I do not own Fire Emblem Awakening or any of the characters.
Journey
Corbin had decided he loved the Shepherds. He loved everything about them. They were the strangest, quirkiest bunch of mixed personalities he could imagine. One, Vaike, was a blonde male warrior who wielded an axe and was obsessed with being macho, claiming to be Chrom's rival, and called himself either "The Vaike" or "Teach" when talking about himself. He also was comically stupid, to the point that when Lissa asked him if being stupid could be taught, it took him nearly a full minute to catch on. Then, when introduced to Robin and Corbin, his only question was whether they could burp for ten seconds like him. Another, Maribelle, was a blonde noblewoman who was obsessively protective of Lissa, calling her "My Treasure" and "Darling" while complaining that she had grown grey hairs worrying about Lissa, and who was cold and standoffish, at best, when introduced to Robin and Corbin. Lissa proved herself to have a skill for retorts, repeatedly making Vaike look stupid, and largely ignoring Maribelle's overbearing behavior. Another was Sumia, a pretty, brown-haired girl in beautiful pink armor, who clearly had a crush on Chrom, and who was extremely sweet and polite. Then, when Chrom arrived, she promptly moved to take a step forward, only to trip on some papers on the floor and slam her face into it. Chrom was apparently gullible, because he asked hers if it was "those boots of yours again", as though he didn't believe she was just a klutz. The fourth they met was Kellam, who was a soft spoken young man in a massive suit of plate armor, who Corbin literally only noticed was there when he spoke nearly five minutes after arriving, but who claimed to have been there from the beginning. Apparently this was a regular occurance with him.
Then, Chrom had announced that they were heading to Regna Ferox, explaining to Robin and Corbin that it was the kingdom north of Ylisse, which was inhabited almost exclusively by barbarians. However, they had an overwhelming number of soldiers, and if the creatures ended up becoming as grave a threat as Marth had claimed, they'd need those soldiers' help. Then, when it'd been announced that the mission was voluntary, literally everyone volunteered, save for Maribelle, who had stormed off earlier, and Sumia who claimed to not be ready for a real mission. However, she'd agreed to come along and merely wait behind the others and observe. And then, as they were getting ready to depart, another member, Stahl, ran over, demanding to know why he hadn't been told about the mission. Stahl was a young man dressed in the same style of armor as Sully, but green where hers had red, and wielding a bronze sword with a leaf-shaped blade, as opposed to her spear. He was also leading a horse by its reins, though, revealing himself as cavalry.
It turned out that Vaike had forgotten to tell him about it. Vaike's defense was that he never forgets anything. He just doesn't always remember. Lissa then forced him to check that he'd actually remembered to bring his axe "this time," at which point Corbin had to laugh at the look on Vaike's face turning from offended to panicked to relieved so rapidly as he double-checked that he had it, even as he argued that he had only forgotten it twice, but since one was a training session, it didn't count. Chrom introduced Corbin and Robin to Stahl properly, and Stahl mentioned he'd been told about them by Miriel, a mage in the Shepherds who'd be catching up soon. Then, they set out.
"So, where'd you get that sword?" Stahl asked Corbin as they walked.
"I have no idea," Corbin shrugged. "I can't remember my past before meeting Chrom, except random things about Robin. But the sword's important to me. When I woke up, Frederick was about to pick it up, and I was protective enough to fight him and Chrom over it."
"Yikes," Stahl grimaced. "I definitely won't try and steal it, I promise."
"I know," Corbin nodded. "It was just instinct, is all."
Stahl nodded, then stopped, staring ahead of them as they crested a hill, finding a river with both banks and the river all swarming with the creatures.
"Damn!" Chrom swore. "Have the Risen spread this far?"
"Risen?" Robin asked.
"We needed a name for this new threat, so the council gave them one," Frederick explained.
"Everyone, remember what we're up against!" Chrom warned them all, drawing his sword as the others did the same.
"They'll remember me once I drive max axe into their..." Vaike stopped, feeling himself all over, face rapidly growing panicked. "Wait, my axe! Where's my axe!? I had it just a second ago!"
"Vaike, this is no time for jokes!" Chrom snapped.
"I'm serious!" Vaike panicked. "It's gone, but I just had it! It's got to be around here somewhere!"
"Keep to the rear, then!" Chrom snapped as the Risen took notice of them, starting to stumble toward them. "The battle is nigh!"
"Mounted forces, clear the bridge!" Corbin instructed. "We'll be right behind you!"
Everyone astride a horse acknowledged his instructions and charged, thundering down the hill toward the bridge. As they did, everyone on foot sprinted after them. One of the Risen on their side of the river began to charge, but Robin blasted it with a Thunder, knocking it into the water where it sank like a stone, then dissolved a few minutes later. As it was drowning, Corbin reached one of the Risen on their side of the shore just as the Shepherds' mounted forces reached the bridge. Corbin spun around his opponent as it slashed downward at him, then split it across the back as he finished his spin, killing it. Off to his right, Chrom leapt over a horizontal swipe of an axe and brought his sword down a Risen's front, killing it just as quickly. The others all charged onto the bridge behind the horses. Two of the Risen on the bridge had survived the charge and were standing, but Robin decapitated one before it could even get all the way up, and Virion shot the other in the head just as it turned toward them.
On the far side of the bridge, Frederick met the first of the Risen present, slashing it across the chest with his spear before stabbing a second. A second later, Sully also stabbed that one to finish it before swinging her spear to the side, deflecting an axe at the cost of the wooden shaft of her spear breaking. She cursed, driving the broken shaft into the Risen and forcing it back a step before Virion sent an arrow into its chest. It staggered backward another step, only to step forward, swinging again. Before the axe could reach her or her horse, Kellam stepped into the way, his shield blocking the axe before he drove his own spear into its face, finishing it. Chrom passed him instantly, slashing a pair of Risen, failing to kill one, only for a fireball to slam into it and explode, killing it.
"Splendid, I seem to have caught up," a feminine voice said from the other end of the bridge, a red-haired mage in a black robe walking toward them, holding a red spell tome. "Now, to extirpate these brutes."
"Hey, my axe!" Vaike cheered, seeing the weapon slung across her back.
"I was wondering what manner of ignoramus would mislay their weapon," the mage, Corbin was guessing Miriel, stated. "Now I know."
"Thanks, Miriel!" Vaike grinned. "Uh, for the axe, anyway."
"Perhaps next time I'll use a spell to fasten it to your hand, permanently," Miriel suggested.
Vaike ignored her, letting out a laugh as he charged across the bridge to join the fray. As he did, Corbin deflected a spear from one Risen, then a sword from another before slashing both, killing them, only for another to charge past him, aiming its spear at Lissa. Lissa shouted in fear, fleeing from the oncoming Risen, only for Vaike to drop from above, one foot landing on the spear and knocking it downward before he planted his axe in the Risen's skull, killing it instantly. It left its spear, however, the entirety of the weapon being steel, so he picked it up and tossed it at Sully.
"Sully!" Vaike shouted.
She caught the weapon, spun it so that it was facing the correct direction in her hand, then drove it into one of two Risen that Kellam was struggling to hold back with his shield. With one of the two dead, he was able to kill the other himself. As he did, Chrom charged for the for lack of a better way of describing it, Risen Chief, one of the with long hair and a larger build than the others, like the last time they'd fought the Risen, with Robin just behind him. Corbin glanced over, realizing which they had decided to go after, and shoved the Risen he was facing backward, into range of Frederick's spear, then turned, chasing after Chrom and Robin. Frederick finished off the Risen Corbin had been facing, then slashed his own opponent as well, leaving the chief as the only Risen remaining. It roared, hefting its axe, and charged.
Chrom reached it first, deflecting its axe carefully, then slashed it across the stomach. It roared, staggering backward, and Robin leapt over Chrom, slashing it down across the torso from its left shoulder to its right hip. It roared angrily, swinging its axe around at them, and Chrom grabbed Robin's robe, dragging her backward, out of range of the swipe just before Corbin passed them, slashing the Risen across the torso. It grabbed him by the throat, lifting him, only for Chrom to step up beside it, slashing its arm off, then slashing it across the side before stabbing it, finishing it off. Corbin sighed, massaging his throat.
"I hate those ones," Corbin complained.
"Agreed," Robin nodded. "But at least it's dead now."
Corbin nodded in agreement, looking around. "Looks like we're done here."
"Yeah," Chrom nodded. "Alright, everyone. We need to keep moving."
Everyone agreed, and together they all pressed on. However, after a few minutes, they stopped as they found a pegasus standing off to one side of the road. There was some blood on its side, and it was riderless, but when Chrom went to check on it, it began to panic.
"Whoa!" Chrom yelped as the pegasus reared up, swiping at him with its front legs. "Down girl! Easy there!"
Before it could try a second time, Sumiya rushed forward, tripping and falling onto her face again, but then almost instantly managing to calm the pegasus.
"How did she calm it so fast?" Chrom asked.
"Wow!" Lissa cheered. "That was incredible Sumiya!"
"I've never seen anything like it!" Chrom agreed.
"Oh, it's...it's nothing, really," Sumiya blushed. "I just have a way with animals, I guess."
"I should say so!" Chrom agreed.
"You all go on ahead," Sumiya decided. "I'll dress her wound and catch up as soon as we're able."
"We can make the time to wait for you," Chrom offered.
"I can manage, captain," Sumiya assured him. "Every moment is precious when all of Ylisse is in danger."
"Alright," Chrom nodded. "Thank you, Sumiya."
"You're welcome, captain," Sumiya smiled.
"Be carefully," Corbin advised her. "More Risen may show up."
Sumiya nodded, and everyone said their temporary goodbyes before continuing, leaving her to tend to the pegasus alone.
Corbin grit his teeth as he walked through the snow. It was blessedly shallow, only a couple of inches deep, but it was almost warmer than the air above it. None among them were able to stop shivering, and Lissa had been complaining about it almost nonstop all day. Corbin couldn't blame her, but it was starting to grate on his nerves. However, finally, they had arrived.
"So, this is the fortress?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Chrom nodded. "The Longfort. It stretches across the border of Ylisse and Regna Ferox."
"The khans who rule Regna Ferox have grown rather wary of foreigners," Frederick informed everyone. "Still, don't mistake a lack of hospitality for open hostility."
"We also shouldn't mistake a lack of open hostility for hospitality," Corbin said, eyeing the soldiers lining the wall, all of them keeping a tight grip on their spears and arrows. "They have the advantage of height. We won't be able to reach them if it comes to a fight without finding a way up that wall."
"That's true," Frederick agreed. "However, this situation simply calls for a bit of diplomacy."
"Negotiation's not my strong suit, but I'll do my best," Chrom promised. "Remember everyone, your actions here reflect upon all of Ylisse."
"Here they come," Robin warned, just as a gate in the wall rumbled open, more than a dozen soldiers rushing out and forming up for battle.
"The Feroxi guard is mobilizing," Frederick noted. "That's troubling."
"But why?" Chrom asked.
"Who can say, Milord," Frederick shook his head. "But they look ready to fly at a moment's notice."
"Everyone should mount up," Corbin advised.
"Agreed," Robin nodded. "We should be ready, since we're outnumbered and at a disadvantageous position."
"Alright," Chrom nodded, everyone with a horse mounting up, though none drew their weapons yet.
"Halt!" a loud, authoritative, female voice ordered as a woman in armor vary similar to Kellam's stepped up to the edge of the wall where she could see them and they could see her. "Who goes there!?"
"In the name of House Ylisse, I seek an audience with the khans!" Chrom called back.
"Not another step, my bold lad!" the woman snapped. "I've lancers at the ready!"
"Hold, milady!" Frederick called. "We are not your enemy! Exalt Emmeryn herself sent us to discuss matters of mutual interest!"
"My only interest is keeping you out of Regna Ferox, brigand!" The woman countered.
"B-Brigand!?" Frederick recoiled. "Now see here!"
"You think you're the first 'Ylisseans' to try and cross our border?" the woman scoffed. "I have the authority to fell such imposters where they stand!"
"How dare you!" Frederick snapped. "You are in the presence of prince Chrom, the exalt's own blood!"
The woman scoffed. "Yes, indeed, and I am the queen of Valm! You do realize impersonating royalty is a capitol offense, yes?" She hummed thoughtfully. "Then perhaps we should settle this the Feroxi way. You claim to be the prince of Ylisse? Then prove it on the battlefield!"
Chrom grimaced. "Emmeryn won't like this at all! Please, good lady! If you'd just listen-"
"I've heard quite enough!" the woman interrupted him. "Attack!"
Instantly, four of the guards hurled their spears, all four aimed at Chrom and moving far too fast for anyone to react, even Chrom. However, at the last second, there was a flash of white and Chrom was yanked out of the way. All eyes snapped to the sky where a pegasus was circling slowly, Chrom clambering onto its back behind Sumia. More of the guards prepared to hurl their spears at the pair, but Sumia spurred her pegasus to fly faster, making it impossible to target them as Chrom drew his sword. One the ground, the others all followed suit.
"Should we try not to kill anyone?" Corbin asked.
"Feroxi are warriors first and foremost," Frederick explained. "To spare their lives in a battle would be to humiliate them. If they mean to attack us, we'll have to fight them to the death. However, we may be able to get their commander to order them to stand down if we can capture her alive."
"Right," Corbin nodded.
"They're coming!" Robin warned everyone. "Sumia, drop Chrom off on top of the wall! We'll join you shortly!"
Sumia and Chrom both nodded, and everyone charged. Corbin could see stairways leading to the top of the wall just inside the gate, so they just had to break through the first line of soldiers and they could head up to the commander.
"Kellam, you're going to block off one of the stairways once we go up!" Corbin instructed. "They'll have to come after you one at a time, so you should be able to hold them back alone!"
Kellam nodded.
"Miriel and Vaike will have to hold the other staircase, so Lissa, you're going to stay with them to heal them as necessary!" Robin instructed.
The trio nodded, then focused on the more immediate phase of the battle. Twenty soldiers, ranging from heavily-armored knights like Kellam, to lightly-armored swordsmen, lancers, and archers stood between them and the gate, but this was a matter of speed. As such, Corbin decided to open the way personally. He raised his left arm, his tome racing to his fingertips, then slammed his palm into it, sending a bolt of lightning exploding into one of the knights. The force of the spell sent him hurtling backward through the ranks of the Feroxi Guard, clearing a path for the others. Frederick, Stahl, and Sully raced forward on their horses, trying to avoid battles but being forced to kill three of the guards who tried to stop them, as well as killing the archers for the safety of those who'd be guarding the stairs. Then, they were riding their horses up the stairs. A swordsman tried to pursue them, but Robin sent a lightning spike into his back, killing him. One of the knights and an axe-wielding guard moved to stop the rest of them, but Corbin and Robin intercepted them. Robin took down the axe wielder fairly easily, avoiding the first swing of his axe and slashing him, and Corbin while unable to easily cut through the larger knight's armor, was able to throw all of his weight into a his shoulder, driving it into the knight's chest plate and knocking him onto his back. Then, he and the others were sprinting up the stairs.
The four he and Robin had instructed to remain behind did so, almost instantly having to fend off the Feroxi Guard they'd passed, but were able to hold them back decently. Robin and Corbin reached the top of the stairs first, finding that Frederick and Sully were charging down the last pair of archers, Stahl was using the length of the wall to gallop back and forth, making himself hard to pin down, and Sumia was flying over in passes, taking down any guard unfortunate enough to not get out of her way. However, with the exception of the archers and a handful of others, casualties were being kept to a minimum here, most of the wounds were shallow, more for pain than anything. Corbin and Robin both turned, charging for the commander of the Feroxi, along with Chrom, while Virion helped the others keep the rest of the guard distracted.
"Let our battle sound out the truth of your words!" the commander challenged, raising her massive shield.
Chrom sped forward, leaping into the air and slashing, only for his sword to spark off of her shield. She turned, stabbing at him, and he lept to the side, barely avoiding it. As she did, Robin reached her, slashing across her side, but her sword only barely broke through her armor. She swiped her spear at Robin, but Corbin stepped between them, dropping to a knee and bracing his sword, allowing the spear to skid up the flat of his blade and deflect into the air. The commander snarled in annoyance, but as she tried to move her shield in between herself and Corbin, Corbin's sword slammed into it, knocking it from her hand and to the ground. A moment later, Chrom jumped, slamming both feet into her chest, sending her crashing to the ground before kneeling over her just as Robin stepped on her spear, pinning it down and allowing Chrom to hold his sword to her nose.
"Yield!" Chrom ordered her.
She sighed, then took a deep breath. "Feroxi Guard! Stand down!"
Chrom stepped back, and Corbin stabbed his sword into the ground before holding his hand out, Robin doing the same. Together, they hauled the commander to her feet, then sheathed their swords.
"A thousand apologies, Prince Chrom," the commander bowed as both sides' forces joined them atop the wall. "I truly took you for brigand imposters. But no frauds could ever wage a battle as you just have! I will send word of your arrival and escort you there personally."
"That would be most appreciated," Chrom nodded. "Thank you."
"We're sorry for your casualties," Corbin offered. "We tried to be as gentle as we could."
The commander shook her head. "The fault is mine for forcing you into battle. Excellent strategy to have your forces stationed in the stairways."
"Robin and Corbin are our best strategists," Chrom said.
"I can see why," the commander nodded. "Please excuse me while I make preparations for our departure."
"Amazing," Robin said once she was gone. "Her whole demeanor changed."
"In Ferox, strength speaks louder than words," Frederick explained. "I should have known better than to overestimate the value of diplomacy here."
"So, can we get going, Chrom?" Lissa asked, shivering again.
"Yeah," Chrom nodded. "It's not getting any warmer."
"Not without our guide," Corbin said, seeing her walking back over to them already. "Now we can get going."
The commander again apologized for the inconvenience she had caused, then led them into Regna Ferox, leaving the Longfort behind.
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