Chapter Ten
The Ylisseans made it back to Ylisstol with the help of a pink haired dancer made Olivia. There were no heroes return for the Mad King still reigned. Plegia was certainly decimated, but the vibe in the throne did not reflect that. Everyone was either crying or had a look of downcast.
"I, I am sorry, Chrom. It was not enough." I spoke up first to Chrom.
"You did your best, Phil...You have my thanks. It's my own failures that haunt me now. Gods, I was just so powerless!"
"It was not your fault, either."
"She did it for me, Phil. So that I wouldn't have to live with the guilt of either choice, she chose for me. She sacrificed herself rather than give up what could one day save her people."
"Chrom, listen to me. Look at me. I was powerless once, too, remember? And yes, alone, I don't think either one of us is half the person your sister was. But together...maybe we can be something more. If you fall, I'll be there to pull you back up. When you fight for your sister's ideals, I'll be by your side. You don't have to become your sister, you know. You can still be true to yourself. You just have to give people hope in whatever way you can."
Chrom wasn't convinced, "And what if I can't? What if I'm not worthy of her ideals? Phil, what if I drag you down with me?"
"If you aren't worthy, you'll keep at it until you are. And if we both fall down, well, that's what friends are for, isn't it?"
All the other Shepherds added in their two cents of encouragement for the prince. This helped lifted up his spirits, "Thank you all. Truly. You honor me with your fealty. I will not falter again. We shall answer this outrage! The Mad King must be stopped!"
"Right! It's time for ol' Gangrel to get a dose of his own vulnerary! The whole of the Feroxi army is yours to send crashing against him!" The Feroxi female khan banged her sword and shield for support.
"Har! You young folk—your passions run so hot! If I had any gray hairs, you would've singed 'em right off. In other words, count me in!" The other khan also added backing. The pink hair dancer shyly added she wanted to be a Shepherd too; Basilio gave her the blessing to do so, "Har har! She's too modest! Olivia is a Feroxi treasure. You won't meet a finer dancer in all the realms! Her moves inspire soldiers to work twice as hard! You'd do well to bring her along, Commander."
Chrom liked the sound of Commander.
"All right, enough talk. It's time to raise some hell!" said Basilio. "Let's get to it, then! Gangrel may try to hit us while we're still licking our wounds."
"Let him try. This time I'm ready to dethrone the Mad King, once and for all." Chrom raised up his sword and all the Shepherds cheered.
With everyone back up to full morale, the Shepherds went back to the garrison and prepared their weapons and armor for the last assault on Plegia. Tomorrow morning, we deploy. I was reading my tomes to make sure I got all spells correct.
I wonder how I am able to conjure up lightning and fire yet back in the States, there was no such thing. Oh well, whatever.
I made sure to check up and chat with every Shepherd to see how their physical and mental wellbeing was before the battle. All of them had looks of inspiration or determination; actually, all but one.
Cordelia sharpened the blade of her javelin that she made a while ago. Sitting on a crate, something had to be on her mind with her look of laser focus.
"Hey, Cordelia. What are you up to?"
The Pegasus knight looked up and glowed, "Phil! Guess what? I showed my new javelin to everyone in camp. They were all so complimentary! Thank you again for the help."
Such nice words from her. "Don't thank me! You're the one who went out and learned smithery. I'm just glad it all worked out. If only those Pegasus knights could see you now!" I smiled while admiring her lance and herself.
She sighed, "Heh, perhaps they are looking on from the afterlife."
"Um, the afterlife?" I sat down next to her and made room for me.
"Yes, if you believe in such things." Cordelia tilted her head, "You do know the story, don't you? How my fellow knights gave their lives so I could escape and warn your party?"
I forgot about that and how…touchy the subject was.
"Gracious, no! I mean, I knew that some of them. I just...I didn't think those were the same knights who...I'm sorry. I didn't fully understand until this moment."
Liar.
"That's all right. I suppose how I put things is partly to blame."
No, I'm to blame. I foresaw the events and I…didn't save them.
"No one is to blame except…" I couldn't tell her the truth; I didn't have the stones to do so. "Eh, um, so despite all the teasing, they loved you enough in the end to die for you?"
Cordelia was shocked at my statement, "I was surprised, too! It turns out they'd pretty much decided I was the future. The insults and so forth were just the usual hazing of a new recruit." Tears began to form from her almond eyes. "My only regret is...I wish we'd had more time to...get to know each other. I only learned...how much they loved me...in those last, awful moments..." The tears turned to waterfalls down her cheeks.
"Cordelia…" I reached out for her hands and grabbed them.
Wiping away the tears, she regained some composure. She needs to be strong. The Shepherds need her to be strong. Without her at her best, our fight against Gangrel may be a losing one. She means that much to us. And to me.
"R-right, then. Enough self-pity. I don't want to try your patience…But I must say, it does feel good to get this off my chest." She smiled at me with those eyes. Those eyes.
I didn't want to draw attention to me staring at her. A memory came back. "I understand now why you don't like to be called a genius."
"You do?"
"Remember how upset you got the first time I called you that? I thought it reminded you of a sarcastic insult, but in fact it was the opposite. When your comrades sacrificed themselves for you, you realized that they meant it."
Cordelia glowed again, "You're rather clever yourself, working all that out on your own."
"Not clever, no. Just blessed with the kind of insight close friends share. Because I am a close friend now, and I'll always be here for you." I smiled at her but I didn't anticipate receiving arms around my back. I hugged her in return and enjoyed the moment, wishing it wouldn't end. Cordelia teared up again, but I don't think she was depressed this time.
"Oh, Phil…Th-thank you."
"The enemy has taken the field, milord." Aversa glared out into the wasteland. The cool breeze stiffened her spine.
"Back already? Ha! It feels as though we just said our good-byes." Gangrel got up from his throne to see the Shepherds in view.
"Our scouts report they are in surprisingly good spirits."
"Since when do you trust our scouts?" Gangrel scoffed. "Besides, what does it matter? They're armed like beggars compared to us! I could break their ranks as easily as I break wind..." The mad king turned to face the female mage. "Aversa, there is a truth about the world this Ylissean whelp must learn. A man is either strong. Or he is dead! Bwa ha haaa!"
A Plegian soldier dashed from behind and was shaking before breaking the report to the king, "Y-your Highness! Dire news!"
"Oh? Speak." Gangrel, still menacing, raised his eyebrows.
"Our troops are laying down their weapons and deserting in mass! Please, sire... I am but a messenger... Have mercy..." The soldier fell to his knees, hoping for salvation.
The Mad King doesn't earn that title by showing mercy.
Fredrick reported to Chrom, "Milord, I've a report from Khan Flavia. The Plegian army is in disarray."
Chrom stared deep at him. A moment of silence. "How do you mean?"
"It seems many of their soldiers are opposed to further violence. There has been infighting, desertion…Gangrel is trying to stamp out the mutiny by force, but with little success. Outside of a few faithful who serve him directly, his army has all but collapsed."
"This is incredible news. But why?" Chrom remembered his sister. "Emmeryn."
"Yes, milord. Emmeryn. The report says Gangrel's men chant her name as they abandon the field. Her words, and her sacrifice, have made her a folk hero of sorts."
"Emmeryn...Why did it take me so long to understand? She believed all people desire peace. She knew, deep down, the Plegians wanted it, too. It just took her to bring it to the surface. I hope she can see this, wherever she is. Today we put an end to Mad King Gangrel and bring peace back to the land."
I smiled as the other Shepherds came to aid Chrom in comfort. It would be necessary while he approached the tower where Gangrel stood.
"Good day, my little princeling! Still dreaming of your squashed sister?"
Chrom showed little emotion, "No more talk, Gangrel. Today you die, and peace returns to Ylisse and Plegia."
"Pah! Such hypocrisy! You despise me, wretch! You want to cut me down! You don't know the first thing about peace. No man does!"
The prince did not flinch, "I know more than you ever will."
"More than me? More than me?! Bwa ha! You are me! When life asks you a question, you answer with blood!"
"Maybe you're right. I will never be my sister. I cannot forgive men like you—men who sow nothing but evil. All I have left are her words, and her memory. Were I alone, I might be driven to madness. Or worse. But I'm not alone. My friends and brothers-in-arms stand behind me."
Gangrel made a gagging sign, "Are you done? May I vomit now? Bwa ha ha! What a flowery harangue! Men are beasts! Nothing more! We fight! We kill! We devour our prey! Beasts do not stand behind beasts, little prince... They use each other only so long as it suits their own selfish purpose!"
"Perhaps this explains why your own soldiers refuse to stand behind you? You are a poison. A festering wound. And I will do what my sister could not."
"Such a clever tongue you have, little prince. It will look quite fetching hanging on my mantle, next to your sister's corpse!" And with that, the mad king ordered the signal to attack on the wasteland. Plegians came out of the forts and brush, along with wyvern riders in the sky.
The Shepherds countered with Vaike, Sully, Stahl, Panne, and Gregor in the frontlines. Miriel, Libra, Lissa and Donnel offered intermediate support. Olivia used her special dances to inspire the group, of which Stahl appreciated the most of the showings. To attack the wyverns, Sumia and Cordelia were already in the air. I offered to stay back to help the ground troops of Ylisse and Regna Ferox against the Plegians.
The battle would have gone more favorable if we had another healer in the group, but Lissa brought extra healing staves. And with the magic spells for attacking she recently learned, no one dared to call her 'delicate' anymore. I swore I thought I saw a short guy in heavy armor fighting with me, but I couldn't tell. I just assumed it was Kellam. Nowi begged to help in her dragon form, but Fredrick thought the better as her war inexperience may have caused her to kill off more than Plegians. Besides, the front line was doing a great job working together. Vaike, Sully, and Stahl were a natural trio; maybe the poker games they held at night forged such bonds.
With a clearing to the north, and wyverns grounded, Chrom saw his chance to get to Gangrel. He dashed forward as the mad king jumped around the tower to meet the prince.
"Come, princeling! I've sharpened my sword just for you!" Gangrel pointed a Levin sword in his direction.
"My sister wished for our people to know peace, Gangrel. But as long as you draw breath, it can never come. For Ylisse!" Chrom returned the gesture and charged with the Falchion. Gangrel slashed multiple times, but could not land a hit. Even the bolts from the Levin sword bounced off Chrom's sword. Tiring out, the Plegian king took a mighty swing at the prince's head, but left no defense. The Falchion found its way into the ribs of Gangrel, as the crazed king fell to his knees, spewing out blood.
"F-fool of...a prince. Your people care not for you. You are...alone. As every man lives and dies...alone." The mad king died with a sinister smirk to his face.
The remaining Plegian soldiers surrendered in distraught when they witness their king die. Victory after too much bloodshed as the wasteland was painted red.
"We've won." Chrom catching his breath. "Somehow I don't feel like celebrating."
Basilio approached, "Victory can be bitter as well as sweet, boy. It's good you learn that now."
"Regna Ferox lost many good soldiers today. We need to see to our dead. Then it's time to attend to the living and rebuild our army." Flavia wiped her bloodstain axe.
"I'm sorry, Flavia. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Ylisse will compensate your nation in whatever fashion." Chrom bowed.
"Oh? In that case, how about you hand over the Fire Emblem and we'll call it even? Ha! Just a little Feroxi humor. Don't worry about our finances, Chrom. Reparations will fall to Plegia, and I've seen their treasury—they can well afford it."
Basilio pointed at Flavia, "Yes, pity the man who stands between Flavia and a full coffer, boy."
"I'll have to remember that when you come to visit Ylisstol."
The Shepherds came roaring with cheers to the rulers. Vaike was first to greet Chrom with a big man tackle, followed up with a Stahl and Sully dog pile. Laughter ensued as Chrom begged for air with the three on top of him. After the commotion was over, everyone sighed. Hugs went around and many hoorays. I watched in the distance to see the joy we had knowing the enemy was defeated. I wanted to soak in the picture in my mind. The sunset in the horizon was both mesmerizing and disturbing, since we were still on a battlefield. It was well worth this moment of bliss for the Shepherds; all the months of training and adversity paid its due.
The bliss didn't last long for me, however, as I caught the heaviest sigher stare at Chrom. She had that look in her eyes…for him.
So, she still has feelings for him. Well, I think I know what to do now.