The Distant Plains

Dark clouds loomed overhead, threatening to release their loads at any moment, despite the carnage that was about to begin underneath them. Alysia looked back to the group.

"Kent?" Alysia asked. "How far?"

"Just past these mountains." Kent replied, looking at the map. "There, lies Castle Caelin, and Lundgren."

"Grandfather... I'll be there soon." Lyn whispered.

"It all rides on this battle, doesn't it?" Alysia asked.

Sain nodded, and mounted Raven, the black mare formerly belonging to Eagler. "Lundgren's neighbors won't be reinforcing him. This is all he has left."

"Let him come!" Lyn cried. "Let them all come! He will not turn me back!" Then, in a quieter tone, she said "I will see my grandfather. I've come too far to let anything or anyone stand in my way."

She turned to Alysia. "This is it, Alysia." She said. "This is our final test."

Alysia nodded, and turned to address the group as a whole. "This is it! My friends, let me lead you once again!"

There was a cheer that sprang forth from the group.

Alysia looked over at Ninian, who sat behind Rath. "Are you sure that you want to be with us now?" Alysia asked, one last time.

Ninian nodded. "I... I need to do this for myself."

Alysia nodded. "I understand. Be safe."

Then, she turned back to the bridge. She remembered the maps of this area that Eliwood had given her. The area was extremely fertile, with a river that flowed from the mountains south of them, and split apart, cutting the land around here as well. Perfect for farming, but a hassle to travel on foot. There was also a lot of rough ground here, not to mention forested areas as well.

Across the first river was their first confrontation. A group of archers, mages, and spearmen blocked their way. Trees were scattered among the plains. Florina moved quickly to attack the mages, easily weaving between their fireballs to deliver a series of quick strikes with her lance. Meanwhile, Dorcas and Wallace used axes to cut through the spearmen, as Kent and Sain broke past them to eliminate the archers. There was a sound of thunder and Alysia was unsure of whether is came from Wallace or the sky.

Then the heavens opened up, and rain began to fall. Undeterred, they moved on, Rath and Wil exchanging fire with another group of archers that had moved up from the south. Nils began tooting a cheerful tune on his flute, and everyone seemed energized. Alysia felt the fatigue of trudging through the quickly thickening mud seem to vanish. As they approached the second bridge, the rain began to let up.

Erk lobbed fireballs across the river as Lucius cast bolts of light. Their magical barrage cut through a forest on the opposite shore, and the archers within, and they crossed unharrassed. On the opposite shore, though, they were met by a force of swordsmen as they emerged from the forest. Sain and Kent joined with Wallace, and they moved forwards, crushing the swordsmen between their lances and the walls of a nearby village.

Atop the walls was a young man. "Hello there!" He called. Alysia looked up to him.

"Close the village gates!" He called back. "This isn't going to be a pretty battle!"

"They've already been closed!" The man replied. "I wanted to tell you something! Lundgren's destroyed the bridges leading to the armory and shop."

"What? We needed new weapons!" Alysia cried.
"Don't worry." The man replied. "There's an old snag, a big dead tree south of here. You could probably take a weapon and knock it down in a few swings."

Alysia nodded. "Thank you!"

"We're behind you and Lady Lyndis all of the way!" He called. "Take that bastard down!"

They moved south, but were intercepted by a sizeable force of cavalry, as well as foot-soldiers wielding a mix of axes and swords. Sain and Kent met cavalry with cavalry, Dorcas and Wallace met axe with axe. Alysia watched as Sain and Kent protected each other in combat. A spear aimed at Kent's back was deflected with a swing of Sain's sword, and met with a thrust.

Alysia sighted the old tree that the villager had mentioned, and pointed it out to Lyn. "We need better weapons than what we have now if we're going to beat your granduncle." She said.

Lyn frowned. "What's wrong with our current weaponry?"

"Kent and Sain have told me that he wears very thick armor. Our weapons won't be able to break through."

Lyn nodded, and went over to the tree, took out the Mani Katti, and, in one swift swing of her weapon, cut through the tree's trunk, toppling it over the river and forming a bridge to the other side. She turned to Alysia, and raised an eyebrow. "Weapons blessed by spirits tend to be exempt." Alysia said flatly, a smile growing on her face.

Newly equipped, and ready for one last fight, their group knocked down a second snag, and crossed a final river. Standing at the gate to Castle Caelin, holding a spear as big as Wallace's, and in deep violet armor, was Lundgren, standing there with a sneer on his face.

Lyn stood before him, hand on the Mani Katti.

"So you're the girl claiming kinship with my brother!" Lundgren said, more a statement than a question.
"You'll play this farce to the end, won't you, Lundgren?" Lyn asked.
"The royal house of Caelin has no need of a Sacaen mongrel!" He spat. "I'll put an end to this foolishness here and now!"
"To further your own black-hearted ambitions, you've harmed my grandfather and the very land you ought to serve." She said. "I have neither pity nor mercy for you." As Lyn drew the Mani Katti, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and rain began to fall yet again. "Lundgren!" She cried. "Prepare yourself!"
"Whelp!" Lundgren spat. "Come here and die!" He raised his spear.

Lyn moved quickly, swinging at Lundgren's legs. Lundgren blocked her attacks with his spear, and batted at her. She danced away quickly, but his weapon managed to strike her leg. She winced as the cold metal cut through her, the blood running down her leg swiftly as it mixed with the rain. She tested her weight on it. Nothing was broken, nothing was badly damaged, she decided. Again, she attacked. Again, Lundgren moved to block.

Lundgren growled as the Mani Katti cleaved the shaft of his spear in two. He made to draw his sword, but before he could, the Mani Katti flashed like the lightning in the sky, and it found its way past his armor, and through his heart.

"Lundgren, for all that you have done to my grandfather, and to this land..." Lyn said coldly, "DIE!" She twisted her body, and the sword cut through Lundgren easily. He fell to the ground with a loud thud. Beyond lay the open gate...

"Who's there?" The man said. Alysia stifled a gasp. Before her, laying on the bed, was a living corpse. His body was weak, his frame thin. Yet he gave off the air of a man used to power.

"I said no visitors. I will see no one." He said.

Lyn's face fell. She had been so happy to learn that her grandfather was still alive, but to be cast out afterwords? It was unbearable. Alysia and Lyn stood there.

"What are you doing?" The marquess asked. "Leave. I wish to die alone."

Lyn took a step forward. "Pardon, sir. My name is... I'm Lyndis."

The marquess frowned even deeper. "Lyndis?" He asked. "Why do you torture me so? My granddaughter is dead."

"My father was Hassar, chieftain of the Lorca." Lyn said. "My mother was Madelyn. I was raised on the plains of Sacae."

"Could it be?" The marquess said. "Come closer. Let me see your face."

Lyn moved to the foot of the bed, and the marquess' eyes widened. "It's true." He said. "You are Madelyn's child."

He groaned, and clutched his stomach. Lyn rushed to his side, hugging him tight. "Grandfather!"

"Lundgren said that my daughter was dead." He said simply. "That you were dead. My only heir, my children... Thank you for living. I am truly blessed."

Tears formed in Lyn's eyes, and Alysia realized that she was intruding on a private moment. She silently left the room, and closed the door behind him.

Alysia rose from the bench in the courtyard as the sound of a door reached her. She turned, and saw Lyn. "Lyn I need to..." Alysia started.

"Lyndis!" Sain cried, rushing forwards. "Tell me the truth. Do you really plan on remaining here?"

Lyn nodded. "Until my grandfather is well, I intend to remain. I won't leave until I have seen him rise from his bed in true health."

"The physician says that Lord Hausen looks like a new man." Kent said. "It's like he was never ill. All of this is thanks to you, milady."

Lyn smiled. "He's the only family that I have left. I want him to live a long life."

"Lady Lyndis!" Florina called.

"What is it, Florina?" Lyn said back.

"I've been taken into service by House Caelin!" She exclaimed. "From here on, Lyn... I mean Lady Lyndis... We'll always be together!"

Lyn smiled. "That's great, but please don't call me Lady Lyndis. Lyn is all I ever want to be to you."

Florina smiled. "My pegasus and I fly for your house. I am your servant, and as a servant, I have to follow the rules, Lady Lyndis."

"Florina!" Lyn exclaimed.

She just shook her head. "I'm happiest with you. That's more important to me than how I address you."

Lyn sighed. "I suppose I'll just have to get used to it, then. Very well."

Florina ran forwards and hugged Lyn. "Thank you, Lyn! I love you!" She quickly broke and stepped back. "I mean... Lady Lyndis..."

Lyn smiled and laughed. "Oh, Florina!"

"Lyn, I..." Alysia started.

"I'm staying too!" Wil yelled.

Lyn turned to Wil. "I thought you were planning to head home after all of this." She said "What happened?"

"I was, but I've grown rather fond of Lyndis' Legion." He said with a smile. "I couldn't possibly leave it all behind. I've already sent word to my family regarding my decision."

Lyn nodded. "Well, I'm pleased to have you here, Wil."

Alysia led the horse quietly from the stables. While she had wanted to stay for the party that was being thrown in Lyn's honor, she couldn't bring herself to remain. She'd left a note in her room explaining her decision, about how she needed to go her own way for now, that she couldn't stay.

"Alysia!" A voice cried behind her. She turned to see Lyn running up to her.

"Lyn? What are you doing here? I thought you were at the party?"

Lyn held up a piece of paper. "I refuse to accept that this note is the only explanation I'll get." She said. "What's really going on, Alysia? Why are you really leaving?"

Alysia sighed. "I've done some bad things in my life, Lyn." Alysia said. "Touching Ninian's ring... It was the same thing that happened with the Sylvanas and the Mani Katti. More of that fog was lifted."

Lyn smiled. "Alysia, we've all done things we're not proud of."

"I'm Black Fang, Lyn." Alysia said suddenly.

Lyn stood there, shocked. "You... this isn't funny, Alysia."

"I'm not joking, Lyn. I wish I was. I really do. But I'm not." She sighed. "Touching Ninian's ring... I had a dream that night. I left the Fang. That's why I ended up in the Sacae Plains. They found me, put me in that state. Then..."

Lyn smiled. "Then I found you."

Alysia nodded. "I'm going to find my soul, Lyn." She said. "I lost it somewhere along the line. It's high time I got it back."

Lyn nodded. "I'm not going to ask you to stay. But..." She sighed. "I'll miss you. When I found you unconscious on the plains... I had no idea we'd go through all of this. You've helped us so much, and I'm sure you've learned as much from us as we have from you. You'll do fine on your own." She said.

"Lyn... Thank you." Alysia said. "Take care of yourself. When I find myself, I'll come back. I promise."

And so she climbed onto the horse, and turned back to Lyn. She was about to say something, but Lyn stopped her.

"Don't say goodbye." She told Alysia, smiling as she fought back the tears. "We'll see each other again. You promised."

Alysia smiled, nodded, and spurred her horse on, riding west, towards the setting sun...