Paralogue 15: Rival Bands
"You look to be in high spirits." Chrom remarks to Robin as he, Sora, Frederick, Kairi and Lissa enter the strategy room. Robin was busy looking over a map with a smile before looking up at his friends.
"It would be because I am Chrom." He replies, his smile not leaving his face. "I have had a great weight lift from my shoulders." Chrom looks at him with intrigued eyes while Fredrick raises an eyebrow. Sora and Lissa share knowing smiles while Kairi gives a warm smile.
"I did notice Tiki looking happier than usual. You confessed, didn't you?" Kairi asks. Robin gives off an embarrassed chuckle while Chrom and Frederick give surprised looks.
"I had a feeling you would find out quicker than most." Robin replies while his cheek glows red. "Yes, we did." He confirms as he looks at his friends. While Frederick's smile was small, Chrom had a wide grin as he walked up to his friend.
"Congratulations are in order, Robin." He says while placing a hand on his shoulder. "I had been noticing the two of you getting closer for a while now. But are you okay?" he suddenly asks, his smile fading. "I know that Tiki and Nowi will far outlive you and Ricken. I fear for their hearts when that day comes." Lissa, Sora and Kairi glance at the ground with sadness while Frederick closes his eyes. It was a hard truth.
Yet Robin did not seem to be worried.
"Believe me Chrom. It was that fear that was one of the reasons why I could not tell her my feelings. But on the night we confessed, Tiki told me that she knew of something that would prevent that. And that Ricken will also be given it as well." Robin reveals to Chrom, earning him wide eyes from all around. "Apparently, she was told by Naga in one of the few moments she could talk with her. It was brief, but she said that it is located in a shrine in Regna Ferox."
"Then we shall make that a priority when we land." Chrom declares before glancing at the map. "But we can talk about that later. What news have we on the nearby village." At that, the atmosphere changed from joy to tense as the six gathered around a map of the area. On it was a village on the coast, surrounded by a forest, while a vast plain stretched to its east. Robin looks at it with narrowed eyes before explaining.
"According to our scouts, the village is currently being used by a group of Valmese mercenaries under the name of the Stonewall Knights. As their name indicates, they are primarily mixed up of Armoured Knights and Generals. They also have a few lighter units, like Snipers and Warriors, but other than that, it's all heavy armour."
"And since they are in a village, that gives them the biggest advantage to them. It's hard to force an opponent out of a village, let alone one in heavy armour." Sora says as he looks at the map, chess pieces depicting the units laid out. Robin nods before pointing to the plain.
"That's not all. Apparently, there is a second group, also Valmese. They call themselves the Riders of Dawn. Just like with the knights, they are all mounted. Paladins, Great Knights, Bow Knights and Dark Knights."
"And just like the knights, the plains give them the advantage." Frederick says with a heavy tone. "I fear this will be our trickiest challenge yet." Frederick's opinion only made the tense atmosphere more imposing. Except for Robin, who only gave Frederick a smirk.
"Under normal situations, you'd be right, Frederick." Robin replies before placing blue markers on the map. "In a normal situation, we would be easily flanked by either force, whether trying to storm the village or fight on the plains. But these two forces, while looking to be friends on the surface, actually have a fierce rivalry with each other." He places red and orange markers on the map, signifying each. "In fact, according to our spies in the village, they downright hate each other. They are only working together due to circumstances. But if we were to trick the two of them to fight…."
"We would be able to enter the village and eliminate their advantage with numbers." Chrom says as he leans on the table. "Not to mention, it will remove the manoeuvrability of their riders. But how will we spread the rumours?" Robin glances at his friend before giving an easy smile.
"Don't worry, Chrom. While scouting around, Gaius and Lea started talking to the residents to spread rumours between the two. If all goes to plan, both factions will fight each other on the plains. When that happens, we wait until they are weakened enough before we go in and remove their commanders."
"Have the enemies beat themselves while we take no losses and secure the village's innocent people." Kairi summaries with a finger on his chin. "That's a new one. Here I thought you'd suggest us teaming up with one to remove the other."
"The thought did cross my mind, I'll admit." Robin says before looking at the map. "But, after hearing rumours of what both factions have been doing to the locals, beating them up, stealing from them and trampling over their crops, leaving one of them would be just as bad as leaving both of them."
"Then that is what we shall do." Chrom declares. "If both factions are leaving the locals in fear, then we shall remove them from the board. Sora, Kairi, Frederick, inform the Shepherds. We move out to the forest at dusk." With nods from the three, they leave the room, followed closely by Chrom, while Lissa stays behind.
"Why do you have a blue marker amongst the Stonewall ones?" She asks, looking at the marker. Robin glances at it before looking back at Lissa.
"I have a special mission for Lucina and the kids." He replies in a hushed voice. "During his scouting, Lea spotted someone in the village who could be one of Lucina's friends."
"Oh…" Lissa says with wide eyes, looking at the marker. "I wonder who it is? If its someone from Lucy's time anyway." Robin nods before looking back at the map, with a thinking look.
"Well, Lea didn't get a chance to talk to him, but from how he described him, I think he's a bit on the jumpy side."
Why did I go along with Lucina's idea again? Oh right, IT WAS TO AVOID GOING EXTINC!" a male Taguel moans internally as he looks around, his nervous demeanour radiating off him. Around him were several Armoured Knights, who arrogant gaze fell upon him like the sun, while villagers walked around in fear of the armoured brutes. I'm starting to wish I never came along. Then again, it's either death by Risen, or death by old age.
It was not like he wanted to be in this situation. He was a Taguel! And he had pride in that. At least what his mother and father tried to impart before they were taken from him, leaving him as the last of his kind. How did mother deal with this crushing fear? He asks mentally before the sound of feet stomping on the ground attracted his attention. Glancing up, he could see the commander of the Stonewall Knights, Gyral, approaching with an infuriated look.
"Damn those horse lovers! Think they can go around and insult us can they? Well they are in for a rude awakening!" He yells before looking at the knights near him. "Gather everyone and ready to take to the field! We'll show them how real men fight!" He then looks at the Taguel, who jumps back in fright. "As for you, Yarne! You will stay here with some mercs and secure the village! Any of those riders enter, and you are to kill them. No questions asked!"
"Y-Y-Yes! Sir!" Yarne replies with a stutter, his hand hitting the little tuft of brown hair, a contrast to the dark fur over his body. Gyral sneers at him before turning around, the knights following after him as Yarne deflates from the tension. This wouldn't have happened if we didn't get separated. Why does the fear of death have to be so bad! What would mom and dad say if they found out!? "Why did you have to die and leave me alone?" He asks quietly before looking to the sky.
"That's…a lot of mercs." Zack comments offhandedly as he and the Shepherds look over the plains from the tree line. Before them, were the Stonewall Knights, blissfully unaware of their presence, numbering around sixty strong in Armoured Knights, and around twenty Generals, and not counting the numerous archers and warriors amongst them either. Opposite them, were the Riders of the Dawn, their numbers double than the knights.
"Indeed. If Gregor was betting man, he would be betting the horse. But looks not everything, yes?" Gregor says as he adds his own money to the hat.
"And that's why we're not engaging them right now." Priam adds as he walks up to the two. "They have us outnumbered in both manoeuvrability and armour. If we had one of the other ships carrying the troops we had in Valm, it would be different."
"But since we don't, we're taking a more passive approach." Zack finishes before looking back to the plain. "Not that I like doing this. Feels a bit, I duno, deceptive, putting these two against each other. Even if they already hated each other's guts. At least they aren't fighting in the fields, so that's something." He then turns to look at Priam, noting a particular person missing. "Where's Honō? Not like her to be walking around without you."
"The little princess has another mission." Priam says as he takes Ragnell off his back, frowning at the ageing blade. "She and the other future kids. Didn't catch what she said, though."
Zack gives a nod before turning his attention back to the plain. He could see two individuals moving out from both armies, but due to the distance, he could not here what they were saying. He could make out wild gestures they were making though.
Until the mounted leader raised his arm in the air. The moment he did, the calvary army charged directly towards the knights, who thrusted their shields into the ground while assuming a circle defence.
A smart move. But as the riders swarmed around them, the few that were mages and archers started launching attacks into the knights, who own archers and warriors responded in kind. All the while, the Paladins and Great Knights smashed against the wall of shields, looking for any way to enter the formation and break it apart.
Zack tightens his grip on the Buster Sword as he watches the battle unfold. Standing in the shade of the trees, he could see why Robin had decided to let the two soften each other up. Even if they were not the numbers they faced back in Valm, those riders would swarm over them, while those knights could easily block them in.
Not that he was doubting they would win. They had their own style of fighting and unique abilities only they had. But they sure as hell wouldn't have made it without some form of casualties. Guess even Heroes have to fight dirty sometimes. It was then he noticed some movement heading towards the village as quickly as they could. It only took him a seconds to realise who they were, based on their hair colour. Why is Robin having Lucina and the others go into the village?
"Cynthia, did you, Gerome or Gaia see anything?" Lucina asks as she and the others huddle near the side entrance to the village. They could hear the sound of combat from here, and it was only a matter of time before either side headed for the town.
"Not a good look Lucy, but I think we spotted who were looking for." Cynthia replies before motioning to Gerome and Gaia. While Gerome merely huffs at her, Gaia took the reins.
"It was near the centre. While there are several Snipers stationed on the main gate, they seemed to have left all their Mercenaries and Myrmidons in the centre along with a few knights. But the one that caught our eye was a male Taguel." That caught Lucina's attention.
"A Taguel?" Severa asks? The three flyers nod in reply before Severa frowns thoughtfully. "What would a Taguel be doing here? Shouldn't they be in the forests with their Warrens?"
"There are no Warrens on this Island." Akeru says as he steps forward. "The only Warren left in this timeline are those in Valm and Ylisse. And even then, they are in very few number. But let me ask a question to you all? Who do we know that this Taguel can be?" The future kids look at each other with various looks, before they all collectively facepalmed.
"Yarne…What in the name of light are you doing?" Oceania asks in irritation as she removes her hand. "If his mom finds out about this, she is going to flip."
"Not just her." Indigo says with what could be said as fear on his face. "If his mother's wrath is bad, can you imagine his father's?" That sent the group as pale as a ghost. No one want's to get on Panne's wrong side. But to those who had gotten on Fredericks…A shudder when through their spines at the memory of such a time.
"Well, let us waste no time and rescue our friend!" Owain says before walking to the gate, only for Caelum to grab him by the arm and pull him back.
"And walk straight into the village with no plan of attack? I know Yarne is our friend, but charging in like this will only get him killed. You know how scared of fighting he is ever since then?" Owain freezes in place as the memories of that incident returned, before Brady knocked him with the end of his staff.
"Well, if any of you want a plan, I think I have one." He says with a smile. The others looked at him with various looks as Brady's grin grew even more extensive. "Let's just say that mother's book sessions did more than fill me with how to be noble."
The sound of battle, the smell of blood. He could hear it all the way form here. Yarne was no stranger to these feelings, yet they still scared him all the same. At least he wasn't alone in this situation, as the villagers were also hiding in their homes. The only ones outside where those who were with the Stonewall Knights.
Yet even if he saw an opening to get out, he couldn't. For one thing, one of the mages had a fire tome. That would burning him to a crisp! Then there was the archer with a Beast Killer Bow. How was that even a thing! Beast Killer lances was one thing, but a bow!?
If he ever tried to escape while in his rabbit form, he was dead! And that terrified him more than anything.
If only Lucina and the others were here. THEN I'd have a chance of getting out. He moans internally. He once again casts his eyes to the sky, looking to the treeline to the south. It looked close and thick enough for him to escape into, yet again that fire mage would spell his end. And that Pegasus knight sitting on one of the branches was not helping either. Wait—what? He does a double take. Sure enough, his rabbit eyes were not playing tricks on him. That was a Pegasus Knight sitting on one of the branches, trying to get his attention. G-Gaia!? How did she get here!? He blinks a few times before noticing her sending hand signals to him. He narrows his eyes as he watches her hands, decoding the message she was sending him.
Get. Ready. To. Move.
Not the most complex message, but he understood what it meant. And that he was not alone anymore. Nodding his head as slow as he could, he silently stepped back until he was clear from any nearby merc.
The moment he did, it was chaos.
All of a sudden, the shadows whipped up and smashed down on the mage holding the fire tome, while a sudden yellow blur dashed through the archers. The figure soon skated to his left, revealing it to be Owain, with his ever usual smirk. Soon, more of his friends joined in from the alleyways behind him. Lucina, Brady, Severa, Oceania, Inigo and Honō. While from above, Cynthia and Gerome appeared form behind the trees.
Their appearance unfortunately caught the attention of those on the gate, as they rushed off to bring their bows apon them.
It was then that he felt his lost courage returning. While in his heart he would always remain a coward. Seeing his folks die in front of him and being, briefly, the last of his kind would do that. Losing his friends was something he hated more.
Grasping onto his Beastone, he changes into his rabbit form, before punching his way to the archers, as they drew their bows up. They didn't have a chance to fire before he pounced right into them, sending their shots wide. As Yarne refocused his stance, he noticed two armoured knights charging towards him, steel lances in their arms.
But he would not back down.
"Alright you goons. No more Mr. Nice Bunny!"
"Alright, I'd say that they have been weakened enough." Robin says as he looks on the battle before them. The two rival bands had been at each other throats for a while now, and it had even surprised Robin at how much they hated each other. How they managed to get along for this long was mind boggling if it only took a few rumours to break them down so quickly.
"Agreed. It's time to end this." Chrom replies before walking out of the tree line. His eyes fell on the two ring leaders of each band, their duel still locked in the centre of the battle. All around them lay their comrade's bodies, either dying or wounded to fight. What was left still fighting was a fraction of what they started out with. I hope we made the right decision, Emm. "Shepherds! Charge!" They charged from the tree line with a cry towards the warring bands.
Their cries took the two groups by surprise, neither side expecting an attack by a third party. While the remaining Armoured Knights and Generals tried to from a wall, the remaining riders road forward to intercept the Shepherds. That was when Tiki and Nowi changed to their dragon forms, their breath attacks scattering the riders, while Panne turned to her rabbit form and ploughed through the weak shield wall.
While the Shepherds broke to deal with the two group, Chrom, Zack, Lissa and Priam charged towards the two leaders, who even now were locked in a fight with each other.
"I'll send your fat men and their fat-man armour sailing through the sky!" The Riders commander, Dalen, roars as he spins his lance around, before it pounces of Gyral's shield.
"Horse and rider both will be red smears across our shields!" He fires back as he swings his axe, only for Dalen to ride out of the way. Even though they had begun the fight, neither of the two looked like they were tired. It was only then that they noticed Chrom and the others approaching. "More sellswords? Ha your timing is right impeccable. I'll buy your steel and see you're well compensated for the trouble!"
"Ya-har! Don't listen to that dullard! Come fight with us, instead! I'll pay you twice what that fool would!" Dalen offer back, turning Gryal red with anger. Yet Chrom simply shook his head at their offer.
"I'm afraid I'm interested in neither. You bring terror to the locals and trample their fields. You steal their very livelihoods while you do nothing but bring fear. My steel will have no purchase in gold, but with your defeat." Chrom replies before pointing Falchion at the two. Zack and Priam stand on either side of Chrom, while Lissa stands behind them,, axe at her feet and staff in her hand.
To say the two in front of him were red-faced would be underselling it. They were furious. In a rage, they charged towards them, Dalen riding forward while Gryal lumbered behind. That was when Lissa sprinted ahead, bringing her axe around in a tornado swing, slicing Dalen's horse from under him. By the time he got to his feet, Zack was already on him, lashing out with an Omnistrike, shattering his lance with the weight of the Buster Sword. Soon, he was sprawled on the ground, his lance broken and motionless.
Gryal fared no better, his lumbering mass easily outmanoeuvred by Chrom and Priam. While Chrom feinted an attack on his Shield, Priam moved to lock down his axe, pinning him to the ground. Distracted by trying to unpin his arm, Chrom slashed at his left arm, striking against a part unprotected. As Gryal roared in pain, Priam brought Ragnell down on his neck.
It was not long before silence filled the plains as both rival bands lay decimated.
"Priam, Zack. Inform the others that we are burying these bodies. We are not leaving this village like this." Chrom informs the two as he looks over the battlefield. Zack and Priam nod before walking away, while Lissa stayed with Chrom. "Was this the right move, Lissa? I trust Robin to not question him, but looking over this…It feels like I'm back to being Emms Grim Reaper."
"Don't say that, Chrom." Lissa says with a narrow look. "I know Robin wouldn't have chosen this if there was any other option. It's how he is. And would a 'Grim Reaper' take the time to bury his foes after a battle?" Chrom looks at her before cracking a small smile, rubbing her head good-naturedly.
"Yeah, you're right." He says as the Shepherds begin to line the bodies up, with deep graves built far from the village as possible. "I just hope the village here can continue on after this."
"Are you sure you're okay with this, Panne?" Frederick asks his wife as she helps make the graves in her rabbit form. She looks at him with her red eyes before tilting her head.
"And why would I not be?" She asks back. "I can understand why you'd think I'd hesitate to help. These men have caused much pain to these villagers. But I also know why Chrom wants them buried. If we were to leave them alone, these villagers would have to do it themselves. We would be no better than those we seek to stop."
"That is an argument I find no fault with." Frederick replies with a smile. Panne nods back at him and turns her attention to the ditch before her ears suddenly pick up. Followed closely by her nose twitching rapidly as she sniffs the air. "What is it?"
"This scent… There is a Taguel nearby, yet it smells familiar…." Panne replies as she continues to sniff the air. Frederick looks at her with a puzzled look. There were no reports of any Warrens on this Island, so how? Looking at his wife, she soon turned her head to the village as Lucina, and the other children approached them as a group. "It's coming from them." Panne says as lightly as she can before reverting to her human form. Just as Lucina and the others approached them.
"Lady Panne, Sir Frederick. We're happy to report that the village is secured. No presence of the Stonewall Knights remains." Lucina reports. Frederick nods slowly as his gaze falls over the group as someone tries to hide behind Gerome's wyvern.
"Excellent Lucina. Chrom and the others will be happy to be told. But on another matter, who is that you have with you." Frederick motions with his head to Gerome's wyvern. The kids look behind them before releasing a collective groan.
"Yarne, stop hiding and show yourself already!" Oceania says as she walks behind Minerva and grabs Yarne by the hand, yanking him out into the open.
"HEY! Are you trying to pull my arm out or something?!" Yarne shouts back as he pulls his arm free before looking towards a wide-eyed Panne and Frederick. He chuckles weakly before walking up a few steps and waving to them. "H-Hey, mom. Dad."
Panne and Frederick stood speechless for a few seconds, before Panne stepped forward. "You're the one I smelled the scent from. You are Taguel." It was then that a smile came to her face as she looked to the ground. "I am pleased to see you, my son. You represent a new hope for our race." She casts a quick glance to Frederick behind her, who blushes slightly before walking up to join her.
"It is as your mother says. I am pleased to see you. But how did you find yourself here? I thought your mother and I would have taught you better?" He questions with a pondering look. Yarne gulps before looking at the ground, his hand twitching before Cynthia puts a hand on his arm.
"Well, you did. It was one of the first things you taught me. The pride of a Taguel and the shield of the Exalt." Yarne replies. "But all of that was shattered when I became the last Taguel. Grima destroyed ALL of the surviving Warrens. You were the last one he killed, mom. After that, I couldn't help it. The fear of extinction, it was too great! I just started to shut down!" Yarne starts to shake in place, memories of that dark future returning. Until Panne walks forward and embraces her son.
"I understand. The fear of the death of your entire race is not easily held." Panne says as she rubs the back of his head. "And yet, despite that fear, you managed to overcome it, to travel back to the past to fix this mess that we should have stopped. It gladdens me to see my son continue walking forward. To forge ahead."
"No pressure there…" Yarne says softly as he returns the embrace. "But I'll admit. It feels better to be here. That fear is still there, but when I'm with Lucina and the other, and now with you, I can get past it even if I can't conquer it."
"And we will be here to see it. We won't leave you behind this time." Panne finishes as Frederick wraps both his arms around them. Lucina and the others wisely leave them alone as they help the rest of the Shepherds dig the graves.
Some scars can never heal, but they can be supported.
In a dark cave under the sands in Plegia, a man walks through its decrepit halls. The cries and screams of kidnapped people echoed through the halls, yet he paid no mind to their cries.
He approaches a cage, bodies lining the floor with arrows, swords, axe and lance heads embedded in them. He casts a wicked grin and casts a spell over them, infusing them with dark powers as the bodies come to life.
"Ahhh, success." The man says as his creations slowly awake. "Validar will be pleased to know my spells work. Just a little bit of refinement, and these will become the perfect assassins for Grima." He glances around at one of the reanimated corpses, a high-ranking Falcon Knight from Ylisse. "But first, I think I should bolster your ranks. My regular shipments seemed to have stopped. You'll take care of this, won't you?" The Falcon Knight slowly nods, its eyes in a mindless gaze.
"I knew you would agree!" The man says in glee before spinning around on his feet. "Here is your mission. Stop whoever it is that's attacking my shipments and bring in the people of the nearby village. I don't care if they are dead or alive. Just so long as they are one piece." He looks back at the knight, still standing like a statue. "I am sure you will succeed in this endeavour, won't you?"
"Phila?"
