Finally. Breakneck Pass. It had appeared in Cordelia's vision no less than ten minutes ago. And now she was here. All she could hope for was that she was not too late. That she had beaten the wyvern riders. Otherwise... Otherwise she had failed. And she couldn't let that happen.
"Come on. We need to reach Chrom. Now." Diving downwards, Cordelia could feel the sounds of battle filling her ears. Screams of hatred and anger, of sorrow and despair, of pain and agony all mixed together into one tumultuous chaotic mess. Frantically, Cordelia's eyes darted around the battlefield. Where was Chrom? Where were the Shepherds?
"This is no use. I need a closer look." Though she didn't think her pegasus could hear her, Cordelia still felt like her steed understood. Certainly, it helped Cordelia to utter her plans aloud, allow herself to make sure they were what she needed to do. Carefully decreasing her altitude, making sure no archers had aimed for her, she could make out some shapes in the fighting. But none of the Shepherds. It was just Ylissean soldiers fighting against Plegian soldiers, sometimes gaining ground, other times retreating, but always facing each other. Lances clashed against shields, again and again. It was like a melody of fighting. A brutal melody. Cordelia headed east, closer to the front lines. She knew Chrom liked to lead in the thick of the combat, and most of the Shepherds would stay close to him. They fought as a unit. Together.

"Captain Chrom! Look – in the sky!" Chrom finished off a Plegian fighter, before turning his gaze to where Sumia was pointing. A shape was in the air, heading straight for him.
"Is that a Plegian?" Chrom stared with confusion at the figure, before realizing what it was. "That's a pegasus knight."
"It's Cordelia!" Phila shouted, just loud enough for the Ylissean prince to here. "But she was stationed at the Plegian border. Does that mean..."
"Has the border fallen? Are we under attack by both sides?" Chrom blocked a clumsy sword strike, before replying with his own, more careful attack. Parrying an axe blow, he pushed his attacker back, thrusting his sword into the fighter's chest. Looking around him, he saw another Plegian heading for Lissa. Grunting with determination, he charged forwards, his left arm taking the impact of the attack. Bringing his Falchion to the side, he struck into the man's stomach, creating a massive, gaping wound in the side.
"Captain Chrom!" A shout from above. "We're in danger – a fleet of wyvern riders wiped out my squad. Gangrel was sending them forwards. Not only that, but more Plegians were on their way! We have to get out of here." Chrom shook his head.
"More?" Chrom stopped for a moment. "We can't. Not yet. We'll have to press forwards – into the heart of the enemy." Chrom advanced forwards, cutting down another two soldiers, who were distracted by Ylisseans.
"But-"
"They've already killed two of our number – we can't let that sacrifice go to waste."
"Who... Who died? How?" Cordelia flew upwards, before hurling a spear into the eye of an archer.
"Miriel and Stahl. The wyverns that were following you... They reached here first."

"Miriel and Stahl. The wyverns that were following you... They reached here first." That phrase. As clear as day. Cordelia felt her heart begin to shatter into a million pieces. She had failed. She had failed Chrom. More than that, she had failed her fellow pegasus knights. What had she done? She had allowed her mind to be cloud by anger and rage. She had spent too much time resting. She had spent too much time fighting. If only... If only she had fled. Not listened to the wyvern captain. Brushed off his insults! Then maybe Miriel and Stahl would have been alive. But they weren't. Because of Cordelia's inability to ignore one damn insult. And now the Shepherds had paid the price. All because of her. Cordelia felt her frustration growing. Her fists clenching. A Plegian entered her view, and she snarled with rage, hurling a javelin straight at him. It was scary how satisfying it was watching the spear pierce his skull. But only part of Cordelia's brain was aware of how much she enjoyed killing the soldier. Most of her mind was too focused on her rage. Anger at herself, at the wyvern captain, at Mad King Gangrel, at these stupid Plegians... Cordelia took a deep breath, hurling another spear. Two of the Shepherds had already fallen. She wouldn't let any more die. She had seen too much death she had failed to prevent. And she was sick of it. Sick of running. Sick of letting others do the fighting. Throwing another javelin, Cordelia smiled with resolute determination. She was not running. Not anymore.

Robin looked around at the battlefield, evaluating the new information he had received. Though he was bitter at himself for allowing two Shepherds to be killed, he knew that now was neither the time nor place for such petty emotions. If he gave in to his feelings... More people would die. That was the simple fact. Blocking a sword strike, he calmly retaliated, ending the myrmidon's life. Opening a dusty tome, he ripped out a page, sending out a sphere of thunder from his hand. It smashed into another swordsman, stunning him temporarily. But that was all the time Robin needed. Rushing forwards, he quickly stabbed the myrmidon in the stomach, ripping his blade back out. Turning around, he ducked under an axe strike, replying with a careful stroke upwards, knocking the fighter back. Swinging his sword, he leapt forwards, his blade catching the Plegian in the throat. Scanning the battlefield once again, he noticed a bowman notch an arrow, aiming for Sumia. Acting quickly, Robin unleashed a blast of thunder, knocking the archer. More thunder erupted from Robin's hand, electrifying the Plegian, saving Sumia from the bowman's threat. Acknowledging her gratitude with a wave of the hand, he charged forwards, cutting down two unaware enemy soldiers, before summoning a thunderbolt to destroy a third. As an axe flashed in the side of his vision, he turned, blocking it as best as he could. Realizing he was losing ground, he quickly tilted his sword up, catching his opponent unaware. Exploiting this opportunity, his blade quickly met flesh, as it severed the fighter's head. An arrow flew past him, nearly hitting him, and he cursed under his breath as he noticed several archers upon the mountains, taking pot-shots at him, in relative safety. Desperately, Robin fired an orb of thunder which missed wildly, more than he had expected, despite the fact he knew it would be a long shot. Trying again, he snarled as the sphere, though closer than before, still managed to miss. Barely having time to dodge an arrow flying towards him, Robin felt a pain in his back. Spinning around, he slashed at the lancer that was attacking him, lopping off a leg. Quickly, he stabbed the Plegian in the heart, before drinking a vulnerary to try to ease the wound. But that left him open to the archers on the ridge, and his carelessness was punished with an arrow to the leg. Dropping to one knee, Robin tried firing off another blast of thunder, but, just as it seemed about to hit, the archer stepped to the side just in time. Cursing once again, Robin headed backwards, always keeping his eye on the archer. What could he do? It would take far too long for any foot-soldier to reach the bowmen, and cavalry would be slowed down by mountains. He had only one chance – a pegasus knight. If Sumia could strike the archers quickly, without being hit... But that wouldn't work – Chrom would never allow the plan. Not to mention Sumia was averse to fighting, ever since... Wait. They had two pegasus knights now. Robin smiled. He just hoped his plan would work.

Cordelia took a deep breath. The task she had been charged with was a dangerous one – to say the least. Not only did she have to reach the archers in the mountains, but she'd have to kill all of them as well, without being shot full of arrows. But she was the only one to do it – as Robin expected, Chrom had protested putting Sumia in danger. And when Robin had asked her, Cordelia knew she'd have to say yes. Not that she wouldn't have if she had the choice. She had to atone for her failures, and more than that, she had to kill those Plegian monsters. She would help the Shepherds win this battle, which had cost so many lives. And if that meant doing this, then damn the risks. Looking down, Cordelia waited for Robin to give the signal – a blast of thunder aimed at the archers. That would once again attract their attention, hopefully long enough for Cordelia to swoop down and kill them all. Lightning struck at the archers – killing none of them, but throwing off their aim.
"Cordelia, now!" But Cordelia didn't need to be told. She was already heading for her prey. Striking at the unexpecting archers, like a sudden stabbing pain in the back, she flew back after killing one. Diving in again, she snarled viciously as blood splattered all over her, covering her damaged armour in a gory coat. One archer turned to her, but before he could alert his comrades, a lance was already in his throat, his warnings interrupted by a dying gurgle. Wheeling backwards, Cordelia aimed her lance perfectly, before rushing with surprising speed, killing the last of the bowmen.
"Cordelia, there are more!" Robin shouted desperately, as another set of archers emerged from the mountains.
"Flee! We need you elsewhere – these soldiers can't engage us yet." But Cordelia wasn't listening. As soon as she heard the word flee, her ears closed up, a familiar feeling of anger filling her body. She was not going to flee, not again. That was what... That was what led to all of this. Her fleeing.
"Cordelia, no! I can't distract them." Robin's words were wasted. Cordelia had already charged forwards, hurling a spear at the first Plegian she saw. Narrowly dodging a speedy arrow shot, she flew straight into the archer who had tried shooting her, her lance piercing his stomach. Flying upwards, she impaled a third archer in the neck.
"Cordelia! Stop this – listen to me. We need to you to help with the front lines." But Robin could have been talking gibberish for all Cordelia cared. She was an avatar of vengeance – a winged figure of hatred. She was going to avenge the dead. Punish the Plegians. Spinning her lance around to generate momentum, she killed the fourth and final archer, before returning back.
"Cordelia. What the hell? What was that?"
"Those Plegians had to pay. You weren't there, Robin. You didn't hear their screams." With that, Cordelia flew off, back into the thick of combat, leaving Robin alone to shake his head, as he dispatched yet another soldier.

Chrom heard the sound of wings beating, and looked up to see wyvern riders waiting in the mountains for the Ylisseans to near. Readying his weapon, he marched forwards, quickly blocking a particularly weak axe strike, before replying with a vicious sword strike. Gutting the fighter, he pulled out his sword, pointing it at the wyverns.
"Shepherds – beware the riders, hiding in the mountains! They will try and ambush us – be on guard." With that being said, he held his position, making sure his fellow fighters could catch up. Though he wanted this battle over, Robin had advised that they would need all the firepower they had to break the commander's personal guard. He was apparently a fierce fighter, and unlikely to show mercy. And that was not the only bad news Robin brought. Cordelia, the pegasus knight stationed at the borders had disobeyed Robin's orders, opting instead to wreak her vengeance, despite the fact she was needed somewhere else. Chrom knew they would have to watch her, in case she acted out of turn again. But that would be a problem for a later date. Right now, Chrom had to focus on defence, fending off the Plegian attacks that came from seemingly everywhere. An arrow hit his left arm, causing him to grunt in pain, but it was not enough to stop him from killing a speedy fighter. Jumping backwards, to avoid another arrow, he turned to his left, parrying a furious sword strike. Blocking another one, he pushed his attacker back, knocking the wind out of the myrmidon. Swiftly, Chrom beheaded the Plegian, before cutting off another swordsman's limbs. A scream came from near him, and he saw Sumia impale an archer in the eye. Quickly rushing in front of her, to deflect a missile with his Falchion, he uttered his gratitude as Robin electrocuted the offending archer.
"You okay, Sumia?"
"Yes, Captain. I am fine, thank you. It's just..."
"You don't want to fight?"
"Not that. I'm worried. About Cordelia."
"You two are friends, right? Do you know what caused this?"
"Her squad was wiped out."
"But there seems to be something else. Did she have any problems, with her fellow pegasus knights? Did she ever get into arguments with them?"
"No. She never spoke about them being harsh to her."
"We'll ask her after the battle. For now-" Chrom quickly killed a Plegian fighter, "-we have to end this fight!"

Riding forwards, Sully hastened to catch up with Chrom, shoving a lance down a myrmidon's throat. Though most of the enemies had been finished off, there were still a few stragglers here and there, not to mention the large host of wyvern riders accompanying the Plegian commander. Still, the battle was nearly won, and then they could return to Ylisstol. Smiling at the prospect of victory, Sully charged forwards, stabbing an archer in the chest. A hand axe flew from behind her, striking down the other.
"The Vaike is on fire tonight!" Sully just shook her head, riding towards Chrom's position.
"Hey, wait! Let Teach catch up!" Smiling, despite herself, Sully pushed her horse a little faster, making sure there was no way 'Teach' could keep her pace.
"You're on a horse! That's hardly fair." But Sully declined to respond, instead concentrating on looking around her, in case of any last enemies. Spying a fighter hidden amongst some low-lying hills, she hurled a javelin, striking the Plegian in the head. Bringing her horse to a quick halt, she made sure there were no more enemies hiding in the mountains, before heading to where Chrom was. She just hoped that the Shepherds would be there soon, so they could finish this fight.

Cordelia took a deep breath, letting some of her anger flow from her body, as she looked around for her next target. Swooping down from above caught an unsuspecting soldier with her lance, piercing his stomach. Flying back up, she launched herself at the Plegians again, killing another soldier, who was too busy fighting the advancing Ylisseans to realize what was happening. Hitting a third fighter in the eye with her lance, she turned, heading to the front lines, to help the push forwards.
"Robin, I'm here. Are we ready?" Cordelia just wanted this battle over with. Just wanted the Plegians crushed.
"We are ready-" Robin pointed to him and the rest of the Shepherds, "-but I'm afraid I'll need you to patrol behind us, to make sure no more wyverns creep up on us. You've had experience fighting them – you're the best chance we have." Not saying a word, Cordelia turned, heading back to the start of Breakneck Pass. As soon as she thought Robin was out of earshot, she let out a stream of curses, each one progressively more imaginative. Robin thought she was a risk! A hazard to his plans! And now, the vengeance that she so desperately wanted to unleash had been denied. She was stuck with patrol duty. And she and Robin knew full well that this battle would be over by the time any Plegian reinforcements arrived. By the time any combat would have occurred near Cordelia, the Shepherds would have been celebrating their victory in Ylisstol. The wyvern riders were slow, and cumbersome, unlikely to reach Breakneck Pass in the time it would have taken for Chrom to win. Still, at least there were benefits. She wasn't in any immediate danger, and had time to sort her thoughts out. Though now was still not the time for despair, it was perhaps the time to release her anger, in case she disobeyed Robin once again. And though she would dearly love to do that, she knew the Shepherds, and Chrom, would not be best pleased. And she definitely did not want to upset Chrom any more than she had done. Therefore, she would just have to deal with the task she had been assigned. There would be times for arguments about it later. Times for regret, anger, and everything. Later.

"Right? Are we ready?" Chrom looked around him, at the host of Shepherds that accompanied him. Though their number had never been great, and today had been reduced by two, they were still a feared fighting force, an elite group. Chrom had every confidence in them that they would carry this battle forwards. Charging ahead, the inevitable Plegian attack happened – a wave of wyverns from the north, with soldiers rushing to greet them from the east. Knowing his Falchion was designed for dragon slaying, Chrom headed near the mountains, cutting down the riders that attempted to take his life. Jumping backwards, he avoided an axe swing, before leaping into the air, and landing on a low-flying wyvern. Frantically, the rider steered the wyvern higher and higher, trying to gain some altitude, but Chrom was not fazed. Knocking the rider off, he plunged his sword into the wyvern's neck, jumping back off, seemingly about to be splattered on the mountains.
"Captain!" But Sumia was there, just as Robin had planned. Soon, Chrom was back, in the thick of fighting, with Sumia flying off, picking off weak or less-protected targets.
"Silly Ylisseans! You dare challenge the Plegians? I'll splatter you across the canyon floor!" A great wyvern flew into view, its' rider wielding a big, heavy axe. He swooped downwards, narrowly missing Chrom. Flying back upwards, he attacked again, but Chrom managed to block, albeit barely. Sweat pouring down Chrom's face; he dodged away, trying to gain an advantage in this brutal fight. Backing up, he made sure the wyvern commander was following him. A speedy hand-axe flew towards him, catching his arm, ripping off a little flesh. Grunting in pain, Chrom avoided another flying axe, before progressing forwards, though very carefully. Rolling under another strike, he scrambled back up, managing to land a small blow on the wyvern. Though, under most circumstances, it wouldn't have done very much, due to the Falchion's ability, it made the creature hiss with pain, temporarily disrupting the Plegian commander. Exploiting this advantage, Chrom followed up with two more strikes, though it was still not enough to kill the wyvern captain.
"Robin! Help!" Robin nodded, sending forth a bolt of thunder, which forced the Plegian to swerve sideways. Following it up with another beam of lightning, he was successful in causing the wyvern rider back within Chrom's attacking range.

"Let's finish this!" Chrom charged forwards, plunging his Falchion directly into the wyvern's neck, causing it to flail around, throwing the Plegian off. It fell to the ground, crushing the barely-alive wyvern captain, with an audible crunching of bones. No more sound was heard from the rider. Looking around, Chrom could see that most, if not all, the enemy had been routed. Smiling, he raised his sword in the air triumphantly.
"Shepherds! I thank you for your aid. Though the Plegians have tried to break us, we will not bow to monsters! We will not bow to those who would subjugate us to an eternity of suffering! We will not bow to those who are too caught up in vengeance, who spend too long thinking about revenge and anger, that they cannot see the world change! We will stand up to them, and we will be victorious! For the good of House Ylisse, and for the good of the halidom!"

Gunlord 500 - Thank you for the review. The doc manager had a little glitch, and I only realized this after I posted - evidently I failed to catch all the paragraphs. Hopefully, this chapter should be formatted correctly.