Hiya everybody! Today IS Sunday and is the day that I release chapter 3! Well I got done with it early and I saw no reason in particular to prolong the chapter's post, so I just...posted it...yyyeeeeaaa.
Anyways! I just wanted to take this time to thank everyone for their reviews, favs and follows!(Yes, I do read reviews) Speaking of reviews, I will now take this time to answer two questions that were asked!
allen Vth: To answer your question, yes. In this there will be 4 sub couples I will mainly be mentioned in the story.
1: Morgan(of course) 2:Frederick 3:Lissa 4:Chrom/Maribelle
I won't say exactly who they will marry in the future, but as time goes it wont be that hard to figure out :). But do keep in mind that just because these couples are mentioned does not mean that they will get most of the chapter's time. They are just among my favorite couples and are getting extra attention due to their funny or interesting support conversations that will go with this story. Avatar and Emmeryn are my main focus and will always be. (Until i make another story :P ) Other couples are...irrelevant at the moment...
Zash101: This and next chapter will hopefully answer your question :)
Well, that's all for today! Hope you all enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 3 Two Hard Miracles
2 years later
Emmeryn sighed in defeat. "I-It's...too...hard."
"Please, Emm." The old man pleaded. "You're almost done! You just have but 3 words left! You can do it!"
Emmeryn sighed again and looked back at the piece of paper in her hands. She winced at the difficult words listed then began to slowly spell out each one. "R-R-Reeetrr...iiiiii...b-beeeuuuu...sh-shon...Retribution...o-oppor...tuuuunii...tee? O-Opportunity...N-Nose...feeeerr...r-ratoo? Nosferatu?"
The old man clapped his hands in excitement and gently patted Emmeryn's soft golden hair. "Congratulations Emm! You did it!"
Emmeryn face lit up with joy before jumping into the old man's chest, embracing him tightly. "I...did it!" She cried out happily.
The old man smiled then wrapped his arms around her. "You've done well my dear. Not only are you gradually getting better at speech, but you have almost mastered my magic and healing arts! I couldn't be more proud of you, Emm."
Emmeryn closed her eyes. "Thank you...Father."
The old man's face turned red at the title he was given. "E-Emm. I've told you this before. I am not your father. I am not even worthy of such a title."
"But...you treat me...as if...I was...your...little girl...Isn't that...what...a father does?"
The old man scratched the back of his hairless head. "Well, you have to do a LOT more than that to have a daughter. Just because I teach you, train you...and feed you...and...*Ahem* What I mean is, you already have a father, so there's no way I could be your father."
"But...I don't...know him...I believe...that you are...my father." Emmeryn pulled away and look to the old man with a sorrowful expression. "Am I...not good enough...to be...daughter?"
"My dear, it has nothing to do with being 'good enough'. It's just-" the old man's heart sank the longer he looked into the blonde's eyes. The old man searched his mind for a logical excuse to give the blonde, but could think of nothing. He lowered his head and exhaled loudly. "Fine Emm...you may call me whatever you want."
Emmeryn's smile returned and once again embraced the old man. "Thank you...Father!"
The old man laughed. "Boy, I have to be the happiest father in the world to have such a smart, beautiful, and caring daughter to work hard for. It feels like just yesterday I found you unconscious out on the beach." he chuckled. "I would have never thought that I would be raising the Exalt of Ylisse herself!" he tightened his embrace around Emmeryn. "But I am happy that I found you. Now! How about we go get some food? This old man is starving and would like to have a fish or two-" he was interrupted as his front door slammed open and in walked a shirtless, muscular man holding an axe.
"Well what do we have 'ere?" The muscular man spoke. "Awww am I interrupting a family moment here? Sorry, but if you know what's good for ya you will show me yer stash and you will do it now!"
North of SouthTown
"Alright listen up!" Chrom announced. "In SouthTown right now are a band of ruthless ruffians that has been causing trouble for not only Ylisse, but Plegia and even Regna Ferox. Today we will put an end to these ruffians here and now!"
The Shephards lifted their weapons as they let out a roaring battle cry. When Chrom finished Matthew stood up and took his place next to Chrom. He was wearing his Grandmaster cloak, but underneath the cloak he wore black Chon'Sin armor with two killing edges on both sides of his waist.
The tactician cleared his throat before speaking. "Today's strategy is simple. Sumia and Cordelia will take Ricken, Tharja and Miriel to the roofs. Your job is to keep an eye on the battlefield and rain havoc with your magic enemy. While the enemy is confused Chrom, Stahl, Nowi, Kellam and myself will push in from the entrance to the village. While their attention is on us, Gaius, Gregor and Anna will work as a rescue team to save any villagers in need of assistance. Make sure you search every house and leave no rock un-turned."
"Got it, Bubbles." Gaius blurted.
Matthew's eye twitched at theif's annoying nickname, but continued the explanation. "Anyways, when we've got their attentions drawn toward us Frederick will lead his team of Lon'qu, Panne, Vaike and Sully to the other side of the village and attack from behind." Matthew glanced over to Lissa and Maribelle, then to Donnel, Libra and Olivia. "The healers will stay at the rear and heal if necessary. Libra, Donnel, Olivia. I'm trusting you to keep our Queen and princess safe. Anyone foolish enough to attack, run them through without a second thought.
Donnel and Olivia saluted. "You can count on us sir!" they responded.
Libra smiled then bowed. "I will make sure no harm comes to Ylissean royalty."
Matthew smiled then looked out to his fellow comrades. "Now, everyone get to their positions and let's put these dastards to the sword!"
There was another battle cry before everyone dispersed and headed to their stations. Matthew felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around to see Chrom smiling back at him.
"Heh, it feels like you've taken over MY job." Chrom laughed. "Dye your hair blue and find another Falchion and we would be mirror images."
Matthew couldn't help but laugh at his friends joke. "No thank you. I would rather stick to my pure and very attractive brown hair."
"HA! Attractive?!" Chrom laughed.
"VERY attractive." Matthew corrected. "But a legendary sword would be kinda nice to have y'know? I would never have to worry about it breaking, and I could save a heck of a lot of gold that way."
"Heh. Keep your eyes peeled. There might be one closer than you think."
Matthew looked to Falchion, then back at Chrom as he put his hand over his mouth and gasped. "Why, Chrom! You're not volunteering to hand over Falchion itself are you?"
Chrom's smile dropped to a frown. "Only if your asking to have it put through your gut, then yes, I'm volunteering."
Matthew's expression fell to one of fear. "W-Wait,Chrom! I only jest! See? Only a jest! Ha ha...heh..."
Chrom laughed. "I only jest Matthew. No need to panic." Matthew sighed in relief. Safe. "...It feels like an eternity since I've last seen a battle."
Matthew raised an eyebrow at the muscular blue head next to him. "Don't tell me you've become rusty over these past months, Chrom?"
"I can assure you that I am not rusty and can still hold my ground with any bandit or swordsman that comes my way. It's just that," Chrom suddenly gazed at the ground and continued. "I've started a family now, and Maribelle just had to come with me on this mission. On top of that, Lucina is back at home without her mother or father. It's just… a lot to think about as a husband and a father, y'know?"
The tactician nodded and put a reassuring hand on the Exalt's shoulder. "Hey, my plans haven't failed me yet and they won't fail me now. I'll make sure that you and Maribelle get back home safely. This, I promise as the Grandmaster of Ylisse."
Chrom smiled at the tactician smiled. "Thanks, Matthew. That means a lot to me."
Matthew shook his head. "No, thank you for all you've done for me since that day you found me."
"Alright! That seems to be everything from this floor. Time to move up! Maggot! Get in here!"
The bandit yelled at the door. Emmeryn and the old man looked to the door. In walked a red head, pale man who wore a crown and a yellow cape. His expression was blank and he seemed to drag his feet when he walked. Emmeryn just stared at the man. There was something familiar about the man but she just couldn't remember what.
"Walk faster maggot!"
"..."
"That's right I'm talking to you, maggot. Got something to say, maggot?"
"...No. I am a maggot. A maggot whose life is worth nothing. Just a maggot...nothing more, nothing less..."
The bandit let out a long guffaw. "That's right! Nothing but a maggot! Now do your job maggot and watch these two or I'll show you how easy it is to kill a maggot!"
The redhead went silent, wearing the same expression as when he walked in. He simply nodded as he watched the bandit walk away and stomp up the stairs. The redhead turned and walked toward the old man and the 'woman'.
"Alright don't do anything hasty and I won't have to-" the red head stopped and stared at the woman before rubbing his eyes. "All these sleepless nights must be getting to me. For a minute there I thought I saw-"
"I...know...you..."
The man paused for a brief second and finally removed his fingers from his eyes. First his face was in a show of surprise, then it twisted as he let out a menacing laugh.
"GWAHAHAHAHA! Well THIS is a surprise, isn't it Emmeryn?!"
Emmeryn said nothing. She just stared at the man with a blank expression.
"I was certain you had met your demise 2 years ago when you leaped off that rock, but it would seem I wasn't the only who escaped the clutches of death! So tell me, what brings you all the way here away from your Ylissean dogs?"
"..."
"Oh? Cat caught your tongue? I never thought of you as someone for silence. Then again, your actions did speak louder than your words! BWAHAHA!"
"..."
The redhead's huge grin turned to a frown.
"What in blazes is wrong with you? Don't tell me you've forgotten your old Mad King have you?"
The old man, that had been silent up till now, finally spoke up.
"P-Please forgive her sir. She doesn't remember much and has the speech of a child. Please, if you have any mercy, leave her be."
The redhead went back to his blank expression from early and looked dead at Emmeryn.
"...It would seem that you also lost something in that war. For me, I lost my people, my power, and my throne. I now wash dishes for brigands...I know. How the mighty has fallen. Ironic isn't it? BWAHAHA!"
"Sad..."
"Eh?" The redhead looked at the blonde before him.
"...You...Sad...So...Sad..."
The redhead looked to the ground with a face filled with grief.
"...Look, Emmeryn, I don't need pity from anybody, especially not from you. I chose my path two years ago and I ended up like this because of my decisions. I have no one to blame but myself and I am now paying for my actions." There was a short pause before he continued. "...I am a maggot...nothing more...nothing less..."
"No."
"Eh?"
"You...are Gangrel..."
Gangrel looked up to the former Exalt to see she was smiling back at him. He hadn't heard his own name for years. After all the years of torture he had been through, hearing his name seemed...pleasant? Or was it anger at his past self? He didn't know. Feelings rushed him all at once and soon he didn't know what to feel anymore. He just stood there and looked at the former Exalt that smile could stop an army of blood lust Risen. But hearing his name didn't change anything. Every time he heard his name it brought back the memories of the 'Mad King' he had truly become. The same king that put his people through a pointless war only for his own selfish desire for revenge. The same King who killed his own soldiers who didn't want to fight anymore just to make an example of him/her.
And the same King who had left such a kind woman to leap to her death and loose every precious memories she held dear to her. Gangrel smiled and closed his eyes.
"I told you Emmeryn. The Mad King Gangrel is dead. What stands before you is a shell of a body that is waiting for someone to end its misery. Just because you mumble some words it won't change what I've done in the past. So, after I leave today, do an old king a favor and forget we ever met will ya?"
"I...will not..."
"Wha-"
"I...will not...forget...Gangrel... He can...change..."
Gangrel looked to the Exalt not with joy, but with pure rage. He walked to her and gripped her green robe.
"Why are you being so stubborn?! Even with your memories gone you still seem to disgust me! Do you think the things I have done will just be forgiven like it had never happened? That your brother and your people would forgive me for taking away their Exalt? And my people forgive me for taking away their family!? You are bigger a fool than I if you think everyone will welcome me with flowers and dandelions and say "we forgive you" like some sick novel! Open your eyes! Who will forgive me? If you can name me ONE person that is foolish enough to forgive me, then I will gladly take you to Ylisse myself and beg for forgiveness on my hands and knees! I'll let you throw me at whatever demon or God that is foolish enough to stand in your way!"
Emmeryn looked into Gangrel eyes. His violet eyes filled with anger, but underneath his frown Emmeryn could tell that he wasn't angry at her. It was almost as if his face wasn't one of anger, but the face of someone pleading for help.
She looked away from Gangrel and frowned. She couldn't think of anyone, or better yet, she didn't know anyone to name. He was using her lost memory against her, and she had fallen straight into his trap. She couldn't think something she had forgotten. She knew that, yet she still wanted to help him. She just didn't know how. The man before her sighed and released her robe.
"Can't think of anyone can you? So take my plea and forget we ever met."
He turned to walk away but was stopped as he felt two soft hands grip his left hand.
"I will..." Emmeryn spoke. "I...don't blame you...if...no one...I will...forgive..."
Gangrel said nothing. He didn't even look back at the blonde. He just stood in place.
"Shepherds!" A voice cried from outside. There were heavy footsteps approaching from the stairs and the muscular man appeared before them.
"Did he just say Shepherds? Damn it! They shouldn't be around at this time of day. Maggot! Grab the woman and kill the old fart! It's time to scram NOW!" The bandit looked to the redhead as he stood still with his back to him. "Did you not hear me maggot? I said NOW!" Still no reply. The bandit became infuriated as his patience with the redhead ran out. "Fine! I'll do it myself, then, after I'm done I'll finish you as well!" The bandit stomped over to the old man and raised his axe above his head. The old man cowered in fear as he put his arms over his head. The bandit was about to bring down the axe when two slender arms wrapped around his arm preventing him from bringing down his axe. He looked over his shoulder to see the blonde woman holding on for dear life. "Let go of me wench!" he howled. Emmeryn's grip tightened.
"I won't!" she yelled.
The bandit gritted his teeth. He was tired of being ignored and he will have no more of it. He reached to grab the woman and throw her off of him. He stopped midway as an unbearable pain struck his chest and blood escaped his mouth. He looked down to the source of the pain and saw a zigzag sword had pierced his chest. He turned his head to see the redhead's smirk.
"*cough* You...dastard...how *cough* dare you...maggot!"
"Maggot? No maggot here sir. Just a mad man doing his daily stabbing practice. You just so happened to be in front of my sword at the wrong time. BWAHAHA!" Gangrel yanked the sword out of the bandit's chest and he fell to ground wheezing. Within seconds the man was dead. Gangrel looked over to the old man, then to Emmeryn. "What? Didn't I say I was going to escort you to Ylisse? That would be kinda hard to do if you died on me. Lucky for us the Shepherds came to me so I don't have to take a long and agonizing trip there with you slowing me down. So, what do you say to slaughtering these filthy eyesores and regrouping with-What in blazes are you doing?!" Emmeryn had walked over and begun patting him on the head.
"Thank you...Gangrel...You're...good."
Gangrel looked away as his pale face turned redder than a tomato. "Enough of this! I never thought I was one for keeping my word, but a promise is a promise! Now let's go before I change my mind!"
Emmeryn smiled and nodded. She turned to the old man and helped him up. "Thank you, Emm." he said as he stood up. He looked at the redhead man who was now walking toward the door, then to a dresser that was within arms reached to his left. He opened the dresser and in it was a red tome. He grabbed the tome and handed it to Emmeryn. "Here, Emm. I'm not very sure I can trust that man, but I don't think I can make it out there alive. So take this tome with you. It's an Arcfire tome that I've been holding onto for many years. I've never used it so all of the pages should be useable." Emmeryn nodded and took the tome.
"Thank you...Father." The old man jumped at the title once again, but this time he just shook his head and smiled. "I've taken care of you for two years and I've never regretted doing so. So please, stay safe and live a happy life. If not for me, then for the good people of Ylisse." Tears rolled down his cheeks as Emmeryn brought him into a warm hug.
"I promise...Father."
They held each other for a few seconds before a cough from behind interrupted them. "As touching as this is I do believe there is a battle going on right now and we have to leave pronto if you don't want to miss your daily Shepherds~!" Emmeryn laughed and looked back at the old man.
"Be safe...Father."
"You too, Emmeryn." With that Emmeryn released the hug and walked over to the Mad King's side. The old man watched as they walked out of the house and into the afternoon sunlight.