Chapter 16: Recovering Part 1

When the rain stopped, the day turned to night as Stahl stands just outside of the abandoned house. He looks up to the sky as the clouds floats away letting the gentle light of the moon comes over him.

"The rain's finally let up, but who knows when it'll start falling again?" He lets out a sigh. "I'm so hungry…"

Terry barks at his partner to pay attention when they hear someone approaching him from behind and turns around just as the figure taps on the knight's shoulder. "Hey. Stop spacing out, Mr. Watchman. Even your partner is paying attention."

The knight jumps up in shock but calms down as he sighs in relief. "Oh. Gaius."

"The moon's pretty dim tonight. Pay attention to your surroundings."

"Yeah, I am. Anyway…"

"You want to know how those two are doing?" Gaius finishes.

Stahl nods. "Yeah."

"Lissa's looking after them constantly along with the other healers. You don't like how they're doing?"

"I went to see Robin a little while ago. My family runs an apothecary. Her illness is like nothing I've ever seen before."

"What?" Gaius says in surprise.

"It's not just a common cold or physical exhaustion, but… right, I think it's some kind of endemic disease." Stahl concludes.

The thief nods with a frown. "Endemic disease… so that's it."

"All we can do is make them comfortable and continue to redress the wound. But still, they really should get plenty of food and rest well."

"You're right." Gaius agrees and suddenly whips his head around as his Manyula, Ace, did the same. "Huh?"

"Gaius?" Stahl asks curious of his action.

"Shh! Keep your voice down! Someone's coming!"

Terry makes an attack stance as Stahl's face grows serious as they also hear the footsteps. "You're right. There's shouldn't be anyone here but us. It can't be… the Plegian army."

The thief shakes his head. "There's only one set of footsteps… it looks like they're alone. A scout, then?"

As a dark cloud covers the light of the moon, there is silence once more.

"The footsteps stopped." Gaius whispers with a raised eyebrow before his eyes widens and gasps upon realization.

"I wonder what's wrong?" Stahl asks curious before getting ready to get up and see, but Terry barks loudly to stop his partner from moving his spot.

"Hey! Don't just look outside like that!" Gaius tells him also trying to stop Stahl."

Suddenly, a woman with blue hair dashes through the bushes with her blade aiming straight for Stahl and it halts just before his neck as the knight screams in surprise.

"I told you! Hey! Don't point that sword at his throat! He's worthless as a hostage!"

Both Ace and Terry give some thought at that Gaius said and nods in agreement.

"Huuuh?!" Stahl shouts in shock. "You guys are horrible!"

The woman looks surprise upon taking a closer look at her hostage then back at them. "You guys… what are you doing here?"

Gaius peers through the darkness only to be shocked upon seeing the figure as the cloud float pass the moon. "Ah. You're…"

Upon hearing the thief's shocked voice, Stahl turns around. "Huh? Oh! You're…"

Light shines on the woman revealing long cerulean blue hair and blue warrior armor. She turns her head behind her as she sheathes her sword.

"Adella, you can come out." Marth says, and a familiar Puppy Pokémon comes out of hiding and runs up to her. "You two, can you tell me why are you all out here?"

"Yeah. The thing is…" Gaius begins to tell Marth what happened after leaving the execution ground.

Inside the abandon house, the two lies in their own respective beds with a healer for the patient. Meena stays close to her sister's side with an anxious look as did Éclair and Robin rest across the room from her as Lissa sits next to Robin's bed. With a pained look, the female tactician is breathing heavily with sweats pouring from her forehead. Lissa frowns as she squeezes a cloth soaked in water. "It looks like you're in pain… I'll wipe your sweat away."

As she did, Robin mutters weakly, "I'm sorry… Lissa…"

The princess shakes her head. "Don't worry about it. Just let me take care of you."

"The two at the entrance said it was an endemic disease." They turn around to see Marth walking in with Adella as Virion says with a worried look. "So it seems."

"Ugh… think there's nothing we can do…" Chrom grits his teeth.

Adella trots to the bed where Reina is lying and jumps on it as she looks at her with a worried expression.

Frederick looks at the woman in suspicion. "But Marth… what are you doing so deep in the mountains?"

"I follow you here." Marth replies calmly. "I heard you were fleeing from the Plegian army."

Chrom looks up in surprise. "You came to help us again?"

Marth nods. "More importantly, this place is dangerous. The enemy is swiftly closing in. They'll be here within days. They are searching frantically for the prince of Ylisse and his companions."

"For Lord Chrom?!" The knight shouts in shock.

"Damn it!" Flavia says in grimace.

"But Robin and Reina are in poor condition." Virion says anxiously.

"If it is an endemic disease, those who live here may know something about it. Are there any people living nearby?" Marth asks.

"There… is a small settlement." Frederick sighs in frustration. "However…"

Chrom looks to the knight in confusion. "What? Why do you hesitate, Frederick?"

"The people who live near a village destroyed by war are most likely orphans or those who suffered otherwise. That is why. They doubtless hold no love for the Ylisse army and royal family. I doubt they would willingly cooperate with us."

"Whether or not they cooperate. It marks the end for us if they inform the Plegian army of our whereabouts. Though we are near the border, this is still Plegian territory."

"Then I will go alone! I will conceal my lineage and make do somehow!" Chrom says determined.

"E-Everyone… what are you discussing?"

They turn around to see Robin awake once more still having a high fever.

"We're thinking of going to a nearby village to ask for help, but we'll be in trouble if they tell the Plegian army where we're hiding. We're deciding what to do."

Robin shakes her head. "You don't have to go that far. I-I'm all right. S-see?" She says as she tries to get up. "I'm better already."

"Robin!" Lissa calls on shock. "You should stay in bed!"

"Robin. It's fine. Get some sleep. I'm going to pay a visit to that 'village'."

"Chrom! Wait! If anyone is to go, we'll need a plan. Ah, um… Let's see. Please call Stahl.

~Later~

"Honestly, even at a time like this… You're really something." Chrom says in bewilderment.

"How is it? The two of them look just like a married couple on a journey."

"R-Really?" Stahl stammers in embarrassment in his clothing.

Lissa giggle in excitement with her ordinary clothing and hair tied up under her head scarf. "Ehehe! It's fun wearing something different! What do you think, Chi?"

"Tabune~" Chi nods in agreement.

Frederick also nods his head with a hand on his chin. "I see. Even if Lord Chrom hides his lineage, his royal dignity cannot be concealed, and word will spread. And so the one to visit the village must be Stahl, who is complete unremarkable! As expected, Robin! What a magnificent plan!"

The others nod their heads in agreement as Lissa smiles with a nervous sweat drop. "Ahaha… is Chrom really that dignified?"

Stahl, on the other hand, sighs in disappointment. "Hah… I almost feel insulted… but putting me aside, Lissa's the princes, you know?"

Maribelle nods with a frown. "I disapprove of this as well! What if she gets hurt?! Lissa, please don't go."

"Aw, you worried too much Maribelle." Lissa assures with a smile. "I'll be fine. I'm just going to talk with the villagers, that's all. I can handle it."

"Are you sure?" Meena asks with a frown and turns to the tactician. "Robin, are you certain that she won't get attacked if they found out?"

"No," Virion says with a confident smile. "even taking into account her station, Stahl would seem much less suspicious with a woman by his side." He chuckles then turns to the disguised knight. "Either way, you are superbly qualified, Stahl."

"Yes, yes, is that so? Well, in any case, we're going."

Lissa looks back at her. "Wait for us, Robin! Reina! We'll definitely find a way to cure you!"

"Lissa, take care." Fredrick says.

"Don't overdo it, you two." Robin tells them.

"Okay!" The princess calls back.

After waving, the two leave the house as Robin leans back onto the bed goes to sleep. Frederick looks at her anxiously. "Robin has fallen asleep again. However…" He turns to Reina with a look of concern. "She… hasn't awoken yet?"

Meena shakes her head with a worried look as Éclair continues watching over her with her ears drooping. Maribelle frowns as well as she too shakes her head sadly.

"No. Her fever is getting worse and her breathing is ragged. Even though her immune system should be strong as Robin's, it's weak. If we don't get the cure soon…" Maribelle trails off.

Meena holds Reina's hand before clutching it and bites her lip as she trembles.

"Pika…" Éclair calls also worried for her trainer.

"Well then. I shall also depart. I will return to the mountain paths and delay the Plegian soldiers." Marth says.

Chrom turns around in shock. "Alone? That's impossible! It's too dangerous!"

"However, it is also true that we must buy time by some means." Virion says with a nod of agreement. "Very well. I shall accompany you. I'm quite skilled at delaying tactics."

"No." Marth declines. "I can move freely alone. Also, I have Adella with me. You stay here. Please protect them."

"H-Hey! Marth!" Chrom calls out desperately. " Wait! Do you want to die?!"

Marth turns around and answers with a confident look. "It's all right. Rest assure, I will flee if I encounter trouble. And… I am not fated to die here. Adella."

Hearing her name, the Iwanko jumps down from the bed and rushes towards her. She turns around and they leave the door despite the prince's attempt to stop her.

"She left. Who in the world is she, I wonder? She is of course quite skilled, and I know she is a trustworthy warrior, but…"

"But right now, we have no choice but to rely on her." Chrom finishes the knight's sentence with a nod in acknowledgement of the woman's strength.

As Lissa and Stahl walk towards to the village, the rain pours down once again.

"It's started raining again." Lissa says.

"You're right…" Stahl agrees.

Once they reach to a house of the village, they stop at the door.

"This is the place." Lissa whispers.

"Yeah."

Lissa then knocks on the door. "Hello? Excuse me!"

The door slowly creaks open revealing an old woman who responds, "You two… what in the world… are you doing so deep in the mountains?"

"Um, well, that's… We're a m-married couple on a journey. Will you please share some food-" Stahl gets interrupt by Lissa elbowing him.

"Stahl! That's not it!" Lissa tells him.

"Hmm?" The woman looks at them with perplex look.

"Aah! That's not what I meant!" Stahl panics after realizing his mistake. "W-We're actually traveling with two more people, but it looks like they caught an endemic disease, and they've been delirious with fever for three days. Do you know any way to cure them?"

"Hmm…" The woman stares carefully at the two causing them to be nervous under the stare.

"Ack… she's staring at us…" Lissa whispers.

"Y-Yeah." Stahl whispers back.

"Are you two… really travelers?" The woman questions.

"O-of course! Look!" Stahl shows his clothing at the woman. "No matter how you look at me, I'm normal traveling young man!"

"Hmph."

"Ooh… saying that makes me kind of sad…" Stahl trails off.

"Stahl, do your best!" Lissa cheers.

"There's probably no way to bring down their fever." The woman finally answers.

"Huh!?" Lissa and Stahl says in surprise.

"If it came on after that storm, it really is an endemic disease specific to this area. There are trees around here that release toxins when it gets very wet." The woman continues and turns away. "If it's already been three days, they probably only have one day left."

"T-that can't be…" Lissa says in shock.

"Isn't there any way to save them?!" Stahl asks.

The woman thought for a minute. "Hm… it's not that there isn't one."

"Please tell us!" Lissa pleads.

"Very well… but…"

"They're extremely important to us!"

"…You must bring back a special herb that grows in the depths of this ravine." the woman answers.

"A special herb?" Stahl repeats.

"Aye. It is special because it grows only there. That ravine… the way down is so complicated it cannot even be called a path and its steep cliffs deny people passage. Many travelers like yourselves have gone there, and there is no guarantee that you will ever return."

"Even so, we need it no matter what!"

"Please tell us exactly where this place is!" Lissa pleads again.

"…"

~Meanwhile~

"Hey! Are those Ylisseans really hiding in somewhere in these mountains?"

A plegian soldier nods. "Yeah. If they're trying to escape, they have to be around here. There's no way for them to continue without resting, even if they're on horse back!"

"A place like this? They'll just end up dying like dogs. Look! The storm's getting worse." The man argues back as he points to the rain clouds.

"Will you shut up and march?" The soldier snaps at the man.

"Your march ends here. Turn back."

They turn to see a man with blue hair with a butterfly mask and the soldier laughs. "Hey, look this guy. What's with the mask?"

"One of the Ylisseans?" The mercenary says with suspicious.

The soldier smirks. "Move over, little boy."

"And if I don't? What would you do?" The masked man says.

The soldier laughs. "Aren't you a proud one!"

"You'll move." The mercenary shouts as he charges. "We'll make you! Graaah! Die!"

They all charge at him, but the man jumps back dodging the blade. "Too slow!"

She dashes pass the man and disappears as their mage looks around in surprise. "Wha-?! He's gon-"

Suddenly, screams fill the air as the man's comrades fall to the ground dead. Seeing the scene before him, the man shouts in horror. "You-who are you?!"

A cavalry soldier rushes over to them. "Hey! What's going on here?"

Another mage shouts. "It's the enemy!"

"Y-yeah." A soldier stammers. 'Hey, be a gentleman and scram!"

Marth faces the soldier. "What's the matter? Weren't you going to make me?"

"Oi, all of you!" Their fighter shouts. "Let's get him all at once!"

Suddenly, several sharp rocks strike some of the men.

"An ambush?!" The mercenary shouts and then a figure rushes in from Marth's side. "They're with the enemy!"

"Hang on!" The soldier shouts with a smirk. "It's just a dog!"

Adella growls at them with teeth baring and front left leg out.

"Hah!" The soldier laughs. "With only two of you? As if! Charge!"

As the soldier says that, Adella sends another wave of Rock Throw at the soldiers while Marth frowns as he takes down another brute.

"Even so, there are too many of them for us by ourselves…"

Hearing movements behind Marth, Adella sharply turns her head at her and barks at her to warn her. The masked woman turns around upon hearing Adella's voice and sees a soldier coming at her from behind.

"Take this!"

Before Marth could move, light blinds them as several screams could be heard through the air. When it is done, they look up to see many of their foes down on the ground dead.

Marth looks around in shock. "Was that… Ruin?!" Adella looks up to her with her head tilt. "A dark mage's attack! But… where could it have come from? But if they're divided like this…"

Suddenly, laughter rings through the air as they turn in surprise to see a man with silver hair, like their comrade, but with plegian mage's robe and a purple tome. "Another fight's started? Good~! But splitting from the army would be more fun, hmm? That's why I just killed my own allies. It's been suuuper fun, but soon this battle will be over, you know? And then we'll just stroll around the mountain trails forever and I thought, oh, that would be SO boring… So I'm glad another battle started~ Yay!"

Adella quickly hides behind Marth's legs and trembles in fear from the mage as Marth frowns. "He's… what in the world is he…"

"Hey, you!" A plegian soldier shouts. "You're a dark mage! A plegian soldier! THOSE guys are your enemies!"

"Ahaha?" The mage laughs. "But right now, doesn't the gut wearing the mask look more interesting?"

The soldier stares at him in shock. "W… wha… What the heck?!"

"Well then, let's get on with it! Coming forth from the sludge of hell, I summon thee, thou who art grotesque. Melt them, my puppets. Mire!"

As a globe of slime emerges from the magic circle surrounding the army killing them, Marth says in shock. "It couldn't be… I heard that several days ago, there was mutiny within the Plegian army… Was that his doing as well?"

"Dammit... What the heck is this! Just when we thought Mustafa's lackeys quieted down, this troublemaker just had to show up!" A surviving soldier exclaims.

"No… it seems it's a different situation…" Marth says with a nervous sweat drop.