Chapter Seven

Darkness. No life, just a void of black all around. A fallen man rose to his feet while grunting. "Nngh...How?! My purpose is too significant...to be thwarted...here...Aaargh..."

A foreign voice spoke to him, "Validar."

"What? Who are you? Where did you...come from?" The shadowy man had no shadows in this realm.

"I am the power that compels you. You will not perish here. It is not written. You must live on to author a destiny greater than you know." The voice revealed itself. A small man stepped into darkness, yet was able to be seen. A cloak he wore was lifted. The face was identical to…

"Im-impossible! It can't be you. It can't be…"

"I am the wings of despair. I am the breath of ruin. I am the fell dragon, Grima."

"No, he is loyal to our family and therefore, is coming with us," reasoned the prince. I attempted to convince him of leaving the Hierarch back at Ylisstol, back with no effect. However, the knight captain of the pegasi was easier to persuade. Phila gathered more Pegasus knights and stationed at the castle. I didn't want the capital to be overrun of Plegians while the Shepherds were traveling to Feroxi territory. Phila volunteered to come with us, but I decided the best was for her to stay back, noting the other Pegasus knights needed her morale support and leadership.

Even with the reinforcements, I still had an uneasy feeling crawling throughout my body. My hairs on my arms were sticking up. It got worse the closer we got to Ferox. Lissa seemed to be uneased as well, "Ugh, my poor feet. I've got blisters the size of eggs!"

"Oh, it's not so bad, Lissa. Just a healthy little stroll! How are you holding up, Phil? You seem tense," a concerned Chrom noticed. He wasn't wrong.

"Me? Oh, I'm fine. But I'm not sure about…him," I pointed to the Hierarch. He seemed to continuously stare up towards to the sky, as if waiting for someone or something to happen. I just kept glaring at him, hoping he would look my way. (He did not, not even once)

Eventually, we reached Breakneck Pass. Rocky mountains were to our left and a giant falloff to our left to lead to a river. Still, the dangerous terrain was not my main worry.

Screech.

That was my problem: wyverns. We couldn't see them, but we all heard them. Sounded like one, then three, then a dozen. All came into view. On cue, Plegian bandits and brigands came out of bushes for an ambush.

"Grah ha hah! Time to die, princey!"

Chrom unveiled the Falchion, "Gah! How did Plegia know we were here? Everyone! Prepare for battle!"

The Hierarch started to sprint to the Plegians, but I grabbed him by his collar, sweeping him off his feet, "One move, traitor, and you'll have to answer to the Falchion." Before he gave an answer to his worrisome look, he was shoot by an arrow through his heart.

What? I thought the Hierarch wouldn't die if I stopped him from meeting with Vasto. Hmm…

Nevertheless, I dropped his cold body and focused on the battle at hand. "Chrom, I'll stand in the back, focus the rest of the Shepherds up front. Force them near the cliff."

With the death of the Hierarch, I was even more nervous. After Vaike, Chrom, Gaius and Stahl moved ahead and cut down several Plegians, my fears were confirmed: a lone Pegasus flying in air. Moving at ever accelerating speeds to our group, I stood almost a broken man. Awestruck, fear, and confusion filled me because I ordered reinforcements back in Ylisstol. Then that means…bad news for the capital…

However, a sense of overwhelming joy took over when I saw the flash of crimson hair on the Pegasus rider.

She made it out alive. And it's…it's her.

Cordelia.

She landed feet away from the prince, "No! Plegians here as well?! Prince Chrom! Beware! Enemy reinforcements to the rear! They'll be upon us soon!"

Chrom squinted his eyes to the sun, hoping to see who it was speaking to him, "Is that…gods, Cordelia?! Why is she here?"

Fredrick deduced the situation, "Milord, she was stationed back at the capital. If she is here, then could it mean…No…"

The border is taken. By Plegia. Invasion.

I didn't move an ounce. I was mesmerized by the redhead knight with the silvery steel armor and a red skirt.

"Phil? Phil, we got a got a battle at hand! Wake up!" Chrom shook my shoulders.

"Sorry Chrom, I got caught up in the moment. I'll explain later. Excuse me, Cordelia, is it?" I blushed as I addressed the Pegasus knight.

"Y-yes, sir?" a puzzled look was on her face.

"Can you fly Chrom to the front and attack the Plegian leader head on with him?"

She was stunned. I guess I shouldn't have given that command. But she was able to accomplish the task.

"Y-yes, sir! Uh, Chrom…if you are ready, hop on."

Chrom nodded and the two lifted off and whizzed by arrows from archers (which I mistakenly didn't factor in). Vaike and Sully took "generous" care of the archers, clearing the way for Chrom and Cordelia. The rest of the Plegians fell by weapons or off the cliff to their demise.

An angry Vasto grinded his teeth, "I'll splatter you across the canyon floor!" He charged after the two Shepherds with rage and power. But two against one isn't a fair fight. Chrom and Cordelia worked together so well, it looked like a ballet dance more than a fight, as if they trained together for years. The Falchion landed on Vasto's left hip, "You doves think...killing me will change anything? Heh...Even now, my brothers storm across your precious border. Go on, dear exalted coward! Run! Flee while they slaughter your subjects! Save yourself...Let their faith in you...bleed away...with the rest."

We gathered a minute to catch our breaths. Staring at each other, Cordelia was first to speak to the group, "Your Grace! My prince! Run! As far and fast as you can! More Plegians are coming, not a half day's march behind you!"

Chrom responded, visibly looking shaken, "Cordelia, please tell me the border is secure…"

"That I could, milady! But it would be false. Gangrel himself led his might against us! The end was upon us when my knight-sisters begged me fly and warn the exalt...I should have stayed...I should have stayed! Ah, gods, I can still hear the screams!" Cordelia began to cry and buried her head in her hands.

"Peace, Cordelia. You did your duty. You've many years yet to keep their legacy alive. And…we need you." Chrom put a hand on her right shoulder.

She looked up to him, "But I abandoned them! I'm weak...Their legacy deserves better."

"Sometimes fleeing takes the most courage. They knew that. Now pull yourself together. Let the faith they showed in you give you strength."

"How can I go on like this? They were my...my family..." the redhead cried even more, sobbing like a mess.

"Umm, excuse miss?" I butted into the conversation.

"Y-yes, sir?"

"My-my name is Phil. I am Chrom's tactician." I bowed. "I understand you've just witness…horrible things. But we need you. We need more info back at the border. We are going to Regna Ferox and gather more soldiers. Your input is greatly appreciated, if you would accompany us."

Her sadden look slowly regained composure. I think I would be a mess too if I saw all my friends die in combat. But even in her lowest moment, she looked mentally strong, attentive, and…

Gorgeous.

"Pardon me, sir?"

Embarrassed, I snapped back to reality, "And, you will accompany Chrom. He could use the protection. Right, Chrom?"

Before a red-faced prince could answer, Emmeryn came up to us, "If I may, here is the Fire Emblem, brother." The Exalt presented Chrom with a shield with two colored gemstones on it. The prince refused it, but her Highness explained how she was needed back to the capital. Naturally, Chrom and Lissa tried to reason against her logic, but it was ineffective. With saying our farewells, the Shepherds (adding the redhead Pegasus knight) strolled to Ferox to meet up with Flavia, while Emmeryn went back to Ylisstol along with villagers that joined our cause along the way.

The faces on all the Shepherds said what we all thought: Ylisstol is to fall if we don't go back in time. We need the help of the Feroxi if we were to counter the Plegian invasion.

"B-but she's safe inside the castle, right? Phila and the others will protect her! And Khan Flavia is assembling her best troops as we speak. We'll make it back home in time. I know we will!"

If Phila is still alive.

Chrom didn't answer his younger sister. He looked too deep in thought.

"Chrom? Say something! Say, 'Yes, of course we will!'"

"I – I'm sorry. What, Lissa?"

"Ugh, fine! Never mind! Let me know when you get out of your own head for a second!"

Chrom, again, didn't respond. But maybe someone else will make him talk…

The brunette Pegasus knight approached the prince…

"Snap out of it, Captain!" And she delivered a swift punch to the jaw.

This is why I didn't intervene. Too funny.

"OW! What the hell was that for?!" Chrom rubbed his face.

"Oh no! Did I do it wrong? Captain Phila said sometimes a good slap will break someone out of their doldrums."

"Sumia, when you slap someone, you do it with an open palm. You just punched Chrom in the face!" Corrected the blonde.

"Um…it's the thought that counts?"

"But that seriously hurt…" Chrom regained himself.

Flavia entered in, seeing the whole thing, "Ha ha! What's wrong, my dear prince? Sometimes love hurts! You're lucky to have strong women like these, and not just dainty flowers about. In any case, I bring good news. The Feroxi army has finally mobilized. Every last man is itching to fight. I must say, I'm looking forward to savoring a skirmish or two myself."

"Wait. You're coming along?"

"Of course! A khan must have her fun. I'm even bringing my insignificant other, Basilio. The oaf isn't good for much, but he might stop a few stray arrows." I wasn't sure if Flavia and Basilio were actually a 'thing' but I ignored that statement.

Speaking of, the giant, dark man came to greet us, "Chrom! Good gods, I've been looking for you everywhere! Our scouts have reported back. Dark news, I'm afraid...Ylisstol...has fallen."

Even with the reinforcements stationed?! Their army must have been bigger than I remembered.

"The Plegians captured your exalt and retreated back across their lines. Gangrel has declared she's to be publicly executed within the moon."

Chrom and Lissa were too shocked to even say anything, but Flavia broke the silence, "The dastard's not even trying to be subtle anymore."

"I agree," I stated. "It is an obvious trap. They must want the Emblem."

The grizzly khan spoke, "The Mad King knew our scouts would relay this information back. It's clearly a provocation—a hot brand to the buttocks! We should consider our options carefully before jumping to any—"

The fury in Chrom's eyes awoken, "Shepherds! We march to Plegia! I don't care if it's a trap, he's going to murder my sister!"

"Peace, Chrom. Breathe a moment. No one's suggesting we don't act. We're simply saying we should act wisely. We'll need guts AND wits in equal measure if we're to save your sister."

"Chrom, remember the strategy I told you back in Ylisstol? Stick to the plan. You have to trust me."

"Um, what plan is this?" asked a confused Flavia.

"No need to go into details now. But all will be revealed. Sacrifices are a necessity, but they won't be in vain…Eh, sorry. To clarify, we won't be using the Feroxi has human shields or anything of that matter. Point is this: Mad King Gangrel will fall by the sword. End of story."

Flavia took a second, trying to comprehend, but just laughed, "Ha ha! You've got stones, at least. I like that!"

Basilio agreed, "No hesitation, no mincing words. He's either a genius or a fool! I suppose we'll find out once we march. Hold on to your tassets, Ylisseans. We've an exalt to save!"