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, WRITING, AND SOUNDS

BOLD= DATES, PLACES, ECT.

BOLD ITALICS=WRITER


Ylisstol, Ylisse

October 21, Age 2609 (3:12 P.M.)

"It is certainly good to be home…" Walter stared at the pearly white palace at the center of Ylisstol. "I honestly never thought I'd see this place again…"

"Neither did I…"

Walter turned to Lucina, who bore a small smile. The two had finally made it back to Ylisstol, after a long journey from the heart of Plegia. After going through hell, they finally made it.

"Is that doubt in my ability I hear?" Matthew hollered from the front of the wagon.

"No, of course not!" Lucina replied earnestly. In contrast, Walter shrugged dismissively.

"I certainly did…" he smirked. Lucina shot him a look of disapproval, which only served to make Walter chuckle.

"You look so adorable with that frown… like a child who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar." the teenaged butler quipped, earning a scathing glare from the bluenette maiden.

"You…" Lucina grumbled as she struggled to come up with a retort.

"Hey!" Matthew called out from the front of the wagon again. "Cut it out you two, else you're gonna have to walk the rest of the way!"

Looking outside again, though the city of a Ylisstol was visible, they were at least a good two to three miles away. Deciding that it was a better idea to sit quietly and enjoy the ride, Lucina simply sighed and let her anger go for the time being. Walter, on the other hand, had a satisfied grin plastered on his face. Lucina could only maintain her displeasure for so long before she smiled herself.

It truly was good to have Walter back, despite his more… boyish demeanor.

The wagon soon entered the city, passing through its gates and into the Halidom. Walter noted that the streets were less crowded than usual, likely due to the ongoing war. Honestly, Walter was surprised that the city hadn't devolved onto a state of total war; though this was likely due to Emmeryn's more pacifistic nature. Still, he was glad to see that the doom and gloom of conflict didn't taint the Ylissean people. Truly, that was a blessing in itself.

"I'll be dropping you both off here." Matthew parked the wagon at the side of a road, by a stable at the entrance.

The two passengers dismounted from the wagon. Matthew also stepped down from the front to see them off.

"How long will you be staying in Ylisstol?" Walter asked. Matthew shrugged.

"I dunno, could be here a day, could be here a month; all depends on how I feel." the smuggler replied honestly. Walter glanced around him, ensuring that no one was within earshot, before leaning in.

"Stay for at least a week, I have a feeling that we'll be needing your services in the near future." he muttered.

"Whatever you say…" Matthew answered nonchalantly. "I'll be staying at the local inn if you need me…" the smuggler then paid the stableman to care for his horse and wagon before leaving Lucina and Walter to their own devices. Left alone, Lucina looked to Walter for direction.

"You have any gold on you?" Walter inquired. Though confused, Lucina nodded.

"Yes, about five hundred in total." she gestured over to a satchel hanging from her shoulder.

"Perfect…" Walter took hold of Lucina's hand, the bluenette blushing slightly as he did. "I need a fresh set of clothes, this outfit is absolutely horrendous…"

Lucina raised a brow. The butler's first priority was clothing? She never took him for one to care for his outward appearance. Then again, his outfits were usually pristine, so perhaps he did? Looking again, he was right; his current outfit didn't suit him. The white baggy pants tucked into leather boots, the tan shirt underneath a cloak laden with Grimleal imagery; certainly not terrible, but definitely not fitting.

Maneuvering through the streets, Walter led Lucina into a shop that they were familiar with. The bluenette's eyes lit up with recognition.

This was where Walter had taken her shopping, where he bought her dress…

Upon entering, they were greeted by the same shopkeeper from before. The man seemed disinterested with them, until he noticed Lucina.

"Oh, you're that young girl that was brought in by that older gentleman just two months ago!" the shopkeeper beamed.

"Yes, I remember." the bluenette returned the smile. "I'm honestly surprised that you recall that." The shopkeeper lifted his chin high, and lifted his hand to his chest dramatically.

"I can recall every sale I've made since opening this store, and you my dear are no exception!" he announced proudly. "A wonderful summer dress, a beautiful shade of light blue—akin to the sky—that complimented your lovely hair!"

Lucina laughed sheepishly. This man reminded her of Owain… Owain if he were twenty times louder, and twice her age.

"Yes, never have I seen anyone wear one of my dresses and look so gorgeous in it!" the shopkeeper continued to gush. "It is a moment that I shall cherish for the rest of my-"

"Enough…" Walter interrupted. "We're here to purchase clothing, not to hear you babble on about them…" The shopkeeper let out a sheepishly laugh.

"Yes… I apologize… I do get so very talkative when it comes to my passion…" the man scratched the back of his head. Clearing his throat, regaining composure, the man stood straight, and addressed the two of them calmly.

"How may I help the two of you?" he spoke in a crass business like tone.

"I need something special, clothing that is durable enough to survive extreme conditions." Walter replied. Lucina noticed a small sparkle in the shopkeepers eye at the request.

"Really? That is an odd request you have there…" the man spoke in a low tone. "Am I to assume that you want this made to order?"

"Naturally." Walter nodded.

"What are you looking for? What is it you want?" the shop keep grinned, as he pulled out a piece of parchment from below the counter he stood behind.

"Dress shirt, and tie combo under a waistcoat." Walter answered neutrally.

"Materials and color?" the shopkeeper's grin widened.

"Basic materials for the dress shirt, and silk for the tie." Walter began. "The waistcoat and pants are to be made with some of the toughest leather you have; I don't want any of that tearing. As for color, make it all black, though I would appreciate if you added some white or gray pine stripes to the dress shirt."

The shopkeeper quickly jotted the request down on the parchment before clapping his hands together. Seconds after he did, a dutiful looking young lady came out from the back of the store.

"Adrianna, please get this young man's measurements." the shopkeeper commanded.

"As you wish, Mr. Timody." the assistant, named Adrianna, gestured for Walter follow her into the back. Walter promptly left with the girl, leaving Lucina behind with Mr. Timody. Awkwardly, the two stood silently as they waited for Walter to return. It felt like minutes had passed before the man, now known as Mr. Timody, broke the silence.

"Whatever happened to that older gentleman that bought you the dress?" he asked. Lucina froze up for a second. How was she supposed to answer that question?

"I… he… uh…" Lucina mumbled as she struggled to come up with a response.

"He was…"

"He unfortunately passed away just recently."

Lucina breathed a quiet breath of relief as Walter returned from the back.

"Oh…" Timody blanched. "I'm sorry for your loss…" Lucina chose to only nod silently, exchanging a quick glance with Walter.

"How soon will you have my request ready?" Walter stood across from Timody.

"Depends on how much you're willing to pay…" the seamsman replied slyly. The butler raised a brow.

"Standard fee if I want it tomorrow morning?"

"Usually it's 200 gold, but since I'm fond of the young lady you're with, I'll give you a discount. 75 gold coins, 5:00 A.M. tomorrow."

"Done." Walter gestured Lucina to pay for him, which she gladly did.

Leaving the store, Walter and Lucina set their sights on a building that Walter had never personally entered, though he had planned to do so after the Exalt rescue mission. Maneuvering through the streets, the duo left the lower district areas and made their way to the upper. Lucina was awed by the building they stood before.

"The Church of the Divine Dragon, Naga…" the blunette maiden stared at the great quartz like temple. Standing several stories high, and the size of a large mansion; the building rose into the heavens—it's massive bell tower large enough to be seen from any part of the city. The only structure that dwarfed the church was the palace itself. Imagery of the Divine Dragon, Naga, was plastered along the corners of the roof like gargoyles. At the top of the bell tower, the Brand of the Exalt was rendered in metal—interspersed with the draconic design found throughout the rest of the exterior; representing the relationship between the Royal family and their deity.

"You look as if this is the first time you've ever seen this." Walter nudged Lucina in the elbow.

"It is…" Lucina replied quietly. "I never saw the temple in its glory, at least not up close. When Grima rose, his armies marched upon Ylisstol. Though we were still suffering from the loss of my father, my mother managed to rally our forces to repel their attack. Though the battle was won, and Grima's legions had been repelled, the city was dealt a major blow. The temple was amongst what was destroyed…" the blunette shivered at the distant memory.

"Is that so?" Walter raised a hand to his chin. Lucina stifled a giggle at the sight.

"What's so funny?" the teen frowned.

"It's just…" she looked away, hiding her smile. "You look as if you were a child trying to act like an adult…"

Walter glowered. Though he had the mannerisms of a man sixty-nine years of age, he had the body of a boy in his teens. He probably did look rather odd—downright clownish if Lucina's reaction was any indication.

"I can't help it if I'm a man trapped in a teenager's body!" Walter huffed, Lucina finally letting go of restraint and bursting into laughter. The teen blushed as he was made fun of in public. However, upon catching sight of Lucina's smile, his heart fluttered. Sighing, he shook his head, eliciting a chuckle himself.

"Are you finished enjoying yourself at my expense?" he smirked. Lucina let out a few more giggles before nodding.

"Sorry, I just couldn't help myself." she grinned.

"I can see that…" Walter raised a brow. "I mean… how could I not, you garnered the attention of everyone else around us…"

"What?" Lucina's smile swiftly faded as she glanced around her. Indeed, there were quite a number of people staring at the two of them.

"Oh my…" Lucina's cheeks turned a shade of red that rivaled Cordelia's hair. Flustered, she raised both hands to her hot cheeks.

"I'm so sorry…" she meekly faced away from the people staring at the two of them.

"Next time, think twice before you decide to laugh at me in public." Walter grinned with satisfaction. "Anyway, let's go. After all, we're not here to sight see."

Nodding, Lucina followed Walter into the church. The maiden felt the air get sucked out of her lungs as she took in the interior. While not as gradiouse as the temple on Mount Prism, it still exuded a similar aura. White marble floors that were so clean that she could see her reflection; a high ceiling giving room for second, and third floor balconies. Great stone pillars three feet thick stretching all the way up towards the ceiling. At the end of the hall, an altar where an aquamarine fire burned; taken directly from the flames at Mount Prism. An incredible stained glass window filtered light into the hall, stretching from floor to ceiling; according to stories the window showcasing the first Exalt communing with Naga, performing the first Awakening.

Truly a magnificent sight that Lucina will always remember.

Walking down the hall, Walter and Lucina spotted a priest praying at the altar. Without hesitation, Walter approached the devout follower of Naga and tapped him on the shoulder—interrupting him.

"Do you have any holy items?" he asked brazenly. Lucina felt her heart drop at the butler's lack of tact. She sighed as she raised a hand to her forehead.

"Ho-holy items?" the priest gave the butler a questioning look.

"Yes, holy items." Walter rolled his eyes. "Something that just reeks with divinity, like a…" the butler paused. He doubted holy crosses were as common in Ylisse as they were in England.

"Nevermind, just tell me if you have anything holy."

"I… er… I don't think…"

"Forgive my companion…" Lucina stepped in, pulling Walter behind her. "He's just arrived from Regna Ferox, and he's very interested in holy artifacts. It's an odd hobby of his—more of an obsession in honesty—but would you please be kind enough to enlighten him on the holy relics of the Church of Naga?" Lucina didn't miss a beat, as she weaved her intricate story. Walter was actually taken aback by her ability to come up with stories on the fly.

I guess we're even now... he recalled the incident with Mr. Timody just minutes prior.

"Oh, if that is the case, I'd be happy to educate you." the priest smiled. "You see, the church doesn't actually possess any of the holy artifacts of Naga; those are in the care of the Exalted family of Ylisse."

"The Fire Emblem and Falchion, I'm aware of those two already." Walter scoffed. "What I'm asking is if you've anything holy at all, anything that could carry some minute amount of divine power; excluding anything within the Exalt's possession." The priest seemed to ponder over his question for a moment before replying.

"Well, there is one thing that we possess." The priest gestured towards the flame at the altar. "That aquamarine flame right there. It is said that at the peak of Mount Prism stands a holy temple. This temple is historically where the first Exalt was said to have communed with Naga, establishing a covenant between the royalty of Ylisse and the Divine Dragon herself. Where that covenant was established stands an altar—much more grand than this one here—where a great aquamarine flame burns endlessly." Gesturing to the fire at the altar before them, the priest continued.

"After using the power granted by Naga to defeat the Fell Dragon, the first Exalt took that very torch and lit it with the same fire through which he communed with Naga. The torch remained in his possession until, on his deathbed, the first Exalt asked that a church be built wherein the fire will be housed. The request was followed through, and that very same torch has stood here ever since." The priest finished.

Walter hummed with interest as he stepped forward to get a closer look at the flame. Yes, it just reeked with holy energy; though not as much as holy water would in England. Still, it was enough for his purposes.

"Here's a rhetorical question…" Walter muttered as he stared into flame. "If a weapon were to be forged in this flame, would it be as strong as the Falchion?"

Lucina did a double take. Did Walter really just ask what she thought she heard him ask. She instinctively caressed the hilt of Falchion at her hip.

"That is an odd question, but if you ask me…" the priest raised a hand to his chin. "Probably not, though it would most certainly be powerful. As the Falchion was forged directly from one of Naga's fangs, it possesses far more power than any man-made weapon—forged in divine flame or otherwise."

Walter hummed again as the answer sank in. Turning on his heel, he bowed his head to the priest.

"Thank you for the information." he said as he walked out. Lucina shot the priest a kind smile before going after the teen.

Exiting the church, Lucina smacked Walter in the arm.

(Play song ~ "The Vaike never forgets! I just don't always remember." [Fire Emblem: Awakening OST])

"Ow, what was that for?" Walter relented.

"For being rude towards that priest." Lucina crossed her arms. "Honestly, I expected more from you…"

"Excuse me for getting straight to the point…" the teenage butler scoffed. "It's not like we're in the middle of a war or anything…"

"Being in the middle of a war does not excuse one from using good manners, Walter." the princess retorted haughtily. "For a man who's been a butler for all his life, you've certainly been acting rather derisive as of late."

"It's not my fault!" Walter threw his hands in the air. "It's this forsaken body of mine! I'd love to see you in my position! How would you feel if your body had de-aged into a teenagers, hmm!? How would you deal with the cocktail of emotions that being this young entails!?"

"I… er…" Lucina scratched the back of her head. "Well, I'd certainly make more of an effort to hide it…"

"Ugh…" Walter rolled his eyes. "This conversation is over… I'm irritated now…" the butler began to wander away from the princess.

"Where are you going!?" a confused Lucina questioned. "Shouldn't we be heading to the palace!?"

"Cigarettes first!" he replied rudely.

Not for the first time, Walter made Lucina's face flush red—though this time not from embarrassment, but anger. Shaking with rage, she stormed after the butler; she was intent on dragging him to the palace.

"First he talks about getting straight to the point, now he stalls to go buy some cigarettes…" an annoyed Lucina grumbled. "How am I going to deal with this man?"

(Song ends here)


Ylisstol, Ylisse - Royal Palace(War Room)

October 21, Age 2609 (4:45 P.M.)

Chrom crossed his arms as he sat beside his elder sister around a table. Also sitting at the table were Khans Basilio and Flavia, Lady Phila of the Pegasus Knights, and his second in command: Frederick.

"How goes the sieges in the west?" Emmeryn asked tranquilly.

"We've managed to bring Gangrel's forces to a halt." Chrom replied. "Though his army outnumbers ours by a wide margin, his over reliance on blitz tactics has run its course. Right now, we've managed to keep Gangrel from progressing here—just several miles west of Themis." Chrom pointed to said area on a map spread out across the table.

"What're the chances that you'll manage to push back?" Emmeryn inquired. "Themis is a city we cannot afford to lose."

"As of this moment, very slim." Chrom replied honestly. "While we may be capable of trapping our opponents using guerilla tactics, we barely have enough soldiers to rally an attack on theirs. We've come to a standstill, and there's nothing we can do about it right now."

"Then count your blessings that you've us to pick up your slack." Khan Flavia smirked. "Regna Ferox is prepared to send reinforcements to your western front. With any luck, we'll be able to make some progress through their borders."

"If I may comment, I do not believe that bolstering our forces will prove adequate against the odds before us." Frederick interjected. "We need a strategy—one that will risk as little lives as possible."

"I concur." Phila nodded. "While the offer of more soldiers is tempting, they will serve very little use in this war. By bolstering our ranks, we also run the risk of adding to Gangrel's forces."

There was a quiet and solemn agreement around the table. Any soldier fell by Gangrel's legion would add to his undead army. They needed to fight smarter, not harder.

"Okay, what's your suggestions then?" Basilio grumbled. "If you've got an alternative, then lay it on the table already." Frederick and Phila became silent.

"That's what I thought…" the gruff Khan scoffed as he sunk into the chair sat in. "This is a fight for survival; you can't afford to turn away aid, and we can't afford to let you lose. If Gangrel achieves victory against Ylisse, there's nothing stopping him from taking Regna Ferox. If he takes Regna Ferox, just imagine the damage that bastard will do when he finally decides that taking one continent isn't enough; he won't stop until the whole damn world is conquered."

"We get the picture, Basilio." Chrom spoke up. "That's why we have to be careful with how we proceed. One wrong move can spell disaster."

"The prince is right, oaf." Flavia chided her fellow khan. "This isn't a war that we can muscle our way to victory. Honestly, for how old you are, I can't believe you haven't figured that out yet."

"You aren't exactly a spring chicken yourself…" Basilio scoffed. "If you're so wise and learned, you'd do well to tell these "children" how we're going to win this damnable war…" Flavia grit her teeth.

"Mind your tongue, I am still ruling khan." she declared aloud. "As such, it is I who holds power over where our troops go. If the risk is too large, than we will refrain from marching."

"Peace, Khans Flavia and Basilio." Emmeryn raised a hand. "Fighting amongst yourselves will not do us any good." she chided in her ever present serene tone.

"We've gathered to discuss the best course of action that we must take to reach a swift and decisive end to this conflict." Emmeryn continued. "Though I am only here as a formality—the art of conflict is… foreign to me—I will ensure that what is best for all involved occurs. The unnecessary loss of life is amongst that which I hope to avoid."

All agreed with her statement. Though Basilio was stubborn, he knew that matching more troops to the frontline was the wrong decision. These men weren't trained to face monsters, and a nigh endless legion of doom was something which they couldn't afford to fuel.

"Okay…" Basilio ran a hand across his bald head. "So if we don't march more troops, what do we do?" Chrom sat up.

"We try to outlast them." the prince sighed. "We minimize our losses, try to keep as little men from being killed as possible. We'll chip away at their massive army, but so long as we keep it from growing-"

"No…" Phila shook her head. "Yes, we can attempt to minimize the losses to a bare minimum, but we run the risk of dragging this war out for longer than need be. Ylisse, and even Regna Ferox, cannot afford a prolonged war with Plegia."

"Agreed…" Flavia crossed her arms. "We're funneling food, money, supplies, and men into the war effort; the people will be left with nothing if we don't finish this soon."

Chrom buried his face into his hands. This was the most stressed he'd ever felt. People were relying on them to lead their countries into battle, yet here they were without any idea of how to win the war. It was pitiful.

"If only Walter were here…" he muttered to himself.

"This is pathetic…"

Attention turned towards the unfamiliar voice.

"I cannot believe how absolutely moronic you lot are, not seeing the obvious solution to this problem."

All eyebrows were raised as a young man—in his teens by the looks of it—sauntered into the room, lit cigarette in his mouth. His clothing reeked of plegian origin, making those around the table uneasy. However, the tension was lifted when Chrom caught sight of the person standing behind the teen.

"Marth." he called out, the blue-haired maiden bowing curtly in response.

"Make room, and let me have a look at the map." the mysterious teen shoved past Basilio and Flavia, both whom were surprised by the boy's strength. Frederick and Phila lifted their lances towards the stranger, who seemed generally unperturbed.

"State your name and business!" Phila demanded. "Additionally, how did you get in here!?" the boy rolled his eyes, irritation radiating off him.

"I'm busy, go bother me some other time…" he said nonchalantly. Phila sputtered, Frederick approaching the teen with his lance drawn.

"Answer the questions!" the knight growled. The teen sighed, looking up from the map.

"Honestly, Frederick, now is not the time to be pointing your weapon at me…" he scoffed. "After helping you deal with your aversion to gamey meat too." Frederick was taken aback.

"I… how…?"

"...and Phila." the teen turned his attention to the captain of the Pegasus Knights. "After going through the trouble of getting you out of Plegia's custody—alongside your knights—you point your weapon at me?"

The captain of the Pegasus Knights was utterly floored, as was everyone else present. Who was this teen?

"Please, stop messing around…" Marth berated the teen, who looked fairly pleased with himself.

"Oh, come now, I'm just trying to have some fun." the boy grinned.

"You can do that later." the bluenette rolled her eyes. "Right now, you need to help win this war, Walter."

Everyone froze.

The teen shook his head, chuckling to himself. Quietly, he dropped the cigarette from his mouth—stamping it under his foot—as he made his way to a stunned Chrom. Walking past Frederick and Phila, who dropped their weapons, he stood before the prince.

"Walter?" Chrom asked, hopeful. The teen smiled a kind smile.

"Chrom…" he closed his eyes.

Crack!

Chrom was grunted as he was punched in the cheek, throwing him out of his chair. He landed on his ass with a thunk, falling back and staring at the ceiling.

"That was for your stupidity at the Midmire!" the teen clicked his teeth.

"I…" Chrom sputtered as he stared up at the teen.

"When I heard you led the Shepherds into a battle where your foes not only held the high ground, but your visibility was so atrocious that you couldn't see two feet in front of you, I honestly thought it was a joke!" the teen berated. "Nope, it was all true, worse is the fact that you charged in without a care in the world! Honestly, what am I going to do with you?"

Chrom looked at the boy with wide eyes. The teenager sighed as he shook his head, though there was a small smirk on his face.

"Get off the ground…" the teen offered his hand. "Wasn't it you who once told me that there are better places to take a nap?"

Walter…

...he was Walter…

Taking his hand, Chrom was lifted off the ground by the physically younger man.

"You're…" Chrom's throat was dry. "...Walter, you're…"

"Alive?" the butler smirked. "Honestly, I'm just as shocked as you that I-" Walter was taken off guard when Chrom embraced him.

"It's good to see you again, Walter…" the prince let out a relieved laugh, the kind that showed that a large weight was lifted off his shoulders.

"As it is to see you again, sir." Walter replied sincerely. Chrom released the butler from his hold, allowing him to kneel before the Exalt.

"Walter C. Dornez, tactician to the Shepherds, and proud servant of Ylisse; reporting for duty, milady." the butler kept his head down as he got down on one knee.

"At ease, Sir Dornez." Emmeryn smiled, feeling truly delighted to see the butler alive and well. "It is an honor to see you once more, Walter."

"And it is my pleasure to be in your presence, milady." Walter replied respectfully. "If I may, do I have permission to participate in this meeting?"

"Yes, by all means; we could use your expertise at the moment." Emmeryn nodded, seemingly bowing her head to Walter.

"Thank you…" Walter got to his feet and stood before the council. With his steely gray eyes, he scanned the map of the continent.

"Hold. Up." Basilio stared at the butler in shock. "Am I—are we—to believe that this scrawny kid is the same Walter that we all know?"

"I am Walter Dornez, Khan Basilio; have no doubt about it." the teen looked up from the map. "I may have de-aged into this adolescent form, but I am still Walter Dornez in mind, body, and soul."

"Prove it." Flavia joined. "Walter Dornez was a military genius, capable of planning an attack with the barest of information. If you truly are him, tell us how we should proceed with the war." Walter scoffed at the request.

"It's not like I wasn't going to do that anyway, Khan Flavia." he replied with a smirk. Looking down at the map again, Walter began.

"From what I've picked up from Marth over there…" Walter gestured towards the bluenette, who stood at the entrance passively. "...the war has mostly been contained to the west of Ylisse, just a day or two out from the border pass, correct?" Frederick nodded in response.

"Yes, we've come to a standstill. Neither side is making any progress." the stalwart knight explained. Walter hummed as he looked at the area on the map.

"Do you know if that's where the bulk of Gangrel's forces are located?" he inquired.

"From what we can tell, that is the case." this time Phila replied. "There are hundreds of thousands of undead in the west, all making a push towards the capital."

Walter chuckled to himself at the new information. He had an oddly satisfied smile on his face, in spite of how dire the situation seemed. The butler murmured several things to himself as his eyes glided across the map. When he finally stopped, he looked towards Basilio and Flavia.

"If that is the case, then is it right for me to assume that Gangrel hasn't made the smallest effort to cross the border into Regna Ferox?"

"No, he's been focused on breaking into Ylissean territory." Flavia answered him. Walter smiled a wide grin.

"Then it's settled…" he pointed to the border between southern Regna Ferox and northern Plegian. "Here is where we'll strike." Walter addressed Emmeryn and Chrom.

"Striking here, we'll catch Gangrel off guard. He'll be forced to march soldiers north, causing much of the pressure on Ylisse to be lifted, allowing us more breathing room when it comes to defending Themis. With any luck, the sizable decrease in enemy soldiers will make it easier for us to push back against our foe." Walter turned to Basilio and Flavia. "Convinced I'm Walter yet?"

"That… how…?" Flavia sputtered. "How on earth did we not think of that?"

"Simple…" Walter smiled smugly. "You lot didn't view the whole continent as a battleground. Had you done so, you'd see that you could very easily catch Gangrel in the midst of a pincer attack. Experience from where I'm from has taught me that no country can afford to fight a war on two fronts."

"That still leaves a problem." Basilio huffed as he crossed his arms. "Gangrel has a nigh endless army. Even if we split his forces, if we take too long to take Plegia he'll be able to meet us in terms of numbers. After all, when one can turn any fallen soldier into an undead monster—loyal to his cause—it's only natural that we begin to lose our advantage."

"Indeed, I did think about that, and I have a solution..." Walter crossed his arms. "These undead creatures—known as ghouls—are connected to their master; if the master dies, so do the ghouls. The easy way to be rid of our undead problem is by going straight to the source: Gangrel."

"The easy way?" Phila frowned. "You aren't suggesting that the easiest choice we have currently is to face that monster in battle? You of all people should know just how fearsome of an opponent Gangrel is."

"Yes, I know; I was the one that fought him, remember?" Walter rolled his eyes. "Unfortunately, if you want a swift end to the war, that is the path we must take."

"But Walter…" Chrom addressed the butler. "Even if Gangrel wasn't… wasn't what he is now, how do you expect to get to him? He resides at the heart of Plegia, we'd have to fight through that damnable country to get to him." Walter shook his head.

"That's where you're wrong; we can lure him out into the open." Walter narrowed his eyes as he looked to the ground. "Gangrel is anything but magnanimous; the bastard is a petty as can be, and will take any and all chances of gaining vengeance against those that have wronged him." The butler turned to Emmeryn.

"So if Emmeryn were to take to the battlefield—be open to attack—I've no doubt he'd come."

"Walter!?" Chrom stood up, betrayal in his eyes. "You aren't suggesting we use my sister as bait?!" Walter sighed.

"That's exactly what I'm suggesting." he replied. "There is no alternative."

"I will not allow my liege to be used as bait!" Phila drew her weapon again. "To suggest that is treasonous!"

"Chrom, Phila; enough…" Emmeryn raised a hand to silence them.

"But milady…" Phila objected with pleading eyes. "We cannot risk your life for-"

"I understand, Phila…" the Exalt tranquilly sighed. "However, if my life is to be sacrificed for the sake of ending this conflict, I would give my life in an instant."

"Then I call for a vote." Chrom spoke up, earning him a look of incredulity from Walter. "All those in favor of not allowing Emm to take to the battlefield as bait?"

Frederick and Phila's hands were raised—naturally—but Walter was taken aback when Chrom's was as well. Knowing that Chrom did not trust his judgement was hurtful—especially after just returning to his side—but he understood where he was coming from. Emmeryn was his sister, Chrom wasn't just going to let her risk her life.

"All those in favor of the plan?"

Basilio, Flavia, and Emmeryn raised their hands.

"Why have you not voted, Walter?" Emmeryn inquired.

"As the man who made the plan, I don't think I can participate." the butler said honestly.

"But we're tied!" Basilio huffed. "You gotta vote, kid!"

"Not a chance, we aren't leaving this to him!" Phila growled. "You know which side he'd take, so no reason to allow him to vote!" Emmeryn looked between the two sides, shaking her head as she sighed.

Walter scoffed as he watched the argument begin to form. He seriously doubted there'd be a method of breaking the tie at the moment.

"A moment…" Emmeryn raised her hand again. "It's come to my attention that one person hasn't voted…" Frederick raised a brow.

"Yes, but Walter shouldn't-"

"Not Walter…" the Exalt smiled. "That young woman there."

All eyes turned to Marth/Lucina.

"Me?" Lucina questioned. Emmeryn nodded.

"Indeed, you've been present, though you've remained quiet." Emmeryn said serenely. "Could you perhaps tip the scales? Should I be used as bait, or not?"

Lucina froze. It came down to her. She felt the weight of the world on her shoulders again.

Think, Lucina, think carefully. The fate of the world rests on the survival of Emmeryn. If she dies, time may reassume its original course! Lucina shuddered.

Looking at her father, she saw the desperation in his eyes. He wanted her to say no. She couldn't remember a time when he had looked so desperate; alas, a part of her couldn't reconcile the image of her great and powerful father with the young man before her. Still, if her father wanted her to disagree, who was she to argue?

"I…" Lucina gathered her voice. "I feel that we should…" she swallowed, nervous to her bewilderment. What was holding her back?

Lucina, get a grip! This is for the best! We cannot risk Emmeryn's life! She thought to herself. Yes, she was certain about it; her father was right.

But what about Walter?

Lucina blinked, confused by her own thoughts.

"I feel…" Lucina spoke up again, only to once again find herself incapable of speaking. She looked to her father for help, but was only met with a confused stare; a stare bellied with distress.

Then her eyes met Walter's…

In his eyes she saw not desperation, but hope. Lucina felt something tug at her heart strings. She knew not the feeling she felt, but part of her felt the need to defend his decision. Whatever it was, it was overpowering her obligations—overpowering the very drive that had caused her to return to the past in the first place. This man, this butler—no, this angel from another land—Lucina trusted him.

Like a floodgate being open, her memories of him came to mind...


(Chapter 3: Risen)

"You need not tell me anything, not after what I did to you. " Walter breathed deeply.

Marth's brow furrowed. She felt an inclination of sorts; the inclination to tell the butler something. She didn't know why she felt it, she just did. The blunette, hummed as she decided to take a risk and act on this instinct.

"Can I trust you?" she asked. The butler was mildly surprised by her question. Taking a moment to compose himself, he nodded.

"I won't tell anyone of his meeting." he swore. Marth nodded, gathering her courage.

"Lucina..."

"What?" Walter raised a brow.

Marth lifted her hand to the mask on her face. Removing it, she revealed a set of beautifully vibrant blue eyes that matched her midnight blue locks. Her pale milky skin shone in the moonlight, surprising Walter. She was most definitely a woman; an ivory skinned maiden.

"Lucina is my real name." she repeated. Walter nodded, a kind smile on his face.

"Walter C. Dornez." he introduced.


(Chapter 5: Angel of Death)

"You're making a habit of appearing out of thin air, ma'am." he quipped as the bluenette girl took a seat on a nearby tree stump.

"I hardly think that doing something twice counts as a habit, Mr. Dornez." she retorted. Walter sheathed the sword in his hand, and sat beside the woman.

"I'd prefer it if you don't call me "Mr. Dornez". I'm a butler, not a school teacher." he chucked to himself. "Keep it simple and call me by my first name, ma'am."

Lucina took off her mask as she began to untie the twin braids that kept her hair short.

"I find it rather hypocritical of you to call me "ma'am", Walter." When she was done untying her braids, her hair fell down to her hips. "If I'm going to call you Walter, then I'd prefer it if you call me Lucina."

"What if we're around my fellow Shepherds?" Walter sat back and relaxed. "You must not want the others to know your real name if you've only told me about it. I assume you want to remain incognito?" Lucina nodded.

"That is for the best." she muttered. The aged butler raised an eyebrow.

"Then why did you tell me your real name? I hope I didn't intimidate you into telling me." He recalled how he lost complete control of himself. He very nearly cut Lucina into cold cuts.

"It's not that, Walter..." Lucina crossed her arms. "I honestly don't know why I did it myself... I just felt... inclined to do so. I just... felt you to be trustworthy."


(Chapter 9: Two Falchions? The Identity of Marth!)

"I swear to you…" Walter stood tall, a fire in his eyes. "Lucina, for the sake of your future, and for the sake of myself, I will make sure that nothing will harm the Halidom of Ylisse. No matter what it is, whether it be a man, dog or monster, my wires will shed the blood of whatever comes after Emmeryn on the night you described to me." The man swiped his hand, summoning his wires. "I swear to you that I will protect them no matter what!"

Lucina, for the first time in awhile, felt hopeful. She felt hopeful that this man, this powerful man, would save the future that she had fought in. We can do this! Together, we'll save Lady Emmeryn and father! Together, we'll prevent the chaos brought by Grima!


(Chapter 14: Loss of Humanity (Part II))

Lucina's eyes wandered to the ground, which she stared at in silence for a few seconds. "I…" she began.

"Look at me." Walter placed his hands on her shoulders. "Whatever is troubling you, please tell me."

Lucina trembled as her eyes wandered once more, but this time stopping on Walter's. Midnight blue eyes met gunmetal gray as the two continued to stare into each other's eyes for what felt like hours.

"I'm afraid." Lucina broke the silence. "I know that Emmeryn's death has been prevented, but I'm afraid that even if we prevented it from occurring here, it may still occur later." She began to tremble. "What if all we're doing is delaying the inevitable? What if me coming back here was in vain?"

Walter raised his hand and placed it on the poor girl's chin. "Don't talk like that, it'll all turn out fine, I swear. I promised you that I'd prevent your future from occurring; so long as my body draws breath." He raised her chin so she was looking into his eyes once more. "Stop thinking about the future for once, focus on the here and the now." Lucina nodded and suddenly, just as she did earlier that, embraced Walter once more.

"Thank you." She buried her face into his chest. Walter smiled and returned the embrace.


(Chapter 15: Leisure Time)

"That is true." Lucina stared at the ground. "Again, I can't help but feel that we've only delayed her death. I'm scared that one day I'll turn my back for a second and everything will far apart."

Walter wrapped an arm around her shoulder and held her comfortingly.

"Even if we've delayed the inevitable, that's what we'll continue to do." he held her close. "I'll die before I see the world go to hell. I promised you that I'd help you, and I'm not breaking that promise." Walter's reassurance made Lucina smile. For that moment, they could enjoy some peace and quiet. Even if the tranquility was temporary, she'd never take it for granted. No matter how difficult the days ahead seemed, Lucina wouldn't give up, and neither would Walter.


(Chapter 19: Bonds)

"Why?" he asked. "I told you I had betrayed everyone I knew. You told me that your father had been killed by the man closest to him. It's not far fetched to assume that I betray yet another master in the future, why not kill me now and be done with it?"

Lucina was silent. She hesitated to answer, but looking into Walter's guilt filled eyes simply affirmed her beliefs: Walter was not the traitor. Raising a hand, she cupped the butler's cheek.

"Because you're a good man." Lucina gave him a small smile. "Because I know that you regret what you did, and I know for a fact that you will not do it again."

Lucina stood up and began to walk away. Walter finally acknowledged the princess and watched her leave.

"After all…" The princess turned back to the butler, her smile still present. "You made me a promise."


(Chapter 27: Not Alone)

Lucina shrunk back. He was unsure… that was certainly sobering. Once more, she recalled her past when her faith was tested. At the time, it seemed like all hope was lost, but she very quickly learned that there was always another way. Exhaling, Lucina scooted closer to Walter, who flinched as she leaned against his shoulder. Resting her head on him, she relaxed.

"I know you'll think of something, Walter…" she whispered as she closed her eyes tranquilly. "I believe in you..."

Walter glanced at the girl resting against him. With a sigh he carefully sat back—hoping not to disturb the tired princess—and closed his eyes.

"I'll think of something eventually…"


"I say we follow Walter's plan."


Writer's Notes

Walter's back as the center of attention, and we're getting closer to the end game—end of the arc specifically. There's gonna be one final breather chapter before we dive head long into the multi-chapter finale, so look forward to that. Whether or not it gets released next week is in the air, because I've had to restart the damnable thing multiple times. Hopefully I do, because weekly updates is something never been good at doing, so the fact that I managed to get the last four chapters out as quickly as I have is something I'm personally proud of.

There's no behind the keyboard stuff, because there was not much to this chapter.

Onto the reviews!


Reviews

kerrowe - Time is not on Walter's side. Even if they could do something using dark magic, Walter has to plan an attack on Plegia. Factor in the travel time, he doesn't have the luxury of finding a solution to his problem. Of course there is ONE immediate solution, but Walter's not too keen on taking it. (more on that next chapter).

Are you certain he couldn't fight as a baby? I mean, I've seen and read weirder...

Time travel is weird, especially in this story... I mean, I've already got a few things planned out, but those secrets won't be dropped until later.

Rule of thumb for me, I'll only keep something if I feel like I can use it later. If I don't, I unfortunately scrap it.

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Touhoufanatic - If you recall, Walter's got one final pair of gloves left... unfortunately they happen to be the pair that take the most of his energy to utilize. Walter may be young, but he's still crippled. Of course, there's a solution to his problem, but Walter would sooner fall upon his own sword before taking it (more on that next chapter).

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Aergaia - Well, you'll get that reunion between the Shepherds next time! Hopefully I'll be able to make it a good one.

I'll have to check it out! It may give me an idea or two that I'll have to twist just a bit to give it that good ol' Wizardy feel!

A relationship built on trust is stronger than any other, and Walts and Luce have built a pretty strong one...

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xbox432 - There is [REDACTED] be a [REDACTED] in [REDACTED] [REDACTED] where [REDACTED] will give Walter a [REDACTED] to [REDACTED] his [REDACTED]. Decipher that correctly, and you'll have some foresight into future events.

I mean, let's be frank—no one likes it when they ask for something, and receive a different response. They have their solution, and some of them don't like it. Hard decisions have to be made, and Lucina has to make them; in this case it's choose between her already doomed world, and going back in time to save another.

In the end, Gerome has good intentions, but isn't looking at the bigger picture.

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Neema Amiry - Hopefully I won't keep you waiting too long. :D

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Again, hopefully I manage to finish the next chapter by next week; fingers are crossed that I do!

Sigh*

There's been something on my mind lately...

I've been wondering what I'll do after the Gangrel Arc is finished. I mean, the answer seems obvious—continue on into the rest of Fire Emblem Awakening's story—but part of me has considered ending the story there...

I mean' this story is 180k words now, and it'll reach into 200k by the climax of this Arc. In over a month, this story will be 4 years old, which is mind boggling. I started this story on a whim—as a teenager, and look at where it's gone! I've come so far since then, and going back and rewriting the first few chapters has only reinforced that.

Sorry, I got a bit nostalgic... heh...

So, does this mean I'm tired of this story, and I don't want to write it anymore? I mean, I've stopped writing this before, due to lack of motivation... so wouldn't be the first time...

No, not at all...

The ending of the Gangrel Arc—as it's planned thus far—feels like the perfect ending to the story. It wraps up basically everything of importance that has occurred since the beginning of the story, and ends on a high note. In hindsight, because of how I've written the story so far, I've inadvertently solved several of the in story problems that kickstart the second half of Fire Emblem Awakening. There really is not much reason to continue...

...but I want to.

The challenge will be coming up with something just as compelling as this arc—topping myself and keeping you all interested. I mean, I dunno about you guys, but this arc has been a ride so far—and we aren't even at the end yet. What can I do afterwards that will warrant your continued support? What more can I do to create the best story of your guys' entertainment?

Can I top myself?

It's just food for thought, and something I wanted to share. At the end of the day, I love writing this story—it's just become a passion of mine. It doesn't put food on the table, and I don't expect it to. I'm doing this because it's fun, and you guys think it's fun too.

So thank you again for the continued support. I say this basically every chapter, but I really mean it.

So, hopefully I'll be able to finish the next chapter by next week, and it'll be out for your viewing pleasure!

Hope you have a good week, and until next time!


Next time on Walter Dornez of the Emblem!

The Calm Before the Storm