Here we go! the start of the Valm arc proper! Honestly, this chapter gave me some struggles to write, but i got past it!
Also, nice to hear from you again Guestwithideas! Glad you are still enjoying this. As for your questions about Kitai, I'm afraid those won't be answered for a while, don't want to spoil anything, but they will be answered for other reasons. As for your over idea, i do like the sound of it, but again, it will come later.
Enjoy!
Chapter 13: The Seacomers
Light filtered in gently in Lea's hideout as the morning sun rose. Say'ri had just risen and was busy reviewing last nights conversation with Lea. As princes of Chon'sin, or rather, former, she had been told the ancient truth of what had happened during Marth's time. Many did not know that a similar wielder helped Alm during his fight, but unfortunately, his name had been long lost. But that was of little importance. Not when Grima's resurrection loomed over them.
And Walhart's invasion of Ferox. There was no doubt in her mind that it was the same person who helped Walhart expedite his conquest of Valm. The same one who had 'helped' the Mad King.
"So, what do you plan to do now?" Lea's question broke her out of her musings as he walked back into the hideout. "No doubt that the whole garrison here is on alert for you after last night."
"I have no choice, Sir Lea. I must need do everything I can to prevent Walhart's plans." She states before rising to her feet, a fire burning behind her eyes. "Even if I need do it alone." Lea looked at her with narrow eyes and arms folded. But, he had to admit, she had nerves of steel. Going against a man who had subjugated a whole continent and planned to conquer another was not a simple thing, and yet here she was, more than willing to step up to the task.
"Well, not right now you aren't." Lea says before walking up to Say'ri. "Moving about in the daytime is the quickest way to getting caught. The best chance you'll have is by night and off the streets." He then holds his hand out to her. "Stick with me, and we will show both Walhart and Maleficent that their plans are already sunk." Say'ri looks him over, silently debating his proposition in her mind. Then, finally, she nods her head before grasping his hand for a shake.
"Aye, that we will. It will be my pleasure to bring fear to our enemies, Sir Lea." Lea grins at Say'ri's reply before rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'm all for it, but um, you don't have to call me 'Sir' all the time. I don't think I'm any older than you." Lea says bluntly. Say'ri tilts her head at him in confusion.
"No? But it is a form of politeness that we have always done. Have I been offending you by accident?" Lea stepped back a bit, silently panicking at seeing Say'ri's expression. Did he just unintentional offend a former Princess?
"Nononono. Absolutely not." Lea quickly reiterates, thinking that HE had now offended her. "It's just, I'm not used to people calling me 'Sir' is all, and the people I've seen it been used for were either Royalty or old and wise people. Which I am neither." What happened next, he did not expect. A stern reprimand or a punch to the arm, yes, but he did not expect Say'ri to let out a small giggle at him.
"You need not panic. I am not offended." She says to a dramatically relived Lea. "It is just how I was brought up. I will refrain from calling you 'Sir' if you like, but I may slip up from time to time." Leas chuckles to himself, saying that as long as she is fine, anyway will be okay before sitting down on a bed.
"Well, we still have time to kill before night falls. How about you tell me more about Chon'sin?" Say'ri nods to the idea before sitting on her bed opposite him. This would be a fun history lesson to tell him.
"What's the situation over at the port?" Chrom asks as Sumia, Cordelia, Xion and Cherche, who was riding on an armoured Wyvern she called Minerva, named after one of Marth's famous companions, as they floated down to the Shepherds. Their faces already told the story.
"It's not good. Already the Valmese are swarming over the docks. The Feroxi troops stationed there can barely hold them back." Xion reports while her face morphs into a wince. "I saw some Valmese riders attacking some villagers before they could reach the Feroxi armoured knights…." That drew glares from the Shepherds, none more so than Lon'qu. These were his countrymen that were being trampled on like wheat!
"Time is against us, Chrom. We need to move now!" Robin says with steel in his voice. Chrom nods at Robin before ordering the Shepherds to move towards the port, praying to Naga they could still reach it in time.
But what they found could not have been worse.
The entire port had been overrun by a single Valmese ship as cavalry ran rampant across its streets. While in the centre, surrounded by a wall of Armoured knights and some clerics, the port's civilians huddle together in fear as the Valmese attempt to break through into the circle. Some Bow Knights joined in by letting loose some arrows into the formation, giving no qualm about murdering civilians. It was enough to make everyone's blood boil.
"Valmese savages." Chrom hisses through his teeth as he reigned to keep his anger in check. Even now, two years later, he made sure never to lose his wrath, for, in the end, he would be no better than Gangrel. Although Sora and the Guardians assured him that it would take more than anger to cause him to turn into a Heartless, it was still something he was determined to avoid. "These people will never listen to reason." He looks at Robin, eyes equal with fury, before glancing back to the Shepherds. "I know we have spent the last two years licking our wounds from Gangrel, but this will not stand. We must stand against evil in all its forms, or there can be no peace! Everyone: prepare to engage!" A roar of acknowledgement erupted from the Shepherds as Robin's eyes dart over the port, eyeing every street and building, before nodding to himself.
"Chrom, we will split our force into three groups." Everyone turns to look at Robin, his stratagems never failing them before. "Frederick, you take Panne, Riku and Maribelle and attack the Valmese in the south side of the port. Take Gregor, Tharja, Anna and Ventus with you. Kellam, you take Sully and Roxas and hit the north side. Naminé, Lon'qu Gaius shall go with you, along with Ricken and Nowi." The riders nod at Robin, with Kellam giving the tactician a VERY relieved smile that he had not been forgotten. Amazing what being married to someone like Sully could do for him. "Sumia, you know the drill. Take Xion, Cordelia and Cherche with you and give us support in the air. Don't hesitate to dive down and lend a hand if we need it." The winged riders nod before taking flight as the designated cavalry begins the charge into the port, leaving the rest. "I don't think I need to explain what ours is, do I?"
"Not really. We go in, save the villages, then storm onto the ship, right?" Sora asks confidently, along with a smirk. Robin nods approvingly before looking at Chrom, who nods before staring down at the port, watching as the three groups move to block the Valmese. Then, with a deep breath, he gives the order.
"Shepherds, charge!"
"Run these peasants to the ground!" The Valmese commander paladin yells to his troops as they rush through the port. The Feroxi resistance stood fast when they left the ship, their cavalry running rings around their fighters and knights. But, just like where ever they went, resistance always gave way to their might. Soon the whole continent will be theirs, and their Lords dream realised. But then, the unexpected glistening of metal caught his eye. Turning to his right out of bewilderment, his eyes widen at the sight of three riders and a giant rabbit charging down against them, anger in their eyes while carrying another four warriors. "Enemy reinforcements to the right!" He calls, drawing his men's attention to the new arrivals. Wheeling their horses about, they charge at them, grinning at the look of another easy win. Only when the giant rabbit jumped into the air and landed in the middle of them did he only then realise how wrong he was.
While Panne tore through the Valmese cavalry, with Tharja on her back unleashing dark magic around them, Frederick and Riku lunged into the Valmese line with a twin Sonic Blade, with Ventus and Gregor leaping off their backs at the last minute before unleashing their own Sonic Blades, with Gregor switching his sword for his axe and releasing an Ars Arcanum. While those who used a spear could not use it, those with axes proved more than able to wield the devastating combo along with those who wielded swords.
Meanwhile, Maribelle unleased a storm of fire around her, singing the Valmese who had lost their horses in a searing blaze, while Anna dealt with any who got too close to the Valkyrie. Holding her new blade in a reverse grip while simultaneously 'relieving' the fallen Valmese of anything useful, much to Maribelle's annoyance at the 'Locksmiths' antics.
All the while, the Valmese commander growled in anger at the sight of his division of cavaliers falling to a ragtag mob of peasants before wheeling his horse towards Riku, lance levelled at his chest. Riku turned to meet his gaze while giving the commander a scowl of his own and charged at him with both sword and lance drawn. Holding Braveheart in a reverse grip, Riku parried the spear before plunging ay to the Dawn into the commander's chest, ending his life.
"Frederick, their commander is down!" Riku calls to him as the surviving Valmese flee back to the ship in a panic. Guess they had things easy for them back in Valm. Either that or they were fresh recruits.
"Excellent, Riku. We shall peruse the Valmese to their ship, but do not board until Robin gives the word." The small group of Shepherd's nod at Frederick before rushing towards the Valmese ship, determined not to let them leave after this senseless massacre.
"Hold the line!" a job easier said than done as the Valmese ran rings around the Feroxi armoured knights while arrows rained down from above, striking the civilians hiding behind them. But, no matter what they did, the situation looked hopeless. Looking around, one of the civilians met the gaze of one of Valmese Bow Knights, his smile unhinged as he readied another arrow to fire. The man could only close his eyes as he awaited the inevitable until the sound of lightning filled his ears. Opening his eyes, he was shocked to see the Bow Knight nicked off his horse as electricity ran over both him and his mount, while balls of fire and water rained from above, hitting several other Bow Knights.
The Valmese cavalry were disoriented, confused at the sudden attack until one of their own pointed to the right, only for an arrow to lodge itself into his neck before he could even speak. Turning their eyes to the direction of where the arrow flew from, the Feroxi civilians were surprised at what they saw—Surprised and overjoyed.
"It's Prince Chrom of Ylisse! The Shepherds are here!" One of the armoured knights cries in joy as Chrom and the others charge at the Valmese, themselves scrambling to form into a line to charge at the Shepherds. Yet they never had the chance.
A storm of fire and thunder from Robin and Miriel scattered them as Virion and Vaike unleased arrows upon them, several striking their mounts and leaving them sprawled along the stone road. A few Valmese charged at Virion, only to find themselves in a dance of death with Olivia, fighting to protect her husband from the same people who stole his home.
Some managed to charge at Aqua, who retaliated with water and ice, before drawing Stormfall as three cavaliers draw closer to her. Only to find themselves blocked by Terra, Chaos Ripper in hand as he unleashed Ars Arcanum on the cavaliers. Donnel, no longer the shy farm boy of two years ago, rode rings around the dismounted Valmese, raining arrows upon them just like they did to the civilians.
Sora and Kairi, with Stahl and Libra supporting them, charged straight at the centre of the Valmese with Sonic Blade, blunting any cavalry charge the Valmese planned to form, while Chrom and Lissa fought their way towards the Valmese commander. The Bow Knight commander glared at Chrom before firing an arrow at the prince, only for it to be deflected by the Fire Emblem on Chrom's arm. Taking advantage, Lissa charged toward the commander, swinging her axe around in a circle before colliding with his horse, sending the knight sprawling along the ground.
The commander groggily got back to his feet, only to see Chrom charging towards him, Falchion gleaming in the light. He fumbles an arrow onto his bow, only to be hit by a blast of lightning from Robin, startling him before being struck down in one blow by Chrom.
"Alright, this commander is down." Chrom says as the Shepherds group around him. Taking a chance to breathe, he casts a gaze skyward, sighing in relief at seeing Sumia and the other flyers still flying above them. He then turned towards the Feroxi knights as they motioned the civilians away. "How bad is it?" One of the knights sighs heavily before looking at Chrom, his face hidden by the veil-like armour around his head.
"We armoured knights and clerics are all that's left. Any civilians not in our circle are either dead or hauled onto the ship. Even then, we have many injured." Chrom winces before looking over the civilians, many with arrows in their arms, shoulders or legs. Luckily, none of the children had been hit, but that did not mean they would escape unscathed mentally.
"We will stay and lend a hand, Chrom." While walking up to the villages, Lissa takes her mend staff from her back, along with Miriel and Libra. "You head to the ship and teach the Valmese a lesson." Chrom couldn't help but chuckle while nodding at his sister. She certainly has come a long way from being the 'dainty flower' she used to be. Of course, being married to Stahl certainly helped her as well.
"We may not have a chance for that, Chrom!" Sora yells while pointing forward, Ultima Weapon held in his left hand as Kairi stands next to him with an irritated face. "We got trouble heading straight for us!" Looking down the pointed path, Chrom could only groan. But, as Sora said, another group of Valmese riders were charging straight at them, a Great Knight leading the charge.
"Terra, Stahl, Vaike! You're with Sora and me! Kairi, Lissa, Libra and Olivia will hit the sides. Everyone else, rain down arrows and magic!" Chrom yells the impromptu orders as the Valmese bare down on them. Normally he would have let Robin give the orders, but there was no time for that right now! He could only hope that the others were doing fine.
It was chaos down there. That was the thought the four fliers could think of when they looked towards the burning port. But, strangely, the Valmese had brought no flyers with them, even though Valm was also known for the Valley of Wyverns. So to see no Pegasus Knights or Wyvern Riders was a strange occurrence. Not that any of them were complaining.
Still, they could only look down at the city in worry. While Xion was breathing easy at seeing Riku's group finding no problem in their area, the said could not be said for the others. While Chrom's group had succeeded in routing the Bow Knight's surrounding the Feroxi survivors, a fresh wave of cavaliers lead by a Great Knight had smashed into them from the seaside. They were lucky that the Feroxi armoured knights had stayed to offer their support, but all it would take was a single breakthrough, and they would be swarmed.
"We can't stay up here any longer! We need to get down there and help them!" Sumia cries as she points her lance down at Chrom and the others, struggling to beat back the rolling cavalry assault as they charge and fall back repeatedly in 'hit-and-run' tactics. Cordelia motions her mount close to the future queen of Ylisse, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"We understand Sumia. But Chrom is not the only one under threat of being overrun." Cordelia motions towards Kellam's group facing more fiercer resistance than the others. The fact that Nowi was staying far back and with Kellam, Sully and Roxas avoiding specific riders could only mean they had Horse- and Wyvern-bane weapons. "If Kellam's group falls, then the Valmese could swing around the back and hit the fleeing civilians or hit Chrom in the rear." Sumia winces at the thought, the image of Valmese riders running them down filling her mind.
"Why don't we split up?" Xion suggests to the two before looking over the port. "Sumia and I can assist Chrom, while Cordelia and Cherche assist Kellam." The two Pegasus fliers look between them with an embarrassed look. Why did they not think of that?
"I would say Xion is right. The Valmese have largely ignored us, and so we have the element of surprise on our side." Cherche interjects as she motions Minerva towards Kellam's group. The three Pegasus riders nod at her with smirks of their own in reply. "Well, Cordelia? Shall we be off?" Cordelia gives the Wyvern Lord a smirk before following her as Sumia and Xion dive towards Chrom's group, the latter bringing out her ice tome as Sumia readied her spear.
Raising her hand in front of her, Xion let loose a storm of ice from her hand onto the Valmese below, halting their charge and throwing several riders from their horses. At that moment, Sumia dived in, nocking the Great Knight off his horse along with several others before flying back into the sky, with Xion slashing at several others with Two Become One. As the Valmese riders regroup and take stock of their assailants, Chrom's group broke from their formation and charged into the Valmese lines.
The Great Knight struggled to his feet, issuing orders to his men as he tried to regain the situation, only to find himself suddenly becoming a glorified lightning rod, courtesy of Robin. He didn't even have time to look for the grandmaster before he found himself struck by a triple Sonic Blade from Chrom, Sora and Kairi, falling to the ground without even catching a glance of his attackers. Seeing their commander fall, the remaining Valmese turn tail and flee to their ship, leaving the Shepherds a chance to breathe.
"Thanks for the help, sis." Sora says to Xion between deep breaths of air. "Thought they had us there." Xion giggles good-naturedly at her brother as Chrom walks up to the two riders, Sumia leaping off her mount to hug her husband while he consoles her. "Where are Cordelia and Cherche?"
"They are helping Kellam's group. But, unfortunately, they are up against what looked to be a specialised wing." Xion reports before looking down the street. Sora furrows his brow before he and Kairi look at Chrom with narrow eyes. Chrom returns their gaze before motioning his head towards the Valmese ship, signalling that taking it would force the Valmese to surrender. Then, and hopefully, they will regroup with the others.
Lon'qu couldn't be any more furious than he was right now. Seeing innocent villagers being run down was one thing, but seeing their homes being burned simultaneously was another. But that was not the only reason as to why he was mad. No, it was the damn Valmese and their cavalry running rings around them like sharks hunting their prey.
Usually, it wouldn't be much of a problem, considering they had Nowi with them to rain holy fire upon them. Still, the sight of one of the Valmese wielding a Wyvern-slayer prevented her from taking part, staying far away from the deadly blade as much as she could. Kellam, Sully and Roxas were no better, considering that some of the Valmese also had Horse-slayers, long lances that grew in size the truth down the shaft, while the tip was small and deadly. Not even the armour on Kellam's horse would be able to survive a thrust from it.
Thankfully, the ones welding the deadly weapons were staying back, most likely waiting for one of them to break out of their defensive circle rather than risk charging at them. Considering that Nowi unleased holy fire on any Valmese near them with Ricken joining her in blasting them with wind magic, along with light magic from Naminé and her Holy tome, they would not be broken anytime soon. Still, it vexed him that they could not even advance while those riders were waiting for them to move.
Roxas, however, was not going to wait for the Valmese to make their move. After every pass, he draws the string back on Oathkeeper and lets loose an arrow of light at the Valmese, but to his rising frustration, the riders simply pivot their mounts and avoid his arrows of light while staying out of the range of Ricken, Nowi and Naminé. Gaius and Lea tried to help with his own arrows yet met the same results as Roxas, with Lea's axe moving slower than the arrows making things harder for the Warrior.
The whiney of a horse broke Lon'qu out of his thoughts, though, as several Valmese soon charged at him at full gallop. Grunting in irritation, he seethes his katana and readies himself to strike, just as a dark shadow falls over the riders. Before they could even speak, Minerva was upon them, landing right on top of the lead knight as Cherche swung her axe around in an arc, hitting two more and disorienting the charge. A storm of lighting soon joined her as Cordelia flew high above the Valmese before diving down at them with her lance.
The Valmese riders running around halted in their tracks at the sudden attack, but that proved to be their undoing as Kellam and Sully broke from the circle and charged into the idle knights, as Roxas and Gaius unleased a storm of arrows on the riders. Isa charged into the Valmese lines, swinging his axe with wanton abandon as Naminé and Ricken unleased a magical storm on the riders wielding the slayer weapons, with Nowi taking to the air to assist Cordelia.
Lon'qu looked around, analysing the battle before noticing several Valmese charging toward Cherche as she tangoed with the commander of this division. For a brief second, an image flashed before his eyes before frowning in determination, leaping before the Valmese soldiers and rapidly drawing his katana. Then, in the blink of an eye, what looked to be a single slash was instead five simultaneous and swift slashes at the Valmese, three striking the horses, two across the riders' chests. They didn't even have a chance to blink as Lon'qu's Astra ended them in an instant.
The strangled cry of the Valmese commander as he is flung over his head told Lon'qu that Cherche had been successful in her duel. However, he could also tell with her wyvern breathing down his neck. "Thank you for the assistance Lon'qu." Cherche says from atop Minerva. Lon'qu nods at her while taking a few steps back. While his fears around women have considerably lessened in the past two years, it was still there subconsciously. Cherche seemed to notice as she tilted her head at him, although there was another look behind her eyes. It was almost like she was analysing him.
"Alright, we've wasted enough time here lazing around. Let's kick these tin cans back into the sea!" Sully's cry from behind broke the two before Lon'qu could question her as she and Cordelia took to the skies, with Cordelia giving Gaius a lift. It would seem she wanted to make sure her husband didn't get into any more trouble on the ground. Shaking his head, Lon'qu narrowed his eyes at the Valmese ship, determined to make these savages pay for what they did.
"Is everyone here?" Terra asks as the Shepherds gather around the entrance to the Valmese ship. Chrom group was, surprisingly, the first to arrive despite the Valmese counterattack, with Frederick group arriving not long after. All that was left was the order to attack.
"Not yet. We are still waiting for Kellam's group." Robin replies as he looks over the Valmese ship, analysing any weak points. Terra heaves a sigh before glancing back over the Shepherds, some showing anxiety at waiting while others take the chance to relax. Not that they could really, with the Valmese lurking about at the top of the ship, glaring at them with intense hate. How they hadn't subsumed to Darkness, he didn't know, but at least they wouldn't be waiting any longer. The sound of Kellam's group arriving secured that.
"S-Sorry we are late." Kellam says shyly. Robin shook his head, telling the Great Knight not to worry before setting his gaze on the Valmese ship. So far, they had made no attempt to flee, which surprised Robin. In any other situation, he would have called for a tactical withdrawal, and yet the Valmese were still here, waiting for them. His eyes narrow as he looks over the ship. There were no cannons, no mages to rain down magic, and no bow knights to suppress them, so why?
"They seem to be overconfident." Roxas idly comments next to the Grandmaster. "They don't even seem to realise just how much trouble they are in." Robin narrows his eyes more as he looks again over the ship. A single wooden walkway is the only way up, big enough for three riders to charge down comfortably in a single line. Or as a charging column.
"They want us to charge up the ramp." Robin breaths before looking around at the startled Shepherds. "All they have up there are cavaliers and a few Paladins. On their own, they would not be much of a threat, but on a narrow causeway with no room to move…."
"We would be sitting ducks to be knocked off and fall into the sea." Sora finishes as he looks over the ramp. "If we don't move carefully, we will be the ones to fall."
"Exactly." Robin agrees with a snap of his finger. "Thankfully, we have an answer to that. Three answers, to be precise." He turns his gaze to Terra, Frederick and Kellam, who soon find themselves the central focus of attention.
"Um, I know I always wanted to be more noticed, but this was not what I had in mind…." Kellam whispered to his fellow heavy armoured friends, who both agreed readily, wishing they had his uncanny ability to vanish into thin air right about now. Yet they had no such luck, as they soon found themselves walking up the wooden ramp, Terra in the centre and Frederick and Kellam on his sides, both of whom had dismounted. Behind them, Miriel and Naminé slowly followed while Cordelia and Xion flew on the sides. Seconds passed as the group of five slowly made their way up, casting glances to the top of the ramp as silence dominated the area. Soon, a horn was blown from the top of the deck as a stream of Valmese cavaliers charged down the deck at the three knights. Gritting their teeth, Terra slams his shield into the ground as Frederick and Kellam brace themselves next to him, awaiting the inevitable crash.
What followed next was chaos.
The Valmese clearly expect Terra, Frederick and Kellam to be bowled over by their charge, and yet it was they themselves who found themselves taking the plunge, shocked at the stubbornness of the three. The cavaliers attempted to flee back onto the ship but were soon caught in a storm of fire, ice, thunder and light as Miriel, Naminé, Cordelia, and Xion let loose upon them. Finally, with a triumphant smirk, Chrom ordered the Shepherds to charge up the ramp onto the ship, determined to end the Valmese threat.
Lon'qu was one of the first onboard, followed closely by Oliva and Isa as they looked for the Valmese leader. It was not hard to find him, straddling on his horse in gold and red armour, helmet cast aside as silver lance in hand. The condescending scowl he was giving did not help his case what so over. "Pathetic. These are the great 'Shepherds of Ylisse'? A ragtag band of outcasts? You are nothing! A speck of sand on the boot of the great empire of Valm!"
"Then come and prove your 'superiority'." Lon'qu challenges as he readies his katana. The commander scowls at him before leading his horse into a gallop, onto to soon find himself dodging a flying axe at him as it spins in an arc to return to Lea's hand. Oliva took advantage of his distraction, slashing at the horse's unprotected legs, sending the commander sprawling to the ground. He barely had enough time to look up before he saw Lon'qu's blade homing in on his chest before he felt the bite of steel. "A warrior can only be so strong alone, but with allies, he is invincible." He tells the commander with narrow eyes before finishing him off with a single strike, anger and rage leaving his body as he breaths deeply. No more innocent civilians would die today.
But it was still an empty victory as they looked out over the smoking port.
"How bad is it…?" Kairi hesitantly asks as she, Sora, Chrom and Robin stand on the ramp as Riku and Basilio walk up to them. Basilio had just reached the port as the Shepherds had launched their final attack, yet the look on his face could tell anyone he was far from happy.
"The port is wrecked, several civilians are dead, and the garrisons here are completely shattered." Basilio clenches a hand in anger as he looks over the place with a single eye. "And that not the worst of it. This was only the vanguard. Tasked with creating a bridgehead for the main force. When THEY arrive, we are dead meat."
"That's only if they can land their forces, Basilio." Riku interrupts, arms folded. "True, what we have seen her shows that on an open field, we stand no chance against Valm. But what about in areas where their cavalry will be useless. Were they can't run rings around us and are forced to abandon their greatest strength."
"Riku is right." Robin agrees with a nod while cupping his chin. "On land, we have a tactical disadvantage. Even with Ylisse's Pegasus Knights, Valm could simply counter with either their own, Wyvern Riders or Bow Knights. But if we were to fight them on the sea, confined to the decks of ships…."
"But how?" Chrom asks, stress eating away at his body. "Neither Ylisse nor Ferox has the ships to stop such a fleet. Let alone contest a landing."
"That means we need to get help from a kingdom that does." Sora interjects with arms folded. "If neither Ferox nor Ylisse has the means, that only leaves one other kingdom for us to turn to. But whether they will help us or not is the main question." The five look at Sora with questioning eyes before Chrom's eyes enlarge considerably.
"You are not seriously considering asking Plegia to lend a hand, are you?" he asks disbelievingly. Sure, relations are mending between the two, but this is still the same country that houses the Grimleal! How could they be sure that they wouldn't strike them in the back? Robin shared his worries but stated that without Plegia's help, they would fall to Valm. And that could be a fate worse than what Plegia could do to them. With great reluctance, Chrom relents. "Alright. Riku, send a messenger and request a summit immediately. Let us pray this new king is more reasonable than their last."
"Looks like they lasted better than we thought. Or rather, how they told us." A cavalier says as he looks over the port before turning his head over to 'Marth' as she stands on a hill, looking on with a longing look.
In the past two years, she had managed to upgrade her armour to a more 'royal' look. While her cape and underclothes largely stayed the same, albeit, with an added golden trim, she now wore a silver-blue chest plate over her chest, with similar pauldron and gauntlets along her arms. Similarly styled greaves covered her legs, while a blue shield with silver trim and décor, its shape that of a pseudo-heart, rested on her left arm. Finally, while Falchion rested on her hip, a silver spear hung on her back.
"Things are no longer certain…." She says despondently before turning to look at her companion. "How can we be sure we haven't messed things up or played into Grima's hands?"
Her friend sat on his horse thinking idly, his dark blue eyes contrasting with his blue hair—a lighter shade than that of 'Marth's', looking like ice. While he wore the standard cavalier armour, he forwent the 'bucket' around his next in favour of a faded red scarf around his neck, while his armour was a combination of dull silver and gold. A steel sword and lance hung from the back of his horse as he turned his eye to her.
"Maybe we have, and maybe we haven't. We have no way of knowing. But I can say I would rather be HERE than there, where we don't have to fear for our lives every waking day. And besides, I KNOW you are happy to see them again after these long years. Me, on the other hand…" 'Marth' looks at her friend with a deep sadness. She knew he never got a chance to sort things out and that he still blames himself for what happened. "I'm not ready to see them. Not yet anyway. But something tells me you will be joining them properly, right?" Not waiting for her to reply, he turns his mount around. "Well, I wish you luck anyway. I'll stay here and coordinate with the others. When next we meet, I hope it will be in better climates." 'Marth said nothing as she watched him go, loneliness filling where he once stood. Then, she turns on her heels with a heavy sigh and heads for Plegia.
It was time she stopped running from the truth.