Gangrel's words echoed in Robin's head as they headed back to Castle Ylisse.
Immediately after their victory in Ferox, the Shepherds were tasked with saving Maribelle from the clutches of Plegians. Thankfully no one was hurt, but Gangrel's little speech did send quite the message.
"I will not rest until every Ylissean is dead, including a certain Exalt! Ylisse will pay for the pain it has etched in Plegia's history and its people! Now, unless you want this brat to die, I demand the Fire Emblem!"
She feared that a war between the two nations could not be stopped it in its tracks. Plegia was going to strike sometime. It was just the matter of when that time would be. What if Gangrel did indeed get his hands on the Fire Emblem? What would the different outcome be?
"Robin, are you okay? You seem kind of nervous." Lissa noted.
"Well, I am a little shaken up by that encounter with Gangrel." Robin said.
"Don't worry about it. We'll take him down before he gets to us!"
"I hope you're right."
When they had arrived to the castle, the day was already well into the evening, as the stars were already out. Robin decided to take a stroll through the castle gardens to clear her thoughts.
The crisp, fresh air and the gorgeous plethora of flowers were very calming. She had never seen such a marvelous display.
"At least the castle is a safe haven." Robin said. "I cannot imagine the Castle being anything but that."
"Robin," She heard a voice call her as she walked in the castle gardens.
It was Chrom. He didn't have his usual content expression, but a rather depressing one.
"I-I just want to tell you that Gangrel's words were not all riddled with lies. It is true that Ylisse once caused pain to Plegia. My father raged a war on Plegia for many years until his own death. That pain is forever ingrained into Plegia's memory, hence Gangrel's and many others' threats to my sister."
Chrom looked as if he was going to break down in tears. "I don't know how Emmeryn does it, being so serene and a light of peace despite all this negativity and swears of vengeance around. She is truly the Exalt Ylisse needed."
"Chrom, we are all thankful of Emmeryn." Robin told him.
"As am I." A familiar voice chimed in.
Robin and Chrom turned around. Of course at a time where Robin really wanted to relax for the day comes another stressful encounter.
"Marth. What are the odds…" Robin mumbled. She wanted to turn away, but couldn't.
…Seriously? I swear the gods have been really inconsiderate of me this evening. Just as I recognise my feelings for him he appears right in front of me yet again.
"How did you get in here? The castle grounds are guarded." Chrom leered at Marth with a hint of suspicion in his eye.
"The cleft in the castle wall, behind the maple grove." Marth answered. "That area should really be concealed."
"Ugh, I thought it was hidden well enough, but if even you found it…" Chrom groaned.
"Your secret is safe with me. That aside, I came to warn you, regarding the Exalt herself." Marth announced.
"Emmeryn? What about her?"
"The Exalt's life is in danger. She is to be assassinated tonight in this very castle."
As much as Robin loved hearing his voice (something she hated to admit to herself), she had to interject. "Marth, that assumption is crazy. Emmeryn is heavily guarded."
"…but milady, what if I were to say, that I have seen the future? It is written that Emmeryn is assassinated on this very night."
"I would say that you are out of your mind. One cannot simply have knowledge of events yet to take place in history." Robin shot back.
"I expected the prince and his tactician would not believe me, but please allow me to prove it!" He stated, as Marth unsheathed his sword.
There he goes, making rash decisions again…
I can't surely be in love with this man.
I cannot afford to be in love and still make well thought out tactical decisions. Peoples' lives depend on my actions. I cannot have my train of thought be clouded by attraction.
"I am about to save your life." Marth said, pointing his blade at Chrom. "…From him."
Just as Marth predicted, an assassin leaped out of the bushes and lunged at the prince.
Marth threw his sword into the air, and caught it as he was mid way in a backflip. As he descended, he slashed the assassin from the back. A swift cut ending the assassin's pursuit.
Chrom and Robin stood there, agape at what they had just witnessed. "Uh….I…"
Damn it, Marth! Stop doing things that make you more attractive!
Robin felt like slapping herself to keep her sane.
"I trust that this proof will suffice?" Marth asked.
"Y-Yeah…" Chrom replied, still in shock.
Just as Marth was ready to put to his sword back in its sheath, another assassin crept up behind him. He saw him at the last second in his peripheral vision. He tried to back away as he saw the assassin's blade headed right for his face, but tripped on the newly deceased assassin's sword, barely dodging the second assault. Robin saw the assassin's blade slice Marth's mask into two.
Her heart started beating rapidly and she felt beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
As Marth's mask clattered on the ground, long strands of blue hair flowed down, and a woman's face was revealed. A surprisingly beautiful woman's face was revealed, to be more specific.
…Why…
….It's a woman.
The man I had feelings for was a woman.
Wait…WHAT?!
While Robin was completely frozen at Marth's reveal, Chrom almost didn't notice, as he struck down the last assassin.
"Wait… Y-you're actually a woman?!" Chrom had a hard time sputtering out those words.
Robin's heart was beating faster and faster, like a bullet train gaining momentum.
Why is my heart still beating so fast…
This is bad…
Marth did not say anything for a moment and held her head low in attempt to cover her appearance. She finally gave Chrom some acknowledgement after some awkward moments of silence.
"And quite the actress too. Honestly, I'm surprised you didn't find out until just now." Her tone was not condescending, but quite sassy.
Before Chrom could say another word, they heard an explosion followed by a shriek come from within the Castle. The three of them rushed through the back entrance of the Castle grounds.
I can't believe it.
Marth is a woman.
She stared at Marth as they rushed to the Exalt's throne.
Just look at those gorgeous long locks of hair,
Oh my… and her body is so…
Robin immediately wiped those thoughts from her mind.
Damn it, Robin! The Exalt's life is at stake here!
"Emm!" Chrom shouted as he saw a faction of assassins surround his sisters' throne.
Robin shot bolts of thunder at the crowd, and many of them yelped in pain.
"Come on, Shepherds!" Chrom yelled.
"Chrom, there's too many of them!" Robin said. "I think we should just aim for the assassins' leader. They should scatter after that."
"Marth, we're going after their leader." Chrom informed the swordswoman. "Will you be able to hold off these assassins from reaching Emmeryn?"
"Of course, Chrom. I will do everything in my power."
Right before Chrom and Robin marched down the Castle hallway, they heard grunts and saw multiple assassins fall. "Don't tell me….another enemy?" Chrom feared for the worst.
A taguel lunged into the assassins, charging them down right where they stood. "Such disgusting man-spawn these are."
Before Chrom could draw his blade, he heard Marth shout from the throne room.
"Panne is an ally! She will help defeat the enemy."
"…Good enough for me." Chrom shouted back as he made his way down the hallway.
Robin and Chrom rushed through the corridor, cutting down any assassins in their way. Chrom voice was full of rage, increasing as more assassins are killed.
"Chrom, calm down." Robin said. She could sense anger welling up inside the prince. "We're going to save your sister."
"I know that…I want to believe that…" The prince answered back. "we have to find their leader soon."
Every passing second made both of them more nervous. What if Marth couldn't hold back the assassins? What if Emmeryn is killed this very moment? What if those thieves took possession of the Fire Emblem?
They stopped as they saw a ginger haired thief block the end of the corridor. He was not stealing anything, instead munching on some candy. "Mmm, this one is so sweet, I should get some more!" He started drooling all over the floor.
"…Um…" Robin slowly interrupted the thief's moment. "…Oh gods, this is so awkward…"
"Don't mind me. I'm not in this job to hurt the Exalt. I'm just here the cash in on the sweet rewards that come after." He casually replied.
"You're just in it for the gold?" Robin asked. "…Or for the candy…?"
" Bingo, Bubbles. Gold is fine, but sweets are where the real gold is. " The thief said. "You mind if I call you that? You look like a Bubbles to me."
Chrom groaned. "Can I just kill him so we can get to the leader?"
"Woah, easy there, Blue." The thief protested, raising his hands in front of him. "I ain't causing any harm here."
"Just get out of my way." Chrom threatened as he rushed past him. Robin followed.
"Pfft. He's so rude. He's nothing like the Exalt." The thief remarked. "…but, I guess if they're trying to save her life, I should help…"
He sneakily followed the prince and tactician.
Robin saw a peculiar figure emanating a dark aura. He wore a dark purple cloak, clearly showing that he was a sorcerer. "Soon, Emmeryn will be dead, and the Fire Emblem will be in our possession…"
"Lord Validar!" An assassin ran over to the sorcerer. "I have much dire news to report to you, sir. The Exalt is now very vulnerable, but many of our men have been slain."
"What?!" He yelled in outrage. "How is this possible?"
"It seems we have underestimated the number of troops the Ylisseans have. "
"It seems as if I have to kill Emmeryn myself." He grunted furiously. "But first…"
Validar shot a trail of blazing fire towards Robin and Chrom, who had though they had been cleverly hidden. "….My, my, it sure is rude to be eavesdropping, young prince."
"Your plans have been stopped, Validar." Chrom stated. "It's over."
"The tables can turn at anytime. I will get what I came here for."
Chrom drew his blade and charged at Validar with force. The sorcerer struck back with his Elfire tome. The Castle floors were now scorched, and the embers were burning rapidly.
Validar cackled. "Come forth, and meet your fate," He pointed his finger at Robin. "I know you… and your past…"
"You mean the fate where you lie dead on the floor? Yeah, you don't have to tell me twice." Robin replied. "Like I'd trust you. Any Plegian that sets foot in here with an attempt to murder the Exalt is not welcome."
"Oh, how ironic coming from you." He cackled again, raising his elfire tome.
Chrom and Robin dodged Validar's spells and struck him one after the other. The sorcerer just smirked. "Is that all you can do? I am very unimpressed."
"Oh yeah?" A familiar voice beckoned. "How's this for ya?"
Validar grunted as he was stabbed in the back with an iron sword. "….How…could you possibly have known the plan…Emmeryn's death was supposed to be a flawless plan…"
"Gods, is he annoying or what? Well, he's not my employer anymore." The man that had just killed Validar was surprisingly, the ginger haired thief. He was still chewing on his gummy candy.
"Thank you, um…"
"The name's Gaius."
The trio rushed back into the main hallway, and saw that everyone was unharmed, including Emmeryn.
"Chrom, there you are. I was so worried about you." Emmeryn started. "Are you hurt?"
"Hey, I should be the one worried about you, sister!" Chrom said. "Thank the gods we got here in time…"
"Well, if it wasn't for Marth, we wouldn't have been notified at all." Robin chimed in.
"Marth? Who is Marth?" Emmeryn asked.
"Ah, Marth is the person who alerted us of Plegia's planned assassination." Chrom told her. "We owe her so much…"
"Come to think of it, where did she go?"
"She probably left again…" Chrom answered. "She doesn't like to stay for very long."
"No way," Robin muttered. She bolted down the hallway.
"Hey Robin, where are you going?!" The Shepherds called after her.
She can't leave just yet.
I have to know if...
If this isn't just a phase.
If this isn't just a one time thing.
Finally the chapter I've been waiting forever to post has been finished. Most of my good ideas for this story take place after Marth gets revealed, so thank goodness for that.
Lastly, I would like to hear some feedback regarding the pace of the story. Is it too slow? Or is it too rushed for you?
Just to let me know what you guys would want more ;)
(obviously if it's rushed I can get closer to the real Lucina chapters, but, I think I'll squeeze a few chapters in between. Mainly because of Gangrel's craziness.)