Through the Fire and Flames

"And why is Chrom not here to hear this plan?" Flavia asked Vincent.

"Because he will dismiss it immediately. But I know you'll hear me out," Vincent said calmly.

"Let's hear it then," she said.

"I'm going to kill Gangrel."

"…That's it?" Flavia said in disbelief.

"Tomorrow when we clash, I will sneak across enemy lines and kill him. With a useful spell me and Kid came upon the other day, I will be unnoticeable. They will not discover me, and we'll be free of a Mad King," Vincent spoke smoothly.

"And why can't we just have Chrom kill him?" Flavia said, still not catching on.

Vincent sighed, "You and I have heard the information from our spies, you know Gangrel's skill set. Chrom is unsuited for fighting him, and he will probably die. We cannot let that happen."

Flavia looked unsure, "…If you think you can pull it off, but I'm going to go start training Chrom just in case anyways."

Gods damn, will anyone ever take me seriously? This is my chance. I'm going to prove myself!

"I know what you're planning Vincent, and I don't like it," Anna said seriously.

"I'm sorry, it must be done," he said quietly as he hugged her. "I need to go get prepared…"

"No…stay. This very well could be the last time I see you. Stay…at least for a little longer," Anna said, tears in her eyes.

After a few minutes, Vincent broke their embrace. As he walked out of the tent, he heard, "…If you break your promise to me, I'll never forgive you!"

That stopped Vincent in his tracks. A look of immense guilt passed over his face. He gathered up what bravado he had left and turned to face her, "You're forgetting who I am. I'm Vincent! The leading man! And you know what they say about him, he never dies! I'll be seeing you soon Anna!"

A weak smile passed over her face. He gave her a reassuring smile and continued to walk away.

I…am not the same man I once was.

You got that right, what happened to your bed of grass jokes?

I've changed. Perhaps for better.

But you aren't as funny as you used to be. A voice in your head needs some entertainment.

I'm still punny.

…That was weak.

Vincent walked behind a nearby tent. He was sure no one would see him. He pulled a gold coin out of his pocket. He carefully looked it over. The metal was in perfect condition. Just like he wanted it.

He pulled on a pair of heat resistant gloves and he set to work with his magic. After he finished, he wiped his forehead to remove the sweat. He dunked it into a nearby bucket of water.

Perfect. Good thing I had the foresight to measure her finger.

He pocketed the new ring. With a reassured smile, he went to find Kid.

Plegians all around him threw down their weapons and abandoned their posts. This was going better than expected.

Vincent stood amidst them all, unnoticeable. He wasn't invisible. Unnoticeable was different.

Hence the word idiot. Invisible you can't see, unnoticeable you don't see. There is a difference.

They'll see me if I cause a commotion or talk.

But you won't do that, will you?

Vincent began his careful quest to Gangrel's core army. In where Vincent would deliver the finishing blow to the war.

The sand made the journey tricky. Running would be easily noticed, footsteps don't make themselves in the sand.

Then Gangrel's royal guard surged forward. Right at Vincent.

Shiiiiiit!

Vincent moved as fast as he could out of the way. Just in time. The thousand soldiers moved past him without a second glance.

Whew!

You need to pick up your game Vince. Or you'll die.

Oh, I'm not going to die. I have so much left to do.

Vincent found one of the soldiers and walked behind him. Hiding the footsteps. Perfect.

Gangrel's company stopped. Chrom, the Shepherds and the rest of the army stood in front of them.

Now it's time to move.

Vincent stopped listening to Gangrel's taunts after that annoying laugh. Vincent crept forward, counting on the fact that no one was watching the sand.

One hundred feet from his target…seventy five…

Vincent ducked under a sword when a knight turned around.

Fifty feet…forty…

Vincent stopped in his tracks as a mage in front of him looked his way….then he continued when the mage turned.

Thirty…twenty…

"What the hell is that!?" Vincent saw a great number of people turn to see what was happening. They followed the man's finger…which pointed to Vincent's tracks.

SHIT!

The mage from before began conjuring, "We have someone unnoticeable here! Protect the king!"

Vincent cursed loudly and began to run at Gangrel, who was currently oblivious to the situation. A dark magic spell flew over his shoulder. That got people's attention.

The tactician pushed past the inner group of guards near the Mad King. Now it was time!

"I judge you Gangrel!" Vincent screamed as he released the magic he'd been channeling. A tornado of fire launched at Gangrel.

He had to give credit to Gangrel's guard, they were good. Four of them jumped in the way, intercepting the majority of the spell. Now Gangrel had noticed. So had the Ylisseans and Feroxi. They began to charge.

Vincent acted quickly. He spun on the spot in a circle, releasing flame all the way. The enemies in close proximity were killed.

Vincent fought like never before. His eyes were in ten different places at once, as were his hands. This was how the legends of old fought. Albeit for longer, Vincent's magic was sure to run out eventually.

The two armies clashed. Vincent could hear the clanging metal. The screams and usual horrors of war that Vincent was by now used to.

But what really had his attention, was that Gangrel was running towards him.

The Shepherds were fighting to reach him, but they weren't quick enough. He would have to duel the king. The Plegians made way for Gangrel. They intended this to be an uninterrupted duel to the death. Vincent conjured a circle of fire around them. Now no one would interrupt them.

Through the fire and the flames we carry on!

Vincent smiled as the phrase came to mind. It was time for the biggest battle of his life.

Gangrel drew an odd sword. It was…squiggly. Like a zigzag. And then lightning shot out from it.

Well, damn!

Vincent leapt to the side. Gangrel said something, but it was lost in the battle. Vincent felt an earlier wound on his shoulder heal.

Physic staves? Shepherds!

Vincent casted a wall of flame. Then another. And another, until he had encased Gangrel in four walls of flame. He brought his hands together and the flames condensed and hit Gangrel at the same time. Vincent laughed with relief, it was over, he'd done-

Gangrel furiously bust through the flames and slashed Vincent across the chest. Vincent's concentration slipped and the circle of flames collapsed. Vincent fell backward and hit the ground. He could feel the blood soak through. Water hit his face. It had begun to rain.

This is my last bow…I'm so sorry Anna, see you on the other side.

Gangrel's finishing blow was interrupted. A streak of red flashed across Vincent's vision. He moved his head so he could see Anna and Gangrel fighting. Gangrel was definitely injured from Vincent's flame, and Anna's feral attacks battered down what defense he had left. He soon was disarmed and laying on the ground. If it weren't raining, Vincent would have been able to see the battle, not just the general outlines.

Anna paused for a moment, as if she was saying something. Then her sword stabbed downward.

And Gangrel fell prey to its bite.

The next thing he knew, Vincent's wounds were being healed. Anna was already by his side, staff in hand.

Gods, she's fast.

Almost immediately after his wounds closed, Vincent was embraced by Anna. "I thought I'd lost you…" she said softly.

Vincent smiled, "Anna, I promised I wouldn't leave you. And that's a promise I intend to keep."

It was as if time had stopped around them. Nothing would tear this moment away from them.

Several days later at Ylisstol

Vincent sat at a table at the celebration smiling. Chrom and Sully were dancing in the middle. And much to Sully's displeasure, they were alone on the floor.

They look good together.

They soon finished, and other couples began to dance. After much convincing, Vincent got Kid to ask Maribelle to dance. That entertained Vincent to no end, seeing the short boy dancing with the taller woman.

"Vincent, will you dance with me?" Anna said from next to him.

Oh damn, I can't dance!

"I'd love to Anna! But…I can't dance," he said sheepishly.

"Follow my lead then!" she said cheerfully as she lead him onto the dance floor.

She looked absolutely stunning in her dress. Never had Vincent seen her in anything except what the other Annas wore. It was hard to not openly stare at her.

They began to dance to a slow song. Vincent was having decent luck with dancing so far-

Oops, stepped on her foot.

Well, that was to be expected-

Oops, did it again.

…

And again.

"Vincent, if you step on my foot again, it'll cost you in gold!" Anna said quietly.

An insane idea popped into Vincent's head.

But that's who I am…Vincent, tactician of Insanity. I hope this works!

"Perhaps we could practice more before our wedding?" Vincent asked, only loud enough for her to hear. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the gold ring. On the caravan ride back to Ylisse, he had managed to set a ruby into the gold.

Anna was speechless.

I suppose I surprised her. Hell, I surprised myself.

"YES!" she shouted. She blushed when people began to turn their way and she then followed up quietly, "You didn't need to ask! Of course I will!"

Vincent drew Anna in for a kiss. At that precise moment in time, he was the happiest man alive.