A/N: We are getting closer...
Perhaps it is safe to say that this has been a good run. And I am thinking about canceling the poll. This is mostly due to the fact that most of you simply want a rewrite... Believe me, that's necessary, and I honestly welcome it. Note: I am CONSIDERING it, not confirmed. Because let's face it, just two votes are nothing.
But yay... A slightly longer chapter with major plot progression. Just know that this was going to be a bit longer, but I decided to break it into multiple parts for the sake of getting them to you.
And I'm not including an author's note at the end of this chapter, solely because I am proud of the end and do not really want to break away from it. Anyways, enjoy.
Ravel
We're getting closer...
My confidence is shrinking...
And I still have not seen Wilson...
Gods, I hope that I have not failed. After all, Jeremiah and Sygil haven't said a word to me since that last Grimeal battle, and I'm beginning to get kind of nervous. Besides, it's not like I'll just luck out and have no casualties like last time. We need a plan this time. Not just some random skirmish that results in us drowning in our new-found plot armor.
But internal monologue aside, this is serious.
I mean, if the Grimleal focus on the dark mages, I could put Alyssa or maybe Ayla to help block off most of the magic. Is their resistance good enough?
Ugh... What about Gorge? He has some beastly defenses.
...No, what if they actually do have a lot of mages?
Gorge would be fried.
... Sigh. I only have a few hours before the moment of truth. And boy, is the truth ugly.
"Do you have your plan?" Niro jogs up to me. We're marching toward the supposed sight of the meeting of Grimleal.
I nod. "While I don't have the exacts done, I'm going to have you and Calina fly over to Ylisstol to warn the authorities, while the rest of us are going to hold off the enemy. That way, if we do fail, we will already have reinforcements approaching from the city." If the pair-up system works like it does in-game, then pairing Calina with Niro will probably compliment his speed pretty well.
"Sounds good." Niro smiles. He looks back toward the rest of the group, particularly toward Alyssa, before looking back toward me.
His smile becomes less obvious, and his look stiffens up a bit. "Can you keep a secret?" He asks me.
Huh? I look toward him, my head titled in curiosity. "Yeah. What is it?"
"I... I'm thinking about asking Alyssa to marry me..." a small flash of red appears across Niro's face, but disappears as quickly as it appeared.
Wow. "My lips are sealed. I'm rooting for you." I grin.
"If anything, you're going to be the one that I need to root for." Niro sighs and walks away, possibly toward his girlfriend.
Damn it. Even Niro has better luck at romance than me. It's not like I'm ugly... But I'm nothing by Fire Emblem standards... Or maybe because I'm not as good looking as everyone else, that makes me better looking? What?
This is the part where Jeremiah is supposed to make a snappy comment.
...
No? Fine. Suit yourself.
So, we appear to be nearing the Lake of Tears, which is not too far away from Ylisstol. Because there is only one real way across the lake, this will give us the perfect chance to intercept the force and get reinforcements at the same time. Best case scenario: We successfully hold off and extinguish the Grimleal threat with minimum casualties. As for the worst case scenario..
With my luck, it's best that I do not think of that.
So we have about one mile. Better go tell the others that we shall set up camp around here.
I turn back and walk toward the group behind me. Did I mention that Laurent and Tom are in the group now? Because they are. Eleven people is about the right size of a group at this part of the game. Y'know... If we're pretending that we're the second coming of the Shepherds... Or Greil... I didn't play the Tellius games, I have nothing to say about them.
"Just one more mile and we're going to set up camp." I announce. I hear mostly mutters of agreement, though I do hear a couple of groans. They should be thankful that I'm not like Frederick.
Only a few more hours. According to Niro, there's supposedly a slightly large army heading over in this direction from the Plegian border. And by the looks of his face, they did not appear to be a few weaklings.
I get up from my seat and walk toward Niro. "It's time to go to Ylisstol." I explain.
He nods, before going outside of our tent and yelling for Calina.
After I hear Rysor flying off, I sigh and turn toward the map in front of me.
Okay... So judging by the amount of mages, I should take Geoff and position him on the abandoned fort...
Jafray can cut through the forest and snipe some of the troops from his position.
Wait...
"Wilson?" I yell.
I hear a slight shuffling, before our friendly berserker bursts into the room.
"What is it?!" he yells.
... There he is.
"Nothing. Wanted to make sure that I didn't leave you at the fort." I stifle a laugh, before looking back at the board.
So that means that I can put him and Gorge against some of the Cavalry, though I would have to watch out for those magic users...
Geoff
"We're gonna dieeeeeee...!" I lean over the fire and sing rather loudly. "We're going to die brutal deeeeeeeaths...!"
"And before we are all slaughtered, Gorge is going to go on a diet." Jafray laughs.
"Hah! Will not!" Gorge gives off a loud laugh and reaches for a piece of meat.
I sigh. "Are you ever not hungry?" I groan and get up from in front of the fire. I'll just go and talk to Tom for a bit.
I turn around and gaze across the small camp, before seeing Tom reading a book.
"Hello, buddy." I smile and sit down next to him.
"Hello, Geoff," He looks up from his book, before taking said book and putting it away.
"You never told me how long you have been here."
"Really? I told you that I've been traveling with Laurent for the past eight months."
"But when did you get here?"
"I literally met up with Laurent on the first day I got here." he rolls his eyes and takes out the book again. "Can I be alone, now?"
Yeesh, killjoy. "Who woke up on the wrong side of the bed?" I groan. He's acting different.
...
Soul-merging, dammit. Now he's less fun and more serious. Still smart, though.
"Whatever. Just call me as soon as nukes are invented." he gets up and walks away from camp. Seriously?
Wait... WAIT! "Dude! Ravel doesn't want you to leave camp before the battle!" I yell.
He stops in his tracks. "Fine." he sighs and turns back around, before sitting on a nearby stump.
He gave up way too easy. Huh.
Anyways, now would be a good time for-!
"Everyone to arms!" Ayla and her horse gallop through the camp, ringing a weird bell. "The enemy approaches!"
What? OHSHITSHITSHITSHIT! GO!
I immediately rush toward the convoy, grabbing a sword and some arrows. I then rush toward the stables, which are occupied by Epona and Alyssa's horse.
I hop onto my horse, earning a startled neigh from her.
"Sorry to bother you!" I yell. "The enemy is here!"
This sends Epona into a frenzy, and she then proceeds to gallop out of the stable.
Outside is Ravel, with the other mercenaries gathered around so that they may receive orders.
"Damn it! what are they doing here so soon?!" he screams. "But I have most of the plan already. First of all, Geoff and Jafray are going to go to the western edge of the battlefield, and both of you are going to shoot at the enemy. If you run out of arrows, simply pull out your swords and hold back the enemy until reinforcements arrive. We'll be sure to help you." Jafray and I nod. Sounds easy enough.
He then goes on about how the other mercenaries are going to form a defensive line in front of the bridge, while Alyssa and the magic users are going to stand behind the defense and use their magic.
The two of us immediately depart for the site we are supposed to be stationed at, a small abandoned fort and a small forest nearby.
I position myself on top of the tower, before putting an arrow in my bow and aiming at the crowd in front of me. If I recall, Ravel told me to aim toward the enemy mages, so that Gorge and Wilson- had no idea that he was here- could not be so vulnerable.
And boy, I really hope this works.
Ravel
Alright! "Myras! Form defensive position!" I yell. Myras could clearly be used better, but I have no time for that.
The mercenaries quickly rush into a sort of defensive circle in front of the bridge, with the heavier troops in the front and the magic users in the back. I'm staying in the back, because I have a Levin Sword. We have more than a couple of decent tomes to use against the enemy, their usefulness possibly varying.
Alright, position sword in loading position...
The enemy is only a few meters away...
"Should we fire?!" Ayla asks.
"When I give the signal!" I respond.
Alright...
Closer...
A little... More...
ALRIGHT! "FIRE!" I yell, pointing an arm out for emphasis.
This sends multiple crackles of varying magic, along with a few Tomahawks, tumbling toward the enemy.
The first blast wipes out about ten troops, a few others being mildly wounded.
I yell again, another blast emerging from our group. This one doesn't hit the group as powerfully, only killing about two this time.
Shit. I look over to Geoff's and Jaf's locations, spotting a few arrows being shot from the location.
The only problem is that there are too many of these enemies for just eleven people... Nine, technically.
But we still have to keep trying!
The Grimleal in front of us, appearing to be composed of mostly just soldiers, quickly backs up and reforms into a sort of offensive position, which appears to be expanding... Around... Us...
Shit! I know about this tactic! And we don't have enough people to protect against it!
OH gods... Just... Gah..
I hate to do this...
"EVERYONE! BREAK FORMATION!" I scream. This sends a nod of agreement rolling across the group, before the mercenaries split apart and begin the combat the single troops. I turn toward Alyssa, who is remaining right behind me. "You're staying by me, okay?" I quickly ask. She nods, and I turn around and shoot a lightning bolt at a soldier.
I then put away the Levin Sword, instead pulling out Draiotoll. I grin and rush toward some of the front line, slashing through some of their armor. Unluckily, it barely injures them. While they try to bludgeon me with their spears, I quickly jump back, barely escaping the points of the weapons.
Alyssa casts an Arcfire spell, which shoots a fireball that proceeds to burn the currently defenseless soldiers.
I grin, before jumping back.
So far so good...
I look over to my right, seeing the other Myras easily holding back the enemy. Wait... I spot our newer mages surrounded by some fighters, and by the looks of it, they aren't exactly winning. I sigh, before running over to the enemy fighters and impaling a nearby one. Before the other can react, a fireball blasts from Laurent's hand, burning a hole in the man's skull.
I turn around and rush back to the front lines, blocking some of the weaker hits from the front lines.
In all honesty, these people seem weak.
Almost too weak...
...
I quickly jump away from an axe, which scratches me, though with minimum bleeding.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a myrmidon rushing toward me. I jump into the air and-
Oof!
Gawds damn it! Was now really the time that I had to trip?!
Shit! The man smiles, before lifting his sword...
And being struck by lightning...
Huh... Ironic...
Wait a minute... I get up onto my feet, only to see a red-haired Trickster walk up to me.
... Oh no...
"Looks like you're in quite the bind... Not that the debt was already enough of one..." the woman giggles.
Sigh, of course it is her... "What do you want, Anna #357?" I groan.
She laughs. "Actually, I'm Anna #358. But I am here to help you."
Huh? "What? Why? I thought I owed you money... Shouldn't you be doing the opposite..?" I get up and decapitate a nearby barbarian, before turning back toward Anna.
"In other circumstances, I would. But these brigands are after Ylisstol. And if Ylisstol falls, my profit falls. So for now, let's consider the debt... Temporarily postponed..." she goes into her signature Anna pose and smiles.
... "Good enough for me. You're in." I turn around and dodge a ball of dark magic, only to have Anna have lighting strike the area of it's source. I hear a scream of pain from a dark mage, followed by a noticeable thunk.
And in all honesty, we're improving. We have a good chunk of the front lines in shambles, and so far I have not seen any significant threats.
Hehe! I pull out Draiotoll and block an axe from a nearby troop, only to have Wilson run over and kill the man.
I grin and rush toward the large crowd in front of me, my sword drawn.
Niro
"We're almost there!" I yell, pointing toward the gates to the city. There's a large group of people entering in through the main door, so I may have to fly over them.
But then I'd risk getting shot down by the guards.
Gah! Better idea!
I grab Rysor's reins and swoop to the top of the gate, hovering near a guard.
"Excuse me, sir!" the guard looks toward me and yells. "If you are here for the wedding, you must leave your wyvern at the stables outside of the city. We do not want it to disturb the public." Excuse me?! Rysor is not some stupid tool! He's a living being! Just-!
Forget, I need to tell him.
"That's not important! What's important is that there is a whole army of Grimleal heading this way, and we need reinforcements!" Calina answers for me.
I turn toward her and mouth the word 'thanks' before looking back toward the guard. "She's right. Our friends are over there fighting so that we'd have time to warn you!"
The guard's eyes widen in surprise, before turning to a stern look. "Alright." he mutters. "Come with me." He runs to a ladder leading down the wall, signalling for us to follow.
I drop Calina off at the wall. "Go ahead. I need to put Rysor at the stables." I nod.
I run toward that place that the guard had told us to meet, soon spotting Calina and the guard.
I catch up to them, before we enter what appears to be the guard barracks.
He leads us toward a larger room, motioning for us to sit down at a nearby bench. We do so, and the man turns toward a larger man in more fancied armor.
"Lieutenant Marcus!" he yells.
The man turns toward him, before the guard runs up toward him and whispers in his ear.
After they finish, Marcus nods and walks toward us.
"So your friends are in trouble? Grimleal are invading?" he asks, his stern demeanor not leaving his face.
Calina and I nod. "Yes. They are just above the Lake of Tears." I explain.
Marcus nods, before rage spreads over his face. He grabs my collar, lifting me up on my feet.
Gah! Can't... Breathe...
"Do you think I haven't heard that one already?!" he yells in a maddening fury. His face calms a bit, though he still appears angry. "Do you know what disturbing public events, such as the royal wedding, result in?"
My eyes widen. "W-what...?" I gasp.
He grins. "Execution."
I hear Calina gasp, just as the world around me goes black.