Here we have the first campaign of the story! Can't believe it's been a month since I've updated this story...

Chapter twelve: Southtown Campaign

5/11 Friday: After School; Ignis Avenue

The entire week was nothing short of lectures, readings, and homework. But for Robyn, with the imminent campaign on her mind, she had to spend much of her time at the school library after school to finish homework quickly. It was exhausting work and were it not for Robin giving her company, Robyn figured she would lose her mind at some point. It helped that he had a similar mind to her, which made homework pass by quickly. Of course, Robin wasn't the only one. Some of the other Shepherds would join her too, but that was usually when Robin was around. Perhaps, Robyn thought, she was still a stranger. In a way, she was.

But finally, the day came to execute the campaign. The bell had rung and no sooner had the Shepherds left the school and gathered at the Ylisstol High School gate. Carrying weapons around seemed very suspicious in public, so Frederick thought it best to transport them in a big box made of toughened plastic. It was lightweight, and its material was not transparent, which made it less conspicuous for Frederick to move it about, with Sully's help.

The Shepherds were soon waiting at the same bushed area near the intersection with Ylisse Street. They opened the plastic box, each getting their respective equipment, and waited on Robyn to use the Fire Emblem.

"We all know the plan, right? Let's get to it," Robyn said. Then, starting to feel the shield heat up, she threw it on the ground, causing the pillar of flames of emerge once more. The dark of the Halidom could be seen on the other side.

5/11 Friday: After School; The Halidom, Southtown

What was very noticeable was that the moonlight was brighter than it was before, since a week ago. It was even bigger and brighter than it had been, which made it easier to see their surroundings once the Shepherds emerged from the flames.

"This place is… dark," Sully said.

"Get used to it. It's actually brighter than normal," Chrom said. Given his past experience with the Halidom, he knew it was more visible than it was before. He could even make out the silhouettes of the market stalls in the courtyard a lot easier.

Robyn's strategy proceeded as planned. The bulk of the Shepherds stayed near the site where the wall of flames had disappeared. Given what Robyn said, they needed to cover the advance party if or when they returned. Frederick went ahead to lead the charge, with Robyn, Robin, and Lissa following close bay. Cordelia, Stahl, and Vaike formed the second party who would remain at a safe distance until Robyn and her team needed help. As planned, Robyn's team went to block off the east bridge.

So they went forward. Frederick was wielding his lance giving him impressive range as he passed by the market stalls. If there were more monsters appearing around, Robyn and Robin would shoot through those stalls, casting fire and thunder magic from their tomes. At once, the air began to fill with the light of thunder and fire magic, lighting up the stone courtyard. Frederick was moving at steady pace forward to make sure the path was mostly clear.

Chrom also proceeded to clear out enemies at the east bridge. Monsters were pouring in and it was only a matter of time before they would overwhelm the area. In essence, Chrom had to stop the bleeding at the east bridge until reinforcements could arrive. Frederick had made a clear path already and was on his way to the cathedral, so Chrom moved in to launch their assault. Robyn accompanied him to give support.

"Are you alright, Robyn-chan?" Chrom looked at Robyn.

"I was about to ask you that," Robyn replied. "I'm okay." She cast a fire spell to vanquish more enemies on the east bridge. Using her ability to survey the enemy, Robyn found the range where they could be shooting arrows at him. "Stay about three paces from the bridge. Don't attack until the archers come closer."

Chrom nodded. Even though this was the first time Robyn's strategy was put into action, he knew better than to argue. Robyn knew this world better than anyone else and he trusted her to get things done. The monsters were coming with axes but with Falchion doing its work, they were easily vanquished. It helped that the brighter moonlight made it easier to hit their targets. However, as advised, he kept his distance from the bridge to not get shot.

To prove the point, a flaming arrow did fire in his direction but fortunately it was out of range. It was a warning shot, if anything, telling Chrom to stay back. Even so, he moved in, Robyn providing cover fire to distract the monsters who were uncertain on whether to attack Chrom or Robyn. Still, they didn't have the brains to think that far.

And by then, it was too late for them. Chrom had slashed them to pieces in one swift strike. Now that they were across the east bridge, Chrom and Robin could make easy work of the monsters there. Robin cast more fire spells to keep the monsters away as Chrom attacked. With the east bridge clear, they turned around to let reinforcements cover the bridge as planned. That is, namely Vaike and Stahl.

"Robyn-chan sent us," Stahl assured them. Then he and Vaike took defensive positions, ready to fight off any monster who came close. Stahl drew out a sword, and Vaike and axe. "Don't worry, Robin-kun! We're capable fighters. Go and find Robyn-san. She's at the cathedral."

"Already?" Robin was surprised.

Robyn was really trying to get things done quickly, wasn't she? Robin and Chrom rushed towards the adjacent north bridge, passing by Cordelia on the way who nodded at them to go forward. As it happened, half the bridge was already clear. It must have been Frederick who had done that. They could hear more noise further ahead and found Robyn and Frederick tackling more enemies head-on.

Except there were only six enemies left in front of the cathedral, and they appeared well-armed and defended. Like their experience at the Northroad, there were sword-wielders and axe-wielders, plus a spellcaster. But no lance-wielding monsters. That would make life a little easier.

"Need a hand?" Robin called out to Robyn and Frederick.

"Yes, please," Robyn replied. She had carried her tome and began casting thunder magic. Looking to Frederick, she said, "You need to tank the enemy first. There are sword users up ahead, so you'll need to clear those enemies, then…" She looked to Robin. "We move in to swarm the rest."

Frederick obeyed without question, which surprised Robin. He would have thought Frederick hadn't trusted Robyn still, although this was hardly the best time to argue right now. Plus, to Robin, it seemed Robyn knew what she was doing because the moment Frederick moved in, the sword-wielding monsters were unable to counter both the strength and range of his lance. They were obliterated instantly, which forced them to focus their attention on Frederick.

It also allowed, as planned, Robyn, Chrom, and Robin to get to the cathedral doors and inside with little resistance. It appeared the axe-wielders and the spellcaster had retreated into the cathedral. Barging through the doors, Robyn knew what to expect: those enemies plus the leader, and the Gemstone.

The leader, an axe-wielder also, was waiting for them.

"Come…" Robyn could hear it say, which was strange. Who knew monsters could talk? "C-come to the sssssslaughter…"

Taking no chances, Chrom charged forward as Robin shot an array of fireballs in their direction. The Gemstone could wait, but these enemies certainly could not. At the same time as the fireballs shot forward, the axe-wielders came forward to attack Chrom, but they were no match for Fachion. Either axes were ineffective against swords, or perhaps it was Falchion's power that allowed Chrom to overpower them. Or, Robyn thought, maybe Chrom was simply too strong.

Either way, they were vanquished although one did put up a fight, nearing coming close to hitting Chrom. But thanks to Robin's fire support, which successfully hit its target, Chrom could easily slice down the same target. As they were reminded of Robyn's advice, there was a tactical advantage in fighting side by side. Somehow, staying together improved their morale and in effect their physical traits. Chrom expertly sliced through the enemy with one hand, and Robin simultaneously hit the enemy weaknesses where openings were.

But in all this, the leader turned its attention to Robyn and focused on her.

"Ye…" it croaked, and charged right at her. "R…"

Taking a step back with one foot, Robyn opened her tome and blasted a ball of thunder energy to shock it in its tracks. She felt the recoil course through her arm, like there was extra force put into that shot. It sent the leader backward. However, it recovered its moment to swing its axe to Robyn's head. It maintained its glare to Robyn, like it recognised her. Taking its axe again, it prepared to swing. But Robyn was already thinking ahead to move back. With her ability in her mind, she knew Robin would come from behind to ambush this enemy, which was exactly what happened when another fireball struck its head.

"You knew… eh, Robyn?" Robin said with a slight smile.

Robyn smiled back and then turned to deal the final blow to this monster. She flipped to another page in her tome and felt the thunder energy build at her palm once more. Once this was over with, she could focus on finding the Gemstone.

"Rrrrrrrobyn…" the voice croaked from the downed leader.

That spooked Robyn a little. Now was not the time to be learning things! She blasted the thunder magic on the monster, essentially incinerating it, and Chrom came to follow up with the extra blow for good measure. Its body evaporated, and only its clothes remained. Robyn shivered at the sight for a moment, and seeing that the cathedral was clear, she motioned Robin and Chrom to look around. "Keep the entrances secure," she ordered. "I don't sense any enemies nearby…" And Robyn would have said more, were it not for the altar at the end of the cathedral which caught her attention.

Something was glittering on it.

As she stepped closer to the altar, she felt the Fire Emblem shake in her bag. Something had to be done, of course, and Robyn had no doubt what was at the altar. A small, shiny, sphere was glittering and it gave off warmth like the sun and warm to the touch. Just getting close to it sent shivers down Robyn's spine, but it was strangely comforting. She picked up the orb which was overall white with a hue of orange. With the Fire Emblem in one hand, Robyn picked up the orb with her other hand.

"Argent…" Robyn whispered. Somehow, probably because of her ability, she knew the orb had a name, and this was it.

The Fire Emblem was still shaking and suddenly, Argent shot into its respective place on the Fire Emblem. Something like a giant burst of wind exploded from the Fire Emblem, sweeping out of the cathedral and outside to Southtown. The force shook the town, the rivers, and even to the moon above. But the tremor was momentary, and then came the calm.

Excluding the battle outside, that is.

Robyn turned to Robin and Chrom. "We have the Gemstone. Let's get back to the camp." Robin and Chrom agreed and took their leave first. Before Robyn followed them, she took a moment to look at the Fire Emblem again. She could already feel energy radiating from the shield and wondered how it might affect her world outside.

Speaking of outside, the moment she stepped out, Robyn could feel the air was different in Southtown. Looking above, the sky was no longer pitch black but had a glum hue of blue. Compared to previous visits here, the sky was getting brighter and Southtown was more visible than it had been for the past while.

The fighting outside continued. Cordelia had arrived at their position to help cover their escape. While many monsters continued to spawn, the fact it was more visible made their lives easier.

"Go! Just go!" Cordelia directed Robyn and the others toward the camp. The enemies were no tougher than they were earlier. Yet the objective was complete and surprisingly, when they got close to Robyn, they seemed to grow much weaker. That helped with holding out. As Cordelia continued covering the path, she saw Stahl and Vaike still fighting at the east bridge. "We're done! Time to go!" she said.

Then the pair at the east bridge did so and helped to cover Robyn's escape. It wasn't long that they were through the stone courtyard and market stalls where the Shepherds were gathered at the camp. At once, everyone knew it was time to go, the moment they saw Robyn hold the Fire Emblem out.

"Move move!" Robyn demanded. Throwing the Fire Emblem to the designated space, a pillar of flames shot up and opened the pathway back to Ignis Avenue. Chrom and Robin were first to rush through, followed by the rest of the Shepherds one by one. Cordelia, Vaike, and Stahl were still covering the escape and when the last of the team had passed through, they did the same, Robyn being last.

Whatever monsters had tried to pursue were incinerated by the flames.

5/11 Friday: Evening; Ignis Avenue

In the next moment, the Shepherds had reappeared onto Ignis Avenue again. The pillar of flames had reappeared in an inconspicuous area, near the Ylisse Street intersection but away from the public. In a crumpled heap, the Shepherds had collapsed onto the grass below them, as if exhausted from running away.

As Robyn was the last one to reappear from the flames, she was the only one to not have fallen on the grass. Instead she turned around to watch the monsters dissipate in the flames. She was thankful that the Fire Emblem could do that. Naga knows what would happen if the monsters could enter her reality. Then Robyn picked up the Fire Emblem, Argent safely nestled in the shield.

"Now what?" Chrom's voice broke Robyn's train of thought.

Robyn looked back at him. She gave a weak smile. "I'm sure everyone could use some sleep. Why not use the weekend to rest up? We can debrief another day."

"I agree…" Stahl yawned. "I'm heading home."

The rest of the Shepherds seemed to be in agreement. The hour was late and no one wanted their families to worry for being out too late. Eventually, everyone went their separate ways, and Robyn and Robin also began the short trek up the hill to back home (but not before Robyn storing the Fire Emblem away).

"Can't believe we still have school tomorrow…" Robyn said with a yawn.

"I… I know right?" Robin also said while yawning. "Just make sure you get enough rest, okay? It would be bad if we showed up looking like zombies."

We. Robyn smiled. "Did you mean to say 'you'?"

"You caught that, eh?" Robin grinned.

It took some time before they got to higher ground where Robin's home was. The familiar sighting of home was a sight for sore eyes given what they had gone through in the past hour. And the only thing on Robyn's mind was to get a shower and then prepare for tomorrow. The week wasn't done yet. And if there was time, maybe she could play a round of Generals of Hyrule with Robin later.