The Dark Executioner

A Fire Emblem and NCS Adventure

Chapter 6: End of the Hunt

By: Davis(Davis3 on FFN)

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem or any of the official characters but I do own Amber(the Rogue Pegasus Knight) and Dark Warrior(aka the Dark Executioner)

Florina, Fiora and Farina could hardly believe their ears over what just transpired. Why would Dark Warrior decide such an action instead of just doing away with them as a normal assassin would do. It had occurred to them that he was much more than just a mere killer, he was something much worse.

" Huh? You're giving them a head-start?" Amber asked for she was just as confused as they were.

" It makes things much more enjoyable," answered Dark Warrior.

" I paid you to kill them as soon as you caught up with them. I had no idea that this is how you handle the killing blow," said Amber.

" You only gave me money to perform your task and that is what I intend to do. How I go about my task is up to me and me alone to decide. Don't forget that child! Otherwise I shall add you in addition to the three of them to my list of victims," said Dark Warrior. Amber went silent, knowing her place in the matter at hand. " Just relax Amber and I will take care of everything. Out of all those who were given this head-start, not one of them lived to survive the ordeal!"

" Is that so? Well then, I feel much more reassured of your success," said Amber.

" You doubt me?" asked Dark Warrior.

" For a moment I did, but now I have the utmost confidence that you will carry out this task. It's just that you never told me that you liked to give your prey such a freedom of moment by allowing them to get ahead of you." Amber answered.

" And that bothers you?" asked Dark Warrior.

" A little," answered Amber.

" I see....my methods have often been questioned by those who employ my services so it is no surprise to me that you too would end up questioning my abilities. I suggest to you to get your Pegasus and follow along behind me. To get a full understanding of how I kill my victims, you must witness it first hand." Dark Warrior said. Amber nodded her approval and walked back outside leaving everyone else behind. " If I were you Pegasus Knights, I'd get going right away, for when the two minutes are up, I'll be coming after you with no remorse!" With that, the sisters raced out of the tent, got onto their Pegasi and flew off in no particular direction.

" He's nuts!" exclaimed Farina.

" But determined to kill us," added Fiora.

" By the way, which way are we headed?" asked Farina.

" I'm not really sure about that sister. These mountains all look the same in each direction so where we end up is anyone's guess," answered Fiora.

" Thanks for making me feel so much better." Farina moaned but her expression changed when she saw the tears coming down Fiora's cheeks. " You're crying....but you never cry unless something has really upset you....it's Amber isn't it?"

" Yes...." Fiora cried.

" I know how you feel about her and what she has become, but as Dark Warrior said, we can't go back and change things, but we can try to convince her to give up and solve this problem without bloodshed," said Farina.

" Do you think that will work?" asked Fiora.

" Don't know....I leave those kind of things to you," answered Farina. Florina looked back to see if they were being followed, but no one was coming, but when she looked in front of her, she stopped dead in her tracks. " Sis, why'd you stop?"

" I....I....I...." answered Florina.

" Florina?" asked Farina.

" She cannot speak for my pressure has frightened her," answered Dark Warrior. He urged his horse forward and swung his Silver Axe around his head a few times before striking a large rock to his left, cleaving it in two. " What I just did to this boulder, is what I shall do to the three of you."

" How did you get in front so quickly?" asked Farina.

" One of my easier answers to give to you. You three are unfamiliar to these mountains, for you don't know which way to go. I've been watching you fly around trying to escape from these mountains and I find it most amusing to see you scurrying about like mice trying to escape a simple maze. You modern people scare so easily and flee in terror leading you to go about not knowing where to go and what to do. This aspect of your people makes it all the more enjoyable for me to pursue you." Dark Warrior answered.

" You really enjoy tormenting us don't you?" asked Farina.

" It is most enjoyable. In fact, over the past few centuries, I've been experimenting with different methods as to how I ort to make my victims suffer and I ended up discovering that fear and mental strikes were the best ways," answered Dark Warrior.

" Centuries? What are you talking about?" asked Farina.

" Ah yes, you three are out of the loop when it comes to that little statement. Even the lordling and Amber don't understand what I mean by "centuries". To set it straight, I have lived for over 500 years and during that time, my nickname of "Dark Executioner" became feared by many....I have killed countless hundreds of thousands and have caused numerous wars for many of my victims were of royalty....they were weak, unable to put a good resistance, and above all else....they whimpered and cowered before me," answered Dark Warrior.

" That's because they feared you," said Florina.

" So, you finally decided to speak again," said Dark Warrior.

" Why hurt so many?" asked Florina.

" It all depended on what my client was asking for. These days, I am reduced to killing at least several people a year due to....circumstances beyond your meaning. In my younger days, I could've killed hundreds within mere months for as an assassin, I am trained in many forms of killing and even the Black Fang learned to appreciate my talents as it were," answered Dark Warrior.

" What do you have to do with the Black Fang?" asked Fiora.

" I was with the Fang for only a short, but not as a servant, but rather a teacher. Nergal needed someone to teach his morphs as well as those normal people how to kill; since he knew of me and my reputation, I was approached by him and he paid me much in gold to offer my assistance. Within that short time, I trained the Fang in how to kill. Of course, those that couldn't cut it were killed by me. Sort of weeding out the weak!" answered Dark Warrior.

" No wonder they were so skilled," said Fiora.

" All a result of my influence on them. Oh and it gets even better, although worse for you young Fiora. Amber here was also a member of the Black Fang yet she arrived about a month before my departure. I managed to get in some training for her, so if you're wondering how she knew about me, that is the reason right there! If you don't believe me, then ask her yourself as she'll verify my claim!" Dark Warrior said.

" Amber...." Fiora began.

" What he said is true Fiora. I was a member of the Fang for a few years and I was seen as being worthy in the eyes of Lady Sonia and Lord Nergal. To them, I was one of their best, even if I were only human. In fact, I joined the Fang shortly after being kicked out of Ilia and I spent much of my time in Bern training within their fortress. I came here from time to time just to keep tabs on you and the rest of Ilia." Amber said as she arrived on the scene.

" Oh Amber...." Fiora then began to cry.

" Another modern weakness you lot possess. The fact that you even shed a single tear makes you weak and easy to kill. Why show that kind of emotion when you just give it up, like I have," said Dark Warrior.

" If you did do that, then you're heartless," said Farina.

" Heartless? Such a meager threat from such a little one like you. I have no regrets for what I have done and performing this task won't make any difference to that. Enough of this talk, for now the hunt has come to an end. You three sisters put up a good fight, but in the end, it wasn't enough to spare your lives." Dark Warrior said as he began to walk forward, axe raised, poised to kill. He had only gone a few steps before a spear stopped him in his tracks. " What!?! Where did this spear come from? He quickly turned to look in the direction it came from and he froze. Hovering above them all was a number of Pegasus Knights, all armed with Spears and Silver Lances. " Amber, you never said anything about reinforcements."

" They're not here to help us. I recognize that Emblem they wear as the one of Ilia's elite guard. But, how did they know about this place?" Amber asked.

" It doesn't matter how they came upon this, but I will not leave until my victims are dead!" Dark Warrior began to move forward towards the sisters only to be stopped by another spear. " You weak knights are beginning to drive my patience. But, just to act out of curiosity, how did you chance upon us?"

" We were given a message from Lord Eliwood of Pherae to warn us that you were after three of our knights. We knew to come here as this is the only border into Ilia from Lycia without cutting through anywhere else," answered the lead Pegasus Knight.

" Ah, hats off to the lordling for getting involved in my affairs. Heh, heh, heh, heh....he actually outwitted me, a feat that most are unable to do. I guess letting him live proved to be the downfall of this mission....but there is always next time," said Dark Warrior in a calm, soothing voice.

" There is no next time for you for you're our captive!" said the lead knight.

" Do you really think that I can be captured by modern mongrels like you? Please, don't make me laugh. You have no idea of what I am truly like and if I were you, I'd leave this place before you have to find out why," said Dark Warrior as he resumed his walk towards the sisters.

" I warned you...."

" About what?" asked Dark Warrior.

" Knights of Ilia, attack!" A number of spears flew at Dark Warrior, several he batted away with his axe, while several hit him, causing him to drop to his knees. " I am not so easy to defeat, foolish children. Come here my victims, you have a date with...." His words were cut off before he could finish what he was saying for a Silver Lance had struck him in the chest causing him to lose his balance and plunge over the side and falling into a deep canyon below. There was no sound of a crash due to how deep it was.

" I did say I warned him."

" Dark Warrior?" asked Amber meekly.

" You are the rogue Pegasus Knight Amber are you not?" asked the lead knight.

" I am." Amber answered.

" You are to hereby be captured, imprisoned and put on trial for your numerous acts against the country of Ilia by order of the king!" Amber found herself shackled with chains and her Pegasus was taken from her. " Florina, Fiora, Farina. It was lucky that Lord Eliwood got his message to us in time, or you three might not have survived."

" Thanks for the save," smiled Farina.

" Thank you," said Florina.

" May I please speak with Amber one last time?" Fiora asked.

" As you wish."

" Fiora...." Amber began.

" Yes?" asked Fiora.

" I am sorry for everything that has happened to you in addition to what has become of me. I allowed my yearn for vengeance carry me for these past few years and that was the only thing I could think of. Now, as I leave to be tried as a criminal for what I have done, I just wish to say....sorry....sorry, for everything," answered Amber.

" Amber...." Fiora cried as she saw her being taken away by the elite guard. " I should've been there with you, to help you avoid this road that you've taken...."

" Are you okay?" asked Florina.

" I am sad to see her go, but I hope that she can be forgiven for all that she's done. I want to be at her trial for I want to give her as much support as I can," answered Fiora.

" We'll all go, right Farina?" asked Florina.

" Indeed," answered Farina.

" Thank you, both of you," said Fiora as she smiled.

Amber wound up facing a severe penalty for what she had done, yet thanks to the aid of Fiora, she avoided the ultimate penalty, death. Instead, Amber was imprisoned and forced to work for the next few years as means of a punishment. The three Pegasus Sisters were congratulated for completing their mission to Pherae and were awarded with medals as proof, as well as the paycheck that they were promised....

Some time later in a village near Ostia....

" Another night, another journey to get some more food for all the travelers that come by here on their way to Ostia. Sometimes, I question myself as to why I even bother....hello, what is this? Gasp! Help! Someone! Help!"

" What's wrong?"

" I....I found this!"

" This poor man has been killed, his throat slit open severely. We must warn the rest of the village of what has happened."

" Yes sir!"

" I can't understand how he could've died, but from what I have gathered, it is the work of an assassin....and a very skilled one at that."

" Oh, the horror!"

" Heh, heh, heh, heh....that ought to do as a small bonus for my work. Those fools thought that they had killed me when I plunged into that canyon after being wounded by that weak weapon....like I said to them, I am not so easy to defeat, let alone kill. That girl Amber, such a fool she was! Her blindness lead her to her fate and now she has to live with it for the rest of her life....arrogant child. As for you Eliwood of Pherae....you did well by stopping my killing spree, but when next we meet, you will not survive the encounter....and then there is Hector of Ostia....this map has indeed proved useful for my own intentions. Ah....Hector....so young, so brash....so easy to be killed by one you don't even know about....my contact should be here soon and that is when the hunt shall truly begin, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha....."

The End....or only just the beginning.

I do have plans to do a sequel to this story, but only if it requested.

Hope you enjoyed this story.