The sunset radiated onto crystal clear water that shimmered like jewels that spread across the pond. The water stood outside of a tranquil forest that was shadowed by the mountains that the sun was about to set on. Pines and woodland shrubs had shades of blue from the refracting water reflecting sunlight that was fading away.
Standing at the edge of this illustrious terrain, there was a young woman it seemed. To say elegant would be putting it mildly. She was a slender woman with light azure hair that went down her back, with bangs framing the sides of her face. She had a veil around her face that masked her angelic shimmering eyes as they looked out towards the fading sun in the distance. Her white dress she wore made her seem like a priestess. It was hard to make out what she was exactly, human no doubt.
Raising her head, the woman began singing. Her well-trained vocals started out quiet, silencing everything around her. "You~ are the ocean's great waves, destined to seek…" As she continued her angelic rhythm, her feet unknowingly paddled towards the water. It felt cool to the touch. The warm air around her sat still while the water shifted with her body slowly sinking into the inviting embrace of the water. She didn't look like she was in trouble, right? Maybe it was her mind telling her other things…but from the way she slowly sunk beneath it was clear something was on the other side, waiting for her.
As she was sinking, her body streamlined pass the seaweed. She kept singing, like the lack of oxygen didn't matter to her as she swam towards a light as fabrics of broken ruins were in standstill beyond the seabed.
…
A young man with suave, yellow hair wearing black armor and yellow edging was on horseback s his purple eyes cascaded into the area down below. The dark sky behind him in the distance seemed so far, but the ominous apparel it carried went miles to around him.
He watched as his soldiers charged ahead into battle against another side. The two sides clashed vividly. The sounds of clanging metal shattered the ears of any who were too close. Parried and blood was seen in the first few seconds of warfare. A grueling sight.
A shockwave of blue electricity flourished, cutting down a full circle of soldiers. His eyes glared to a brown-haired man, which was tremendously spiky. But his red eyes seethed with determination that rivaled his own. The two locked eyes to show extreme opposition.
"Nohrian General!" The foe below shouted. "You face the high prince of Hoshido, Ryoma! I challenge you to single combat!
The man on horseback raised his head, his intimidation status unwavering. "I accept your challenge, 'high prince'." He drew his blade, which was a massive black and yellow sword unveiled with red gem embroidery. "But I'm no general…I am the crowned prince of Nohr, Xander!" The blade started emitting dark shadows as he brought it back. The horse heed to his call and charged down the hill, taking heed at Ryoma.
Charging with his forces behind, Ryoma leaped into action with his blade drawn.
All around, it was a madman's place. People were fighting like wild animals. And not just them, there were ninjas and others coming from the east on Pegasus. They sailed into battle, while for Nohrians, more armored knights with lances came charging in. It was chaos, no better word could describe it. And in the middle of it, a red-eyed young man with white hair was staring in disbelief at what was happening.
"What's going on?" He turned around, seeing he was on the Hoshidan side of the battleground. He was met with a young girl with short orange hair, alongside an armored young man who had his hair pulled back in an upward spike. There was also a redhaired woman who had her own regal gesture as she was on what looked like a large bird instead of a horse. "W-what the-?!"
"Corrin, everything will be okay!" the red-haired girl announced. "We're here for you!" She swiped her arm, commanding the avian to unleash a strong blast of wind that blew away nearby forces.
Before Corrin could realize what was happening next, steam came up from the stream. Inside the stream, what looked like aquatic creatures were seen flopping in place as enemies rushed over. Following the knights into battle were several other creatures and animals that were armored. They weren't anything like he remembered them as. When he looked at Hoshido, he saw the same thing, but with less armor, and they were being ordered to attack.
"Corrin!"
Hearing his name, he looked ahead, seeing Xander and Ryoma reaching out to him. "Come to me!" they yelled in unison.
Corrin stepped back and found himself in the center of the two sides. He looked at the two families that were looking towards him for an appeal. His breathing escalated as he didn't know what to think anymore. A chill went up his spine when the air grew cold, and his body was starting to show signs of ice.
'What's…going on…?' He didn't have time to realize as more magical creatures suddenly came from the north. They filed pass him, using random attacks of various ranges that caused the two sides to get blown attack.
He looked over his shoulder and saw a mass of animals with different sizes gathered around him. They were looking intently at him, especially the one that appeared beside him. Their eyes met, just as the cold and ice made his body and mind go into a cold, dark place.
'Who…are you…?' Was all he could muster before everything became a void.
…
Corrin woke up to an insatiable cold feeling on his cheek. His eye winced at how harsh it was. It was like a blizzard was packed in his cheekbone. His red eyes snapped open, his body jerking upright from the reaction. "What the-?!" He blinked, realizing that he was in a new setting. Or rather in this case, an old setting…a really old one.
He looked down at his crotch, still finding himself under the covers. He tried processing what happened, but his brain was struck fuzzy from the possible delirium. 'What was all that just now? Was that really…a dream?' He was so out of it until he heard muffled calls from his side. Looking hazily up, he started hearing his name, over and over.
"Lord Corrin…are you there?"
Turning towards his left, Corrin looked astonished, mainly because of how close he was to two maids that stood patiently at his bedside. One maid had silky blue hair, while the other was jumping on each foot excitedly as she seemed jovial to say the least. Thankfully this sight wasn't unfamiliar with him.
"Uh, F-Flora, Felicia…good morning." He quipped, his voice cracked some.
Felicia pressed her hands on the bed, leaning in with a tilted head. "Morning, sleepy head~." She chimed. She looked at Corrin, seeing him blink repeatedly like he was dizzy. "Had a good dream?"
Corrin stammered at the accusation. "Uh, I uh…"
Before long, clad iron heels walked up. "If I may?"
Flora and Felicia scooted over to allow Corrin some elbow room, much to his relief. He looked to his savior, whom was Gunter. He was a fairly tall knight, who had lived to his mid-life years, old enough to almost be mistaken for a grandfather. His gray hair was slicked back to give him apparel that rivaled his dark knightly armor. Beside him, Corrin noticed a younger looking knight, who looked more like a squire if nothing else. He was a lot younger and dirty blonde hair in a low ponytail going down his back. Once again, Corrin recognized him as his older brother's retainer, Jakob. Thankfully by this time, he was able to gather his bearings.
"Morning, Gunter." He spoke calmer than before. "Wait, you said it was morning?" He looked out their massive window, which showed darkness outside. "But it's still dark out…"
"That may be, Sir Corrin, but you know as well as I that in this land, it always is. I trust you are well-rested for your practice today?"
Jakob stroke his hairless chin. "I've readied your armor as well. The dents were pounded out, if I may say."
Corrin nodded and looked down at his bedsheets again. He still wasn't fully awake. His mind wasn't so crystal clear that he could comprehend everything he was told, if anything he felt half-asleep. His mind was drawing pins and needles on the dream he had. Something about it felt so real, yet at the same time, it didn't. Those people he fought, and those behind him, they somehow made his spine crawl. Was that a good thing?
Noticing his silence, Felicia tilted her head in his line of sight. This snapped him out of it. "H-huh, Felicia?" he stuttered. "Sorry, did you say something?"
Felicia straightened up, shaking her head. "Nope. Sorry. But…are you sure you're feeling alright, Lord corrin?" she frowned in concern.
Shaking his head dismissively, Corrin. "Yeah, don't worry, I-!" He felt a hand touch his cheek, sending an immediate cold wave through the left side of his face. "Eep!" That did the trick as he shifted onto his heels besides the bed. He looked up, seeing Flora with a hand in icy mist. He sighed exasperatedly. "Flora…"
"Just wanted to make sure you're awake. That's how we deal with the slugbeds in the Ice Tribe." She chimed.
The cold shiver in his cheek returned to normal temperature, but he knew better than to lie again. "Right, sorry…" he looked down, trying to think of what to say. "It's just, I had this strange dream."
Jakob raised a brow. "How strange exactly?"
"I…I don't know. There was a battlefield, and there were all these Hoshidans that called me 'brother'." His eyes squinted at the next thought. "Then I saw all these strange people in clothes with animals."
The Nohrians in the room looked to each other confusedly. They couldn't understand what he meant by that logic, but the rumbled of thunder brought their attention outside. Lightning bolts shot in the distance into the forests afar. Then another near over their castle. Corrin gasped.
"There's been a lot amount of lightning this morning, sir Corrin." Gunter quelled his worries. "We might be in for a storm this morning."
"And father insists that I practice outside?" Corrin sighed. Figures his father would have him man up and do something like this. He always said he wanted to get out, but beggars couldn't be choosers. "Alright, I'll get ready."
As the maids and servants left the room to get Corrin's armor, he looked out the window to watch lightning strike in the distance, each one in a different direction.
The sounds of crows and owls echoed in the dark forest, which complimented the dark skies more than enough to make it seem like a nightmare to anybody who treaded within. To Evan, this was a no-brainer. He looked all around, his eyes and ears paneling in a counterclockwise fashion to take in his new surroundings. This didn't feel like Route 1, at least not a minute ago. This looked more like something out of a decrepit cliché horror movie.
Looking all around, he finally wheezed. "Uh…where am I?" He asked himself. He looked out towards the trees. "Hello?! Anybody?!" He called out to whoever may be nearby…but only his echoes were heard. Lightning flashed over his head, causing him to jerk towards the sky. He stared at the network of bolts that zipped and swept in multiple directions in only a matter of seconds.
"Lightning?" he quipped, morally surprised. Figuring he'd better get cover, he zipped over to where the crooked tress would be. Granted they had no foliage on them, but at least he'd have some kind of cover in case rain fell.
Watching the lightning storm from below, Evan marveled at the sky. "Wow, there's a lot of it." He speculated softly. "Wait…did I check the weather the weather before I left? Well…the heck am I kidding, what's going on?"
He took one more look around, seeing he wasn't on grass. It was primarily a lot of bare land that seemed almost completely dead. Steering towards the trees, they weren't supposed to be dead either, right? Wait a minute, maybe this was some kind of dream. Maybe? He wasn't sure. That flash of light had to have meant something if Route 1 turned into some kind of counterpart.
Taking a few moments to cool his jets, Evan gazed around and back to his feet. "Okay Evan, stay calm…you've had these crazy dreams before, now what did I do again?" he furrowed his brow at recollecting what he normally did…which drew a blank.
A rustle from nearby caught his attention. Gasping, he turned around to face the noise. "Who's there?!" He looked left, and then right, but then looked up. His eyes met with large, black ones with yellow rings around them. He noticed the Y-shaped red horn on the forehead and the small worm-like body. He adjusted his body and slid back to look up at the insect peering down at him.
He looked in surprise, but calmed down, seeing it was just a Caterpie. "Oh…" he sighed. "A Caterpie. That's cool, I guess." He pulled up his PokeDex, scanning his first wild Pokémon encounter.
"Caterpie, the Worm Pokemon. It's easy to catch, and it grows quickly, making it one of the top recommendations for novice Pokémon Trainers."
He put the PokeDex down and looked back towards the Caterpie. "Well that makes things legit…" he murmured. He took note of his surroundings one last time. "But what's a Caterpie doing all the way out here…?" He shook his head dismissively, choosing to deny the logic. "Well, if this is a dream, then let it be a dream come true." He pulled out a Poke Ball. "Alright, Squirtle! Go!"
He threw the Poke Ball outwards. The Tiny Turtle Pokémon popped out onto the dead grass. The Caterpie took immediately eye contact and tilted his head.
"(Um, hello?)" The Caterpie curiously greeted.
Squirtle spread his legs. "(Hey buddy. Looks like you'll be my first opponent.)" he looked at Evan, motioning with his hands he was ready. "(I'm ready when you are.)"
"(Um…o-okay?)" Bearing the challenge, Caterpie wormed his way down the tree's trunk until he was at the roots. He wasn't exactly a fighting Pokémon – or Fighting-type for that matter, but far be it from him to at least try and get some Exp. He needed to evolve into a beautiful Butterfree, and fast. He wasn't gonna be food for another bird.
"We'll go first." Evan reached out. "Squirtle, Tackle!" Squirtle tucked in his head and raced across the ground for Caterpie.
"(Take this!)" Squirtle tackled Caterpie, sending the soft worm on his back across the ground.
Caterpie fumbled over and shook his head to get upright. That attack had hurt a lot. But he wasn't down just yet. "(Oh yeah?)" he challenged. "(Take this!)" He spat silky thread from his mouth that raced at Squirtle. The thread bound to his shell, which made him cautiously look down and feel lopsided.
"(Silk?)" Squirtle felt a blue aura drastically lower his speed. For some reason he felt slower than usual, even as he turned to Evan for answers.
"Squirtle, ahead of you!" His Trainer warned. He turned at his warning, but was too late when Caterpie used Tackle, hitting him in the shell and knocking him onto his bottom. Evan winced. "Man…it's fine, bud. Just keep focus on the opponent in front of you!"
"(Right, sorry about that!)" Squirtle stammered back up, giving Caterpie a much more serious look. "(Okay, this time I'm ready!)"
"Tail Whip!" Evan commanded. Squirtle turned around and wagged his tail cutely, which made a small blue aura encase Caterpie, lowering his Defense.
Caterpie took in a deep breath and exhaled more String Shot. However, Squirtle learned from his previous mistake and got on all fours, allowing the silk to leave a web behind him. Looking back up, Caterpie charged with Tackle, but Squirtle was ready for him.
"Tackle!"
"(Here I go!)" With a moderate leap, Squirtle raced after Caterpie and vice versa. Though he was much slower, Squirtle lowered his head more to make contact with Caterpie in the center. Horn and bare head collided, leaving the two in a stalemate. It didn't take long before Squirtle overpowered Caterpie with his strength, sending the bug flying backwards.
"(Oof!)" Caterpie laid on his abdomen, looking disoriented. His tiny feet were paddling on the ground, but he wasn't moving as he sat up.
"Okay, this is it. Here we go…just like what you learned in school." Evan reached back for a convenient pocket with Poke Balls. He pulled out one and held it up. "Okay, go, Poke Ball!"
The ball went sailing over Squirtle's head and plopped onto Caterpie's head. The exhausted worm saw the ball open wide like a mouth and was transformed into energy that went inside. The ball shut and landed where he was. It shook several times, over, and over, while Evan and Squirtle watched expectantly for what might happen.
Eventually, the ball made a click, and the wriggling stopped. They had just captured Caterpie.
"Alright!" Trotting over, Evan reached down and held up Caterpie's Poke Ball. Squirtle looked up and smiled. "Great job, Squirtle. Looks like we got our first catch." He looked at the Poke Ball one more time and huffed. "Well, it's a start. I wonder what others are here?"
He heard the sounds of ravenous caws in the air, alarming him and Squirtle. From sounds of it, it seemed like the creature was loud and closing in fast. After Squirtle's first battle, he needed a little break. Evan wasn't that dumb.
"Okay, Squirtle, return." He recalled Squirtle back to his Poke Ball. He looked up to the sky, seeing large birds that flocked in his directions. "I better lay low until I know where the heck I'm supposed to go…"
He scooted into the forest, hurrying down the narrow path and out of side. As he walked into the darkness away from the clearing he was in, he was evaded in the nick of time when a Fearow landed where he was. The large bird knew it saw something like a potential meal that was a green worm. Its eyes knew it was there, so it had to be around.
The brown plumaged avian with a spear-like beak spread her wings, yelling out to the hunt that was to begin. She took off again, darting for a new target to devour.
The trail he took wasn't very vague, and even within the confines of the dark woods, Evans still had a chill run up his spine, like an Ekans was creeping up to strangle him for a meal. There were those biology stories his pal Patrick told him about poor Ekans Trainers who could've end up as their dinner. He tried to shake it out of him and calm down, in case any Pokémon could detect his rise in body heat.
Stopping for a moment's notice, he looked up at the sky, seeing lightning still flashing. Some collided and ricocheted off another. "It's still lightning." He mulled. He watched another bolt shoot nearby, blasting a nearby tree trunk. He ducked away further into the woods. His eyes remained wide as that jolt made him realize even here he wasn't safe. "I need to find somewhere safe, but where…?"
His eyes adverted towards something he saw in the distance. It was a little far, but he swore he can see something over the forest hill where he was overlooking two openings of a valley. He saw a massive city, which looked complex beneath the lightning in the sky. For some reason it looked like there was a huge magma-like colosseum, further rising his shock.
"Well, guess we should see where this dream goes I guess." Sighing, Evan hastily made way down the small ledge, taking him closer towards the city.
As he went off, the spot where the lightning bolt struck was sizzling, but sitting at the stump, a wild Nincada was shaking her head, blinking after disorientation wore off. Looking at her surroundings. One moment she was digging into a tree root, next thing she knew she was blasted by a weird wave.
"(What the heck? Did I eat the wrong part of them root again?)" Nincada blinked. She heard a shrilled caw in the air. She looked up, seeing a large Fearow fly over her. "(Wait…that ain't no Taillow…)"
Fearow dove for her, with the cicada screaming for her life as lightning thundered above.
Further down the slope he went, he made sure to stay low as he treaded gravel and dirt lightly. He kept a close eye out if there were any other wild Pokémon out there that could be useful to battle, but he wasn't turning up much luck. All he was really seeing was dark, dirt, and occasionally lightning.
'Not a lot of tall grass around here.' He pondered. He wanted to see about getting more battles in, but the confusion and the fact he was closing in on the fortress meant he was getting somewhere.
Suddenly he heard a saw a clearing to the woods. He made a break for it and came out to the hills that overlooked the domain, which was bigger now that he was closer. His eyes were wide with shock. "Okay…that actually looks cool."
Suddenly he heard footsteps from the side. Hitching in breath, Evan instinctively reached back for a Poke Ball until he saw what looked like two men in armor.
'They don't look like Pokémon Trainers, do they?' Even his sound logic and common sense were blocked out by his dreams…which had the tendency to bend reality but in a realistic sense. It all seems so real. He shook his head to get his bearings straight.
Both soldiers held up their bronze swords, which alarmed Evan. "Halt right there! No movement!" One of the outpost men declared. "Who are you, Hoshidan?!"
Startled, Evan furrowed his brow. "Uh…" he shifted his eyes back and forth, trying to think of what to say. "Sorry, I think there's some kind of mistake here."
"As what Hoshidans would say. We have explicit orders by his highness to keep outsiders out at all cost. Turn back now, or there will be dire consequences!"
But Evan didn't budge. Dream or not, he could feel an uncomfortable sensation, like sitting in a chair too long at school and your legs cramp. It's fair to say given his state of mind, anything goes. As he slowly pulled out a Poke Ball, the two knights hardened their glares and poised to strike.
"Look, there's a rule that's followed. When two trainers meet eyes, they have to battle." He told them. "If we beat you, can you take us to your majesty?"
The two guards looked at each other, making small eye contact before drawing up something. Something seemed wrong judging by the way they were lowly talking, and that made Evan feel unsounds.
The second Nohrian guard turned to him. "Don't worry…that won't be necessary."
"What do you mean by…?" Feeling something breathing down his neck, Evan turned around, catching sight of a crudely bald man before something harsh made everything turn black.
Evan felt an insatiable headache. Pain, that's all he let right now. He groaned as she curled up on his side. He was so out of it that he didn't notice how hard his mattress was.
Clutching his head, he pressed his fingers against the pressure points atop, which bloomed like a bonfire. "Geez…my head." He moaned softly. If he was dreaming before, that smack he felt should've woken him up. "Okay…okay, I think I'm awake now. Man that hurt…" He remembered that last guy behind him vaguely. He couldn't believe he was hit that hard that it woke him up right from sleep. "Aw man…maybe Patrick was right…I gotta stope watching movies and crap…" He stirred on his mattress, trying to get sheets over him…but he felt all around and came up short. "5 more minutes. Let me just get my stupid…"
He sat up to reach for his blanket, but his eyes opened much quicker. He saw that it was still dark, but enough light was cast from outside the dungeon-like cell he was in. There were even iron bars that kept him imprisoned behind the smoothed space he was confined in.
"What the…?" He felt his hands pressed on the cold concrete floor. It was clean, thankfully, but it was cold. No wonder his mattress was hard. "Am I still dreaming…?"
"Seems that you're finally awake."
Evan jerked and looked over to his left. There, he saw two people who were sitting cross-legged and calmly gazing at him. He saw a ninja with green hair that looked older than him, possibly in his 20's. He had a magenta scarf around his neck and partially covering the left shoulder. He had the standard ninja attire with green armguards with knives on them. On his hips were two brown cloths.
Looking over to the other one was a woman of darker skin, like a light milk chocolate kind. She had short hair much like he did, though hers was a little wilder and cream-colored. She wore a golden skeletal armor design with a red mane going down the back. Large, black beads surrounded her neck. For a woman, she was very muscular. It almost scared Evan just by looking at her. She had sarashi covering her breasts and arms, which had fur-outlined gloves that went up to the elbows. She had a thick black blub with silver spikes.
Evan swallowed a lump. But he didn't want to be rude, so he tried talking back. "Uh…h-hello?"
"You were unconscious for some time. We thought that those Nohrians must've done you in." The ninja said, but bit his lip at how harsh that shouted. "My apologies if that was offensive by any means."
"What? Nohrians?" Evan didn't get what he meant. He tried thinking, but his head just ached even more.
"Looks like somebody clubbed you good." The female inmate said. "Surprised your head's not bleeding."
"Yeah, that makes two of us…" Evan grimaced. His eyes fluttered around. "Wait a minute…if that really hurts, then it's gotta be real. Otherwise I'd be…" When the realization dawned upon him, he paled. "So then, all that stuff really did happen? But then how did…?"
"Hey, are you feeling well?" The ninja noticed how spacious Evan was being. He and the woman watched his eyes widen. He couldn't make head or tails of what he was talking about.
"But…how the hell did I get here?! I was in Route 1…I stepped in some grass to start the adventure…and then everything just went blank…" He stared down at his feet, sucking in his cheek gums. "So I wasn't dreaming…I was really taken somewhere…I…"
The girl raised a brow at the ninja. "Is he alright?"
"Perhaps those Nohrians had hit him a little too hard." He surmised. He turned to Evan as the latter was heavily breathing. "Stay calm. You probably need to lie down some more."
To Evan, he was far from that. He was getting a rush from what happened yesterday that brought him to here. "I was hanging with my buds…we were given goodbyes…and I got Squirtle to be set…how did it all come to this-?!" He clutched his beanie-covered head, wincing from the pain he felt, which made him curl up and grimace. "Owww…"
The girl sighed in loathe. "Something about him is clearly not right here."
"Yes, I can see that." The ninja stated. He looked at Evan's clothing specifically. "Those aren't the standard Hoshidan wardrobes."
"Well whatever it is, it's not normal around here. Did he stray off from another land to the southwest perhaps?"
After a minute of gathering his bearings, Evan kept a hand on the side of his head. He looked down, partially exhausted. He did was they said and tried to calm down. Thankfully it was helping reduce his stress some, but the situation still stands: He was somewhere where he didn't need to be.
"S-sorry about all this." Evan apologized, trying to blend in his tone with amnesty. "I'm, uh…new to all this."
The girl adopted a gentler tone now that Evan has calmed himself. "It's fine. To tell you the truth, we felt the exact same way when we found ourselves in this hell. Those Nohrian bastards…" She called her fists. If she wanted to she could club the ground, but she knew better than to waste such strength.
"I was here under similar circumstances." The ninja said. "I was on a reconnaissance when I was found off guard. And now apologies for not telling you sooner, my name is Kaze."
"And I'm Rinkah, Princess of the Flame Tribe." The girl, now known as Rinkah, greeted.
Evan nodded. "I'm Evan."
On a court on a rooftop to a small section of the castle, Corrin breathed heavily, his legs having been steeled from his years of practice with a sword. Against his older brother, he was at fair grounds.
Meters away from Xander, who was on his armored steed, the high prince of Nohr saw Corrin's worn state, but seemed enlightened with how long he lasted that he withdrew his sword. "You've improved, Corrin, Congratulations." He conceded amicably.
Corrin straightened his posture and looked relaxed. "Thanks, big brother." He withdrew the bronze sword as well, knowing their training was over. His armor scratched mildly, Corrin looked at Xander's, which had but a few large scratches. But his was more durable, so nothing that polish couldn't fix.
Xander got off his stallion as the stablemen arrived to take him back. The personal blacksmiths also came to take their bronze swords as they walked off the court to talk amongst each other. Corrin scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"So you really think that I'm getting better?" he asked.
Xander smiled confidently down at his brother. "Corrin, I meant it. Compared to before, your abilities as a warrior have vastly improved. At this rate, you may very well become the next greatest warrior of Nohr."
Corrin's bashfulness grew immensely. "Well, if you say so…"
"Don't doubt yourself when you know you can do better. Why, look at this." He showed Corrin his shield, which had a demonic pattern on it, though the entire thing was scraped. "You did this of your natural talent. I'm positive now that father will approve of your valor."
Corrin softly smiled at his older brother in his confidence towards him. It meant a lot, especially coming from the strongest in all of Nohr. This made his heart's fire flourish. "Got it." He nodded.
"Honestly, comparing yourselves to swordplay to determine power?" a studious voice approached from the side in armored heels. "There's much more to it than that."
Corrin and Xander looked over towards someone who stood close by. He had an upright disposition with arms behind his back. He had hair the same color as Xander, but shorter, and had purple eyes much like him, with a similar set of armor. Though he had a really high collar and a skirt-like belt around the waist.
Corrin's eyes widened. "O-Oh! Leo!" he almost tripped on his words like he did his nerves. "Uh, we didn't mean to…"
Xander intervened for his sake. "Ah, Leo. Ease yourself, little brother. I swear, you're as competitive to a fault as sheep are to water." He chuckled as he laughably pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let's not have another debate of mages and knights, shall we? We know our strengths and weaknesses well enough."
Leo shot his older brother a studious look. "Hmph. Well good to know." He turned towards Corrin. "But you know, swords aren't the only way to power." He noticed Corrin's vague stare on him, making him weary. "Is there something wrong?"
"Um, Leo?" Corrin paused. "Did you get dressed half-asleep?"
Leo raised a brow at the confusion, then Corrin pointed at his collar. When he felt it, he realized what it meant. "Aw! Crap! It's inside out!" He turned and darted off. "Excuse me!" He sped off, leaving the two brothers to stare calmly as he passed by two girls heading their way.
Xander sighed, shaking his head. "Honestly, little brother…"
"Yeah…" Corrin's tone was more on a deadpan note. His tone changed when the two girls approaching drew a lightbulb inside. "Wait, Camilla? Elise? Is that you?"
The first of the two girls came into view. It was Camilla, a young woman, and second only to Xander in age. She had to be in her early 20's, with flawless, beautiful pale skin, with light purple, wavy, bouncy hair that went down to her lower back. Like her brothers, she adorned black armor with yellow edging, though hers was more revealing and feminine. Along with some partial revealing skin, small traces of armor were clothed around her ample breasts, which were far above average in most eyes.
The second was Elise, the youngest of all the Nohrian siblings. She had the same skin tone, as well as yellow hair that went in the massively long helixes. Her armor was feminine and of same color, but she had a bright pink skirt bottom like a gothic Lolita.
Camilla looked sincerely towards Corrin. "Corrin, is that you?" she chimed. "Are you hurt at all? Did you need your big sis to take care of you?"
"Oh, Camilla." Corrin deadpanned. He confidently shook his head. "No, I think I'm okay. Thanks though."
Elise jumped in place. "Hey, I was worried, too, Corrin!" she chirped. "Don't forget about me!"
Corrin looked over and placidly smiled at Elise. "Yeah, I know Elise. Sorry for worrying you guys."
Elise smiled wide. Seeing her older brother again was something se always looks forward to. Out of impulse, she jumped and looped him in a hug around the waist. He twisted around and almost lost balance if not for his heels spinning them in full circle.
Elise backed away, laughing to herself. Corrin steadied and huffed. "Phew, well, uh…glad to see you're in spirits, guys."
Elise winked. "You bet!"
Leo looked down, shaking his head disapprovingly. "Honestly, Elise. You're almost an adult. Would it be more sound to start acting like one?"
Camilla chimed a smile for pleasure. "Oh, come now, Leo. I think it's a good thing. After all, a few smiles comes a long way in this gloomy kingdom, don't you think?" She turned towards Elise, who smiled. Then towards Xander, who nodded approvingly…though it seemed more of something more serious.
Feeling a shift in the air, Corrin looked at his siblings as they frowned at him. They looked like he was judging him for something he did wrong. "What is it? Do I have something on my face?"
Xander started. "Corrin…there's another reason of this visit." He turned towards Camilla. "Go ahead."
Camilla nodded. "Why certainly." She approached Corrin. "Dear Corrin…" her frowned turned to a smile. "I believe that you will be appreciative of this news. We just spoke with father. He's ready to have you come to the capital."
Corrin's eyes widened. He could feel his whole world stopped for a second at the revelation news that just came from her mouth. His eyes shrunk as he thought he misheard for a moment. "You…you mean it?" He first figured it had to be some sick joke, but from the expectant looks his family was giving it was thr truth. "My god…I-I can actually leave."
Leo stemmed with pride. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, I mean it." He took a small breath, clearing his senses so he wouldn't break down in front of them. He was a soldier after all. "So, when do we begin the leave?"
"Immediately." Xander informed. "We'll get your things set and ready. The lightning storm has passed, so safe travel on foot should be well.
As the group readied for their departure, the horses were set and being withdrawn from the stables. While outside, a caw was heard screeching through the dark sky, as a large brown bird sailed across the skies deeper into the forest, with remnants of what looked like a large shell craps around the beak. Apparently Corrin wasn't the only one satisfied.
It had been some time for Evan since he was in the cell. With his knees hugged up to his chin, he hugged the shins while he tried to get some rest. His black beanie helped him catch any winks he might be needing just in case.
"Excuse me, Evan." Kaze spoke. "Are you still awake?"
Hearing his name, Evan lifted his head, curling up the beanie around his eyes and blinked to fixate his vision. "Yeah? I'm good. Something wrong?"
Kaze shook his head. "No. Pardon me. I was just wondering something."
"Like what?"
"Well, judging from your attire, you don't look like any Hoshidan we might know of. And you sport no armor either. Between Hoshido and Nohr, those two kingdoms are the only familiarities between us. I'm curious, what happened that drove you away from your home?"
Evan scratched the back of his head. He wasn't so sure himself what happened, but if the manga and comics he read were any indication, it's that he knew he had to keep his best hand closest to him. So to say, to keep himself from total exposure.
"Um…" He looked away, trying to make up a convincing lie. "Well…I was, um…tending to some of the animals that I was put in charge of in my town." He flashed briefly of Pallet Town and Professor Oak's Lab. "I was tasked in finding any strays that may have wandered…and I guess I went a little too far into the wrong place."
"I see." Kaze said, his tone indicating neutrality. "That's very unfortunate. Seems fate has ben unruly to us."
Rinkah crossed her arms, huffing. "Yeah, but just wait until I get myself out. Those Nohrians are gonna get their helmets bashed into their skulls." She turned to Evan. "You feel the same way, don't you?"
Evan nervously looked away, trying to find something to say to compensate for his lack of knowledge. "Um…let's just say, that my region was more recluse. Let's say that, maybe, I don't know much about these Nohrian guys…so, what might they be?"
Rinkah sat back against the wall, easing into her explanation. "Well, since you asked nicely, Nohr is where we are right now. We're from Hoshido…and let's say that right now, we have a bad rap with them." She glanced at the ceiling. "And let me tell ya, those Nohrians aren't all silver linings and lifting smooth sails for their adversaries. You were lucky as you were, kid. They must have mistaken you as one of us apparently."
Suddenly the creaking of rusty iron petrified the conversation. They all turned their heads to find three Nohrian guards with weapons at the ready in case they tried attacking. All three stood up, but were unable to make subtle movements.
"Don't move." One bulky knight said. "King Garon wants you three to come with us. No exceptions."
The three soldiers went around and began tying the three with rope behind their backs, restraining their arms. Evan looked towards Kaze and Rinkah for answers, but they looked forward stoically. He chose to follow along as they were guided out of their cell and down the torch-lit dungeon.
Within the capital of Windmire was a staggering place, but more than that, the castle was just as starting, because it was far below ground. Around there, a cemented wall about fifty feet high bordered the massive expanse that the castle's underground hole laid. A series of stone bridges went over and under each other until they all spilled to small tunnels near flaming crystals that looked like jail bars of lava. In the middle of this grand show of space, there was a huge castle – Castle Krakenburg - that was just as cold and dark as the fortress.
As Corrin was lead by his siblings, he walked behind them as they lead the path up towards the castle. He made it to a small area where he could look up and see the modern-sized structure that the castle upheld. It looked much different than that fortress he was in just a few short hours ago.
Spacing out after taking in the sights, Corrin felt a hand on his shoulder. "Master Corrin, are you alright?"
Stammering, he almost didn't recognize the stare of a blue-haired maid that came along with him, accompanied by Gunter as well as Felicia, who were clearing the path ahead for the royal family. Corrin looked into the yellow eyes of Lilith, the other maid who followed him.
"Oh, Lilith, hey." He apologized. "Sorry, I was just…taking in the sights."
Lilith chuckled, she couldn't blame. "Yes, it's understandable." She looked back at the domineering sight. "So…how's it feel, being out of that place?"
Corrin took in a deep breath, a new scent in the air. "It's different…but a good different." He smiled confidently, one that made Lilith feel more than pleased to see him as. She grinned at him, and him alone placidly.
She looked away, a small pink in her cheeks as her fingers touched. "That's good…still, it was nice, you know, being there for you in the place."
"Hey! Hurry up slowpokes! We're all the way up here!"
Corrin turned ahead to yell back at Elise. "Yeah, sure!" He turned towards Lilith, gesturing her to follow him. She smiled and trekked behind them as they went deep into the castle. Lilith mentally exasperated as she was to keep herself quiet for just a little longer.
At the top of the stairway, Corrin and his family were looking up at who their father was. King Garon was a very old man, one could say gruel old. He had pale gray skin, and white hair that went in a long beard towards his massive fur-lined chest. He had a dark, spiky crown over his head while he adorned more accented dark armor. He looked like a king to a typical degree.
His eyes had numerous bags and dark shades under them, indicating erroneous health. He looked down expectantly at all his children, especially Corrin. "Corrin…" he started, his voice as low as the tides themselves. "I see that you've made it safely."
Corrin nodded. "Yes Father, I apologize for the wait. It's good to be here again."
King Garon snorted. "Now, I heard that your skills have vastly improved. Your diligence has been what brought you here, my child. If your skills are almost on par with Xander's, then you are ready to join us to show the world what Nohr is."
Elise frowned in worry. "Um, Father, will he be alright?"
Camilla frowned, her own worries growing. "Yes, I agree. I'm as worried as you are, my sister."
Corrin turned around to look at his two sisters. "It's fine, really." He assured. "Don't forget, I earned my way out of there. I deserve a chance to show you all I'm trustworthy. Isn't that right, Father?"
King Garon looked down, choosing no visible signs of agreement. "Corrin, as you might be aware, we are currently at war with Hoshido. We of the royal family are descendants from the first ancient gods, the First Dragons. It's up to those who inherited this trait to take to their enemies with ease." He looked at his children. "Xander. Camilla. Leo. You three have proven this trait. Now Corrin, you must join them and show the power of Nohr."
Corrin straightened his posture. "Of course, Father. Your expectations won't be wasted. I promise."
King Garon's lips tugged at the sides. "Good. Now, I believe that you will be in need of a weapon. So son of mine will go into battle on equal footing." Reaching out his one hand, he channeled dark purple energy that was shaping into a blade. Once gripped it, it solidified into a crooked metal. "You will wield this."
He passed the blade using telekinesis towards Corrin, who looked at the blade with awe. The guard was a dull gold color, with smooth edging that curved into the blade itself which looked like cooled lava with traces of blazing red inside. The blade gave off an ominous purple haze from the tip. Noticing these features, he cautiously gripped it, looking all around it. "Woah…"
"This is Ganglari, a blade infused with power from another world. It shall be yours."
Corrin turned the blade over, marveling at it. "I see…"
"Now then, it is time for you to prove to me your strength with that sword." King Garon looked towards a soldier, giving him a nod. The soldier ran off, while Garon faced his son again. "We are going to bring forth prisoners to you. I want you to show me your power, and show no mercy."
"Prisoners?" Corrin heard the creaking of metal from the other side of the courtyard. He turned around, hearing iron gates leading to a dark tunnel that was bringing out several people at once.
Coming out, there were what looked like 5 in total. Two standard Hoshidan men were there, taking battle positions, while Rinkah and Kaze were on the other end, looking ready. The last to file out was Evan, which the gate slammed shut behind him.
"Wait, where are we again?!" He hollered out, but got no response from the other side of the gates. Instead the guards walked away. "Rude…" he murmured. He turned around, surprise showing at the huge courtyard with people on the other end. "Who are they…?"
Corrin pointed a finger at them. "Father, are those…"
"Those will be your opponents, Corrin. Use your diligence you've gained, and strike them down." Garon ordered. "Do that, and we shall have you amongst us." With a snap of his fingers, the siblings backed off to the sides to observe as well. The only ones who stayed with him were Gunter and Felicia.
"If I may, my lance arm may be rather rusty, but I assure you my service in this trial." Gunter hoisted his right arm, holding a bronze lance high as he was on his steed, which was clad on armor for battle as well.
Felicia stood at Corrin's side. "I'll help, too! I'm as good as a bodyguard as I am a domestic." She chimed. "Though…domestic was never me forte…"
Corrin sighed in relief. "Thanks guys." He looked forward, his eyes meeting all his adversaries present. Amongst them, there was Rinkah, Kaze; two that he never was aware of before.
However, that's not what troubled just him. When Evan turned to make eye contact with Corrin, the two had a sudden 'click!' that made them paralyze on the spot. The way they looked at each other, it was like they had seen ghosts that they only saw as children coming to haunt them. Or in this case, ghosts that were dreams that showed each other. Blue eyes met red as their blank stares almost recognized the other for some unknown cause.
It was like something between them snapped that gave them view of familiarity. It was déjà vu all over again, but for both it was something that confused them. The dreams they had were still fresh in their minds. Corrin remembered the face he saw in the dream before freezing over. Evan recalled the last person as well before charging after a dragon. For a long time, this sensation was what overtook them.
Evan narrowed his eyes, tilting his head somewhat. "Do I…know you?"
Corrin didn't answer. He was just as confused until Garon's shout of his name made him straighten his back. "R-Right. Sorry, Father!"
"Hmph! I am Rinkah, daughter of the Flame Tribe's proud chieftain!" Rinkah declared. "And who might you be?"
Corrin spread his legs to ready a counter position. "I'm Corrin."
Kaze looked stunned for a moment. The name rung a bell inside his head. 'Corrin…wait, then is this…?'
Corrin noticed the blank stare in Kaze's face. "What is it?"
Kaze shook his head, choosing to oblige by what he believed in. Affirming his position, he readied to strike. "Do not fret. I am Kaze, a ninja of Hoshido…show me what you can do."
"Right." He turned towards the outlier - someone who dressed unnaturally. "And you, who might you be…?" His tone suggested uncertainty, like he wasn't sure of the circumstances.
Deciding to oblige, Evan straightened his posture. There would be time for questions later. "…Evan. I'm Evan." He introduced. It looked like a fight was about to break out, but he wasn't getting out of it. 'If I'm gonna get out of here, guess I'll have to try and beat them…I wonder if they use Pokémon, too?'
Garon sat back on his throne, banging his fist on the armrest. "Slay them!" he ordered.
Evan's eyes widened. Did they just hear that right?
Instantly the two standard Hoshido soldiers took to their heels after Corrin and his side. Felicia and Gunter moved in front to intercept them as their weapons shimmered. "Sir Corrin, remember your training!" Gunter shouted.
"Right!" Corrin looked towards the small ort-like structure in the center of the courtyard. He saw all the debris on it that was charred, possibly from a bonfire. His senses tingled when he looked and saw a green aura coming from the base of it.
'Is that a…?' Making a short motion towards it, he stepped onto it, summoning a green glow beneath. "Gah!" He flinched when a green flare exploded, causing a small tremor that shook the ground beneath. It momentarily ceased all action along the courtyard and then the green flare spilled a small orb into the debris field in front. In a few second, the green orb exploded, sending all the debris flying out, which crumbled to dust that scattered around the battlefield.
Evan saw what happened, his surprise mounting. Was his eyes playing tricks on him or was he tripping? He was probably doing both. Did his foe really just summon some kind of Explosion? It didn't make sense, but he wasn't dreaming. This was reality. He just couldn't believe it.
Felicia was taken by surprise at Corrin's sudden aura burst. "W-Woah! Corrin! What was…?"
King Garon furrowed his brow. He nodded approvingly at the sight before him. "Very good. Dragon Veins. Now, proceed!"
Processing what happened, Corrin rushed inside the new grid to reconvene. He backed against a wall on the left end with Felicia joining him, while Gunter went right. Waiting, they all were suddenly ambushed by two of the Hoshido grunts with brass katana. Felicia held a dagger to intercept while Corrin went and struck from the side. The poor soldier screamed as he fell to the ground, gagging blood from his mouth.
Evan's eyes widened in horror. Just now, he saw someone before him get cut down. Literally. His heart rate started picking up as he backed against the battle, staying away. Of course the same couldn't be said for another scream, drawing him to another grunt that was struck down by Gunter's iron lance. Once again, he saw more blood spilled from an impact to the ground.
"Did…did they just…" He didn't realize it until now, but he was screwed. "They were really…my god…this ain't right." He had to think of a way out, and quick. Otherwise, he could end up dead.
And he so didn't want that. Swallowing a lump, he pulled out two Poke Balls. He didn't have a choice if he wanted to save his own skin. His capsules expanded as he held himself back from the fight.
"Behold, the power of the Flame Tribe!" With a downward swing, Rinkah's club clashed with Corrin's Ganglari, causing the two to break away moments after their stalemate. Corrin rushed in and swiped, but Rinkah batted him away with her club, buffering only his armor. He backed away hastily in time to avoid another club strike.
"She's good." Corrin grunted. A green energy engulfed him, which made him feel more relieved. That small blow he took revitalized by this magical energy. Felicia smiled as she provided this energy with a staff she had on hand.
Gathering his bearing, Corrin adjusted his stance. "Thanks, Felicia. Now, let's do this!"
Felicia held up two daggers. "Right!" She charged in with Corrin, where she threw the iron daggers and Rinkah batted them with her club, knocking them away. But Corrin found the opening needed, and Rinkah's eyes widened at her fault.
"Hiyah!" Corrin slashed his blade, which dealt enough force to Rinkah's gantlets that she used to defend at the last second. She was pushed onto her back, gagging at the shock through her back. Corrin looked down as Rinkah was laying on the ground, unable to stand.
"Nohrian…scum…" she cursed.
Similarly, Kaze jumped into the air and fired two Kunai, both of which were swatted by the iron lance Gunter used. Kaze moved back for distance, aware of the Nohrian armor being very durable. He grunted, but went in pursuit soon after.
Gunter whipped the reins on his steed and he neighed into the air. The horse pounced into the air and came down, with Gunter's lance poised. He pieced the ground that Kaze jumped from, leaving the ninja to back away. He advanced again as Gunter was pulling the lance out, quickly lashing it to intercept the close-range blades on Kaze's arms.
Once again, Kaze found himself at the opposition. He heard footsteps approach and widened his eyes. Looking left, Corrin suddenly blindsided him, slashing with great force that broke through the blade on Kaze's arm that was for defense. The force pushed him onto the ground, leaving him groaning.
"Felicia, Gunter! Make sure they don't get up!" Corrin insisted. His eyes went towards Evan. "I need to take this one on myself!"
Both allies gave Corrin affirmative nods. "Right!" They separated, with Felicia darting over the fort and pointing daggers at Rinkah. Gunter aimed his iron lance at Kaze's neck if he made any wrong moves.
Corrin closed in on Evan with Ganglari, but he was seeing the defensive stance he was taking. He was very curious of who he was and if they knew each other. But that'll have to come later. Right now he has to pin him.
Evan launched the two Poke Balls into the air. "Squirtle! Caterpie!"
The two capsules popped open, revealing Squirtle along with the newly caught Caterpie. The brought of these two creatures raised some surprise in Corrin as he took a step back. "What the…?"
The royal family watching also showed some small surprise of their own. Elise looked at the two animals with adorability, but the others were more cautious. King Garon remained neutral as he thought little of it.
Rinkah was laying on the ground, her head still throbbing from that fall she just took. She heard the sounds of energy popping and looked weakly over at the two animals Evan had. 'Wait…are those the animals he spoke of?' She thought back to what he meant earlier. She thought it was something simple like sheep, not some bipedal turtle and large worm. 'Where did he come from?'
"(Well, looks like another battle.)" Squirtle commented. He looked over at Caterpie, his new ally. "(Huh? You too?)"
Caterpie blinked. "(I think so. But…where are the Pokémon?)" The worm was ready to prove himself, but instead he found a human glaring him down with a dark sword. This didn't sit well with the meek bug. "(Um…is it me, or is he looking at us funny?)"
Squirtle quizzically raised a brow. "(Beats me. Maybe Evan knows?)" He looked back towards his Trainer, seeing the startled look plastered on his face. It didn't spike any confidence in him.
"Listen, guys!" Evan shouted. "We have an emergency!" He pointed at Corrin specifically. "(Keep him away at all costs! Okay?"
Squirtle and Caterpie looked at each other worriedly. It wasn't like they had a choice now since they were his Pokémon. Still, fighting another human wasn't something they were accustomed to, per se. It was only when Corrin charged at them when their instincts turned on.
Evan balled his fists. "Caterpie, String Shot!" The green and yellow worm took a quick breath and fired a massive wake of silk at Corrin.
Caught off guard, Corrin's instincts told him to slice through, which he did. He cut through the oncoming thread, but more spread around his feet, causing him to place his heels onto the sticky thread. "Ew…gross!" He tried prying his heel off, unaware of his guard down.
"Squirtle, Tail Whip!"
"(Okay!)" Turning around, Squirtle's tail wagged cutely in a circular motion. The whipping tail caused a blue aura to envelop Corrin.
Corrin mustered all the strength he had to get free of his threads. Once out, he quickly turned towards Evan and lunged, bringing Ganglari back behind him. However, due to the String Shot's effects, he was much slower, especially with sticky thread stuck to his feet like gum on a shoe.
"Dodge it!" Evan warned. Caterpie and Squirtle lumped to opposite sides as Corrin lunged for Evan, bringing the blade back. He slashed, but even his arm's speed was slow enough for Evan to hastily jump off t the side in a panic.
Finding ground, Evan looked back at Corrin, their eyes locking once more. There was a subtle opposition, but nothing he can detect right now. He needed to keep his distance at all times, less he shed blood. "Caterpie, String Shot!"
Caterpie raised his head to see Corrin ready to lunge again. "(Hang on! I'm coming!)" He took a quick breath and shot thread at Corrin's feet again. With it layering again, Corrin looked down and was too distracted. "(Okay, I think it's your turn now.)" he told Squirtle.
Squirtle gave an affirmative nod. "(Done.)"
Corrin looked down at the noticeable thread around his heels. It was coating more of his armor now as his speed dropped. He didn't have time to act when he heard something that was like stubby legs when he was rammed from the side by a tiny turtle, managing to almost completely floor him.
Camilla had to flinch at that one. She frowned heavily at the tactics going on there. "He's using his pets to fight for him it seems." She grunted as Evan was taking more cautious steps away. "What a coward."
Though Elise had to admit the animals Evan were indeed cute, she was more concerned with how her brother was being put on defense. Her cheeks puffed as she fidgeted back and forth.
Leo confidently held up his poise. "Remember what I said. Not just swordsplay dictates power." He looked in the corner of his eye to see Xander choosing to focus on what's in front of him. He opted to focus as well.
Caterpie and Squirtle got between Evan and Corrin as the latter was getting back up. He locked eyes with Evan and tightened his grip on Ganglari. His heart was starting to race, but he didn't know why. The longer he stared at Evan, the more anxious he was getting. He could practically feel his Father's breath down his back. He spread his legs and tightened the hold so hard that underneath his blue gloves the knuckles were turning white. He couldn't afford to lose here, not when he just got out of that hellhole that was a fortress.
Taking a moment to calm himself, he raised Ganglari and readied another charge. Evan didn't waste a beat on what to do. "Caterpie! Squirtle! Both of you Tackle!" The Pokémon tucked in their heads and launched in his place. Corrin was heavily slowed to react as they buffered into his armor, his earlier Defense drop taking more damage than needed.
Harnessing his heart, he steeled himself for a swing. "Sorry about this, guys!" With the back of the sword, he smacked Squirtle and Caterpie away, both animals fumbling to their sides. That one blow looked like it knocked a good deal of wind out of them.
"Squirtle! Caterpie!" Evan bit his bottom lip, looking at how worn out they were. "Crap…"
Corrin didn't care how slow he was. He looked down at Squirtle and Caterpie, who were trying to stand. He ignored them and rushed with haste towards Evan. They barely recovered when they realized how far long they were.
"(Evan!)" Squirtle cried out.
"(Eep!)" Caterpie squealed in fright.
Corrin leaped into the air and brought Ganglari back behind him. Evan's eyes shrunk to pupils upon seeing his life lash before his eyes. With no weapon, he crossed his arms, hoping it would at least take them and not his head…which wouldn't he good either way.
Corrin used the back of his blade once more, smacking Evan into the ground and onto his back. The blow made him grimace and got pinned hard. His vision was blurry, but a dark sword pointed at his face snapped him awake. He saw Corrin inches away from ending his life. Even now, his red eyes were gleaming with curiosity. Right now, both their hearts were racing at alarming rates that they couldn't think straight.
Kaze was pinned by an iron lance, with Rinkah unable to stand at the daggers pointed to her throat. She barely swallowed lumps as she mentally cursed herself for getting too bold. And with Evan pinned down, the situation had gone cold for all three of them.
"Very good." Garon was standing up from his throne, glaring at his son. "Now…end them at once!"
Corrin took a long look at Evan, who looked beaten at his own game…though technically not so. It was a tough call to be honest. But Corrin was above that. He didn't want to make people suffer. "But, Father…I beat them." He pointed out.
"So?" the king's glare hardened. "An enemy is not beaten until they're dead! I will not tell you a third time! Kill them! Now!"
Corrin turned back towards Evan to give eye contact once more, a silence falling upon them. It was enough that he had to hurt another human being, but it was even more distressing to know that he had a choice; either kill and be accepted, or go for what he believed in. He loved his siblings very much, but he didn't know what to say. He just locked eyes with Evan, whose blue ones were staring at his for any signs of hope.
Swallowing a lump, Evan braced for the worst. He felt dark energy creep away and saw Corrin backing down. Very slowly, he lowered his blade from Evan's throat, a dejected look crossing his face. "I'm sorry Father, but that's wrong."
King Garon sighed exasperatedly. "Very well…" Without warning, he raised his glove, summoning runes around his body. The same runes appeared around the two standard Hoshidan grunts, who were swallowed in searing blazes that caused their screams to go hoarse. Their bodies fell as quickly as the smoke rose from their bodies.
Corrin's eyes widened. "F-Father!"
"Xander…" At his behest the eldest son approached. "Kill them all. Any who stand in your way! No matter whom! Do it!"
"Father…" Xander didn't want to do this, even the pleading look from Camilla and Elise said otherwise. He looked ahead and steeled himself for what he may have to do.
Slowly coming towards Kaze first, Gunter backpedaled to allow the young prince his room to point the blade to the ninja's throat. With a solid gleam in his eyes, he raised his glowing red sword, ready to bring it down.
Kaze looked down and braced for what may be his demise. Suddenly a harsh clash rung in his ears When he looked up, Corrin was already there. He looked down at his heels though, seeing threads were cut off to make him reach his enemy in time.
The stalemate soon withdrew both combatants, the brunt of the force pushing Corrin back more. He steadied himself, but the earlier Defense drop made him kneel with a pant. His older brother looked down at him with emotionless eyes. "Corrin, stand down. I don't want to hurt my brother." He insisted.
Despite his injuries and lowered speed, Corrin tried standing. He was too slow to block Xander's blade that Ganglari couldn't stand up to. Corrin was pushed to the ground, gagging from shock.
"What's going on here?" Evan whispered to himself. He couldn't tell, but he knew he had to take chances while he still could breathe. He pulled out Squirtle and Caterpie's Poke Balls. He silently returned them, and stood up with a hand to a stone pillar for support. The back of his head still stung though.
Corrin struggled to stand, his breathing raspy. "They…can't fight anymore…just stop…"
Camilla bit her bottom lip. "Dear Corrin…"
Elise turned to Leo hastily. "Leo! What do we do?!"
Leo turned away, giving his own sigh. "Why must everything fall to me?" He pulled a hand out, summoning runes around his body like Garon's, only with different italics. The runes surrounded Kaze and Rinkah, the latter being given space as Felicia moved away. Evan was the last to be shown runes as he saw his world brighten.
"What?! No-!" Corrin looked back at Evan, both making shocked eye contact before the latter was starting to become surrounded in illusions of wood.
With shock, Evan tried to escape, but all he did was scream as gravity lightened, and his body vanished in a bright flare.
Party Data:
Evan
-Squirtle (Male)
Lv: 6
Item: None
Nature: Mild
Ability: Torrent
Moves: Tackle, Tail Whip
-Caterpie (Male)
Lv: 4
Item: None
Nature: Modest
Ability: Shield Dust
Moves: Tackle, String Shot
Here's the second chapter of the Fire Emblem/Pokémon crossover! Hope you guys enjoyed!
