Fire Emblem Hearts
Chapter 2
Ylisstol
Being a kitsune was a rather awkward experience for Kazuki. Thanks to Robin, who had a mirror in her pocket, he had been able to look at his reflection. He looked the same, facially at least. His skin was still the same tone, his features were still plain, though a bit more defined. He had no facial hair, his lips were a bit fuller and he had thinner brows. He also noticed, that his once brown eyes were now a brilliant gold. His pupils were thin slits as well. They matched those of a cat rather than a fox. He got a good look at his ears as well, they were big and puffy with fluffy white fur. He had to bite his cheek in order to stop himself from giggling whenever he moved them.
He had taken a look at his attire as well. He briefly remembered seeing it, in a dream of all things. He had to admit, he looked rather spiffy in it. While his new appearance was a bit weird, he definitely liked it. Still, he tried not to think about it too much. He was more worried about his home. He had been trying not to think about what had happened earlier that day. He wanted to talk to Shiina, to make sure she was fine. But he knew that was impossible. He had found his cellphone in his bag along with a solar charger, but he hadn't gotten a signal. Where ever it was that he was, he was trapped and he wasn't going home any time soon.
"So, Kazuki where did you say you were from again?" Frederick asked, from atop his mount. Kazuki swallowed hard, snapping Robin's mirror closed.
"I gotta be careful with how I answer these questions." he thought.
"I come from the great nation of Nippon." the boy replied with a grin.
"Nailed it."
"I thought you said you were from Japan?" Lissa asked, earning a laugh from the boy.
"I am...Nippon is how we say Japan in our language. My country is beautiful. It's one of the oldest ones in the world. It's filled with a great many traditions, dances, art and culture."
"And who rules this Japan?" the knight asked curiously.
"Japan is ruled by an Emperor." the kitsune said simply.
"Hmm...I see...where exactly is this country? I've never heard of it."
"Frederick, perhaps you shouldn't interrogate him too much. He seems a bit nervous as it is." Chrom said, earning a thankful look from Kazuki. The man cleared his throat, giving him a nod.
"Apologies milord...I just wished to know more about our new recruit. Seeing as our tactician can't remember anything about herself."
"Don't worry you guys. Frederick just worries about us, it's why he's known as Frederick the Wary." Lissa reassured, earning nods from the two. Kazuki handed Robin her mirror back, giving her his thanks.
"It's almost sundown. It seems were going to have to camp out again tonight." their leader said, causing the group to stop.
"Are you sure that's wise? With those deceased soldiers as well as the heartless, it may be better to reach the city."
"I'm sure Frederick. If anything happens, I'm sure Robin can whip up a strategy for us. Sully and Virion are nearby as well, besides Lissa looks ready to drop." Chrom said, glancing at his sister who was groaning a bit.
"Thank the gods, my feet are killing me! When I volunteered to head to Southtown, I thought we were going on horseback!"
"Oh come on Lissa, walking isn't that bad for ya. If you don't exercise then you'll get fat. Cute girls like you need to take long walks every day." Kazuki said with a wink.
"Ugh...no thanks, I'd rather ride on a horse. But thanks for calling me cute."
"The area seems clear. Lissa, why don't you and Robin gather some firewood? Frederick I'd appreciate it if you took a look around the area."
"Of course, I'll be back swiftly." the knight replied, taking off on his mount.
"Chrom you really hate me don't you? Making me walk all this way and also carry wood?" Lissa cried out. Kazuki rolled his eyes.
"I can find the wood for you if you want. I think you deserve a break after healing all of our wounds earlier."
"Do you really mean it?"
"Mhmm...we'll be back." the boy said with a smile, following after Robin. The siblings watched them go, curious looks on their faces.
"So what do you think?" Chrom asked.
"About Kazuki? He seems like a kind person, he's a bit weird though. It's like he's not telling us the full truth about where he's from. I've looked at maps before and I've never seen Japan before."
"We don't have the right to pry in his private life. I'm sure he'll tell us when he's ready. However, he seems like a good kid. Good head on his shoulders, and a damn good fighter. I'm sure with some training, we can give him a bit of refinement." the blue haired man said. Lissa nodded, swinging her hand around for a few moments.
"Hmm...think I can get one of those fancy keyblades?"
"Perhaps...it's an odd weapon, wonder where it was forged? The name sure sounds familiar." he replied, his focus back on setting up his tent.
Meanwhile, Kazuki was walking through the woods with Robin. It had been the first time since he had gotten to this world that he was alone. Well partially. Robin didn't seem to speak much, rather she didn't have much to say. It wasn't his fault that he didn't have any questions either. He did have plenty, but he didn't want to accidentally reveal some information about himself. The voice he had heard had mentioned world order and he didn't want to throw a wrench into whatever that was. His ears twitched a bit, hearing some of the critters.
"Oh wow, I think I hear a finch." he said softly, having stopped mid stride. Robin looked around for a moment, but didn't spot the bird the boy had mentioned.
"I think you might be hearing things."
"Pfft...probably. I can hear everything in our immediate area, birds chirping, bugs buzzing. I can hear the soft breeze, a nearby river...oh, I can hear your heartbeat too!" he said, causing the girl to flush.
"R-really? I didn't think kitsune had such good hearing. We should focus on finding those sticks." she said. She knelt down, grabbing several big ones from the ground. Kazuki did the same, gathering all of the sticks he could see.
"Oh uh...thanks for letting me use your mirror."
"Of course. Though I am curious, why exactly did you need it?"
"I just...like looking at my beautiful face." he said, wiggling his brows a bit. She scoffed, shaking her head.
"I don't think so. The way you reacted gave me a bit of information to work with. You were acting as if it was your first time seeing your ears. You kept poking and grabbing them. Not to mention whenever Lissa attempted to grab your tail, you moved it out of the way. It's almost as if you weren't born a kitsune."
"Uh...so a Priest and a Rabbi walk into a bar."
"Kazuki, I'm not going to force you to answer me. It's just an observation." the tactician said, earning a sigh from the boy.
"Okay, you got me...I wasn't born a kitsune...however I can tell you where I'm really from. I am from Japan, that much is true. I just can't tell you the location of that country okay?" Kazuki said, looking a bit exasperated.
"Your secret is safe with me."
He didn't know why, but he was inclined to trust Robin. Perhaps it was because she was in a similar situation. He knew that she was an amnesiac, which was a lot worse than his situation. At least he remembered his home, and his friends. She didn't have anything to go back on. It must have been hard, knowing that you probably left friends, family and loved ones behind. People you couldn't even remember. He put those thoughts out of his mind, regaining his focus on the task at hand.
"You show quite a lot of promise with magic. How is it that you are able to cast it?"
"Huh? Well I dunno...I don't remember how I learned it. It was as if the name popped in my mind and I just chanted it. My keyblade works almost like a staff. I can channel my magic through it." he replied.
"Yes, you said that before. What I meant was, how are you able to cast it without the use of a tome?" the girl said, earning a confused look from the boy.
"A tome...wait, magic here comes from books?"
"That's correct. I too don't remember how I learned it, however when I hold a tome it just happens. I can put my hand on a page and pull the magic from within." Robin said. She set down all of her gathered sticks, reaching into her coat for a tome. It was the same one he had seen her use before.
"This is a thunder tome. The one that I woke with, there are spells written inside. From what I gather, this is the most basic form of thunder magic." she said, handing the boy the tome. He looked at it briefly, glancing through the pages. Several of them had been burned out, from using their magic.
"Interesting...I've never seen these runes. But I can somewhat read them. The ions hang all around us, contained in this circle lies the chant to call them. Call upon your hand, the power of lightning. Sear your foes where they stand."
"Intriguing, you've never seen this book and yet you can read these runes. Not only that, you were able to recite the incantation perfectly. Of course when you are in the heat of battle, its best to let muscle memory direct you." Robin said, taking her tome back.
"Yeah...I think I'd rather do it my way. Say a name, blast some idiot, rinse and repeat!" Kazuki said jokingly. He grabbed a hold of the sticks he had set down, taking them in his arms.
"If it gets the job done, I'm not one to argue."
"Mhmm...hey Robin, let me take those sticks off of ya. I'll carry them back." he said.
"It's fine, they're not that heavy."
"I know, but you're a lady and I was raised to always help ladies out." the kitsune replied with a wink. A smile graced her lips, and she placed all of her sticks in his arms. He struggled for a second, but regained his balance.
"Thank you Kazuki."
"Sure thing. I think we've got plenty, let's head back."
xxx
It didn't take long for Frederick to have a roaring fire ready. He and Chrom had left for a few moments, deciding to go for a hunt. Robin and Kazuki had brought plenty of wood, so they weren't worried about running out any time soon. The human turned kitsune had remained mostly silent, glancing at the roaring flames. Robin had taken a seat nearby. She didn't have a bedroll like Lissa, Chrom and Frederick had, so she resorted to using her coat. It was kind of weird seeing her without it, but she looked a bit more relaxed as well. Lissa had a bored look on her face, her only entertainment being the flaming stick in her hand. Kazuki himself was struggling not to cry out in boredom.
On one hand, he had his phone. He could probably play a game to kill some time. The downside, he'd have to explain to Lissa and Robin what a phone was. He didn't know much about Ylisse, but it seemed like it was a place that was in medieval times. Probably more technologically advanced, a mix of Victorian Era and 15th Century Europe. If that was the case then pulling out a cellphone would probably get him speared. He could claim it was a magic item, but that would only bring up more questions. Playing games was out of the question. His bag also contained his laptop, if his phone was out of the question then so was his laptop. He didn't have anything on it anyway.
He kind of wished he had packed his copy of Cards Against Humanity. At least he could pass the card game off as his own sick creation. Alas, he had nothing to do but to sit there silently. He reached for his pack, with the intention of finding a snack. He was surprised to find all of his drinks still ice cold. Perhaps a soda would cheer him up a bit. He reached into his bag for the bottle of vanilla coke he had bought. Robin was distracted by her tome, and Lissa was poking the fire. He could quietly open the bottle, taking a few gulps and put it away. Neither would be the wiser.
"Alright Kazuki, this is it. Time to put those nimble fingers to the test, I doubt they would even hear you opening it. You mastered the art of sneaking snacks at 4am. You got this." he thought, silently coaching himself. He twisted the cap slowly, clasping his hand over the bottle so it wouldn't hiss. He quietly twisted the cap, to soft clicks alerting him that it was finally ready to be consumed.
"What'cha doing?"
"Gah!" the boy cried, almost spilling his drink. Lissa had knelt beside him, very very close. It seemed she had gotten bored enough with the stick, enough that she found interest in him instead.
"Jesus, Lissa don't do that. I have a weak heart." he said, clasping his chest tightly. She said nothing as she reached into his bag, taking a hold of the bottle had been holding.
"What...what is this?"
"Black water? Is that even safe to consume?" Robin asked, now having an interest in his soft drink. Kazuki sighed, pinching his eyes.
"So much for world order." he muttered. Lissa took a sip from the drink, eyes widening a bit.
"It's all fizzy and sweet! It tastes like vanilla!" she cried out, gulping a bit more.
"Hey! That was the only one I bought, try not to drink it all!" he said, taking a hold of the bottle. He frowned seeing over half of the drink was gone. The blonde let out a burp, giggling slightly.
"Oh excuse me. That came out of nowhere."
"It happens...this is called a soda. It's made with corn syrup, sugar, and various other things." he said.
"May I have some?"
"Sure Robin, have at it." Kazuki said, handing her the bottle. She took a small sip from it, savoring the taste.
"Fascinating. It's a smooth flavor, and it feels kind of scratchy on your throat, not in a bad way. It's crisp...where did you purchase this?" she asked curiously.
"Uh...can't tell you that. It's a...family secret. Real hush hush." he said, hoping she'd get the memo. She thankfully did, handing him back the bottle.
"Why is it fizzy? It's all nice and bubbly too."
"Oh...that's because it's carbonated. You know how when you breathe, you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide? In order to make it fizz, carbon dioxide is used. It also keeps it from going flat, meaning it would lose its flavor." he explained, finishing off the drink.
"I'm not that good with sciency stuff, but that sounds really neat! Got anymore?"
"I do, but they're all mine. You drank the only vanilla one I had you little sneak." he said, flicking her nose. She growled in annoyance, looking away from him.
"You don't have to be so mean you know."
"Hehe...stay well behaved and I'll give you something after dinner. And speaking of dinner, here it comes now." Kazuki said, pointing toward Chrom and Frederick. The two men walked into the camp, with Frederick's horse carrying what looked like a boar on its back.
"Hey, have fun holding down the fort?"
"Of course, nothing I couldn't handle." Lissa said happily, glad that her brother had returned. Frederick brought the boar down to the ground, reaching into a saddle bag for a knife.
"It won't take much longer to prepare this. I hope you are all alright with boar, it was the best we could find."
"As long as it isn't bear meat, I don't care."
"Aw...I kind of wanted bear meat though." Robin replied in disappointment.
"After going all day without eating jack, that boar looks like a 5 star sirloin steak." the kitsune replied, looking at the meat hungrily. He didn't know why but he had the urge to pounce on it. It didn't even matter if it was cooked, he just wanted to eat it.
"Close your mouth Kazuki, you're drooling." Chrom said with a laugh. The kitsune flushed, wiping his lip with his shirt sleeve. He glanced away, hands on his knees. It didn't take long for Frederick to put the boar over the fire.
"So uh...I've talked about my home a bit...would you mind telling me more about...Ylisse?" the boy asked, sounding a bit confused.
"Of course. The Halidom of Ylisse is a beautiful country, consisting of a few desert areas, rolling fields, forests, cliffs and mountains. There are a few islands to the south. We are bordered by Ragna Ferox, which lies to the north. The Theocracy of Plegia is our westerly neighbor."
"And the ones that like to cause us trouble." Lissa added, having cut her brother off.
"A theocracy...you mean Plegia's government lies within its religion?" Kazuki asked curiously.
"Indeed, the people worship the Fell Dragon Grima. A dastardly creature that brought chaos to the world previously. The first exalt of Ylisse lay waste to the foul beast. Chrom happens to be a direct descendant of that man." Frederick said proudly.
"From how you've spoken of them, you seem to be at odds with Plegia." Robin quipped, having closed her book. Chrom sighed, leaning back slightly on his hand.
"'At odds' doesn't begin to explain things. Plegia has been trying to instigate a war with Ylisse for awhile now. There was a particularly nasty war, which ended about 15 years ago. The previous exalt of Ylisse lead quite the crusade. The war starved both countries and left thousands dead. It all ended when the previous exalt was slain, and a new one took place. She brought peace to the land, but King Gangrel, wishes to start another war."
"From bandits, to thieves, to human traffickers, Plegia is responsible for quite a lot of strife at our borders. Recently, they've taken to attacking our border towns. Southtown was one of the cities recently attacked. They span from small cities in the south, to farming villages of the north." Frederick added. Kazuki frowned, eyeing the meat that was still cooking.
"I'm sorry to hear that...I didn't think Ylisse was facing so many problems. I shouldn't have asked."
"It's fine Kazuki, you were curious. We were likely going to tell you anyway, you're one of us now." Chrom said, giving the boy a reassuring smile.
"Now that those nasty creatures have started popping up, we'll be even more useful! I'm sure big sis will give us even more missions!"
"Missions huh? Guess Chrom and Lissa's sister must be a general or something. That would make sense, especially if they get requests directly from her." Kazuki mused, a pensive look on his face.
"Say Kazuki, I have a question. Since I'm the new tactician, I'd like some information about your weapon. It would be prudent to keep a list of who can wield what, for future encounters against enemies." Robin said, pulling him from his thoughts.
"I'm afraid I don't know much about the keyblade, aside from what I told you." he said with a frown.
"Oh come on! Don't pull the amnesia card with us! You gotta tell us more about it!" Lissa said, pouting at the boy. He sighed, closing his eyes in thought.
"The keyblade is a special weapon. It is crafted from a person's heart. Those with the power of light, can call one of their very own. Keyblades are also bestowed onto people. That's why there are so many Starlight Keyblades out there. They are the simplest forms of the keyblade. However, you managed to change yours...make it evolve. One day, if you're lucky, you might get a keyblade tailored by your own heart."
"Kazuki? Are you alright? You look to be in pain."
"Huh? I'm fine Chrom...I just remembered something. The keyblade is a weapon forged by the light of someone's heart. I think those that have the will, and strength of heart needed, will be able to summon one." he replied. He held his hand out, summoning Divewing to his hand. The blade was glittering brightly in the firelight. He could very clearly see the fox now, as he could see through the decorative gem.
"Strength of heart? So this is a mythical sword? Like Excalibur?" Frederick asked, a firm look on his face. Kazuki shrugged.
"I guess...if we are to take the name seriously, then I think it also works as a key. I think it can lock and unlock doors, locks and seals." he said.
"Oh really? I'd like to put it to the test then." Chrom said, grabbing a hold of his bag. He pulled out a small box, placing it before the boy.
"Emm's music box? Why do you have that?" Lissa asked curiously.
"She sent it out to be fixed. It just so happened Southtown was where the shop was. This box, Kazuki, belongs to my older sister Emmeryn. She's the one who holds the key, and I've got the other spare. Let's see if that sword of yours can open it." the blue haired lord said, stepping back from the boy.
"Uh...okay." he said, glancing at the box.
"How the hell am I supposed to open this? Do I just tap it?" Kazuki thought, not exactly knowing what to do. He went with his gut feeling, tapping the top of the box with the blade. A soft click filled their ears. Chrom took a hold of the lid, pulling it open.
"No way! It actually opened!" Lissa exclaimed, shooting to her feet.
"That's incredible...a weapon like this could be quiet resourceful. Especially if there are thieves hiding stolen valuables, I must jot this down in my notes!" Robin added, quickly reaching for a quill and an ink well.
"I guess my gut feeling was right." Kazuki thought happily. He briefly glanced at Frederick, who's gaze only hardened. He really didn't like that look, but understood it entirely. It was the look of a distrustful man, and currently, Kazuki wasn't at all trustworthy.
"Do you think I could try it?" Lissa asked, an excited look on her face. Kazuki shrugged, flipping the blade over.
"Go for it kiddo." he said. She took a hold of the weapon, not at all bothered by its weight.
"This is so cool! It weighs less than Chrom's sword! Maybe I could get one of my own!" she said. The weapon suddenly disappeared, making her gasp in shock. It reappeared in Kazuki's hand a second later.
"What the?"
"A sword that chooses it's wielder? Now I've seen it all...sorry Lissa. If we're going by what Kazuki said, then your heart isn't strong enough for a keyblade." her brother said, causing her to cross her arms.
"Stupid dumb key! Who needs it anyway, I've got my staff and that's better than a dumb keyblade." she pouted, looking away from the keyholder.
"Haha, don't worry sweetheart, I'm sure your heart will call one forth. Perhaps it's because you don't need one at this very moment." Kazuki said reassuringly.
"The meat is almost done, we should have a hearty meal and head to bed. We'll be reaching Ylisstol in the morrow." the knight said firmly, reaching for the large cut of boar over the roaring flames. Kazuki poked Robin's arm, grabbing her attention.
"Frederick doesn't smile often does he?" he asked softly, only for her to hear. Her lips curved into a tiny smile as she shook her head.
"No...no he doesn't."
xxx
The capitol of Ylisse was a beautiful city named Ylisstol. It was filled with hundreds of people. The buildings were a mix of brick and mortar, with wooden construction. It had cobblestone paths, and oil lamps on the sidewalks. A large royal estate, the palace, hung over the city. It was a beautiful building, towering over all of the others. The flags of Ylisse were flying high, and even though his vision had dramatically improved, Kazuki still couldn't see what was printed on it. He was however stunned when he saw it.
He recognized it from his dream!
The dream, though vague, showed the image of Ylisstol. He didn't know why he had seen this town in his dream. His heart was beating hard, mostly from the realization. Of course he kept a neutral look on his face. At least he hoped that was the case. Robin seemed quite impressed with the city herself. While her face showed no emotion, her eyes certainly did. They were wide and sparkling with interest, it was almost endearing. She paused briefly at a bookshop, perusing some of the tomes being sold. However it didn't last, especially when Lissa took her hand and pulled her along.
"Come on, you can look at boring books later."
"So Kazuki, what do you think?" Chrom asked, earning a chuckle from the kitsune.
"Ylisstol is beautiful...it looks so lively. The shops are welcoming, the people are smiling. The food smells divine...it reminds me of home actually. Especially that onigiri." the boy said, passing by a small stand, hungrily staring at the rice balls. The blue haired man rolled his eyes, stopping at the stand.
"I'll take some of those." he said, reaching for his coin pouch.
"Oh course. No payment necessary, take as many as you'd like!" the woman said happily.
"It's alright, I have no issue with payment." he said, placing the golden coins on the table. Despite what the woman had said, he didn't take his money back. He handed one of the rice balls to Kazuki, passing the others to Robin, Lissa and Frederick.
"Thank you milord."
"Thanks Chrom, I'll pay you back when I got the shekels." the kitsune said happily.
"No worries friend, consider it a treat from our home. I one day hope to try food from your homeland." the man replied.
"Considering I got 12 bags of chips in my pack, along with chocolates, ramen and other shit, that might be happening sooner rather than later." the boy thought, too consumed with his riceball to say anything.
"Oh look, it's Lady Emmeryn!"
"The Exalt is gracing us again!"
Kazuki looked up from his snack to see what the commotion was. He spotted a beautiful woman making her way down the street. The people around her were parting, allowing her to pass. They were showering her praise, even handing her things. She had a serene smile on her face, gratefully accepting everything.
Kazuki had to admit, this woman was very pretty. Her hair was a soft platinum in color, and fell around her shoulders. She was dressed in green robes, holding a staff in her hands. She was rather tall, nearing six feet in height, though he figured that was due to her heels. The also noticed the mark on her forehead. It looked vaguely familiar, but he didn't know where he had seen it before.
"Excuse me Chrom, who is that woman? Everyone seems to treat her like a queen." Robin said, earning a chuckle from the man.
"That's because she is...or rather an exalt. Her name is Emmeryn, she's the ruler of Ylisse."
"Wait she is? Isn't it like super dangerous for her to just walk down the street? What if she gets shot at?" Kazuki asked, a worried look on his face.
"Ha! I'd like to see anyone try. No one would dare harm Her Highness within Ylisstol. They'd be killed before they attempted. Not only that, she's being flanked by Pegasus Knights. She is quite safe within the city." Frederick said with a hearty laugh.
"The fuck is a Pegasus knight?" Kazuki thought to himself. He was shaken out of his thoughts by Lissa, who had tugged on his hand.
"She maybe the exalt, but she's our sister first! Wait until you meet her, you'll absolutely love her!"
"I'm sure I...wait, sister?"
"The exalt is your sister? Then that means...you and Chrom are royalty! Oh, I've been so absolutely rude. I apologize for my lack of manners, Milord, Milady." Robin said, bowing her head in shame. Kazuki didn't really know what to do, so he did the same, his ears flattening against his head.
"Hey none of that...we met before you knew we were royalty. I'm not one for formalities either." Chrom said, earning a sigh of relief from the kitsune.
"That's good I guess. I uh...kinda grew used to calling ya Chief." Kazuki said jokingly.
"I don't like being called princess either, I'm just Lissa after all."
"I suppose if you two don't mind, I'll keep addressing you by name. I was just worried I had overstepped my boundaries." the tactician said.
"It's alright Robin, no boundaries were overstepped. She's returning to the palace, now is the time to report our findings." Chrom said, giving her a reassuring smile.
"W-wait? We're meeting her now? I haven't done my hair yet. How are my ears? Are they fluffy? Is my tail bushy?"
"Kazuki, you'll be fine...now stop stalling and let's move!" Lissa said, pushing the boy in the direction of the royal palace.
xxx
"Holy shit this place is huge." Kazuki mumbled, as he entered the palace.
It hadn't been long since arriving at the Halidom's Palace. It was a lot bigger than he had expected. The Imperial Palace in Japan had nothing against this one. It had a beautiful courtyard, decorated with large trees, freshly cut grass and even rose bushes. Two large open buildings surrounded the courtyard, leading to other places within the palace. The main entrance was guarded by two tough looking spearmen, one being a tough looking woman he didn't want to mess with. Once inside, he had looked around the throne room. A red runner extended toward three chairs, the center one being the largest one of them all. It had shiny marble floors, and limestone walls, covered in flags and banners bearing the mark of Naga, which he had found out, was the mark on Chrom and Emmeryn. He also spotted a painting hanging above the throne, of a blue haired man. It had a large slash across it, but seemed like it had been repaired.
"That must be the previous exalt. Chrom and Lissa's father...not gonna lie, he looks like a dick." the boy thought, as he looked at the painting.
"Emm, we're back." Chrom called out, grabbing the Exalt's attention. Kazuki and Robin stiffened a bit when the platinum haired beauty turned to face them.
"Ah, hello Chrom. It's good to see you, did Lissa give you any trouble?"
"She was actually very well behaved."
"Excuse me? I'm not a child. I can handle myself perfectly fine big sis." the girl said, earning a small smile from the woman.
"Yes, I am quite aware. Has anything happened I should be concerned about?"
"Yes in fact, I'm sure you already know about the Southtown incident. Plegian bandits have been attacking our border towns. However that is the least of our worries. Undead creatures have started appearing all over Ylisse. We passed several portals on the way to Ylisstol." Chrom informed, a frown on his face.
"Not only them...creatures of darkness called the Heartless have been appearing as well. They are more dangerous than the dead it seems...they're more...erratic, wild and quick. We've had to fight several small hordes of them the last few days." Frederick added.
"I see, Phila it seems your reports match what Chrom and Frederick have shared with us." Emmeryn said, turning to the armored woman beside her.
"The Pegasus Knights have been fighting off these shadowy creatures for the last few days. It's as if they came out of nowhere. They're easy to deal with, but they come at you in hordes. With these undead in the mix, we may be facing a bit of trouble."
"Dammit...I really didn't want to hear that. We might have to move out soon to deal with these creatures." Chrom said.
"We need to hold a meeting with the council. It seems they wish to discuss these creatures. I'm sure you wish to go out on the road again to help those in need, but we have to take care of this before you do." Emmeryn said, earning a nod from her brother.
Having remained silent, Kazuki's eyes had started to wonder. He had taken in the detail of the room he was standing in. He could see quite a lot of detail in the walls. He also noticed the ceiling had been painted with various images. Knights, angels, monsters and the like. It put Michelangelo's painting in the Sistine Chapel to shame. His eyes narrowed a bit when he saw something crawling on the face of one of the angels. His ears twitched a bit, a small smile appearing on his face.
"Hey look, there's a spider on the ceiling." he said, pointing to the spider that was slowly moving across the ceiling. Everyone looked up, following the boy's arm.
"Uh...are you seeing things? Because I don't see anything." Lissa said.
"It's right there Lissa, right on that angel's nose."
"Oh, I see it...ew it's huge. We should probably kill it!" the princess said, a squeamish look on her face.
"Ahem...you are in the presence of the Exalt." Frederick said firmly. Kazuki glanced back down, noticing Emmeryn was looking directly at him. He flushed crimson, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Uh...my apologies Milady...I uh...had nothing to contribute to the conversation. You know...it seemed important so uh...yeah." he said. Lissa slapped her forehead, shaking her head slightly in embarrassment.
"Chrom...I'm assuming this young man and the lady beside him are new recruits?"
"Yes...this is Robin. She's the Shepherd's new tactician. She's proven herself quite adeptly in battle. Not only is she good with magic, but her strategies have helped us out quite a lot. The young kitsune is Kazuki, he knows a bit about the shadowy creatures. Both have proven themselves in battle." the man replied. Emmeryn looked the two over with a firm gaze. It softened a bit, her lips curving into a smile.
"Well...if you are friends of Chrom, then you are friends of mine as well. It's a pleasure to meet the both of you."
"Likewise your majesty. I apologize about before, I'm not very well versed with royalty, hehe. My name is Kazuki Morita, if you ever need help dealing with the heartless, I'm your man." he said.
"I'm Robin, it's nice to meet you as well, your majesty." the white haired tactician said with a bow.
"Milady, I must admit something to you. I am not fully comfortable with either Robin or Kazuki. You see, both of them were found unconscious in a field. Robin herself has amnesia, so her past is completely unknown. Kazuki here is also an enigma. Not only has he mentioned coming from a country I've never heard of. But he's also withholding knowledge about the "Heartless" as he's dubbed them. He also holds with him a strange magical weapon."
"Oh Frederick, come on! Both of them are nice and have helped us fight! Neither of them are bad people!" Lissa said, disappointed with the knight.
"Apologies Milady, but this is something I had to share with Lady Emmeryn."
"Hmm...Chrom, are they truly as adept as you claim them to be?" the exalt asked curiously.
"Yes. Robin is quite the mage, she saved our hides back in Southtown. Kazuki is also a good fighter. Though his style is unrefined, he can handle a sword quite well. He even took a hit from one of those creatures for me and saved Lissa's life from one. They have my full trust." he said. Emmeryn remained silent for a moment, her eyes focusing on the kitsune.
"May I see this weapon of yours? I'd like to examine it if possible."
"Uh...sure I guess. It's kind of picky though." Kazuki replied, holding out his hand. His hand tingled a bit as Divewing appeared in his grasp. Phila stepped back in surprise, not expecting the weapon to materialized within his hand.
"What form of sorcery is this?!" she exclaimed. Emmeryn held her hand out, as if to calm her down. Without hesitation, the exalt took a hold of the keyblade, looking it closely over.
"I see...a weapon shaped like a key. I briefly remember reading about this weapon. It is a weapon of myth, harbinger of hope and light. In the time of need, those with the power and strength shall awaken to one. They shall herald the light and use its power to destroy the darkness."
"You...you know about this weapon?" Kazuki asked in surprise. She gave him a slight nod.
"I know only what I remember. Perhaps our library has more information about it. All I know is that you are quite special, I'm happy that you've decided to join us."
"I'm...glad to be here, Milady." he said, cheeks flushed.
"Hey, how come it hasn't disappeared yet?" Lissa asked, looking rather miffed.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Kazuki allowed her to hold his keyblade last night. It disappeared as soon as he did. But it's remained in yours." Chrom said.
"Perhaps Lady Emmeryn's heart is strong enough to hold it?" Robin added. Kazuki shrugged.
"I dunno...I'm still learning things about the keyblade. Maybe she can summon one of her own?"
"Oh heavens, I certainly doubt it. I don't think I have what it takes to fight with one. I'm a peaceful person." she replied, handing the boy his weapon back.
"Bah...I think you'd make a fine Keyblade wielder. Then again, this is coming from a guy who has one day of training under his belt." Kazuki said, allowing his weapon to disappear.
Before the exalt could speak, another knight made her way into the throne room. She exchanged words with Phila for a brief moment, before taking her leave. The knight said something to Emmeryn, earning a nod from her.
"It seems the council has assembled. Let us not keep them waiting. Once again, Robin, Kazuki I'm happy that you've joined us. I'm sure you'll be quite happy here."
"It's been a pleasure meeting you, Lady Emmeryn. I look forward to working with you in the future." Robin said politely, bowing her head.
"It was nice meeting you." Kazuki added, watching as Chrom, Emmeryn, Phila and Frederick's left the throne room. Kazuki noticed Lissa had remained behind, looking rather annoyed.
"So...aren't you gonna follow them? The princess should be in on the meeting shouldn't she?"
"I should, but Emmeryn and Chrom don't like it when I'm there. They said I shouldn't be in those stuffy meetings. Besides it doesn't matter, I get to show you two the barracks. I'm sure the others will like you too!"
"Others?" Robin asked curiously.
"Mhmm. We have other members, I'm sure you'll get both get along. Just uh...be careful with Sumia. She trips a lot." the blonde girl warned, pushing Robin along. Kazuki shrugged, following along.
"Hmm...something about Emmeryn is familiar...she reminds me of someone else."the boy thought. He glanced over his shoulder, at the spot the exalt once stood.
"Something wrong Kazuki?"
"Hmm? Oh it's nothing...so these barracks, do they come with sharp objects I can play with?" he asked jokingly. Lissa gave him a grin.
"Yep! They're right this way."
A/N: Alright! This has been chapter 2 of Fire Emblem Hearts, I hope you all liked it. It's been a bit of a challenge to get things write, but things will start picking up soon, I promise. I'm actually working on some plot related details on Chapters 4 and 5 to make sure everything is coherent.
Now, to explain something, the main character of this story is named Kazuki, but he is not the Kazuki from the Hoshidan Royal Family, he's just a boy with a similar name. Due to this, I will be changing his name in the future to something else, I just haven't decided on what it will be. This is due to the fact that I've decided to include Hoshido and Nohr in this story, which will most likely be split into 3 parts. I'm still working out the details on that, but more about that in the future. So yes, Kazuki will be getting his name changed, I also have to go back and change it in Hyperdimension Neptunia Hearts to make sure it all makes sense, as this story serves to expand the universe of the "Hearts" series, as I like to call it.
I don't exactly have much to share, just that I'm super happy that people are reading this. I do hope you guys are enjoying it, even if the beginning does seem a bit boring. I always struggle with the beginning of a story if I'm being honest, but hey, it's the beginning, what can do you do?
To my Guest Reviewer Giest: I actually haven't decided if I will give the trio of Severa, Owain and Inigo keyblades. Ironically enough, I did consider giving Olivia a keyblade at one point, so if Inigo does get one, it will most likely be inhereted. I do like the idea of Owain getting a Keyblade though, his Sword Hand is Thirsty after all, and taking out Heartless might be his calling. As for Corrin and the others...well Hoshido and Nohr are canon now...so yeah, it will be a long time, but it will happen...
To my Guest Reviewer Nomura: You absolute legend! You have no idea how happy seeing your review made me, seeing the name and the comment, that was gold. Thanks for leaving it!
Whelp...this is it, hope you guys liked this chapter. No idea when the next update will come, soon hopefully. The chapter is written, I just need to do some editing and stuff. Until then see ya!