The Grimleal.
Chrom and Lissa learned their sister is to be put to death, and launch a rescue mission. They along with the Shepherds where on their way back, but the trip was suspiciously easy. Everyone could feel it in their gut that something wasn't right. They had arrived in a desert with some villaiges nearby, not the best place to live, but some people have no choice.
"I'd like to believe it's our cunning that got us this far without being spotted... But we've seen far too little of the Plegian Guard. Where are they? Whatever trap Gangrel has planned, he is in no hurry to spring it" Chrom said.
"Yeah, one would think they would be more eager to kill us than this. They've had plenty of chances and we've passed several areas that would be ideal for an ambush" Siegfried agreed, not liking how uncharacteristically inactive the Plegians have been.
Frederick enters walks up "Milord, our scouts report some manner of engagement downfield".
"Understood. Get everyone ready to move" Chrom ordered.
"These desert sands are certain to bog down our units, milord. Only mages and fliers will likely be able to proceed unhindered" Frederick said.
"Good point. I'll keep it in mind. Robin, let's discuss strategy" Chrom said, earning a nod from Robin.
Cassandra wasn't a big fan of the desert. She doesn't like all the sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. She would need a bath to wash it all of... And hopefully Chrom will not walk in on her this time. The memory made her blush as she shook her head, trying to cool of.
"You ok?" Lissa asked.
"Oh yeah, just the heat" Cassandra said, a little nervous.
Lissa smiled, she had a feeling Cassandra's red face wasn't because of the heat. However, they heard something in the distance.
A small green haired girl arrives on the field, breathing hard and was clearly trying to get away from something, or someone.
"Huff, huff. Have... Have I lost him?" She asked herself.
Soon a rough looking man showed up and spoke in very broken sentances "Wait, I say! Why you no comprehending, wee one?".
"AUGH! GET AWAY! Everyone just leave me ALONE!" The girl cried out.
"Please, be keeping down with the voice! You give away position! Very bad!" The man said.
"My throat is dry, my shoes are full of sand, and some big weirdo is trying to KILL ME!" The girl yelled.
"Oy, you break Gregor's heart! Why you treat like villain?" The man who's name was Gregor said.
"You there! Fiend! Keep your hands off that maiden!" Chrom commanded.
"Who is fiend? ...You mean Gregor? No, friend! You have idea wrong!" Gregor insisted.
"Yeah, right! ...Creep!" Lissa said.
Gregor almost looked sad "This day has been nothing but insults and punches to groin. And all for doing good deed! ...Listen, friend! Gregor only want to—".
Before he could finish, several more people arrived... and these one looked even scarier than Gregor did. It wasn't hard to figure out they were not up to any good.
The leader named Chalard spoke "Gotcha, you slippery scamp! Prepare for a dose of Grima's wrath".
"Oy, this is most terrible! Do you see now? They make with the catching of us!" Gregor said.
"Why are you all after the girl?" Chrom asked.
"All? What is this "all"? Gregor is not one of "all"! Look close! Maybe you not see from so far? Gregor have innocent-baby face!" Gregor said.
Chrom deadpanned "Hmm…".
"Well…" Lissa said, unsure.
"Yeah... Not sure "innocent baby" is how I'd describe it…" Robin said.
"Gah! Never be minding! Gregor is not enemy! You must believe!" Gregor pleaded.
Chrom rubs his forehead "...This is making my head hurt. We'll sort him out later. Right now, we need to protect the girl".
"Y-you're going to help me?" The girl asked surprised.
"We'll do everything in our power to keep you safe. Just hold on until we can reach you, and we'll drive them off!" Chrom said before looking around "We need to warn these villages of the danger. But who to send? Best if it's someone who can move swiftly through the sands...".
The battle was underway, Siegfried rushed and struck down an enemy soldier, before blocking another one, kicked him in the chest and finished him of with a swift strike. Cassandra joined in as well, blocking a strike with her shield before stabbing the enemy in the chest. In the chaos, Gergor lost track of the girl and in a frustration he cut down another enemy soldier.
Cassandra forced her way through the sand until she reached the girl "Hey! Are you okey?".
The girl looked at her "No, I'm not okey! I hate this! I want it to be over!".
"It will be soon, I promise. My name is Cassadra by the way" Cassandra said.
The girl eyed her for a moment before she smiled "I'm Nowi".
"Nice to meet you Nowi. Let's get you out of here" Cassandra said.
Nowi nodded in agreement as they tried to make it back to the others, but the enemy soldiers wasn't making it easy. Cassandra did her best to keep Nowi safe but there was so many of them. They began approaching Nowi who was starting to panik. Cassandra tried to break of to run to her, but the enemies would't get out of her way.
"GET AWAY FROM ME!" Nowi screamed as she suddenly transformed... In to a Dragon!
Everyone looked at her in shock as she unleashed a blast of pure destructive magic, which blows several enemies away like a swarm of bothersome flies. Cassandra was in awe, she had never seen something like this before.
"What in blazes?! The girl is a dragon!" Robin asked in shock.
Chrom looked at Nowi in awe "By the gods, she's a manakete... I never thought I'd see one".
"Hmm... Perhaps she doesn't need our help so much as we could use hers..." Robin said.
With the enemies distracted, this gave the Shepherds opening they needed to reach the villages. Siegfried cut down the enemies near one villaige, where and elderly man greeted him.
"Gods praise ye, good people! Gods praise ye one and all! We lives in constant fear of what the Grimleal will do to us, so we does! 'Ere! Take this staff with me blessings! It can fetch distant comrades to safety. Be sure to place it in the hands o' one gifted in spells or the like. Magic folk be able to reach the farthest with it!" The elder said.
"I will, thank you" Siegfried said.
Sumia reached the Southwestern village and took care of the enemies there in a swift motion.
"You have our thanks for the warning. Please, take this. It's my family's treasure. I would offer more, if only I could. A fellow with enough experience could use it to grow even stronger" A Villaiger said.
Sumia smiled "You've offered more than enough, thank you".
Cordelia arrived in the Southeastern village where she skillfully killed the enemies.
A Maiden came out "Really? You'll protect the village? ...This little dung heap? Goodness, you're kind! I suppose I should give you a little something, eh? ...Here. Someone with enough experience could use this to start a new life. It's like running off to join a circus troupe! ...But more classy-like".
"Thank you, I'm sure we will find use for it" Cordelia said.
Cassandra was confronting Charlad who was smirking at her.
"Ha ha! You dare defy Grima, god of annihilation?" He asked.
"I don't know who this Grima is. But the only annihilation that will happen today is yours" Cassandra declared as she got ready.
Charlad laughed mockingly "A wench like you is powerless against our god! Die!".
He unleashed a blast of dark magic and Cassandra quickly raised her shield to block it... When the attack hit her shield, it began glowing for a moment, much to Cassandra's surprise and Charlard's shock.
"That shield... Impossible" He said.
"I don't know what happened, but I'm glad it did. Now, you shall pay for threatening these people!" Cassandra declared.
She charged forward, blocking Charlard's magical attacks before she managed to close the distance and stabbed him in the chest.
Chalard coughed blood "Master Grima...my life force...is yours...".
He fell to the ground, dead. Cassandra looked at him, not liking the sound of this Grima he kept talking about
After the battle, everyone gathered, along with Nowi and Gregor.
"This is just the worst. Day. EVER!" Nowi sobbed.
Gregor gave her a friendly smile "Ho now, wee one! Do not make with the crying of tears. The evil people are now dead people. This is good, no?".
Nowi calmed down and smiled as well "You... You're right. Th-thank you. And... I'm sorry I was so mean to you earlier. I just get nervous around people who are...outside my age group".
"Your age group? Ha! Gregor much closer to your age than others here!" Gregor said with a laugh.
"Say, um...Gregor, was it? Gregor, do you mind looking after her? We need to press on" Chrom said.
"Mmm... Gregor is mercenary, yes? Maybe you hire Gregor instead. True, Gregor just finish killing former employers, but still very reliable! So long as you not try to hurt little girl, Gregor will not hurt you. Also, Gregor need steady income. ...Many angry former employers" Gregor said.
"You're a sellsword?" Chrom asked.
Gregor smiled in pride "Yes! Very swell sword! Cost performance very high. You have Gregor's word".
"Sure, why not? You're hired" Chrom said, having another soldier on hand would be useful.
"But! But what about me?! I WON'T go back on the auction block!" Nowi said.
Lissa looked at her "Wait. You've been sold? Like a...like a slave?!".
Nowi was shaking a little "To men more despicable than you can possibly imagine. They made me transform for them... They drank and laughed and called out tricks…".
Cassandra rubs the poor girl's shoulder "That's horrible".
Lissa looked very angry "What kind of scumbags buy and sell a little girl?! Even if she CAN turn into a dragon…".
Frederick smiled a little "She may be little, milady, but not nearly so young as you might think. Manaketes live a very long time".
"Really? ...How old are you?" Lissa asked Nowi.
Nowi shrugs "Oh, I dunno. ...A thousand...something? But look! No wrinkles!".
"Wow, I hope I still look pretty when I grow older" Cassandra said.
"The dragonkin are said to be more resilient than men. Nowi would make a strong ally. Besides, we cannot risk her falling back into the hands of the Grimleal" Frederick said.
"Beg pardon, but who are the Grimleal?" Robin asked.
Frederick began explaining "Followers of the fell dragon, Grima. The selfsame dragon the first exalt defeated a thousand years ago. Even today there are some who yearn for the fiend's return".
"I...see" Robin said, and for some reason he couldn't shake the feeling that he knew this Grima somehow.
"Well, shall we get some rest? We're almost to the Plegian capital. We'll need all our strength, soon enough…" Flavia said.
The Ylissians set up camp for one final break before they head to the capital. Like Flavia said, they would need all their strength for the big battle. They were near a lake, so Cassandra figured this was her best and only chance to get cleaned before they head out tomorrow.
She reached the lake and removed her clothes before getting in. The water felt nice as she ducks under it so she could wash her hair for a bit. She spent several moments just enjoying herself.
"This is nice..." She said with a smile.
"Cassandra?" Came an all to familiar voice.
Cassandra yelped and quickly covered herself "Chrom!? Oh come on! Can't I take a bath anywhere without you showing up!".
Chrom who was also in the water quickly stood up with his hands raised "Hold on! This is not what it looks like!".
Cassandra's mouth was hanging open as she stared at Chrom's... special weapon "CHROM!".
Chrom looked down and quickly sat down "Damn it!".
"Oh gods oh gods oh gods!" Cassandra said as her cheeks was burning.
Chrom blushed "Are you done freaking out yet?".
"What do you think! I almost wanted to kill you!" Cassandra said, struggling to calm down.
"Cassandra, I swear I had no idea you were here. I couldn't sleep so I came here to think and I figured a relaxing bath could help" Chrom said.
"Next time, I will just tell you when I'm going to bathe. Maybe then we can avoid these awkward moments" Cassandra said.
"Maybe... In any case, look on the bright side: we've seen each other naked now, right? So I guess we've got nothing left to hide. In a way, we're closer than ever" Chrom said, only half joking.
Cassandra giggled a little "Only you could find humor in these things... But I guess as long as no one else shows up, this isn't the worst thing that could happen".
"I sure can think of worse ways" Chrom said.
They sat in silence for about a minute before Cassandra spoke "You said you couldn't sleep. You're worrying about Emmeryn?".
"Of course I am... This never would've happened if she hadn't returned to Ylisse... I wish I had forced to go to a safe place" Chrom said.
"We both know that wouldn't work... But I understand how you feel... I feel the same about my own sister. She is to nice for her own good and is always putting others ahead of herself, which has already gotten her hurt... Honestly, Emmeryn reminds me a lot about her, I blieve they would get a long really well" Cassandra said.
"In that case, when this war is over, I would love to meet her. And so would Emmeryn" Chrom said.
Cassandra smiled "Well then it's settled. After we win the war, I will introduce you all to her. And you all can try her baking, Sophitia makes the best bred".
"I look forward to it" Chrom said.
They sat in peaceful silence, the awkwardness having died down. For a second both could feel that their bond had grown a lot stronger and they were indeed closer than ever before.
"Ok I'm going to get some sleep. I suggest you do the same" Cassandra said as she stood up "No peeping!".
Chrom quickly looked away "I didn't see anything!".
Cassandra blushed but smiled while thinking 'Not like I have anything you haven't already seen... you silly prince'.
With that, Cassandra dried of, got dressed and headed back to her tent... But her heart was feeling something... She... she was in love with Chrom... There was no way she could deny it now... But she had no idea what to do about it.
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Yes, a little Star Wars Easter egg! Since the chapter took place in a desert and Star Wars characters did show up in Soul Calibur.
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Tell me what you think.