Hello people! decided to be a bitch again and not let me upload, so here's the double update I promised! Enjoy.
DarknessLink: I can see how it might be seen as a peculiar choice to use in a fanfiction the Einherjars, but they ARE characters in the game, albeit not canon. I was inspired by how "Cycle" by RoseWarden (Check that story out it's amazing even though it's very long and unfinished) and decided to add them as well. I didn't want to make too many OCs to justify a small party that's separate from the one of the Shepherds, so they came into play. I had originally planned for Nino and Anna instead of Roy and Hauteclere, but Nino seemed too obvious of a choice (I swear half of the fanfictions that include fe7 characters have her) and Hauteclere just came to mind when I realized that Anna did not appear in the game until Chapter 9 and I needed a blacksmith. I also feel like we've seen enough Anna and I didn't want to have to make a third one. There's Canon!Anna that is the usual, God!Anna who is a bloodlusty and bitter woman, I didn't need a third one. As for the A-Nick and B-Nick, eventually I will write why B-Nick is bound to that map even though he's ded as fuck, either in a future chapter or in New Game Minus.
Kidemonas: *scoff* Of course I'm gonna do something for Emmeryn! What, do you think I could HONESTLY keep canon intact? You wound me.
Read and review, for I am now in control of your mind and you shall obey my will.
Chapter 12: A dead man tells no tales but asks many questions
I stared at the very red-haired and very mark-less exalt before me, with a tray of food in hand. She was starting at me with a reminiscing expression as she waited for me to speak up first. It took all of my willpower not to gape at her like a fish and straighten my face out before saying: "Who… are you?" to prevent my cover from being turned to dust faster than I could say Falchion.
She looked at me with a slightly startled expression, before a look of realization crossed her face as she smiled sheepishly at me. "My apologies, I haven't introduced myself yet. As of a few days ago I am the Shepherds' newest recruit. My name is Lucina." And I simply had nothing to say to that. Chrom's daughter, Future's witness, Enigmatic Swords(wo)man, that Lucina decided to say "Fuck canon" and simply become a Shepherd under the ruse of being herself. How the hell did this happen?! Thankfully, deus ex machinas be blessed, my stomach decided to loudly protest the lack of food of the last few days as it ever so slowly digested itself. I honestly hadn't felt it up until now, but it decided to come back with a vengeance. She simply chuckled in response before handing me said wooden tray. "Right. I wish you a good night, I have a dinner to go back to." and with one final smile directed towards me, the Exalt's daughter was gone. Just… What?
The hell is Lucina doing here? What happened to her Marth persona? Just… how much did I change? What the hell am I even supposed to work with now?! Alright, think now… can I take Marth's place as I know what's gonna happen myself anyways? What did she change before becoming officially a Shepherd, let's see…
1: She prevented Lissa from getting injured or dying in the forest. That… actually probably still happened, since the portal did open and spit her out with the zombies. I think she was under the Marth ruse still for that time, before changing her attire.
2: She took Lon'qu's place in the fight so that Chrom would win. Did she do that again? The Shepherds seem to have come back home victorious, so she may have. Did she even do that to make them beat her because Lon'qu would've defeated Chrom, or something? I wonder.
3: She prevented Chrom from getting a possibly debilitating injury from an assassin and prevented (or rather, postponed) Emmeryn's death, making it much more meaningful in the eyes of both Plegians and Ylisseans, that led to the end of the war. I can probably warn everyone of the incoming danger of the assassins in her stead, even though she probably will do it herself either way, but it never hurts to be sure and double check everything.
4: She took a hit in Chrom's stead, revealing the fact that she was his daughter. I honestly have no idea what consequences this leads to, but if the other me told her to hide he must've had a reason. I'm not gonna blow her cover for kicks and giggles if I can avoid it.
SO, what do I do with this information?
*rumble* my body protested loudly from a week or more into lack of food as the stomach acids decided to erode away at the walls of my stomach. Ew not a pretty image. Will it away, will it away!
*sigh* For now, absolutely nothing. I dug into the food (which sadly wasn't a work of art from Stahl) as I wondered just what was I thinking when I decided to change canon. Upon finishing my food, I go to bed. Being bedridden suuuucks…
I wake up, feeling rather well rested and not like the world is gonna fall on me if I take one wrong step, if still a bit sore from the poison. I wonder what I should do today? Like maybe…
Building a rocket or fighting a mummy, or climbing up the Eiffel tower! Nah, let's keep that for when I inevitably wind up in the Phineas and Ferb universe.
I get up, get clothed, grab the money that magically appeared on my desk (Does Chrom pay 1000G a month or something?), and decide that finally it is time for a shower. I haven't had one in what feels like ages, and the barracks luckily DO have plumbing despite being in a medieval kind of place (benefits of being in the prince's entourage, hah!). As I make my way to the showers I begin whistling my favorite theme, Dialga's Fight to the Finish! It always put me in a mood to go and do stuff and be epic. While distracted, I round a corner and bump into someone, falling to the ground. As I get back up, I realize that I bumped into Vaike. As I raise my hand for a high five, he's staring at me with an aghast expression, before speeding off with a "Sorry!" while tripping multiple times. Huh. What the hell was that?
I make my way towards the showers with a cloth towel in hand, still wondering what was going on with Vaike. As I do, I spot Sully in the corridor, talking to Frederick right next to a smashed vase. There's a clumb of dirt on the ground and the… clay? I have no idea, is shattered, with the flowers laying down on the ground in a particularly sad way. Did she bump into it or something?
"I'm telling you, Chrom did this! The vase I broke is further down the hall!"
"While Milord is no doubt… rather "unaware" of his surroundings, I doubt that he would break a vase and leave it like that."
"Heya Sully! What happened?" I ask. I see her immediately stiffen before turning towards me with a clearly fake pained grimace before saying "I, ah, got a stomach ache. Gotta go. To the ladies bathroom. For the ladies. Where you cannot come. Nope." She says, before rushing off the same way as Vaike did before. "The fuck?" I wonder aloud, to which a cough from my right reminds me that there IS someone else here. I turn towards Frederick before lighting up as I remembered yesterday's plans.
"Right! Frederick, if you wouldn't mind, I would like to join your, uhm, Fanatic Fitness Hour I think it was called?" I asked him. As much as I will regret this decision in the future, I REALLY need to get into shape if I want to have a chance. And it doesn't hurt to get on the knight's good side, right?
"I do not believe that it would be advisable for your physique to join in, loathe as I am to say so." He replies. Eh? This IS Frederick right? The man who loves putting people through the wringer and "smiles only when bringing down the axe"?
"Why not?" I ask, arching an eyebrow. Is whatever's happened to Sully and Vaike affecting him too? "You see, I think… I mean…" He stutters, before his face lights up. "Lady Lissa has given orders for you to be on clear duty until you make your recovery. Yes, indeed." He nods, satisfied by something.
"Huh. I feel recovered, but whatever. I'll go get a checkup later. Medic's orders, amirite?" I ask. He nods to me, his steely self coming back up again. I look around while searching for a conversation topic before remembering that I was supposed to take a shower. "Ah, right! Sorry Frederick, but I gotta-" but when I turned around he was already gone. Huh, guess he still doesn't like me. I know I spent a night between me, Lissa, and some ropes, but it wasn't my fault! And I'm fifteen! Sex is gross, ew. Do they have different standards here or what?
Whatever.
I go inside the locker room (we have one of those, yay!) and finally get my head under a steady stream of hot water. This is bliss… sadly, it cannot last forever. I begin scrubbing my body with soap. Damn I've gotten filthy over the last week. It feels good to finally get cleaned. Now that I think about it though…
I'm a bit scared of how easily I killed those bandits. I mean, they were not easy to kill, but how I didn't hesitate even for a second to put my lance through them. Not in the metaphorical sense. Ew. Anways, I still think they're scum for raiding Donny's village, mind you, but I felt absolutely nothing when I fought them aside from survival instincts kicking in telling me "Dodge this" and "Stab that". I already knew I was rarely compromised in an emotional way (aside from the fact that I fooking took my own life, but we don't talk about that), but still. I hoped that I would feel something. Guilt, bloodlust, anything. Not just move on with my life like always.
As I'm finally about to come out of the shower and stop these toxic thoughts, I start to hear a conversation outside.
"When do you think it will happen?" Kellam asked. Huh, so he was in here as well. In my defense, I've learned to spot him just by his armor and sheer force of will. I'm not at 100% right now.
"Gah! When did you get in, Kellam!" Stahl yelps.
"I've come in with you." Oh, great! I didn't miss him then. I know that he's easy to miss, but the guy's too lonely. And he does not do that on purpose.
"Anyways, when do you think it will happen?" Kellam repeats. "I have no idea, the princess just rushed in and managed only to say that before passing out." Stahl sighs.
"Heya guys, what are you talking about? What happened to Lissa? Haven't seen her this morning." I ask as I put a towel around my waist and leave. I was wondering where she vanished. Must've been dead tired if I didn't notice her leave.
They both freeze up, if only for a moment, before Kellam, still tense, replies "The situation with Plegia are getting more strained by the second. The princess rushed in to tell us that lady Maribelle may be in danger before she passed out due to exhaustion. We're still waiting for her recovery while a group of pegasus riders goes to check in on the situation." Huh. Damn, you didn't get to see this side of the characters in the game. Being worried for the war, and stuff. Still. Maybe Maribelle can be rescued? I also got my confirmation that she is in Themis or already got kidnapped.
"Mmh. I hope everything is fine. While I haven't personally spoken to Maribelle, it would suck to have a fellow shepherd die. Well, I hope she gets well soon. Gotta go to breakfast!" I chirp, with just a little bit more energy than usual. As soon as I get out of the shower I press my ear against the door of the locker room (or whatever it's called, I don't know about medieval terms).
"Phew, good job Kellam. Gladly he bought that." And that was all I needed to hear. So there is a secret among the Shepherds they do not want to tell me about? Fine. I won't hear it. Assholes.
I get dressed back up again in my room before heading to the dining hall for breakfast. I wonder how many people are in on this thing? It would explain everyone's weirdness.
As I grab my tray and stick some sausages and bacon (Old English breakfast, ew, when will people start having breakfast with cereal here) I notice everyone is making it so that the spaces next to them are full somehow. A leg stuck on the bench here by Vaike, a pile of books there next to Ricken, Chrom going as far as unsheating Falchion to put it on the seat next to him. And here I thought the Shepherds were a tight knit community. Guess they just don't like me for whatever reason. The only two who haven't done anything are Robin, who is already surrounded by people and Lucina. I would've said Donnel as well, but it seems that he's taking it easy this morning and stayed in bed or something. The poor fella had to carry me for a long while and then got blasted by magic. Not cool. And Miriel, who doesn't strike me as the type to do this kind of thing even knowing something, is also not here in the canteen. So there's that. Maybe they haven't betrayed me as well.
As I start to head towards Lucina I see people tensing up and going as far as making gestures like making cutting gestures with their hand on their neck or crossing their arms. Assholes. However, all she does is regard them with an amused expression. She probably knows something that they don't, but in turn I know something that she doesn't.
"Heya." I start as I sit down. She turns to me offering a smile and says "Good morning." We start eating in silence, until I'm getting really annoyed by the way the others act. Continuous gestures, staring, it's all piling up in a big ball of annoyance. "Hey, do you know why the others are acting like weirdos? I thought the Shepherds were a group or something. Guess I was wrong." I say bitterly. She just offers a shrug in response. Guess she's not in on this or she prefers to simply not talk. I still have no idea how to act around her. It's a weird thing where we both know a lot about the other but we don't know WHAT the other knows about us and we can't let the other know that we know. It's giving me a headache.
As I finish stabbing my sausages with just a bit too much force I stand up and say "Whatever. See you later." I pass by the empty kitchen to dump my dishes before heading for the training grounds. Need to let off some steam or something, unless people ALSO don't feel like sparring with me. As I get there I notice that there is only one person there: Lon'qu, who's practicing swings with his sword. I guess he's as good as a sparring partner as anyone.
"Heya. Are you new around here?" I ask him. I'm getting the acting clueless down to a science. He simply 'hnn's and resumes what he's doing. Wow, rude. But at least I expected him to be flipping me off. Small mercies.
I go grab a training lance and shield, as well as a small chainmail that, while being slightly larger than my size, will have to do, before turning towards Lon'qu and saying "You up for a spar?" I ask him. He doesn't respond, but starts walking towards the sparring field, albeit with an annoyed expression. Whatever, I'll take what I can. We go on the ends of the ground before he bows, and I reciprocate the gesture. Guess that's our begin. Or at least that's what it would've been if I had a chance to begin.
Suddenly, without even having the chance of moving, I'm dropping my lance as I'm clutching my wrist in pain and he's in front of me. I didn't expect that! But before I can even do something he levels the mock blade at my throat and says one word. "I win." He grounds out with no emotion. He turns his back to me before saying "If you're so bad at fighting it's no wonder what they say about you. You should go home. The battlefield's no place for kids." "Wait what? What do they say about me?!" I ask, but he's already gone. "Well, that was humiliating…" I say to nobody in particular. "And there goes my chance of getting a decent spar now, with this wrist… at least he didn't break it." I put away the chainmail and get the lance back in its original place, before going towards the dining hall. "Whatever. I'm going out guys!" I shout to the hall so that they know where I'm going if someone needs me. I don't expect people to need me, since I've been doing a whole lot of nothing lately, but yknow. It's the thought that matters. What I did not expect was a "No! You can't!" from Sumia who shouts in a panic from the place where she was eating.
"Why?" I ask, narrowing my eyes. "Because, uh… it's your turn to tend to the horses!" She says, with the most plastic smile I've ever witnessed.
"No it's not. I'm on clear duty, Frederick has told me." I tell her. "Well I, uh…" but I'm not even listening to her. "Whatever. When you guys decide to stop being a bunch of weirdos, you know where to find me." And I go out of the garrison and head towards Yilisstol, where people are normal. I need to get stuff done anyways. And since I need both company AND a professional's opinion… "Aide me, Hauteclere!" I called. Suddenly, in a burst of light, the blacksmith appeared. "Ya need me, brat?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Mmh. I need a professional opinion about a material that comes from my world, and a way to produce it. But since there doesn't look to be a professional around here…" I look around, pretending to be looking for a professional smith before receiving a solid thwack on the head. "Cheeky brat. Now, what were ya thinkin about?" She asks.
"Well… basically in our world it was called steel, but since it seems that you have a different version of steel… Well, whatever, basically it's an alloy of iron and carbon made to strengthen it and remove impurities." I say, with what little I remember about metallurgy. She hums, the gears in her head turning. "So… where may I get myself the materials to make it? I need at least enough to have an armor and a few spears." I say. "Leave that to me, brat." She grins in an evil way.
Half an hour, a merchant who'll need a change of pants and 500G spent later, we've got all the materials needed to forge my new equipment (that she insisted that I carry even though she's got like double the muscle) as she drags me to the nearest blacksmith in town, all the while I'm staring at her with a confused expression. Where the hell is she taking me? She goes up to and whispers something in the ear of the fellow who eagerly lets us in his laboratory and goes back to selling weapons, tools and the likes.
"What did you tell him?" I ask her. "Wouldn't you like to know?" She replies airily. I scowl. "Well brat, let's get to work." And we do. Smithing for someone personally is apparently a much different job than making something that works for everybody. She started taking my measurements, took note on my possibly growing physique, took notice of the fact that I'm left handed, set an hourglass for when the molten steel would be done… Then came the smithing. She began with my armor, and despite not understanding a thing of what she was doing aside from the fact that there was a lot of hammering, pouring and cooling down in water (the place had become a fucking sauna) I understood that she was doing a fantastic job. I strapped on the armor that fit like a glove, and turned towards a mirror, and after cleaning it with a handkerchief (it was steamy in here) I looked at myself.
Hauteclere apparently had a very minimalistic style, because there wasn't any decoration, just the strictly necessary to protect me. I actually appreciated that. The armor I donned was the typical white-greyish of steel in color, as opposed to my old one's blue. It weighted slightly more because it actually protected my whole body instead of just the torso (and what a grand job it did against Lyn) and the shoulders. The design was very simple: plated armor protected everywhere but the joints and the head (Nobody ever will convince me to use a helmet if the rest of the shepherds can get away without using one) and my right arm was more reinforced than the rest to allow me some degree of protection if I happened to drop my shield. It felt kinda stiff because of that, but I could manage. I turned around to see that Hauteclere was just done working on my lance and shield and holy shit-
The shield (more of a buckler, really) was round, with leather straps that were melded into the shield making it possible to hold but they weren't too tight. Between the two straps there was, engraved, a symbol of a vertical line that split into three making two 30° angles. On the front rested the symbol of Naga in gold (when the hell did she have the time to do that while I was watching my armor what the fuck) and, as I traced around it, I realized that the edges were sharp.
"Don't think I didn't see that stunt you pulled kid. Since you're so keen on tossing your shield around, it may as well do something." I blushed as those words hit me. I needed a distraction, damn it! At least holy shit I was Captain America now.
I turned back towards her and took the lance from her outstretched arm. It was beautiful, really. The style was still the same minimalist used for both the shield and the armor, but it still managed to look the part. The rod was made entirely of steel, with gold spiralling around it before melding itself together in the bladed tip like the one of a naginata, so that I could also slash at people without too much hassle. This one too held on each side a rune made in gold, that looked like an A without the middle line.
"This is- How can I-" I stammered, because how could I repay her of such a beautiful gift?
"Relax, kiddo. The only way to thank a blacksmith for a weapon is to save lives using it. Remember that." "R-right!" I did not shed a tear. Nope.
As we got out of the blacksmith's lab, (and Hauteclere dismissed herself) I heard a commotion on the streets. What was going on?
As I rushed onto the streets I saw what was making so much noise: a large (and I mean as big as a horse) rodent like creature was being mobbed by the citiziens armed with pitchforks and whatever they had on hand (a lady had a frying pan) as it backed against a wall. A taguel? I rushed to the front of the crowd as they were about to lynch him. "Alright alright what's going on!" I shouted, holding my hands up as a "calm down" gesture. "That thing killed a man!" I turned towards the Taguel (can't recognize them for shit but given that Panne would've already went into a killing spree I'm gonna assume it's Yarne) with a surprised expression, before it turned into annoyance when I saw that there was no blood on its fur or teeth. "Where's the proof? There's no blood on him!" I said. "Kid get away from it!" One man shouted. Alright, this was getting annoying.
"Listen here: I am a Shepherd, and as such I'm currently the highest authority here. Now, you can all back away and we'll forget this all ever happened, or we can all go nicely to the Exalt and tell her that you have tried to lynch a creature that has no intention of defending itself. Capiche?" I asked, my smile turning downright toxic. They all grumbled something unintelligible as they walked away.
As I turned around I saw that Yarne had untransformed, and was now looking at me with a mix of gratitude and distrust. "Who are you?" I asked politely. I know the last taguel to be a coward, and to be honest one of my least liked characters, but now that he's here in flesh I can't help but feel pity for him.
A few seconds passed, before he reluctantly said "…Yarne. Why did you help me?" he asked, suspicious. "Because I'm a Shepherd and it's my job to do so?" I replied innocently. I definitely couldn't tell him that I was trying to earn brownie points in his (and maybe Panne's) eyes. He held my gaze for a few more seconds before sighing and saying "Whatever. I guess you're decent for a human. See you around." And holy shit was the transformation cool and he's gone
Well, that was random.
As I (reluctantly) got back into the barracks, I noticed that it was silent. Eerily so. I started to look around for people, but I could not find anybody. I went into the library as it was most likely that I could find Miriel, but nothing.
Wait. Did they leave for Plegia on such a short notice?! They could have at least told me!
Or not, since everybody seems to dislike me now for some reason. But I'll show them. I'll barge in like a hero and save the day!
I rushed into the stables. I couldn't possibly hope to catch up to the Shepherds… Or Ricken, for that fact, on foot. I'm supposed to be bedridden and for a good reason. But I honestly don't care. They think they can leave me out of everything? Hell no!
"Oi shithead" I said as I sprinted towards Zephyr. "I know you don't feel fine with me and all but we've got a lady to save. So, I know that the future me was your rider and all and you hate him for abandoning you and by default hate me for the same reason, but suck it up cuz' Maribelle's in danger. Got it?" I wrestled with him a little to get mounted before he subsided and I brought him out of the stables.
"Wait. I have no idea how to fly a pegasus." I said. If you strained your ears you could actually hear a pin drop as I said that, before the winged horse simply decided to take off with me seated on it and "motHERFUCKER WE'RE FLYING!" I shouted. "Woohoo!" I was holding onto the reins as the horse did pretty much all of the job. "You do know that we're going towards Plegia right? It's in the other direction." It simply neighed in response before turning towards southwest.
And now there was only one thing left to do.
"YEEHAW!"
Be a fucking idiot and pray for the best.
And before anyone says anything, no, he's not suddenly becoming a pegasus knight, fuck that sideways. He barely knows how to mount a horse, you think he's gonna fight while mounted and pull off all the crazy stunts? Nope. Not in this fic. Other than that I don't really have much to say aside from the fact that next chapter will be a lot longer, so buckle up kiddos. Stats are unchanged, the party's the same as before (Nick, Roy, Marth, Hauteclere) and next chapter we're gonna see some Plegia ass kicking! Also, please check out the second chapter of Lost Beginnings that I posted. With that out of the way,
Ninni51, out *drops mic*
PS. Dropping here the stats for Uruz (the lance) and Algiz (The shield) and yes I'm shamelessly using celtic rune names ya got a problem with that?
Uruz: Mt 19 Uses 45/45 Range 1 Hit 80
Allows unit to survive a fatal strike with one hp if when attacked with a fatal strike (Chance: Luck%)
Algiz: Mt. 8 Range 1-2 Hit 65
Def+5, Res +5 when Unequipped (as in, not using it as a weapon). Prevents user from receiving critical hits.
