Chapter IV: Battle on the Road.

The group of Shepard's made their way through the countryside of Ylisse. Ragna and Chrom took point for the group, while Cordelia patrolled things in the air from her Pegasus. Chrom kept his eyes out for danger and Ragna… read a book on tactics. He convinced himself if he was going to keep his promises to both Emmeryn and Cordelia, he'd have to study up on every aspect of tactics that he could find. After he'd gotten back to the Shepard's barracks last night he'd taken every book on tactics from the Shepard's library he could find and began to study up as strenuously as he could. The man in red allowed himself a loud yawn. 'This is what I get for not giving myself a second of rest and staying up all damn night. I hope it's worth it.'

Stay Alive

"Tired Ragna?" Chrom asked his new tactician. "Don't tell me that you stayed up late last night."

"Never went to sleep," Ragna admitted shaking his head. "Wasn't the best of moves, but I was able to study up some on tactics, maybe something that could be useful if we run into anything on the road."

Chrom sighed. "Look I appreciate you becoming our tactician, but I don't want you working yourself to death like this. What are supposed to do if you pass out in the middle of a battle?"

"Relax Chrom, I've been able to fight for several consistent battles without a problem, what's the problem with pulling a few all-nighters?"

"Because of the impact on you?! Honestly Ragan, you're acting like death would be welcome to you!"

"If it's either death or seeing another friend die, I'll take the former. I told Emmeryn last night and I'm telling you now, I'm through with the bullshit of seeing someone die because of me!"

"I-!" Chrom looked into Ragna's steeled eyes and could swear he saw flames in them. "Look, I know how you feel, but try to take it easy. You aren't helping anyone if you're going to get yourself killed. As your captain, I have the right to tell you when to rest. I need my tactician in top condition."

"Fine, but let me do my damn job, and you can do yours."

"Deal."

Support Rank C Obtained with Chrom

Ragna's BlazBlue gave a small pulse and that's when he detected a large group of risen the direction they were heading. How am I going to tell Chrom without letting on to my powers? Just then, he heard the flapping of wings above him and saw that Cordelia had flown down to see the two. Saved.

"Captain, Tactician, I've spotted a large group of risen ahead of us. They seem to be equipped with all manners of weapons, we should proceeded carefully."

"I'll let everyone else know," Chrom said before rushing to talk with the rest of the Shepard's.

Ragna heard a sigh and was surprised to hear that it had come from Cordelia. Now as you might recall. Ragna wasn't exactly the Reapers sharpest scythe when it came to noticing relationships or longing feelings… but this one was painfully obvious, even for him.

"Look if you want Chrom to notice you, why not try impaling a few Risen in the fight we have coming up. That'll get his attention."

Cordelia for one, was glad that Ragna had decided to help her even further. Even when she had talked to her sisters in the Pegasus knights, most of laughed at her for her crush on the prince. Ragna, it appeared, wasn't like that. "Thank you, any ideas?"

Ragna thought to himself for a moment, what had the book on tactics said? "For now, I want you to stay close to Chrom and finish off any enemies that he can't kill in one blow. Also, I've noticed that Chrom isn't fast enough to take care of some swordsmen, if you see one of them targeting him, I want you to take the first attack and keep him from getting injured. I already have Stahl, Fredrick and Vaike on guard for archers and mages so you should be safe."

"Alright, I'll do my best… and thanks Ragna."

"No problem, just don't make this a habit of bringing your love life to the battlefield."

"I swear this is the one time I'm asking for this… But I suppose I should think of some way to thank you."

"That's not-!"

"Please at least let me find a way to thank our tactician."

Ragna sighed. With the look Cordelia was giving him, it was pretty apparent she wasn't about to take no for an answer. "Fine, but don't go overboard, okay?"

"Alright, let's get out of this battle first."


*Battle Field*

Using the Tacticians Eye ability he had gotten yesterday, Ragna was able to see that there were two main groups of Risen, both of them separated by a river with a bridge crossing over it. The larger group was closer to them so they'd have to contend with the bulk of the force before moving on to the small fry. If he could finish this quickly he could focus on fighting two different forces instead of one large one.

Aside from Chrom's group taking the left flank, he put everyone else aside from him on the right flank where there were more mages and archers, as for him?

Ragna took out Blood-Scythe and charged right down the middle of the horde. In one swipe of his sword he was able to cleave through three Risen with ease. He kept himself from using his standard techniques such as Hell's Fang, but it didn't slow him down too much. He noticed a lancer behind him get impaled by Sully.

"I thought I told you to stick with the others," Ragna questioned as he impaled a Risen with just his fist.

Sully grinned as she ran through two more risen with her lance. "HELL NO! I'm not about to let you take all of the fun!"

"Yeah, fun…" Ragna smirked. "Carnage Scissors!" he yelled as he destroyed another large group of Risen. He noticed that the Risen's back-up group was starting to merge with their other force, but they'd already done a substantial amount of damage to their current force, a few more wouldn't be a problem.

Meanwhile with Chrom's group, Chrom had just finished slaying a Risen warrior. The prince might've already slain seven of these monsters, but compared to Ragna, he felt that it was nothing. What he didn't notice was the Risen swordsman that had made it way behind him to impale him.

Luckily for the prince, he had Cordelia to watch his back. Just a Chrom had turned to see the swordsman lunge at him, soon enough to see it coming, but too late to react, there was a giant gust of wind as the Risen lay at his feet, a hole in its chest where it had been impaled. Chrom was unable to notice immediately who had done (Cordelia had gone a few feet away to hold back another group of Risen) ho he decided to shout his thanks.

"Thanks for the save Kellam!" he shouted before attacking a horse mounted risen.

…If any of you readers heard a shattering sound; that would be Cordelia's heart.

'Kellam!?' she thought, more than a little peeved. He's not even in our GROUP!" Thankfully, she decided to take her anger out on the Risen… poor suckers didn't stand a chance.

After that the battle was over very quickly, in no small part to Ragna and Sully. Chrom approached the Reaper as he was resetting his sword.

"That went better than I was hoping for, good work. But did you really have to take the majority of the entire force like that?"

"Hey it worked didn't it?" the Reaper answered.

"True, but we're here to fight with you Ragna, not just assist you. Taking an entire force isn't efficient, it's just reckless."

"Unless I can handle it, which I can…" Noticing the prince's look of disproval Ragna decided to follow up. "Look Chrom, I can handle them on my own for right now, just let me read up on tactics a little more alright?" The prince reluctantly nodded, but it was enough for Ragna. "Good, I- hmm?"

A short ways away there was a Pegasus with an injured leg. "Any ideas?" Chrom asked.

"Maybe I can help," Sumia offered as she approached the winged horse. Surprisingly, the horse at least seemed trained as it calmly regard Sumia while she bandaged the leg. "Looks like she won't be able to run on it for a while, but she should be able to march with us."

"Works for me," Ragna agreed. "Maybe you could ride her into combat when the leg heals."

Sumia smiled. "Sounds good, but it might take a while to heal."

After walking for a few more hours, the group decided to break before it got dark. Luckily, they happened across one of Ylisse abandoned forts that was still stocked with rations and in good condition.


*Ragna's Room*

Noticed

After reading his tactician's book in his bed, Ragna became restless and decided to check out the training grounds. As he went through the hallway, he heard a familiar sigh. He saw Cordelia leaning against the wall and looking out on of the forts windows, her arms were crossed and she seemed deep in thought.

"What's wrong?" Ragna asked.

Cordelia shook her head. "My kill count was about 20, but Chrom didn't even notice. I was RIGHT THERE when I saved his life, and he thought it was Kellam… who wasn't even in our party."

'Crap, what do I say?' Ragna thought to himself franticly. He'd never really been in a conversation like this before… but he compared it to stepping around a landmine field (which he'd done once before, hadn't been fun). "Why do you even like Chrom?" he decided to start with.

Cordelia looked at him like he was crazy for a moment before answering. "Well, because he helped encourage me when I was little."

"How?"

"He gave me advice and said some encouraging words. Really I owe it to him that I've done so well."

"Okay, how many times did he give advice?"

"Only once. Ragna, does this really matter?"

"Hell yeah it does! …Look Cordelia, I know you have a thing for him, but it looks like it's coming close to destroying you. Tell me this, what do you truly see in a man that, while a great friend and leader, doesn't notice or even talk to you? Do you really think Chrom would want you to spend your life trying to get his attention when it doesn't look like he feels the same way about you?"

Cordelia was about to respond readily, before Ragna's words seeped in. Was that really what was happening? Was she really chasing after Chrom, when in her heart she knew he'd never look at her like she wanted him to? Did she even really LOVE him?

Shit, I went way too far, Ragna thought to himself. "Look, I'll let you think on it. You don't have to come to a decision today." He started to make his way down hallway once more. "Oh, and Cordelia?"

"Yes?" She asked.

"Good job today, you really showed those Risen who was boss with those long-ranged dives and your javelin throwing. I'm glad that you're a part of the team." With that, the Reaper left.

'HE noticed?' Cordelia thought to herself, 'But he wasn't even close to me… How could he notice me in the middle of what he was going through?'

Despite her confusion, she felt a small ray of happiness leak through to her heart. She smiled as she recognized it. Cordelia had this feeling only once before, when she was noticed by a certain blue haired prince.

Support Rank C Achieved with Cordelia


*Training grounds*

Fighting Nobility

Ragna had a pretty good idea of who he would find at the training grounds, his idea was spot on. Sully was there, practicing her unmounted sword work against a couple of training dummies. She was hacking through them at a frightening pace, but she seemed unsatisfied.

"What are you trying to do? Make coleslaw out of them?" Ragna commented from behind.

Sully turned to regard the Reaper. "The hell is a clothes saw?"

Ragna fought back laughter. "Never mind, but seriously what are you doing out here?"

"Trying to improve," Sully said as it was obvious. "I've got a crap ton of work cut out for me if I ever want to be at your level."

"Look Sully, it's not a competition. We're on the same team right?"

"Who said anything about this being a competition? I just want to get stronger."

"Reason being?" Ragna asked as he crossed his arms.

"Looks I come from one of Ylisse's noble families." Okay, Ragna hadn't been expecting that one. SULLY a noble?! "Wipe that damn look off your face. I know I don't exactly fit the image of a noble, but at least this way I get some freedom dammit!"

"What do you mean freedom?" Ragna asked, figuring this was a good chance to learn about Ylisse's politics.

"What I mean is marriage! The Exalt decreed that any noble that becomes Knighted cannot be influenced by her family in any way for who to marry. I figure if I can get Knighted, I'll can at least wait until a decent guy comes around, or to stay single if I never find one."

"Huh," Ragna said to himself. In a way, this reminded him of his 'ally' Tsubaki Yayoi. He knew the chick had a thing for his younger brother, Jin Kisaragi, for a while, but due to the Yayoi blood status she and Jin couldn't be together without casting aside all ties to her family… but that hadn't stopped her from getting pregnant with their lovechild a week before the final battle.

When her family found out, they were furious and disowned her immediately. Jin had proposed to her almost immediately after that, but Ragna was worried how they would manage, just the three of them… maybe it would be better for them if he wasn't around. No kid needed a 'Grim Reaper' for an Uncle.

'The curse of nobility,' Ragna thought grimly. He walked over to the weapons rack a grabbed two training swords and tossed one to Sully. "Catch."

Dropping her other blade, Sully caught the hickory sword in mid-air. "The hell's this?"

"Sparring," Ragna said simply while taking a few swing to adjust to its weight, or lack of before taking his jacket off and throwing it on the rack. "Being a knight is probably more than just battle prowess, but I can at least help get you some more skill." He gave Sully a somewhat cocky grin. "You sure ready for this?"

"Just don't whine when I beat yer arse!" Sully yelled before charging him. The two grinned as their weapon clashed against each other.

*Later*

"Huff… Huff… Huff… Damn… I've really… got a ways… to go…" Sully barely managed to say. Her sword was already cracked in several places, her armor had a few dents in it, and she had a few welts.

"Sorry, about that," Ragna said, referring to Sully's new marks. He wasn't quite as out of breath as Sully was, but the crimson knight had pushed him more than he'd have originally thought. Guess I went too hard on her.

"What're you sorry for?! Been waiting for someone who could keep up with me! And you don't pull your punches on me 'cause I'm a woman… I like that."

Ragna gave a small smirk. "There's one truth in fights that I've had to learn the hard way."

"What's that?" Sully asked.

Ragna smirked as he put his jacket on. "War knows no sex."

"Oh?" Sully said with a teasing smile. "So mister Ragna's broken a few chastity belts has he?"

Ragna face turned crimson in a split second. "Th-That's not what I meant at all! And here I am trying to give you some help! Do I look like some sort of- HEY!"

He'd stopped his rant long enough to notice that Sully had literally doubled over in laughter. "Oh man, Ragna! You should have seen your face!"

'Damn it she's making fun of me!' Ragna thought to himself. "You've got a dirty mind Sully. A dirty mind."

"Yeah, but thanks. I guess I needed a good laugh… and seriously thanks for the sparring."

"No problem, any time you want to go a few rounds just let me know."

"Heh, sure thing."

Support Rank C Achieved with Sully


Half a Gift

It was starting to get late now, but Ragna had done too much sparring to sleep and his stomach was driving him crazy.

*Groan* 'Shut up stomach.' *Groan.* 'You just had dinner two hours ago!' *Groan* 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT WASN'T FILLING?' *Groan* 'Dammit, fine! I'll stop by the kitchen.' *Content Groan* 'God, even my own stomach is against me.'

Ragna made his way to the kitchen, but was surprised to see that there was a light coming from inside the door. 'Who in the seven hell's would be up cooking this late at night?' He heard a girlish scream come from inside and heard a loud crash. That voice-!

"Lissa!" he yelled opening the door. What greeted him he couldn't help but laughing at. Inside the kitchen was the kingdom's princess, in the middle of several broken jars, covered head to toe in flour.

"R-Ragna!" Lissa said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Ragna responded before he looked on the table on it was a recipe for a certain apple filled pastry. "Seems kind of late to make a midnight snack, and a PIE? Really Lissa?"

"H-Hey, I wasn't going to eat it! I was… going to give it to someone."

"Really? Huh, well let me give you a hand."

"NO! I mean, don't trouble yourself Ragna. I can manage it myself alright?"

"Yeah well, I'm not taking that for an answer. I'm helping out, like it or not."

"But… ugh, fine."

"All right, so the first ingredient is…"

*Later*

"Well the pie looks decent," Ragna said as their project cooled.

"More than decent!" Lissa said with a smile on her face. She'd been able to dust most of the flour off, but she still seemed a little 'powdered.'

"So who's it for? You said you were making it for someone, though I can't imagine Chrom would be happy if you were giving pies to some punk."

"You're- I mean HE'S not a punk!" Lissa had tried to correct her error, but it was too late.

"Wait, this things for me?" Ragna asked surprised.

"Well yeah. You're doing a lot for all of us, not to mention you helped me see how important my job was back in the forest and you saved my life. So this is thanks from me… Or at least it was going to be, but then you had to help make it yourself so it's only half a gift if that."

"Huh, well thanks." Ragna said as Lissa made her way away, somewhat deflated. "Hey Lissa, this means that the other half is my gift then, right?"

Lissa stopped and turned to the Reaper. "I guess?" she said, not seeing what he was implying.

"In that case, I'm giving my gift to you." He noticed Lissa surprised reaction. "What? I'm not gonna be able to eat this by myself, and a pie always tastes better when it's shared."

"Well if you insist," Lissa said smiling. "Thanks, Ragna."

Support Rank C Achieved with Lissa


Ragna made his way back to his room after enjoying the pie with Lissa and picked his book of tactics up again. He'd had his break, time to get back to studying.

Chrom said that he didn't want me to pull any more all-nighters… but there's no way I'm going to risk losing this.

NO WAY IN HELL.

Author's Note: I don't own Fire Emblem or BlazBlue

But as soon as I win the shipping war, the two shall join the Storm Empire!

Sorry, it's late and my mind's wacked out right now. Anyways, quite the chapter if I do say so myself. I'm not used to writing large scale battles, so I decided to keep things simple. So now we have 5 C rank conversations. At the end of every chapter I'll put up a small extra portraying everyone one's status. There won't be one this chapter, but it's still early in the story.

Rate, Review, and I'll see you next chapter.

Ciao.