards…but only if you agree to keep your true identity a secret for now. The future depends on it."

"So Lu-I mean Marth is still a cool dashing boy with a butterfly mask?"

Iniabi broke into a sloppy smile, "I…I know this is a lot to ask of you, but it matters a great deal that the less the future interferes with the present, the better. You see although we've never met, I come from the future too." He removed his right glove showing off the Brand of Naga.

"Wow! So you're descended from Chrom?"

"I am, yes."

We all stood up. She looked pensive for a moment, and then brightly beamed, "Gee thanks for helping me out. I'll gladly join forces with you. It's a relief to know somebody knows who I really am though." She enthusiastically joined all our hands together, "Let's be best friends forever!"

I broke into a shy smile myself as I now understood what my ally saw in his beloved spouse, "Forever."

Iniabi wiped at his misty eyes and smiled, truly smiled, for the first time that I had known him. He nodded fiercely, "Forever."