I do not own Fire Emblem or any of its characters.
Kjelle wiped the sweat off of her brow. Her father's robe was uncomfortably hot on humid days like this one, she had no idea how Morgan could put up with it, but she walked along with no problems. Her father on the other hand seemed to have no qualms wearing his hero armor, which was provided by Gregor, who had also given a set to Donnel. I can get through this, just think of it as training against fire magic. Kjelle thought to herself.
"Hey, Kjelle are you feeling alright?" Morgan asked, with more inquisitiveness than concern showing on her face. "I don't think I've ever seen you look so uncomfortable, unless I have, and just don't remember."
Morgan gave her sister a small smile.
"Oh, yeah I'm fine, I'm just, uh, a bit hot in this robe, I don't know how you do it." Kjelle replied with a weak voice.
"Oh, if you think its hot now, you wouldn't believe how hot it was at the beach in the Outrealms!" A high-pitched voice shot into Kjelle's ear, causing her to cringe.
"Oh, hello Aunt Nowi!" Morgan answered with a cheerful smile.
"You went to the beach during a war?" Kjelle asked.
"Yup! Me and your mom learned how to swim together, and had a nice chat that day, it's one of my favorites."
"Favorites?" Morgan asked.
"Favorite memories!" Nowi flashed a large toothy grin. "And just between us, Sully still can't swim. Haha!"
"Mother! Father needs our help to carry supplies!" Nah called out from the rear of the Shepherds.
"Aw, can't Frederick get someone else to carry them?" Nowi puffed out her cheeks, making her way to the back.
Kjelle and Morgan turned back to see Frederick and his horse both carrying their capacity in supplies. Only Frederick's face was visible, from in between an opening in his gear.
"I could ask someone else, dear, but you two literally have ten times more strength than I do, and as much as I want to be helpful, this is ridiculous." Frederick mumbled from behind his pack-mule visage.
"Alright, Alright I'll help, but you're gonna give me your desert tonight."
"I give you my desert every night."
Nowi and Nah used their dragonstones to transform, petal-like scales falling from their wings. Frederick, needless to say was relieved that his back had survived for this long.
"Well, talk to you later then!" Morgan waved her hand at Nowi and marched ahead with Kjelle to catch up with her father, who was discussing with Chrom.
"I don't know Chrom, should we still be taking all these detours? We're in the middle of enemy territory and Walhart's army isn't going to get any smaller, not to mention that Say'ri said the Mila Tree was of great importance, and Walhart's troops are currently taking base in it."
"Peace, Robin. If we don't take detours, then who knows how many people we won't get to save, or won't get to recruit? For example, we took the north road, and we found Inigo, I can't say I was too thrilled at his personality, but Donnel and Olivia were pleased that he was safe. We still haven't found everyone who came back with Lucina, and finding everyone would put us all at peace of mind. The Shepherds are a family, and family doesn't leave family behind." Chrom gave himself a pat on the back for his successful speech.
Robin chuckled. "You don't have to tell me twice that the Shepherds are family, you guys have been the only family I could remember, until recently that is."
"We'll investigate Validar and your twin once this campaign is over, it is a bit odd, but Walhart is the priority. Well, second priority after finding our kids."
"Well, I for one, have all my kids accounted for." Robin said matter-of-factly. "I hope. I'm not sure if I could handle more than the three I have now, granted, one is back home, and the two here don't give me much trouble, but either way, it's very stressful." Robin was visibly a wreck.
Kjelle couldn't help but laugh.
"Ah, Kjelle, good timing. Do you know how many of you are left for us to find?" Chrom patted her on the shoulder.
"Well, by the time you found me, you already had Morgan, Severa, Yarne, Laurent, Noire, and Nah. And we recruited Inigo since then. So that only leaves, Cynthia, Owain, Gerome, and Brady."
"Right so only four left, but those names don't really mean much, can you tell us who is who?" Robin asked.
"Oh sorry, right they haven't been born yet. Only me and Lucina have so far. Well, Cynthia is Uncle Chrom and Aunt Sumia's second daughter."
Chrom flashed a look of disbelief and quickly wiped it off his face. "Go on."
"Owain is Aunt Lissa and Uncle Lon'qu's son." Kjelle listed. "Gerome is Aunt Cherche and Uncle Gregor's son. Brady is Aunt Maribelle and Uncle Stahl's son. I'd like to say I knew where they were, but it's impossible to say, but I have a feeling I know where Gerome is, but we'll get there eventually."
"I see, so there are a few of us Shepherds that don't have children in your future. So we shouldn't be expecting any more?" Robin asked.
"None that I know of, but our presence in this time may be affecting more than we know."
"We'll keep looking until we find everyone. I give my promise as the Exalt." Chrom gave a stern tone. "Nobody is going to be lost this time."
"Right." Robin and Kjelle agreed.
"Chrom, we have to hurry!" A voice called out from above the lord.
"Maribelle what's wrong?" Chrom looked up at the dark flier.
"There're people fighting just over that ridge! LOTS of people!" Maribelle held a hand over her eyes to block out the sun, scanning the horizon.
"They look like they need help. Let's go, Shepherds!" Chrom held Falchion above his head and waved it around rallying the Shepherds into battle. Robin quickly gave out orders to half the shepherds to stay behind to protect their convoy.
"Alright everyone, nothing fancy, okay? We're here to protect this shrine, don't go out being trailblazers or our line of defense will crumble for sure, and the enemy will get in and kill the villagers." Robin gave out orders to the Shepherds in the shrine. "Kjelle that means you too."
"What?" Kjelle was shocked, her father had never antagonized her before.
"I've noticed you tend to get heated and will take out two enemies in one go, so just don't stray too far, but I'll have Morgan watch your back, so you protect her too, okay?" Robin smiled warmly at her, then quickly regained his cold composure. "Alright, Shepherds take position and prepare the incoming wave of enemies, if you're on a flying mount stay inside until we can take out those Snipers."
The shepherds all took position except for Maribelle, who had been stopped.
"HMMP! I bid you good day!" Maribelle walked away from the green-haired Priest that had taken occupation in the shrine.
"Hehe, sorry you're stuck with me now." He laughed to himself. "Oh!"
He ran over to Robin. "Hey, I hear you barking out orders, so you must be Robin? You don't have blue hair so you must not be Lucina's pop, right?"
"Oh, you must be from the future too, uh, this isn't really the best time to chat, with the bandit's and what not, but yes I'm Robin, and judging from your hair color you must be Brady. Kjelle filled me in just earlier."
"I knew I saw that white-haired body-builder over there. Anyways, what can I do to help?"
"Um, you seem to be a priest, so just stay back and heal us when you can."
"Yeah, I guess that's all I'm good for." Brady had a pitiful look on his face.
"Alright men! Give 'em hell!" The bandit leader , Xalbador, had called his men to advance.
"Okay, look, I think Lissa has a Master seal with her and you can ask Donnel for his bronze axe, just don't do anything you can't handle, we don't want anyone dead." Robin waved Brady off, and struck at a Swordmaster that had gotten too close, Sully rushed forward and pierced him with her steel lance, the Swordmaster crumbled to the floor, Sully returned quickly to formation.
"You got it boss!" Brady ran to the other side of the ruins to speak to Lissa who was firing an elwind to cover Lon'qu while he used an elixir.
"Bolganone!" A pillar of fire engulfed an enemy Hero that stood before Kjelle, she scowled. "Tch, who does father think he is telling me I get too heated?"
She felt as if a cool breeze compelled her forward to the next enemy, she accepted the wind's wishes and dashed ahead, the wind now feeling like a typhoon at her back allowing her to keep pushing forward, faster and faster. She approached a Sniper and pulled out her blade in an instant and brought it down through his shoulder, he fell back, and she lunged forward again bringing the blade up through his abdomen, the Sniper's red garb turned a darker hue as he fell over. Kjelle let out a breath of fatigue, but she was exhilarated, her training as a dark flier had paid off and she had doubled her efficiency in movement, a fair result, she noted.
"Kjelle, we need to get back over to the shrine!" Morgan, on her mother's future horse, dodged an incoming arrow. "There's an opening in the shrine's defenses now!"
Kjelle looked over at the shrine, seeing the new opening in the Shepherd's formation due to her lack of better judgement. She gasped, as an enemy Paladin rushed through the opening, causing the villagers to go into a panic.
"I'd pray if I were you!"
Brady smashed through the Paladin's chest armor, sending the rider reeling off his horse.
"And one from me!" Stahl's horse leapt forward and stall brought his sword into the wounded Paladin.
"I owe ya one, pop." Brady chuckled. "Thanks for swooping in to finish him off."
"No problem, Robin pointed me in this direction. Wait, Pop?"
"We got a fight going on, just back me up alright?" Brady insisted.
Brady looked over and gave Kjelle a thumb's up, and filled in her spot.
"Morgan, give me a boost. Let's take out their leader, maybe it'll scare them away. Like the insects they are."
"Right!" Morgan extended her arm and pulled up her sister. "Come on girl!"
Sully's horse rushed forward, and Morgan swatted at the enemies in reach, Kjelle picked them off with her Bolganone. Morgan closed in Xalbador and Kjelle hopped off the horse. He whipped his Tomahawk at Morgan, but Kjelle parried it before it reach her.
"Don't worry, Morgan, I'll be your shield." Kjelle gave Morgan a nod.
"Then I'll be the sword!" Morgan pulled a levin sword from inside her robe, and flicked her wrist.
The sword crackled to life, electricity traveling down the blade's edges and sparked from the points. She pointed the sword in Xalbador's direction.
"Checkmate." Morgan's body was surrounded in a rose-petal like aura, and electricity burst from the tip of the sword.
Xalbador waited for a moment then, swiftly dodged out of the way, rolling over to where his axe landed and retrieving it.
"Aw, my big moment." Morgan was a tad disappointed, before realizing she was still in battle.
"You'll have to try harder. You people can put your faith in gods to help you in battle, but me, I'll put my faith in this steel." He held up his tomahawk, then charged.
Morgan switched back to her steel sword and attempted to parry Xalbador's strikes. She succeeded mostly, but was unable to land any blows on him. She pushed forward using the horse's weight to her advantage and managed to push him back, but couldn't see an opening. She glanced behind her to see Kjelle fending off Snipers that were attempting to surround them. She retreated to Kjelle's side. Morgan motioned to Kjelle, and muttered something only loud enough for her to hear.
"Cute, you ran back to your friend, but I can still hit you from over there!" Again Xalbador threw his tomahawk.
"And there's the opening!" Morgan shouted.
Kjelle twirled around and sent a pillar of flames in the direction of the tomahawk, melting it mid-flight. "All yours sister."
Morgan pulled out her levin sword once more and fired at Xalbador. He dodged, but Kjelle was already on her way and she swung her blade. Unable to dodge, he blocked her strike with his arm shield, only to be caught by Morgan's next attack, Kjelle quickly retracted her sword before she got electrocuted. Xalbador's knees buckled and he fell to the floor.
"I-I'll see you in hell…" he managed to utter.
Kjelle sheathed her weapon and shot a glare towards the remaining bandits, who quickly ran away, seeing their leader's defeat.
"Wow, you tipped the scales." Morgan laughed.
"Oh please." Kjelle laughed in return. "You know that phrase is ridiculous when you mean it."
The elder priest thanked Chrom and sent the Shepherds on their way with parting gifts for saving the lives of the villagers.
"Will you guys be alright without me?" Brady asked the elder.
"Yes, yes, you drove the bandits away, we no longer have anything to fear, so long as we stay out of Walhart's sight. Go on."
"Hehe, alright then." Brady waved goodbye then ran to catch up with the group.
Not long after Brady and Maribelle were crying into each other's arms. Chrom sighed and left the two to themselves.
"That's yours to deal with friend." Chrom passed by Stahl and motioned his head in Maribelle's direction.
"I suppose it is. What's going on again?" Stahl still hadn't been informed, but made his way over to Maribelle anyway.
"Oh, Pa!"
"Oh, Stahl!"
Stahl found himself in the middle of two sobbing nobles, without any clue what he did to deserve this confusion.
"Um, I'm sorry, but are you really my son?"
"Yes, I am, I really am!" Brady said through his tears. "And I could really use something to eat right now!"
Stahl teared up. "You are my son."
Chrom watched in disbelief at the trio of crying high borns that were part of his elite army.
"I guess I can't judge, me and Sumia did the same thing when Lucina arrived." He furrowed his brow. "But now I have a third daughter to worry about. I'll need to notify Sumia about that too."
Chrom smiled to himself.
"It'll all work out, so long as we have Naga on our side, and a great tactician like Robin, we can't go wrong."
"Father, we're sorry!" Kjelle and Morgan both repeated.
"As your father, I want to accept that apology, but as the tactician, I cannot let that slide. You disobeyed orders, broke formation, you let an enemy get through our lines, and you almost cost the villagers their lives. We were lucky we recruited Brady, or there wouldn't have been an extra line of defense in time. And another thing, taking on the bandit leader by yourselves surrounded by the enemy? Come on, common sense would tell you not to pull a stunt like that, I expected more tactics to be seen on the battlefield not pure instinct and attempted heroics." Robin was seething. But having vented, began to cool off.
"I can't say I'm too upset. I would've done the same thing." Sully chuckled to herself. "But don't do it again or you're both grounded."
"Listen girls, I'm impressed you were able to manage, I know how strong you two are, but don't make us worry like that. There's no need to take everything onto yourselves, all four of us are here and we'll persevere together."
Robin pulled in Sully with one arm, and Kjelle with the other, Morgan joined the hug on her own accord.
"We'll get through this war, and then we be a big normal family back in Ylisse. Mark my words."
Alrighty then, that about ends chapter four, the longest one yet I believe. Thanks for sticking around and reading it. Feel free to leave reviews, I'm always looking to improve on my writing. Also, I wrote this at like two in the morning so if there are Grammar mistakes, please bear with me lol
And sorry for such a late upload, I'd like to say I was busy, but I really wasn't I was just lazy. Also writer's block, yeah, that's the reason.
Disclaimer: DO NOT PUT BRADY ON THE FRONT LINES IN CHAPTER 7 HE WILL DIE, I only did it because I gave him plot armor
Review Replies
Solid Sun: That was definitely one of the inspirations for that scene yeah, lol.
patattack: The only difference is that Kjelle is fully aware of what goes on behind the scenes in her parent's tent lol, so I can imagine it's much worse. And thank you I will keep it up as long as I can manage lol
o realisticFantasy: Yeah, Kjelle may be getting the short end of the stick around here. Oh that Gaius, always stealing the ladies.
