Hey guys, I just wanted to add this little note to thank you for 3k views! Seriously, thank you guys for reading this story.
GAH! I HATE FILLERS. I'm so happy to have this chapter finished, we can finally get back to the Shepherd's story as a whole. To be honest, this chapter should be called the Supports chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem. I also do not own any of the songs and lyrics quoted in this story.
Marcus tosses and turns in the hay. He has another disturbing dream as he begins to become agitated.
Marcus wears his Feudal armor as he walks into a room that looked like the inside of a tree. He looks around to see many statues of deities and many strange symbols. He then hears a feminine voice call out.
"Well this is a surprise."
Marcus turns to see a beautiful woman with elven ears and green hair, wearing a red dress and boots.
"Don't act dumb Tiki, you called me here." Marcus replied. "What the hell do you want?"
"It's obvious." Tiki replied while suddenly wearing a serious expression. "End your dispute with Ylisse."
"And let them kill Robin?" Marcus scoffed. "I'd rather not."
"But Grima's Awakening draws near!" Tiki protested. "This is absolutely the worst time for Ylisse to be divided!"
Marcus walks out of the room while waving.
"I can't let them take away Robin." he replied nonchalantly. "I'll fight until the very end if I have to."
As he walks out, the doors suddenly close on Marcus. Marcus holds his sword tightly as he hears the sound of transformation behind him.
"You do not understand." Tiki said. "If I cannot convince you to see things my way, then you cannot leave this room."
Marcus then draws out his shield and sword. He points his sword at Tiki.
"Then so be it."
Tiki then flies at Marcus as Marcus also charges at her. Tiki charges her breath attack as Marcus prepares for the clash.
Marcus wakes up in cold sweat as he suddenly starts breathing loudly and quickly tries to get off the hay. But the commotion causes his puppy to start whining as it was rudely awakened. Marcus tries to calm it down.
"Ssshh…" he hushed while stroking its fur. "It's okay, it's okay…"
The puppy still whined as Marcus decides to sing a lullaby that his mother had always sang for him.
"Come stop your crying, it'll be alright…
Just take my hand, hold it tight…
I will protect you from all around you.
I will be here, don't you cry…"
The puppy still cried as Marcus decided to go with the second verse.
"For one so small, you seem so strong…
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm…
This bond between us, can't be broken…
I will be here, don't you cry…"
The puppy finally calms down as it goes back to sleep. Marcus pets it as he suddenly hears a creak of the door. He looks to see a pink-haired girl peeking in on him. She flushes in embarrassment as she suddenly runs out. Marcus looks in confusion as he actually wonders about her hair color.
"Hmm… Pink hair, another strange hair color."
It was barely sunrise as Marcus puts on a green, long-sleeved tunic and brown trousers. He walks to the nearby mead hall with the pup in tow. He sets himself on the counter and calls for the bartender. The same bear-eared barmaid comes in as Marcus still couldn't get over her animal ears. She leans on the counter and asks him.
"Need anything?"
Marcus rubs his forehead as he replies.
"Just get me some water, I'll save the firewine for later."
She nods as she goes and grabs a mug. She notices Marcus stare at her ears. She sighs and asks.
"Still not used to my ears?"
Marcus immediately stops staring and apologises.
"Sorry, madam…?"
"Just call me Kaila."
"Yeah, sorry Miss Kaila. It's just that I never imagined something like the Laguz to be the norm of this society."
"It's fine, but my people aren't just a norm." she added. "When my ancestors first came to this land, there were plenty of interracial marriages with the Laguz women."
"To ensure peace between two races?" Marcus asked.
"Nope, not even close." she said while sighing. "It seems that some men are attracted to women with animal traits."
This made Marcus drop his drink.
"They what?" he asked, clearly not processing what the barmaid had just said.
"They are attracted to women with animal traits." Kaila repeated.
"What!?" Marcus asked with disbelief. "What makes a woman with animals ears so attractive!?"
"I don't know, it's pretty weird. Probably the reason I've gotten courted a lot lately." Kaila added.
Marcus could only face-palm, what sort of messed up man gets turned on by animal traits?* Little did he know that the future people of Earth would develop weird attractions.
Kaila was amused by Marcus' shock. She pats him on the shoulder as he finishes his drink.
"You really aren't from around here."
Marcus immediately gets up and stretches. He makes his way back to his room and puts on his armor. He walks down the hall as he thought.
"I should probably check on Mikah, she might still be disoriented from last night."
He walks down to the wooden door with name 'Lady Lightning' on it as he knocks the door lightly. He hears no response, he tries again. No answer. He calls out while opening the door.
"Mikah? I'm coming in—"
He sees a group of women inside the room, Lissa, Sumia, and Mikah. They seemed to be reading books together and chattering. They notice him open the door while he slowly closes the door in awkward gesture as he tip toes away in embarrassment.
They were confused by Marcus' sudden arrival but they quickly go back to their conversation. Lisa then starts shaking Mikah.
"Mikah! Do you have a crush right now?" she asked excitedly.
Mikah giggles at this.
"No Lissa, I don't have any men of interest as of now."
"But you surely must have met a man of interest!" Sumia added. "With your looks and line of work! Maybe even Prince Chrom or Feroxi nobles!"
Mikah pondered on this.
"Not really, no offense Lissa. Your brother is really handsome and strong, he does have the aspects that draw in women."
"So no men made you click?" Lissa asked.
Mikah thought even harder as a blush forms on her face.
"There was one man…"
Lissa and Sumia leaned forward in interest.
"Just one? This man must have been completely amazing, to even outcompete the prince. Considering how dismissive you were to Chrom."
"Excuse me!" Mikah retorted "I was much younger when I had that crush!"
"Just tell us!" Lissa shouted.
Mikah's face reddens as she recounts her experience.
"When I was younger, I had met a young squire in service to a Great Knight."
They listened intently at her story.
"He had saved me from getting lost in the forest and I had developed a crush on him. I was shy back in the day, so all I could do was follow him."
"Aww! That's sweet!" Lissa expressed in affection. "Then what happened?"
"I got rejected." Mikah said dejectedly.
"Oh."
"It turned out that he was already in love with someone else and had planned to confess his feelings."
"Oh you poor thing…" Sumia said sympathetically.
"But that was all in the past!" Mikah retorted hotly. "I'm much better now!"
Mikah thinks a bit deeper on the topic.
"But whenever someone courts me, I can't help but compare them to my first crush."
"Oooh." Lissa expressed in interest. "In what way?"
"Let's use your brother as an example." Mikah pointed out.
Lissa smirks while Sumia seemed uncomfortable.
"When I had first met Chrom, I thought, "A bit shorter than my first crush." or "A bit too brash for his own good." and my most favorite one, "Too much masculinity in his personality.""
Lissa giggled at this.
"That sounds about right!"
"What makes this dream guy of yours more preferable to Chrom?" Sumia asked.
Mikah flushes as she replied.
"Let's just say that he's a bit of a softy."
Marcus starts training in the room of dummies, woking on his mobility and footwork. With his heavy armor, he can work on his endurance and stamina while carrying a heavy burden on his back. He attacks a training dummy as he dodges and spins to add power to his strikes. When the training dummy collapses from the damage dealt, Marcus begins to work on his attacks. He swipes his sword, then spins and bashes his shield, he then spins at swipes again. His movements were very graceful and fluid, like that of a dancer. Marcus feels another presence in the room as he calls out.
"You can come out now!"
A girl comes out from the stands, the same pink-haired girl from before. Marcus sighed and asked.
"What were you doing there?"
She seemed to be too embarrassed to talk.
"I'll say it again, what were—"
"I WAS WATCHING YOU FIGHT!" she blurted out.
This outburst surprises Marcus, but the girl begins bowing repeatedly.
"I'm really, really, REALLY sorry! I didn't mean to spy on you while you were sleeping or fighting!" she said with a beet red face.
Marcus felt that something wasn't right in what she said.
"Then why did you stick around to watch?"
She flushes as she fidgets in embarrassment. She looks down with a red face and speaks softly.
"You were really good…"
"Good?" Marcus asked in confusion. "Good in what?"
"When you were singing that lullaby to your cute little pup and when you were fighting, you have the makings of a performer!"
"Well, first, that was a lullaby my mother always sang to me, and second, I was practicing my footwork for combat."
"That lullaby was really beautiful, your voice was so soothing!" the girl praised. "And the fluidity of your movements is so crisp that it's hard to find any flaws!"
"You speak as if you're a performer, Madam…?"
"Olivia." she responded. "And I am a performer!"
Marcus immediately notices her provoking attire, with her tunic only covering her upper body and the rest of her body being covered by a dark but transparent cloth over her waist and legs. He gasps as he pointed his finger at her.
"You're a bold dancer!"
Olivia immediately flushes and shouts back.
"NO! That's so mean of you to think that!" she replied hotly.
"But you are a dancer?"
"Yes! But not one of those pub girls! I'm not that brave!" she admitted.
"That's all good, but what use is a performer like you to a fight-loving nation?" Marcus asked.
She flushes some more for some reason.
"The West khan says that my performing skills have some importance in the battlefield."
"In what way?" Marcus asked.
"My dancing is used to excite and reinvigorate the men who are tired from battle." she replied shyly, flushing even more.
Marcus gives her a flat look.
"So you are a bold dancer…"
"I AM NOT!"
Robin was having his morning tea or what they call 'coffee' in his room. He immediately drinks down his mug and takes off to take a look around Ferox. He looks around to see forges and mead halls, with the thick smell of alcohol filling the air. He comes upon the rest of the Shepherds in the mead hall, drinking with the Norse. Sully was challenging Rune to an arm wrestle, with Vaike feeling at home with the rest of them. Miriel, Frederick and Stahl were sitting on another table having a more civilised meal. Robin was confused with Chrom's absence and asked Rune.
"Have you seen Prince Chrom?"
"Yeah, he's training with Chief Hagen for the tournament. The chieftain offered to give him a few pointers."
"Okay thanks."
Robin walks down to the training arena where Chief Hagen was sparring with Chrom and instead of wielding his normal hammer-axe, he wielded a huge longsword, that was a bit taller than Sully. Chief Hagen wielded the sword with great skill that he put Chrom on the defense with slow and powerful attacks. While Chrom was blocking the overhead attacks, he successfully dodges and tries to swipe at the chieftain. The chieftain blocks the strike and kicks Chrom back.
"That strike was sloppy, put more power into it!" the chief reprimanded.
Chrom tries to get a stab in, but the chief parries the blow and hits back Chrom.
"Work on your speed! We need to be quick on our feet if we're outnumbered!"
Chrom grits his teeth in anger as he tries to attack Hagen, but the chieftain successfully blocks the attacks with ease. While Chrom was looking tired, Hagen still seemed to have the stamina to keep the prince on his toes. Chrom tries to go in for another strike but Hagen successfully blocks and kicks Chrom down. Chrom sits up while staying down in exhaustion. Chief Hagen laughs and pulls up Chrom.
"I think that's enough for today!"
Chrom chuckled as he went to Robin, who was watching the fight.
"I see you're fighting just fine." Robin quipped.
"Yeah, says the guy who got knocked across the room by the same guy." Chrom shot back. "I've never met such a perceptive foe, he could see through all my moves. It was hard to even keep up with him."
"Makes you wonder how he got so good."
"He said that he came from a country that's accustomed to war." Chrom added.
"You mean one of those warrior cultures?" Robin asked.
"Which certainly explains how these Norse get along with the Feroxi."
Robin sees Chief Hagen approach him, the chief says.
"Come down Robin, it's your turn to spar."
Chrom smirked while Robin looked nervous.
"Do I have to?" he asked weakly.
"Yes. Don't make me repeat myself." Chief Hagen replied sternly.
Robin hesitantly went down and brought out his bronze sword. He gets into stance as Chief Hagen readies his greatsword. The chieftain takes the initiative and attacks Robin. Instead of blocking the slow attack, Robin dodges to the side. Robin tries to swipe at Chief Hagen, but the chief blocks it and tries to kick Robin. Robin backs up just in time to avoid the well-timed counter. Chief Hagen laughed.
"You certainly are quicker than Chrom, maybe it's 'cause you don't wear any armor."
Robin tries to find an opening, tactically analysing for any mistakes. But the pressure that Hagen kept was preventing him from even moving. Hagen quickly kicks Robin down, defeating the tactician. Chief Hagen then pulls Robin up and comments.
"You're certainly fast, but you need to always be on the move because one hit from a bulkier enemy will be the end of you. And also, use that Thunder magic of yours, it'll help you keep your distance."
Robin dusted himself as he then looked around the arena with his booklet and paper. He seemed to be analysing his schematics for usable tactics.
"Anyway, while we're here, we might as well continue with practice."
"You're showing a lot of skin with that get-up of yours." Marcus pointed out. "Clearly a bold dancer."
"Other dancers do that too!" Olivia protested. "I always thought that I was being conservative."
"Still, it's undeniable."
"How can you say that when you haven't even seen my dance?"
"Well, because you invigorate and excite men with your dances, does it sound familiar?"
"Ugggggghhhhhh…." Olivia groaned dejectedly. "Can't you just give me the benefit of the doubt?"
Marcus thought on this, eyeing Olivia.
"Sure, why not?"
Marcus sits down on a nearby stool as Olivia readies herself to dance. Olivia suddenly becomes a different person as she gets ready. Marcus watches her spin with her cloth gracefully as she moved with poise and elegance, not a single suggestive move on her part, Marcus was thoroughly impressed by her movements and quickly took back his bold dancer statement. He looked at every spin, every elegant step and every movement. He felt refreshed but not excited, this dance was truly worthy of praise. Olivia gracefully ends her dance as she glanced at Marcus, suddenly avoiding eye contact and turning back to her normal self.
"I take it back."
"Huh? What?"
"I take back what I said. You're no bold dancer, your dance was very beautiful and had no suggestive movements. I apologise for suggesting something so dreadful."
Olivia blushes at this as she replied.
"It's okay… To be honest, I wouldn't blame you."
"It's all good, but I still, I notice that you're a bit shy in speaking. Do you always approach people like this or am I just special?"
"Not really… You just seem more approachable than most men I've met."
"Wait, as in I looked more friendly and less intimidating?"
"Yeah, you don't really give of a scary aura like the Feroxi or the Norse."
Marcus visibly frowned at this, but he quickly dismisses it. Olivia then shyly asks.
"Could it trouble you to sing that lullaby again?"
"Huh, why?"
Olivia suddenly blushes and shyly turns away.
"Never mind! Forget I said anything!"
She begins to mutter.
"No. No. No. Olivia you dummy! How can you expect a guy you just met to do something for you!?"
Marcus taps her on the shoulder and brings her back to reality.
"Look, just answer my question, I won't hold it against you."
Olivia then replied.
"I don't know… It just feels… Nostalgic I guess, I like hearing your voice because it made me remember something."
Marcus smiles.
"Sure, I'll give it another shot."
Olivia sits down on the stool as Marcus clears his throat. He concentrates and breathes. He starts with a soothing singing voice.
"Come stop your crying, it'll be alright…
Just take my hand, hold it tight…
I will protect you from all around you.
I will be here, don't you cry…"
Marcus stops there, but Olivia still watches him intently.
"You want me to continue?" Marcus asked.
Olivia nods at him.
"For one so small, you seem so strong…
My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm…
This bond between us, can't be broken…
I will be here, don't you cry…"
Olivia immediately applauds at this.
"That was absolutely beautiful! You kept your voice consistent and no off-key notes!" Olivia praised.
Marcus then chuckles and replies.
"Thanks, coming from someone as talented as you, that really says a lot. But I can't seem to nail that last part."
Olivia then leans in interest.
"There's another part to that song? Why don't you sing it?"
"I can't seem to nail the notes and the lyrics are pretty corny."
"Please!
Just try!"
Marcus groaned at the insistence of the formerly shy girl. He clears his throat
"You'll be in my heart, yes you'll be in my heart.
From this day on, now and forever more.
You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say.
You'll be here in my heart, always."
Marcus sang this in a partly-falsetto voice, trying to nail the part that most women would try and sing..
Olivia however, was starstruck by his performance. She applauded him for the beautiful last part.
"That was amazing! I didn't know you had such a broad vocal range!"
"Once again, thank you."
Before he could continue, he spots someone moving across the hallway from the corner of his eye. It was Mikah, who was walking to a certain place. Marcus says.
"Er, excuse me." he says before running after Mikah.
Marcus catches up to her.
"Hey Mikah, what are you up to?"
"Er, no. I was just going to say my morning prayers."
"Ah yes, it is almost noon, I almost forgot."
"You of all people?" Mikah asked teasingly.
"We are created as humans, not as gods." Marcus replied, following Mikah outside.
Mikah and Marcus make it to a secluded area where they kneel down.
"In nomine Patri, et Filii, et Spiritui Sancti, Amen."
As they both walked back to the East Khan's palace, Mikah asked Marcus.
"Hey… I wanted to ask you something." she stated.
"Yes, what do you need?" Marcus asked in anticipation.
"I just wanted to ask you about what you told me last night."
"You mean the noble lady I scared off?" Marcus clarified.
"Yes, er, what would you do if you meet her again? Like you found out that she was alive and well?"
Marcus thought on this.
"I would probably hand her my sword and tell her to do whatever she wishes onto me."
Mikah was a little shocked by this.
"Why?"
"Twas my fault that she ran in the first place" Marcus added. "Should I not give myself what is due?"
"Aren't you being a bit too hard on yourself?" Mikah asked with sweat dripping down.
"I scared her off and nearly got her killed." Marcus pointed out. "I wouldn't be surprised if she wanted to hurt me."
Mikah wanted to tell Marcus how wrong he was, that she forgave him and that he should not be too hard on himself. She slapped Marcus for him to snap out of his saddened state.
"Why!? Why are you being so hard on yourself!? I'm pretty sure that noblewoman would have forgiven you!"
"I do not doubt her mercy, I just doubt if I deserve forgiveness."
"Huh?"
"I had committed many atrocities of my own, it's too sensitive to talk about."
Mikah looked at him with interest.
"When we had first heard of her disappearance, the French nobles sought to put my head on a pike."
Mikah gasped at the barbaric behaviour of her fellow French.
"Sir Julian had saved me by making me a frontline man in the Crusade, always guaranteed that I see the heat of battle."
Mikah came closer to listen while they walked.
"I was always in the thick of fight and I suffered many injuries, all because I had scared off a very prominent noble."
"That seemed too harsh right?" Mikah asked.
"That's what I first thought, until I sat down and thought about it." Marcus added.. "What if they put me here because I really deserved it? That I was trash for scaring away their favorite noblewoman. I just embraced the wounds and consider it as my sacrifice."
Mikah looked closer to see whiplashes and scars on Marcus, signifying his battle experience. She looked at the lost look in his eyes. She suddenly grabs him from behind and buries her face in his back.
"Er Mikah?"
Mikah immediately takes off her face, revealing a very red faced Mikah.
"What's wrong Mikah?"
"It's nothing, let's head to the arena, Robin should be practicing with the rest of the champions."
Mikah immediately walks faster with Marcus jogging to catch up with her unbelievable pace. They pass by a huge arena doorway that had a huge sign reading:
"See you tomorrow!"
That is it for Chapter 7, a filler chapter, which I ABSOLUTELY HATE. I can finally get to the tournament next chapter, I'm so thankful. I might be updating less frequently now guys so expect every other week… Or month. But anyways, this chapter was really short, so i'll be adding an extra at the bottom.
A huge army of Risen shamble their way towards an unsuspecting castle-town, seemingly having the element of surprise. But a figure riding on a griffon watches them from above.
"I am a Crusader."
The griffon rider lands on the walls and quietly gives the signal. The archers shoot their flaming arrows towards the approaching enemy. The ground is suddenly lit on fire from the burning projectiles, nearly half of the enemies begin burning, but not to death.
"No, not those muslim-killing fanatics."
The griffon rider lands in swats away the nearby Risen with a halberd. The griffon also begins to claim its own kills as they tore through the Risen with support coming from town.
"But a servant to the cross, an upholder of all Catholic values."
More Risen poured in as the griffon rider's army began to become surrounded by the shambling undead. With their great military being over whelmed, Julia raises her halberd, which seemed to hold prayer beads. She shook them and a light came from heaven.
"Hagen, Cameron, Rune, mother and father, I ask for your guidance, with your faith, I stay strong."
Risen rose from the ground while the light from heaven smited any approaching enemies.
"And with your courage…"
The griffon rider notices that the rest of the army had been defeated buy the Risen, but in the horizon, a huge dragon and another approaching enemy. The rider takes off her helmet as she charges at the approaching numbers.
"I will avenge you all."
She charges in at full speed at the other Risen.
"My name is Julia of Canterbury."
They get close to arms length as the almost clashed.
"And I am a proud European."