Chris: Boy…I took a long time to update this.
Mia: Forever is more like it.
Chris: Yep. But I'm updating this story now. Because I've got some new ideas. However, because of the ideas, I'm going to have to cut some things. They'll be at the end of the story.
Charlie: Yep, I updated. And that is so not funny.
Angel of Fate1: Yep. Uh huh. You'll get a cameo…Just depends when, huh?
Reiko5: Eh….You can choose what you want. And thanks for reviewing!
Yami no Kirbie: Thanks for saying my character isn't a Gary-Stu…I really don't want that. And Hahahaha! I made you think of writing a story! Sorry about that.
" " - speaking
' ' - thoughts
Chapter 6: A Meeting of Friends/Band of Mercenaries
"Okay, it's nice to meet you as well." Chris nodded, and then held Sain back by the arm. "Introductions will come later, Sain! We've got a battle to fight!"
"Very well, sir tactician! Look at me, my lovely ladies, as I charge into battle!" Sain mounted his horse, and pulled out his lance as he charged into battle.
"Wait! Sain!" When it was clear that Sain wasn't stopping, Chris let out a small string of curses. "Kent, you go after him."
"At once." Kent urged his horse on and he followed after Sain. Chris turned to the other people.
"It looks like there's a village nearby. Lyn, see if you can find any help from there, okay?" Chris pointed north, where a small set of gates loomed. He turned to Heather. "Is it okay if you go with Kent and Sain?" She nodded and headed off, her sword clanking against her legs.
As Lyn entered the village, a stone landed near her feet and she heard shouting and angry mutterings.
"Leave us alone, you bastards!"
"Go away! Go away! We don't have any more gold for you!"
"No! Wait! We're not bandits! Just listen to me!" Lyn shielded her face as more rocks and stones were thrown at her. "We just want to help!"
"Wait…I'll check this out. Everyone else, just stay inside." A young man with brown stepped out of one of the buildings. He walked up to Lyn and folded his hands. "Not bandits, huh? Well then, what are you?"
"My name is Lyn! My friends and I were just traveling trough here. We saw some bandits around and we're going to deal with him. We need you to tell them and warn them about the bandits." She turned and was about to leave when the boy grabbed her arm.
"Hey! Wait! Let me go with you! My name's Wil. I'm a traveler too…sort of. These villagers were kind to me. Can I help?"
"Of course! Let's go, Wil! We could use all of the help we can get!" Lyn clapped Wil on the back and ran out, ready to enter battle once again. Wil smiled and followed her, taking out the bow that was strapped to his back.
"Hey Chris! A new guy has decided to join up!" Lyn showed Wil to the tactician, who nodded.
"Nice to meet you…So…You're an archer, right?"
"That's me! Long-distance fighting is my game! But, if things get a little too dicey…" Wil flipped out a small knife. "I can always use this for emergencies."
"Okay, that's good. Cause Florina-" He pointed to the pegasus knight, who was hovering a few feet above them. "She told me that there was another bandit hiding behind that wall. Think you're good enough to hit him?" Chris looked at Wil, challenging him.
"Ha! No problem!" He ran towards the wall. "Let's see…" Luckily for him, he found a small hole in the dilapidated wall that showed him the surroundings on the opposite side. Aiming his bow just right, he released an arrow and was gratified as he heard the bandit scream out in pain as the arrow lodged in his leg.
"Florina! It's your turn!" Chris yelled at the pegasus knight, who nodded. She flew down at the mercenary, her lance clutched in her hands. The mercenary noticed her streaking towards him and maneuvered to face her, but his leg was paining him and blood was streaming down it. He swung a blow at the pegasus knight, but the strike was too slow as the lance punctured his body before the blow could connect. The corpse slid off of Florina's lance and fell to the ground. Florina winced and closed her eyes, guiding her pegasus to the ground.
"Hmm…I don't want to leave her there without support." Chris muttered worriedly, thinking of some way to continue the attack. Lyn tapped his shoulder.
"Don't worry. She's really strong. She'll be just fine."
"If you say so…Come on! Lyn! Wil! Let's go!" He dashed off to the right, where Sain, Kent, and Heather had gone.
"Yes, sir!" They both mock saluted and followed him, a smile on both their faces. As they ran, they spotted all three of them locked in battle with a couple of bandits. Two axe-wielding enemies were attacking Kent, who was doing his best to fend both of them off. As for Sain, he was having trouble dodging arrows from an enemy soldier and trying to fight another bandit. Heather's blade clashed against a mercenary, both of them struggling against each other.
"Take this!" Kent slashed down with his sword, severing the axe shaft and killing the bandit by stabbing him in the chest. However, the blow cost him as the other bandit jumped and knocked him off the horse. He landed heavily, his armor clattering and his sword knocked away from the impact. The second bandit was just about to finish him when an arrow lodged in his back, and he toppled over, dead. Kent stood up, nodding thanks to Wil before mounting his horse again.
"En garde!" Sain swung his lance like a bat, catching the bandit in the side and knocking him down. With a quick downward thrust, he ended the bandit's life. An arrow whistled in front of his horse, and it reared up in the air, almost tossing Sain off. "There, there…Just calm down." He patted the head and pulled his blood-crusted lance out of the bandit's body. "Let's go!" He charged with his lance, and the opposing archer looked nervous as it frantically searched for an arrow. Sain swung his sword and severed the bow in half, leaving the archer defenseless. He pointed his sword at the archer, who was trembling.
"P-Please…Just let me go…I didn't want to do this…" The archer kneeled, his hands clasped behind his back.
Sain raised his sword. "Very well, cur. Now run, while I still feel like letting you go!" The archer nodded gratefully, but then he pulled out a small dagger and jumped at Sain, who was taken off guard.
"Watch out!" Florina flew up from behind and pierced the archer from behind, right before he was going to plunge his dagger into Sain's side. Sain sighed, and then smiled at Florina.
"Thank you, my lovely rosebud!" He was about to take her hand to kiss it when she flew off towards Chris.
"Uh…Um…I've got to drop something off….Uh…" Florina stammered that as an apology, leaving Sain behind. Sain shook his head in disappointment, but smiled as Kent rode up to him. He clapped his friend and ally on the back, sheathing his sword.
"Huff…" Heather winced as the mercenary streaked past her defense, stabbing her in the arm. She screamed in pain and anger and swung her sword at the mercenary's head, severing it. She fell to the ground, biting her lip as tears streamed down her cheeks. The sword remained stuck in her arm, and the pain was excruciating.
"Heather!" Lyn rushed up to her and gently lifted her back. Heather smiled at Lyn, sweat beading her forehead. Lyn smiled back. "Just rest, you've done well enough." Heather nodded, and slipped into unconsciousness.
"Hey, how is she?" Chris ran up, his cloak flying behind him.
"Hopefully, she'll be fine. It's a good thing the sword didn't hit her sword arm. We should be able to fix it after the battle."
"Okay. Good. Stay with her, okay? I saw an armory on the way here. I'm going to pick up a couple of weapons." Chris patted Lyn on the back before moving off to find the armory.
"Uh…Uh…"
"What?" Chris turned around to see a nervous looking Florina.
"Uh…Some villagers wanted…to…give this to you." Florina quickly handed the bag to Chris before moving back, her hands clasped behind her back and her head bowed.
Chris opened the bag and gasped. "Wow, this is quite a sum! Thank you for bringing it to me, Florina."
"I-It's my job…" Florina mounted her pegasus again and flew off. Chris chuckled at her nervousness and headed for the armory. As he entered, a blacksmith approached him.
"What would you be needing, good sir?" The blacksmith rubbed his hands together.
"Hmm…" He looked around at the various weapons around. There wasn't much of a selection, but what could he expect from an armory that was in an abandoned city? 'Let's see…Florina could use another lance, and I should just take another sword for precaution.' He pointed to a lance that was leaning against the wall and a sword hanging above it. "Those two should do fine."
"Very good, sir." The blacksmith gathered both of them and handed them to Chris, the sword in its sheath and the lance wrapped in protective cloth. "That should be eight-hundred twenty gold, please."
"Ah, okay." Chris placed the money in the blacksmith's outstretched hand and left, carrying the weapons to his friends. When he arrived, he saw them surrounding someone who appeared to be the leader. The leader was waving his axe in front of everyone, checking their advance.
"I am Migal! Come and get me, if you can!" The bandit's filthy brown hair was tied back by a raggedy red headband and his muscles bulged as he swung at Sain, who was trying to inch forward.
Chris ran up and gave the lance to Florina. "You could be able to use this. It should be stronger than the lance you have now." He handed her the lance, which had a thicker shaft and lance head than the lance she was using at the moment. Florina shakily nodded thanks before turning to the bandit leader.
"Chris! What should we do?" Kent looked to the tactician, who scratched his head.
"Wil! You're up!"
"Of course!" Wil smiled, notching an arrow and releasing it at Migal. The bandit shouted and lifted his axe to chop the arrow into pieces. Sain, acting on initiative, rode forward and swung his sword at the bandit's now unprotected body. The bandit swung his axe heavily, blocking Sain's blow. Kent charged forward as Migal was occupied and succeeded in stabbing him at his arm. Migal shook him off and the sword popped free in Kent's hand. Wil shot another arrow and Migal was struck again.
Migal yelling in a berserk rage, charging at Lyn, who was protecting Heather's unmoving body. Florina shrieked a warning, and spurred her pegasus forward. Lyn spun, trying to bring her sword to block. She succeeded, but his furious blow knocked her backwards. However, Florina reached him in time and killed him before he had another chance to attack.
"Ugh…My brothers…Will get revenge…" He toppled to the floor, blood leaking through his wound.
"L-Lyn? Are you okay?" Florina quickly dismounted and helped a shaken Lyn up.
"Thank you, Florina." Lyn brushed her forehead. "Phew…That was close." She remembered something and looked sternly at Florina. "Why are you here?"
"W-Well…I was going on this journey to become a true pegasus knight of Ilia…And I wanted to ask you for your support and advice. But I heard that you had left with two strangers…" She looked nervously at Lyn, her eyes wide.
"Oh…" Lyn smiled fondly at Florina. "You were worried about me….Thank you for your compassion, Florina. but I'm more worried about you." She held Florina, looking at her.
"Most mercenaries and bandits are men. Bands of men? Won't you be uncomfortable around them?"
"I know…I know…I've just dreamt of always being a pegasus knight…Since my sisters were pegasus knights as well. I just thought I should follow in their footsteps. I just thought it would work out somehow. But I guess it isn't as easy as that…" Florina shuddered. "Maybe I should…just give up." She began crying in Lyn's arms.
"Aw…Florina, don't cry." Lyn patted Florina on the back, trying to comfort her.
"Of course! There is no reason to give up your dreams!"
Lyn released Florina and turned around, where she saw Sain ride up, Kent chasing after him. Sain jumped off of his horse and walked up to Florina, who backed away.
"Lovely Florina! I have had just the most brilliant idea!"
Kent rode up and dismounted, grabbing hold of Sain. "Sain!" The brown-haired cavalier broke free, however.
"With the addition of Wil here," Sain pointed at the archer, who was busy stringing his bow, "we're a fine group of soldiers! And we're freelance to boot!"
Wil looked up when Sain finished his proposal. "Wait…You included me?"
Sain grinned. "Of course! We were destined to meet here! This is fate! Come on, Lady Florina! Lyn's group of mercenaries is as good as any other training group out there!" He clapped his hands enthusiastically.
"Sain…" Kent turned his partner around. "This is no joking matter!" Kent pulled Sain away to lecture him on his attitude.
"Uh…Lyndis? I-I mean…Lyn? Mercenaries?"
"Um…I can give you all of the details later. Everything is just moving too fast…However…I guess Sain is right." She turned and watched Sain, who had Kent yelling at him. She giggled a little. "Will you come with us, Florina?"
Florina inched forward a little, excited at the prospect. "Travel with you, Lyn? Really? Truly?" She began sniffing. "I would be…so…so happy…"
Sain broke out of Kent's lecture and ran towards her. He kneeled before her, holding out a hand. "Fantastic! Beauteous Florina! I am a knight of Caelin. My name is Sain…"
Florina jumped back, scared out of her wits. "Eeek!" She backed away. "Stay back! D-Don't get so close!"
Sain sighed romantically. "Ah…Beautiful, and yet so modest!"
Kent walked up to Lyn, sighing. "I beg your forgiveness, my lady. Calling us mercenaries…"
Lyn shook her head. "No, I approve. We can't leave Florina on her own. She requires special attention, though…Can I count on you?"
"Of course! You have but to ask." Kent bowed to Lyndis and walked off. Lyn spotted Wil coming closer.
"So…Is it really all right if I travel with you guys?" Wil looked nervous.
"Oh, of course! That is, if you're willing, Wil."
"Heh, actually, I'm really grateful about your offer. Because…All of my money was stolen, and I'm…at a bit of a crossroads." Wil scratched his chin thoughtfully, then brightened. "I would be honored to count myself one of Lyndis's Legion!"
"'Lyndis's Legion?'" Lyn chuckled, and then smiled as Florina ducked behind her, hiding from Sain. "Heh, this is getting more and more interesting and stranger every day, isn't it, Chris?"
The tactician nodded, looking worriedly at Heather. "Oh yeah…I wonder what will happen next…"
Chris: Here are those new things I had to put. Sorry that they're so long…
1. I'm not too confident that anyone will the join the army. No cameo's either…I don't want to put real-life people in here, because some of the characters will die. However, read announcement 4 on how you might want to contribute. I'm sorry to everyone who had high hopes for it, but I'm adding some original characters in the story that I made up. And no, they are not uber or are they super strong classes. Hell, the only classes that I've made up on my list is an Alchemist, who's important for an area of the story that happens much, much later, a Scout, who's like a weak Cavalier that can move farther (Hence the name, Scout), and a Wanderer, which isn't really that strong to be considered uber. The Wanderer is like….A Pegasus Knight on the ground who's slower and stronger and fights on foot.
2. Yes, I am going to be editing some of the original storyline to fit into my own plot that I have. No, I hope they won't be way too cliché…But a lot of things are cliché, so it's hard.
3. Many of the new OCs are girls. Why, you ask? Well, some may say I'm perverted. Too that, I could say something that is prohibited here. Anyway, I just did that because there aren't enough girls in the game. Almost all of the guys should get a girl. The only exceptions are Wallace and Merlinus….For obvious reasons. Well, maybe Wallace can get Vaida.
4. Instead of accepting the readers into the story, if you want to be a small part of it, e-mail me an OC of your creation. I'll determine if he/she will be accepted. My e-mail is in my profile. Just give me the name, where he/she comes in and his/her location(State whether it's Lyn's or Eliwood's mode), his/her class (If it's original, please state good reasons on why it's…average enough. Yes, no uber classes please. While I'm on that, no uber characters either.), appearance, background, and why he/she should be in the group. I'll try to accept those that I feel would be a good addition to the party. Try to come up with a class that will fill in the shortcomings of the party. And give me good reasons, please.