Hi everyone, Happy New Year! We really out here writing fanfiction during winter break lmao.

Thank you, anonymous guest, for the review. It's a difficult concept, but I think I'm doing okay.

I might start combining chapters. 27 (Prologue + Endgame + Epilogue) is a lot to write

I still don't own any of this shit. If I did, I'd rebalance the units.

[HQ 05:02]

"Come on! I'm not your enemy!" The man said. "Let me go!"

"Silence!" The guard ordered. "Sir, the prisoner. He was seen bearing a terrorist emblem." The guard escorted Prince Marth into the cell.

"But I got Lena out of there. Come on! Let me out! I've really had a change of heart about all of this!"

"Hold on. Why are we detaining someone who helped us?" Prince Marth said.

"You can never exercise too much caution, sir. He is still a terrorist."

"But you took him aboard the aircraft."

"I'm just following orders, sir. This was the next one."

"Who gave it?"

"I- I don't know."

Marth sighed. "That's fine. This is the order now. Get this man out of here," Marth turned towards the man. "What's your name, friend?"

"Julian, sir," the man replied.

"What did you do for the terrorists?"

"I was a thief, sir. I stole things digital and physical."

"Huh… And the priestess changed your mind?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, I hope you don't mind picking a few more locks for us." Marth turned to the guard. "I'm inclined to trust him. If he's truly had a change of heart, he deserves the chance to prove it."

"Yes, sir. I'll release him immediately."

"I don't want to hear about any harm befalling this man," Marth warned. He turned to Julian. "Show me you're ready to help people, and then I'll know I've picked a man of character."

"Wow. That's…. Thanks! I couldn't ask for a better deal!"

[Foot of Aurelis 08:34]

"ALTEA-6, this is RECON-6. Panthers got eyes on cav, two AA guns on wheels, and a few small naval assets. A couple of troops out there ready to roll. They easily outnumber us, but with some daring maneuvers, we can strike."

"Copy RECON-6. Return to base." Marth began playing with the terrain model.

"ALTEA-6, this is TALYS-6. WINGSPEAR is loaded on FIREBIRD. Airborne in 5 minutes."

"Copy TALYS-6, but I need you to sit tight for a bit. Need time for the Crimsons to take care of the engineers to our north."

"Roger ALTEA-6."

"ALTEA-6, this is CRIMSON-6. Targets have been acquired. Moving in for the kill."

"Copy. PIRATE-6 come in."

"ALTEA-6, this is PIRATE-6. Support line is set."

"Good. Begin firing in 5...4…" Marth began to countdown.

[Enemy HQ 09:00]

"We've lost contact with the engineers!" A scout reported.

"What? Already? Then that means-" Bentheon, the enemy commander, slammed his fist on the table.

"Rebels confirmed commander," another scout reported.

"We've lost our element of surprise. But we still outnumber them. They won't get past our cavalry, especially with our two mobile anti-air weapons. Lieutenant Jurgen, the RIDERSBANE. The light anti-armor weapon. Can it defend this palace?"

"Yes sir. It'll be up and ready to go if they reach here."

"If they can pass the armor on the bridge. They won't reach Prince Hardin that easily."

[Foot of Aurelis 10:00]

"Enemy troops inbound. Gonna be a matter of time before we engage the first squadron, sir," Jagen reported.

"Roger. FIREBIRD's OM," Marth replied. "Caeda, that's your cue."

"Copy. See you soon GUARD-6," Caeda replied.

"ALTEA-6, this is LIGHTNING-6. Navarre and I have finished up work here. We're OM to our next point."

"Copy. See if you can hug the lake where you'll have support from Barst."

"Roger."

There was a brief pause in the radio comms. Marth took this as an opportunity to begin readying himself for battle.

"Malledus," he called. The tactician turned. "I'm going in. I can make the calls from the aircraft."

"Sir."

"If anything happens..." Marth started.

"Let's not think of the hypotheticals, sir."

"Right," Marth said. He turned to the door and grabbed his weapon. He paused for a moment.

"You sure this thing works?"

"Yes, sir. We've tested these extensively," Malledus took a breath. "Your father used these rounds an intended for them to be mass-produced."

"Father…" Marth muttered. There was a brief pause, and Marth breathed a bit uneasy for a second.

"Sir-"

"I'll make him proud," Marth insisted. "We'll restore balance to this mad world."

[Foot of Aurelis 10:30]

"LIGHTNING-6, this is RECON-6. Be advised, you've got enemy arty rolling to your position across the big bridge."

'Copy. We're a bit occupied right now. CRIMSON-6, this is LIGHTNING-6. Can you push north to disable?"

"Affirmative. Already got eyes. Should be able to hit," there was a short radio pause, "ALTEA-6, this is CRIMSON-6, permission to engage."

"Good to go, CRIMSON. Light 'em up!"

With good timing, I'll be able to drop in. Marth thought.

"ALTEA-6, this is GUARD-6, we've been engaged."

"Good. Intel tells me this regiment falls for feints easily. Assume alternate firing positions, and feign retreat. We'll be there with the first flank."

"Roger, ALTEA-6."

"TALYS-6?"

"Ready for close fire support."

"RAM-6, come in."

"This is RAM-6. Smokes loaded, sir. We'll cover their retreat. Castor's said gun 3 is back online."

"Good. CAV-6, I need you ready for quick reaction. Link up with recon at their rally point."

"Copy."

"KNIGHT-6."

"Sir, I'm moving to intercept as fast as I can. Need the smokes now RAM-6."

"On their way!"

Marth watched plumes of white smoke cover the battlefield. "Bring the chopper to a hover, chief," he ordered. He pulled a tablet from his side pocket to monitor the battlefield. The smoke started to clear a bit, and Marth made his next move.

"TALYS-6, you are clear to engage. Bring that WINGSPEAR round!"

"Engaging!" Caeda's FIREBIRD made an initial sweep of the battlefield, from north to east, then retreated back towards JAGEN's unit at a low hover.

"Shots hit! Major damage on two enemy light-tanks!"

"Good. Fire, KNIGHT-6!"

"We're firing!"

"RAM-6, switch to 60s!"

"Firing, sir!"

Marth saw multiple flashes, followed by darker smoke plumes.

"Infantry's still out there, but it looks like the tanks are sitting ducks," Marth said to himself.

Marth didn't have time to think because his bird jerked suddenly to the left.

"What was that? Chief?"

"Sir looks like you have mobile Air-Defense assets moving in on your position. Real missile launchers!"

Marth saw another round of missiles fly towards Jagen's unit.

"TALYS-6, come in!"

"ALTEA-6, we're green, but we burnt our primary flares."

"Copy TALYS-6. Return to base!"

"Sir, I advise that you return as well. That anti-air looks nasty and could pose a huge threat. But our mobile units will be able to hit it hard."

"Sound advice, but we need to clear these tanks. I've got RAPIER ready. Bring me round chief!"

"Yes, sir!"

Marth finished mounting the grenade launcher to the side door. He loaded the launcher with the RAPIER rounds.

"This one's for Altea!"

[Foot of Aurelis 10:45]

Dammit! the man thought. Those rebels are really something. Nobody weakened them or slowed their advance. Only one option now.

"V-VIPER-6. This is SPUR-5. Commander's dead. We need air support!"

There was a short pause.

"Lieutenant Mattis, you know that isn't how we call for air support. Where the hell are you? Can't you get on the tank?"

"Negative, sir. Tank's blown! Every tank's blown."

There's a

"We'll talk later, lieutenant. This sort of incompetency is not accepted by the crown. Send the digits."

"R-roger."

Mattis fumbled with his radio a bit more. In that process, his hand slipped, and his channel changed.

"Line 1: GD 41-"

He began to speak the numbers into the radio before a familiar voice came through the speaker.

"Matthis? Is that you?"

"Lena?! What are you doing? This is a battlefield?"

"I was attacked by bandits in the Teeth while tending to the sick there, and these Alteans saved me. The real question is, what are YOU doing on a battlefield- least of all this one!"

"I'm not here by choice, sister of mine. Since you left, Macedon has only gotten worse and worse. They forced me to enlist- you know I hate warfare, but it was into the army or onto the chopping block."

"Shame on you, Matthis. If you're going to fight, then at least fight for something you believe in. Macedon has done terrible things: marrying their might to Dolhr, helping them torment people…Brother, it's not too late. You could join Altea's forces. They're good people you know. Prince Marth would welcome you. They all would."

"…All right, then. If I'm gonna to die, I'd rather die as one of the dashing than one of the dastardly. You know, Lena, you always were the reliable one and now you're all grown up…I thought for sure you'd have already settled down with your one true love."

"T-true love? I've…I've met no such man, Matthis."

"Hmm, is that so? I'll bet you haven't… Well, you just be careful. There are plenty of thieves out there who would steal a girl's heart." Mattis trotted off the battlefield, radio in hand, and took to the woods to strip himself of his armor.

[Altean Med-bay 10:50]

"ALTEA-6, this is CADUCEUS-6. Change your frequencies." Lena sighed as she began to wrap a Crimson's wounds.

"Say again, CADUCEUS? I thought we were secure."

"It's a long story. Just change it." Lena squeezed the radio in between her shoulder and her ear and took her hand off of the transmission. "Hold still. Julian!"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Could you- stop calling me that!" She said. The thief laughed at her.

"Alright, it's just so funny though."

"I need my staff of healing, as well as some bandages."

[Foot of Aurelis 10:50]

"Actually, drop me off, Chief. I'm going to take Rapier and see if I can flank those AA guns across the river. Battlefield seems to be dead right now." Marth said.

"Copy, sir. I pray your audacity is rewarded. Light stalks the Shadow."

"We will prevail, chief. Let's hunt!"

The bird circled to a hover just above a shut-off village. Marth rappelled down the rope with a squad of his best men. When he reached the bottom, he reported to Jagen. "GUARD-6, move up. Stay out of the range of enemy fire support."

"Yes, sir."

"PIRATE-6, come in."

"Planning on blowing this bridge, sir. On our way to pick up LIGHTNING. CRIMSON's RTB to pick up the rounds you wanted."

"Roger. CAV, RECON. Come in."

"Tanks still green, sir. Captain Cain can send you a platoon of dismounts as support, but we're moving slowly right now. Not many good routes that aren't in AA range."

"Copy, RECON-6. CAV-6, send what you can."

"Roger. They'll be there in 50 minutes."

"KNIGHT-6, come-"

A round flew and hit the village wall. Sustained machine-gun fire soon followed.

"Damn! Take cover. We've been engaged!"

Marth pulled his tablet. His men began returning fire.

"Sir, we've got eyes on heavies! This ain't good." his senior sergeant reported.

More rounds flew by. One of his men was upended.

"Copy. TALYS-6, come in, how fast can you get here?"

"Marth, FIREBIRD's in the air! Don't you dare die on me!"

Another man peeked from his cover and was instantly taken down. Mortar fire began raining down in every direction.

"Negative, TALYS-6. We're pinned. Can't move," Marth grimaced. "This might be it boys."

"Marth!"

Marth peeked out and began firing with his launcher.

I can't peek long enough to get a good shot!

Suddenly, a green whirlwind kicked up. It materialized into a tall tornado, picking up the shrapnel, rounds, and dust in the air. All fires quieted for a bit as if suspended in motion.

A tall man in blue robes emerged from the village gate. He had an open book in his hand, a tome of some sort. He was chanting, and with an outstretched arm and an open hand, he forced the tornado towards the heavy armor. Upon impact, the tanks suffered damages.

The tanks were halted and seemed to be disabled from the damage. Marth took that as an opportunity to peek out and fire the RAPIER rounds towards the tanks. The first exploded. Another tornado soon hit the trailing tanks.

The man closed his tome. He turned towards Marth and grinned.

"Aha! Prince Marth. We meet again."

"…Huh? Merric?! Merric, is that you?"

"Well, yes, sir, last I looked. Whilst studying magic in Khadein, I caught wind of a war brewing and decided to seek you out."

"I see… Thank you, then. I need friends like you on the battlefield. You will fight with us, of course?"

"Of course! 'Twould be a passing shame if you didn't get to see Excalibur again!"

Merric dropped to his knees and clutched his chest.

"Merric!" Marth ran towards him.

"Go, sir! Just a small side effect I haven't worked out yet."

Marth began frantically working on his radio to get the support he needed.

[Foot of Aurelis 12:50]

"You can defy us, yes, but you can never defeat us," Bentheon mused to himself as he climbed the tallest tower to the RIDERSBANE weapon. "And I have just the weapon to prove it."

As he reached the top of the steps, he was met with a round to the knee. He collapsed. He reached for his pistol and was met with a round to his hand. Before he could react again, he was struck with a revolver and was forced on both of his knees. He looked up to see a mysterious assailant in a dark mask towering over him.

"Wha-what?"

The man placed the revolver to Bentheon's head.

"ALTEA-6, the target is in my custody. Shall I eliminate him?"

"Good to go."

"N-no!"

There was a single shot from a revolver, and Bentheon was no more.