2. College
(Aka The Final Fantasy VIII Fusion AU.)
"I don't believe this. Your final exam is right around the corner.. And you're playing CARDS?" Lissa stares between Chrom and the card grid. They've made a rough game space out of an unused table in the quad, where there's plenty of open air surrounding them, and hints of a sea breeze coming through. All of it helps to calm Chrom's nerves, even with his sister hovering over him. And doing her best to spoil the game.
"More accurately, he's losing at cards." Vaike corrects her. "Face it, Chrom. You're hopeless at Triple Triad."
"Less trash talking, more playing." Growls one of the other students; Sully has her boots kicked up on a spare chair, watching the game. Sumia is also nearby, looking between the table and a collection of books balanced in her lap.
They make for a decent group, through privately Chrom is glad the rest of their team is off being more practical with their time. But he's never been able to refuse a challenge from Vaike… Even when that challenge is to try his hand at a card game.
Chrom takes in a deep breath, getting another lungful of soft sea breeze drifting in from Balamb beach. Overhead, the Garden Academy circle gleams in the sunlight, an array of steel and glass, while the bells softly chime out to show one period of classes is over. Meaning he needs to finish this game up, before Frederick or Cordelia reprimands them for slacking or being late.
"I also don't give up, until I'm certain I'm out of options." Chrom answers Vaike and Lissa both. "So please give me a moment? I want to see if I can turn this around."
There's still a few spaces left on the square, and a few cards left in his hand. Vaike plays aggressively, like always, flipping his cards and forcing Chrom to play defensively. Soon enough Chrom finds himself backed into a corner with just two cards left, and Vaike grinning at them, savoring the inevitable victory.
"Thinking I'll go with Quetzalcoatl as my winning prize." He tells Chrom, nodding to one of the cards still in his hand. The edges of the square are well worn from his thumbs worrying over the corners. Chrom frowns at that; it was the first card he'd ever been gifted, when he first joined the Garden military academy. All in the hopes of becoming part of their elite forces.
"Always thought that Guardian Force beastie looked kinda cool," Vaike continues, ignoring any unease in Chrom's posture.
"Only because you've never managed to junction that thing." Lissa points out, turning her ire onto Vaike. "And Vaike! You've got the same final exam coming up too!"
She says that loud enough for the other students in the quad to pause for a moment.
"So do you, Liss." Vaike points out. "So why're ya wastin' time scolding us?"
"H-he has a point." Sumia chimes in. "You can do a little reading with me, if you prefer-?"
"Thanks but… It's because I-I'm worried." Lissa drops her eyes, turning her voice into a mutter. "Vaike's got another year, so if he flunks it isn't the end of the world-" Vaike gives an offended "HEY!" at that. "But Chrom… You're cutting it close."
He has a feeling he knows where this argument is going; they've had it before.
"If this is about the new Junction Program, Frederick and Cordelia are already showing what we can do as elite troops." He points out. "And…"
Chrom rubs at the card corners again, half out of worry and half out of thought.
"Well. What sort of leader would I be, if I graduated early and left the rest of you behind?" Lissa frowns at that. "Anyways… I promise you, I plan to graduate along with the rest of you. We'll do this as a team… Providing that Vaike doesn't completely stomp me at cards."
"And go soft on you? Why'd I do that? So c'mon, man. Hurry up and play your last card so we can finish this up."
"…Right." Chrom lets his breath out in a long, resigned sigh, looking over the board one last time. Vaike has backed him into a corner, and he can't even hope to build the strong numbers on the right and bottom sides into play. His other card is equally useless. He gets ready to put down the odd card, so he can hold onto Quetzalcoatl for a little bit longer-
"Don't." Comes a sudden voice, making Lissa jump in her seat and Chrom freeze in place. He stops short of putting the card down, looking up to see there's a new spectator for their game. Sully has already jolted away, scowling at the surprise visitor.
The newcomer, however, remains focused on the game. Her eyes dart between Chrom's hand and the board, as she brushes pale bangs from her face.
"Don't play that one." She repeats, narrowing her eyes. "Go with your other card."
Chrom stares… But there's something to her voice that makes Chrom follow before he can think.
"HAH!" Vaike slams his hands down on the table. "Well, guess that means I win-!"
"…Um." Sumia raises her voice. "Vaike? Didn't you hear about the new rules?"
"…Excuse me?" Vaike raises his eyes from the board. Chrom does the same, giving Sumia a startled blink.
"S-same. Where if the numbers match, that means a card gets captured. They just got officially implemented last week for all Garden games, remember? And since that means Chrom just flipped two of your cards and has more captured…"
"…You've gotta be KIDDING." Vaike collapses back into his seat, while Chrom lets out his breath. It'd been pure luck he'd gotten that arrangement in place. That, and some sharp eyes. He raises his head to thank the stranger-
Only to see she's already drifted away, walking through the Quad and turning her head at each step, taking in the area.
"…So that's the new kid." Sully mutters. At Chrom's confused look, she continues. "Heard it from Stahl, and a bunch of cafeteria gossip. She's some sorta transfer from Galbadia Garden… And from what I hear, part of the Shepherd SeeD program. She can summon and build up rapport with the Guardians, just like the rest of us."
"R-right." Taking another look, Chrom sees that there's slight differences to her Garden uniform, with a splash of red to her ribbons. She sticks out against the gentle blue stone and tilework of the school, still picking her way along.
"I think I've heard about her too. She's called Robin." Lissa says. A part of Chrom wants to follow after her… But the rest of him is busy with gathering up the cards, and getting ready for class.
-o-o-o-
The end of the school day finds Chrom in the library; Lissa's worry still follows him, making him want to try to do a little more studying. There's always an odd hush and sense of awe when he walks in here; and today, there seems to be an extra sense of gravitas, as amber beams of sunlight drench the towering bookshelves in orange and red.
Chrom moves to the end of the library, knowing he'll need to claim a work bench early; it's always first come and first serve in here, and he already knows he won't be able to study in his dorm. Too many distractions-
Though it turns out there's another distraction, currently hunched over one of the tables. He instantly recognizes the transfer student.
"H-hey… Robin?" He tests out the name, making her head yank up. Chrom takes a closer step, and a closer look at her table. It's piled high with texts, enough that would put even the bookish Sumia to shame. There's papers and notes strewn across the desk… But Chrom notices something odd about Robin's writing.
"Wh-what's with all the blanks in your notes?" He can't help but ask. Robin winces… And doesn't fully meet his eyes. Her pencil worriedly taps on the papers.
"They're not… I was going to fill them in, in just another second or two." Her forehead furrows, and Chrom notices that most of the blanks are names; places, people… All the information of the world. And all the basics of Garden study and classes.
"'Balamb Garden.'" He provides, looking at the blank space where pencil rests. "That's where we are now; founded by Cid Kramer a few decades ago."
"I-I knew that!" She hunches over her notes defensively. "I… I knew some of it." She continues, in a more subdued voice.
"I don't doubt it." Chrom says, pulling up a chair to sit beside Robin. "You were sharp enough with that card game, so it's clear you know a lot. But…?" He looks to the papers; some of them are also homework assignments from today, that he's already breezed through. Yet, the transfer student seems to struggle with them.
"I… Swear to you, that I used to know all of this information. It's just that right now…" Her pencil digs an angry line along one of the questions in the homework page, scrawling over to the entry about the sorceress. "My head feels like… Like there's all these blanks, where the information SHOULD be. And that's probably why they transferred me out of Galbadia and into here… Because I somehow forgot all of that. And ended up as a disgrace."
As she speaks, tension builds through her… Along with something else. There's an odd spark and static that clings to her skin and runs along her hair.
As Robin grows more frustrated, static seems to build in her hair.
"I can't remember!" She slams her fist down… And a sudden strand of lightning skips from her skin to the desk lamp, blowing it out. Robin almost jumps out of her seat with a yelp… But stops short when Chrom claps a hand on her shoulder.
"H-hey, easy. It looks like junctioning took a toll on you." And it makes him pause, over the thought of acquiring his own Guardian Force. Apparently, there's some truth to the idea that such forces wear down on the mind.
That bit of lightning she'd fired off had to be para-magic; showing she already has something junctioned to her. And all at once, he remembers the lesson Cordelia pressed into them. To be careful about relying on summoned entities too much.
"I-I don't think it's your fault, if you've got blanks like that in your head. You're using a Guardian Force, aren't you?"
He lets his thoughts and focus blur a little, to see if he could pick out a faint energy signature lingering in the air. He picks out another odd taste of lightning, dancing across his tongue and shivering down his spine.
"Y-yes? I remember that much." She tells him. And he can feel a soft thrum. "Though… I need to work through the specifics." Chrom gives her a curious look, and that seems to prompt her to continue. "I… Was selected to see how well Galbadian students would bond with Guardian Forces...?"
She trails off, giving Chrom a confused look; like she understands the term, but not all the theory behind it.
"We also call them 'GF's for short. They're like concentrated, powerful energy with a will of their own… But sometimes, they'll let us channel them, summon them if we prove our own will is strong enough."
"Ah… Right. Well, the thing is… The Galbadians had just one, and I… I think passed all the tests. But when that thing was junctioned onto me… I…" She closes her eyes with a shiver. "All I can really remember is a lot of flashing light, thunder… And a generous crater carved into the classroom. That might've been the other reason they transferred me here, to save on the property damage."
Chrom nods; he can faintly remember hearing rumors flying about. That Balamb had lent out a Guardian Force to Galbadia, and a sudden surge of chaos that came from that. He fishes the Quezacotl card out of his pocket and places it down on the table, now that he recognizes the energy signature from Robin.
"Well… On top of that, it's like my first summon fried my brain."
"It's a risk that comes from wielding Guardian Forces. But…" He gives her a measuring look.
"It might come back to you. I-I haven't gotten the chance to really summon or junction any creatures yet, beyond training exercises. So I might not be able to talk more than theory. But in the meantime, with all these notes and assignments…" His look turns hopeful, that she'll say yes. "I owe you for helping me out in that card game."
And he can't help but brighten up, when Robin gives a hesitant nod, and turns her notes towards him for help.
-o-o-o-
Balamb Garden quickly becomes a home for her… And Robin finds the speed of that, and how quickly it feels familiar, more than a little unnerving. And yet she takes to the classes like she's always been here, memorizes the ring-like layout of the school with ease, and absorbs all the information and lessons like her brain is a sponge.
She can't quite bring herself to change out the red of her ribbons, however; maybe in the hopes that some of her memories from Galbadia will eventually trickle back, if she holds onto that one part of her life. Though even if her head stays frustratingly devoid of memories, there's still enough in her day to keep her mind busy with learning, instead of remembering. The lectures all fill her head; the theories of using guardian forces as a short cut to harnessing magic energies, and how such raw power is impressive… But still pales in comparison to the beings known as "sorceresses."
Her head always gives an odd buzz when she thinks over that, making her fingers twitch and her body restless.
She also can't help but notice there's a similar frantic energy to some of her classmates, as the exam dates loom closer. Eventually, she drums up the courage to ask Chrom about it; offering him lunch in the cafeteria helps with that.
"I notice you've been late with getting to the cafeteria. You never seem to arrive in time for the flavored bread, or the hotdogs." Robin waves him over to her table, and the extra portion she has waiting for him. He lights up a little at the sight.
"Yeah… I've been trying to get some more studying done in the library." He admits, but still gives the hotdogs a greedy look. He also doesn't blanch at the fact they're piled high with macaroni and cheese, along with some broccoli.
'And here I thought I was the only one who liked those topings.'
"Because of that written exam we need to do?" Robin continues, and gets a nod. "…Even though you've been acing all the homework assignments? What's got you so worried?"
"…I… I just really NEED to pass these exams." Chrom tells her. "You know the rules, don't you? Once you hit 20, you're dismissed from the Garden if you haven't reached SeeD membership. I want to graduate with the rest of my team, so that's why I've held back on taking the written and field exams."
"Team… You mean Shepherd?"
"Right. We're all compatible with the para-magic Garden has been researching, and with the Guardian Forces. Everyone's been learning how to properly channel an entity, like you have with that thunder summon of yours. And with varying speed. But now… They're all caught up with me. And with luck, we'll all graduate together."
"One question." Robin asks, as Chrom takes a drink and pulls one of the plates over. "Is there room in that graduating class for… For perhaps one more person, maybe? In exchange for helping you out?"
"Don't see why not, considering your grades." He tells her. "Besides, it'd be nice to have someone else on the team that shares my taste in food."
-o-o-o-
As Robin quickly re-learns, graduating to a full fledged SeeD takes three steps and three tests; written, junctioning, and field. And Chrom is determined to pass them all, starting with the written.
Robin can't help but admire how studious he is; when she volunteers to help, he pounces on that. They spend multiple evenings pouring over books, quizzing each other on questions… Until at last the written exam arrives.
She can't speak to Chrom as it happens; they've been placed into the same class together, and even share the same terminal space. She glances over to him once or twice, to see him intent on the questions. For Robin, the answers fly off her fingers. And oddly enough, she can feel a faint electric hum in the back of her brain as she concentrates. Almost as though Quetzalcoatl is trying to give her some aid, and sharpen her mind.
And even though Chrom doesn't have a Guardian Force spurring him on… It's clear that he's done well, as their instructor goes over the results.
"Congratulations, Chrom. You passed with flying colors; second only to one other." Frederick tells them, before giving Robin a sharp look. She reddens a bit from his focus… But still holds her head up, knowing she's earned her rank in the test; the same as Chrom had earned his. Frederick meets her eyes for a moment longer, before giving her the briefest, albeit respectful nod.
"In fact, the entire class made it through… Some more easily than others." That pointed look is transferred to Vaike. "Still, a pass is a pass. We move on as an entire class to the Junctioning test. I advise all of you rest up for it."
With that, Frederick dismisses the class… And Robin wonders at the way Chrom's satisfaction fades out, replaced again with worry.
-o-o-o-
The day of Chrom's Junctioning test arrives with gray skies, and thick heavy rain. It's the sort of weather that encourages everyone to stay inside if they don't have a pressing assignment.
Which is why it's such a shock to see Robin standing at the school gates, waiting for him.
"Instructor Frederick said he'd go on ahead, and asked me to bring you along." She tells him; she's still formal when it comes to using ranks and titles. Even if she has a spotty recollection of it, it seems that Galbadia has drilled her with formalities. Chrom's gotten used to that, but the rest of what she has to say makes him frown.
"He ordered you? But you're already Junctioned-"
"Not ordered. Asked. And… I did request if I could come along, to observe. It might help jar something loose in my memories. Besides, the Garden faculty would like it if I can pass another test, to make sure that whatever happened to me wasn't… Well, to make sure they can figure out my limits."
"…Okay." Chrom sighs out. Arguing with her won't do much good; he's learned that when they study and debate. And he's already getting soaked, standing at the gateway. Robin offers up one of the long sleeved rain robes, which he eagerly slips into.
It's an hour's hike out of Garden to their destination. But by that time, the rain has figured out how to seep in past their rain robes, and leave them both soaked.
"F-finally." Chrom says through chattering teeth, once he spots the gray cliffs blending with slate skies. As they march for the entrance, some of the lectures and notes flicker across his head; that a Guardian Force is usually brought about by a surplus of energy. Sometimes elemental, sometimes magical, and sometimes by an excess of chance and luck. And that the cavern here specializes in forming fire elementals, thanks to the geomancy and confluence of ley lines.
'Likely just one fire elemental has formed… But it'll be powerful enough, that it'll forge contracts and bonds with any number of cadets. Provided we're strong enough.' He finishes the thought as they draw up next to the cliffs, and the dark cavern carved and burrowed into them.
Frederick, clad in a more ornate looking uniform than theirs, waits for them. The rain falls off his bangs with scarcely a twitch or a shiver from him. As Chrom draws closer, he understands why; the instructor has his back to the Fire Cavern, and there's enough magic and raw elemental power there to superheat the air. Drawing close, the rain is little more than mist on a balmy summer day.
"You come in good time." Frederick tells them. "You're the last of the class."
"H-have the others passed?" Chrom finds himself asking, hoping he isn't overstepping his boundaries.
"Yes. Some a little more bloody than others, but an impressive enough performance. I have high hopes that you'll finish strong, for the entire class."
'No pressure.' Chrom thinks, resting his hand on his blade. With all his time spent at the books instead of training, he's worried he won't immediately recognize Falchion…But the gunblade fits into his hand as if he never let go. He catches Robin giving it a surprised look, now that he's thrown aside his raincape and shown the scabbard.
"I… I've heard about those." Robin murmurs, giving the sword a questioning look. The long pipes gathered near the grip give the blade an almost bristling, but still elegant appearance. "I'm still surprised they work the way they do; letting the kick and discharge from the chamber push the sword to make deeper cuts."
"Well, you might see how well it works in a few minutes." Chrom tells her, trying to push some confidence into his voice… Because the truth is, there's some worry and unease clinging to his throat, and the cold feeling in his stomach has nothing to do with the rain drumming down on his head.
Chrom hesitates at the threshold; hearing about taming a Guardian Force, and stepping into one's domain to subdue it are two different things.
"Don't falter." Frederick advises him, acting as both an observer and instructor. The older man wears the SeeD mantle easily, along with the uniform. "You've studied how to tame a Guardian Force for months now, and passed the written exam."
Chrom forces himself to take a step forward, his feet scrapping along the floor, and the class lecture echoing in his head.
'A Guardian Force exists in specialized energy fields, and can reside in any number of organisms. Some GFs happen by chance. Others, we can influence, by forming a careful intersection of elements and ley lines. Enough for entities to take shape, and be tamed.'
When Frederick and Cordelia first described the process, it felt almost rote. Standing at the entrance of a cavern with the heat blasting his face, it feels anything but routine.
"I'll act as your second… But you'll rise or fall on your own merits." Frederick tells him, walking alongside Chrom. With the way he talks, the sweltering temperatures of the cavern barely reach him-
…And yet, Chrom still notices a limp to his step.
"Sir?" He asks, staring at Frederick's leg; the black of the SeeD uniform almost hides the char marks decorating it.
"I… Ah, took the liberty of scouting inside. And I can attest that the monsters are more feral and aggressive than usual. They're likely picking up on the energy of the elemental. And I… Had a moment of carelessness."
"S-sir." Chrom finds himself speaking up, hanging back where Frederick tries to push forward. "If you're wounded, then… Can you really act as my second? Isn't that too much of a risk?"
Frederick narrows his eyes at that; Chrom knows that he's speaking out of turn, not respecting the chain of command and authority.
"Usually, a soldier is expected to obey and respect the commands of his superior." Frederick tells him, the harshness of his voice pushing Chrom's head down. Sweat itches at the back of his neck, before shivering down his back. "…However. It's also the mark of a good fledgling commander, to be capable of thinking for himself."
Frederick shoots Robin a look, and his focus is almost like a line pulling her forward.
"But you still need a second inside the cavern… And since she already has a Guardian Force, she'll have to do. Provided there's no objections?"
"I… I guess not." Robin says. She forces herself forward, and he can see how she's bracing herself up. It pushes him forward as well.
He steps into the fire cavern, and all the water steams off his clothing. Robin peels off her rain cloak, dropping it to a red tinged floor. And looking around, Chrom realizes why this place deserves the 'fire' designation. The walls and rocks all look like they've been flame at once point, then turned solid. Spikes, red stone, and a rough hewn path all mingle together in various shades of orange and scarlet.
"Gods…" He mutters, before needing to swallow and wet his mouth. The heat sucks all the moisture out of him with just a breath.
"W-we'd better hurry." This place also burns through all the confidence he's tried to stir up; walking forward is the most confident thing he can do. Heat seeps up through his feet, and his steps echo strangely along the rock path; all these ledges and paths have been polished by thousands of other feet, making it an easier route to traverse.
Chrom gathers another searing breath, and pushes himself into a run. Robin chases after him with a yelp, as they dart along the rocks.
There's a strange rumbling around them, as they thread between spires of rock; through the clusters of stone, he can see the source of that rumbling. Lava flows along with a growl of fresh churned earth.
"I hope the geomancy of this place holds." Robin mutters, watching the elements surge by. Chrom slows just enough to manage a nod, knowing that without it they'd be dead twice over.
It turns into an endurance run past that. Finding their way through the passages, until at last they come to the center of the fire cavern; a crown of reaching stone claws, where the lava seems to flow from, like blood from a wound. The heat is almost unbearable here… And it grows worse when they step into the circle of stones.
Something claws its way out of the lava flow when they draw near, vaguely leonine in appearance, but with a bristling mane of flame. It surges at them with a roar, and Chrom can feel power blazing off of it. It's clear they've found the Guardian of this place, and it's still spoiling for a fight.
He braces, ready to give it just that. His training still holds, and he finds just the right stance, squinting against the sparks and gouts of flame coming off the creature. When it charges him, Chrom steps to the side at the last moment, opening the creature up to a counter attack and cut. It taxes his stamina, reminding Chrom that he can only dodge for so long before the monster starts scoring hits-
Which makes it all the more important that his own strikes count. He squeezes down on the trigger, and an explosive gunshot echoes through the cavern, louder than it has any right to be. Even Robin winces from the sound, and the Guardian flinches back, glowing hot blood marring the floor.
Hopefully that answer's Robins question, on how well a gunblade works.
Robin herself has taken a step back, eyes glazing over for an instant. There's a faint droning sound filing the cavern, as the air around her becomes super charged with motes of energy, and almost glows around her. Chrom recognizes a magic incantation when he sees one, and remembers one of Cordelia's lessons; to keep any enemies well away from magic users as they cast.
So he throws himself back at the Guardian, while it's still reeling from his attack. But it gathers itself and snaps claws around him, slamming him into the ground even as it collapses. The rock seems to crackle underneath them, glowing rents and fire seeping up from the ground… But even as his ribs bruise, he still gives Robin time to finish her spell.
The cinders dancing around the Guardian suddenly shift, turning from little motes of flame to sparks of crackling electricity. The air crackles as lightning smashes down on the monster, driving it off Chrom and leaving him free to fight his way to his feet.
The battle turns into a flurry of sword swings and magic… Until at last, the Guardian bows its head. A low rumbling voice comes from it, as it admits defeat.
"I've pledged myself to many new summoners and soldiers today…" It growls. But as rough as its voice is, there's a touch of respect there as well. "…But I'm satisfied, to have two more fighters to ally with."
'Two?' He glances to Robin… And remembers one last test subject; the reminder that someone can, in theory, have more than one Guardian Force bond to them, if the compatibility is strong enough. But he doesn't have much time to dwell on that; the heat is getting to him, and he's more than ready to report back to Frederick, and cool off in the rain.
-o-o-o-
It doesn't take long for a battle or skirmish to flare up in one of the countries, and so provides Garden with a testing ground for their field exam. And to Robin's surprise, it's between two countries she can recognize; Dollet and Galbadia, with Garden deciding to side with Dollet.
Through the transport ride across the sea, they get their briefing on the mission; secure the town, and give the Dollet forces and SeeDs a strong anvil to hammer the Galbadian forces against. Robin gets that much from the mission intel, before the teams are announced; and to her surprise, she finds herself paired with Chrom again.
"Your performance in the fire cavern was respectable." Frederick tells them. "And as a consequence…"
He trails off, tilting his head to the top of the ship. When Robin mirrors him, she can just hear it; the muffled thud of explosions, and a faint acrid scent of smoke filtering into the cabin.
"Sir, permission to go up top and evaluate?" Chrom asks, and is rewarded with a nod. It takes just a quick look between the two of them, before Robin follows him up. It's a quick clamber up the stairs and a snap of the hatch, before they find themselves on the turret deck, and the salty sea breeze starts to tussle Robin's hair.
The low hum of engines mixes with the crashing waves, along with the crackling static of radio chatter. It almost forms a heartbeat, like the Garden transport fleet is a living hunter seeking out a mark.
And that mark is visible, just ahead. Robin draws in her breath when she sees Dollet; in normal conditions, it would likely be a pristine, old and storied city. The smoke billowing off the harbor and buildings turn it into a warzone, and heat of the fires slap her across the face. While the temperature might dim, compared to the fire cavern, it still bites at the skin.
Explosions sprout up along the beach head, acting like signal flares. The transport fleet surges forward, and the floor almost yanks out from under Robin's feet. Even as things whirl into a frenzy, she can't help but chart the path of the ship… And notice that they're heading straight towards the wall encircling the harbor. Chrom snaps a hand around her shoulder and pulls her back, as they almost tumble down the ladder and into a chaotic cabin. Everyone else is startled by the sudden surge in speed.
"SUMIA!" Frederick barks out. "What's going on!?"
"Sorry, sir!" Comes a nervous voice from the pilot cadet. "It's just that the radio said to accelerate, and you said to head straight for the beach, and the straightest line is-"
"…Over the wall." Robin says, looking out the windows. Too late to swerve away like the other ships have. "I'd suggest bracing."
"Oh great," says Lissa.
"Oh cra-" mutters Chrom.
"WHRRNCH." Goes the ship, plowing up the side of the breakwater. Robin's pretty sure that a ship this heavy and reinforced has no right to go airborne for several seconds. The ship apparently agrees, with how the metal all screeches across the bricks and the entire cabin rattles and drifts in midair, before splashing down with a heavy lurch. The cadets and instructors both fail to keep their feet. She's pretty sure a few of the bolts in the walls pop out in protest, while Chrom groans underneath her; she tries to get her elbows out from his kidneys, and get ready for the beach.
By comparison, the beach landing is almost gentle; lurching up onto the sand as the entrance folds open.
"Squads A, B, and C, prepare to move out!" Frederick barks from his spot on the floor, already scrambling to his feet. "Ready your Guardian Forces, and secure your points!"
Chrom nods at that… But he pauses long enough to put a hand on her shoulder, making certain she's ready to move out. That moment of contact is enough for Robin to gather her strength back up, follow him onto the beach, and into the city.
-o-o-o-
It's a chaotic and bloody battle to the central square. One thick with Galbadian forces entrenched in choke points, and the Garden cadets forcing them out and taking the spots for themselves. Chrom glimpses other squads tearing into different points; Vaike leading his group in a charge over a collection of crashed vehicles, Sully securing one of the high bridges with her team. He hopes they remember their training; how to keep their GFs rooted in their psyche, giving them an open channel for magic and using it to boost their reflexes and strength.
'It's the only thing that'll keep them alive, when facing so many.' And it's a reminder that he needs to keep himself ready for anything-
Such as an ambush in the square. He barely gets a moment to stare up at the statue and fountain, before Galbadian soldiers stream out from a blockade.
His muscles are ready, even if his mind finds itself reeling, and he remembers how to fight. To weave between the bullets and sword strikes, letting magic burn through his body and push his strength and reflexes beyond human limits-
And Robin does even better, with how her magic sparks faster than anyone can draw breath. She makes little more than a gesture, drawing from the stored spells in her mind. It's all crackling lightning and freezing ice past that.
And when the ice finally melts away, Chrom finds himself and Robin standing victorious.
"H-hey. Not bad at all." He tries to tell Robin… But she isn't focusing on him. It's like the battle haze is still lurking in her eyes, and the spells still buzzing through her brain. She can't seem to hear him, with how she turns her head up.
Chrom tries to follow her gaze. A second later, the gunfire starts all around them, echoing off Dollet's cliffs and buildings; a signal that the battle has truly been joined. He's certain that somewhere in the city, Frederick and Cordelia are in the center of the chaos. It makes him restless, knowing they're out risking their necks while he and Robin are left holding down the square-
But when he looks back down at his surroundings, he realizes it's only him in the square; Robin has vanished from her spot. He glimpses the briefest glint of a black and silver uniform turning one of the alleyways.
"Robin!?" He calls, but she doesn't slow. Chrom hesitates for only a moment, before giving chase. With luck he can find her, get some sense into her, and get them both back to the square without anyone being wiser.
Chasing Robin down, however, turns out to be easier said than done. And Quetzalcoatl must be giving her a burst in strength and speed, with how the gap stays intact; he just glimpses her dashing along one of the ancient stone bridges. The lanterns crowning it seem to almost spark from her passage, showing that there's an unnerving amount of magic left in her.
Then past the bridge comes a twisting stairway leading up a steep mountain, the rocks turning a ruddy red in the sunset. Chrom narrows his eyes; there's evidence of monsters here. Vegetation is pressed down in a trail no human would make… And beyond that, there's the half charred body of a gigantic snake littering the steps.
The taste of magic is still thick in the air, and he knows that Robin, dazed as she might be, must be capable of defending herself.
That doesn't keep him from feeling a spark of terror, when he sees her at the summit. She's collapsed against the cobblestones and rocks, with shrubs barely concealing her from sight. Chrom has to drop as well, crawl forward on his stomach, because he can see they're right on the lip of the path; beyond is a sudden drop.. And a collection of Galbadian soldiers, guarding an old and half rusted tower.
"What are they doing…?" Chrom whispers, freezing from where he crawls.
"S-something about… Power and generators. Getting that tower working again." He doesn't expect an answer from Robin; she even looks a bit surprised that she can speak, staring at him with still glassy eyes. On instinct, Chrom reaches out and grasps at her hand. Both to anchor her, and keep her from vanishing again as he takes in the situation.
"…R-Radio tower." Robin informs him. "They were calling it that… Don't know why they want to use it-"
She screws her eyes shut.
"Unless… That's been their goal this whole time. Wh-why else would they spend so many men on guarding this place, keeping Garden and Dollet forces bottled up in the city proper?"
"And we're the only people close enough to investigate." Chrom groans out. Getting back to the square before anyone notices is sounding less and less likely by the second… But he also knows that turning their backs on this is wrong. And if the Galbadians do somehow get that tower working, and cut through the radio interference… He doesn't like what that might spell for the forces down below, relying on foot and chocobo messengers instead of instant broadcast messages.
"You're planning to investigate, aren't you?" Robin asks, clear headed enough to pick out the worry on his face. "Well… You're not going alone. I-I don't know what drew me up here, but I'm feeling clear-headed enough now. I can help you."
-o-o-o-
The inside of the tower feels like a match for her head; all dark corners, humming with an odd energy that is slowly rousing from slumber. It makes little motes of magic dance along her skin, ready to get let loose again.
Robin fights back a shiver; she never thought para-magic could be so potent, OR receptive… And yet now, it feels as natural as breathing. In her haze of fighting up the mountain, she must have drawn a half dozen spells from the soldiers and wildlife.
'I just wish I could remember WHY I did any of that. Or the details of what happened.' But her head is stubbornly foggy, and even Quetzalcoatl is oddly silent in her head.
"I wonder if the radio signals somehow scrambled with your magic packs. And with your head." Chrom murmurs as they pick their way through the shadows, and towards a lift.
"That… Might be what happened. If the signal on this tower is somehow boosted by magic, and is keyed into electricity and thunder spells… There MIGHT be some affinity." Robin thinks out loud. But somehow that doesn't feel like the full answer.
Why she went so hazy, or drawn to the tower… There's still an unsettling amount of blanks in her head, and this time, they aren't related to the GF curled up in the back of her thoughts.
She doesn't get much time to dwell on it, as they clamber onto the lift, and it sends them on a quick ride up to the top. Chrom stands steady as they ride up… And she hopes he doesn't mind if she leans against him a little, as she tries to breathe deep and better clear her head.
Gradually the lift rattles to a stop, and she can pick out voices speaking with a Galbadian cadence… And Chrom surging forward, drawing his blade. It forces Robin to jolt to attention, and with her eyes open she picks out two Galbadian soldiers near the control panel.
The tower hums to life around them, even as Chrom lashes at the troops. The air sings with electricity and power, lights blazing to life all around them, and the tower rumbling and spitting sparks as its parts slowly lurch to life.
"Robin! Little help?" Chrom cuts through the distractions, as he fends off one sword wielding soldier, scrambling away from a hail of bullets in the same motion. Robin snaps to attention, and focuses on the soldiers.
"Para-magic!" She calls to him, as he scrambles back to get some breathing room. She focuses on the soldier in blue, while he goes for the red. There's a field of magic bristling around the soldiers; the same aura that cloaks all living things, and they've been taught to key in on… And utilize.
'You can draw magic,' she remembers instructor Cordelia, and the drone of classroom monitors. 'Store it for later use… Or utilize the energy fields, and cast on the fly.'
Robin snaps her fingers, and the field around the soldier turns to fire. At the same moment, Chrom calls down lightning on the other. He flashes her a quick grin with wide eyes a little shocked and pleased that he was able to get a spell off in combat.
The soldiers, on the flip side, look a little dazed and smoldering from the attack… And become worse for wear when a strange, shrieking noise cuts through the air. High pitched winds scream along the control deck, throwing the enemy soldiers across the floor and off the edge.
"…I don't like the sound of that." Chrom crouches against the grates as he speaks, and Robin grabs onto his arm to help keep herself grounded. The screaming winds force her eyes upwards to the origin of the cries.
"Looks like the reports weren't kidding. This place IS a nesting ground for monsters." Chrom says, following her gaze. A weird chimera of a creatures swoops down on batlike wings, breathing smoke and stormy winds, while the stinger on its abdomen lurches about, and its long taloned hands restlessly clutch at the air. "But that thing doesn't look like something Garden has studied up on. Is that a new breed of monster-?"
He doesn't get time to finish the question, as the beast brings its claws down on Chrom. He shoves hard at Robin, and sends her scrapping across the floor. He dodges a little more slowly. For a breath she's terrified he's been gutted on those talons… But then he rolls away, leaving behind the sleeve of his uniform on the monster's claws.
"T-tried to draw some magic off that thing. Almost cost me my head." He tells Robin, before bringing his sword up.
'He knows the blade best; just like you better understand magic.'
Robin narrows her eyes from her new spot on the floor… Wondering at what sort of arcane field the creature is carrying around it. When she stretches out her senses, there's a strange buzzing along her brain. She realizes with a start that some of that buzzing is from her Guardian; Quetzalcoatl is reacting to something in the monster's field. Chrom keeps slicing away, keeping the brute's attention as she tries to focus on the strange spike in energy-
And she feels something react. When Robin tries to pull at the magic, she can feel something jump between the monster and her. She feels an odd humming song in her brain; something that sounds and feels like another guardian force.
"I got it, Chrom! Whatever that thing was carrying, it's ours now!"
Chrom answers her by throwing himself forward, with just enough magic left firing through his legs and arms to give him some extra strength. He's able to vault upwards, straight at the monster's head. He swipes and cuts away, a flurry of fire and smoke following each of his swings as he yanks down on the trigger with each hit. The monster can't stand up to such an assault, the blows driving it to the floor.
Robin can't help but give a grim smile at their handiwork. Now that Robin has yanked the guardian out, something seems to have weakened in the monster… So it really doesn't stand a chance when something else rattles to life and scrapes along floor. The entire radio tower seems to shake from thunderous footsteps, and Robin catches the glimpse of something shadowy and mechanical slamming into the monster. The impact throws Chrom free, and he skids to a halt alongside her.
"Galbadian mech!" Chrom hisses out, watching the two forces clash together. "And I don't know if we want that thing following us back to the station!"
Robin gives a quick hum of agreement, wondering if she can do something with the new Guardian Force nestled in her mind… And in another breath, she gets her answer. The world seems to go oddly blurry, as another entity tries to force itself into their reality; splashes of water materialize and wash over the two giants, and strange high sounds seem to pierce into them. Quetzalcoatl answers her call as well, sending a lash of bright thunder down, all but blasting Robin off her feet and onto the lift.
Chrom scrambles after her, looking over his shoulder as the flying monster overheats from the magic and breaks into flashes and explosions. She can vaguely pick out the sound of frying and short circuiting electronics, over the monster's death throes.
"I… Guess that's what happens when you overload a monster and it's magic field." Robin says, as the lift drops down. Chrom can only nod, standing over her. "But I'm pretty sure that means we don't have to worry on the Galbadians using the radio tower. Or that monster causing anymore trouble."
"Yeah, which means we'd better…" Chrom trails off, looking through the gaps of the tower. Robin follows his gaze, and pauses over the way the sun is almost touching the waves. "…Hell. It means we'd better belt back to the ships. We're running right up to the evacuation time frame."
He glances down to her.
"Can you run?"
"I think I'll need to." Robin tells him, forcing herself upright.
-o-o-o-
They need to run as it turns out… Just more than Chrom thought. They start with a jog at the bottom of the tower… Only to pause, as a strange high pitched screeching filters down from above; in a moment he picks out the screel of steel scraping against more steel. Looking up he can pick out the outline of the Galbadian mech.
"…Start running?" Robin asks. In answer he grabs her by the arm, charging forward as the mech crashes down. It rattles the ground, almost pitching Chrom face first. The mech thuds into the ground behind them, and he's pretty sure there's a new crater in its wake.
"Keep going!" He tells Robin, working up to full speed as they belt along the path. They find themselves ducking and dodging the mech. Chrom keeps his grip on Robin, cursing a little as she falters… And that seems to spur Robin on, like she doesn't want to disappoint him, even as her eyes keep blurring.
"Can you call Quetzalcoatl?" He asks, and in answer she slumps into him. Chrom finds himself having to carry Robin, and feeling an odd static along his bare arm… But in another breath, she snaps her head back up, right as the mountain peak explodes with thunder and knocks the mech back a pace. It gives Chrom just enough room to scramble down the slope and stairs, and work his way towards the city bridge.
"It's… Still catching up to us." Robin notes, looking over his shoulder. "That lightning barely slowed it down…?"
"As long as we can stay ahead of it, that's all I care about!" Chrom tells her. He hits the bridge running. The lights still flicker around them, and Chrom wonders at the odd hydraulic hiss behind them… And then needs to throw himself past the end of the bridge, as the mech comes down off its leap and tries to flatten them.
He loses his grip on Robin as they go falling and scrapping along the ground. It's Robin who finds her feet first, pulling him up as the mech seethes and blows out several of its joints.
'At least that lightning managed to fry a few parts of it,' Chrom thinks as he scrambles upright. They go scrambling into the city, with the mech in hot pursuit. Even the narrow streets don't stop the thing, as it tilts to one side and braces its legs against the walls.
"Of COURSE it wall crawls, why wouldn't it!?" Chrom mutters to himself, feeling the buildings shudder all around them. Robin almost chances a look back, but he keeps her running. "Forget about regrouping at the square! We're going straight for the boats and getting out of here!"
Provided that they haven't missed the dispatch order. Chrom doesn't enjoy the idea of fighting the mech along the beaches. He gets one relieved, if pained breath, when he sees the hint of sand and the SeeD transports still waiting on the beach.
"Almost there!" Chrom urges Robin onwards, pushing her well ahead of him… Even as he can feel his own strength threatening to fail.
…And it doesn't help when the mech charges forward, sending a blast of air in its wake; it tries to bull its way through the archway. In the process it sends Chrom flying forward. A part of him thinks that he at least doesn't have to take the stairs down to the beach… But the rest of him is busy with crashing into the dirt.
-o-o-o-
Adrenaline and a hammering heart makes for one potent drug, Robin discovers. It can make her limbs and lungs all move, even when they want to give up and settle for burning. Chrom helped with some of that, urging her on; and now that the ships are in sight, she finds that she can push herself a little further-
At least until she hears the shriek of steam and crunch of brick behind her. She's already vaulted down the stairs and hit the sand thanks to Chrom shouting at her to go ahead. But the commotion makes her slow her dash across the beach, and chance a look over her shoulder…
And for a split second she sees Chrom, collapsed in the dirt as the Galbadian mech parks on the beach stair. It shakes off masonry and dust, all the sensors in its mechanical head jittering and flashing about as they try to lock onto him.
"Get up!" She desperately screams, her feet scrapping to a halt in the sand. Chrom fights upright, struggling through the sand as he tries to get into a full run… But she can pick out a slight limp in his step; a place where he landed wrong against the ground. It pushes a pained lurch into his stride. And while the mech is getting bogged down in the sand, she's still not sure if Chrom can outrun it. Or make his way to the ships.
She risks a look to the beach, seeing that the transport ship is just a lunge and a jump away for her…
…But she hesitates in running towards it. Instead her feet dig into the sand and her back bakes in the setting sun. Her body stays rooted, heedless of the shouts from the ship. A part of her hopes Frederick won't deduct too many points from her score, for failing to listen to orders.
The rest of her just wants to see Chrom make it back. She keeps her eyes fixed to him, watching him struggle for the ship even as the mech tries to trample over him, and Robin tries to urge Chrom on in turn.
"Come on, just a little further-!" She tries to tell him, to call out… Only to be cut off, as a pair of hands clap over her shoulders.
"Less watching, Robin! Chrom'd kick my ass if you were exposed out here." She hears Vaike, dragging her backwards even as she starts and struggles. The transport ship's shadow closes over her, and her feet drum against a sudden sheet of metal.
"Get your rear in gear, Chrom!" Vaike adds his voice to Robin's, urging him on… But Robin can feel the transport start to sigh and pull itself free of the sands. The waves slosh against the sides and drench the floor, making her footing slippery.
She feels a shivering along the base of her head, almost like what she felt at the radio tower. Fields of magic seem to dance across her vision, more tangible than ever before… And it's the easiest thing for Robin to reach out and harness them, as she stares at Chrom. Trying to will him to make that jump… And it's like he finds an extra ounce of momentum and strength.
Chrom's eyes widen, feeling a sudden surge as he gathers up his strength, and throws himself off the last dune and forward. He's suspended for a split second over the ocean, the mech trying to tear through the sand and slam down on him-
"N-not! Happening!" She hears Sumia cry out, followed by a burst of machine gun fire; a reminder that the heavy artillery mounted up top isn't just for show. The sharp slap and snap of gunfire jolts through Robin, and the magic flares around her, turning into a sudden explosion of lightning; the spell seems to arc off Chrom, and hits the mech for good measure.
The mechanical creature staggers, and collapses with a wrenching metallic shriek. And as the machine explodes in a hail of gunfire and sparks, Chrom completes his leap.
It's not the most glamorous landing, Robin thinks, as Chrom smacks face first into her collarbone and sends them both crashing down.
"Hey buddy… You dead?" Vaike pokes Chrom with his boot toe as he says that. Chrom groans in answer, and the same groan is echoed by Robin. Her head has gone back to feeling oddly fuzzy, and she has to wonder what caused those magic surges.
'Something inside me reacted, called on that power…' And a part of her wonders if she even needed the Guardian Force, to harness that power. She's not so certain she likes that answer, or wants to dwell on it.
-o-o-o-
The ride back home is anticlimactic in comparison… Though the briefing certainly makes Chrom freeze.
"Chrom…" Frederick sighs out, as they sit in the cabin. "What are we to do with you? You're given clear orders to secure a square." For his part, Chrom can only hang his head. "And while you achieve that, then you go against orders, take the fight to soldiers, nearly annihilate a radio tower…"
"…But for all that, he also gave us extra intelligence on what Galbadia was planning. And managed to do some extra damage; there's no guarantee the forces would've been willing to talk terms, if he and Robin hadn't shaken them loose." He yanks his head up to stare at Cordelia, looking austere in her own SeeD uniform.
"So we're at a conundrum." Cordelia continues. "Do we reward you taking initiative, or punish you for disobeying orders? And no, before you ask, ignoring the entire incident isn't an option for any of us." Her eyes travel over to a corner of the transport room… And that's when Chrom realizes that Robin is standing there, shifting nervously from foot to foot. And if he feels heavy hearted, Robin looks ready to sink into the floor.
"However… We may have settled on a compromise. You won't be expelled. And in terms of battle prowess, you passed the exam with flying colors." Frederick tells them both. "However… While the two of you make a good team, you're also oddly chaotic. And having two students like you… It warrants further study and evaluation. You'll graduate to SeeD rank… But that will ONLY be conditional on the two of you continuing to work together, while Garden does further research."
He watches them both, waiting to see if there's any protest.
"I-It's better than being expelled." Chrom says, glancing to Robin. "And… I have no objections to working with Robin."
"Likewise." Robin murmurs.
"Then it's settled. And that being the case, the graduation ceremony is in just a few hours, and we should be making landfall soon enough. When we're ashore I'd return to the dorms if I were you, and switch into your new uniforms. And Chrom… Try to keep the sleeves intact this time."
'I make no promises.' Chrom doesn't dare say that aloud, but gets the feeling his relieved and cheeky grin conveys that well enough.
-o-o-o-
The SeeD uniform fits easily on Robin; she's a little unnerved by how well she takes to the new outfit. The splashes of violet in particular seem to stand out; a designation that she's displayed arcane potential.
And that designation makes her unsteady; reminds her of the strange magic she unleased at the SeeD exam… And with only Chrom as her witness. Even Vaike and Sumia could only give her a bewildered blink, when she dared to bring it up; they were too focused on the gunfire, not the sudden flare of magic.
The fresh memory makes her uneasy, and the sound of the ceremony barely pierces her worry. She finds herself shrinking away from the rest of the crowds, letting the dancing and swaying figures take her to fringes of the ballroom. It all leaves her alone with her thoughts-
"Hey." Chrom's voice, however, is quite adept at piercing those thoughts. It jolts Robin back up, to see Chrom giving her a nervous smile. His own SeeD uniform places more emphasis on navy blue and silver; reminiscent of the steel sword he so favors. He glances over her markings and colors… And he seems to think of the same thing as her, when he says,
"The uniform suits you."
"Th-thank you. The same to you." She tells him. For a moment, they stand together in half companionable, half awkward silence. Until at last Chrom clears his throat.
"I-I never got to thank you. For saving my life the way you did." He keeps his voice low, but it still freezes Robin. She almost wants to bolt, to vanish into the crowd, but his gaze holds her steady.
"And… I was wondering. I couldn't help but see you haven't danced with anyone yet." Chrom continues, and Robin can only nod. "So… Could I ask you for a dance?"
There's a dozen excuses she could give; she's exhausted (partly true) or doesn't know how to dance (mostly a lie) or that she's unsure about spending such time with him… And that last one is a complete lie, as her head dips forward in a nod. Chrom rewards her with a grin, taking her by the hands and pulling her to the dance floor.
The music around them settles into a waltz, and it's the easiest thing to settle in turn into Chrom's grip and begin the steps… Or at least it would be, if Chrom was able to match her movements.
"…Chrom. Do YOU know how to dance?" Robin finds herself asking when he almost knocks them and another couple to the floor.
"Well… I got a passing grade in our dance class. That counts, doesn't it?" Robin lets out her breath in a huff, before trying to guide him through the steps. To Chrom's credit, he's a fast enough learner, and as the waltz reaches its crescendo, he's matching her step for step, spinning her out on his arm before pulling her back in… And keeping his arms oddly tight around her.
"Well. I'd say that we can upgrade that passing grade to something more." Robin says, a bit breathless. She tries to smile at him… But wonders at the sober look in his eyes.
"There's… I also needed to tell you something more." Chrom says, as the music fades out.
"I… I didn't tell anyone. About whatever you did; I'll keep your secret safe, until you WANT to talk about it." The lights dim around them, and Robin realizes the ceremony is coming to a close, and getting ready for the fireworks.
She's read a few of Sumia's favorite novels, and one of them, a story about a sorceress and her knight, feels oddly appropriate for this situation. She doesn't voice that thought out loud, however; just finds herself tilting her head forward, so her forehead brushes against Chrom's cheek as a sign of gratitude… And perhaps a silent plea that he doesn't need to let go of her just yet.
And Chrom proves himself to be worthy of the SeeD mantle, considering how well he reads the situation, and keeps his arms around her all through the fireworks.