"MAMA!" A young Inigo cried out as he sprinted over to his mother.

He gripped the cloth of her shirt and rubbed his tear-stained face into her stomach. It was such a warm and familiar feeling that always gave him comfort.

"Oh, Inigo what's wrong?" He heard his mother ask with a soft and gentle voice.

Inigo only sniffled in response as he continued to squeeze her waist like the scared child he was.

"Mama...I…" he sniffed before digging his face deeper into her abdomen like the scared child he was.

"There There, Inigo," He heard his mother's voice once more as he looked up to see her gentle smile shining down on him. It was warm like the sun's gentle rays that shimmered through the windows. "Everything is going to be alright"

She wiped a few tears from his face as he slowly withdrew from the embrace.

"Better?" His mother asked as she knelt down to meet him at eye level.

Inigo simply nodded.

She smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder, "now, what's the matter?" She asked in a sweet and gentle voice.

Inigo took a moment to wipe his nose before speaking.

"Mama, d-do you think I'm weird?" He asked as his eyes slid to the floor.

"Now why would you ask that?" She raised an eyebrow, "of course I don't"

"Well earlier the other kids said I was weird because I wouldn't play with them"

"Well did you want to play with them?"

Inigo nodded, "I did but every time I tried to talk to them I would…" He looked away, "I dunno, freeze up and they all looked at me funny. I just felt so scared"

"Inigo…" his mother then wrapped her arms around him once more.

"Mama?" He cocked his head, "why are you crying?"

His mother pulled away, "I'm sorry, it's just you're more like me than you realize"

"Really?" Inigo blinked.

His mother nodded, "I have a lot of trouble talking to other people too"

"Y-You do?"

She nodded again, "yep, in fact, you're just as shy as me when I was about your age maybe even more so"

"But you can talk to other people just fine," Inigo said with wide eyes, "How do you do it?"

His mother smiled which once again put his mind at ease. Yet again, it was so warm and comforting.

"Well if you really wanna know there is one piece of advice I learned from a friend once that might help"

"What's that?"

"You should try and talk to girls"

Inigo blushed, "G-Girls?!"

His mother nodded, "Yep, but you gotta make sure to greet them with a big smile, like this" His mother's lips grew into an even bigger smile.

"Like this?" He said as he tried to force a smile.

"Yeah just like that," His mother laughed, "Smile just like that and you'll have plenty of friends in no time"

"I will?"

His mother nodded, "of course, a smile brings confidence and can brighten anyone's day so just smile and I guarantee you won't be so scared anymore" She said with a smile.

A familiar warmth filled Inigo's chest as he smiled right back. A bright smile almost as bright as the sun.

"Thanks, mama"

Inigo looked down at the small golden chain in his hands and smiled. Though just like the sun that once sat brightly in the sky, his smile faded behind the ashen gray clouds. He breathed a heavy sigh as memories of that day began to fill his head.

"INIGO GET DOWN!"

It all happened so fast. One minute he was running and the next he was on the floor. His mother's bloody corpse resting on top of him. She felt so cold and numb. It was nothing at all like it was before. He once again looked at the golden chain that sparkled in his hand. It was the only thing left he had of her. He had to abandon her grave when the capital was taken.

He took a moment to pull his sword from its sheathe. A long curved blade extended out from the hilt swathed in red cloth. He took a look at the blade which had certainly seen better days. Several chips and other such marks covered the sword's once glimmering steel. He ran a finger along the blade's edge and winced as blood dripped from the fresh new cut. For as dull as it looked, it was still functional, at least. Well functional enough, anyway. It was once his father's sword after all. It would take a lot more than a few hundred risen to break this blade.

Inigo sighed as the cool winter breeze brushed through his hair. Still, how much longer could it really last? How much more could this sword take before it would inevitably break? He covered his mouth in a wide yawn before raising his arms to stretch.

"Well, no use moping about all that right now, I suppose," He said as he sheathed the worn-out blade, "It's about time to get everyone moving"

He looked out from the balcony towards the endless horizon. Snow drifted down from the ashen gray clouds onto pure white blanket underneath. They still had about half a day's walk until they reached Ylisstol. And with all the risen about, they had a long and arduous journey ahead of them. They'd be lucky to make it by nightfall from the looks of things.

The cry of a pegasus caught his ear. He turned around to see a familiar face drop down from her pegasus and approach him.

"Ah, Vanessa don't you look good on this fine, morning," He said with a smile.

"Would you stop with that" She shot him a deadpan look, "You and I both know that I'm not the first girl you greeted like that today"

"Well, what can I say? I am simply incapable of speaking anything but the truth" He said with a wink, "And besides, the fact that you can answer like that means that you're feeling a little better, right?"

For a moment, Vanessa only blinked before her lips curved into a soft smile.

"Yeah, I am, thank you, lord Inigo"

"And there's that adorable smile I've been looking for"

At this, Vanessa blushed, "A-Anyway, I've come to give my scouting report"

"Oh right, so how does it look out there?"

Vanessa's smile was replaced with a grim expression as she looked to the floor.

"As expected not very good. Due to last night's battle, there are far more risen running about even more than yesterday" She explained, "To be honest, it's a miracle they haven't spotted us yet. I don't even know how we're supposed to push through with our current numbers and strength"

For a moment, Inigo was silent as he stared into Vanessa's sullen eyes. His heart twisted before he put on his signature smile.

"Is that all?" He laughed. "You almost had me worried for a second there"

"Is that all?" She repeated his words back to him, "H-How can you be so carefree about all this? Do you realize the kind of situation we're in? Aren't you the slightest bit worried or scared?"

"Nope, not at all," He shook his head, "So long as I can smile then there's no reason to be worried or scared"

His lips curved into a bright wide smile as he spoke those words. A cool winter breeze drifted between the two.

"So don't worry about it, alright?" Inigo patted her on the head, "We'll find a way through this, trust me"

"A-Alright, if you say so"

"Good, now smile for me, would you?" He said with a soft smile, "It's a shame to see a cute face so glum all the time"

"And that is how I, the great Owain Dark, vanquished those dark missionaries from hell! With the power of the dance of the crimson flower!" Owain boasted as he struck an overly dramatic pose.

"Wow, that's so cool!" One of the kids' eyes sparkled in amazement.

"Yeah, You were amazing Owain Dark!"

"Come on tell us another one!"

"Yeah tell us more about your epic adventures, Owain Dark!"

Owain put his hand to his chin as he pondered their words.

"I dunno," He said as he glanced down at them, "Are you sure you can handle yet another heart-moving tale from my grand adventures?"

"Of course we can!" one of the kids shouted, "Right?"

"Yeah!"

"We're your dark apprentices, aren't we?" Another one said as he raised a stick into the air.

A wide grin formed on Owain's lips as he struck another overdramatic pose.

"Alright then! Prepare yourselves my dark…" He quickly shook his head. No that sounded way too cliche. He stopped and thought for a moment.

"Um, master Owain Dark?"

"Is he okay?" one kid whispered.

"I dunno"

Maddening pupils? Students of darkness? Corrupted Kouhei? Nah those just sounded stupid. He stood still as he continued to ponder the right phrase.

I've got it!

"Prepare yourselves my corrupted pupils of the blackened blade!" Owain struck his pose once again, "For now I shall tell you the tale of…"

Before Owain could finish his sentence, a small hand-sized ax came whirling towards him. Instinctively, Owain ducked and pulled his sword. He looked back to see the small ax slice through the tree behind him and lodge itself in another. A small cut formed on his forehead as drops of blood dripped onto the snow down below. He looked down at the kids all huddled together with terrified looks on their faces. He then turned his attention forward to see a river of purple mist flow out from the nearby forest. Several large purple humanoid monsters stepped into view. Their piercing red eyes glowering at them through that decrepit old mask that clung to their faces.

"You'll protect us, right?" He looked down to see one of the kids tugging at the cloth of his pants.

He smirked, "Who the hell do you think I am?!" Owain shouted as he struck his signature pose, "I am the great Owain Dark! You have nothing to fear while I'm around!"

"Yeah, go get him Owain Dark!" A couple of the kids shouted.

Owain's feet shifted through the snow as he gripped the hilt of his sword. That's right, Now was the time to really show what Owain Dark was truly made of. He took a deep breath before glaring down the risen once more.

"Papa?" He heard one of the kids say, "Is that you?"

The boy crawled a little closer to the risen. His face lit up as he began to run towards the small crowd of walking corpses.

"No, don't!" Owain called out to him only for it to fall on deaf ears.

"Damnit!" he cursed under his breath before running after the boy.

"Hey, papa it's me!" The boy said as he ran up and hugged one of the risen. "I knew you'd come back! Mama said you were gone but I didn't believe her"

The risen looked down and twisted its head. The others simply charged forward towards Owain and the other kids. Its body twitched as it continued to stare down at the child with it's glowing red and soulless eyes.

"Papa?"

The risen let out an ear grating roar as kicked the child and pinned him to the ground.

"Blue Lion's Maw!" Owain shouted as he cut through another risen.

He looked over to where the boy was pinned and bit his lip. He wasn't gonna make it!

"S-Sombody...H-HELP! PLEA-" The boy shouted before the risen tore into his throat.

Owain's heart stopped as he watched the child's head fall limply to the ground. The surrounding snow was stained a dark crimson red that leaked from the boy's corpse. The risen's devouring the piece of flash clasped tightly between its bloodstained teeth.

"HELP!" A familiar scream snapped Owain out of his thoughts.

He turned his head to see the rest of the risen closing in on the group of kids behind him. This no time for hesitation! He had to protect them! He won't have a repeat of what happened that day.

"OWAIN GET DOWN!"

He heard his father's voice echo through his mind as he once again charged the risen.

"STAY AWAY FROM THEM YOU CORRUPTED FIENDS OF THE UNDERWORLD!"

"Inigo!" Inigo heard a familiar voice call out his name.

He looked over to see a boy with bunny ears and fur panting in the doorway.

"Yarne?" He said as he ran over to his furry friend. "My, you look awful, what happened?"

"What's going on?" Vanessa asked, "I thought you were supposed to be on lookout duty"

"I-I was but then we were suddenly ambushed by a huge horde of Risen," Yarne said as he continued to gasp for breath. "Everyone there is probably dead!"

"Well that explains the blood"

"It must be the Horde I saw earlier!" Vanessa bit her lip, "But how did they even get past the front gate? This fortress is supposed to pretty well-fortified!"

"Let's not worry about that for now," Inigo said as he began to run down the steps, "For now we should worry about keeping the rest of the refugees and the injured safe"

"Right" Vanessa nodded as she moved to follow him.

"Y-You two go do that" Yarne said as slumped down next to a wall, "I'm just gonna stay back here and give some moral support"

Vannessa turned back and grabbed him by one of his ears, "Oh no, you're helping too! Come on!"

"Hey! Ow-don't pull so hard! Taguels have very sensitive ears! Do you want me to go extinct!"

"Oh pipe down!"

Inigo chuckled as he heard the two argue. Still, it was strange that they were able to get past the front gate. He thought they had any entrance either sealed off or guarded. Something about all this felt off. This was no ordinary Risen attack that's for sure. He had a bad feeling about all this.

I just hope Owain's alright

"Stage one complete," Morgan said as she checked off an area in her tactics book, "now let's see if we can lure them all outside"

She looked down at the fortress from her pegasus.

"I will not fail you again, Fath-No, Lord Grima" She muttered to herself, "Just watch me..."

Hey wassup, everyone! I'm sorry for the wait on this chapter but I was hit with a horrible case of writer's block and some irl mental health stuff. I'm better now though. This chapter certainly had a lot going on. I'm not entirely sure how to feel about it. Also Yeah I'm starting to introduce more of the other kids cause Yarne finally showed up. I'm not so sure what I want to do with him yet but here he is. Speaking of not knowing what to do with other characters, I'm not quite sure how I'm gonna introduce Nah into this story. I have vague ideas for how I wanna introduce the other kids like Gerome, Brady, Noire, etc. but with her, I'm a bit stumped. I'm open to suggestions if any of you have any though. Though with all that said, I hope you enjoyed that chapter and take care.