KKD: Attempting a different browser than normal to see if it makes a difference, since Safari got stuck on me again for some crappy reason. So, it's working so far, let's see how it goes.
Disclaimers: KKD doesn't own anything in this story except for the original characters and concepts within. The rest belong to Nintendo, Intelligent Systems, and their respective owners/companies.
(Cue Theme Song: Hero by Skillet)
*As the instrumental begins we see our lead, Logan, floating in darkness for a bit until he rose his hand and his Flame Style Wizard Ring appeared on it, and he appeared in the field with Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick helping him up*
I'm just a step away
I'm just a breath away
*The Shepards are seen fighting against some brigands, Logan casting spells and slashing his sword with them*
Losin' my faith today
(We're fallin' off the edge today)
*We make a quick cut to a later part where we see Emmeryn crying, our focus on the tear*
*Logan struggled to his feet as he glared up at the Phantoms coming his way, most in silhouette, as he recalled something from the past where he was in despair, purple cracks forming on his body*
I am just a man
Not superhuman
(I'm not superhuman)
Someone save me from the hate
*Logan then stared out at the armies against the Halidom of Ylisse, standing with Chrom, Lissa, and the Shepards as they looked past the forces.*
It's just another war
Just another family torn
(We're falling from my faith today)
*We get a glance at the villains including Gangrel, Aversa, Validar, and a figure wearing a black, gold, and purple cloak floating behind them before we cut back to the heroes, as Logan flips his Wizardriver into position and flashes his Flame Style ring across it, transforming into Wizard.*
Just a step from the edge
Just another day in the world we live
*Suddenly, Wizard and Chrom were on the battlefield, fighting together with their blades, Wizard casting magic spells as Lissa healed them and Frederick attacked the brigands on his horse*
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero (save me now)
*Wizard quickly transitioned between forms by passing through their magic circles, Water Style splashing one Phantom aside before leaping up, going Hurricane Style to kick another Brigand and then suddenly stomping down as Land Style, causing rocks to scatter and hit more foes*
I need a hero to save my life
A hero'll save me (just in time)
*Wizard turned to see a figure in blue wearing a mask as the figure faced off against Chrom, both clashing the Falchion at each other*
I need a hero to save me now
I need a hero (save me now)
*Wizard is then seen riding Wizardragon into battle, blasting more Phantoms aside before he's seen staring at Chrom and a woman holding a child as he turned to Lissa, smiling*
I need a hero to save my life
A hero'll save me (just in time)
*After several attacks at the screen, Wizard posed alongside Lissa, Frederick, and Chrom as the title "Fire Emblem: Awakening of Hope" appeared above and behind them.*
For me, after bearing witness to the premonition, the first thing I recalled was blackness, nothing to see, just the feel of some breeze on my face. Then, I heard voices above me.
"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING!" a female voice responded, no one noticing me slowly opening my eyes.
"What do you propose we do?" a familiar male voice asked the female.
"I… I dunno…" she admitted when I finally opened my eyes, seeing Chrom and a girl in a yellow and white dress, white stockings and brown boots visible by the spike 'cage' holding up her skirt, a brown corset of sorts, a white headdress which had buttons surrounding her face, and a ponytail on either side of her head.
"I see you're awake now."
"Hey there!" the girl smiled, as I simply nodded in response.
"There're better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know. Gimme your hand," Chrom replied, holding out his hand to me, as I slowly reached up, noticing a strange marking on my right hand, consisting of what appeared to be six eyes spread out like butterfly wings that were connected by a few zig-zagged lines, but nonetheless, no one saw this mark as Chrom helped me to my feet as I saw we were in some open grassy field, "You all right?"
"Y-Yes… Thank you, Chrom," I smiled, making the others look at me with confusion.
"Ah, then you know who I am, then?" Chrom replied in response to what I said, making me realize something about it.
"No, actually, I… It's strange… Your name, it just… came to me…" I confessed; I recognized him from the vision, but I never met him prior.
"...Hmm, how curious. Tell me, what's your name? What brings you here?" Chrom inquired of me.
"My name is… it's…" I started, but I couldn't figure out my own name, like I had completely forgotten it, "Hmm?"
"...You don't know your own name?"
"I'm not sure if… I'm sorry, but where am I, exactly?"
"Hey! I've heard of this! It's called amnesia!" the girl realized.
"It's called a load of pegasus dung," a man with short brown hair, standing much taller than the others in his silver and blue armor that covered most of his body responded, not buying me not knowing anything, "We're to believe you remember Milord's name, but not your own?"
"B-But it's the truth!" I insisted.
"What if it IS true, Frederick? We can't just leave him here, alone and confused. What sort of Shepherds would we be then?" Chrom responded.
"Just the same, Milord, I must emphasize caution," the man, now known as Frederick, insisted, "'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock."
"Right then-we'll take him back to town to sort this out there."
"Wait a moment! Don't I get a say in this?!" I called out, getting the attention of Chrom and his comrades.
"Peace, friend-I promise we'll hear all you have to say back in town. Now come," Chrom told me as we began our trek to the nearest town.
A short walk later, I stopped for a bit as the trio with me stopped, turning to look at me.
"So, what will you do with me? Am I to be your prisoner?" I asked Chrom, clearly not sure what will happen.
"Hah! You'll be free to go once we establish you're no enemy of Ylisse," Chrom responded with a smile.
"Is that where we are? Ylisse?"
"You've never heard of the halidom?" Frederick asked before laughing, "Ha! Someone pay this actor. He plays quite the fool! The furrowed brow is especially convincing…"
"Frederick, please," the girl responded to Frederick as Chrom looked to me.
"This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse. Our ruler, Emmeryn, is called the exalt," Chrom explained before noticing something was skipped the whole time, "I suppose proper introductions are in order… My name is Chrom-but then, you already knew that. the delicate one here is my little sister, Lissa."
"I am NOT delicate! ...Hmph!" the girl, who I now know as Lissa, pouted in response before regaining herself, turning to me with a soft smile, "Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick sometimes. But you're lucky the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening."
"Shepherds? You tend sheep? ...In full armor?" I asked, confused by the title.
"Heh, it's a dangerous job. Just as Frederick the Wary here," Chrom chuckled.
"A title I shall wear with pride," Frederick stated, "Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution. I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise."
"...I understand, sir. I would do no less myself. My name is Logan" I replied, suddenly remembering who I was, realizing that seconds after I said it, "...I just remembered that. How odd. I suppose that's one mystery solved."
"Logan? Is that foreign?" Chrom asked as Lissa looked further down the path, "...Ah, well. We can discuss it later. We're almost to town. Once we-"
"Chrom, look! The town!" Lissa panicked as the entire group looked to see the old medieval-style town looked like it had buildings ablaze.
"Damn it! The town is ablaze!" Chrom exclaimed, "Those blasted Brigands, no doubt. Frederick, Lissa! Quickly!"
"What about him?" Frederick asked, referring to me.
"Unless he's on fire as well, it can wait!"
"Aptly put, milord."
"Let's go already!" Lissa shouted.
The Shepherds ran towards the burning town, leaving me confused and behind.
"But what about-hmm…" I asked, awkwardly standing solo for a couple seconds, before finally running after the group.
Down in the town, a small band of brigands were attacking, led by a fur-covered barbarian that cackled as he held up his axe.
"Gwa ha ha! Get to it lads! Grab anything shiny, and put the rest to the torch! We gots an example to set for these Ylissean types!" the barbarian smirked as he turned to a maiden woman, "Ain't that right, lass?"
"S-Stay away from me! Please! Someone! HEEEEEELP!" she screamed just as Chrom led his Shepherds in, him wielding Falchion, Lissa holding a cleric's healing staff, and Frederick riding a horse with an axe and shield.
"Chrom, we have to stop them!" Lissa gasped, seeing what was going on while in the town as a whole.
"Don't worry-after today, these bandits won't be bothering anyone ever again…" Chrom assured, preparing Falchion once more.
Having gotten into town while following the crew, I made sure to pay for a bronze sword on the way, picking it up as I rushed over to the bazaar where Chrom and the others stood.
"Chrom! Wait!" I responded, quickly standing in front of the group, catching my breath.
"Logan! You followed us! Why?"
"I-I'm not certain myself," I admitted, genuinely unclear of what was going on at the moment and why I felt the sudden urge to help others, except now I was more determined to do so, "But I'm armed, and I know my way around a fight, if you'll have me."
"Of course-strength in numbers. Just stay close!"
"I may not trust you, Logan, but if you're willing to fight by us, I will aid you with my axe," Frederick told me, holding up said axe, "Just remember that we face practiced thieves and murderers. They will grant us no quarter. It's kill or be killed."
I just nodded, pulling out my sword as well as unconsciously slipping out something in my other hand.
"So, Logan, I see you wear a sword. Is it-" Chrom noted before seeing a black book with golden text in my hand opposite the blade, "Wait, is that a tome? ...You know magic?"
"I… believe so?" I noted, unsure of what was going on when I examined the tome before looking at the nearest brigand, "I suppose I should check."
"You believe so?" Chrom questioned me with a nervous grunt, "Perhaps I'll just keep a few paces behind you for the time being…"
"No, I can control it, I'm sure," I assured, but that was a facade.
As I approached the brigand I saw, I sheathed my blade and flipped through the tome's pages, fumbling a little bit through the pages. Admittedly, my assurance to my team was more an assurance to myself to make sure we all could handle what was about to happen.
"Now, how did this work again?" I muttered, the text of the page looking familiar, and soon I recalled exactly how to utilize my magic, "Ah, yes…"
With that, I held the tome in my right hand before holding out my other hand and after feeling a surge of energy build up in me, second after I was surrounded in a unique aura of magic before firing a blast of lightning at the ruffian, knocking him back a bit. I was so shocked by this that I didn't even notice him running at me, which caused me to get hit by his Bronze Sword, grunting in pain.
"Is anyone hurt? Chrom asked after he and the others took a shot at some of the brigands, "It would be foolish to leave a wound untreated."
"Indeed. Timely use of a staff or vulnerary should prevent the worst," I added, mentally surprising I remembered that much.
"We'll see who's delicate!" Lissa grinned, "I may not be able to attack like Chrom, but when you get injured? I'LL be the one stitching your bones back together, care of my trusty staff! You just tell me where to go, Logan."
I nodded as we saw more of the brigands get closer. Chrom and Frederick seemed capable enough to handle themselves, but then Lissa got smacked by one axe-wielder. In response, I took my sword and swung at him, knocking his health down a bit.
"Here, let me help," Lissa offered as she healed me up, my response being a sigh as I was healed while Chrom deal with another grunt.
Soon, we were down to the last few goons, and we were being healed up.
"Still with us, Logan?" Chrom checked.
"Hmm… It's strange," I muttered, "Here on the battlefield… I can… Well, I can 'see' things."
"Hmm? See things? Like what?"
"The enemy's strength, their weaponry, the flow of battle, magic potential… I must have studied this somewhere."
"Really? So you're saying you can size up the enemy at a glance?" Chrom asked as Lissa came to heal him up.
"Yea, it would seem so. And perhaps more, if I apply myself…"
I watched as Chrom and Frederick took out the rest of the goons before the brigand clad in furs approached us, my vision sensing some strong energies coming off of him, resulting in a strangely colored aura.
"Are you all right, Logan?" Chrom checked, with me just nodding in response, but I was anxious to rush after the brigand and keep him from the innocent, "Don't rush into danger."
"I'm fine, Chrom. Don't worry," I assured.
"You've lent us your strength, and that makes you a friend," he smiled, "Having an ally by my side gives me courage."
"Well… thank you, but… I think there's more to it than that."
"What do you mean?"
"Um… I believe there's a tactical advantage to fighting side by side… it's fuzzy… wait, yes: working in pairs improves strength, defense, speed… Yes, yes, I'm sure of it!"
I didn't know how, but somehow that felt exactly like what we needed to do.
"That won't last you long," the brigand smirked as we all suddenly saw something up with his face, his face suddenly gaining some features of a wolf of sorts, Here, sheepy, sheepy! Come to the slaughter!"
With that, the man made a sudden transformation before our eyes. The man grinned as his body gained lots of black and grey fur, his eyes turned yellow and like those of a wolf, he gained wolf-claws, a long dog-tail, and his head turned to match that of a wolf, but what stuck out to me was the struck silver crest that looked like a claw surrounding an orange amber gemstone on his chest.
"What in the world?!" Lissa gasped.
"What is that?" Chrom gawked, when the crest suddenly brought back another memory, and I knew just what this Brigand became.
"A Phantom!" I gasped, the other staring at me in confusion while I dropped my tome and rummaged through my robes as if to find something.
"What is he doing?" Frederick questioned before suddenly.
"CATCH!" we all heard, with me turning around to see a familiar head of purple hair (at least from my vision), who tossed me a couple silver ring that was larger than most, and each was different with one having an orange surface cut with silver to look like it had a dragon coming out of a portal while the other had a black hand trimmed in golden yellow.
"Thanks!" I called out to the person I recognized by voice and hair before turning back to the werewolf, avoiding an axe swing from it before I noticed a flat right-hand buckle similar to the black ring on my belt, and almost out of instinct, I slipped the black ring on my right middle finger before flashing it across the buckle.
= DRIVER ON! PLEASE! =
Suddenly, the hand lifted up as a silver belt similar to the one I wore in my vision appeared, a flick-tab on either side of the hand along with a loop of rings on both sides appearing with it.
"What magic is this?" Chrom gawked.
"Whoa…" was all Lissa could say as I flicked the tabs on the belt, the werewolf looking confused by what I was doing as a magic circle of sorts flashed a multitude of colors from the hand that was now a lefty, as I plucked off the ring with a red gem and something silver on it, lifting it up.
= SHABADOOBIE TOUCH TO HENSHIN! SHABADOOBIE TOUCH TO HENSHIN! =
This repeated as I set the red ring on my left middle finger and held my fingers on the silver part.
"HENSHIN!" I declared, flicking the silver part down, forming 'goggles' on the face of the ring to make it look like the face of the helmet of Kamen Rider Wizard from my dream before I flashed the ring in front of my buckle.
= FLAME! PLEASE! =
With the repeating jingle stopping with that announcement, I held my left hand up to the side as Chrom, Lissa, and Frederick stood back, watching as a red magic circle as big as my body appeared and began to pass over me from my left to my right.
= HI! HI! HI HI HI! =
With that, I was fully clothed in the armor of the suit I wore in my vision, complete with the red ruby gemstones on my chest and face, the silver trims for a visored look, and in between the eyes was two antennae with a bright yellow gemstone in between. I did a twirl just for flare, showing off the red inside of the cloak of sorts around my legs. The others couldn't see how stunned I was at that moment, but looking over, I could tell they were speechless.
"What the hell?! Y-You're the Ring-Bearing Magician?!" the werewolf Phantom gawked, clearly shocked by my appearance as I dusted my fingers off.
"Saa… Showtime daa," I announced, hand up to show my Flame Ring before the Werewolf Phantom tried to rush in at me, though I quickly deflected all of his claws with only my limbs.
It didn't take me long to kick the Phantom back, Lissa gawking in amazement.
"Wow… Logan's amazing," she smiled as the purple-haired woman approached.
"He's now Kamen Rider Wizard," she informed, Chrom and the others looking at her confused.
"Kamen… Rider?" Chrom repeated.
"Milord, what should we do?" Frederick inquired before Chrom turned back towards me, clenching the hilt of Falchion.
"We have to help as much as we can."
They just nodded as the trio of Shepherds rushed in, only for the Werewolf to bring out something to toss at the trio, only for them to land in front of them.
"Rocks?" Frederick looked on in confusion when they suddenly took on humanoid forms with orange horns, golden orange veins all over their bodies that was entirely made of rock, and wielding lances.
"Monsters!" Lissa gasped, quickly healing us as Chrom and Frederick rushed in, slashing at them, but they were sturdier than the brigands.
I knew I needed to stop this before anyone got hurt, so I quickly flipped the tabs on my belt again and slipped on the portal ring from before on my right hand.
= LUPATCHI MAGIC! TOUCH GO! LUPATCHI MAGIC! TOUCH GO! =
I then flashed the ring over my buckle, which was now right-handed.
= CONNECT, PLEASE! =
As a smaller magic circle appeared near me, I reached in and pulled out my main weapon from my vision, which I recalled was called the WizarSwordGun. In its gun form, I fired rapidly, the silver bullets colliding with the golems, shattering them nearly instantly as Chrom and Lissa looked in shock.
"Impossible!" the werewolf gawked, but I just shot him in the shoulder, making him scream in pain before backing up as he examined the wound, "Silver bullets? No! You really ARE the ring-bearing magician!"
"Care to help, Chrom?" I offered.
"Of course," he nodded, Falchion glowing in sync with my WizarSwordGun, which I flipped straight, blade folding out to form the sword form and we slashed rapidly at the werewolf, not giving him any room to breathe.
Frederick and Lissa stared in awe at the brawl going on. As the werewolf tried to attack me again, Chrom slashed him with the Falchion as I stepped back, pulling out another ring to replace the one on my right hand, this one having the image of a flaming dragon surrounding a boot in the amber as I flipped the belt twice again before flashing the new ring in front of the buckle.
= CHOU NE! KICK STRIKE! SAIKOU~! =
With another twirl, my right foot was soon engulfed in flames.
"Chrom! Move!" I called out, rushing forward as Chrom saw this, and quickly finished his slash, moving as I leaped up and gave the werewolf an impressive drop kick, making him scream in pain (with a "BWAAGGGH!" sound) before we both fell to the ground, but while I landed safely, the Phantom exploded in a massive amount of magic, and I stood up relieved, "Phew!"
"Well, that's the end of that," I sighed with relief, now back in my normal form.
"I don't know what you just went through becoming that Wizard-Whatever, but lucky for the town, we were close by," Lissa giggled, "Still… wow, Logan! You were incredible! Swords, sorcery, AND tactics! Is there anything you can't do?"
"You're certainly no helpless victim, that much is for sure," Chrom noted of me.
"Indeed," Frederick even agreed, "Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation for how you came here? Or how your new female friend knew what to do and how she helped?"
"I understand your skepticism, Sir Frederick," I admitted with a nervous sweat as the purple haired woman just approached us, nibbling on a piece of meat, "And I cannot explain why only some knowledge has returned to me, let alone how I knew of the Phantoms and my powers via the rings. But please, believe me. I have shared all that I know now, and will answer any future questions to the best of me ability, even with…"
"Lora," the purplette introduced herself.
"Lora's aid, if need be," I finished.
"That may not be necessary. Because of your tactics and quick thinking, you both fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough," Chrom smiled at me.
"And your mind, milord?" Frederick intervened, "Will you not heed its counsel as well?"
"It's alright, Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with Logan's talents. And with Lora's knowledge, maybe she could be more useful than expected. We've brigands and unruly neighbors, all looking to bloody our soil. And now with these Phantoms these two speak of, these two could know the most about the beasts in human disguise. Would you really have us lose such an able tactician and one of such potential?"
Frederick just remained in silence as Lora eyed him with a smile.
"Besides, I believe their story, odd as it might be," Chrom added.
"Oh… th-thank you, Chrom," I nodded.
"So how about it? Will you join us, Logan?"
"I would be honored. On the condition that we bring Lora with us. I feel she is more valuable than you'd expect."
"Consider it done."
Moments later, after helping the locals to get cleaned up, the five of us looked to see what remained of the town.
"Did you notice, milord?" Frederick pointed to the smoking buildings, "The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent."
"Plegian? What's that?" I asked, the term sounding familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.
"Plegia is Ylisse's westerly neighbor," Chrom explained, "They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate a war."
"Ngh! And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer!" Lissa grunted, clearly liking this the least, "Totally innocent, and totally helpless…"
"They do have us, milady: Shepherds to protect the sheep," Frederick pointed out.
"And you also have us, magicians with knowledge of the Phantoms," Lora added with her own smile, in between bites of her meat, which looked like the thigh of a turkey.
"Ignoring Lora's… manners, do not be swept up by your anger, Lady Lissa. It will cloud your judgement."
"I know, I know," Lissa sighed before regaining herself, "Don't worry. I'll get used to all this."
"Milord, please!" a villager pleaded, getting our attention, "You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!"
"A most generous offer, sir," Frederick smiled, Lora looking like her mouth would water more even through her turkey filled lips, "And no doubt your hospitality would be grand… But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol."
"Dark me only for me, medium well, and no salt in the soup. I simply-" Lissa started to list, not realizing what Frederick said until seconds into her requests, "Huh?! Wait, what?! We're not staying?! But Frederick, it's nearly dark!"
"When night falls, we'll camp," he chuckled, "Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like… I believe you mentioned you would be 'getting used to this'?"
'Now I like this guy already,' Lora thought to herself, grinning.
"What?! Frederick? Sometimes I hate you," Lissa pouted so cutely, I couldn't help but grin myself.
"You've quite the stern lieutenant there," I noted of Chrom and Lissa, looking nervously at Frederick again.
"Yeah, well, 'stern' is one name for it. I can think of a few others!"
"Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe," Chrom sighed.
"Duly noted," Lora and I replied in unison as Frederick cleared his throat, getting our attention.
"You do realize I AM still present?" he inquired.
"Oh, we realize," Chrom chuckled as the rest of us had a light chuckle.
"Milord remains as amusing as ever," Frederick noted with a very good poker face, "Now then, shall we be going?"
"All right, all right. Logan? You and Lora ready to go? The capital isn't far."
"Yes, we're ready," I assured as we took off out of town, me looking at my Flame ring, pondering what was to come.
(Cue Ending Theme Song: Human Nature by Michael Jackson)
*With the Wizard Rings floating around to the instrumentals and starting verse, we soon see Logan sitting on a hilltop, looking over the Halidom*
Looking Out
Across The Night-Time
The City Winks A Sleepless Eye
*We then see Chrom, Frederick, and Lissa planning something for an upcoming battle as Lissa looks away, sighing*
Hear Her Voice
Shake My Window
Sweet Seducing Sighs
*We see other members of the Shepherds interacting with each other, Emmeryn watching from above.*
Get Me Out
Into The Night-Time
Four Walls Won't Hold Me Tonight
*Logan and Lissa could be seen across the way, smiling a bit as they walking towards each other.*
If This Town
Is Just An Apple
Then Let Me Take A Bite
*Then, we see stills of the various Shepherds interacting with each other.*
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
*Chrom is then seen looking out a window with a girl in silhouette at that moment.*
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
*Logan sees a particular pair for a moment and smiled before he turns to see Lissa, both smiling.*
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
*Emmeryn watches all this from nearby before we pan towards the sky.*
If They Say -
Why, Why, Tell 'Em That Is Human Nature
Why, Why, Does He Do Me That Way
*We turn to see Wizard and the Shepherds amidst the stars.*
I like livin' this way
I like lovin' this way
KKD: Keeping things a bit short to try and get back into the game, but I hope you guys enjoy this. It isn't much, but hopefully next time we'll get to the action. Also, if you guys want Lora to hook up with Frederick, Virion, or Vaike, please vote on my profile page. Until next time, though, I'm KKD Silver and I'll catch you later. *salutes* Jaa ne.