I'm not one for opening statements in my fics, but welcome to all new readers! I hope you enjoy this silly little set of vignettes set in Askr!
Chapter 1: Stop Hurting Yourselves! Do a Hobby or Something!
"Kiran, this seems unnecessary."
It had been almost a full year since the kingdom of Askr had become the home to Kiran, a enigmatic summoner from a different world. In that time, the ability to wield Breidablik had been fortuitous, growing the Order of Heroes from 4 to hundreds.
Unfortunately, this rapid growth in the Order had led to some unforeseen consequences. Last week, Tharja was put on cleanup duty for hexing most of the pegasus knights. Cordelia in particular received a very nasty runny nose. The next day featured Chrom, Ryoma, and Bartre all reporting to the medical wing of the castle. They had challenged each other to eat hotter and hotter food. Things reached their logical conclusion and ended with Lachesis and Azama having to pump three stomachs.
"Alphonse, I know you believe that the heroes can control themselves, but you know what they say about idle hands."
The prince of Askr gave Kiran a confused look. The commander of the Order, Anna, spoke up.
"My concern is that people like Bartre and Tharja won't be stopped by your plan."
Kiran sighed. "I believe it's worth the risk. It can't possibly hurt to try."
"I agree!" Sharena, Alphonse's younger sister, shouted with glee. "This could help everyone get along better!"
Alphonse and Anna looked at each other, before Alphonse shrugged. "You two have a been a better judge of character, and I suppose you're right." he admitted. Kiran grinned internally.
There was a large hubbub near the mess hall. Nino was near the back of the crowd, struggling to see over the vast number of bodies.
"Excuse me!" She cried out in vain. The constant chatter cut her out completely. As she pushed against the crowd, she felt someone pull her up sharply. She was suddenly on the shoulders of a tall man with teal hair
"Can you see from here, little one?" The man known as Ephraim asked, his voice attempting to sound gruff. Nino and Ephraim had been in the castle around the same time, with the lord proclaiming Nino his 'second sister'. Even when Eirika found her way to Askr, Ephraim still spent much time with Nino, both siblings teaching her how to read when the three could find the time.
"Yes Ephraim! Thank you!" She said happily. She could see the Summoner, along with Anna and Sharena. Kiran, as always, was flanked by Clarisse, who had appointed herself the bodyguard of the summoner.
Anna cleared her throat. "As you know, we've had several … incidents in the past few weeks." There was a pointed look that Nino assumed was towards that dark mage girl. Th... aja? "Kiran and Sharena have offered up an idea that might be of interest to all of you."
Sharena spoke up. "So, I know all of us are known for our fighting, but we've all got interests beyond that!" There were murmurs from the crowd, some affirming the statement, while others seemed less enthused. "So Kiran and I thought, 'why don't we give some people the chance to share those talents, and have some fun?'" She pulled out a banner, to which Nino squinted, trying to make out the words. Thankfully, Sharena began speaking again. "Clubs and Lessons! We can set up a schedule for various activities and such too!" The group seemed to liven a little bit. This time Kiran spoke up.
"So, we've made forms that you can fill out if you have an interest in leading a group, and we can do sign up sheets by tomorrow morning." There was a pause, the only sounds being the fluttering of stacks of paper being moved around. "Clarisse and I will be in the mess hall for the next five hours, so I would recommend starting your forms now!" Nino could see the bright orange of that one lance girl … O-boro, immediately run into the mess hall, paper clenched tightly in her hand. Nino then felt a small tug on her cape. Eirika was holding out a piece of paper towards her. Her friend Tana had followed them as well.
"Hello, Nino!" Eirika greeted her warmly. "I wanted to be sure you had a form as well, just in case." Ephraim slowly put Nino down.
"Shall we move to the mess hall?" The lord suggesed.
The mess hall was beyond it's normal hustle and bustle at this point. Most of the heroes had convened in their normal groups they had grown accustomed to. There were a few that migrated across groups, Nino being one of them. Another was the mage prince Leo, wearing all black armor. Nino didn't like Leo much, he always seemed to be looking down on her.
"Lord Ephraim, Lady Tana, Lady Eirika, may I sit with you?" The blonde mage eyed Nino. "Ah, my apologies, I should ask Lady Nino as well." Tana and Ephraim looked at Eirika and Nino, brows raised.
Nino shrugged. "I don't see a problem with it," she said haughtily.
Leo bowed low. "Thank you for your hospitality," he sat quickly. "I see you have a form."
"You didn't grab one?" Eirika asked.
Leo smiled. "Not me. I may be talented, but I know I'm no teacher. I hardly have the patience to deal with -" He paused, looking over both shoulders. His face held a look of grim realization "- oh no."
As if on cue, four people sprang from the table that Kiran and Clarisse had set up. Niles, Virion, Odin and Laslow all sprinted towards the door, Clarisse shouting at them all the while, throwing what she could get her hands on.
"AND IF YOU SHOW UP WITH THAT FORM AGAIN, I'LL KILL YOU MYSELF!" She screamed with finality. She then turned on her heel and stormed back to the table. Nino turned back to see Leo with is head on the table, hands splayed out in front of him.
"Why can't I get normal retainers?" he moaned.
"Ah yes, you Nohrians do tend to live on the eccentric side." remarked a low voice behind Nino. She recognized the man as Seth, Eirika and Ephraim's loyal knight. He was standing with Titania, whose long red hair reminded Nino of Carnations and Strawberries. Titania saved Nino early in their time here in Askr.
Leo didn't answer, he just groaned again and remained motionless. Titania looked at Nino and smiled.
"Hello, Nino. How have you been since our last meeting?"
Nino smiled back. "I've been great, haven't gotten hurt once!" Titania laughed, ruffling the young mage's hair.
"Seth, I see you have a form," Ephraim mentioned. "Starting a club, are we?"
Seth looked at his hand, clutching the piece of paper, before straightening up. "Um, yes milord! Equestrian-ship! Lady Titania and I believe that it is a valuable skill that is both rewarding and enjoyable, in it's own rights!"
Eirika smiled. "I think it's a wonderful idea, and I'll be there." Seth blushed a little at the affirmation, to which Titania laughed again.
"Let's just hope Clarisse approves first." She said, guiding Seth towards the table. The other occupants turned towards each other again. Eirika sighed.
"What's wrong?" Tana asked. Eirika shook her head, smiling.
"This form seems rather useless in my hands," she lamented, "I have no ideas whatsoever."
"You don't have to make a club, you know."
"That is true..."
Nino was struck with inspiration. "Lady Eirika, you could do a reading club!" She burst out. "You're teaching me how to read and you're really really good at it, so I bet you could help others as well!"
"It's called a book club." Leo corrected, head still in his hands. "But yes, a salient point." Eirika pondered the idea.
"Would any of you want to be my assistant though?" She asked. Ephraim and Leo both shook their heads, citing their respective faults. Nino wanted to help, but she was still not … great at reading. "Tana?"
The pegasus rider jumped a little. "Oh! Ha … haaaa." She fidgeted in her seat. "Oh, I'm sorry, Eirika. I promised that I'd be Nephenee's assistant with her club."
"Hmm..." Eirika looked a little disappointed, but furrowed her brow. A shadow loomed over her, causing the group to turn once again.
A figure, clad in robes of deep purple and sleeves adorned with golden embellishment stood over them. His messy white hair and brown eyes reflected his nervous nature.
"Hello, I don't mean to eavesdrop, but I'm in a similar predicament."
"Ah, hullo Robin!" Nino replied enthusiastically. Robin, Ephraim, and Nino had been on the same team for a long while. "You need a helper too?"
"Yes, we had a book club in Ylisse, but Cordelia is already heading another club, and my other assistant hasn't been summoned, shall we say."
"Cordelia is leading another club?" Ephraim asked, smirking. "But you two are nearly attached at the hip! That seems a likely story." Robin blushed and sputtered in reply. It was a poorly kept secret that the Ylisseans had several relationships between themselves. Robin and Cordelia, Olivia and that strange mage Henry, and Lissa and her stalwart knight, Frederick were all linked together, and Chrom even had a daughter here in Askr.
Nino liked Henry. Anybody that liked animals was A-OK in her book.
"Well, Robin, I think I'll accept your offer." Eirika responded kindly. "Shall we?"
Robin nodded, trying to cover his blush. "We shall."
Clarisse was not having a good day.
Well, it was hard to consider any day good. Having to babysit the summoner, who would probably die if she wasn't there. But today was considerably worse than the days where they would just sit in silence in front of the fire, sipping wine an-
"Um... Clarisse? You're phasing out again."
"No I wasn't!" She hissed.
"Fourth time today, you feeling alright?" Kiran asked, concerned.
"Look, some more 'heroes' are coming." Clarisse replied hurriedly, "Just... let's get this over with so I can kill those four idiots already?"
"While those four are idiots, I'm can't let you kill them."
"Please?"
Kiran paused. "Yet."
Oboro and the Wyvern Rider Cherche handed in a form, which Kiran read closely. Clarisse caught a glimpse of several diagrams and pictures.
"Well you two," Kiran stated, "This is … detailed."
"I know," Oboro said breathlessly, "I've wanted to do a sewing and tailing club forever!"
Cherche smiled as well. "Likewise, perhaps our first project will be to knit a scarf for my dear Minerva."
"Ooooh! A Hoshidan style flying scarf would look so stylish on Minerva!" Oboro cooed. Kiran smiled, before putting the form aside before Oboro could continue.
"Your club has been approved, I'll put up a schedule based on the times you gave me." Oboro and Cherche almost skipped away from the table, as another group handed their form over. Kiran and Clarisse looked it over, turning to face Titania and Seth.
"What's stopping this from becoming sparring sessions?" Kiran asked pointedly.
Titania answered. "No weapons, no armor. We would just take the horse out on strolls."
"I suppose that would benefit the army … It would give the horses exercise …" The form was moved aside. "It's approved, just make sure it stays equestrian, please." Seth bowed quickly, and Titania nodded. Clarisse leaned in towards Kiran.
"If I learned how to ride a horse, would that be helpful?" She muttered. Kiran grinned sheepishly.
"Clarisse, I don't think you could protect me better if you tried."
Several more forms piled in. Cordelia, Azura, and Lachesis wanted to form a Music Club, Robin and Eirika, a Book Club. There was a small issue where Kagero had wanted to make both a Poetry and Art Club, but this was satisfied by her insisting she would only assist both groups, and Priscilla and Frederick would lead both, respectively. Tana turned in a form for both her and Nephenee, who wanted to create a Botany Club. "Plantin" was scribbled out in favor of Botany.
So far, there had only been seven forms turned in over three hours. There were still groups of people intersperced throughout the mess hall, but Kiran was starting to feel tired.
"Hey." Clarisse grunted. "You want me to take over." Kiran waved her off.
"No, no no no. I'm goooood. Just feeling a little tired."
CLANG
Both of them were jolted awake by the sound of heavy armor rumbling towards them. Towering over the two stood Zephiel. The whole mess hall was dead silent as he slowly handed over his form. Kiran read it intently.
"A d-dragon appreciation club?" Kiran said in a confused tone.
"Why not?" Zephiel replied curtly, "Dragons are truly a magnificent species that deserve to be beloved and appreciated! We would have discussions, lessons, trips and so forth!"
"I see that, you really put in a lot of detail here." Kiran was equally impressed and intimidated. Clarisse, however, was having none of it.
"And who's your assistant going to be?" She pointed out. "You don't have a name written on it."
"I need no assistant." Zephiel snarled. Clarisse sneered back defiantly.
"Oh! Assistant! Present!"
A smaller green haired girl popped out.
"Nowi," Kiran sighed. "If you're the assistant, you need to put your name down."
"I wanted to, but Zephy is all 'I don't need an assistant, I'm fine on my own.;"
Kiran turned to Zephiel. "Is Nowi your assistant?"
"... Yes."
There was a heavy sigh. "Approved, I'll add Nowi's name in." Zephiel grunted, and the two moved on. Kiran turned to Clarisse. "I'm sure there can't be much more than that."
She wasn't wrong, but it took another hour before Oscar, Stahl, and several others that included Peri and Gaius turned in their messy and unorganized form for Cooking Club. It was approved on the stipulation they turn in a better form by the morning. Then Sonya, dragging Takumi behind her, suggested a History Club. Lute had somehow nabbed a willing Tharja into making a Science and Magic Club, much to everyone's surprise. By this point, Kiran was starting to feel exhausted.
"Clarisse, perhaps you're right," the summoner admitted, "I'm gonna take a nap. Can you take over for the last hour?"
The archer huffed a little. "I suppose I can help, if you really want." That was enough for Kiran, who gave Clarisse a quick hug and left the mess hall. Clarisse muttered to herself, but smiled slightly. She looked at her feet for a moment. Can't mess this up can't mess this up can't-
"Uh-uh-um. Can I turn in my form here?"
Clarisse looked up, seeing the small figure of Olivia. Clarisse had written her off as a threat initially, but her speed and surprising skill with a sword kept her on the danger radar.
"Uh, yeah." She muttered, grabbing the piece of paper. She read it over, scowling a little. Dancing Club, typical. "Your assistant is Henry?" She asked, a little harshly. She saw the mage some 50 feet back, waving at the dancer with vigor.
"Well, I didn't think Ini-Laslow would get approved, and I'm comfortable with Henry."
Clarisse shrugged, ignoring the word fumbling. "More power to you, I guess." She put the form away. "I'll approve you, just because Kiran probably would."
"Oh! Thank you so much!" Olivia said quickly, before slinking away. Clarisse rolled her eyes, before she looked back at the forms. "Maybe Kiran likes dancing..." she said to herself.
"Ah, Clarisse, you're back." Kiran said groggily. "How'd it go?"
Clarisse shrugged. "Only one more form was turned in." She said bluntly. "I'm glad you got some rest though."
"Thanks." Kiran smiled. "Let's try to set up that schedule now." Clarisse shook her head.
"In the morning, you idiot." She pushed the summoner onto the bed, sitting beside it on a small wooden stool. "You're in no shape to be doing anything."
Kiran pouted. "I slept!"
"Not. Enough." Clarisse said through gritted teeth. The summoner slowly crept back under the covers. "Good." She blew out the small flickering lamp before closing and locking the door. Clarisse then pulled out a small mattress from under the bed, quickly changing into a semblance of sleepwear, and pulled a blanket over her. The sounds of crickets and other nighttime creatures became the white noise to which the former assassin could finally drift to sleep.
The castle was once again filled with excitement. As breakfast began, so did the discussions of activities and clubs fill the air. As the heroes ate, they heard a strong hammering sound from outside the mess hall. Nino looked at the schedule.
Tuesday
Music Club: 10:30 AM – Noon: Led by Cordelia and Lachesis
Equestrian Club : 1 – 2:30 PM: Led by Seth and Titania
Cooking Club: 4 – 5:30 PM: Led by Oscar, Stahl, and Peri
Wednesday
Botany Club: 10:30 AM – Noon: Led by Nephenee and Tana
Magic and Science Club 4 – 5:30 PM: Led by Lute and Tharja
Thursday
Dancing Club: 10:30 AM – Noon: Led by Olivia and Henry
History Club: 1 – 2:30 PM: Led by Sonya and Takumi
Dragon Appreciation Club: 4 – 5:30 PM: Led by Zephiel and Nowi
Friday
Art Club: 1-3:30 PM: Led by Frederick and Kagero
Book Club: 4- 6 PM: Led by Eirika and Robin
Saturday
Poetry Club: 1-2:30 PM: Led by Priscilla and Kagero
Sewing Club: 4 – 6 PM: Led by Oboro and Cherche
Training will be taken in shifts, so you can have a chance to be in the clubs you wish. If you're going to do something stupid, please do it under the supervision of these fine Heroes.
No hexing, Tharja. We know it's you.
Nino shook with excitement. There were so many choices, and everything seemed really interesting. Well, History Club seemed pretty boring, but Sonya was really nice to her, so maybe...
"Curses, how dare they write that." Tharja and Lute were standing behind Nino. The Plegian shaking in contained rage.
"Our club's been approved," Lute said matter-of-factly, "That's all that really matters."
"Hmmm... I suppose so." Tharja looked down at Nino. "Ah, hello there little Nino." She said, both menacingly and sweetly in equal portions. "Are you interested in joining our club?"
"Yes, I thought it would be fun."
"Yes. Fuuuun." The dark mage drawled out, "What merriment we shall have."
Lute spoke up. "Tharja's demeanor aside, I think you will really enjoy what we have planned for the club. I think it suits you."
The two mages walked off, leaving Nino pondering the list.
"I guess I'll just try everything!" She eventually concluded.
This story is just a silly thing that crept up in my head recently, but it stuck with me. I'm already a slow updater in my other fic, but this was making things worse. I'll update both, but hopefully this fic will help me get rid of my writers block.
I also haven't played FE 6-10 in years, so I hope I get their characters right.
Last but not least, I made Kiran's sex ambiguous on purpose. Does this work for all of you as readers? Let me know!
Thank you all for reading! Comments and critiques are always appreciated and loved!