New AN: And here's chapter three, it's a lot more game script with a little bit of my spin on to it. Definitely a change for the new version of the story is going to be probably about the same amount of game script but with more of my own interpretation to make it more my own piece. Anyways hope you guys enjoy!
Old AN: Hey! Thanks to all those who have followed or favorited my story! Your support really helps! Without any more rambling, here's the next part of the story! :) Inspiration for the story taken from another fanfic Forever Yours, by xChocolat. I really loved their story but it ended on a sad cliffhanger so this is my adaptation of the topic. Not as sad and hopefully will be way longer. :)
*Disclaimer: I only use the characters from Fire Emblem, I only own my story. Don't own anything expect that.
Chapter Three
~Chrom~
Chrom nervously waited outside the tent for Robin to reappear. He had spent the last couple minutes attempting to stop his brain from thinking dirty thoughts about his tactician. So he nearly jumped ten feet into the air when Robin came out of the tent.
"All right, you! What sort of idiot blunders straight into the women's bathing tent?!" Robin exclaimed in exasperation.
"I'm sorry! Very, very sorry! I misheard you I swear it. I had no intention of peeping!" Chrom proclaimed.
"Geez, Chrom...How do you misunderstand, WAIT OUTSIDE?!" Robin shouted.
"I...uh...wasn't...focusing! Yeah, that's right, I wasn't focusing and it was hard to hear you through the tent and all the steam. I truly, truly had no intention of peeping." Chrom promised.
*Sigh* "...Just... Fine. Apology accepted. Now what was so damned important?" Robin questioned.
"Oh, er. I was hoping you could offer some advice on tomorrow's route." Chrom said, gratefully to talk about something normal.
"Fine. What are the options?" Robin asked with a sigh of relief.
"Well, according to this map, one route is this steep trail through the hills." Chrom said. "Or we could circle the hills and follow the main road across the plain. I imagine either would work but wanted to see if you had a preference.
"Hmm..." Robin muttered while stroking her chin. "I'd say the path through the hills. The main road would be easier. But we'd be more exposed if we encountered foes."
"Right... That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the advice." Chrom said. "And, er... Yes! Well, that's it, I guess! So...yes. Bye!"
"Good-bye." Robin said, with a smile on her face.
"...And Robin? I'm really sorry about the bath thing." Chrom said, meekly. "I honestly didn't mean to catch you like that."
"It's fine. Water under the bridge." Robin assured him. "Let's just forget about it and move on."
"Er, right. Yes. Good idea. So! I'll catch you later?" Chrom asked. "Argh, no! I mean, I'll SEE you later! ...ARGH! NO! I mean... Good-bye!" he shouted as he walked away towards his tent.
~Robin~
*sigh* "Chrom will never change." *sigh* "Gods, he was looking me up and down...so embarrassing...oh well, I need to get ready to march. That path through the hills is going to be tough..."
Robin walked back to her tent and packed up all her tomes, maps, and tactical chess board in her chest. She carried her chest to the supply wagon and went back to dismantle her tent. The Shepherds marched quickly towards the Plegian capital, moving quietly so that they could quickly rescue their exalt.
Robin prayed silently to Naga that they would make it in time and that her plan to save Emmeryn would succeed.
~Plegian Capital~
The Shepherds had no idea that their stealth plan was actually working. The Plegian soldiers knew that they were coming but couldn't figure out their exact numbers.
"So, Captain," Aversa snarled. "Let me be certain I understand your report... Not only did you NOT confirm that the Ylissean party carries the Fire Emblem... But you can't be certain Prince Chrom is even among them? ...Is that the gist of it?"
The captain started shaking slightly as he replied, "Y-yes, milady! The air was thick with sand - even their number was difficult to ascertain."
"Perhaps if you had gotten closer, Captain," Aversa suggested with an evil smirk. "Here, let me show you..." She walked over to the poor soldier with her sword out.
"N-no! I'm sorry, I- Huargh!" the poor man screamed as Aversa stabbed him clean through the chest. He fell to the ground with his blood forming a red pool around him.
"Apology accepted." Aversa said with a slight smile.
"Do try not to kill ALL the soldiers, my dear." Gangrel said amused. "We'll need a few for the welcoming party. The Ylisseans will be here soon - Chrom and the Emblem among them, I'm sure. That bleeding-heart prince would never put good sense before his sister!"
"...And when they arrive?" Aversa snarled with delight.
"It will be a massacre worthy of their legendary father!" Gangrel declared.
~Chrom~
Khan Flavia, Khan Basilio, Robin, and Chrom were standing in a recently captured fort waiting for the spy to report an update on the situation at the Plegian capital. Chrom had run over the plan again and again with Robin and the Khans, and all of them were pretty sure that the plan was foolproof. Chrom wanted so badly to relax and just let Robin's plan take them to victory but he still felt a little uneasy. He decided he wouldn't relax until they were going back to the Ylisstol with Emmeryn among them and the Mad King dead on the floor.
At that moment a hooded man slipped into the fort and bowed respectfully to the Khans and to Prince Chrom. Khan Basilio nodded to signal that the spy could give his report. "The exalt is to be executed at the castle on the morrow," the spy said grimly. "I heard it from the king's own lips, sire."
"This is it, then," Khan Basilio said.
"Exactly as you predicted, Robin," Chrom said gratefully.
"So far, yes," Robin admitted. "But tomorrow will be the true test..."
"Chin up, there!" Flavia exclaimed. "Show some confidence! It's your thinking that's got us this far. The plan is risky, but only as much is called for."
"We'll find a way to see it through, Robin. Don't worry." Chrom said, to convince everyone in the room, including himself. "This time tomorrow, we'll be swapping stories with Emm on the road home."
"I hope you're right," Robin said.
~Robin~
The Shepherds split off to their respective tents to get a quick nap in before they marched on the Plegian capital. Robin gratefully collapsed onto her cot and quickly fell asleep. But as with all of her sleep lately, her peacefully rest was interrupted by a skeptical dream.
~Shadowy place in Robin's dream~
"Master Grima, Exalt Emmeryn is to be put to death on the morrow," Validar reported. "Events will soon be back on course."
The shadowy figure regarded Valdiar with it's eyes but didn't say anything.
"Ha ha, yes, I should never have doubted the truth of your words," Validar said with an evil smile. "The yoke of destiny cannot be cast off! Even as they resist, they write your future with every step, O great one!"
The shadowy figure, smirked with delight with a smile so creepy that Validar shivered inside at the wickedness of his master.
~Robin~
"...AAAAAH!" Robin shouted as she jolted awake. Lissa was standing next to her in her tent looking at Robin with a concerned look.
"Robin? Hey, Robin! What's wrong? Was it a nightmare?" Lissa asked, worriedly.
"Is...that what it was? Y-yes, it must have been..." Robin said slowly. 'It seemed so real, as if someone teleported me to that place and I just watched the scene unfold. How is that assassin...the one who came after Emmeryn...alive? ...I'm pretty sure Chrom and I killed him, after Marth came to warn us of the plot...Hmm...well, I can't focus on this right now...I have to help Chrom save Emmeryn.' "I'm sorry, what brings you here, Lissa?" Robin asked shoving her dream into the back of her mind. "Was there something you needed?"
"Frederick says it's time to march," Lissa said. "And we can't start the plan without our master tactician!"
Robin quickly straightened her cloak, slid her thick, slightly battered tome into the pouch at her waist, and grabbed her steel sword. As the Shepherds approached the sandy courtyard of the Plegian palace, a large skeleton came into view. Balanced delicately on one of the ribs was Emmeryn and her armed assassin.
Robin held her breath as King Gangrel began to speak.
Good people! Warriors of Plegia! Welcome! Welcome, one and all!" the Mad King shouted with glee. "Your anticipation electrifies the air! We ALL remember the crimes of Ylisse... Would you have their witch-queen answer for them? Here? Today? NOW? YEEEEEEEEEEEES! Finally, we will have JUSTICE! EXECUTIONER! If you would be so kind..."
As the executioner prepared to swing his axe at Emmeryn, Robin shouted, "Flavia!"
"I've got him!" Khan Flavia shouted in response. Robin watched as Flavia's axe soared through the air and smacked straight into the chest of the executioner. The poor man stumbled backwards a bit and fell off of the rib of the skeleton.
"EVERYONE: NOW!" Robin shouted.
The Shepherds raced onto the field and prepared to fight their way to their Exalt.
"Take out all the soldiers first! We'll deal with the Mad King later!" Chrom shouted to the Shepherds.
"Oh will you now? Bwa ha!" King Gangrel laughed. "We've been expecting you, Little Prince. Men: Kill him. Kill his sister. Kill his troops and his friends and anyone else you find! KILL THEM AAAAAAAAALL!" With that, the King fled deeper into the courtyard with Aversa, and the Shepherds prepared themselves for battle.
"Everyone! Into your fighting pairs!" Robin shouted. "Mages and fliers in front! These sands are still trying to bog us down! Never separate from your partner! Stay safe! Call Lissa or Maribelle if needed... GO!" 'Please...let this work...Please...let us save Emmeryn...Please...Chrom be safe...I will fight anything that tries to stand in your way...'
~Chrom~
The Shepherds quickly stormed through the first couple of Plegian soldiers. Robin ran through the mass carving a path of destruction, with her tome and her sword. Chrom was riding on the back of Sumia's pegasus watching Robin with awe. Whenever an archer got too close to Sumia, Chrom momentarily panicked because he couldn't do anything with Falchion. Then Robin would swirl in with her coat creating a black blur around her vibrant purple hair, slicing the archer down from behind with her steel sword before whipping around to blast a wyvern rider with a powerful Arcwind spell.
'Wow...Robin is...amazing...so powerful...and so...so...beautiful...the man who marries her will be a very lucky guy.' Chrom was torn from his thoughts by Sumia who shouted, "Chrom!" He looked and saw a soldier trying to escape and he jumped off of Sumia's pegasus and ran towards the man. "Oh no you don't!" Chrom shouted slicing the soldier's back with his sword. Then Chrom ran back to Sumia and the pair continued to fight their way through the mass of soldiers.
~Further in the courtyard~
A female dark mage with jet black hair stood skeptically among the other Plegian soldiers as she watched the Shepherds annihilate the front line soldiers.
"So we're to kill or die here, simply because the king commands it?" She asked herself. "Pfft. What do I care of these Ylisseans? We're given no reasons to fight, only orders. What's the point? Besides, I've always been quite good at choosing who to hate on my own..."
Tharja looked out at the field and noticed a blur of black and purple among the Shepherds. She looked closely and she saw a young woman fighting off ten soldiers at once using a tome and a sword. Tharja found herself staring at the young woman, and she made it her new goal to learn the woman's name and to fight on her side.
~Closer to the Shepherds~
"Exalt Emmeryn! No! Gods speed me to her side!" A War Monk shouted in pain. He glanced over at his Exalt worriedly and he sent a prayer to Naga that he would make it in time. He ran at the nearest soldier and sliced him in half with his large axe.
~Chrom~
The fight was going extremely well as Chrom and most of the Shepherds had barely any injuries. Suddenly, a shout rang across the fields from the Plegian general, Campari.
"Where is the damn wyvern brigade?! Hurry! Close off their escape!"
Chrom paled when he heard this shout and exchanged a glance with Robin. She nodded at him once and signaled to Stahl to follow her. Chrom watched as Robin and Stahl paired up to be the rearguard against the reinforcements. Chrom's gaze hardened when he saw Stahl's face light up at the prospect of fighting with Robin. He felt a twinge of jealousy which was followed by a huge wave of confusion. 'Why am I jealous? It's not like Robin is in a relationship with me or anything...She can fight with whomever she needs to and Stahl is allowed to like her...I mean Robin is very beautiful...'
Chrom ignored his thoughts and concentrated more on the battle ahead. He looked through the raging sands and he saw a lone figure dressed in clergy robes swinging a huge axe at any Plegian soldiers that came close. Chrom nudged Sumia and pointed to the figure to indicate he wanted to get closer to the stranger. Sumia nodded and her pegasus quickly reached the figure's location. She dropped Chrom off a few paces away and took to the sky to watch for any approaching enemies.
"You there! Who are you?" Chrom asked the stranger. "Why do you fight alone?"
"Good heavens!" the stranger exclaimed in a melodic voice. "You're Prince Chrom, brother to Her Grace the Exalt."
"You know me?" Chrom asked confused because he was certain that he had never met anyone with such a beautiful voice. 'She must be a war cleric who came here to try and save Emmeryn.'
"Know you? Of course, sire! All Ylissean clergy do," the war cleric exclaimed. "I must thank the gods for uniting us! Oh, dearest and most heavenly fa-"
"With all the respect, now is not the time for prayer-" Chrom interrupted. "It's action that's called for."
"Ah, too true!" she agreed. "We hurried here to help as soon as word came of the execution."
"We?" Chrom asked. "Then there are more of you?"
"Alas, there were. I lost many brave comrades along the way," she admitted. "In truth, I was starting to doubt the purpose of my struggle... But no longer! Pray, sire, let my axe serve you and your party!"
"Your love for my sister is clear," Chrom said with a smile. "I would be honored to be joined by such a formidable woman of the cloth."
"...Man, sire." the war cleric corrected. "Man of the cloth."
"You're a..." Chrom started to say. 'no way...that's a war monk and not a war cleric...but the voice is so feminine.' "...You're not a woman?"
"No, sire. Women are clerics. I am a priest. My name is Libra." he said. "Well, technically a war monk, if you care to split hairs..."
"Oh. Yes, well, I'm... I didn't mean to imply..." Chrom stammered. "Well, this is rather awkward."
"Oh, it's all right, sire," Libra said. "You realized your mistake quickly enough. It could have become much more awkward. ...MUCH more..."
"Right! Let's stop there," Chrom said quickly. He signaled to Sumia and explained that Libra was an ally before getting onto her pegasus. The pair moved forward to face off against more Plegian soldiers. Chrom risked a glance backward and saw Robin and Stahl dealing swiftly with the wyvern brigade. He stared wistfully as the duo worked in perfect synchronization. Stahl would strike a wyvern rider with his steel lance and then Robin would quickly blast the soldier with a thunderbolt. If a wyvern rider tried to approach Stahl from behind, Robin would quickly switch tomes and blast him with a wind gust.
Chrom turned his head back to the battle before him and started to make his way toward General Campari. Then he noticed a lone dark mage standing in the sand not far from where he was. She was leaning on one leg and holding her tome with one hand behind her back. The dark mage looked rather reluctant to fight so he quickly thought about what Emmeryn would do before he approached the dark mage.
"You there! Are you with the Plegians?" Chrom asked her. "You seem reluctant to fight."
"Death comes for all of us eventually," the dark mage replied. "Why invite it early, fighting for a cause I don't believe in?"
"So...I should take that as a no, or..." Chrom asked.
"Let's just say I'm keeping my options open," she replied. "I mean, long live the king and all, but I'd like to keep living as well. And I have a bit of a rebellious streak, I'm afraid. A...dark side."
"Then perhaps you would rebel now and fight for our cause?" Chrom asked.
"...You would trust me?" She asked, skeptically. "What if this is all just a ploy to plunge a dagger in your back?"
"My sister, the exalt - I think she would trust you. And I'm trying to learn from her," Chrom replied. "Besides, I already need to watch my back, whether you're with us or not."
"Well that's odd...Usually when I bring up the backstabbing bit the discussion is over," she admitted. "All right, then - consider me your new ally, ...For now. My name is Tharja."
"Welcome to the Shepherds, Tharja," Chrom said.
At that moment Robin and Stahl caught up after dealing with the wyvern brigade. Chrom quickly explained to Robin their two new allies.
~Robin~
Robin nodded and immediately paired up Libra and Tharja just to be safe. Then she signaled for Chrom to attack the General so they could advance the plan to save Emmeryn. Sumia had taken a nasty hit from a sneaky archer so she was being healed by Maribelle, Lissa, and the monk, Libra. Robin knew that Chrom needed to kill General Campari so she let him go alone and had extra troops stationed nearby. Chrom began his attack and his first swing landed a successful hit. However, Robin paled when she saw the weapon that Campari was carrying. The General had a short spear which would easily kill Chrom if the General could get three good hits, so Robin prayed that Chrom would be able to dodge. She was about to cheer because it looked like Chrom was going to dodge the spear but the General shifted his arm mid-thrust and cut deep into Chrom's side.
"CHROM! NO!" Robin shouted. Chrom swung his sword again but the General dodged Chrom's attack and landed another hit on Chrom's other side. Chrom started panting heavily and he leaned on his sword a little bit. He was wounded badly and Robin knew that if the General hit him one more time, Chrom would die. Robin immediately started running towards Chrom with her thunder tome out. The General started to swing his short spear in the direction of Chrom's heart and Robin screamed as she willed herself to run faster. She had to save Chrom, she had to save him no matter what stood in her way. She would beat all the odds stacked against her and she would make it to his side in time.
'NO...NO...Please...don't...let...Chrom...die...Please...let...me...make...it...in...time...Please...Chrom...I...I...I...love...you...I...can't deny it anymore...I love you so much, Chrom! Please don't die...Run faster...Run faster...'
AN: Sorry guys, this chapter is really late. I originally wanted to publish this on the 17th but it wasn't anywhere close to being finished. So I aimed to get it done yesterday the 21st, but just as I finished the chapter my computer decided to shut down and the last two paragraphs were lost. I finally finished typing them back up with a few changes. I think this ending is much better than the one I had before. (Hehe cliffhanger...you'll have to wait to find out what happens) To apologize for being late this one is a longer chapter. The next one will be longer as well. I 'm going to try to make the chapters longer. The next chapter should be up in a week on the 29th of July.