G: Okay, so I have been crunching the numbers and I've realized that- Deadpool, what are you doing?
Deadpool: Sorry, just signed the order on my kitten cannon and my chimichanga maker. What's up?
G: Deadpool… you're wasting our budget on useless shit like… a fucking kitten cannon? Really? Why and what for?
Deadpool: I have needs, you know.
G: Well, you need to stop wasting the budget. We're $874.32 dollars in the hole.
Deadpool: Yeah, yeah, alright. Just continue the damn story.
G: Well, thanks to you, we don't have enough for a proper intro.
I don't own anything. And thanks to a certain red merc, I don't have much wealth.
After a rather speedy march to Ferox, we had met with the still reigning East Khan by nightfall on a night a month and a half after leaving Ylisstol. The familiar cold chill of Regna Ferox welcomed us, though it hadn't tested our resolve the same way it had during our last visit. Surprisingly, not many of us complained about it on our way. Well, except for Lissa. But to be fair, she kept it to a minimum. Sort of. She never really packs anything that keeps her warm in these northern temperatures, her shift doing the bare minimum as insulation beneath her war dress. Even though I hadn't complained, I still never liked the cold of Regna Ferox. I preferred to keep my blood-and my body-warm.
Speaking of welcoming, our rather rugged hosts of the north set out a feast for us to keep our strength up after the long road and for the even more arduous road that stood ahead of us. Never being one to turn down a free meal, especially if it was anything other than rations, I ate what was given, with quite the enthusiasm. The only one taking in their food with more gusto than me was Stahl. I guess such a voracious appetite is common when you're training in a military where you need to be at your top physical condition. No food, no gains. For a group of people who is going to fight another war the next while, we were making quite the positive time out of it before we had to leave the next morning again. Though we had to make sure some of us had to lay off the mead, else they'd do drunken things, and we had just finished patching up the mess tent after Gregor, Vaike and, oddly enough, Panne hit the liquor a week ago.
After we all had our fill, Flavia pulled the royal Ylisse family, Frederick, Robin and I aside. And as expected, Cordelia and Say'ri followed as well. Her jovial exterior gone from the feast earlier, replaced with what one could only call her "war face". Additionally, Basilio stood at her side, hands behind his back with posture to rival the great knight's, which was unusual for the burly gladiator Khan. Chrom looked around, eyeing me when he caught sight of me, to which I replied with a simple shrug. Robin just looked at them attentively, waiting for what it was they had to say. In the East Khan's hand was a parchment, no doubt holding info on the invading fleet, albeit very minimal information, given that it was just Valm's scouting unit.
"Alright then...", Flavia began, clearing her throat. "...we've had our fun, now let's get down to business."
"Apologies on the timing of our arrival.", Frederick replied. "We came as quickly as we could."
"At least you all got here before they did.", Flavia stated, waving off the apology.
"So it is true? They've set warships against us?"
Basilio scratched his stubbled chin. "Afraid so, boy. To make matters worse, we don't know much outside of that. However, we do have a mole, so to speak, that does carry some information that you may find useful, boy." Then he sported a grin. "Or, rather two."
I began to sniff, almost involuntarily, it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "Hmm… suddenly it reeks of Les Élixirs Charnels, pompous extract and bullshit. Now who do we know who matches all three characteristics?", I drawled on with obvious sarcasm.
As if on cue, a certain blue haired man known for his skill with a bow entered the scene, turning the corner of the wall, and behind him was a woman with a head of rose coloured hair a few shades darker and deeper than Olivia's. She was roughly shoulder height to him, about 5'6". She wore a black suit with silver plated armour that left an open spot that encompassed the majority of her back. Her armour had many accents that resembled that of a dragon's wings and body shape. No doubt she was a wyvern rider. "Good day, lords and ladies. It is I, Virion.", hummed Virion.
"Of course it is.", I added dryly, making everyone bar Frederick laugh at my earlier sarcasm. "How could we forget."
"Precisely, for not a single soul could forget such a vision of manliness like myself!", Virion said, taking on a, ahem...manly, pose. "That said, I feel as if I should make proper introductions."
"Proper introductions?", Robin inquired. "You mean like you being the duke of Rosanne?"
"I am the du-" Virion looked at Robin, dumbfounded. "What? How could you know such a thing?"
"Your arrows literally have your identity written all over them.", Robin replied, causing Virion to visibly slump his shoulders, for he stole the nobleman's thunder. "However, I don't believe we've made acquaintance with your partner."
"I am Cherche, humble and loyal servant to the Duke.", Cherche said.
"Servant, hmm?", I asked, about to make a jab at Virion. "He can be quite the handful, huh?"
"Says the man with an ego in battle to match Vaike's."
"Touché, Virion.", I retorted with a smirk.
Chrom coughed, interrupting our banter. "Please. Time is of the essence. I'd rather that the Valmese doesn't catch us in the midst of planning because of your tit-for-tat exchanges." He turned to Cherche. "Do you have anything for us, Lady Cherche?"
"Of course." Cherche cleared her throat. "First, as for our origins... We hail from Rosanne, a fertile territory on the continent of Valm. Milord is the head of House Virion, and the rightful ruler of Rosanne. A fact he often reminds us of—and loudly."
"Aye.", Chrom said.
"So what brings this noble and his right hand from across the sea?", Cordelia asked.
"The Valmese, as I'm sure you know already.", Virion said. "Ironically, theirs was a nation remarkably lacking in presence once before. Extremely small, and if the nation and the continent it stands on hadn't shared the name, one would forget it exists. And so it would have stayed, if not for one man. Miniscule as it was, this man began to conquer the lands of Valm one by one."
"Sounds like a really strong warrior.", I said, more intrigued than threatened. "Interesting. I haven't had a good fight in years. And a commander, no less. He must have decades of fighting experience.", I said, in my own daydream, with a manic grin, that is, until I felt the stare of many people on me, causing me to make contact with the staring eyes and scratch my head in a sheepish manner. "Continue.", I weakly laughed.
"This is no man you want to face in battle, milord.", Cherche said. "He is called Walhart the Conqueror. There hasn't been a man to stand against him and live to tell the tale."
"Why, yes, my fairest maiden is correct.", Virion added huskily with his Rosannean accent. "It is because of his oncoming threat that I had to… er, RECRUIT new allies to aid my nation, and so, here I am."
"...Right.", everyone said sarcastically in unison, bar Cherche and Virion.
"You ran for your life faster than Lon'qu from women.", Cordelia chimed in.
"More or less, yes.", Cherche answered, interrupting any and all possible retorts or excuses Virion had to give. "I alone stayed to view over and keep an eye on the Valmese. Sad to say, I had to watch as Emperor Walhart and his forces swallowed up Rosanne as well and in the end, I came east seeking asylum as well."
"Emperor Walhart… I can't help it, the prospect of a battle with him excites me.", I said, almost drooling.
"Do you really wish to fight Walhart the Conqueror?", the pinkette asked.
"I expect to BEAT Walhart the Conqueror.", I answered, making her eyes widen and Cordelia look at me like I was crazy. "I will fight him, no doubt."
"Well, in any case, perhaps it is time to cut this long story short: Walhart has conquered our continent and now seeks to conquer yours.", Cherche stated bluntly.
"This does sound troublesome to say the least.", Robin said. "Though we have another two months or so for preparation, so we-"
"About that…", Cherche interjected, startling the small crowd that occupied the main hall. "Their forces have been advancing far more quickly than we have anticipated."
"Shit.", Chrom barked. "How long do we have? A month? Three weeks?"
"Approximately eight days."
Those three words made everyone's blood run cold. "Eight days?", Chrom gasped. "All of our preparations will take two or three days alone! You mean to say we have five days to march to the western coast?"
"I thought you were aware of this fact?", she asked. "I did send another parchment about this change in information weeks ago."
"Well, wherever it is, it hadn't reached our hands.", Basilio coughed. "In any case, we have a now very limited time before their first advance comes. And it won't be easy. Valm's cavalry is the strongest in the world. So this won't be anything close to a cakewalk."
"But then again…", I added. "...when has anything we've ever done been a cakewalk?"
"Good point there, boy!", Basilio laughed. "I like it. We'll leave first thing the next morning!"
There wasn't too much to the western port, it had a very rustic and crude feel to it. Lumber, crates and all sorts of resource littered the area. Port Styx was its name, and it was appropriate, it held some sort of power to it. The sea air, albeit salty, took hold of the common man's senses, invigorating our troops and boosting the morale of our men. Speaking of troops, the lady with pink hair and and axe in hand named Cherche joined the ranks of the Shepherds, and a wyvern rider as indeed appreciated and useful. The click of the cobblestone beneath our feet was light, yet great in number, and the odd pile of snow here and there laid in rest. The cover of sea-made fog was thin in the early morning light, but enough to see the oncoming ships of the Valmese.
I moved a stray lock of hair from my face, brows furrowed and eyes narrowed. "Well, at least we made it first."
"And with good timing too. They'll be here within the hour, if that.", Chrom added. "What to do right now?"
Instinctively, I looked at Robin, who had the buildings around us in his eyes, and suddenly, I had an idea as well. This was a one shot deal, crazy as all hell, but it JUST might work. "Set fire to the water."
"What?", Chrom asked, followed by a load of confused and befuddled looks.
"What happens when you boil water?", I simply asked him.
His posture regulated itself and he stared at me before saying, "Uh, it creates steam?"
"And by extension, more fog that they can't see us with.", Cordelia finished. I flashed a grin in response to the realization of my plan.
"Yes. If we can evaporate some of the water, we can also use the height of the rooftops to stay out of the fog layer.", Robin added. "We have our strategy then. It's not the best, but we have no other."
"Alright, let's get it going. We will divide into teams to carry out this plan. Squad Epsilon, consisting of Tharja, Miriel, Lissa, Ricken, and Robin, led by Robin. You will be on the rooftops, initiating the operation." Receiving nods from the aforementioned people, I continued. "Squad Delta will be our archers led by Virion: Virion, Gaius, Kellam, Stahl and Lon'qu. You select few will work alongside Epsilon, Robin will guide you on what to do from your end. Then we'll take to the air with Squad Pi led by Cordelia: Cordelia, Sumia, Maribelle, Cherche and Nowi. The four of you will remove the cover of mist, but only on my go. If timed improperly, this will all go to hell. That leaves Squad Gamma to be led by Frederick: Frederick, Gregor, Panne, Anna, Olivia, Sully, Libra, Chrom, Say'ri, Vaike, and myself. Those on horses will engage in picking off whoever is left, and those not on horses will flank them, taking them from any and all openings in their ranks. Any concerns?"
And as such, not a single word was said, meaning we had all come to a mutual agreement. "Battle stations, everyone, let's move!"
Everyone scrambled to take their positions. Team Gamma took their positions in the many alleyways surrounding the port, each in their own spot to hide. Epsilon and Delta quickly took to the rooftops, Arcfire and Elfire tomes in hand while quivers were packed. Pi hid away until the plan began to take effect. Their fleet was closing in, maybe forty-five minutes distance away. It was most likely that they could not see us from all the way out there, and even if so, they had no means to really counter us. After some time, I began to initiate out plan. With a wave of my hand, Robin gave the order to blast the water, soon coating the area below with a thick fog that could last for an hour, tops.
Patiently waiting, I took out my blade and analyzed it. The smooth single edged blade that curved until it tapered at a sharp point. The deep hue of purple it sported, almost pulsating with power, I could feel it. I held out the blade to my skin on my left hand and the patch of skin began to burn, throbbing in a blazing pain on the small area. "Same as before.", I growled. It bothered me as to why this occurred whenever I so much as touched the violet blade. It only ever exhibited this burning sensation on me. None of the countless men I've cut down have ever been burned by my blade. It rose many a question.
My thoughts came to a halt when I heard a dull wooden tap come from the coastline, followed by the clamor of men. I could only see five ships docking, but the ships were each packed with about a hundred soldiers apiece. They all left their vessels and took formation in squads of one hundred, all led by a paladin on horseback. The Valmese were here.
Steady… just need them to be able to see my figure in the mist and I've got them, I thought to myself. I silently sheathed my blade and waited for them to take notice of me. And they did.
"You there!", The paladin spoke. "I am Commander Dalton von Leisenheirr of Valm! I come to claim these lands on behalf of Emperor Walhart the Conqueror! Show thyself! Surrender all belongings and providence! Give up the Fire Emblem! Kneel and swear fealty to the Emperor and die!"
"I'm sorry.", I chuckled and eerie chuckle that could give Tharja a run for her money. "But don't you mean kneel OR die?"
His horse shook and became restless. "How dare you correct me! Who do you think you are?!"
"Oh, no one important.", I stated. Then as soon as I took a step forward, many of the men before me visibly went pale at the sight of me. "...just your doom." I unsheathed my blade and pointed it up. "Epsilon, Delta!"
With those words, a hail of arrows and a torrent of flame and lightning descended upon the perturbed Valmese forces. Men on their side began falling left and right, and the commander could only watch as his soldiers were either pelted by oncoming arrows from the sky, or incinerated in their own armour. Blood quickly began to permeate the air with its scent, making Port Styx yet another battlefield.
Dalton quickly became enraged as he began barking orders once more. "It's a trap! Board the ships! Retreat and regroup!"
"Not so fast!", I called, flashing a bolt of electricity in the air. This signalled the two teams on the rooftops to target the boats. But it also signalled the aerial team to go back and circle around. Screams of pain and agony could be heard as flaming bolts from bows and tomes alike set fire to the ships, preventing the remaining Valmese troops from escaping. Explosions sounded from the boats, the vessels becoming large bits of shrapnel embedding themselves into the bodies of the majority of Valmese who still continued to fight.
"This can't be! Lieutenant Leopold!", Dalton yelled over the screams. "Gather your mages and remove the fog!"
"Sir Dalt-gah!" An arrow planted in his skull where his right eye once was, he dropped to the cobblestone floor. Their numbers, cut severely, down to only a little over a hundred now.
"No no. Allow me.", I grinned. "Pi!"
With a mixture of strong wind magic and loud flapping from the dragons and pegasi, the fog dissolved into nothing, leaving a dismantled army and the few stragglers left standing.
"Everyone! ATTACK!"
Charging into battle with courage, the Shepherds hiding in the alleyways sped with weapon in hand, ready to slay the remaining forces of the Valmese. I had to admit, I enjoyed the battle, the rush of fighting and cutting down an enemy, it excited me. I slashed through their ranks with quick swipes, leaving a path of bodies in my wake, I licked the blood off of my blade. Sometimes I could be extremely sadistic, admittedly. Vaike just had his axe tearing through several Valmese, his strength along with the heavy head of the axe sent limbs and blood flying in the air. Frederick and Sully moved like bandits on a horse. They entered the fray, took off a few heads and rode out as quickly as they went in. A fireball was launched in Say'ri's direction from a Valmese mage, and with blinding speed, she ended up past the mage, cutting both man and magic construct down. She had always kept her senses sharp, even during times of peace. She would always make me launch volleys of flame in her direction and she would cut through them with deadly efficiency.
Chrom was an entirely different story. He was cutting men down faster than I had ever seen him do so. He really must have been training over the seven years I've been gone. Soon enough, after all the other men had been put down, I saw him engage Dalton, Falchion in hand. Even without the advantage of horseback, Chrom was just as confident.
"You are nothing, blue blood!", Dalton boomed, not shaken by the fact that he had essentially lost this fight. "A speck of sand on the boot of the great empire! You shall fall here!"
"Yeah, well… I'm not usually the arrogant type, but…" His mana levels began to skyrocket, the pressure of his being growing in power. He held out his sword and gripped his outstretched arm, a blue flame burning and emanating from his body, his hair waving in the growing wind. Suddenly, vines of glowing blue light grew up Chrom's arm up to his shoulder and his blue eyes began to glow. "...you're nothing when compared to the royal family and the will of Ylisse!" The blue light all focused into his blade and in an instant, he was on the other side of Dalton. My eyes could not even track him.
"Ira." Dalton's waist looked like a blooming flower, a torrent of blood escaping his body, before his top half and the horse's head fell to the ground with a loud thud. With a single strike, Chrom had cleanly cleft through Dalton's horse, the rider's armour, and his body with no difficulty whatsoever. Chrom had never been able to do anything like that before.
To say I was astonished was an understatement. I don't know what kind of training he or any of the other Shepherds went through, but I wanted to know. If the results were like that, then Chrom might not be on the same level as me like I thought he was.
No. No, he couldn't be. Didn't matter what training he had undergone. The Pandorian realm had birthed the strongest fighters in the world for a reason. There wasn't any way an Ylissean was going to best one of my nation, especially not anyone of the Pandorian royal family.
The glow of his attack died down, his form and mana back to normal. I eyed him for a second, then remember that we did have a few wounded that needed to be tended to. Vaike had a cut on his left side and Sully and Libra had a few burns. I had many questions about Chrom's increase in power, but for the moment, I simply had to bite my tongue and sheath my sword.
Later that evening, on our way back to meet with the Khans in Basilio's castle, I slipped out of the debriefing on the events of today's earlier skirmish, walking through the nearby woods to the camp. The light wind of billowing through the undergrowth pushing against my face. Still wasn't enough to cool me off. My anger was way too high for the breeze to cool it. I struggled to understand why I was so angry about it. It wasn't anything wrong. He was just stronger than he was before.
Stronger than I anticipated.
Stronger than… maybe I was.
I punched the nearest tree, snapping it in half. A growl escaped my lips. It took me a second to compose myself before I settled for running a hand through my hair in frustration. Taking deep breaths to bring myself down to a cool head again, I kept a hand on the hilt of my blade instinctively.
"Rough night?", A man said behind me, causing me to turn my blade on him and growl out for him to identify himself. He was roughly my height, maybe a few inches shorter, though he still hit 6'. He definitely had the figure of a warrior, muscle covered his entire body with minimal fat on his frame. He had jet black hair that he had in a single shoulder length braid and two bangs that framed his face equally on either side. He wore black hakama pants that had white flame that started at the opening of the leg and ended at the knee. He wore an obi sash deep green in colour and his torso was wrapped in bandages. His lower torso was completely covered in bandages and a thick band of bandages went up his left shoulder, bringing attention to the large crossing scar on the lateral part of his shoulder. In his obi were two swords, one with a purple wrapping and one with a blue wrapping.
"Whoa, sheath the steel. I am not your enemy.", the man said, pushing the blade away to the side with his finger. "Why so angry?"
"It's… nothing.", I lied. "I'm fine."
"Well, I'd say you're more than strong enough, if you snapping that tree was any indication."
My eyes widened, and I sheathed the blade again. "What? How did you-"
"Intuition, I suppose.", he answered. "You're Eric Pandora, aren't you?" To which he received a curt nod. "Perfect. Show me your transformation."
I gave him a puzzled look. "Transformation? Oh, you mean my golden form."
"It has a name.", the man spoke, interrupting me. "It is called the Hyper Pandorian state. Where, as I'm sure you know already, it raises your physical and magical capabilities to astounding heights."
"You seem to know a lot about me and my kind.", I said, a little wary of this absolute stranger. "But alright then, I'll show you." I clenched my fists and channeled my mana from deep within, transforming into the golden haired, crimson eyed warrior. My hair stood up on with small bangs framing my face and golden energy surrounded my body. The mystery man analyzed me, looking me up and down and all around. After eyeing me for some time, he gave a diagnosis of his analysis. "Hmm… you seem to have mastered the Hyper Pandorian at its first stage. Interesting. Right now, I'd say you're just about level with the blue haired prince."
"Hold up.", I said as I looked at him incredulously. "I never said who it was I was competing with. There's no way you could have know that."
"Um… well…"
"Unless… you were following us since the battle at the port.", I said with a bit of laughter, the shorter man breathing a sigh of relief, it seemed.
"Okay, okay, you caught me. But in any case, there is a way to surpass the initial stage of the Hyper Pandorian.", the man said. "As there is with anything, really. Training. You must train your body much harder in that elevated state, and just like discovering the power to begin with, you must have a trigger. Something to take that hidden power and force it out."
"That's it?", I asked.
He took a few steps backwards. "It's not that easy, my friend. This is much MUCH harder to accomplish. All you need to remember, though: the power comes in response to not a wish, but a need. The need for that power must be as strong as the need to breathe."
"Wait!", I called. "Who are you? What is your name?"
"Now isn't the time for that. Until we meet again…" And with that, he disappeared into the trees, not to be seen for the rest of the night.
G: What was it, like three weeks, maybe a month since I last updated?
Deadpool: Three months. Don't worry, it's not going anywhere. At all. Seriously, this story's as fun as a sandpaper dildo.
G: Yet you still insist on co-hosting. Well, with some of my easier classes this semester, I can focus on this more than I once did. Goodralisk out.