The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 91
Ocean of Fire
Robin took a deep breath. Salt air rushed into his lungs, then back out of his mouth. Cool and crisp. Thunder rolled in the distance as the storm drifted further away from the two fleets. His eyes focused on the line of Valmese ships holding position in front of them. He was not sure how many ships actually stood in their way. But there were a lot.
He gripped the rope near his head tight. Steadying his body as the ship lurched forward with a strong gust of wind. Plegian sailors hollered to each other as the sails were adjusted. The wooden mast creaked as the great cloth sail swung to catch the wind. White water hammered against the hull as they gained speed.
Robin glanced back. Two other ships followed the flagship. Each ship filled with soldiers and sailors ready to do battle with the Valmese on the open ocean. Behind those ships, the truly deadly force of the Archanean fleet. Five empty ships. Their crew, their soldiers, all loaded onto other vessels. Squeezed into whatever space they could while their ships were loaded with oil. Skeleton crews remained aboard those ships. Just enough men to make sure that they stayed on course. And when the battle was joined, they would attempt to reunite with the three attacking warships.
The strategy was fairly simple in Robin's mind. But it carried tremendous risk. He shifted his grip on the rope. Knuckles white with tension and nervousness.
"Relax." Ben said beside him.
Robin glanced over at Ben. For the first time since the Plegian war, they would be engaging in a full scale battle. There would be death on a mass scale. By the end of the day, the decks of their ships will be slick with blood and gore. Dead men will be floating in the waves. And, if Robin's strategy actually worked, fire will dance upon the ocean.
"I'm starting to agree with Basilio." Robin breathed. He reached to his neck and attempted to scratch an itch that sat just beneath the ill fitted leather armor covering his torso. "I'm insane."
He had to be insane. Only a maniac would risk his ships, his Prince and Khans, his friends, in a desperate tactic like this. Robin's mouth felt dry at that thought. People were going to die in this battle. It was likely some of his friends would die here, hundreds of miles from home. On his orders. A weight rested on his shoulders that threatened to crush him and send him sinking into the waves.
He did not want to lose another Shepherd. Ricken's death sent shock waves through the group. It made him wonder what he could have done to prevent his death. If he had been awake and capable of fighting, would Ricken be alive. It made him second guess his decisions. Second guess his strategies. He could not bear to lose another.
Ben chuckled, "That insanity is what the Valmese are not expecting." He patted Robin's shoulder, "Rest in the Force, Robin. Let it guide you. It will not lead you astray."
Robin gave Ben a small nod.
He really hoped Ben was right. He hoped the Force would protect him and his friends. He hoped that it guided this strategy. That he was not actually mad.
The risks in this strategy were enormous. The Valmese outnumbered them by at least ten to one. And that was just the number of vessels, not soldiers. Naga knew how many soldiers and sailors each Valmese warship held.
The enemy could box their warships in, forcing Robin to activate the strategy while they were all still within the danger zone. That meant they would be roasted alive on the ocean. The Valmese could also sink all of the attacking Archanean ships before the strategy could be executed. Leaving the rest of the Archanean fleet vulnerable and leaderless.
He still did not like that last wrinkle. Basilio, Flavia, and Chrom all wanted to take part in this battle. They demanded to be on the front lines. Basilio commanded one ship. Flavia commanded another. Chrom joined Robin and Ben on the lead warship. Most of the Shepherds followed their Captain into battle. Robin glanced back at them.
Frederick, Cordelia, Kellam, Gregor, and Lon'qu stood in the front row on the deck. Armored and ready for battle. Grim faced. Each one knew what was coming. They were veterans of many battles. Hardened warriors that knew the horror bearing down upon them. Behind them stood Sully, Vaike, Stahl, Donnel, and Gaius. Sully had an eager grin on her face. Vaike bounced up and down on his toes. An easy action for him since he still refused to wear any protective armor despite Miriel and Laurent's protests.
Virion, Tharja, Miriel, Henry, and Anna made up the third row. The ranged attackers with a close range bodyguard. Anna proved to be very capable in combat. And she also had a small affinity for healing with a staff. Robin considered those skills invaluable in this situation. There was no way they could extract the wounded from the battlefield today. Any wounded soldiers would have to be treated on the decks with the battle taking place around them.
He thanked Naga Libra joined them on this ship. The priest had to be one of the greatest healers Robin had ever witnessed. Libra personally tended to Robin's wounds many times, including recently when something attacked his mind. The tactician felt confident that any wounded would be taken care of with him around. And anyone who dared to try and harm those wounded would meet a harsh end. Libra knew how to swing an ax. He already proved he was not afraid to use it.
The final row had Cherche, Sumia, Panne, and Laurent. Sumia rode atop her Pegasus. Cherche straddled her Wyvern, Minerva. Both ready to take flight in case the battle went south. The two riders were their last hope to deliver a retreat message to the rest of the fleet if Robin's strategy failed. If such a terrible outcome happened (Naga forbid), then both would fly back to the fleet where the rest of the Shepherds; led by Dooku, Maribelle, and Lucina; waited. And those Shepherds were rather irate with his decision.
But in Robin's mind, he needed insurance in case the attack failed. Dooku had Ben's powers. Was arguably as strong, if not stronger, than Ben himself. He could provide an incredible defense for Lissa, Maribelle, and Lucina. The three of which would assume command of the fleet if Chrom, Basilio, and Flavia all fell in battle.
Lucina argued with him and Ben till she was red in the face over being left out of the battle. Ben was quick to remind her that she was still limited by her arm. Or more accurately, the lack of one. Ben did not doubt her tenacity in battle. But he did not want her to risk herself unless absolutely necessary. And in the end, with Severa and Owain siding with Ben, she relented. Reluctantly of course.
Dooku agreed with Robin's decision. He actually called it, "The only sound strategic decision you have made in this entire campaign". Dooku chose Olivia, Severa, and Owain to assist him in defending the rest of the fleet and the more vulnerable Shepherds. Especially Nowi, Lissa, and Maribelle.
The rest of the Shepherds did not know about Nowi's… condition yet. Robin, Ben, and Tharja kept that very close to the chest for the moment. Mostly because they were not sure how to approach such a situation. If they should even approach it at all. Any child Nowi bore would be her responsibility, and it was her decision on who should know about it. But that did not mean Robin would let the Manakete risk herself and her unborn child. He would not be able to forgive himself if she was harmed. They already lost Ricken. They could not lose Nowi too.
Lissa and Maribelle stayed behind because of their lack of combat expertise and their status in the Ylissean ruling hierarchy. If Sumia and Chrom both fell in battle, Lissa would have to take the mantle of Exalt until Princess Lucina was old enough to rule. Maribelle ruled over the largest territory in Ylisse. The last of her bloodline as well. If she died, Themis would have a massive power vacuum. It could descend into chaos. And as much as Plegia offered to help them, Robin did not trust the desert nation. A chaos riddle Themis was a weak Themis. A weak Themis meant a weak border. And Plegia would take full advantage of that, regardless of the threat from Valm.
Robin took another breath. They were halfway to the enemy now. Several Valmese ships broke formation and lumbered towards them. Ready to meet them in battle. Valmese soldiers and sailors moved along the deck. Preparing weapons, tying down lines, loading arrows and ballistae.
Ballistae!?
"Shit." Robin spat.
"Shields!" Ben hollered over the sea spray.
Feroxi soldiers raised their shields near the sides of the ship.
Massive arrows screamed through the air. Steel tips hammered against the ship's hull. Robin's eyes widened and ducked to the side as one came dangerously close to hitting him. Several arrows hit their mark. Robin heard Feroxi soldiers and Plegian sailors screaming. Some just fell silent to the deck. A wet thunk the only sound they managed to make.
Libra and Anna moved into action to treat the wounded.
"Archers! Mages!" Ben barked.
Robin glanced over at Ben. The Jedi did not even flinch from the ballistae volley.
The archers knocked their arrows. Tharja, Miriel, and Laurent readied spells.
"Return fire!" Ben bellowed.
Arrows soared at the Valmese ships. Three thunder spells arced through the air. The static made the hair on Robin's arms stand on end.
The Valmese cried out in alarm from the spells. All three hit their mark, blasting holes into the top deck of the enemy's lead ship and setting some small fires. Arrows peppered the Valmese. Robin heard men screaming. He looked at the enemy with wide eyes as they got closer.
They were packed tighter than sardines. One volley of arrows, and dozens of Valmese lay dead or dying on the deck. And not a single healer moved to help the dying. Robin gulped. Outnumbered, and (judging by the ballistae), outgunned. Could they actually win this fight?
Rest in the Force.
Chrom strode up from the first line to stand beside Robin and Ben. Falchion glimmered as the sun peeked through the grey skies.
"Ready?" The Ylissean Prince asked both men.
It was weird to see Chrom actually wearing heavy armor. Robin was used to seeing the Prince where leather plates to protect himself. Those usually went beneath his travel attire. Which gave off an armor-less appearance. But now, Chrom wore silver armor, gauntlets, and greaves that protected every inch of his body. As ruler of Ylisse, he needed to wear such armor. If for no other reason, than because both Sumia and Frederick insisted upon it.
Ben drew his rapier. Robin opened his spell book.
"As we'll ever be." Robin replied.
"BRACE!" Ben shouted.
The Valmese fired their ballistae one more time. Steel tipped arrows skipped across the deck. More Feroxi and Plegians fell dead to the deck. Splinters of wood zipped through the air from where the arrows slammed into the deck railing.
The Plegian sea captain cursed and furiously turned the wheel.
Robin's eyes widened. The Valmese on the other ship hollered and cursed. They were going to collide!
The impact sent Robin off of his feet, sliding along the deck, and rolling over onto his stomach as the two ships slid against each other. Both ships ground to a halt. As Robin lay dazed on the deck, he heard Valmese war cries erupt through the air. Gangplanks slammed against the deck. Valmese soldiers charged across.
"Get up, Robin!" Ben tugged Robin to his feet, "This is no time to lie around!"
"I was not trying to!" Robin hissed back.
Rest in the force. He sucked in a sharp breath and blasted a quick wind spell into the Valmese that poured onto the ship. Sending several Valmese soldiers falling into the ocean's waiting embrace.
The first line of Shepherds met the charging Valmese and stopped them. Frederick and Kellam held off a large group of Valmese on their own. Kellam blocked any attack against Frederick with his shield while Frederick lashed out with his blade. Felling any Valmese that dared to come up against him. Chrom and Lon'qu worked in tandem beside them. Both men were whirlwinds of steel. Slicing through charging grunts with ease. Cordelia and Gregor covered their flanks. Doing their best to keep any Valmese from making it over the gangplank and onto the ship itself.
But there was so many of them. Another gangplank hit the deck.
"Sully, Stahl! Move to stop them!" Robin ordered.
The two Ylissean knights raced to the second gangplank. Ben rushed with them. The trio blocked off an advancing group of heavily armored infantrymen. When the flow became too much, Ben extended a palm and sent dozens flying back onto their ship or overboard into the ocean.
"Robin!" Tharja shouted over the loud clashes of steal.
She pointed behind him. Robin spun around.
A second Valmese ship rammed into their port side. The ship lurched. The defensive lines staggered as the deck rolled beneath their feet. Valmese soldiers charged onto the deck.
Gaius, Donnel, and Vaike sprinted to meet them. Virion pivoted and fired arrow after arrow into the mass of Valmese soldiers pouring out of the enemy ship. Tharja gathered a ball of dark magic into her hand and delivered a devastating strike against the enemy. Henry cackled gleefully as he sent a nasty hex straight into a poor Valmese swordsman. The man fell to his knees screaming as dozens of cuts opened up beneath his armor.
Robin grit his teeth and blasted a thunder spell at the nearest Valmese soldier that managed to get past Sully, Stahl, and Vaike. Robin sucked in a sharp breath when the man screamed then fell down in a static filled heap.
The man twitched a couple times. Then lay still.
"Don't stare! Keep firing!" Tharja barked next to him as she unleashed a torrent of dark magic on the enemy.
"Wee!" Henry cheered as he sent a couple soldiers screaming to a watery grave.
Robin shook his head. Rest in the Force. Let it guide you.
"Use my power…"
"Let me feed."
A sharp pain snapped through Robin's mind. He cringed and fell to a knee. One hand shook as he reached up and massaged his temple. A sharp ringing danced through his mind.
A loud cry of pain hit his ears, snapping him back to reality. Robin's heart jumped to his throat.
The tide proved too much for Donnel, Sully, and Stahl. A sword protruded from Sully's abdomen. Stahl raced to her and started pulling the furious knight back towards Anna and Libra. Donnel did his best to defend them.
Tharja and Henry hammered the attacking Valmese with spell after spell. Donnel fought with grace and precision. A fighting style that emulated Dooku's.
But it proved ill equipped for the mass of enemies bearing down on him.
Robin's mouth fell open in horror when a lance burrowed into Donnel's side. Henry blasted the attacker away from Donnel while Tharja reached for the farmboy and caught him as he fell.
"Libra!" Tharja screamed.
Robin's breaths came and went in quick, sharp pants. Panic rose inside of him. The ship shuddered again. A Valmese ship slammed against their bow. The impact sent him flying backwards. His head smacked against the mast. Stars danced in his eyes. His head pounded.
The world went quiet. The din of battle became dull. Robin stared ahead as a gangplank slammed onto the bow. Valmese soldiers rushed aboard. Ben broke away from his defensive position and moved to intercept them. One of his hands twitched towards his lightsaber. But before Ben could draw it, the Valmese were on top of him. And he engaged in a deadly dance against waves of enemy infantry.
Blood soaked the deck. Valmese and Feroxi corpses littered the deck. The waves turned red beneath the ship as more bodies fell to a watery grave. Robin's eyes fell on Libra and Anna as they worked furiously on Donnel and Sully.
Donnel lay still at Libra's knees. Libra's staff glowed a brilliant emerald color as the priest worked to stop the bleeding. Sully kicked and cursed as Anna tried to heal her. The Knight demanded to pay the Valmese back in kind. And she did not want to wait.
Vaike fell back to defend the healers. Kellam stepped in front of Sully and took a glancing blow to his thigh. The only defensive position holding strong was where Frederick, Cordelia, and Chrom fought.
They were overwhelmed. The Valmese did not employ any specific strategy. They just poured upon them like unyielding waves. A never ending tide of disposable bodies meant to clobber an opponent into submission. A callous waste of life. But it worked.
Robin choked as he saw Donnel lift a trembling hand skyward. Libra shouted something at Miriel. The mage scrambled to Donnel's side and pulled an elixir from a pouch on her hip.
He was dying.
They were all dying.
They would all die.
A voice whispered in his mind.
"Only if you let them."
NO!
Power flooded Robin's veins. A rush of cold slammed into his skin. Goosebumps formed along his arms, hidden by his coat's sleeves. The tactician grit his teeth and rose to his feet. He cast his spell book to the side.
A Valmese soldier rushed him. He raised his sword. Ready to cleave the tactician in two.
"Kill THEM ALL! SavE YoUR FRIEnds!"
Blue lightning burst from Robin's fingertips. The bolts slammed into the Valmese soldier. He screamed for a split second. Then collapsed to the deck. Little plumes of smoke swirled up from the charred body.
Three other Valmese soldiers saw Robin. They glanced at their friend. And through the Force, Robin felt their fear.
Good. He thought as he drank in the power he felt. Reveled in the focus it gave him as he sank into its embrace. He gave another glance at the others.
Frederick struggled with a wound in his right hip. But he fought on. Gregor shouldered Cordelia as she limped backwards. Fighting off Valmese as they tried to surround the pair. Henry and Tharja held the center of the ship. Preventing any from reaching Libra, Anna, and the wounded. Chrom and Vaike rushed towards the wheel in order to protect the Plegia captain. If they lost control of the wheel, they lost control of the ship. Their means of escape would be gone.
Out of the corner of his eye, Robin saw the oil laden ships slip past the Valmese ships. Protected by Flavia and Basilio's ships. As he thought, the Valmese did not employ a strategy when they attacked his ship. They only sought to kill as many Archaneans as the could. They wanted to kill as many of his friends as they killed.
Anger swelled up inside of Robin.
"DAMN YOU!" Robin screamed.
A storm of lightning surged from his hands as a hideous howl roared in his ears. A dozen Valmese soldiers crumpled to the deck. Burnt alive by the blue tendrils of lightning. A display that gave the other charging soldiers pause.
Robin stepped forward. Images of the war with Plegia flashed in his mind. Exalt Emmeryn's death flashed in his mind. Lucina's wounds flashed in his mind. Ricken's funeral flashed in his mind.
Nowi's mournful cries rang in his ears.
Robin drew his sword with his right hand. In his left hand, more lightning danced on his fingertips. The cold he felt in the force enveloped him. And he welcomed it.
"I will not lose another!"
Ben buried his rapier into a Valmese soldier. He tugged back on it. The blade did not budge.
"Kriff." He hissed.
A warning rang out in the Force. Ben followed its wisdom. He rolled to the side. Avoiding impalement upon a Valmese lance. He stretched out a palm and sent a group of six Valmese flying off of the side of the ship. Including the body that held his rapier. A curse escaped his lips.
He was reluctant to use his lightsaber. The battlefield grew tighter all around him. One wrong swipe of his blade, and one wrong step by one of the Shepherds, and the sapphire blade could end up taking the limb off of a friend. Or worse, a life.
He could not forgive himself if that happened. And yet, as he looked around, Ben realized he did not have a choice.
Most of the Shepherds had minor wounds. He could sense fear and pain radiating from them. Through that fear and pain, their courage burst forth. Tharja and Henry led a desperate defensive. Hurling spells left and right as they tried to prevent the horde of Valmese from reaching the growing number of wounded tended to by Libra and Anna. Anna occasionally broke away from her healing in order to plunge her shortsword into a Valmese soldier that got too close for comfort.
Chrom, Frederick, Vaike, and Gaius fought towards the wheel of the Plegian ship. Their ship captain still stood along with a few of his crew. They mounted a strong defense against the few Valmese that decided to charge them instead of the Shepherds. Ben knew what Chrom was trying to do. Keep the enemy of the ship captain so that they could somehow sail out of this mess.
If they even could.
Sumia and Cherche's mounts flapped their wings. Both took to the air as the area on the deck shrank. Virion ran out of arrows. The frilly archer drew a dagger and did everything in his power to fend off the Valmese trying to circle around the wounded. Panne clawed and bit the enemy. Mauling them before they could raise their blade against her.
Sully roared and fought despite a devastating wound to her abdomen. The woman refused to quit. Kellam hopped alongside her. All of his weight on one leg while he nursed a bloody wound in his other thigh. Stahl covered Sully's other flank with Lon'qu. The knight and the swordsman were the only two Shepherds not sporting any bloody gashes. But dried blood caked their hands and the hilts of their swords. Gore coated their boots. Red splotches littered their armor. Two whirlwinds of blood and death that refused to give ground to the Valmese despite their overwhelming numbers.
Through the chaos, Ben saw Miriel and Libra working furiously on Donnel. Through the force, he sensed the boy fading. Miriel poured another vulnary over the bleeding wound, causing Donnel to let out an ear piercing scream.
Another warning in the force ripped Ben's focus away from his friends. He ducked beneath a wild slash. His fist slammed into the lightly armored side of a Valmese swordsman. Ribs cracked beneath the blow as he allowed the Force to bolster his strength. The attacker crumpled to the deck, then disappeared behind another wave of infantrymen swarming over the gangplank on the bow.
A ballista arrow shrieked through the air. Ben ducked to the side. But not fast enough. He felt steel graze his right shoulder. Hot blood ran down his arm. A curse slipped from his lips as he jumped back from a pair of lances.
He had no other options now. The fighting space condensed down to just a few feet of room. The others would have to watch out for him. He needed to drive off as many of the Valmese as he could.
Ben reached for his lightsaber. As his fingers brushed against the cold metal, a frozen wave erupted in the force. Slamming into him like a blizzard.
Ben paled as he felt the fury of the dark side bellow out around him. He whipped his gaze over to the source.
Lighting pierced half a dozen Valmese soldiers. Ben could see their bones through the flashes of light that erupted from their bodies. They all crumpled to the deck. The smell of cooked meat permeated the air. Making Ben nauseous.
The nausea grew when he heard a furious roar come from Robin.
The tactician stood near the mast. Sword in one hand, force lightning in the other. The roar echoed in Ben's ears. Reverberated through the force. Chills rushed over his body as Robin's eyes flickered a blazing yellow color for the briefest of moments.
"Oh no." Ben breathed.
Robin surged into the throngs of Valmese soldiers. His sword slashed into their ranks with all of the fury and precision of a berserker. Lighting leaped from his fingertips. Directionless, aimless, chaotic. Several bolts slammed into the planks near Tharja and Henry, causing both to scamper back from Robin.
"Robin, don't do this." Ben breathed as he drew his lightsaber and ignited the blade.
A Valmese soldier howled as he severed the man's right arm at the elbow. His next stroke slashed through the chests of three more Valmese.
The strange weapon gave the enemy pause. Reluctant to go up against a weapon that made their armor look like nothing more that wet paper. Ben twirled his weapon in his hand. He closed his eyes and wrapped himself in the Force. If his friends were to survive this battle, if he was to survive this overwhelming wave of enemies, he needed to rely on its will to guide him. He needed to calm his mind and focus.
Waves of darkness blanketed the Force. He could feel Robin's fury, pain, and fear. The tactician gave into a wave of anger that caused his latent force abilities to erupt from within him. The power he displayed boggled Ben's mind. He sensed an untapped well in the force. Black as the midnight sky. As cold as Regna Ferox's frozen wastes. A feeling Ben had only sensed from very few individuals.
The first was not Maul, surprisingly enough. Maul exuded an unfettered hatred and rage that burned hot in the force. It numbed the dark side's usual cold feeling. The mark of an inexperienced dark side adept. An apprentice. Although, the last time Ben fought Maul in Plegia, that had been tempered significantly.
No, this tremendous cold came from someone who embraced the dark side of the force. Reveled in its power. Listened to its sinister whispers and enjoyed sinking into its frozen waters. Ben never faced the man this feeling reminded him of. But he felt it across the stars when the Jedi Purge began.
The dark mass of power buried inside of Robin felt like Sidious. Cold, ruthless, unfeeling. Reveling in the terror it instilled in its enemies. Drinking in their fear and feeding upon the death sewed by its dark abilities. It made focusing difficult for Ben. The light side of the force practically shrank away from the fury of it.
When Ben opened his eyes again, a pulse took him off of his feet, along with the Valmese soldiers near him. He hit the deck hard. Spots danced in his vision. Ben shook his head, spat out bloody salt water, and pushed himself back to his feet.
The Valmese recovered from their shock and charged once again. The chaos returned. Only more ferocious than before as Robin's out of control powers continued to explode out of him.
Ben twirled his lightsaber and cut through the Valmese waves. This battle needed to end swiftly. He needed to get the Valmese ships that slammed into their own to retreat. Once they were away, the Plegian captain could guide the ship back to the Archanean fleet. Away from the impending inferno.
And the sooner this battle ended, the sooner Ben could turn his attention to the rampaging Robin.
Ben attacked. The Valmese backpedaled away from him. Their encirclement collapsed as Robin's fury forced one group of Valmese back over their gangplank and onto their ship. Ben unleashed a force push that scattered another group. Any reinforcements hesitated to cross over the gangplanks.
As more space opened up, Tharja and Henry unleashed the magic they had left. Black and purple balls of dark magic exploded into the Valmese ranks both on board the Plegian ship and aboard the trio of Valmese ships. Chrom and a limping Frederick rushed down from the wheel back towards the front lines. Gaius shouldered Vaike as he helped the wounded man towards Miriel and Libra. A bloody gash ran over his chest. Another war scar Teach could boast about once it healed.
Chrom rushed to Ben's side. Falchion sang through the air as it cut down a Valmese soldier. Ben spun around Chrom and slashed a lance in two before it could pierce the Prince. He slipped to Chrom's side and shoved an enemy back with the force. Chrom lunged forward and plunged Falchion through that same man's gut.
The ship rocked. Ben glanced to the port side. The attacking ship on that side tried to pull away from the furious lightning storm generated by Robin. Before it could, Robin uttered a furious roar.
Ben's eyes widened as the hull on the enemy's ship cracked. Wood splintered. The mast on the Valmese ship uttered a loud groan. Panicked voices rose up as the sail fell to the deck.
The dark side of the force screamed around Robin. The chill in the air grew as he became even more unstable. Lightning danced from his hands in every direction. The bolts now coming dangerously close to hitting the Shepherds instead of the enemy.
This needs to end. Now!
"Chrom!" Ben cried over the clash of steel.
Chrom blocked two swords then shoved both blades back, "Yeah?"
"Give me space."
Chrom nodded, "Frederick, Cordelia, Gaius, protect Ben with me! Tharja, Henry give us some time!"
Ben stepped back. His lightsaber switched off with a loud hiss. Cordelia stepped in front of him. Her lance caught another lance. She twisted her weapon then brought her foot down on the shaft of the enemy's lance. Snapping the wooden shaft into splinters.
"Whatever you're going to do Ben, do it fast!" She cried.
Ben locked eyes with the ship smashed against their bow. On board that ship, hollering orders at the Valmese soldiers, was an older, weathered man in heavy, red armor. He carried a massive shield in his right hand. A javelin sat in his left. The Valmese commander. If he could take him down, the enemy would be leaderless. It would buy the oil laden Archanean ships more time as the Valmese tried to regain order.
Ben took a deep breath and closed his eyes. This would be difficult. He had not pushed his Force Powers this much since his arrival on this planet. The most he had ever attempted were simple pushes, jumps, and a mind trick or two. What he was about to do was much more difficult.
He fell into the waters of the Force. Felt its currents envelope him. It's power coursed into his veins. Through his closed eyes, he saw the Valmese flagship. He saw her commander and all of its soldiers and crew. He saw the splintered wood on its bow from where it smashed against his own ship. He saw the arrows littering its deck. The scorch marks and gashes in the wood from lightning and wind spells. The blast marks from dark magic. He sensed the anxiety of her crew, the determination of her soldiers, the confidence of her commander.
He raised both hands and curled his fingers. His jaw clenched tight as the weight of the entire Valmese ship slammed into him. He tuned out the sounds of battle. Tuned out the dying cries of men. Tuned out Cordelia shouting for him to hurry up.
There was only himself, the ship, and the Force.
Ben let out a shaky breath. He gripped the ship. The muscles in his arms tightened. Pressure built up in his fingertips.
The ship groaned. Water rushed around it. Ben sensed the confidence in the Valmese commander evaporate.
"Naga above!" Chrom cried.
The Valmese ship rose out of the water. Water cascaded down from her sides. The soldiers aboard the ship cried out in terror as they rose higher above the ocean surface. The gangplank connecting both ships collapsed into the sea, stranding some Valmese soldiers aboard the Archanean vessel.
Ben's muscles felt like they were on fire. His breaths turned into short, rasping gasps as he struggled to lift the ship higher. His hands rose as the ship floated higher.
Just… a little… more.
Ben cracked an eye open. Sweat caked his brow. His arms trembled above his head.
"Tharja, Henry." He croaked, "Blast it!"
The two dark mages summoned their most powerful spells and fired them at the exposed hull. A fiery explosion ripped through the air. The force of which broke Ben's concentration. With a loud gasp, Ben let his hands fall back down to his sides.
He collapsed to his hands and knees. And the Valmese ship plummeted back down into the waves.
The Valmese aboard the ship screamed and panicked. Terror rushed through their ranks. But through the force, Ben sensed resignation from the Valmese commander. Water rushed into the ship. And soon, the waves consumed her.
Ben grit his teeth. Every fiber in his body felt like it had been set on fire. It had been ages since he pushed his powers to their limit like that.
I need to train more.
Before any of the Shepherds could ask how the hell he managed to do that, a blast of lightning slammed into the deck near Ben. Puncturing a hole into the wooden planks. Ben recoiled back.
Robin had turned around to face the last Valmese ship attached to their ship. His eyes had turned from the kind brown, to a blazing yellow. The Dark Side of the Force ran through his very core. Controlled every volatile action and every chaotic burst of power.
If he continued on like this, Robin would not only destroy the Valmese. He would destroy the Shepherds as well.
Ben sprinted towards Robin. He ducked beneath a bolt of lightning then skidded to a stop in front of the tactician.
"Robin!" Ben shouted.
"Out of my way." Robin snarled with a voice that did not sound like his own.
Ben grabbed him by the front of his coat, "Snap out of it! Before you kill us all!"
Robin blinked. Sparks flickered in his palm. The yellow glow in his eyes faded. Behind Ben, the remaining Valmese scrambled back to the safety of their ship. Pushed there by a renewed counterattack led by Chrom and Frederick.
Robin saw the enemies retreat. His eyes fell on the wounded between him and the enemy. He saw Donnel laying in a pool of blood. And for a split second, the rage returned.
"Robin, don't give in to it." Ben pleaded, "This is not you."
The tactician glanced at the damage around him. Scars from his lightning littered the deck. Charred bodies surrounded him. The ship that had been against their port side limped back towards the Valmese fleet, barely afloat. And the other Shepherds regarded him with fear.
Their fear snapped him back.
"B-Ben?" Robin swallowed hard, the brown color returned to his eyes.
"The ships made it!" Henry shouted as he stood near the bow.
Robin shook his head. He pushed the sudden guilt and horror he had down.
"Full retreat." He muttered, "Or else we will be engulfed in the fire."
Ben nodded, "Pull back." He told the ship captain.
The Plegian captain spun the wheel. The sail's groaned on the mast. The rudder shifted and the ship lumbered around. Basilio and Flavia's ships followed. Both racing away as the now derelict, oil laden ships were engulfed by the Valmese formation.
Ben waited for Robin to give the signal. A well placed fireball would spark the trap. But the tactician seemed too out of it. Too horrified by his own actions to think at the moment. Ben took a deep breath and looked at Miriel.
"Miriel!" Ben called, "Set them ablaze!"
Miriel nodded. She sprinted to the bow, cracked open her spell book, and fired.
The fireball arced through the air. It flew for forever. Soaring over the first line of Valmese warships towards the last oil laden ship. The only one still in range for Miriel.
The fire hit the ship. The Valmese ships, crews, and captains all realized too late what was happening.
An explosion ripped through the air. The ocean burned.
It had been a good many years since Dooku enjoyed a voyage upon open waters. Under normal circumstances, the soft breeze and chilled air would have been mildly relaxing. The sun was not overbearing. Most of its rays were hidden behind a thin blanket of grey clouds. The salt air revitalized his lungs with each breath. Rejuvenated his spirit. All he needed was a comfortable chair, a good drink, and perhaps a lovely book and this would be a delightful afternoon.
That, and the lack of a battle would help. Dooku frowned as one hand twisted the leather gauntlet on his right wrist.
Armor, how pathetic. A master in the force did not require such trivial means of protection. And yet, everyone that outranked him insisted on it. Of course, he could have refused. But given his delicate place as a person of leadership in Themis, it was probably best to lead by example. Although, he would be damned if he followed Kenobi and wore anything more than simple wrist guards.
Now that he thought about it, the wrist guards were rather comforting. Especially given the embarrassing way he lost to Skywalker aboard the Invisible Hand.
Perhaps I should reconsider my approach. He drummed his fingers along his right gauntlet. Cortosis would be much better than leather.
Dooku heard Lucina utter a worried sigh as she stood beside him on the bow of the ship. Dooku paid her no mind. Let her worry. If she was half the person Kenobi though she was, she would know that worrying never helped anyone.
Perhaps Mandalorian Steel gauntlets? If I ever get the chance to get my hands on that again.
Lucina jumped and took a step back. Dooku frowned and gave her a withering look.
"They are just boarding parties, Lucina. Calm down." The old man advised as he folded his hands in front of his body.
"From what I sense it is a lot more than mere boarding parties." Lucina huffed.
A cold wind whipped around the bow of the ship. Lucina's cape flapped, unveiling the stump of her right arm. She quickly reached out and snatched her cape. Dragging it back over to its place. Concealing the long healed wound.
Dooku raised an eyebrow, "You should not be ashamed of such a thing."
Lucina's jaw tightened, "I don't like being reminded of it."
Dooku snorted, "No one likes to be reminded of their failures, but that does not mean you have to bury your head in the sand when those reminders come."
"I am not burying my head in the sand." Lucina hissed.
"Is the cape not your sand?"
Lucina's eyes glanced back and forth. Never making eye contact with Dooku's piercing, nearly judgmental gaze.
"Quit talking in riddles." She finally muttered, returning her attention to the battle playing out in the distance.
Dooku gave her a smug grin, "You are a Jedi now. Get used to them."
She shook her head and let out another heavy sigh, "I should be out there."
"But you cannot."
"Do you have to reply to my every thought!?" Lucina snapped.
"If they were simple thoughts you would not be saying them out loud." Dooku glowered down at her, "And what I just said is true. If you went into that battle, you would not last very long."
"How would you know that?" Lucina scowled as she kept her gaze focused on the horizon. Where hundreds of Valmese ships waited for them.
"Because the numbers would overwhelm you. You do not have your full strength with that arm. You could fight. But you would die. And there is no sense in throwing your life away needlessly."
"So I'm never going to fight again?" Lucina glared back at Dooku, "Because as far as I know, I'm not capable of regrowing a limb."
Dooku gave her a small smirk, "Perhaps not with this world's technology."
Lucina narrowed her eyes, "What are you saying?"
Small footsteps interrupted their conversation. Nowi stood on the other side of Dooku. Her eyes also fixated on the battle between the the three Archanean ships sent to escort Robin's trap, and the Valmese defense. The Manakete still did not seem like her old self. Although, Dooku could not blame her.
Despite being one thousand years old, she lacked a certain maturity that would have helped her through Ricken's passing. Although, he also did not understand why she was so upset about his death. It was not like the pair were anything more than friends.
He sensed something strange for a brief second. A second life force inside of Nowi. Small and faint. And he suddenly regretted his rather harsh thoughts.
"Are they going to be okay?" Nowi asked, her voice very quiet as the waves rocked their ship up and down.
"Yeah." Lucina nodded. Although, her tone sounded unconvincing, "I'm sure they will be."
"Have confidence in Kenobi, Robin, and Chrom." Dooku advised both, "Those three are capable warriors. And Kenobi will not allow anything too devastating to happen."
Nowi gave him a small nod, "Good."
She sniffled a little bit and shivered as the wind picked up. Plegian sailors adjusted the sails behind them in order to prevent their ship from lurching towards the heated battle.
"They better win." Nowi gulped, "Ricken would want them to win."
"And they will." Dooku nodded.
Lucina gasped as a third Valmese ship careened into the bow of the flagship. Dooku furrowed his brow. He could sense some panic growing among their allies aboard the flagship. If something did not happen soon, the flagship would be overwhelmed.
He flicked his gaze along the horizon and spotted Flavia and Basilio's ships grabbing the skeleton crews from the floating bombs disguised as actual ships. The Khans were not going into the jaws of the Valmese fleet. A wise decision. Once inside the mass of enemy ships there would be no escaping. Dooku only hoped someone hit one of the oil ships with a well placed fireball or flaming arrow. If they failed to do that, then all of this effort and sacrifice would be for nothing.
This strategy felt way too risky. Dooku did not like it at all. He viewed Robin's idea as utterly insane. In this instance, he would have followed the example of General Grievous and retreated. Live to fight another day instead of taking a dangerous chance like this. So many variables lay beyond their control. If even one went awry, the entire strategy could fail.
Valmese sailors poured onto the flagship. Their red armor swarmed over the deck. He lost sight of the Shepherds as they were caught in the endless, red wave.
"We need to help them!" Lucina hissed.
"If we go in there now, we will be caught in the inferno." Dooku reminded her as he watched the oil ships lumber into the waiting arms of the Valmese fleet. Basilio and Flavia's ships were already racing back towards the Archanean fleet.
"But we must do something!"
"And risk other lives in the process." Dooku snarled, catching Lucina off guard with his anger, "You need to learn when a battle in unwinnable, Lucina. Sometimes retreat is the only option."
And it is looking more and more like that is what we must do.
If the flagship was overwhelmed, then no one would be able to ignite the oil. The ships would just be captured. The Valmese fleet would proceed unharmed towards Port Ferox. And this entire voyage would be a disaster.
Dooku glanced over his shoulder at the two blonde women nervously watching the battle. Lissa and Maribelle would assume command of the Ylissean military. Prince Chrom's younger sister would be named Exalt (if she chose to take such a title). The war would turn into a defensive struggle. And they would rely on his expertise in war when that happened.
He noticed Nowi fidgeting with something in her right hand. A shiny, pale stone. Glossy, rather pretty to look at. He could sense a strange power radiating from it. As if it contained a vast well of strength that only the little Manakete could tap into.
That stone must facilitate her bizarre transformation.
"Don't even think about it." he warned Nowi, surprising the Manakete, "You no longer have the luxury of worrying about one life."
Lucina blinked, "What?"
Before she could ask any more questions, the dark side of the force roared. Lucina and Nowi both recoiled as the force growled and snarled around them. The chill on the wind turned colder. Dooku could see his breath misting out in front of his face.
"Naga…" Lucina breathed as she stared at the battle with terror.
Dooku furrowed his brow. The dark side did not alarm him. At this point, he was very familiar with the feeling. But he could not pinpoint where exactly this wave of power was coming from.
It would not be Kenobi. Obi Wan was a powerful Jedi, but he had been slacking off in recent years in regards to his formal force training. Something Dooku very much disapproved of. Even if he had been in peak condition, Kenobi would not be able to call upon the dark side of the force like this. The power radiating out from the battle grew. The temperature continued to drop. The roar in the force crescendoed louder and louder.
Someone just toying with the dark side would not command such power. Dooku detected Robin fighting inside of the whirlwind in the force. But he had a hard time believing the tactician was capable of such rage. Robin was always rather mild mannered. A bit strange at times. Perhaps far too naive about warfare for his own good. But never angry or hate filled.
And yet, as Dooku investigated further, he sensed nothing but Robin in the maelstrom. A sinking feeling hit his gut.
"Where did this come from?" He wondered out loud.
He always suspected the Tactician had sizable potential in the force. But this eruption of power was beyond anything Dooku could have expected.
"That's Robin?" Lucina breathed, shocked.
Dooku frowned. No, it was not Robin. This was something else. This was a storm unleashed. A loss of control the likes of which Dooku had never sensed before.
Nowi crept close to Dooku and hid slightly behind his billow cape.
"Guys?" Severa called from near the wheel. Owain stood silently beside her. Grim faced and worried, "What is going… on…"
Lucina's jaw dropped as one of the Valmese ships rose out of the water. Nowi stared wide eyed with the rest of the crew and the few Shepherds on their ship. Dooku folded his arms. His scowl deepened.
"This should not be that difficult for you Kenobi." He huffed, "Captain, full speed towards the flagship."
"I thought you said we were not going in there?" Lucina cried.
"The circumstances have changed. You can sense that." Dooku replied, voice level and calm. The Plegian sailors scrambled across the deck, moving the sails so that they would catch the frozen wind.
A cheer rose up from the other ships around them. The Valmese vessel Kenobi lifted crashed back into the sea. The waves quickly engulfed it. Taking any soldiers and sailors directly to the ocean floor. In the process, the other Valmese were spooked. Dooku noticed many of the enemy soldiers scrambling back towards their ships as Kenobi and Robin unleashed.
Severa and Owain rushed down from their perch in order to stand beside Lucina. Both teenagers were eager for battle. Lucina seemed more anxious than eager.
Perhaps you are not so hopeless. Dooku thought as he sensed her apprehension.
"Fireball!" A Sailor shouted.
A fireball launched out from the center of the flagship. It arced through the air. Flying directly for the closest oil ship. Dooku held his breath as he watched the orange ball of flames descend.
The fire slammed into the ship. Sparks danced across the hull. Embers spat out. The wood hull exploded. Water blasted high into the sky as a fiery inferno consumed the first ship.
The flames spread rapidly. The second oil ship exploded. Dumping rivers of flaming oil into the waters surrounding the Valmese fleet.
The fire spread. The Valmese fleet burned. The waves now a mixture of charred flesh, burning oil, and blood. A great cheer erupted from the Archanean fleet as an orange glow filled the grey sky. Waves of heat burst forth as the inferno consumed the enemy fleet.
"It actually worked." Dooku muttered in disbelief.
The flagship limped back towards the fleet. Khan Flavia and Khan Basilio's ships rushed back as well. The inferno spread further among the enemy fleet. Their tightly packed formation spelling their doom. As he sensed more death and destruction through the force, a small smile crossed Dooku's lips.
"We have won the day." He nodded then looked at Lucina, "Make sure healers are ready." He turned on his heel and marched towards the stairs that led below deck, "And bring me both Kenobi and Robin when they arrive."
We have much to discuss.
The meditation chamber hummed. The variation electronics and machines designed to keep the pressure stable worked overtime. Vader did not normally remain inside his sphere of solitude for this long. But for some reason, he felt the need to be reclusive.
His hairless brow furrowed. Pale skin wrinkling like thin, used paper. Scars creased. A slight sting lanced where what little nerves that weren't burned away by Mustafar's fires still existed. The Sith Lord's mind latched onto that ever so slight pain. Used it like a lightsaber used a crystal. As a means of focus.
Pain was one of the basic building blocks of the dark side of the force. Without pain, there could not be fear, anger, or hatred. Pain was human feeling in its rawest form. The most primal urge any animal felt was not fear, happiness, wrath, or even pleasure. It was pain. A universal feeling. A sensation that could be understood by every single living thing in the galaxy, dumb or intelligent. Civilized or barbaric.
But only a Sith truly knew how to focus such a feeling. Only a Sith knew how to transform pain into pure power in the force. And Vader had grown especially adept at such a technique. He lived with pain. Lived within pain. Every single breath rattled his weak lungs. Every blink of his eyes caused aches to pulse through his head. His stomach groaned with hunger more often than not. The severed remains of his limbs burned to the touch from time to time. His heart ached with each pulse.
The pain gave him power. Gave him control over the Dark Side of the Force. Control Anakin Skywalker lacked.
Anakin Skywalker had been nothing more than a foolish child. A boy playing with powers he did not comprehend. He did not understand the depths to which one had to sink in order to discover the dark side's true powers. Did not understand the pain that had to be inflicted on oneself in order to unlock the force's mysteries.
But Vader understood. Mustafar's fires made him understand. The humiliation of defeat opened his eyes. The pain of burning alive opened him to an untapped well of power. He may never have Skywalker's raw talent, but he would forever outdo the boy in experience.
In a way, a small, minuscule part of him felt grateful for that. He was thankful for what Kenobi did to him. The damnable Jedi Master burned away the arrogance and folly of Anakin Skywalker. Allowing Lord Vader to rise from the molten ashes. An unstoppable force. Ruthless, tenacious, and utterly unforgiving.
But for the most part, Vader hated Obi Wan Kenobi. That passionate hatred burned hotter than any pain fire could inflict. And the hatred did not die when a Star Destroyer near the Polis Massa system reported his death.
Vader did not believe the reports for a single second. Kenobi outwitted his own soldiers, Commander Cody and the 212th. Those men knew Kenobi the best. They knew how he fought, how he thought, and how to best combat him. And they were unable to destroy the Jedi Master. A random squadron of clones aboard a Star Destroyer would not be capable of slaying Kenobi. After all, if Kenobi really did die, then Vader would have felt it. He would have felt it through the pain filled haze of his first days trapped in this infernal suit of armor. He would have sensed his old Master's passing.
Instead, he felt unfulfilled. Whenever Kenobi entered his mind, restlessness followed. He knew his old Master was still out there. Still living. Like a disease that refused to be cured. Through the currents of the force, as Vader rested deep in it's waters, he could feel the faint pulse of Obi Wan Kenobi reverberating through the stars.
But he could never pin it down. The origin of the faint signature always escaped him. He would lose hours in his meditations. Not a soul dared to disturb him during those times unless they needed him to address a matter of the utmost importance. Vader was glad the 501st were that disciplined. They knew not to bother him whenever he stepped into the sphere. Only foolish officers forgot their place.
His fingers twitched on his chair's armrest. He sensed it again. An ever so faint pulse. Like a dying heartbeat struggling to cling to life. But for the first time, Vader noticed something rather curious.
It seemed stronger this time. As if he had suddenly drawn closer to the source of the faint thrum in the force. For a split second, his heart jumped in his chest. Anticipation filled him as he narrowed in on the signature and grasped at it.
The Force howled its denial. It dared to defy him. Him, a master of the force. Vader snarled. His hands gripped the armrest tight. Metal creaked beneath his grip as his fists tightened more and more. He would not be denied. He would find Kenobi. Dead or alive, he would find him.
And if Kenobi was alive, Vader would kill him. There was nothing the Sith Lord wanted more than to see the light leave the Jedi Master's eyes. To see the man that betrayed him gasp his last breath as his red lightsaber plunges through his heart. To gaze upon the corpse of the man that turned Padme against him.
To his shock, the Force rebuffed him again. And the pulse died. A few years ago, Vader would have been outraged at such denial. But now, he saw it as a chance to learn. There was a reason for the Force hiding Kenobi's presence in such a manner. But he still could not figure out precisely why.
Another pulse in the force caught his attention. No… grabbed his attention. It felt like a punch in the jaw. His mind reeled as the Dark Side of the Force roared in his ears. Vader's grip on his chair lightened as he sat in shock.
A girl with black hair and a peculiar purple and gold coat appeared in his mind. She sat on the floor inside a pitch black room. Eyes closed in meditation. Three sith holocrons hovered around her. Each one open. Their collective voices whispering dark wisdom into her mind. Vader could hear them. A choir of dark whispers that sent a chill up his spine. And she drank it all in. Undisturbed by the myriad of voices streaming through the darkness.
Vader stared at the girl with genuine curiosity. Her presence in the force was unmistakable. She was extremely powerful. Her potential far greater than any acolyte the Empire had in their ranks.
Worry filled the Sith Lord as he probed further. This girl dwarfed even the Grand Inquisitor in power. She felt raw. Untrained and inexperienced. But incredibly potent in the dark side. Alarmingly in tune with the force.
Her eyes opened. They flashed from emerald green to blazing yellow. She stared at Vader.
"So… you're Palps' other apprentice." She smiled at him.
For some reason, Vader felt mildly unsettled. That was not a friendly grin. Nor was it a sane one. She had to be insane. No one referred to Lord Sidious as Palps without asking to be killed.
A brat to be sure. Vader felt some anger well up in him. She referred to him as the other apprentice. Was this child insinuating that she had replaced him? That his master had found another that could match him in power? The dark side of the force snarled as Vader reached out and grabbed the girl within the force.
Normally, Vader won the fight right there and then. Regular, insignificant beings cowered at the feeling of a Sith Lord probing their minds. Jedi felt disturbed by it. Even feared such an action. He had grown incredibly adept at making a Jedi soil themselves before he slaughtered them. But this girl simply smiled wider as he tried to break into her mind.
"Can't find something that isn't there buddy." She said, "Trust me, I've tried." She narrowed those blazing eyes at him, "I can see why Master likes you though."
Vader felt a pressure slam into his own mind. A crude attack. Blunt and brutal. Amateurish, but still devastatingly effective in the first few seconds.
Vader threw up in his mental defenses. The girl hissed then drew back.
"Oh, so there is more than brawn there." She chuckled, "I look forward to meeting you."
Her image faded into blackness. The red glow of the holocrons were replaced by the violent, white light inside of Vader's meditation sphere. His eyes blinked open. And for a split second, he felt blinded.
A buzzer sounded near one of his datapads. Vader blinked again as he tried to refocus himself.
Pain rushed through his head. A splitting migraine. The rattle of his lungs snapped him back to reality.
His master had a second apprentice. One he likely wished to keep hidden from Vader. His teeth clenched tight. Several machines groaned as his rage manifested itself in the force. Pressing against the walls of his sphere. Then violently contracting back to his body as he reined in his fury. This sphere was the one escape he had from his prison. He did not want to ruin it.
Hopefully, this mission will be over soon. Vader thought to himself as he glanced at the blinking red light on his datapad. Likely an update from the Admiral as to their progress searching a new solar system around a white dwarf star. I have been away for too long.
His mind lingered for a moment on the image of the girl surrounded by the floating holocrons. Relishing the darkness. Enjoying it every second.
She was a rival. One groomed by his Master to challenge him. Another test to see if Lord Vader was truly worth enough to be Lord Sidious's apprentice.
Like all of the others, she would fall away. She would be cast down by him. No one would stand in his way. No one would challenge him.
I now have two to worry about. Vader pressed the button. A report came into view on his datapad. Nothing more than a simple star chart. Thrawn had already given the order to move on to the next star cluster in this abandoned corner of the galaxy. He flicked the datapad off.
I will kill this rival. Vader closed his eyes, And I will kill Kenobi.
And chapter! The battle is over! And the Shepherds have carried the day. But it was a brutal victory. Something is not quite right with Robin. Soon our heroes with arrive in Valm, and when they do, the war will truly begin. And Vader draws even closer. Although now, he may be distracted from the mission his master gave him.
Now, I'm still not the most confident when it comes to my battle writing. So I will take whatever advice and criticism I can get. I want to get better at this sort of thing and your input always helps with that.
Also, this fic is now officially ONE year old! Holy crap! That blows my mind. And it is thanks to all of you guys reading, reviewing, and being awesome. I cannot thank you all enough for all of the support and love. I look forward to continuing this story!
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!