Hypothetically speaking, would Algiz make your AVO drop to 0 while raising your DEF/RES by 5? You're effectively bracing for the impact rather than trying to dodge a blow and being hit the same. Just a thought that came to me.
ARSLOTHES: I've no idea. Go read the bottom of chapter A/N, please.
Guest: So, hold on, let me check the facts. His plan was to rid the world of the Grimleal to prevent Grima from being resurrected, AKA become Chrom's daddy 2.0, so he decides to take control over the whole world, and in the process of doing so, hands pretty much half his forces to a general that he's keeping on a wet paper leash (Yen'fay) AND actively tries to severe that tie with him when the Valmese troops continuously attempt to kill Say'ri rather than apprehend her or something. And in the end, it is revealed that he was just a fucking puppet to Excellus, a member of the organization that he tried to exterminate. AND THEN- Get ready because this is the shit- HE MANAGES TO CHEAT DEATH OUT OF FUCKING STUBBORNESS THINKING HE WAS STILL RIGHT IN WHAT HE WAS DOING. I'm not saying that Walhart isn't a good leader or a strong man, but he's not an intelligent person.
Kidemonas: Tell him to do his best and he could probably pass off as Nino *snort* it'd be cruel and unusual towards Roy to dress up as his best friend though. Nick would also need to cut and dye his hair again, because now the roots are showing the original brown color and his hair is getting long-ish. I'll probably do it after the end of the Plegian invasion chapter, maybe as an omake.
And sadly, Wolt qualifies only as second best archer, 3-13 has transcended the status of "Good" and became a memelord. '-'
Chapter 17: A flock of Plegians is called a murder
"Ah, Ylisstol. Home to the cult of Naga, the Fire emblem and a lot of pretty people, including the Exalt, who is currently in the process of being murdered. Doesn't sound fun, does it?" I say, jovially to my fuzzy friend.
"What does it matter to you, curse-slinger?" she replied in a tone that I'm sure was affectionate under all that gruff. After all, we're besties!
"Well, as I said earlier, the Exalt is about to be assassinated, and we can't have that, now can we?" I say, pushing my point further. "I remember you owing the exalt a great deal, if I'm not mistaken." I say. Sadly, my friend is feeling huggy today, even if she should make haste, because next thing I know, I'm pinned to the ground by a giant cute bunny.
"How would you know that, man-spawn?!" I disappear in a flock of crows as I realize that my ribcage probably wouldn't be fine if she involuntarily pressed any further. It's a really neat trick that I have learned that impresses both gleeful children and raging adults alike.
"The crows tell me many things, kyah-ah-ah! If you want, I could tell you the Exalt's breast size, too." I say, winking. I mean, I don't actually have the information yet, but my crows always find what I ask of them, so it's like I have all the information in the world! Just, not all at once. I have tried that, and it gave me a really bad headache. I loved it! But I also couldn't move for about a month after that. Mama crow was really nice in feeding me though! Sadly, worms can only take you so far after all, so I decided to not repeat the experience till I have a nice wife that will take care of me.
She spluttered indignantly before simply turning away from me saying "Very well. I will go aide the Exalt, man-spawn. But know that if you are lying, I will have your head, even if I have to kill every single crow that I see!" Aaaaand she's off. Man, what a rude fella. But I'm sure she's misguided! She actually can't kill me, so long as crows exist. But I guess being an endangered species makes you think others are too at risk. Silly her.
Anyways, I resume my crow-vision. Let's see…
Oh! The otherworlder and his ghostly buddy are now racing across the halls towards the Exalt! I do not like him, though. Ghosts do not bleed when they die. At least the Risen have the decency to bleed a little before disappearing! His ghosts instead, just go poof and they're gone. And they don't actually die!
I pouted thinking of that. Oh well. Can't have one person ruin my mood, now can I? Let's see if the others are doing some more interesting stuff.
The prince, secret-princess and secret-god are discussing boring stuff. I wonder why all these secrets. If I were a god or a princess, I would announce my godhood to the whole world to see! I would probably do it even without actually being one. You know, as a prank. What are these guys talking about again? Ah yes, the last Exalt's destruction of the Grimleal cult! Man, that would've been fun to be in! But they killed Dad too. That was less fun. Being raised by the crows is actually not so pleasant. But now the Grimleal are back! Even though most of them are a bunch of loons. At least I'm a crazy with standards!
Suddenly though, another blue haired figure appeared. She was wearing a mask, with the only noteworthy (and distinguishable) features being the twin tails hanging from her and the sword at her waist that reeks of Naga's magic. She draws her sword, pointing it at the prince and as I think that she's about to try and take him on (and how fun that would've been!) she huffs and says "Hmph. Thank me later." and an assassin suddenly breaks through the foliage from the bushes in the courtyard as she does a backflip landing behind him and slashing across his back, killing him.
I give her a 9/10! Would've been a fair 10 if there was any blood spilling, but the fella's clothing soaked it up. Oh well, what can you do. But then suddenly again another assassin bursts out, and in a panic she puts her foot on the previous assassin's sword and slips, making her fall while her mask is cut down, the sword grazing her cheek. But then Prince Charming comes to the rescue and fwoom! He unsheats his sword and fells the guy in one swift motion as the others are staring in incredulousness.
"Guess we're even now, eh?" He says, turning back to her.
"A-ah, I guess so… Wait! There are more of them, plotting the Exalt's demise!" But he's staring directly into her right eye, where the symbol of the exalt lies. "Uh-oh, that's gonna be a hard one to explain, kyah-ah-ah!" I laugh, unable to contain myself any longer. Why do they work as fighters, when these guys are even funnier than jesters? Man, I'll never understand.
"Dad, come on, stop being a creep. Why are we not helping them anyways?" I turn towards my new son. I have recently found him out when I saw an Ylissean mob trying to kill him, and he told me that he comes from the future. The crows confirmed his story, so I guess he's my son for real! Even though I'm still underage. He's also a bit of a coward, but I love him nevertheless. He has the appearance of a giant bunny, but with crow wings bursting out of his back that are strong enough to let him fly! Truly amazing.
"Well, son. I honestly would love the slaughter, but I can't go there or King Gangrel will have my head faster than I can make a crow pun! And as for you, you're free to go, but remember that your mother is currently a very single taguel! I don't think you'd want to explain to her exactly why you won't mate with her, kyah-hah-hah!" He let out a shudder and turned bright red.
"Well then, hurry up and make me then!" He pouted.
"Not now son. Oooooh, it's getting to the good part there! Yarne, bring me something to eat."
The castle of Ylisstol, home to the royals of Ylisse (whenever they didn't feel like sleeping in the garrison, anyways) was truly a beauty. It was an impressing structure, mostly made of marble, its labyrinthic halls constantly lit and with guards continuously patrolling every inch. It was the very epitome of safety. However, Chrom couldn't help but feel completely the opposite, after that assassin's attack.
They weren't the target of the assassination, that much was clear. It felt like they were more of a target of opportunity, and, as Robin suggested, the wretched plegians were likely after his sister's life.
"That damn demon, doesn't he know the meaning of honor!?" he shouted out of anger. The answer was obvious, but he couldn't help but feel that way.
"Chrom! This way!" Robin shouted. Trust him to have made a complete map of the place in the little time he spent here. To be honest, Chrom knew this place like the back of his hand, although he spent very little time into it nowadays.
"Lucina, go call the others!" Robin shouted, Chrom nearly tripping into him from the sudden movement.
"But-" she started, but a glare from the tactician silenced her. "Right. Don't die, you two." And she ran off.
"By the way, where's that mysterious girl?" Chrom asked. A look around themselves told them that she had bolted off as well in the confusion, leaving a very frustrated pair. In his frustration, Robin shot a blast of wind against a wall, making a loud bang.
"Robin… do you realize that now they know our location?" Chrom asked, noticing the noise of footsteps racing down the hallways towards their location. Robin rubbed the back of his head sheepishly saying "That was the plan. Need to get the heat off your sister's back, right?" before readying a thunder spell as a group of six assassins approached, all armed with daggers.
"Well. Let's show these idiots what the Shepherds are made out of, shall we?" Chrom unsheathed his Falchion, grinning back to his tactician.
"Of course." The first assassin rushed towards him, trying to cut him down. He locked blades with Chrom before the familiar crackling of thunder rushed towards him. "Elthunder!" Chrom suddenly stepped aside with calculated movements as the ball of electricity came from behind him, frying the assassin.
So.
The chapter begun, and I'm like 2 stories over the actual location of the chapter, since the castle is hella big. Actually, make that only one story because we've just found the stairs. Thankfully, this floor is mostly reserved for very big rooms like dining halls, ballrooms and the such. At least it wasn't an endless maze of corridors and shit like the third floor, unless you call the first floor ground floor.
(I'm floored by this explanation)
In all seriousness, though. I'm currently at the floor above where the canon map for Foreseer would be. And at this rate, I'll soon be at the ground floor. The current situation is:
We've got to deal with a number between the canon twenty-ish assassins and an unknown higher number.
(Who can be accounted for as an ally, right now?)
I don't think the Shepherds are here. Sure, the garrison is like a mile from here, but I doubt that there's any of them besides Chrom, Robin and maybe Lucina from the cutscene. We can also assume that Panne will be here. Then there's me, Roy and Marth who is currently with the Exalt, and possibly Gaius if we can manage to sway him to our side. Still have no fucking idea where Hauteclere went, but the mana flow indicates that she's nowhere in the castle.
Also, if canon is any indication, the guards were all massacred and/or were spies to begin with.
So basically a 7 versus 20-30 trained professionals out for our lives.
(Typical Shepherds business.)
As I make my way towards the stairs, however, a pegasus bursts from one of the cathedral-like windows and bars our way, smoke covering her body in a very dramatic fashion that did nothing to actually hide the intruder's presence, but rather her appearance. Said hidden appearance was immediately revealed however, when a voice that, while I wouldn't call familiar, was indeed recognizable. Roy froze hearing it.
"Now, now, darling, stealing isn't nice, be it the spotlight" She strutted over to Roy, caressing his cheek as he couldn't move. "Or my toys." Had she left that big of an impression on my friend for him to be so scared?
I lowered my weapons in a… not quite nonthreatening way, but rather in a "please do go on, I'm ready to jump you any second though so watch your mouth" way.
(Because that's a thing, right?)
"What are you here for, Aversa?" I asked, in a no-nonsense tone. It was clear as the day she herself had nothing to do with the invasion, but she was stealing precious time that I could be spending alongside the others, every second one where a Shepherd could die.
She pouted in a very childish way at my tone, before schooling herself into something more serious, staring straight into my eyes. "I am legally required to at least make an effort to escort you to your world and redirect this timeline into canon before I use lethal force." She said, the last part sounding like something she was repeating something verbatim.
About her offer, though… "No way." I smirked at her, and by the way she was grinning, I assume that she enjoyed my refusal as well.
I'll admit that for a second I've considered it. I'm not that selfless. I wouldn't sacrifice my whole being for a lifetime of war in a world I honestly didn't care about. I thought that if given the choice I would take the chance to go home in a heartbeat, but…
(Another blunder... you've been having a lot of those lately, eh?)
(Face it, you're a failure.)
(Here, let me help.)
I shuddered as the memories hit me all at once. I was scared of going back home. Here people didn't judge me, couldn't judge me. Here I was free of doing my own thing, without the need of approval from anybody. Here, I could be Nick.
It didn't matter to Ricken. It didn't matter to Donnel. Or Robin, Or Lissa, Or Roy, Or Hauteclere, or ANY of the Shepherds. I know it's selfish, but why should I give that up?
"I'm glad that you said that. It makes everything all the more fun!" She literally fucking somersaulted, teleporting while she was about to hit the ground onto her pegasus. "Now, don't take this personal, hun. The higher-ups will fire me if I don't try to kill you. Let's start off with something easy, as per usual shònen rules, alright? But first, I need to take care of your little friend." And a card was already spinning in her hand, a blast of light and standing in her place was a girl, the rider nowhere to be seen. Roy, that by now had gotten unstuck from his stupor, gritted his teeth as he realized just who we were facing.
(He's not exactly wrong.)
Standing before us was a fair-skinned, red clad individual, about as tall as I was. She had blue long hair like many nobles of this world, and similarly blue eyes almost too big to look normal. In her hand, where she wore fingerless gloves a lot of mages used to cast, sat the Bolganone tome. She was looking at us with a face of childish determination.
"I will not let myself be defeated another time! Summoner!" She pointed at me. I simply tilted my head questioningly, prompting a way too high pitched scream from her. "Go ahead! Lady Aversa is waiting for you! But know that eventually, I will have my Roy back!"
(She's screaming in PURE DETERMINATION YEEEEEAH)
"…eh? Roy, is your girlfriend high?" I turned towards my friend, who was torn between determination, second-hand embarrassment and amusement. "After our most recent… talk, she has got this weird idea that you've somehow kidnapped me and I'm forced to act as your soldier." He shook his head in amusement.
"TAKE ME SERIOUSLY!" She shrieked, charging up her mana before firing at me, making the ground beneath me explode. My shield glowed for a moment, enhancing the barrier that my mana erected around me before the spell ended as fast as it came. My hair was slightly singed. I sighed.
"Are you actually trying to destroy the castle? Use a different spell for Naga's sake." And I literally chucked a standard issue Elwind tome at her.
(Where did that come from?)
Right after the creation of my hammerspace, I literally stored everything I found that could be useful. Sadly, stuff like food and Vulneraries goes bad when in there for some god forsaken reason, but I keep my only source of entertainment in this world, books, in there. I'm pretty much a walking library.
"Roy, do you want me to deal with her? She pretty much can't do anything to me and well… I understand if you're not too keen on facing her..." I trailed off, but he shook his head. "So long as I'm not truly hurting her I'll be fine. Might as well try to deal with her now, hoping she will see reason, if we don't want her to become a recurring theme... and maybe, I'll manage to sway her to our side." I shrugged; it really wasn't my business to deal with his GF's problems.
"Aight. Try not to die on me, yeah?" I told him. He should still be between staggeringly better to somewhat above her in terms of battle prowess, unless there were any anime training montages that I missed.
I rushed towards the next room, the only thing between me and the stairs leading down towards where I need to be. It was a huge ballroom. I snorted; this looked oddly right, despite this definitely not being my last battle with her. I probably won't be against her to begin with, but you know.
"Darling, what took you so long? I was getting bored here. I already have summoned my minion and everything too." At the very centre of the ballroom was Aversa, lying down on a table as the moonlight shone making a spotlight, with a hand covering her face dramatically. Standing directly in front of her was…
A child.
(A 4'0 pink-haired child with pointy ears, green eyes and a beaming smile, covered by a yellow poncho and a beige mantle, at her hip a satchel that shined ominously. She also has on her forehead a dragon Laguz symbol.)
I stared at the child who was looking way too eager about what was about to happen, and then to her master in annoyance.
"And you call this an "easy, shònen" start?" I muttered in annoyance.
"But of course! First comes the humiliating beginning that the protagonist has to go through before being saved by the cool side-character! Too bad you're alone…" She smirked maliciously.
"Hi! My name is *inaudible*, but you can call me Fae! Let's play!" Aside from the fact that the little girl in front of me is becoming a 7-foot monstrosity, I have no idea what her actual name is. Are my ears bleeding? I think they're bleeding. Also, Aversa is nowhere to be seen again.
(For the record, the name is in draconic. In human it translates to something along the lines of Fae'deregh mornontor, which roughly translates to Young Divine Magic Dragon. Not the best naming sense, I know. She has taken to letting people call her Fae since Athos complained that he was going deaf everytime she talked about herself in third person, and it sounds close to our Faye, which she liked.)
"Oh, fuck me." I said, staring annoyedly at the Manakete in front of me who was just done transforming.
"Maybe later darling. If you can survive, of course." Aversa responded to my sarcastic remark, before a push on my back from the person who put me in this situation found me charging at the dragon to avoid tripping and possibly getting roasted by divine flames.
Severa had managed to sneak away from her father. It wasn't that hard, since they basically distracted themselves, but she had done it, thankfully. Now she was dashing sword held at the ready towards the courtyard.
Validar, the worm, had been sending swarms of plegians to attack the Exalt. If she only managed to get to him, the rest would be easy game. Cut the head of the snake and all. However, when a scream tore its way out of Aunt Emmeryn's throat, she forgot everything about the evil sorcerer and dashed towards her chambers.
Thankfully (or not) most of the Plegians headed towards the distraction provided by Dad and that man, which made it so that she could pass by without being stopped by anybody. When she arrived, she was met by a rather peculiar sight.
Prince Marth of Akaneia was duking it out with the future spymaster of the Ylisse-Plegia alliance. Her sword started glowing in approval as she felt power surge within her.
Truly peculiar.
"Hey, Blue, mind helping out a little turning off this thing or you're just gonna stand there and stare?" she realized he was talking to her, two knives in his hands crossed in a parry at Marth's downward slash. Suddenly, an impish grin split her face.
"Well… I might help you out, but you know… the help of the Hero King is REALLY useful, despite him being just a ghost. How can you make up for it, if I remove him?" She smiled at him, even batting her eyelashes for maximum effect. She was gonna do it anyways, Aunt Emmeryn did not look good passed out on the ground thanks to the power vacuum that was the Phantom Falchion. There was a reason it was a trump card.
…
Alright, the earlier statement was a lie, the aunt she had never met somehow still managed to look good passed out on the ground, but it was the principle of the thing that mattered.
"Well, I guess I'm just gonna have to wait here, while I eat these cookies…" She pulled out from a satchel one of the cookies that she had on herself. Truth being told, she had stolen them earlier from her father's satchel in the chaos. It was not like he needed them anyways! And she needed a piece of the past.
Suddenly, the cookie vanished from her hand at a speed that she could barely register, the thief in front of her as his opponent started dumbfounded at the place he was in earlier.
"Sold. Now help me deal with this thing. Murdering the Exalt would leave a bad taste in my mouth anyways." Marth charged once again towards them, silent as ever, as he tried to slash his Silver Sword at her, but a quick parry and an horizontal slash as a counter made him back off. He then sheathed his silver sword and was about to take out the rapier at his side, but Gaius proved to be a lot faster than he expected and managed to plunge one of his knives into the Einherjar's chest, earning a pretty deep gash to the side in return however that made him double over in pain. Severa jumped in and with a quick diagonal slash she cut the spirit in two.
"Done. Now, as for your thanks…" she began whispering the plan that she came up with into the thief's ear. His eyes widened impossibly before he turned to look at her. "Are you crazy? They're gonna kill me!" But she shook her head.
"Not on the peace-loving Exalt's watch, they're not. At best they're gonna throw you into a cell for your troubles, and we both know you can get out. Tell you what, if worst comes to worst I'll come bail you out." He grumbled, covering his injury. "Got an elixir or something? I ain't gonna be much use like this."
She unsheathed her blade once again (why had she bothered sheathing it in the first place?) and put the flat of Falchion against his injury. Then, the last of the power she borrowed from the spirit she channelled into healing his wound. The wound disappeared, nothing but the blood that stained his cape to even remember it was ever there.
"Damn, that blade's nice, Blue. Gonna have to find myself one, since they apparently aren't one-of-a-kind." She put on a show of being guarded about it, while doing a mental facepalm. She couldn't have been more obvious. However, Gaius simply held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Hey, it ain't my job to ask questions so don't worry. My job's robbing this place dry and then- not get the hell outta dodge, because of you." He glared at her, but she simply rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, you big baby. Now help me hide the Exalt until she wakes up so people believe she's either dead or ran away. Can't do with dead weight." The room where the Exalt had been hidden, was, in fact, a storage room. It was the whole reason Gaius had been going in that direction after all. So, they decided, she would simply have to sleep away in a chest while the battle played out. She had apparently been startled into summoning Marth by Gaius when he moved in to try and rob the place, unknowing of the Exalt's position. After summoning him, apparently due to her proximity, Falchion had awakened for the both of them and started draining Emmeryn of her mana. Also, since the old fart and his daughter are the only people who can summon decently, Marth immediately attacked Gaius while Aunt Emm passed out from the strain. Better than being killed, in the end.
She sighed wistfully as she lowered the lid on the chest. "See ya, auntie…"
Gaius popped his neck as he waited in the doorway. "So, ya coming? We have a job to do." She nodded and the both of them started heading towards the corridors where most of the plegians that hadn't gone after Dad were, lying in ambush. Then the ceiling gave out from above them.
Panne hated man-spawns with a fervor. They were the reason that her race had been exterminated, using cowardly tactics to destroy them one by one until she was the only one left. However, she couldn't deny that she did owe the Exalt a favour, despite the actual one who had helped her was now dead and buried. But her species would've looked down on her in shame if she didn't make up her debt towards her, so here she was, since that curse-slinger wanted her to check this place out.
She didn't actually expect anything, but there was, in fact, an attack at the castle. She made her way inside to find two man-spawns fighting off several other man-spawns. They were good at killing each other; she would give them that. Man-spawns found always better ways to destroy themselves and somehow still remained the predominant race on the continent. It was baffling.
Despite her hatred, she sniffed the air from her hidden position, trying to figure out friend from foe. All of the men-spawn but one smelled of desert, which was probably the attacking force. The remaining one, instead, smelled somewhat like the old Exalt did. She would aide him, then. A one-time favour, then she would move on with her life.
It was decided.
She transformed and charged in the middle of the pack of man-spawns that had put the other two to the wall. There were seven, among these two curse-slingers and an archer. It was easy to see how the other two were being overwhelmed despite their combat prowess. Man-spawns knew no shame, hunting the others in packs, and it was turning on them.
She made a beeline for the archer, hurling her body into him before ending his life by severing his neck. The other man-spawns were reasonably frightened by this, and she wasted no time in taking advantage of this by tackling to the ground one of the curse-slingers. The group she was aiding regained their bearings reasonably quickly, the plegian one blasting a swordsman with a ball of thunder. At least they knew what they were doing.
However, the others were just as quick to regain their bearings because the next thing she knew, her body felt like it was being drained of all of its energy, the curse-slinger who was doing it a sick grin on his face.
Then, the blue-haired Ylissean jumped in slashed across his chest, making him drop the spell. A glance at her and a nod, and he was finishing off said curse-slinger without problem.
However, one of the axe-wielding ones had made his way behind him and was about to slam his axe into his back, but with one fluid motion he managed to block off the offending weapon. However, it was clear that it was a losing battle, so she jumped in, slamming her whole weight again into that man-spawn, knocking him out cold.
The remaining ones, it seemed, were dealing with the other two, the blue-haired one that she had just saved sporting a deep gash in the side from a lance while the plegian was locking blades with another sword-wielder.
The lance-wielder twisted his lance further in the prince's wound and even she flinched at seeing such a cruel act. However, the prince simply grit his teeth and grabbed the spear, removing it, before raising his blade to the sky, seemingly radiating sunlight just as if it was noon, before dashing towards the lancer, even wounded as he was. A foolish move that however bore fruit: the lancer was caught off guard by that move and didn't have time to dodge, and took a slash to the chest as punishment. Then the blue man-spawn jumped in the air and finished him off by splitting his skull with his blade.
"Damn… I gotta try and get that right some time…" he muttered, far too low for any man-spawn to hear but she could do that perfectly well. He was still wounded, but not as badly as before. Shrugging at the odd phrase, she turned to see that the other one had finished off his opponent as well, and was now pointedly staring at her. She untransformed to save energy and not have the man-spawns piss their pants.
"I'm Panne. I have a debt towards the Exalt and will fulfil it, but do not expect us to be allies." There. Straight to the point, just like she liked it, instead of talking a lot and saying nothing. The prince didn't seem offended, but rather disappointed, but nodded all the same.
Then, a deep gravelly voice started chuckling.
"Well, well, well… what do we have here? The prince of Ylisse, the last of the taguel, and… Oh! Well indeed, ha ha ha… I know you…" another curse-slinger stared pointedly at the Plegian one, who stared back in shock.
"What do you know about me and my past! I need to know!" he shouted, attempting to sound menacing but only managing to sound desperate.
The man simply chuckled once again. "Submit to me, and I might even honor you with the truth… what will you choose?" And without waiting for an answer, he shot an orb of darkness towards the blue-haired man-spawn.
The battle against Fae was… disappointing, for a variety of reasons.
I was panicked at first, I'll admit it. However, I quickly realized that without being able to take off, the manakete was in an awkward position at the center of the room where the ceiling could hold her full height. I actually was… eager. I felt a surge of bloodlust surge in me, wanting to fight, to win. It felt scary and exhilarating at the same time.
Charge, take a stab at the right wing, duck under the flames.
I also had stopped hearing voices in my head, which I had thought were due to my depression. And maybe they are? But right now, I can't hear anything.
Lunge, abuse the stagger, retreat.
In my defense, I could've probably kicked Einherjar!Fae's ass without relying on whatever this is. Maybe. Her attacks were painfully telegraphed and held patterns much like a Dark Souls one. I wiped off the savage smirk that I realized came to my face at the thought.
Go around, slash at the back.
Also, to my great surprise, this kind of Einherjar was different from the ones I summoned. It was honestly intriguing.
Shield up! Roll away from the flames.
I had noticed that neither Hauteclere nor Marth and especially not Roy had the blue glow around them that made you notice in the game that this was, in fact, a spirit. I simply had chalked it off to an artistic decision at first, but during the start of the battle with Lilina, I noticed that she had it, which left me confused. Now, when I'm fighting with Fae, she has that same glow too. Which led me to asking.
Guard up! Throw yourself under the legs!
In what ways are my Einherjar different from these?
Shield bash on its face to avoid getting bitten. Counterattack. Slash across its muzzle
Well, first of all, the phantoms that Aversa… actually, let's make a distinction, just for the sake of clarity.
Lung-shit she dodged! Parry!
What I summon appear to be completely sentient Phantoms that are capable of learning, improving and feeling complex emotions. They use common sense and are perfectly capable of refusing my orders if it goes against their moral code or simply they do not want to do something. That also takes out of the equation recruiting anything like Medeus, Zephiel and stuff. I also noticed that Roy grew stronger with the fights, which wasn't all that baffling. However, Lilina's strike was just as strong as the last time, and she had blazed Roy into oblivion (the bitch). That should account for some exp.
Get up, it's just a scratch.
What… pretty much everybody else summons, are highly functional robots that hold no free will, have no margin for improvement and are overall just shadows of their past selves. They will believe just about every lie you tell them and shite. I honestly thought they could be more than that, given Eirika's reluctance to fight in canon, but it was pretty much overridden by some sort of 'fight or flight' instinct at the sign of a minimum amount of hostility from Old Hubba such as calling her 'guillible'. I'm going to call them 'Shadows' to distinct them from my 'Phantoms'.
Summon Elwind Tome, create blades of wind, aim at wings. Ignore pain.
Shit, now I'm actually curious about what would happen if someone else summoned Celsius. She was pretty much her canon self when I summoned her… and admittedly, she sounded particularly depressed at being separated from Sheena. Assuming she's an Einherjar, someone else could be able to control her, although it didn't give me that impression. Are the spirits really something that travels across worlds or something?
Get out of her reach. Stab.
Refocusing on the battle from my earlier ramblings, I had noticed that I had basically backed myself into a wall and was now simply trying to take stabs at her with my Uruz. Suddenly though, the manakete seemed to smirk (as much as a dragon could) and grabbed a table with her teeth before launching it at me. This was not what she had been doing up until now. What was going on? I also faintly noticed that it had some punch before throwing myself to the side to dodge it. Was some kind of party in the plans?
From the ground where I laid I tried to roll out of the way, but a paw blocked me by smashing me into the ground. The fact that my shield was currently on my back since I wasn't using it was also a Good Thing™, since it was preventing her talons from digging into my back. Instead, the bladed part of my shield was currently digging into my shoulder blades, which was slightly better since the weight was more evenly distributed.
Ow. It hurt like a bitch I also was still clutching Uruz.
"Gotcha!" The dragon above me half-chirped half-roared before picking me up with her teeth and launching me into the wall. My shield, surprisingly, decided to take a residence into the wall with its sharp edge. It was good, because being sliced up by my own shield would've not been cool.
I'm having a lot of concussions lately.
(You'd think that we'd stop going after danger like this after the umpteenth time that we get bested.)
Ah, you're back.
(I've been making remarks on the fight up until now. Were you that focused on the battle?)
Sorta?
(Whatever. Perhaps you would like to take notice also of the fact that we're getting roasted?)
Pssh, I'm already a depressed teenager. Roasts have no effect on me. Also, I apparently have a high as fuck resistance stat. The flames do hurt though. We need to have a talk later too. Also, can you switch your font so that we don't sound like Discount Ash? I'm not too comfortable with being taken from the fans like a crazy loon.
(Wow, you have a worse concussion than I thought.)
Nah, Fae just shot me against the fourth wall.
(…*snicker* seriously though, we're about to get eaten.)
Nah, no worries. I'm about to summon my Deus Ex Machina in 3, 2, 1…
*blink*
(Well? Fae is approaching. She figured that the fire isn't doing much.)
"Wait, no! Let me… let me try that again."
Gods, I sound drunk.
"3!" I shout.
Fae rears back, as if she's charging another flame, before shaking her head left and right, trying to keep herself from unleashing them, before roaring. "Bwaaaah!"
"2!" I shout, louder. The flames are inching closer towards us.
(Yeah, no, sorry. You're fucking useless. I'll make our own miracle. Deus ex machina ain't gonna save us from a crit.)
I was shoved at the back of my mind once again, where I could think clearly once again. What was going on with me? I was becoming a stupid fearless idiot who just wanted to fight, fight and fight.
My… other me…? Gods, there were SO MANY of me already. All in one fucking timeline. Anyways, my alternate personality grabbed the shield that was indented in the wall and curled up in a ball behind it. This was not the great warrior that had fought against Fae. That was me, I know it. Fighting's the only thing that ever came right to me. Or rather, to my body. Now that I'm taking a backseat, I no longer feel the bloodlust acting up. What was going on.
(Hey…, is it too late to count on a Deus Ex Machina?)
Now you're the one with a concussion. *sigh* I think it is too late.
(Hey! You didn't even let me try! Hold on, I got this. 3, 2, 1…)
And then, surprisingly, a scream cut off the would-be roar from the creature that was about to turn me into an overcooked steak.
"Bolganone!" Lilina shouted, summoning the same force that she tried to hit me with under Fae, making the pavement basically explode. And I mean it. The pavement is now no more. And since we weren't on the ground floor, Fae dropped down like a sack of potatoes.
(My sick prediction abilities are op.)
Shut up and give me back my body and my concussion.
"Need a hand?" Roy offered. I nodded. He grabbed my hand while Lilina grabbed the other and helped me get on my feet. Momentarily ignoring the giant hole in the ceiling/pavement, I instead stared warily at the Shadow. I may have hit my head but that didn't mean I still couldn't be wary.
"I, ah… I may have let myself get carried away. Roy told me that you weren't keeping him as a slave and, well… uhm…" She struggled for words, but at that point I simply put a hand in front of her face.
"Let's worry about that later. Who are you taking orders from?"
"I… well… Lady Aversa's still my master, but… I just couldn't kill Roy." But that was all I needed to hear.
(Isn't that a bit much?)
No, it's not. "It's over, then." And then I pierced her chest, right into the heart. They both stared shocked at me, before a smile dawned over Lilina's face, before turning into a card. "Doubt I can pull this shit on Fae too, as much as I'd like to." I frowned. Then Roy decked me in the shoulder, frowning disapprovingly.
"Ow! Hey! You know there was no other choice so don't look at me that way." I scowled deeper. "It's not like I enjoyed doing that." He nodded, but the frown didn't leave him.
(Huge ass dragon still downstairs? Hello?)
I stared into the hole and not a second too soon because I was just in time to see a blue-headed figure turn into a FUCKING WHEEL OF DOOM WITH FALCHION IN HAND, CUTTING FAE IN TWO.
(That's Severa, and that move was Lloyd's Tempest.)
I rest my case. Also, Severa? Wot?
(I assume that since there are no nitwits who decide fate, ChromxCordelia is a thing that exists here.)
Huh. Cool. Now I'm glad I gave her that little push towards him.
...
(What now?)
Lesse. We're still concussed right?
(Yep. It's starting to affect me in the back as well.)
Great, so we can break fourth wall for silly shit. The others are at a standstill with Validar, yeah?
(Yessire.)
Hmm. We've just had a fight with a huge ass dragon, got a new companion and had a fuCKING 20 DAYS LONG HIATUS DUE TO A PIECE OF SHIT SETTING FIRE TO OUR PHONE CONTROL UNIT. Right?
(That sounds about right, yeah.)
Well, it sounds like a great occasion to end the chapter to an omake and start the next one in a completely different situation. You like it?
(Wait what)
I say you like it. See ya readers!
(Hold on what about-
That sounds about right. Again, sorry for the lack of updates recently but as previously stated, some piece of garbage set fire to the whole block's phone control unit (and by proxy, internet) and made it impossible for me to post updates. To say sorry, I've made this chapter extra long! A full 7k words worth of chapter! Woohoo! Also, I've sorta remade the first four chapters (not really, just some adjustments) and fit them into two. Check them out!
Also, real talk for a second. I'm getting a wee bit unsure about where to make this story head. I have the general idea down, but it's shaky. Of course I'm not gonna ask you readers how to write my story, that'd be stupid, but one thing I want to ask you about is the pairings.
I have absolutely no idea who to pair with who.
I do have some pairings that I already confirmed and am adamant about, which I will list below. The rest, I would like your input.
ChromxCordelia
Oliviax?
PannexHenry
That's about it, I think. There are some more pairings I have in mind that may be overridden with a strong enough argument, because I believe this is about as much as my story as it is yours and I don't know everything about Awakening. The biggest question at least for me is "Who should I pair Nick with?"
I was leaning more towards either not pairing him at all, or pairing him with Lissa, or yet another character that has yet to appear in the fic (canon, don't worry. I'm not about to shit out more OCs). So… yeah. I would like your input. The Q&A is still open by the way. However, with just one question, I can't do a chapter, so please, ask away! That's all the news I have, for now. Without further ado, here's what Nick would be like in Heroes!
Omake: Heroes!
Nick – The Otherwordly Soldier
*this is after chapter 18 of the fic
Summonable as a 4 or 5 star unit
Infantry Lance - 5 Star Stats
HP: 16/17/18 = 33/36/40
ATK: 7/8/9 = 28/32/35
SPD: 7/8/9 = 31/34/37
DEF: 3/4/5 = 22/25/28
RES: 8/9/10 31/34/37
Slaying Lance+
Buckler = Escutcheon
Distant Counter
Def Ploy 1 = Def Ploy 2 = Def Ploy 3
Summoning Hero
Hello. I've stumbled through yet ANOTHER portal. While I'm here, do you need anything of me?
Friend Greetings
Being used as an interdimensional postman sure is weird… anyways, [Friend] says hi.
Castle
"If you ever need me for something, don't be afraid to ask. I'm getting bored here."
"You know, I never thought I would meet another summoner. Although I use cards, and you use a gun."
"I didn't do much to change canon, aside from a few adjustments. Unless the world I know has become the new canon. … Damn, that's a scary thought."
"I wonder why this universe is perpetually ravaged by war. Fates at least had an explanation."
"I wonder if I'll ever just stumble my way through another portal and pop home… It'll be weird to tell my brother that I now can use magic."
"This place is huge, and full of secret passages. You don't see these kind of castles anywhere else."
"Do you ever hear voices in your head? No? I guess that's just me. Luckily, I'm not even the most crazy one here."
Status page
4 star quotes
"I wonder if Roy's here… and if he's the one I know."
"*sighs*"
"I'm glad your gun only shoots out people. This world is not ready for that kind of technology."
"Don't tell anybody, but I'm supposed to wear glasses."
"Touchy feely much? Don't worry, we all have our quirks."
"Hmm? Do you need me for anything?"
5 Star quotes
"You know, this place is nice. With all these heroes, you really feel like part of something."
"You seem to know what you're doing. Could you give me some advice on summoning?"
"Canonically, you're the protagonist here. I wonder if there's some place out there where I'm the protagonist."
Level up
(+0, +1 Points) "Again…"
(+2, +3 Points) "I'm finally becoming decent at something."
(+4, +5 Points) "Huh. Got lucky. "
Learning skills
"Despite the fact that it feels like cheating, I'll use this power well."
Turn action
"Sure."
"I'm moving."
"It's showtime."
Attack
*grunt*
"Take this!"
Damage
"Gah!"
"Hnn!"
Special trigger
"You'll pay for that!"
"Hiyah!"
"LEEROY JENKINS!"
"Omae wa? … damn it, just die!"
Death
"N-no!"
Confession
"You know, [Summoner], I regret my decisions everyday.
Every time I've messed up, every failure… it really weighs on you.
If I could go back in time, I would change it all. Especially the many times I've nearly died. *chuckle*
I'm not even that good at what I do now. I'd honestly say I'm below average.
But despite that, you make everything more bearable, always looking out for everyone else.
So thank you, [Summoner]. For everything you've done for me.
However you choose to use me, I'll be at your side."
