This is just a forewarning that I have NO intention of going through the entire game with my OC Mary Sueing her way to victory. Starting from here it will be more snippets of life for the canon characters and the OC, still moving through and beyond the game and DLC's. The story is rated for language, thematic elements of violence and sexuality. Why else would you read fanfiction, eh? Cheers!

And When the Dust Settled

"You really have no background with sword fighting, do you?"

Melusine accepted the hand offered and pulled herself back to her feet. Looking at the soldiers training around her, she frowned. She'd been stuck in this confounded world for nearly a week now, and already she'd had her ass handed to her more than once. Thankfully, Raymond's theory about respawning had proven true, and she wasn't completely dead, yet. But Raymond would die when, if, she returned. Melusine imagined a malfunction happened soon after her transport and that was why she remained here despite his assurances of a quick retrieval. Or perhaps Raymond was a mad sociopathic scientist who took pleasure in stranding his colleagues in alternate realities. Either way, Raymond would pay for this.

Melusine looked back to her training partner and shook her head, "Where I come from, there was no need for sword fighting."

"Really?" The fierce woman warrior's lips drew into a thin line. "I know of no such place in Thedas."

"Well, we both don't understand the where or how the Maker transported me here. We can only assume the why." Melusine shifted her grip on the sword and brought it up to face off against Cassandra. "Now, please repeat your last instructions. I have an apt mind for learning just an untrained body to follow suit."

Cassandra snorted before launching into the same set of drills that had landed Melusine on her ass to begin with. After the initial confusion and frustration of being stuck in the game, and getting killed multiple times by that first major demon battle, things had relegated themselves into a type of normalcy. The forces of the Inquisition were holed up in a place called Haven, and Melusine had been, thus far, tentatively accepted as the "Herald" of whichever god these people ascribed to. She still had yet to have the time to experiment with her own transformation into dragonet form, but she knew for certain she looked the same as she had in her own world. But she hadn't miraculously developed a skill for archery or sword-play as she'd hoped. Instead, she had a strange green glowing mark that hurt like hell when she was asked to use it to close what the people here called Rifts. Aside from that addition, she was much the same.

Though many quests needed following to consolidate the Inquisition's power and ensure its success in this unstable time, those that had fought by her side in the initial fight, along with the three "advisors" she'd met in Haven, all felt it prudent to train her in at least some form of defensive skills. She'd surprised them all, and not at all in a good way, with how utterly useless her skills and expertise were in this time and place. No magical abilities, no archery, not even so much as dagger skills. The only reason they kept her around was for the green mark and her ability to seal off Rifts.

During the early 20th century, Melusine had been a regular at one of the first major American kickboxing gyms and became quite accomplished. But kickboxing would only come in handy with hand-to-hand combat. Most of their foes would be armed, and many of them would be fighting with magical powers or would be supernatural beings themselves. In truth, Melusine felt good and fucked in her human form and wished she could reveal her Taninoui nature to these people. But, from what she'd gleaned from the highly talkative, though perhaps not most reliable narrator, dwarf Varric, dragons were not only feared in this world but actively hunted and destroyed. It probably wouldn't go over too well if, while they still had yet to accept her as their "Herald," Melusine kicked in the door of their hospitality with that mind-blowing truth.

Melusine wasn't exactly worried about her health and well-being, especially not since the world had allowed her respawning at least a half dozen times. But for as long as she was stuck in this world, she felt an obligation to fix the shite going on in it. Maybe because Raymond had transported himself into an inactive moment of his game, he hadn't had to "play through" the reality to be transported back. But maybe that was what was happening to Melusine. It was only a hunch, but it was enough of one to motivate her to get back into the training ground and have her ass caved in by the ruthless Nevarran.

If what Varric had told her could be considered fact, this woman she trained with was the biggest potential threat against Melusine's true nature. Descended from a lengthy line of dragon hunters, Cassandra would most likely not hesitate to lop off Melusine's head if she knew the truth.

"Your form is getting sloppier and you're wasting our time. Perhaps you should rest from the sword, then resume your training with Varric this afternoon."

Melusine didn't argue. Instead, she replaced the heavy blade and took a seat on the steps facing the training ground. Cassandra surprised her by doing the same, though she did not sit down but stood just to the side of the steps, her keen eyes taking in all the mistakes the soldiers were making. She looked like she wanted to say something but didn't quite know how to say it. Melusine smirked. Cassandra reminded her of an aunt she'd met years ago. Both seemed so eager to do the right thing that they didn't give a damn if the surrounding people didn't quite see things the same way.

"You worried about our success?" Melusine questioned. "With such an incompetently trained Herald, you must question the sanity of all this." Cassandra stared at Melusine with a look of surprise, as if she hadn't realized her emotions were so visible in the lines of her face. Melusine shrugged, "I'm wondering the same thing, Lady Pentaghast. My background is in heavenly theories and the laws of motion. In the annals of history with the development and failures of kingdoms," Melusine was always careful in how she described herself and where she came from to these people, not wanting to make her life harder by claiming time and reality travel to a civilization so steeped in the supernatural and superstition. "I've had minimal training in the arts of blade or bow, and I'm certain even my hand-to-hand combat skills will be subpar to your expectations once you see them."

"Why are you telling me all this?" Cassandra had crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her gaze as she stared at Melusine.

Melusine smiled, "I'm reassuring you I know I'm not the one you would have picked out from a line of people. I'm not what anyone would call qualified for this position or as the solution for our problem," Melusine pointed toward the green blotch in the sky, "But for whatever reason, I'm here. I have this," she waved her left hand, "and what's more, I'm actually interested in seeing this through because that's the right thing to do. The only thing to do. I don't want Thedas to fall to the mayhem these Rifts promise if they go unchecked, and I'd like to help restore some sort of peace to the political upheaval that's been caused by the loss of your Divine."

Cassandra's stern stance relaxed a bit at Melusine's words, and by the time Melusine finished speaking, the warrioress had let her arms fall to her side as she looked back to the trainees on the field.

"I apologize if I have-" Cassandra stopped herself then after a headshake started over again, "I believe you when you say these things. And I respect your dedication to the cause."

Melusine stood up, albeit a bit stiffly, and smiled. "Thank you. I'm glad we got that out."

"Got what out?" Cassandra again looked confused.

"Your lack of faith in my abilities to succeed and my acceptance thereof." Melusine stretched her arms over her head. "I don't hold it against you or anyone else for that matter. Only natural." Cassandra opened and closed her mouth a few times, again at a loss for words. "I think I'll follow your advice and go find Varric."

Melusine left the lady warrior gaping. Cassandra needed to lighten up and be less hard on herself and everyone around her. Melusine hadn't known her long, but she knew enough from the brief time together and observation to know that much. Melusine chanced a glance over her shoulder and flashed Cassandra a wave and another smile. The warrioress snapped her mouth shut and turned back towards the training field.

Maybe so long as Melusine had to stay in this place, with these people, she could make it a priority to mess with them. Not maliciously, but proactively. Even if they were computer algorithms, maybe with her unprogrammed presence in their world, she could coax some personal growth out of them. Help them heave themselves over the mental, emotional, and perhaps social hurdles that kept them locked in place. It would be something other than doom and gloom she could focus on.

She'd do what she could to help further along this Inquisition, whatever the hell that meant in this world, but more so she'd make herself available to these people. It was a fascinating chance to see if the AI of this game really could adapt and grow now that she'd been inserted into it. And, if Melusine was honest, it was her own desperate attempt to keep from going mad.