10. Pirates
((Author's Note: otherwise known as the Skies of Arcadia AU.))
The moons paint the night sky in a rainbow of colors, forming a shifting aurora. The perfect conditions for sky sailing. Chrom lifts his head to the stars, taking in the sweet, cool breeze. The ship sighs around him, riding across the cloud strewn sky.
"Hey, captain. You gonna give us a direction? Or just star gaze all night?" He tries not to blush under Sully's ribbing. The sailor needs to pitch her voice to reach him, but she's still able to perfectly balance teasing and scolding.
"Guess that depends on what we find." He calls down from his spot in the crow's nest. He forces himself to look back up, and start scanning the horizon with purpose. No more enjoying the breeze or the light of the moons… Though he can always use them to track their location, he realizes.
The silver moon is at their backs, and he can just see the yellow moon rising up in front of them. A clear marker that they're heading into Valuan airspace.
'Dangerous pickings for a pirate… But high risk means high reward. Especially if we can find an armada vessel.' He can feel that same nervous anticipation spreading through the crew below, with how they murmur and restlessly shift at their stations.
"Sir… Are you certain on this?" Frederick climbs halfway up the rigging as he speaks. The eldest of their crew also still has a knack for reading his thoughts. "It's a tall order to-"
"To fire on our old country?" Chrom cuts him off. "We won't kill anyone, if we can help it; we're Blue Rogues. Not Black Pirates; and if Valua has forgotten honor and chivalry, we'll see if we can't remind them of it…" He lets his words sink in for just a moment, before adding "…And aside from that, we all KNOW they have the best bounty!"
He's pretty sure Frederick gives a snort at that, but hides it under a sharp "As you say, sir."
Frederick drops back down to the deck as he speaks, barking orders to the crew to put on full sail and engine speed. Chrom catches the scent of burning moonstone drifting up into the air, as the ship puts fresh fuel into the engine. The fins of the ship all churn like a skyfish, and their vessel surges completely into Valuan airspace. The sky reflects that change, smears of dark clouds obscuring the former glory of the sky.
But even through the shrouded skies, he can pick out something bulling its way through the clouds. The yellow and silver moons pick out rivets in a steel ship, and the propellers and turbines churn the clouds into a fine mist.
He's seen that ship often enough; sometimes even sailed on such things, before the steel ships and corridors felt too suffocating. Chrom frowns at the memory, before shaking his head; this isn't the time to dwell on the past.
'At least we've found exactly what we were looking for.'
"Valuan armada vessel!" Frederick bellows out. The crew scrambles to attention, as Frederick hands the authority over to the raiders; Sully and Vaike are a mismatched pair, but still manage to whip the crew into a furor, and push the ship close enough to get the Valuan battleship into range of their cannons.
Chrom takes in one quick breath to better brace himself against the crow's nest. Below their gunner Stahl calls out the command to fire. Plumes of fire and smoke burst from the side of their ship, and answering explosions spring up along the Valuan vessel.
The armada ship lists from the impact, sparks flying from the propellers. The vessel limps along, easy prey for his own ship to swoop in and throw out grappling hooks.
"Haul with a will!" Frederick tells them. Cranks and spools all wind up, or the stronger of the crew pull tight on the ropes. Until their own ship flies just above the firing path of the Valuan cannons. Many of those cannons spit sparks and bleed smoke as well, unable to bring the barrels against their ship.
And Chrom finds himself grinning; it's time to carry out the boarding. He throws out his own line onto the ship below, sliding down the rigging. For a heartbeat, there's only clouds and empty sky lurking below him. The next breath, the steel deck blocks the sky, and Chrom drops heavily onto the ship. He gives only a slight wince when his feet touch down; he's never cared much for the sterile steel Valua seems to prize for their ships.
"HEY! Don't take all the treasure for yourself!" He gives one more wince when Lissa shouts at him, and follows him over to the Valuan ship. Her landing is more of a stumble, but she still brings her own axe up to the Valuan soldiers storming along the deck. Chrom takes in their forces, seeing just what they're up against.
The soldiers already wear their heavy steel armor, echoing the cold metal of the armada ship. Chrom twirls his own sword; he's worn that armor before, and knows how it slows the fighter down.
"Keep dancing outside of their range." He murmurs to Lissa. "They'll tire out before we do."
He counts out a dozen fighters at least, looks over the heads of the soldiers… And wonders at an odd looking third ship, tethered near the prow of the main vessel. The wane strands of moonlight pick out an odd, brilliant metal, so unlike the dark ship steel.
"I'm sorry, did we interrupt you in the middle of something?" Chrom asks the Valuan soldiers; they're quickly surrounding him and Lissa, glaring through the oversized knight helms. Which makes him glad that he DID run off before his father could enter him the military.
The soldiers look ready to draw steel on them… Up until he speaks, and raises his head enough for them to pick out his features.
"Wait, you're… Chrom! Traitor to the crown!" One of the soldiers sneers out.
"Guess you all still recognize me." Chrom says, trying to keep his voice mild; it certainly counters the venom in the soldier's voice. And even with the knight helms clamped over their faces, he can feel the heat in their glares.
"Send a runner to the bridge!" The lead soldier barks, before turning back to Chrom. "Gangrel will love hearing about this; he's been wanting to hunt you down."
"Didn't know we were on his ship." Chrom says, glancing about. Though as he takes a closer look, the place DOES have the look off a flagship. Ornamental metal work is engraved along the canons, along with splashes of red and yellow paint.
"Guess that being a lowlife pirate robs you of any class, or ability to recognize emblems. You missed your chance, staying in Valua and going to the military academy."
"Oh, we were considering it. Up until they made those goofy looking helmets part of the uniform." Lissa backs up her words with a cheeky grin. But as she speaks, Chrom looks back to the silvery ship; out of the loop or not, he's certain neither Valua or any of the other nations have come up with such otherworldly designs, or instituted them in the fleets-
But he doesn't get much more time to gawk. Not when the Valuan soldiers throw themselves forward. Then it's time to cut his way through their ranks. He remembers his advice to Lissa, and keeps his footwork nimble. He remembers the rote sword work his father tried to drill into him, and sees it echoed among the soldiers; stiff, cumbersome sword swings that are easy to dance between, or parry.
Then he gets the turn to strike back. His blade flashes between green and red, reacting to the moon stones on his and Lissa's belts, and giving his attacks an extra, magical bite. His first strike trails fire in its wake, echoing the ruby moon that resides over the desert kingdom. The next strike has a green glow, giving the air a brief and noxious taste, like the poison and verdant jungles of the emerald moon.
And all the blows shear through metal, either through flame or corrosive venom. He drops two soldiers with those elements alone. And however much the Valuans might boast about their training and discipline, he finds he can easily keep pace with them and slice a path through their ranks. Lissa stays behind him, covering his back. She keeps her axe at the ready, and the green moon stone blazes at her side; ready to be called up on for more potent magic. And as they clear space, the other pirates are able to jump on board and lay into the ranks.
Vaike is howling and challenging everyone to fight him, while Frederick yells at him to reign it in and focus on capturing the ship wheel and engines. Sully is made of sterner discipline, wielding her spear in a sweeping fan, while Stahl pairs up with her.
Finally Chrom punches through, and finds himself staring across the wide steel deck, to a single figure. The stranger is dressed in too fine silks, black and gold, matching the preferred colors of the stormy nation Valua… And he keeps an odd bundle thrown over his shoulder. It takes Chrom a moment to realize he's carrying around a person, laying limp against him.
"Looks like we found our admiral." Lissa spares the man a quick glance, scowling at him. "Gangrel."
Her voice barely reaches the man, and he pauses in his steps, turning towards them. Gangrel notices Chrom's sight sneers at him.
"Well… And here I was just going to leave. Glad I delayed enough to see what sort of vermin infested my ship." He ends with a snarl, and tosses his hostage to the floor. "I suppose I can take time out of my schedule to deal with you… And I have to wonder what would be better. Taking your corpse back to your family, or let them squirm when they see what their wretched son has turned into."
Chrom narrows his eyes at that, but doesn't answer to Gangrel's jabs… In part because his eyes are still on the hostage, sprawled across the deck. Her clothing is an odd mixture of dark robes and silver, and her pale hair is like a splash of moonlight across the dark tinged steel.
Gangrel steps over her prone body, all his focus on Chrom as he draws his own blade. Chrom frowns at the crackling electricity; proof Gangrel is carrying his own shard of moon stone. This one echoing the thunder clouds and yellow moon holding dominion over Valua.
Gangrel moves like lightning, throwing himself at Chrom and meeting him in a clash of swords. There's no armor slowing the admiral down, and his cuts are savage slices. One of them cuts a buzzing line along Chrom's arm, and he falters against the assault.
"See, pirate?" Gangrel hisses out. "We LEARN things in your old homeland; like how to put your kind to the sword-"
"…Stop!" Someone shouts that out. At first, Chrom thinks its Lissa. But she's busy fighting the Valuan soldiers… And beside that, there's an authority to the voice that he's never heard from his sister. Gangrel even hesitates for a moment, looking over his shoulder.
Beyond him, stranger groans, raising her head up, pushing herself slowly onto her elbows and staring around. Something glows against the stranger's chest, like her heart has a fragment of starlight shoved into it.
A shudder rocks the ships, and even seems to rattle the clouds. Chrom fights to keep his feet, looking around and wondering how the Shepherd had managed such a shot… But his own ship is reeling, like something tore into it. And when the clouds shift, he can see long claw marks torn across the sails.
"No way…" Lissa whispers, as she throws back the troops. "That can't possibly be-!?"
"…Gigas." Gangrel sighs out, half in terror, and half in awe. "So our little guest DOES have a rapport with one."
Chrom shivers at that; he's heard the stories of the giant monsters. The remnants of old, crumbled civilizations… And arguably the same creatures that brought ruin to those same civilizations.
Gangrel takes advantage of his awe, checking Chrom with his shoulder, then whirling around, ready to snatch the stranger up; and what else he's going to do to her, or force her to do, Chrom doesn't know. But he also doesn't want to see it play out-
Not anymore than the stranger does. She gives a strange, desperate cry in the back of her throat. In answer, a dark shape arcs and rises above the clouds… And Chrom can just pick out the neck and head of a strange, serpentine monster. Something that looks almost like a dragon.
The beast gives a rumble like thunder, before the jaws begin to part.
"…I really don't like how that looks." Lissa mutters to him.
"Get everyone back on board the ship. Quick as you can." He tells her. "I'll… Be along shortly."
He doesn't give Lissa any time to argue, as he throws himself forward. He doesn't bother with a sword, not wanting to take the chance of slicing up the stranger. Instead he leads with his shoulder, mimicking Gangrel's trick and slamming into him. The impact knocks Gangrel away from the stranger, while Chrom staggers closer to her. The admiral gives an outraged noise, swinging his sword around to try and skewer Chrom-
But the stranger doesn't allow for that, grabbing Chrom by the shoulders and throwing them both flat.
A second later, the monster overhead parts its jaws, as violet flame splashes down and explodes across the deck. Chrom slides across the metal floor, feeling his skin blister from the sudden surge of heat. But he fares better than Gangrel; Chrom can see the man's clothing burn, his hands furiously trying to stamp out the violet flames. But it's like trying to beat back a storm with his bare hands. The fire washes over him, consuming flesh and fabric alike… And even the blade of his sword turns to molten steel, dripping down on the deck.
Chrom ducks his head, looking away from the gruesome sight. Compared to that, sliding across hot metal means he and the stranger have gotten off relatively lightly.
"Th-thanks." He tells her… And sees that there's still a light burning against her skin. And it STILL looks unnervingly like his own red moon stone, only more concentrated and tinged with violet.
"Robin…" She can only manage her name, before clasping her hand over her heart and going limp. The glow subsides as she does that… And in the process, the dragon gives a long and strange howl; he can almost see moonlight streaming through the beast, as it goes translucent.
He'd marvel at the sight… If it weren't for another explosion rocking the ship. Chrom gets the feeling that the fire managed to find the ammunition locker, which is all electing to go off now.
He grabs Robin, gathering her into his arms as he sprints along the deck. His own ship has cut its way free, waiting for him to jump on board. Chrom forces himself to gather strength, racing hard along the deck; he can see that Lissa has already jumped across, waving him forward. Chrom tenses for his jump. He barely manages to throw himself onto the wooden deck, before the ship is off and away. Leaving behind a burning Valuan vessel.
"…Well." Lissa says, standing over him. "That was some raid. Though we barely managed to get any loot before it went up in flames."
"We're alive," Chrom feels the need to point out. "Despite everything that just happened."
He looks down to the stranger in his arms.
"And… I think we've finally got a bigger goal, than just being pirates and harrying imperial vessels."
"You want to figure out what's up with her?" Lissa asks. Chrom can only nod, until he feels Lissa give him an approving pat on the shoulders.
"Good answer... Captain." She grins. "You really ARE starting to act like a swashbuckler, you know. Protecting the weak, fighting the corrupt… All that good stuff."
"Thanks…" He murmurs; even if he feels less like a swashbuckler, and more like a landlubber. His legs are shaking so hard they won't hold him up. "I… Just want to figure out what the empire wants with her."
And if there was some weird connection between her, and that monster. Robin, for her part is giving Chrom a bleary eyed look, exhausted from the ordeal.
"Well. If Valua wants something from her, then it's OUR business to keep her out of their grasp." Lissa says, confident enough. Chrom tries to share that, giving a nod… And as confused as she is, Robin seems to understand that, with how she relaxes against him. The glow is gone from her skin now, and Chrom finds himself relaxing in turn.
"Guess we did find something interesting after all. Or someone interesting." Lissa continues, grinning at Chrom, and how he holds onto Robin. And as pink as Chrom goes, he can't quite bring himself to let go of her.
"Th-thank you…" Robin just manages. Chrom gives a gentle murmur in answer.
"Don't mention it; it's what Blue Rogues are supposed to do, after all." And he feels a little more confident as he says that; a little more certain… And feeling like a proper pirate, sailing the skies. The ship wheels about, ragged sails still capable of catching the wind.
"Blue Rogues…" Robin tests the word, almost like she's never heard of it before. But she seems to like how it sounds, with how she gives him a cautious smile.
Overhead, the skies clear again, showing a hint of the silver moon. Robin seems to relax from the sight as well, resting against him. Chrom lifts his head to that, giving the silver moon a quick, grateful prayer. Thanks for seeing them through the raid… And for the odd new ally he's found.