Merry Christmas! (Or whatever other holiday you celebrate!)
DISCLAIMER: HELLSING IS OWNED BY KOUTA HIRANO. I DO NOT ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS.
FIRE EMBLEM IS OWNED BY NINTENDO. I DON'T OWN IT'S CHARACTERS EITHER.
ITALICS=THOUGHTS
BOLD= DATES, PLACES, ECT.
BOLD ITALICS=NARRATOR
(NOTE: IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS STORY THEN DON'T READ IT.)
Walter Dornez of the Emblem
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace (Courtyard)
August 22 (11:32 P.M.)
It had been two days since the confrontation with Gangrel, and Ylisse's forces were steadily being mobilized. The country was on the eve of war, and the Shepherds found themselves right in the middle of it.
Chrom let out a sigh as Gangrel's words seemed to repeat in his head.
"Sir, it's a bit late for a stroll."
Chrom was snapped out of his thoughts instantly as he turned to face the source of the voice. "Walter…" Chrom breathed a sigh of relief. "Just…" his voice trailed off. "Just dueling some unpleasant thoughts…"
Walter took a seat at a nearby bench. "Care to talk about it?" the butler beckoned Chrom to sit next to him.
The prince took a seat next his butler, "Emm sent a formal request to Regna Ferox for additional soldiers."
"That's good news. We need the extra manpower anyway." Walter noted Chrom's downcast expression, "That's not what you're thinking about, is it?"
Chrom nodded, "Not everything Gangrel said was a lie. The last exalt, my father, waged war on Plegia for many years." The Ylissean prince had a distant look on his face, "The campaign was a brutal one, one that ended with his death fifteen years ago. Plegia rightfully remembers their suffering, but the war was no kinder to us as it was to them. As the fighting dragged on, Ylisse's own army diminished in size with every battle fought. With the demand for soldiers becoming greater than our supply, common folk were drafted into the military. Young men, just barely adults, were sent into battle with no training. Many were farmers that could barely wield a pitchfork. With no farmers caring for the crops and livestock, the kingdom began to collapse." Chrom closed his eyes, the images of those dark times etched into his memory. "I was young, just barely five, but I remember those dark times. The vivid memories of Ylisse's people lying in the streets- entire families- starving to death. The memories still haunt me to this day, but Emmeryn…" he brought his hand up to his forehead. "...Naga knows that she was affected immensely."
"Indeed…" Walter could see the scars of war in Emmeryn's mannerisms. The Exalt cared deeply for her people, she left the palace on a daily basis in order to walk amongst her people. Her pacifist ideology, one can guess that it was a result of the horrors she witnessed. "I'm familiar with war, it changes people. Even those not fighting in the war are affected."
"You speak as if you've fought in a war before."
Walter nodded, "Yes, but the war I fought in was on a much more grand scale." The butler pulled out his fingerless gloves, the very pair he used as a teenager. He smiled as he recalled that he accidentally tailored the gloves one size too big when first made them, but he ended up growing into them eventually. "That's a tale for another time I suppose. Back on topic, your father left behind quite a mess."
"Indeed, the legacy our father left was terrible." Chrom clenched his fist in anger. "Emm was barely ten when our father died, and the legacy left behind- Plegia's desire for vengeance and our own people's outrage- Emm became the target of blame. The people of Ylisse hurled insults; additionally hurling stones. She still bears a scar from one…" Chrom's voice trailed once again, "Yet she never let them see her pain. Only Lissa and I ever saw her pain."
"Truly a testament to your sister's strength of will." Walter commented, one which Chrom agreed with.
"I cannot claim to know where she obtained such a steadfast will, Walter. I could never hope to be as patient and as caring as her, especially to those that would mock and vilify a child for the sins of their father. Emmeryn…" the prince's tone notably softened, "she did everything she could to heal our people. She brought soldiers home to their families; she ended the war with Plegia. When Ylisse's spirit was finally mended, and the people finally saw that Emmeryn was not our father, my sister never resented them for it. Emmeryn, for that, represents the best part of our halidom- the part most worth protecting. She is peace." Chrom frowned as he continued, "But there are some men, men like Gangrel, that take advantage of my sister's nature. The only way that that man will understand peace is when death gives it to him. So in order to protect peace, I must become an agent of death. Emmeryn would never order his death, and I do not wish her to."
Walter sighed, "I warn you, Chrom. To become an agent of death is to become death itself." An empty smile played it's way onto the aged butler's face. "You haven't the guts to become that; that is a fact."
Chrom got to his feet and looked down at the butler. From the look on his face, Chrom did not take to Walter's comment. "Is that so? I've cut down hundreds of brigands and Plegians, what makes you think that I-"
"The look in your eyes when you kill." Walter cut him off. "Your eyes, do you know what they say about a person's eyes?" the butler kept his head down, refusing to look up at Chrom. "They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and what I see in your eyes is guilt."
Chrom was stunned, "I- I still cut down countless men." He spoke, but was obviously hesitant.
"Is that so?" Walter lifted his head up and stared into Chrom's midnight blue eyes. "You call the trash that we kill men, that shows that you still have a hint of sympathy for them. Those whose companion is death do not sympathize those that are killed. Men they once were, but no longer men they are; the moment the spark of life leaves them, they become nothing but the dead."
Chrom found himself unable to speak. He had never imagined that Walter would ever speak in the way he was now. Walter usually had a grandfatherly persona to him, kind and gentle, yet at the moment he was almost like a completely different person. Gone was the warmth in his steely gray eyes, replaced by what could only be described as an emotionless void.
"When you cut down brigands and Plegians you often think of the fact that each and every one of them had a family." Walter continued." You think of the fact that each and every one of them had dreams and aspirations. You even stop to ponder the life that they had lived that led to them meeting their demise at the tip of your blade. You continue to think of these things instead of coming to the conclusion that anyone who's a companion to death has." the butler's eyes narrowed. "That those you have killed are no longer men, they are simply the dead."
"How could you say such a thing?!" Chrom practically shouted.
"Because I am the Angel of Death, Chrom." Walter replied simply. "I did not earn such a title by sympathizing the dead. Those that I killed throughout my life, whether they were human or undead- like the Risen- are as insignificant to me as insects."
The prince of Ylisse began to question whether or not it was a good idea to continue to trust in this man. Walter, from what Chrom was finding out, was an insane sociopath that was merciless. The prince found himself wanting to run away from the aged butler, for he feared that he would cut him down on the spot…
But then he thought back to how he treated everyone within the Shepherds. He was courteous, never once assaulting anyone for any reason. The man was patient, he never once raised his voice in anger. Most importantly, however, he was kind to everyone. Whenever he saw anyone struggling, whether it be something as insignificant as Virion's inability woo a woman to Kellam's plight, he always stopped to aid them. So why in the world did someone so grandfatherly adopt such a dark outlook on death.
"Why, Walter?" Chrom asked. "Why is it that you kill without sympathy? Why do you embrace the title "Angel of Death"?"
The butler was silent for a few seconds before getting to his feet and placing a hand on Chrom's shoulder. "I do it for the sake of those I care about." the warmth in the butler's eyes returned.
"To become what I have is to become a monster. Human's they feel sadness when they kill because it is human nature. For the same reason you'd never wish for Emmeryn to order Gangrel's death, I'd never wish you to become an agent of death." Walter closed his eyes, "There was a time when I had thought differently though. When I was younger I was the Angel of Death simply because I got a kick out of it. The rush of cutting down my enemies with the swipe of my hand was cathartic to me. It was my reason for living: to cut down the opposition and be remembered for it, but that changed one day." A forlorn expression formed on the butler's face.
"Sir Integra Fairbrook Wingates Hellsing, my former master. She was the first person that I truly cared for." Walter looked almost heartbroken as he continued to talk about Integra. "When her father died, she was left in charge of the family "business", if you can call it that. I was left to raise her on my own. I taught her everything I knew and supported her when she needed it. I watched her grow up right before my eyes. I raised her as I would raise my own daughter." he let out a melancholy laugh. "I wanted nothing more than to shield her from the horrors that I had faced on a daily basis, but I couldn't do that. The nature of the organization that she had to lead prevented her from living like a normal woman. In time, the girl I raised became a woman with an edge to her. She became adamant that everyone, including me, refer to her as "Sir Integra" rather than "Lady Integra". As I watched her grow up and slowly lose more and more of her innocence, I vowed one thing. I vowed that she would never be like me; that she would never view death the same way as I. I vowed to ensure that she retained that bit of humanity that I had lost so long ago."
Chrom watched as a single tear slid down Walter's cheek. At that moment, Chrom saw a side of Walter that he doubted anyone had ever seen before. There was sadness, not just because of his memories of this Integra, but of his lost humanity. Here was a man that had given something up, and felt a deep sense of regret for ever giving it up.
"You haven't lost your humanity, Walter." a new voice spoke up.
Chrom and Walter turned to see Marth standing behind a tree.
"Marth?" Chrom stared at the masked man in shock. "How did you get in here?"
Marth approached Walter and Chrom. "The cleft in the castle wall, the one behind the maple grove." he replied simply.
"How did you- how could you…?" Chrom threw his hands up in defeat.
"How I know is of no importance." Marth stopped in front of Walter and grabbed his hands. "What's important is that I tell Walter here that he is not a monster."
Walter stared at the woman disguised as a man. "What are you-"
Marth cut him off by placing a finger over the butler's mouth, silencing him. "Would a monster care enough to save a town of helpless people from bandits? Would a monster care enough to fight the undead, even when they themselves are exhausted?" Marth asked, his tone being notably soft. "Would a monster go out of his way to help a young woman, despite having only just met her?"
A smile formed on Walter's face as he recalled the events that Marth/Lucina was speaking of. The moment he had arrived in Ylisse, he helped save a town alongside Chrom, Frederick, and Lissa. When the Risen first appeared he saved Chrom and Lucina from the Risen Chief, even when he was on the verge of collapsing. Finally, when he saved Lucina from the Plegian brigands.
Just like Integra. Walter stared at the disguised woman with a fond smile. Just like Integra, you seek to see humanity in even the most hopeless person. Just as Integra treated Alucard like he had some humanity left in him, you treat me the same way. Maybe there is hope for this old codger after all. The butler was glad that Lucina had shown up tonight.
Wait a minute…?
The butler's eyes widened as he quickly put the pieces together. "Marth, it's tonight, isn't it?" his voice becoming grave.
The masked man nodded, "Yes, unfortunately, it is, Walter."
Chrom looked between the two, confused as to what they were talking about. "What's tonight? Walter, what are you and Marth talking about?"
Walter slipped his gloves on and immediately put his guard up. "Okay, Marth." the butler was ready to summon his wires at any second. "I assume you know what you're doing."
Marth nodded in response as he drew his blade. Chrom immediately tensed, placing his hand over his own blade.
"Walter, what is going on here?" the Ylissean prince swallowed, fearful that Walter and Marth were planning something sinister.
"I'm about to save your life." Marth replied instead. "...From him." he tossed his sword into the air just as an assassin leaped out from a bush behind him. The masked man leaped behind the assassin, catching the blade in midair, and cut him down. "I trust this proof will suffice?" he pointed his blade at the corpse.
Chrom nodded, "Yeah…"
"Watch out!" Walter shouted.
Marth turned around just in time to see another assassin leap out of the bushes. He took a step back to parry the attack, but ended up tripping over the fallen assassin's sword; the second assassin's attack ended up cleaving the mask on his face in two. Walter's wires immediately rushed past the falling warrior and decapitated the second assassin before he could attack again; Walter catching the the unmasked girl in his arms.
Chrom stared at Marth in Walter's arms, surprised by the fact that Marth was in fact a woman. "Wait, you're- you're a woman?" he stuttered over his own words.
"And quite the actress too." Marth replied as Walter put her back on her feet. "Honestly, I'm surprised that Walter was the only one that figured it out."
Chrom looked between the two once more. "When did you find this out?" Chrom's jaw, metaphorically speaking, had dropped.
"When we first met." the butler said simply.
Before anything else could be said, an explosion shook the ground beneath them. The trio immediately ran towards the castle to investigate.
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Emmeryn's bedroom)
August 22 (12:02 A.M.)
"Emm!" Chrom rushed into Emmeryn's room, sword in hand.
"Chrom!" Emmeryn was out of bed, obviously roused by the explosion that had occurred outside. "Take Lissa and flee while you still have time!"
Chrom shook his head, "No! We're not leaving you!" The prince took hold of his sister's hand, "We need to get you to safety!"
Walter burst into the room, looking far more composed then Chrom did at the moment. "Chrom, Emmeryn, we must convene in the throne room. The throne room is the most easily defendable within this palace. Marth is making her way there as we speak, and the rest of the Shepherds are being mobilized."
"Very good, let's get a move on." Chrom, Emmeryn, and Walter hurriedly made their way to the throne room.
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Throne Room)
August 22 (12:25 A.M)
"Let's get down to business." Walter spoke faced the Shepherds present. "As you have no doubt been informed, there has been a breach in security." The butler's eyes gleamed across the room, taking note of the Shepherds that had managed to get into the palace. "The palace's main defenses, the Exalt's royal guard, were roundly decimated in the initial attack. That alone tells us that we're are dealing with no simple attack force. The Exalt's guard consisted of the best, and were far too skilled to fall at the hands of any simple task force. In addition, the attack was far too precise to have been a random attack; whoever organized and planned this attack is a tactical genius." the butler's eyes narrowed. "I must say, we certainly have our work cut out for us."
"So…" Lissa swallowed, "Are you saying that we're finished?"
Walter shook his head, "No, that is far from it. The enemy has made the mistake of attacking the palace itself. Word of the attack shall spread quickly and Ylisse's forces shall gather to protect the Exalt; Phila has already left the capital to mobilize the Pegasus knights and Stahl has been sent to rally the military. However…" Walter paused for a moment, "neither the military or the Pegasus Knights are likely going to be able to mobilize in time. By the time either arrive, the Exalt will most likely be dead."
Several gasps were heard across the room.
"That is where we come in." Walter continued, bringing his hands behind his back. "We must hold off the enemy until reinforcements arrive, something that will not be easy."
"Who gives a damn!?" Vaike shouted at the top of his lungs. " 'Ol Teach thinks that these guys have a lot of guts coming over and attacking us like this! Easy or not, Teach is gonna teach 'em a lesson!"
Many voiced their approval of Vaike and his gutsiness. "Yeah! Doesn't matter how tough these guys think they are, they messed with the wrong country!" Sully shouted as well.
Walter beckoned everyone to calm down. "Yes, these villains shall indeed learn their lesson. The plan of attack is as follows; Chrom, Vaike and Frederick shall intercept the attackers in the western hallway. Miriel, Kellam, Sully and Virion shall intercept them in the eastern hallway. Lon'qu shall guard the direct entrance to the throne room. As for me…" Walter cracked his knuckles. "I shall directly confront the enemy within the atrium." The butler turned to Emmeryn, who looked incredibly anxious. "Lady Emmeryn, please remain here while we deal with the threat. Your survival is our highest priority."
Emmeryn nodded, "Very well; please be careful."
"What about me, how can I help?" Lissa suddenly spoke up.
Before Walter could talk, Chrom spoke up first. "Lissa, I think it's best you stay here with Emm."
Lissa stamped her foot, glaring at her older brother. "I'm not just gonna stay here with Emm and-"
"Did you not hear Walter?!" Chrom interrupted her before she could finish. "These aren't just average brigands, this is a trained attack force! One slip up and you could end up dead!" Chrom trembled at the thought of losing his younger sister.
"Are you saying I'm weak?!" Lissa shouted back.
"Milady…" Frederick spoke in a calm tone. "We aren't implying that you are weak by excluding you from this, but Prince Chrom is correct; one mistake can lead to your demise. You are far too delicate for this…"
"I am not delicate!" Lissa yelled at the top of her lungs, silencing Frederick instantly. "I can take care of myself! I don't need anyone to take care of me!" Lissa stormed off, leaving a dumbfounded Frederick and Chrom behind.
Walter, who had simply elected to stand by and watch the argument, chased after the princess. "Everyone, get to your positions immediately." The butler turned to Chrom and Frederick. "I'll have a quick chat with Lissa, don't worry about her."
Chrom and Frederick nodded and left for the western hallway.
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Atrium)
Lissa had elected to curl up into a ball right beside the entrance to the Atrium. She had no idea what to feel about the situation. She felt scared for her brother, and sister's lives. She was angry at the fact that she was told she couldn't help. She was sad that she was so weak in comparison to everyone else. Lissa was just a ball of teenage hormones, that was the biggest problem.
"Of all the places you choose to sulk, you choose the place I'm supposed to be. It's almost as if you wanted to talk to me about something."
Lissa looked up to see Walter standing over her. "Here to tell me I'm too "delicate" to help?" she grumbled.
"No, I'm simply here to talk to you." the butler squatted down beside the young princess. "I agree with Chrom and Frederick; this situation is far too dangerous for you."
Lissa rolled her eyes, "Tell me something that hasn't already been-"
"Let me finish." Walter continued. "Just because I agree with those two does not mean I agree with how they phrased it. You are by no means "delicate", Lissa. You are a valued member of the Shepherds, someone that can be counted on." the butler gave Lissa a comforting smile. "That being said, neither Chrom nor Frederick said that you were weak; if you had let Frederick finish, you would've found that he sees you're strength."
Lissa simply remained silent as Walter continued.
"Please realize, you're role on the battlefield is not that of a warrior, but rather a healer. Tonight, we need you away from the fighting. This is not because we think you're weak, but rather we need someone to look after the injured. We need you in a place that people can fall back to for medical attention. Everyone's lives- Chrom, Frederick, even mine- are in your hands. If something happens, we're all counting on you to help us out." Walter got to his feet. "Lissa, we need you."
Lissa took a deep breath before getting to her feet. Her hands gripped her staff tightly. "Right, I'll be there to heal you guys up!" She said with determination as she moved back to the throne room to join Emmeryn.
Walter smiled as he watched the Ylissean princess walk with a newfound determination.
"Giving encouragement to young teenagers, a monster you truly are."
Walter turned his head to the darkened corner of the Atrium. "Always one to sneak up on an old codger. You're likely to give me a heart attack one day, Lucina."
The blue-haired princess from the future walked out of the shadows. "I overheard the two of you talking." Lucina stood beside Walter. "Forgive me for eavesdropping."
"It's fine, I was just giving her a bit of encouragement, that's all." Walter put his hands in his pockets as he looked up at the moon through the large skylight.
"Yes, a monstrous thing to do." Lucina shot the butler small grin. "I've no idea why you'd ever think that way about yourself, you're a good man."
Walter shook his head slightly. "Perhaps not a monster, but I'm definitely no good man. I find it fascinating how so easily you forget what I've done to you."
Lucina scoffed, "No, I haven't forgotten, I just forgive you for it." Lucina said simply, "I think that you were justified, acting in caution. Protecting those we care about sometimes requires us to kill, the act doesn't make a person a monster."
"Maybe so…" Walter trailed off. "Tonight, however, is a night that I must act like one. I shall kill with no remorse, soak in the blood of those who would dare attempt to take Chrom or Emmeryn's life."
"Perhaps you're a monster, or perhaps you're just a watchful protectful." Lucina retorted. "A true monster would have no need to call themselves a monster. Insects don't proclaim themselves insects, they simply are; so a monster doesn't need to proclaim itself a monster."
Walter raised an eyebrow, "Insects and mosters are two completely different things."
"True, I'd rather face a horde of risen over a single cockroach any day." Lucina muttered. Walter chuckled slight at the comment before realizing that the girl was oddly serious.
"Wait, you're joking, right?" The butler stared at the future princess quizzically.
Lucina shook her head, "Of course not, insects are absolutely terrifying; what with their many legs and beady eyes."
Walter burst into laughter, not being able to contain himself. "You're skilled enough to fight Chrom to a stalemate, yet you're terrified of insects?"
"It's not funny…" Lucina grumbled. "Insects are a menace…" Despite trying not to, Lucina found herself laughing too. A thought occurred to her after she and Walter finally stopped laughing. "I haven't been able to laugh like that in years." The melancholy tone of her voice told Walter all he needed to know about the world that Lucina had grown up in.
Walter gripped the young woman's shoulders. "Whatever future you hail from, whatever mistakes or events occured to create it, I assure you that they will not be repeated in this time."
Lucina, as dire as the situation was, couldn't help but smile. She felt comforted by Walter's assurance; the promise of a new future.
Tonight was the night that everything would change...
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Entrance)
Meanwhile outside, the attack force awaited orders from its commander. Several scouts approached their commander, a tall lanky man with discoloured tan skin and ruby eyes. His robes were that of a Plegian sorcerer, shades of black and purple all throughout with gold embroidery.
"Validar, the assassins you sent to kill Prince Chrom were foiled."
Validar, as he was called, seemed slightly irritated by the news. "So those two assassins that were sent failed? Did they at least manage to wound the princeling?"
The scouts shook their heads, "No sir, the prince was protected by his butler and a mysterious woman."
"Is that so?" Validar stroked his goatee. "This butler, quite the name he's made for himself. Plegia has had a rather difficult time causing chaos in Ylisse since this butler appeared little over a month ago. This man is quite the threat to the game we play; an actor that does not belong on this stage." the Plegian sorcerer grimaced. "His meddling matters not, I shall deal with this pest personally." The leader of the attack force faced his militia. "Remember our goal! I want the Emblem in hand and that damned Exalt, Emmeryn, dead on the floor! Let nothing distract you from this purpose!"
Cheers erupted throughout the attack force. They all drew their weapons and began to charge into the castle, except for one. A lone thief had snuck away from the main attack force. He had ginger hair with a black headband tied around his head.
"Geez, I hope I didn't hear what I thought I heard." the thief hid in the shadows, not wishing to join the bloodshed. "Maybe I should've thought twice before I signed that contract, but the idea of stealing from the Exalt's own palace was too tempting to resist. I would happily plunder Emmeryn out of house and home, but I couldn't harm such a sweet lady." The thief watched the numerous Plegians pour into the palace. "I watched these guys cut down entire platoons in order to get in here, I can't take part in this!" He snapped his fingers, "I know, I'll steal whatever I can and leave as soon as the going gets tough!" the ginger thief ran into the palace, sticking to the western hall. For some reason, he had the distinct feeling that moving through the atrium of the palace was an incredibly bad idea. Call it his survival instinct, but what were the chances it was correct?"
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Atrium)
The spacious atrium was quickly filled with Plegians of all kinds. There were fighters, mages, and thieves, all looking to kill the Exalt. It wasn't long before much of the atrium was filled with Plegians.
A couple gutsy fighters were quick to cross the moonlit filled hall, eager to get the job done as soon as possible.
Tak… tak… tak… tak…
The Plegians all stopped in their tracks upon hearing the footsteps. All heads turned to the source; the other end of the Atrium, which lead to where the Exalt was holed up.
Twing!
Something fast, nigh invisible to the naked eye, sped across the hall. The fighter class Plegians that had sped across the hall earlier had become eerily still. Many whispers could be heard echoing throughout the atrium as the attack force stared at the fighters in confusion. Suddenly, the gutsy Plegians that were so eager to get their job done fell to pieces. Blood splashed all over the stone floor, body parts flew all over the place.
Fear gripped the Plegian invaders, as they had no idea what had just occurred.
"The blood splattering all over the ground, such a satisfying sound…" a figure loomed closer, walking out from where the attack had originated. "...though the mess it leaves is quite the hassle cleaning up." The figure moved into the moonlit atrium; his long greasy hair, slicked back into a ponytail, the monocle reflecting the light. Fear gripped the hearts of the Plegian attack force, as the rumors of the butler that served the Halidom came to mind.
"From your fear gripped eyes, I take it that you've heard of me." a wicked grin formed on the butler's aged face. "For those that haven't, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Walter Dornez, butler to Prince Chrom, though you can call me…" Walter lifted his hand, revealing the many monofilament wires at his gloved fingertips. "... The Angel of Death!"
Many of the Plegians panicked, the mages specifically firing their tomes at the butler. Walter smiled as he became a blur of motion, dodging the thunder magic, dark magic, and wind magic. He weaved through the attacks, effortlessly avoiding all damage.
"Too slow! You're all far too slow!" Walter taunted. "Effective as you are against the fodder that you have faced thus far, you are nothing but amateurs in the face of a true fighter; such as myself. Then again, you lot are nothing but children, naughty children in fact, and naughty children..." Walter sped past the mages and stopped in the middle of the crowd. "...are punished."
His wires sprang to life, cutting down anyone that didn't have the foresight to dodge. Some were bisected, others heads popped by the pressure of the wires being wrapped around their necks. When the attack ended, Walter stood in sea of blood. Practically half of the Plegians in the Atrium were wiped out by the butler.
"Two attacks and half of you are already dead." Walter shook his head in disappointment. "Tsk tsk, I expected more from you lot." As Walter continued his attack, his thoughts were on his allies.
My boasts aside, these men actually managed to dodge that second attack. I was right when I said that this lot wasn't composed of average brigands. Walter dodged a hand axe flying his way. I just hope that everyone else is alright.
Ylisstol ~ Royal Palace(Western Hallway)
Enemies poured into the hallway as rapidly as water in a raging river. Whoever had set up the attack basically brought a small army with them, something that greatly worried Chrom as he and Vaike cut through a brigand.
"Naga, how large of an attack force was brought?!" Chrom grunted as he deflected an attack meant for Vaike. "Their attack has only just begun, yet it's as if we've been fighting for an eternity!"
Vaike cleaved his axe through a dark mage who was within range. "Aw Chrom, you tired already? Ol' Teach is just gettin' started!" The blonde axe-wielder turned suddenly and threw a hand axe into a faraway mage.
Chrom rolled his eyes as he dodged an attack meant for his head. Just as he was about to retaliate, Frederick already moved in and embedded his sword into the brigand's gut.
"Fight with caution, milord!" Frederick took a javelin and threw it into a thief behind Chrom. "What Walter said is true, these are no simple brigands! This is a trained attack force!" The great knight pushed his lance forward and charged at several unsuspecting brigands. He managed to impale a few, but the rest had the sense move out of the way.
Chrom bit his tongue, slightly intimidated by the amount of enemies that were pouring into the hall. The Ylissean prince shrugged the fear off and charged back into the fray, Falchion in hand. As he cut down brigands, he noticed a figure in the shadows.
"I knew there was wisdom in slipping in with those rogues…" a voice, distinctly feminine spoke up. "Look at how these man-spawn claw at each other like savages! I will repay my warren's debt and then wash my hands of their race." A woman with distinct animal characteristics walked out from the shadows.
Chrom immediately raised his blade against her. "Another assassin?"
"Hold!" Lucina, or rather Marth, suddenly held Chrom back from attacking the animal-like woman. "Panne is not your enemy."
Chrom's grip on his sword did not loosen, "You know her?"
Marth was silent, thinking of how to reply to the question. "I know…" she paused for a moment. "I know of her, and I knew she would come here tonight."
Chrom turned around and cut down a brigand. Marth joined Chrom, syncing her movements with the prince. The duo cut down brigands like a river wears away rock. They moved through brigand after brigand.
"You're quite the prophet, aren't you?" Chrom said as he blocked a strike meant for Marth.
"You choose now to make conversation?" Marth chuckled as she moved to block an attack meant for Chrom.
"Well, there's a chance we won't get to talk at all if we don't survive, so might as well talk while we can." Chrom twirled his blade overhead and brought it down onto an enemy.
"You're surviving tonight, that I'll make sure of!" Marth brought her blade upwards and cleaved a dark mage in two.
The two were surprised when what can only be described as a colossal quadrupedal bunny rabbit charged through a band of brigands before their very eyes. Chrom was particularly surprised when this beast suddenly reverted into the form of the animal-like woman from earlier.
"You man-spawn speak far too much!" She berated both Chrom and Marth. "Words do not belong in battle!" The woman proceeded to transform back into her colossal beast form to tear through the enemies.
Chrom exchanged a glance with Marth, who seemed a lot less surprised than he was. In fact, she didn't seem surprised at all.
"I really hope that you're right, and she's an ally…" Chrom muttered as he watched the beast woman crush and decimate practically all the enemies in her path.
"Trust me, she is." Marth replied.
Satisfied, Chrom resumed fighting the enemy while Marth left the west hall to provide aid elsewhere.
Ylissetol ~ Royal Palace(Atrium)
Walter was bouncing off the walls at this point, having become a blurring beast that annihilated everyone that dared to cross into his territory. Choosing to forgo using his wires in combat to conserve his stamina, he leaped into the air and unsheathed his rapier. Taking a cue from Chrom and Lucina, the butler became a human buzzsaw, spiraling through the air and cutting down several more brigands. He changed the direction of his descent, wrapping his wires around a pillar. He looped around it, forming a deadly orbit that beheaded a few more brigands. The butler finally ceased his deadly attack and landed back on his two feet.
The once pristine stone and marble floors of the atrium were stained with the blood of countless brigands. Walter's clothing was also stained, a few blotches of the crimson liquid staining his once pristine dress shirt.
"I must say, I haven't felt this exhilarated in years." The butler said darkly as he felt the adrenaline from his assault pump through his veins. "Yes, I've missed this feeling; the feeling of lording my superiority over fodder! Staining the ground with the blood of the filth that roam the world!" Walter's body trembled in excitement. "Yes, give me more! Come, attack me!"
Walter suddenly realized what he was saying and moved his hand over his mouth. The adrenaline rush faded as he realized that he was sounding exactly like Alucard. "No, I am not a monster…" Walter said quietly to himself. The butler took a deep breath before surveying the area. It seemed like he had cleared the area of enemies for the time being.
"Impressive, you truly do live up to the legend you've made for yourself…"
Walter looked to the entrance on the opposite end of the Atrium. A man in Plegian sorcerer attire walked into the moonlit atrium. A twisted smile was plastered on the man's face as he surveyed Walter's handiwork.
"You truly do not belong here, not on this stage." The man spoke as he caressed his magic tome. "An anomaly, one that I did not foresee. Who are you, butler to Ylisse?"
Walter's eyes narrowed. He could feel power radiate from the sorcerer, dark and ancient power for that. "Walter C. Dornez, retainer to prince Chrom." the butler replied, never taking his eyes off the man. "I take it that you are the leader of this little attack?"
The man's sinister smile grew, "Yes, though the events of tonight shall bring about a power far greater than mine."
Walter raised an eyebrow, "You speak as if you have knowledge of the future."
The sorcerer shook his head, "No, I simply am aware of the inevitable. You could say I'm putting things into motion."
"Inevitable, you say?" Walter snickered. "I can tell you what's inevitable; you're little attack's failure."
The sorcerer stared at Walter through narrowed eyes. "Yes, I never expected such resistance. You specifically, Mr. Dornez, have thrown my forces into disarray, but you cannot stop me." he clenched his fist. "I will have Emmeryn's head and the Fire Emblem in my grasp!"
Walter shook his head, "No, I don't think so." Walter raised his rapier.
The sorcerer seemed amused by the aged butler's declaration. "Then come, cut me down butler!"
(Play song ~ Menace [Fire Emblem Awakening OST])
Walter leaped at the sorcerer, pushing his rapier forward to impale him through the chest. Somehow the sorcerer had reacted fast enough to create a sudden wall of fire to prevent the butler from doing so. The butler stopped and jumped away from the flames. This seemed to be exactly what his foe wanted him to do, as the sorcerer preemptively cast fire behind Walter just milliseconds before Walter had jumped back.
Walter cursed under his breath as he stopped and jumped over the flames. The sorcerer didn't end his assault, as he began to launch volleys of fire at the butler. Walter batted away any that came his way as he descended toward the ground. The aged man clicked his teeth in annoyance as the sorcerer aimed the fire at the ground where he was going to land and lit the ground aflame.
"Is this all that you're capable of, butler!?" the sorcerer bellowed as Walter landed in the middle of the flames and retreated back into the air. "Perhaps I was wrong to view you as an obstacle, you're more like an insignificant insect!"
Walter found himself on the defensive, unable to move in to attack. He cursed as he landed in the middle of the flames once more, forcing him to leap into the air once more. Wherever he was landing, the sorcerer lit the ground aflame. Deciding that now was not the time to conserve his stamina, Walter summoned his wires once more.
Walter's foe was taken by surprise when several strands of monofilament wire flew directly at him. The Plegian sorcerer quickly created barrier of flames and deflected the attack. He retaliated by reforming the barrier into a wave of fire and hurling it straight at the butler.
Finally managing to land back on the ground, Walter swiped his hand. His wires cut through the flames and reduced them to a simple candle fire. The smaller flame singed his clothing, but the butler was fine overall.
"Damn…" Walter muttered under his breath. "I may have underestimated him…" the butler flicked his hand and summoned up several more strands of wire. "Let's see how he deals with this one." Walter twitched his hand, causing his wires to fling towards his foe.
A smug smile formed on the sorcerer's face. He created a barrier of flames, just as he did earlier, to deflect the wires. He was taken off guard when the wires suddenly veered off their expected course and looped around the barrier. The Plegian scowled as he was forced to move out of the way. As he moved, he realized that Walter had moved from his original position. The sorcerer turned around to see Walter dashing at him, rapier in hand. He expected for the butler to attack him directly, so he created a firewall to stop his approach. To his surprise, Walter threw his sword through the firewall. The sorcerer scoffed and simply sidestepped out of the way. His eyes widened when he caught sight of something thin wrapped around the handle of the rapier. Realizing the mistake he had made, he immediately ducked. He ducked just in time too, as the rapier turned around in midair and slashed at where his head once was. The rapier immediately retreated back to into Walter's hand.
Walter smirked, "I wouldn't get too cocky, I have more than enough tricks up my sleeve to deal with people like you."
(Song ends here)
Author's Notes
Well it seems things are starting to "heat" up!(Couldn't resist)
Now that I've got the awful pun out of my system, time for some notes or whatever the heck I put in this section. I dunno what I'm supposed to put here, I see other people do write these kind of after chapter things and I assumed that I had to do it too. Well not really, I'm just doing this because I feel like rambling.
Anyway, I just hope you enjoyed the first part of this two part battle. I didn't plan on this being two parts, it just kinda happened. I do hope that this chapter was up to snuff and quite enjoyable to read.
Now the behind the keyboard thingies that I write for some odd reason. (Not even sure that people actually read these)
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Too Long...
Two part chapters don't happen for no reason. I wanted this to be one chapter, but it was just too long. No need to overload you with this humble story, all y'all have other things to do; at least I assume you have other things to do. Well, the length of the chapter wasn't the only reason I spliced the chapter in two. I felt that the pacing would benefit from a two parter.
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Romance WAS in the air
Now all you that love their pre-battle fluff, I actually cut out something akin to that.
Well, it definitely had a romantic mood to it...
Well, it was more implied...
I'm not going to tell you what happened, but I will tell you that I cut it out because I knew that it would kind of ruin the mood.
Virtual cookie to anyone who correctly guesses who was involved in the fluff. (Though I'm probably not going to comment on whether you're right or wrong)
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Gender is a fickle thing
If you noticed, whenever Lucina and Walter are alone together, I always refer to Lucina as "she". Whenever it's just Lucina or someone else, other than Walter, is present, I refer to her as "he" and "Marth". I actually spent an entire day writing, and debating, what gender I'd refer to her as in certain situations. It's a weird thing to focus on, I know, but I was seriously stumped on this. Thankfully, now that her true sex is revealed, I don't have to deal with that anymore.
Although she'll still be referred to as Marth by everyone, sans Walter.
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This isn't a behind the keyboard
Guess what happened to my laptop?
It borked. Yes, I know I wrote the word borked instead of broke; I like the word borked better.
I'm writing on my phone right now, so this is technically a "behind the touchscreen" segment of the chapter.
Now I hope this doesn't happen, but the next chapter will probably be delayed as a result of my busted laptop. Don't worry, I'm not make you wait an eternity for an update(Even though I have a bad habit of doing that) and the next chapter will be out as quickly as I can get it out. Note that because of the fact that I'll be typing some of the next chapter up using my phone, I may be more prone to grammatical errors. Just bear with me while I try to either get my laptop fixed or buy a new one.
I hope all you folks had a rockin' Christmas Eve, or whatever holiday you celebrate this winter season and I'll see you next chapter!
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Next time on Walter Dornez of the Emblem!
Loss of Humanity (Part II)
