So. It's back. Another chapter of cancer. What fun am I right? I'm probably wrong. But here we go again. We getting into more fighting and stuff. I bet you all enjoy it. Probably not. I'll shut up now. Enjoy.

Chapter Eight: Madness

Well shit. While the Shepherds left Ylisse, everything went wrong. Like, really wrong. A village razed and Plegia captured Maribelle. Yeah, the prissy noblewomen Maribelle. The Exalt and the Shepherds are rushing to the meeting area the Mad King of Plegia, or Gangrel, chose to negotiate for Maribelle. The situation is pretty bad but I couldn't have any other way. I'm really getting used to being constantly in battle and danger. Life of a Shepherd I guess. Still haven't got paid yet though. I better get paid triple when we finish up with this next thing. Speaking of getting paid; Anna's fixed my father's sword. Well I heard she did but I haven't seen it yet. I've only seen the knockoffs. Gods I am going to find a way to break that woman for my sword. Somehow, I will do it.

Anyway, the Exalt and the Shepherds are arriving to the meeting spot, a little gorge in a mountain pass. Standing on a nearby cliff is the Mad King himself and this woman with giant tits. Without a bra. Neat. Plus she was dressed in all black; pretty hot for living in a desert. I guess that's way she has the skirt so short and the shirt open. I'm getting off track aren't I? I better listen to the conversation the Mad King and the Exalt are having. Could result in war between Ylisse and Plegia afterall.

Gangrel covers his eyes, mocking the Exalt, and says, "What's this, then? The exalt herself, in all her radiance? I fear I must shield my eyes!" Gangrel then laughs like a mad dog. From what I heard from some mercenaries from Plegia, he is scum. I won't linger on the details but it's pretty bad over in Plegia. But that is to be expected after that fifteen year crusade Ylisse did to them. Even Ylisse has a dark history.

The Exalt, Emmeryn is her full name apparently, steps forward and says, "King Gangrel, I've come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us." I like how the Exalt tries to do it the peaceful way. Gives me purpose when it comes to the violent way.

The woman cackles and says to Emmeryn, "The truth? I can give you the truth." She sounds evil. I bet she is the servant of some super demon or something. Every bad guy needs a sexy servant afterall.

The Exalt turns to the woman and asks, "Perhaps milady might first share her name?"

"You may call me Aversa." Aversa is the busty woman's name. Sounds foreign. I wonder why their parents gave her that name.

"Very well, Aversa. Is Maribelle unharmed?" Good old Exalt; always thinking about other people and their needs.

Gangrel sighs and snaps his fingers while saying, "Who? Oh yes, that little blonde brat." Off on a nearby ledge; Maribelle, her hands tied, is pushed forward by a Plegian Barbarian. Is that Garrick? The Barbarian looks like Garrick. No idea why.

Maribelle struggles against her bonds and says in a haughty but shrill voice, "Unhand me, you gutter-born troglodyte!" The fuck is a troglodyte? Nobles are so weird in their speech. You just need to say stuff that people understand to pass through life. Not making up weird-ass words!

In the crowd of Shepherds, Lissa gasps and shouts out, "Maribelle!" I guess she's worried for her friend. I would be too but it would depend on the friend. Some of my friends don't really need to be worried about because they're badasses.

"Lissa? Darling, is that you?" Maribelle says, craning her neck to find Lissa in the crowd of Shepherds.

Aversa brushes some hair off her forehead and says, "This girl crossed the Plegian border without our consent. And what's more... She wounded the brave Plegian soldiers who sought only to escort her safely home." Bullshit. From what Maribelle looks like, she is a Troubadour. Troubadours can't attack so she couldn't have hurt anyone.

Maribelle whips her head to glare at Aversa and says, "LIES! You speak nothing but lies, hag! Did they not teach the meaning of the word "truth" in wretched-crone school?!" That was a pretty poor burn there.

"...You see? No manners at all. Such a nasty little bird simply had to be caged." No, nasty birds are shot and cooked. It's obvious that Plegia has never went hunting before.

Gangrel turns back to the Exalt, placing a hand on his chest, and says, "Such a violent temper speaks to her guilt. This will call for a weighty punishment. And if she were to later confess to being an Ylissean spy? My goodness! It would take an act of CONSIDERABLE good faith to repair our relations." Motherfucker wants our money. That money pays me damnit!

Maribelle says, pure fury in her voice, "I have done nothing wrong! It is they who should confess! They are the ones who invaded Ylisse. They razed an entire village! When I attempted to intervene, they took me and dragged me across the border. Let the plundered shops and charred homes of that village serve as my proof!"

"That would only prove Ylisse has a bandit problem—something I hear oft of late... But indeed, tonight I shall weep salty tears into my pillow for your dead villagers." The Mad King takes out a handkerchief and wipes an imaginary tear out of his eyes. He's a smartass. Not a Jack smartass; a proper scummy smartass.

"Your Grace, please!" Yeah; I wonder what the Exalt is going to do. I bet she is going to save Maribelle.

Emmeryn looks at Maribelle before looking at Gangrel and says, "Peace, Maribelle. I believe you. King Gangrel, I request that you release this woman at once. Surely you and I can sort out these affairs without the need of hostages." Still going to peaceful way. What a champ.

Gangrel scowls at the Exalt and says while placing a hand on his hips, "Without so much as an apology? Why should I even bother with parley? I'm within my rights to have her head this instant and be home in time for supper." Oh shit boy! He just fucked up!

Chrom steps forward, Falchion out, and says, "You black-hearted devil!" The Chrom is angry now! It's Chrom time! Oh shit boys!

The Mad King simply waved Chrom off while saying to the Exalt, "Control your dog, my dear, before he gets someone hurt." He's that kind of smartass… Shit. Chrom growled at Gangrel but stayed where he was. Looks like he is in a pickle too. Gangrel continues with "Now then, Your Graceliness. Perhaps we can arrange a trade? You give me the Fire Emblem, and I return Mari Contrary here in one piece." Fire Emblem? That name sounds familiar. I wonder why.

Emmeryn flinches while asks, "You would ask for Ylisse's royal treasure? But why?"

"Because I know the legend! The Fire Emblem is the key to having all one's wishes realized. I have desired it for years. YEARS! ...Yet my birthday comes and goes each year, and nothing from Ylisse." Is… Is that true? No wonder he is mad. The Mad King is mad for power.

"The Emblem's power is meant for a single purpose, King Gangrel: to save the world and its people at their hour of most desperate need. Would you claim a more noble wish?" Oh boy she walked into that trap.

"I want what every Plegian wants—a grisly end for every last Ylissean! What could be more noble than that?" What?

"What?" Exactly what I was thinking Emmeryn.

"Surely you have not forgotten what the last exalt did to my people? Your father named us heathens! His 'crusade' across Plegia butchered countless of my subjects and my kin!" He is also mad for revenge. Madness from revenge and power will make monsters. Spooky.

The Exalt pales at Gangrel's mention of the 'crusade' and says, "...I have never denied Ylisse's past wrongdoings. But I have sworn to never repeat those mistakes. Ours is now a realm of peace." Well that is somewhat true. They aren't attacking Plegia in return from those 'bandits' raids but there is a military.

"Yours is now a haven of hypocrisy! Now give me the Fire Emblem!" Gangrel pulled out a Levin sword, a sword that shoots lightning bolts, during his outburst and was now waving it threatening at the Exalt.

Maribelle, who was silent this entire time, suddenly shouts out, "No, Your Grace! I'd sooner die than act as a bargaining chip for this filthy reprobate!" That would've been really cool except I have no idea what a reprobate is. I only got the basics during my education! I ain't no scholar but I can count, read, and write.

Emmeryn held her hand up at Maribelle, pleading to her not to do this, and says "No, Maribelle…"

Gangrel facepalmed and says, "Ugh... Taaaaaalk talk-talk-talk-talk. It's time to speak louder than words! This negotiation is over, Your Luminosity! I shall have the Emblem if I have to pry it from your shiny dead hands!" Oh shit! Talk is breaking down! Battle time boys and girls! Here we go now! A bunch of Plegian soldiers come running out of the inner gorge to attack Emmeryn. However, Chrom rushes forward and kills the soldier leading the group in one blow.

"Stay back! Or you'll all suffer the same fate!" Chrom shouts at the other Plegian soldiers. The Mad King, still on the ledge, dances wildly and cackles in victory.

"Now that's a declaration of war if I've ever heard one... A big, messy war that will bleed you Ylisseans dry." He laughs insanely before rushing away from the fighting. A few moments after the Mad King fled, dozens of Plegian soldiers come running out out of the inner gorge and they take up battle positions. The Shepherds scramble to their own battle positions to fend off the Plegians and save Maribelle. But it doesn't look like she needs saving.

On the ridge where she was being held, a kid in a giant blue hat kill the Barbarian holding Maribelle and fends off Aversa who most likely came to finish the job. Looks like the kid is a Mage seeing how he just used wind magic to kill the Barbarian and hold Aversa off. After Aversa is distracted well enough; the boy grabs Maribelle by the hand, using some wind magic to cut off the bonds, and drags her running to us. This kid has guts.

I find myself with Jack and Lissa as we make a beeline for the kid and Maribelle. On the way, we are stopped by a Dark Mage and a Wyvern Rider. Me and Jack seperate while Lissa hangs back a bit to let us do the dirty work. I take on the Wyvern Rider while Jack takes on the Dark Mage. He is most suited for dealing with magical opponents then I am so it makes more sense. Plus a Wyvern Rider uses an axe to fight so I got an advantage. Well if you count a Mercenary killing a Wyvern and the warrior who rides it.

I roll to side, narrowly dodging the Wyvern's attempt to bite me in half. I crouch low and rush underneath the beast. I stab the Wyvern in the throat; twisting it before I pull my steel sword out and roll away from the dying beast. I wait until the beast slams into the ground, tossing it's rider along with it. I rush at the rider and swing downwards. He blocks my first attack but my sword cuts through his axe's handle and slams into his helm. The helm doesn't work and my blade cleaves through his head. I look at Jack to see him finish off his enemy with a cut to the throat before we join back up with Lissa and continue heading towards the kid and Maribelle.

As soon as we arrive, we see the Mage, Maribelle, and Donny facing off against what looks to be the commander of the Plegian forces. He is a Wyvern Rider and his Wyvern is really big and scary. But it was almost too easy for the Mage and Donny to kill the captain. The Mage used wind magic to cut the Wyvern's wings off before blasting the rider off of his mount. Donny then came in and stabbed the rider in the chest.

While the commander was dying, he said, "This matters not. Soon war will be upon...your soil... Heh heh…" After he said that, Donny pulled his spear out of the Wyvern Rider and the commander fell to the ground with a splat, deader the my great-great-grandfather. For some reason, it feels like this was an easy battle. I have no idea why. I look at myself and notice I am glowing blue. That is a great sign! When a person glows blue, that means they can use a famous Master Seal. The Master Seal, when used, will transform the person using the seal into a second level of their Class. I can become a Hero now! But I can still improve. Until I glow green, I can continue to Level up. But enough worrying about that. I look around and notice the Plegians starting to fall back against the fury of the Shepherds. I notice Donny and Ricken had left; leaving me with Jack, Lissa, and Maribelle.

Lissa ran up and hugged Maribelle close to her, asking, "Maribelle! Are you hurt?!" Any true friend would ask that. Looks like Lissa really cares for Maribelle.

Maribelle hugged Lissa back and says, while stroking her head, "Nothing I didn't return twofold, darling." You are a Troubadour. You cannot fight. You can only heal. But I think I get what she means by that. Just reassuring Lissa that she is ok. I get that.

Jack coughed, gaining the two women's attention, and says "I'm glad you're safe."

Maribelle breaks her embrace with Lissa, looking at me and Jack, and says, "Who...? Oh. It's you two." Prissy little bitch.

I sheath my steel sword and say, "Yes. I know you're not especially fond of us, but we are relived all the same. Good fighting out there." You always gotta brownnose to these nobles. Best way to earn their trust.

"Oh, it's not a question of fondness. I am simply protective of Lissa. My treasure is very sensitive, and... Wait. Am I really justifying myself to a commoner? Gods... Yes, well, I do...apologize for being curt. And... And... And you have my thanks for your part in the rescue. There, I said it!" Maribelle, looking stuff and annoyed but secretly grateful, runs off with Lissa in tow.

I look at Jack and say, "Hey Jack; you think we got accepted by Ms. Royalty?"

Jack nods and says, "Yeah. I'm thankful for that. Now my plans are coming into fruition." Plans? What plans is he talking about?

"What are you talking about, Jack? What are these plans you are speaking of? I ain't no mind reading god or some shit like that."

Jack blushes, already telling me what he is about to say. "I was thinking of proposing to Lissa." Yep. There it is. Jack is in love with Lissa.

"You. And Lissa. I… I'm so proud of you! You're becoming a real man Jack!"

"Shut up Aiden! At least I am manly enough to admit my secrets to my friends; unlike you." Oh shit. He got me there.

"I'll tell you one day. Just not today. But let me give you advice for going after Lissa. She is Chrom's baby sister so you gotta get his permission first-"

"Already did. All I had to do is approve him going after my sister." Ok hold up! I am clearly missing out in some gossip!

"Really?!"

"Really."

"Wow. Chrom and Jill… Who would've guessed it?"

"I did. I made a little chart of who is going to fall in love with who in this army. Adding to it everyday."

"That's a bit creepy… Who am I paired up with?"

"Currently either Sully or Anna. But back to your advice." He's changing the topic on me. God damnit he is good.

"Well don't rush marriage straight away. I'm pretty sure war is about to happen so just keep it at the "Lover" level. Also don't rush things. And make sure she wants to do it with you. That's all I have to say, go get her my Tactician!"

Aiden and Jack achieved support level B

So. There is chapter eight of this cancer fanfic. I wonder why there is eight chapters of cancer but if people want it I am not going to deny them it. I was also thinking of adding another Oc. You can bet it will be a Mary Sue like Aiden. I'm such a horrible writer. But I like to write so I am going to keep on writing until every tells me to stop. Or to go kill myself. Or both. Whichever thing you prefer to do. I'll shut up now. Bye.