Chapter 2 is here! Sorry for not getting this up sooner, but I had a massive writer's block. It was not easy to get over.
MBenz4268: Of course I had to promote your story, I always tell where I got my ideas from ;) And as for rushing this, please let me know in what aspect so I can work on it.
DMGmana: That's a shame, your story was really good and I was sad that it has been put on a near-permanent hiatus. Hopefully it will maybe emerge from its coma in the future.
Pokémon and Fire Emblem both do not belong to me.
Enjoy!
"And that's how I met Amethyst!" Kramer finished a story about how he met his ghost Pokémon who was currently staying behind the rest of the others.
"Why did you take him if you know that he gets... twitchy around gems?" Chrom asked with interest because Amethyst, like all Sableyes, had a jewel addiction. However, this one in particular was known to break into people's houses and steal their goodies when he visited towns, which made the citizens kick him out. He was then found by Kramer staggering in the woods after a bad run.
"Don't worry. Ever since then, he's calmed down quite a bit," Kramer responded with Amethyst nodding vigorously.
"That's a little hard to believe from what you told us," Frederick said, looking at the small Pokémon suspiciously who shuddered under the man's hard gaze.
"I swear, he is completely stable. He hasn't eaten any sparkles for three months now," Kramer reassured and Frederick lowered his glare a little.
"And just so I can get this clear, none of them can speak human words?" Chrom inquired. Kramer looked amused at the question.
"Well... not all them. Isn't that right Hinagiku?" Kramer nodded at the psychic type which grew a smile on her face.
"Quite right master," came a female voice that seemed to come from Hinagiku, startling all four of the Shepherds.
"You can talk!?" Lissa cried out in complete and utter surprise.
"Sort of," Hinagiku replied making her stunned listeners confused. That's when Robin found out what she was on about.
"I get it now, you must be speaking by use of your... powers," she concluded, not being able to describe Hinagiku's type.
"Ding! You got it right! Hinagiku speaks by using telepathy which is a bit difficult to explain," Kramer said, growing even more entertained as he tried to educate the foreigners of these 'Pokémon' that they have never heard of before.
"Just what is her type?" Frederick asked, intrigued as to what her powers were like.
"I am a dual Psychic and fairy type," Hinagiku answered.
"What's psychic?" Chrom asked curious at this new word.
"Give a display," Kramer ordered, pointing at a nearby pond. The water suddenly glowed blue and left the waterhole in a big jet (Psychic) and went in a perfect circle around some trees. After a couple of minutes of an amazing performance of spiralling around the Shepherds, it softly went back into the hole where the water sank in, without any spilling.
"That. Was. Amazing!" Lissa cheered with the others clapping.
"An impressive display indeed," Frederick said, his face not changing one bit.
"Thank you, thank you," Hinagiku replied, bowing as if she was performing on a stage. They then went on their way towards the capital.
"Camer..." "Show off..." Krakatoa muttered to himself, but only Kramer and the other Pokémon understood him.
"Did he just say his name?" Robin asked. Kramer mentally facepalm himself for not telling them of their speech earlier and spent the next couple of minutes explaining the talking situation.
"And that makes me the only one that can sort of speak," Hinagiku finished the explanation that went on for five minutes.
"But why can you understand them Kramer?" Lissa asked, slightly jealous at the trainer's ability.
"Because I've been around them long enough to do so," Kramer replied. Judging by the way he stepped up the pace, he didn't want to talk anymore, which three out of the four shepherds understood. Lissa was about to ask him another question but Chrom stopped him.
"I think he's had enough for one night. You can ask him tomorrow," he told her, making her nod sadly as they were so many questions she wanted to ask.
HALF AN HOUR LATER...
The Shepherds and Pokémon were halfway to the capital by now. At this point, the sun had fully set and all of them were feeling tried.
"I told you, it's getting dark already!" Lissa blurted out, suddenly making them stop walking. "And the bugs are out! Noisy disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when..." she complained, but Mina quickly swiped her tail in front of her face stopping her.
"Milo milo, Milotic," "There was a bug about to enter your mouth," she said and Kramer had to translate it to the natives of this place whose expressions, (Frederick's especially), lowered.
"Thank you so much! You have no idea how disgusting those bugs are. Noisy, filthy, and..." she started.
"No problem lady Lissa," Kramer spoke louder than her.
"Call me Lissa please! Lady sounds so stuffy!" she responded with an, 'are you kidding me' look, making Raika laugh a little causing her glare at him, which he responded by sticking his tongue out.
"We should probably think about food. I don't know about you, but I'm starving," Robin quickly changed the subject before Lissa could hit the dog with her staff.
"Yes, and I think that a little hunting game is in order," Frederick spoke up, pulling out his silver lance. "Now who wants to clear a campsite?" he asked enthusiastically.
"We will!" Kramer jumped to the task and he along with his Pokémon went to work building a campsite.
Hinagiku glowed blue (Psychic) and brought out logs from the forest as sitting spots for the humans.
Kramer and his Pokémon (except Krakatoa) searched for sticks which they used to make a base for the fire, although this was a bit difficult for Frostbite as she didn't have hands or body parts to help.
And for the big finale, Krakatoa breathed small fire specks (Ember) and soon, a fire was cooking up.
"Impressive as always," Frederick commended Kramer.
"Now for the hunting, Lissa and Robin, stay with Kramer, we'll be back in a couple of minutes," Chrom said. He and Frederick were about to enter when Raika ran up to them looking eager.
"I think he wants to join in," Kramer told them.
"Are you sure?" Chrom asked the lightning dog who nodded. Chrom accepted this and moved out with his followers. Lissa noticed Frostbite skulking at the edge of the camp.
"Hey, don't you want to come closer where it's warm?" she asked.
"Glalie, Glalie," "I'm an ice type, I hate heat," she snapped as if she was insulted and Kramer translated for her.
"Well there's no need to be such a grumpy head about it!" Lissa retorted, making Frostbite breathe on her. Due to her core temperature being below zero, she gave Lissa quite a shock.
"HEY!" She cried out and was about to counter when her arm glowed blue. (Psychic) from Hinagiku.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. "Frostbite isn't comfortable around you," indeed, the ice head was glaring at Lissa like she was a disease to her.
"Why?" Robin asked why Frostbite hated humans expect for her trainer.
"An incident which we would not like to talk about," Hinagiku explained. Robin understood and told Lissa to move away from her, which she did grudgingly.
"You should have seen my first time meeting her; I couldn't feel my feet for a whole week!" Kramer exclaimed with his freezer growing a slight smile at the memory. They then sat in silence waiting for Chrom and his two hunters to return. Eventually they did with Frederick carrying a big bear over his shoulder.
"You did not tell us Rakia can move at lightning speeds," Frederick said blandly.
"Yeah well... surprises and stuff," Kramer responded. Frederick didn't say anything else as they put the bear on the fire. A few minutes later, everyone expect Lissa and Frederick were eating slabs of meat.
"Mmm... It's been too long since I had bear meat! Delicious!" Chrom said with Lissa giving him a dirty look.
"What's wrong Lissa? Dig in," he told her.
"Pass! Gods, couldn't you spear us an animal normal people eat for once?" she complained.
"Funny you should mention that," perked up Kramer. "Look what Amethyst managed to get," he gestured to the dead rabbit that was being shared among the Pokémon as well as Kramer himself, who was eating a leg.
"Can I have some? PLEASE!? I'll eat any meat as long as it's not bear!" she begged.
"Yeah su..." but before Kramer could finish, Lissa already had some rabbit and was chowing down.
"This is great!" she thanked him before continuing her rant. "Who eats bear!? You're meddling with the food chain! Right Robin?" she asked Robin, who was literally devouring her bear meat as if she was about to die from hunger.
"I suppose a person would enjoy just about anything after not eating for days..." Lissa sighed.
"Just eat it Lissa, meat is meat," Chrom said after finishing his share.
"Since when does meat smell like old boots!?" Lissa cried out before shaking her head to her previous statement. "Wait, I take that back! Boots smell better!"
"Every experience makes us stronger milady, even those we don't enjoy." Frederick once again gave sage advice which Lissa took with a scowl.
"Really? Then why don't I see YOU eating Frederick?" she countered making the Great Knight's eyes widen slightly.
"Me? Oh well... I'm not hungry. I...I had a large lunch! Yes, quite," Frederick stammered with a fake smile.
"Camer," "Yeah right," Krakatoa scoffed and Kramer translated with a slight snigger.
"I will pretend I didn't hear that," was Frederick's reply, making the Pokémon chuckle in amusement.
"Fighting aside, there's no way we're reach the capital in one shot," Chrom spoke up. "It's best if we camp out here for the night." Everyone agreed and dozed off as soon as they got in a comfortable position. Kramer however, huddled around his Pokémon who did the same, even Frostbite.
Sometime later, Chrom woke up from his sleep and felt an aura of uneasiness in the area. He noticed the Pokémon were up as well, they must feel it too. When he stood up, Lissa woke from her sleep.
"What's wrong big brother?" she asked with a yawn.
"Sorry, but I didn't mean to wake you, but something is amiss," Chrom replied looking around for any signs of an ambush. There were none although that didn't make the aura go away.
"I think I'll go take a look around," he said after a minute of trying to find something, but to no avail. When he took a few steps forward, Lissa grabbed his arm.
"Not alone you won't! I'm coming too," she told him. Chrom was about to argue when a new voice came.
"So will I," said Hinagiku approaching them.
"Are you sure? I don't think Kramer will be exactly thrilled that you left him in the middle of the night," Chrom protested.
"My friends are watching him and he will understand," the Embrace Pokémon replied. She and Lissa both looked dead set about coming along.
"...Thank you, both of you," Chrom said after a moment's thought and they set off.
They spent the next half hour trying to find the source of the disturbance, but they couldn't find anything.
"It sure is dark... and quiet. Where did the birds go?" Lissa asked nervously. She was right, there was no sign of animal life throughout the entire forest.
"Something is wrong," Chrom said feeling the need to reach for Falchion.
"Something's coming!" Hinagiku yelled suddenly and the next thing they knew, there was a massive earthquake.
"Ahh! Chrom!" Lissa cried out in horror as she grasped on to Chrom's waist holding him tightly.
"What is this madness!? Lissa! Hinagiku! Stay close!" Chrom yelled over the earthquake. Just then, the trees started coming down as something was coming closer.
"Lissa, Hinagiku, run," Chrom ordered.
"But Chrom!..." Hinagiku tried to urge him to follow but failed.
"I mean it! Go!" Chrom shouted. He took off after Hinagiku levitated herself to fly away, while Lissa and Chrom ran on foot. Chrom looked back to see the very ground coming apart causing magma to pour from the earth's crust. As if that wasn't enough, fireballs that were produced by the magma were being launched all over the forest setting fires and destroying it.
Hinagiku looked back to see a fireball dangerously close to hitting Chrom as he ran. She rushed over to him and put a green shield over his back (Protect) stopping the fireball from burning him alive. They ran and ran to discover the path they were running towards was in blazes. Chrom quickly directed them to an alternate route just as a fireball was about to hit Lissa.
After minutes of running that seemed like forever, they eventually reached a part of the forest that wasn't damaged and caught their breath. Not for long though.
"LOOK!" Lissa screamed pointing at the sky. Something appeared suddenly, it looked like a patch of crystals surrounded by weird symbols. Just then, the crystals opened to reveal a blue portal with an object in the centre, it resembled an eye. Then five figures emerged from the portal and fell from the sky all the way to the ground.
"Hinagiku!" Kramer's voice sounded. The trainer and his Pokémon were running up to them.
"Don't just leave like that!" Kramer scolded and was about to lecture her about running off when he saw the figures rising from their fall, unharmed. Three of them had axes and had suits that exposed their chests. But two had arm guards and wielded swords. One thing was for sure: they were not friendly.
"You didn't tell us that this place had zombies!" Kramer exclaimed as he looked at them closely. Indeed, the 'zombies' had a purple aura surrounding them and red eyes that pierced through the darkness.
"We don't have zombies!" Chrom snapped at him. But he changed his opinion when one of the Fighters stepped forward and bellowed an inhuman roar while exhaling some form of smoke.
"Lissa, you better stand back," Chrom told his younger sister who backed away until she reached a rock. The fighter then charged at Chrom and did a jump attack with its axe raised. But Chrom dodged and struck it fair and square in the chest causing a massive gash to appear. But that didn't stop it. The creature turned its head around without moving its body and tried to slam its axe into Chrom's body. But it failed as the blue haired man quickly sent Falchion into its line of fire, colliding with it and tried to overpower the axe.
They went into a battle for power to see who would give up first. Eventually, Chrom won and sent the axe out of its hand and stabbed it, sending it flying to the ground. Before it could get up, Chrom jumped and swiftly stabbed it in the chest killing it. It faded away in purple smoke raising his suspicions about zombies in Ylisse.
But then, Otachi's massive roar echoed out as one of the arm guard creatures charged at him which proved to be a big mistake. The dragon took flight just as the Mercenary's sword was about to strike him and was blown back by a purple stream of energy. (Dragon Pulse) It was put down in purple smoke by a fast electric ball from Raika. (Electro Ball)
The other Mercenary tried to have a go at Mina. It was blasted by her tail which was glowing green (Dragon Tail) and sent it flying in a tree, It was dazed, but wasn't killed. Luckily, Frostbite, fired a beam of ice (Ice Beam) at its head freezing it solid, killing it. It's body faded away, but its head crashed to the ground sending bits of its head and purple smoke everywhere.
One of the remaining Fighters went directly for Kramer who looked at it with a mixed expression of mockery and disgust. Suddenly, there was a tremor causing the ground to spike (Earth Power) into the creature making it collapse in pain. And to finish, a stream of darkness (Dark Pulse) hit it making it turn into purple smoke for good. Kramer shot grateful looks at Krakatoa and Amethyst who nodded in response.
As Chrom watched the Pokémon destroy the creatures, he heard a scream of horror and turned to see the last Fighter lumber towards Lissa with its axe raised.
While they were distracted, a figure dressed in blue and wearing a butterfly like mask, jumped from the portal and saw Lissa in danger. The masked stranger swore to a friend of theirs that they would protect her and rushed to save her.
"LISSA!" Chrom cried in horror as he ran towards her. She tried to raise her staff to defend herself as the fighter went in for the kill.
But then the attack was intercepted by the figure who blocked it using their sword. Lissa looked up to see him or her struggling to hold off the attack. Kramer guessed that it was a he.
"Help!" he called to his watchers who looked stunned at this man's arrival.
"Right," Chrom replied and charged with a battle roar at the zombie like creature, making it turn towards him. Lissa's saviour on the other hand, took this opportunity when the axe's strength was lifted off him to deliver a finishing blow. Chrom also did the same, killing it as his attack struck at the exact same time as the masked swordsman's. The monster did not survive both attacks and faded away in a cloud of purple smoke like its fellow comrades.
"Quite an entrance," Kramer said as the swordsman returned his sword and Lissa shakily regained her balance.
"What's your name?" Chrom asked him but then Frederick and Robin rode up, making them lose their focus on Lissa's saviour.
"Milord's! Milady! Pokémon! Are any of you hurt!?" Frederick asked frantically as Robin hopped off his horse looking just as worried.
"Mane, Manectric," "We're fine save for being shaken," Rakia said and Kramer translated for him. Just then, they noticed more monsters coming out of the forest.
"Are such horrific creatures common in these lands?" Robin asked nervously while getting out her thunder tome.
"They're not from Ylisse, I can promise you that," Chrom replied brandishing Falchion for battle.
"Sable," "They're also not alive," Amethyst stated, with his fellow Pokémon giving him a "You're not helping" look.
Frederick examined them. "So no one is injured?" nods were given to him. "Thank the gods..." he muttered to himself but Lissa heard him.
"Thank the masked man who saved me! If not for him, I'd be..." she looked for her rescuer, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Hey, where'd he go?" Kramer asked her question for her. Luckily, Hinagiku was on that case as she scanned the area for him using her psychic abilities.
"He's over there fighting the monsters," she pointed to where some of them were gathering over to him while he skilfully cut them down.
"We can worry about him AFTER we put these... things to the blade," Frederick said, trying to give a name for the zombie monsters as they approached. "Eyes open, we know nothing about this enemy," he lectured, readying himself on his steed.
"Except that they're dead soldiers," Kramer added earning looks from the Shepherds. Just then, Frostbite shoved him out of the way of an arrow which was about to hit him in his chest.
"Thanks sugar," he thanked her by patting her on the head and calling her by her favourite nickname. She smiled and quickly fired a blast of snowballs in a wind (Blizzard) at the archer that tried to kill her beloved trainer. The attack hit him, freezing him on the spot where Frederick stabbed it with his silver lance, breaking it apart leaving little bits of ice, blood, and light traces of purple smoke.
On the battlefield, Mina and Robin were fighting together in an abandoned fort that they found. They proved to be quite the pair up as Robin used her thunder tome on a Fighter that rushed her, while Mina fired circles of water (Water Pulse) at two Mercenary's stunning them. One went into a fit of rage (Confuse Status) making him attack an Archer that was heading towards the fort. If the Archer had another weapon, he might have been able to defend himself, yet he couldn't as the confused Mercenary put him down with ease. But before he could recover, a hand axe struck him in his head killing him in a cloud purple smoke. The axe came from a Fighter who saw the act as treason.
Chrom was dealing with a Mercenary who rushed at him and found himself in a struggle for power like before. Not for long though as Amethyst jabbed it with a lightning fast punch (Sucker Punch) before it could over Chrom. The distracted Mercenary was purple smoke in a second, as it turned to face its attacker.
"Remind your master to tell us what kind of attacks you and your friends have," Chrom told the jewel addict. It nodded its assent and went to assist Hinagiku, who was dealing with a Fighter that snuck up on her.
"Captain Chrom! I'm coming!" came a new female voice from the woods. The voice's owner revealed herself to be a redhead in red armour (that's what I'm going to call it) riding a horse, although hers wasn't armoured like Frederick's. She was also wielding a bronze lance.
"Sully?" Chrom asked, dumbfounded.
"I knew I shouldn't have left ya," she grumbled in an unladylike fashion before turning her attention to the fight. "All right you ash faced freaks!" she shouted. "Which one of ya wants to try lance on for size first! Cause I know just the perfect spot for it: shoved right up your..."
"Hold milady!" came another new voice. This person was a man with light blue hair and had an Iron Bow. He was dressed like a fancy person and had an 'I'm famous, look at me' aura surrounding him.
"Muh?" Sully turned to look at the Archer and Kramer came over accompanied with Otachi, who was extremely tired from fighting.
"Life may be long, but attraction is fleeting! Would you leave me in your sweet dust?" the man started to ramble. Kramer was about to say something when he was interrupted.
"Leave war to the warriors dear bird! A beauty such as you need wage only love!" It was pretty clear to the trainer and the dragon where he was going with this.
"...The hell are you!?" Sully said, trying to process what he said.
"Ha! Is the lady intrigued? Of course you are, it's only natural," the man drawled before arranging himself in a heroic pose.
"I am myth and legend! I am he who strides large across history's greatest stage! The man who puts the 'arch' in archer! My name, dear lady is Vi..." but Sully cut him off. "Sala," "Thank gods," he groaned causing the newcomers to change their attention to him.
"Sorry Ruffles! No time for this! Nice dragon you got buddy! ONWARD!" she shouted cutting him off while looking at Otachi interestedly. He looked at her back with his head tilted to the left.
"Virion!" the man didn't hear her and saw that she was about to charge while Kramer looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Er, my name. It's Virion," the archer introduced himself to Kramer who nodded back before turning his attention back to Sully.
"W-wait! Where are you going!?" he cried out in horror causing her stop the charge on her horse and look at him.
"She's here to fight, what else," Kramer spoke for her; he missed the look of gratitude that Sully gave him.
"Pray, at least tell me your name!" Virion stammered, unable to think of anything else to say.
"I'm Sully... and I'm a Shepherd," she introduced herself and her horse joining in, neighing as if to say hello.
""Sully,"How divine! A strikingly beautiful name as it fits its owner, truly," Virion went back into his flirt-mode. He then said something that threw Sully, Kramer, and Otachi completely off guard.
"Will you marry me my dearest Sully?" was the words that came out of his mouth. Kramer's jaw dropped, Otachi firing a purple fire (Dragonbeath) at an incoming Mercenary, and Sully just looked at him as if he made the biggest insult in the world.
"Will I what now?" she asked to try to understand what he just said.
"He asked if you would marry him," Kramer told her.
"I damn well know that!" she snapped, making him jump back in surprise.
"I get it, this a joke. And when I put my boot though your face, that's the punchline," she threatened Virion, looking ready to strike.
"I realize my manly figure and noble bearing can be overwhelming, tis' common!" Virion said unaware of the consequences. "So please, don't feel pressured to answer right a..."
"How's THIS for an answer!?" Sully snarled riding her horse over to him and kicking him in the gut, making Kramer and Otachi wince in pain.
"G-goodness, those shapely legs certainly can kick..." Virion wheezed regaining his posture.
"P-please Milady! Allow me to accompany you at least! Mine is a cold empty world without you!" he begged. "I shall be your most willing servant and you in turn, will give my life purpose,"
"Salamence!" "Take him! Make him shut up!" Otachi spoke his opinion but only Kramer could understand him.
"Fine," Sully sighed. "Anything to shut you up," Virion's face lit up instantly and Otachi looked at her with approval.
"What? Stop staring at me like that!" Sully told the dragon who scowled at her and went back into the fight.
"What sort of magnificent creature is that?" Virion asked Kramer.
"Talk later, fight now," Kramer told him and Virion nodded before dashed into the fray, bow ready and shot a Fighter that tried to rush him in the head. Sully also did her part by stabbing a Mercenary who rushed at her like the mindless beast he was.
Kramer heard an explosion directly behind him and saw a cloud of purple smoke fading in a massive crater. Then he saw Krakatoa looking at him proudly, no doubt it was him who fired that attack.
The battle went quite smoothly after that. The Shepherds and Pokémon managed to kill nearly all the monsters. There were just a few stragglers left that were being picked off by Sully and Virion.
"RYAARRGH!" Kramer looked behind just in time to see a Fighter throw its hand axe at him. But Kramer learned his lesson from the southtown and dodged it.
"Master!" Hinagiku's voice yelled and his body glowed blue (Psychic) and was pulled towards the embrace Pokémon. Virion used this chance to stun it with an arrow to the knee while Chrom ended it with a strike to the head, decapitating it and leaving a cloud of purple smoke where there once stood the last attacking monster.
"It seems all the creatures are vanquished, this young man took care of the rest," Frederick said returning his weapon with Lissa's saviour walking behind him.
"..." the masked man made no comment. Lissa walked up to him after healing Sully who took a blow.
"Um... I never got to thank you... for before. So... thank you, you were very brave," she thanked with a sheepish smile. Chrom took his turn to talk to the man.
"You saved my sister's life," he stated. "My name is Chrom, might I ask yours?"
"...You may call me Marth," was the masked man's reply, surprising Chrom.
"Marth? After the heroic king of old?" he asked him. "You certainly fight like a hero. Where did you learn your way with a sword?" he questioned.
"I'm not here to talk about me," Marth said. "This world teeters at the brink of a horrible calamity. What you saw tonight was but a prelude, you have been warned," he said and walked away into the woods not before giving the Pokémon a curious look.
"Fascinating animals," he said before walking off for good. The Pokémon themselves where not sure to be offended or be pleased at the praise.
"Huh? What's teetering now? HEY WAIT!" she called to him just as he vanished out of eyeshot.
"Not one for conversation is he?" Robin said.
"It appears his skills lie elsewhere, I wager we'll hear his name again," Frederick spoke giving some more sage advice. "But I'm more concerned about the capital, we should make haste," he added and the walk from the forest to the capital started.
"Hey buddy," Sully said to Kramer, "What are these... things of yours?" and so Kramer went into another explanation about who he was and what the Pokémon were to Sully and Virion.
Chapter 2 is done! I would have gotten it up sooner, but like I said before, I had a big writer's block that was not easy to get over.
Please let me know what you think of it so far, if its rushed, please let me know in detail so I can work on it.
See you in chapter 3!