Chapter 6: Homecoming
"Great work, Swampert!" called out Robert. "You, too, Charizard!"
"Swamp!"
"Rawr!"
The two Pokémon happily accepted their trainer's praise, with Charizard proudly flexing her arms. They now each wore a black, metal collar around their necks, with Swampert's having a blue marble-like stone with an orange cat's eye embedded in it and Charizard's having a red one with a yellow cat's eye.
It had been a few days after Lyndis's Legion saved Ninian and Nils from the assassin organization, Black Fang. The Legion had finally left Khathelet and entered the march of Caelin – the homeland of Lyn's mother. Robert had taken the opportunity to give himself, his Pokémon, and his comrades some training in as they moved. When the Legion visited a village while en route, Robert paid a blacksmith to allow him to use his smithy there to forge the collars Swampert and Charizard now wore.
As he took some practice swings with his sword, Robert grinned, both from seeing the results of his Pokémon's training and from seeing his own handiwork being worn comfortably by said Pokémon.
"Thank god I already had level 99 Smithing and Crafting done back when I played RuneScape," thought Robert to himself before he looked towards Cyclizar and Pikachu, who were wearing training weights on their limbs and torsos.
"Cyclizar, Pikachu, how are you two doing so far?" the Pokémon trainer asked.
"Rrr!" The Dragon/Normal-type Pokémon grunted.
"Pika…!" The Electric-type Pokémon squeaked.
"Oh, a little tired? Looks like the endurance training is paying off." Robert smiled as he then crouched down to remove the weights from Cyclizar and Pikachu. "Now should be a good time for a break."
Lyn walked up to Robert as the latter stored the weights away into his inventory and recalled his Pokémon.
"Look, Robert! The mountains seem so far away now," Lyn remarked, looking back towards the mountain range in Khathelet. "We've come such a long way…"
"Yeah…" replied Robert, looking back to the mountains as well. "It's been a few days."
Lyn then noticed the sword in Robert's hand and became curious. "What do you have the sword out for?"
"I was practicing," Robert answered. "I'm just getting myself warmed up – there's a technique I've been wanting to do for a while now but am still working on."
Lyn leaned in with an excited look in her eye. "What sort of technique? Knowing you, it's probably a special one."
Robert chuckled and smiled. "It is! I can't wait to show it to you once I've gotten it down. But right now, it's a work in progress."
"I remember Meta Knight showing me this move," thought Robert to himself. "I just need more time to meditate on my own. I might just be able to nail it the next time I get to practice. He's a tough teacher but an effective one."
"The blade of the sword… can become one with the wind!"
Just then, Kent and Sain rode up to Robert's and Lyn's side on top of their horses, bringing Robert out of his thoughts.
"Milady Lyndis! Robert!" called out Sain happily. "We can't be very far from the castle now!"
"By my reckoning, we can reach Castle Caelin in two days if we hurry," concurred Kent with a small smile.
"Two more days…" muttered Lyn softly to herself as she thought about Marquess Caelin. "Hold on, Grandfather. Please…"
"Cheer up, Lyn," said Florina as her pegasus landed next to Lyn and Robert. "If they see you looking so sad, the entire company will lose heart."
Robert nodded. "Morale can make or break any group. That said, we'll definitely need to be careful now – I won't put it past Lundgren to be calling out the shots while the real marquess is indisposed."
"What do you mean?" Kent asked, his ears listening to Robert's every word.
"Lundgren may be playing marquess with Lyn's grandfather being sick, instead of somebody the marquess actually trusts," explained Robert. "There's a good chance that he may try to attack us using Caelin's military forces."
"In other words, even though we're home, we may be in enemy territory now," said Sain grimly.
"Right. We'll best keep our eyes and ears open."
Lyn nodded. "There's nothing to be gained by worrying and staying back. We just have to press onward."
Lyndis's Legion continued marching onwards in the direction of Castle Caelin. Nothing happened for a good while, though everybody could feel tension hang over the air like a thick fog. Robert couldn't help but to look at the sky every few minutes as they walked.
Suddenly, Nils and Ninian rushed up to Lyn.
"Lyn…" Nils warned, shuddering. "Danger approaches…"
Lyn looked towards Nils before looking around as she continued moving. "What did you say?"
Sain looked around the immediate vicinity. "I don't see anything. Are you sure?"
"I feel it, too. I'm sure of it," asserted Ninian, backing up her brother before she gasped sharply. "Ah! Milady, don't move!"
"Hm?" Lyn stopped walking only for a large spear-like bolt to impale the ground with a loud crunch in front of her just about a meter from where Lyn currently stood.
The plainswoman was shaken by the sudden appearance of the bolt. "What in–Where did this bolt come from?!"
Kent recognized the large projectile, his eyes widening at the gravity of the situation. "They have a ballista!"
"Lord Lundgren is getting serious," remarked Sain grimly. "Deploying siege engines is no mean feat."
"What is a ballista?" asked Lyn, worried.
"It's a weapon designed for long-distance attacks," described Kent. "Only archers can use them, but they can be devastating."
Robert was already tapping away on his smartphone before he showed the screen to Lyn; on the screen was a web article with an image of the weapon in question. "Here's what a ballista looks like."
As Lyn took the smartphone to look at the photograph, Sain rushed over to Florina, who was spooked by the sight of the ballista bolt.
"Florina! You must stay aground!" the cavalier warned. "Do not take to the air! The ballista would target you in an instant."
"Is there a way to combat it?" Lyn asked as she handed the phone back to Robert.
"The safest course is to use someone with good defense as bait, so the enemy wastes arrows," answered Kent.
"Then you can walk up and knock the fool on the head," agreed Sain, performing a haymaker at the air.
"Robert, what do you think?" Lyn asked.
Robert was about to answer when he noticed something high in the sky.
"Shit, another shot!" the thought flashed through his head before he cried out. "Lyn, watch out—!"
Kent, Sain, and Florina looked up just in time to see that a second ballista bolt had been launched, its trajectory sending it hurtling directly towards Lyn. Just as Robert was about to move to pull Lyn out of the way, All Star appeared in front of him. Right before Robert's eyes, just only a split second before the ballista bolt could hit Lyn, everything seemed to stop at once. Lyn, Kent, Sain, and Florina were all frozen, with their mouths open in shock and fright and with unblinking eyes. Florina's pegasus had his wings open but not flapping, as still as a statue. The white, fluffy clouds in the sky weren't moving at all.
"What… what happened…?" gasped Robert to himself as he watched All Star move towards the ballista bolt, which was now suspended midair. "No… no way…"
He looked around himself some more before he finally understood what had happened. "Did… did I just stop time?!"
He didn't have much time to contemplate on this discovery. Just as All Star grabbed and tossed the ballista bolt out of the way, Robert made his move and pulled Lyn towards him with his arm and away from the old trajectory of the bolt just as time began to resume.
Then, everything happened at once. Lyn was surprised to find herself with Robert having his arm wrapped protectively around her. Kent, Sain, and Florina, who had just seen the ballista bolt, were surprised to see that the ballista bolt was now gone.
"Huh?!" gasped Kent. "Where did it—?"
A wooden clunking sound can be heard nearby as the ballista bolt landed harmlessly on the ground nearby, well away from Lyn.
"There's the bolt…" observed Sain. "But how did it get there? Wasn't it going for…"
The two cavaliers looked towards Robert, who had been breathing heavily to calm himself down as he stared down at the fallen ballista ammunition.
"Are you okay, Robert?" asked Lyn, lightly blushing from such close contact with her black-haired friend.
"Amazing…" gasped Palutena telepathically. "It looks like All Star has one of the most powerful Stand abilities out there – the power to stop time!"
"Did... Did you somehow stop that bolt from hitting milady?" questioned Kent to Robert seriously.
Robert knew there was hardly any reason to lie.
"Yeah…" he panted, still feeling the adrenaline rush as he finally let go of Lyn. "But we need to take cover – fast. The longer we stay out in the open like this, the more potshots they can take at us."
The Legion quickly fled the open plains before another shot from the ballista could be fired at them and dove for the nearby woods, where they used the trees and bushes to hide.
"The forest should make it harder for them to see us but it wouldn't necessarily protect us like a solid wall could," warned Robert as he looked through his binoculars to search for the ballista, his body concealed by the shade of the trees and the leafy bushes.
"Wil, can you use a ballista?" Lyn asked the brunet archer.
Wil thought for a moment before he shrugged. "I've never tried, but… It's just a really big bow, right? I should be able to figure it out."
"All we can ask is that you try…" replied Lyn before she turned to her tactician. "Let's see what we can do! Robert, your orders!"
Before Robert can voice out his ideas, Matthew spoke up first. "Ah, Lady Lyndis! Robert! I have some minor… business… to attend to. I won't unable to join you."
"Right, Matthew is unavailable for this chapter since he'd be out to gather intel," Robert mentally recalled before he pulled out a small sack from his inventory and tossed it to the thief.
The thief caught it, puzzled before his fingers felt the contents in the bag. His eyes briefly widened when he recognized what was inside of the sack before looking back at Robert.
Lyn watched as Robert non-verbally communicated with Matthew: he gave a meaningful glance in the direction of a village in the distance before looking back to Matthew. Matthew looked as well and saw the village as well before he nodded with a grin, as if coming to an understanding. The thief then got up and disappeared into the foliage, out of sight.
"What was that all about?" the plainswoman asked.
"Just something Matthew might need for his role," answered Robert. "Now, where were we?"
"Your orders, Robert."
The bespectacled man nodded before he beckoned his comrades to come closer as he outlined his plan. "From what I've seen, there doesn't seem to be too many soldiers out there but it's possible that they're only just the vanguard – their first line of defense. With our numbers, we can take 'em."
Lyn, Kent, and Sain nodded, agreeing with Robert's words. Sain had a smile, liking Robert's confidence in the Legion.
However, Robert looked meaningfully at the two cavaliers. "As we're in Caelin now, there's a possibility that Lundgren may have dispatched Caelin's troops to attack us. Are you two going to be okay with potentially killing your former comrades?"
Kent and Sain were quiet for a few moments before they finally nodded.
"When Sain and I undertook this mission," Kent started firmly. "It was to my understanding that we were to find Lady Lyndis, protect her from Lundgren, and bring her to her grandfather. Our duty has remained unchanged."
"If our old comrades choose to fight us, then that means they betrayed Caelin, since they chose to obey Lundgren, not Lord Hausen," added Sain resolutely.
"Well said," approved Robert. "Now, here's what we're gonna do…"
"Can you see them?" called out an archer, who was manning the ballista, to one of the nearby soldiers.
"No, I haven't," answered another archer, using his hand like a visor as he looked in the direction of the woods. "Wait, something's moving…"
Suddenly, an orange dragon-like creature flew out of the forest and into the air over the open plains, much to the amazement and shock of the Caelin soldiers.
"What in Saint Elimine's name?!" swore a nearby mercenary in bewilderment. "They've got a wyvern!"
"It's moving too fast!" cried out the second archer. "It keeps changing its position too quickly!"
"Damn!" cursed the first archer as he attempted to adjust his aim with the ballista. "I can't get a clear shot on that thing!"
Suddenly, the sunny blue sky became even brighter, to the point that it became blinding. The soldiers of Caelin, as well as the mercenaries hired by Caelin felt themselves sweating furiously quickly as well.
"Gods!" cried out a mercenary. "When did it get THIS hot?!"
"It's too bright!" cried out the second archer. "It's like there's TWO suns now!"
The archer manning the ballista was about to say something when a speeding arrow was suddenly lodged into his throat, leaving him to bleed out and asphyxiate.
"Quickly now!" urged Rath as he readied another arrow as he rode on his horse.
"Ah, on it!" replied Wil as he scrambled onto the ballista. "Now, let's see how this thing works…"
Before the second archer could do anything, he was suddenly assailed by Lyn, who took advantage of his surprise over his comrade's sudden death by charging at him and cutting him down quickly using the Mani Katti.
As Wil fiddled with the ballista, trying to learn how it works, Kent and Sain rushed by on horseback and charged at a pair of cavaliers guarding a nearby bridge. The Caelin cavaliers readied their lances, squinting through the bright sunlight but a voice from above gave them pause.
"Charizard, Flame Burst!"
The Flame Pokémon let off a loud roar as she opened her maw before unleashing a flaming fireball – one that had been enlarged by the intense sunlight. The fireball exploded as soon as it touched the ground, spooking the horses the Caelin cavaliers rode on, making them run around uncontrollably in fear from the loud explosion and burning cinders.
As the riders try to calm their horses down, Kent and Sain quickly impaled them using their lances, the force from the momentum of their horseback charges knocking the now bleeding opposing riders off their mounts.
Kent and Sain grimaced as they looked at the bodies of the two cavaliers they had just killed before they refocused on the job as some of Caelin's soldiers ran up to them with their lances ready. Kent and Sain didn't need to do much, however, as Lyn charged in, with Florina on her pegasus following above her, and Erk and Dorcas following behind her. Taking up the rear of the group were Nils, Ninian, Lucius, and a panting Serra, who was trailing behind.
Serra looked at Nils and Ninian enviously with a pout. "How are you two able to keep up with them? I'm already out of breath!"
Ninian only giggled softly before she resumed dancing while Nils was too busy playing a cheery tune with his flute to really notice.
The Caelin soldiers were quickly overwhelmed and routed, leaving only their leader – an armored knight – and a few soldiers and thugs left.
"Curses! The ballista must have been taken…" growled the knight before he called out to rally his remaining subordinates. "What's going on here!? Somebody, get that girl!"
Even with the assistance of two spellcasters, a mage and a shaman, the Caelin frontline soon fell quickly to Lyndis's Legion, with Lyn cutting down the knight easily with her sacred blade.
"Lord Lundgren… I've failed you…" groaned the knight, who was now bleeding out. "I pray you hurry… with those reinforcements… you promised."
With those last words spoken, as if it were a prayer and a curse simultaneously, the Caelin armored knight died.
Lyn frowned as she heard the words before she turned to Kent. "Is it over?"
"Yes. I see no more enemy soldiers," the red-armored cavalier answered before he frowned as well. "However, something is bothering me."
"What is it?"
Kent clenched his fist in anguish. "I noticed it during the fighting. We already know that our opponents would include soldiers of Caelin. But it doesn't make things any easier – I even recognized some of those we fought. I trained with many of them… And yet they attacked us without hesitation."
"Yeah…" added Sain sadly. "A few of them are ones I knew when they and I used to go to the local tavern for drinks together while off-duty. Now, we can never return to those days."
"I'm just glad Nils and Ninian were with us," said Lyn gratefully. "If that first shot had hit me, I might not have survived."
"We are honored to have served you well," replied Ninian with a bow.
"We won't let you down!" beamed Nils.
Lyn smiled at the pair of siblings. "I know. I'm relying on you two."
Just then, Robert, who was riding on Charizard's back, landed. Charizard looked different than how she normally appeared: among other changes, the most prominent physical change was the three pointed horns from the back of her head. As soon as she landed, however, her body glowed briefly before it changed back to how she normally appeared.
"Whew," breathed out Robert as he replaced a pair of aviator goggles he had been wearing with his regular pair of glasses. "That was amazing, Charizard! That Mega Evolution allowed you to go super fast!"
"That was a clever use of Mega Charizard Y's Drought ability, Robert," complimented Palutena via telepathy. "Using the harsh sunlight to not only power up Charizard's Fire-type attacks but also blind the enemy troops from below so they couldn't aim with the ballista."
Robert smiled before he looked towards his comrades.
"How are you guys holding up?" he asked, looking meaningfully to Kent and Sain before he began to loot the fallen.
"Not well, I'm afraid," answered Sain. "But I'll be okay given enough time."
"Yes," agreed Kent. "Even though you warned us that we would be fighting our former comrades, it doesn't get easier."
Robert continued looting money, weapons, and essential supplies from the fallen soldiers in silence, giving Kent and Sain some space. Lyn assisted him.
By the time they were finished, Matthew finally arrived, finished from his secret mission. "What's this? You dealt with the ballista, too? Nicely done!"
Lyn frowned and walked up to him. "Matthew, where were you during all this?"
The thief looked Lyn in the eye and spoke seriously. "I went to the village to sniff about for information. I got some interesting news for my trouble, too."
"What did you find out?" thought Robert to himself. "Let's see if there were any changes to the canon."
"Let's hear it," replied Lyn.
Matthew nodded in confirmation. "First, about Marquess Caelin's illness. He really is unwell. He's been abed for nigh on three months."
Lyn was aghast. "Oh, no… Grandfather…"
"I heard an interesting rumor about his condition, though," Matthew continued. "The people believe that someone's been poisoning the marquess…"
"He's being poisoned!?" gasped Lyn.
"And this someone… Well, everyone's too afraid to mention a name," continued Matthew. "However, they say that, as soon as the marquess took ill, a certain noble took control of the castle as though it were his own. I fed a hungry innkeeper some coin, and he fed me a name. The marquess of Caelin's own brother, Lord Lundgren."
"How can this be? How can they allow him to get away with this?" demanded Lyn. "The villagers know he's the one poisoning my grandfather, and yet no one raises a hand against him? Why?"
"They are afraid, and they lack proof," answered Kent. "The whisperings of the common people means nothing."
"That's the truth of it," agreed Matthew. "And of the marquess's loyal retainers who might have lent credence to these rumors, there is no sign."
Lyn looked at Matthew with eyes widened with fear. "Are you saying they've been silenced?"
"It's a fair assumption."
"This is beyond believing," growled Kent angrily.
"The worst news is yet to come," warned Matthew.
"What? There's more?" gulped Sain.
"An impostor's appeared, claiming to be the marquess's granddaughter," answered Matthew, before he quickly amended the statement. "AT least, that's the story Lundgren's telling to all who'll listen."
"What does that mean?" queried Lyn.
"It means that people are waiting for two 'traitorous knights' and a 'baseborn child' to appear and lay claim to Castle Caelin."
Sain spluttered in baffled indignation. "But… But that… It can't be!"
"Traitors?! Us?!" ranted Kent crossly. "Ridiculous!"
"It also means that Caelin's military knows that we're coming and are expecting us," added Robert. "Even with my Pokémon, it's going to be hard to get to the castle, especially if Lundgren hired a lot of mercenaries to build up his numbers."
"He says… I'm an impostor?" murmured Lyn softly, her voice laced with anger.
"Don't you have anything that proves your lineage?" asked Matthew, curious.
The Sacaen lady shook her head in response. "When my mother joined the Lorca, she brought nothing of Lycia with her."
"Milady, Marquess Araphen himself remarked at your resemblance to Lady Madelyn!" Sain recalled excitedly. "Your face is your proof!"
"I want to agree, Sain, but they'll say we found a look-alike somewhere…" said Kent with resignation. "We're seen as betrayers of our knightly vows. Our word means nothing."
"Speaking of mercenaries, I've heard of an interesting rumor: it appears that a man, I'm assuming Lundgren, had been buying up a lot of poison as well as ingredients for the poison," revealed Matthew. "He not only had been using it on his brother but he had also previously given some to a band of brigands he hired several months ago so they can dump it into some river on the Sacae Plains."
Robert had his eyes locked on Matthew. "Oh no… That story sounds so familiar…"
"No…!" gasped Kent, horrified.
"You mean… he…" started Sain.
"So, he was the one who set the Taliver bandits on my tribe," snarled Lyn, furious.
She was about to walk, her hand moving towards her sheathed sword before a gentle hand stopped her arm. Lyn looked up to see Robert shaking his head at her.
"As much as I want to see Lundgren die a slow, painful death for orchestrating the genocide of your people," admitted Robert firmly. "We can't have you march off on your own."
"Our only hope is to see Marquess Caelin himself," asserted Lyn in urgent protest. "We must hurry. If not, my grandfather… I must see him! With my last breath if need be."
"I understand that. However, I doubt that that slimeball would allow himself to be served up on a silver platter to you."
Matthew nodded in agreement. "Even if we set out for the castle, the troops patrolling the area will cause no end of problems. Kent and Sain have been branded as oathbreakers, and Lyn is declared an impostor, after all. On top of that, Lundgren is so paranoid that he even sent out messengers to tell the neighboring marches of the 'impostor', meaning we could soon be surrounded by enemies on all sides."
"Wait, how many marches and which ones?" asked Robert cautiously, trying to remain calm.
"Let's see… Since this is about Caelin that means… Laus, Tuscana, Khathelet, Tania, and Santaruz, so five of them."
Robert visibly winced. "Five of them on top of Caelin… Yeesh."
Lyn remembered something. "I've got it! Eliwood… He's a Lycian noble who helped us before and seemed sympathetic to our plight. He should still be in Khathelet. If we can talk to him, he might help us!"
"Of course!" gasped Kent, agreeing with her. "A sound idea!"
"Let's hurry!" urged Sain.
"Yes! Back to Khathelet!" agreed Lyn.
Lyndis's Legion raced back to Khathelet as fast as they could; before they knew it, they arrived at a village resting on the Khathelet side of the border between Khathelet and Caelin. It was hard work but Robert made sure to supply his infantry comrades with mysterious pink-colored potions that they drank to restore their stamina to continue running. Thanks to the potions, the Legion only had to stop to eat a quick meal, to let the mounts (Kent's, Sain's, and Rath's horses, Florina's pegasus, and Robert's Cyclizar) rest, or to sleep for the night. By the time they got to the border village in Khathelet, Lyn and her Legion were exhausted, but were pleasantly surprised and glad to see that Eliwood was in the area. Lyn quickly seized her chance to explain the situation to Eliwood.
Eliwood hummed in contemplation. "This is a difficult situation, Lyndis, but I do have an idea that can help you: I can have my messengers head out to Caelin's neighbors and tell them to remain neutral on Caelin's inheritance dispute. That way, they won't act against you."
"Really? Can you do that?" gasped Lyn, pleasantly surprised by the plan.
"Yes, but it will take a few days."
"I just hope they make it in time."
"Don't worry – they've got among the fastest horses in all of Pherae. I trust that they'll do their best."
As Eliwood's messengers traveled through Lycia to reach the territories surrounding Caelin, Lyndis's Legion stayed at the border village in Khathelet, with Eliwood keeping them company. As the Legion couldn't head for Caelin without risking the possibility of getting attacked by Caelin's military forces or worse, provoke other Lycian marches to coming to Lundgren's aid, Robert suggested that they relax and train while staying in the area.
Robert took full advantage of the downtime from marching or active combat to train up his Pokémon, his magic, or his swordplay. He took the opportunity to spar against his comrades, wanting to get additional experience fighting different opponents, whether they be another swordfighter, a lancer, an archer, or another mage. Robert also practiced riding on Charizard's back while he sparred against Florina, who rode on her pegasus, and practiced riding on Cyclizar more whenever he sparred against Kent or Sain, who rode on their horses. He also spent time studying magic with Erk and Lucius. He also took the opportunity to practice using All Star's time stop ability more, aiming to activate the ability more quickly as well as to extend the period of time being stopped.
Much of the Legion took up sparring each other as well. Ninian and Nils, meanwhile, practiced their different performance routines or entertained the others with their dancing and music. Serra, meanwhile, was asked to heal her comrades during training, much to her mild annoyance.
Lyn proved herself to be a formidable opponent to Robert, even while she and Robert used wooden swords. Their wooden blades clattered against each other before Lyn finally knocked the sword out of Robert's hands with hers before she pointed her wooden blade at her opponent's throat.
"Alright, you got me," Robert chuckled as he raised his hands in surrender. "Now, let's have you practice against lance wielders… Wonder if Sain is free to spar with you."
One day as the Legion waited for the return of Eliwood's messengers, Robert was sitting on the grassy ground facing a dead tree with his sword in hand. He was silent for a good while as he kept his eyes closed, doing his best to tune out the outside world around him.
"What is Robert doing?" asked Sain curiously.
"He appears to be sleeping… but he's sitting up with his back straight, and he's clutching his sword," observed Kent.
"He's meditating, at least according to him," answered Lyn. "He said it's for some special move he's been working on, but he hasn't told or showed me what it is."
Suddenly, Robert opened his eyes and stood up. His eyes were focused on the tree in front of him. His hand still clutching the sword firmly, Robert raised his sword above his head.
To the onlookers' amazement, his sword began to glow as it visibly gathered energy, which took the visual appearance of light particles gathering on the blade. Once the energy coated the entirety of the blade, Robert swung his sword forward vertically, sending out a glowing, crescent-shaped blade of energy from his sword. The energy crescent sailed through the air before it passed through the tree Robert was targeting.
At first, nothing happened. But in the next second, Robert, Lyn, Sain, and Kent watched the tree be split almost in half vertically, its halves still attached to the bottom portion of its trunk where the energy crescent didn't touch. Sain and Kent stared at the near-bisected tree, slack-jawed. Lyn, meanwhile, rushed up to Robert.
"What was that technique?" she asked excitedly. "It looked very powerful!"
"That technique is the Sword Beam," Robert answered. "It's a powerful technique that can allow swordfighters to reach targets their actual blades cannot touch."
"A powerful attack…" gasped Kent in awe. "And a very dangerous one, too."
"I pity the fool who ends up becoming the target of such an attack," gulped Sain, looking at the black-haired man with equal parts of awe and fear. "Do you plan on using it on Lundgren, Robert?"
"Possibly," Robert answered before he furrowed his brow. "But for everything that greedy bastard's done, forgive me if I say that death is a little too good for him."
"Would it be possible for others to learn it, too?" Lyn asked.
"Hmm… It may be possible," answered Robert. "But I may have to be restrictive on who gets to learn the Sword Beam – after all, its potential for harm and destruction is great."
"Would be for the best for somebody like Karel to not learn it at all," thought Robert. "At least not for a good while."
On another morning, Robert woke up to Palutena's voice calling to him telepathically. He groggily sat up to find two Poké Balls right next to his sleeping bag. He then looked at his belt to see that there were still four Poké Balls clipped onto it.
"Oh, did two new Pokémon want to join up with me?" asked Robert to Palutena telepathically.
"Yes, indeed," answered Palutena. "They're a Bulbasaur and a Meowth."
"Awesome!"
"They're going to be really useful in the near future," Robert thought to himself. "Bulbasaur is capable of learning powder-based moves that can inflict status conditions! And while Meowth isn't from the strongest Pokémon evolution line out there, it can learn Pay Day – while the cash payout may not be much, it does add up over time."
Robert then used his smartphone to look over the two Pokémon using the newly installed Pokédex application. "All right. Bulbasaur is a boy and Meowth is a girl. And Meowth has the Pickup ability so she could find some nice things."
The Pokémon trainer wasted no time getting ready for the day and right after breakfast, he called out Swampert, Charizard, Pikachu, and Cyclizar onto the open field he trained on.
"All right, you four," he said as he held up to two Pokémon Balls. "Palutena just sent us two new friends! Come on out!"
He tossed the Poké Balls into the air and the capture devices each opened up to release a different Pokémon. The first Pokémon had the appearance of a blue-green frog with large red eyes, and short triangular ears. A large, green plant bulb grew from the top of his back. The other Pokémon had the appearance of a bipedal cat with cream-colored fur, a curled-up tail, and whiskers growing from her forehead and from her cheeks. A shiny, gold koban coin adorned the feline's forehead proudly.
"Bulba!" uttered the frog-like Pokémon.
"Meowth!" cried out the cat-like Pokémon.
"Welcome to the team, you two!" cheered Robert, who had a broad, happy grin, as he gave the two small Pokémon some gentle pats on their heads before he excitedly introduced the rest of his team to the two new recruits.
Training for both Robert's Pokémon and Lyndis's Legion became livelier, even as the Legion waited anxiously for Eliwood's messengers to return.
A few days later, Eliwood rushed in at Lyndis's Legion's campsite near the village. In his hand were several documents and letters. His messengers had finally returned with important news.
"I've received word from Caelin's neighbors, Laus, Tuscana, Kathelet, Tania, and Santaruz," Eliwood reported with a small smile. "They will not interfere in Caelin's affairs. This they have promised."
Lyn was very relieved at the news. "Eliwood, I don't know how to thank you…"
The scion of Pherae raised his hand; he was not finished speaking yet as his expression became more serious. "All I've done is convince them to remain neutral in this dispute. However, this means I cannot aid you in any way either. Will you be all right?"
Lyn answered without hesitation. "I will win. I have to. It's the only way that I can help my grandfather. My comrades and I have been through so much together. I will not let our efforts be in vain."
Eliwood gave the Sacaen an approving nod. "I understand. Although I cannot help you directly, as a friend, I pray for your success."
"Thank you. I won't waste the opportunity you've given me."
After a hearty breakfast of Robert's delicious cooking, Eliwood left the area with his messengers. Lyn's Legion exited not long after.
"Seems like Eliwood has business to attend to," noted Robert as he watched the nobleman disappear into the distance. "Looks like it's now or never, Lyn."
"Indeed, Robert," said Lyn, nodding before she addressed her Legion. "All right, everyone! Let's get going!"
With affirmative shouts, Lyn's comrades followed their leader onto the plains. It didn't take long before they crossed the border, leaving Khathelet and entering Caelin once more. However, it was a cloudy day, and as Lyndis's Legion trekked on, white clouds began to form up close to the ground, reducing the visibility of the area.
"This weather is turning foul," observed Sain as he checked his surroundings cautiously. "It looks like a fog is rolling in."
"This is no good," warned Kent. "If the fog thickens, we'll be blind in battle. It will be difficult to fight what we cannot see."
"At the same time, enemy forces should have a harder time seeing us," mentioned Robert as he held up his smartphone. "Plus, I can use my phone to track them if they're nearby – we're in the clear for now."
"We can't let the fog delay us," said Lyn firmly. "Let us press on. We must get closer to the castle. What's the best route?"
Kent rubbed his chin in thought. "Let me think… Our best path is to the south… However, that runs through General Eagler's estate. It looks like we still have one final obstacle to pass."
"What do you know of this General Eagler?" Robert asked.
Kent was about to answer when an armored knight suddenly appeared from the nearby woods, charging directly for Lyn. However, the knight immediately stopped as soon as Kent and Sain barred his way, using themselves as a makeshift barrier. The knight was wearing gray metal plate armor and a large, baggy pair of dark green pants with a similarly large red skirt on top of it, weighed down by a pair of armor plates. The man wasn't wearing a helmet, leaving his bald head exposed, and was carrying a lance.
Kent recognized the armored man. "You! You're… Lord Wallace!"
Lyn was surprised that Kent knew him. "Kent, who is this?"
"He used to be the commander of the knights of Caelin."
Sain was confused once he got over his surprise.
"Aren't you supposed to be retired?" he asked the armored man. "I heard you were sowing fields now."
Wallace shook his head. "I am, and I was. Then I received orders from Lord Lundgren. I was told to capture an impostor and a pair of rogue knights."
Kent gritted his teeth indignantly. "Lord Wallace! Surely, you don't believe us to be oathbreakers, do you?"
"Bring me the girl that claims to be Lady Madelyn's child," demanded Wallace calmly; while Kent and Sain both had the height advantage due to their mounts, Wallace stared the two cavaliers down in a manner not unlike that of a scolding parent with their misbehaving children.
Sain narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "What are your intentions?"
Wallace answered with an ultimatum. "If I don't like what I see, I will take her."
Kent pointed his sword at the bald knight. "We will prevent you."
Wallace only scoffed at Kent's word. "You? Prevent me? You must be–"
"Enough! I'm right here!" interrupted Lyn as she prompted Kent and Sain to step aside so that she can step up to the Caelin knight. "I am Lyndis."
Wallace was surprised to see the child of Sacae and Caelin at last, making him pause. "Ah…"
Lyn unsheathed her sword. "I'll understand if you don't believe, but I've had enough of you and your foolish posturing!"
Wallace stared at Lyn in the eye for a few moments, seemingly searching for something. A small smile broke out on his face. "Such beautiful eyes…"
The plainswoman was taken aback by the seemingly random comment. "Pardon?"
The older man laughed heartily, relaxing right away. "I've been a knight for thirty years, and here is one thing I learned: a person with eyes as bright and true as yours is no deceiver!
He then stood at attention, saluting Lyn with a cheery grin. "Ah, yes! I like you, girl! Why, I believe I'll even join your little band of mercenaries! I, General Wallace, am at your service!"
Sain was surprised and nonplussed. "Are you… are you serious?"
The knight nodded in affirmation. "This old bull's pledged his loyalty to Caelin. I would never allow a usurper on the throne!"
Kent was chuckling now that the tension was gone. "Lord Wallace! He… He hasn't changed at all."
Lyn smiled. "I like him. He's… honest."
"That he is. He deserves our respect."
"Come on, let's march!" called out Wallace, eagerly leading the group through some nearby woods.
Before too long, Wallace stopped marching, prompting the rest of the Legion to stop, too. Robert looked at his phone and saw that Caelin soldiers were nearby. Wallace turned to face Robert.
"I'd planned on living out my days in peace on my farm…" chuckled the knight wistfully. "Ah, well… It looks as though it's time to take up arms once more. Robert! You're the tactician of this group, correct?"
"That, I am," answered Robert.
"What are my orders? Allow Wallace to show you his might!"
Robert took a moment to think.
"I wonder if we could skip fighting Eagler," Robert thought to himself. "After all, he is a good man who got blackmailed into doing Lundgren's dirty work."
"A good idea," agreed Palutena telepathically. "The group can save their strength to fight Lundgren."
"We don't need you to fight just yet," Robert answered to Wallace.
"Hm? Why not?" asked the armored knight, surprised.
"You said that you've been in service of Caelin for decades now, right? You must know something about its military forces. For instance, what do you know about General Eagler? We're about to march through his estate soon."
Wallace gave Robert an appraising eye. "Ah… you're a sharp one. But before I say anything, why don't you let his two students talk about him?"
"He means us," said Kent as he and Sain sidled up with him. "When Sain and I first became knights, General Eagler was our captain."
Sain nodded. "He was also our teacher when we were part of his unit. He's a bit strict but an honest and just man."
Lyn was puzzled. "If he's a good man, is he not an enemy?"
"I'm afraid things may have gotten complicated, Lady Lyndis," explained Wallace gravely. "I've heard disturbing rumors that his wife and son had suddenly disappeared recently. Word is that a group of bandits had absconded with them one night."
Kent was aghast. "Are you saying that General Eagler is being blackmailed?!"
Sain frowned. "That would explain his supporting Lundgren."
Robert hummed in thought. "It's a terrible situation but there might be a silver lining to all this."
"'Silver lining?'" parroted Lyn, having never heard of such an expression before.
"If we could rescue Eagler's family, we may not need to fight Eagler and his forces at all," suggested Robert. "After all, if we bring his family back to him, Lundgren loses his hold on him."
"That's a wonderful idea, Robert!" complimented Lyn.
"Hmm… it's a sound idea," said Wallace. "But how do you intend on finding his family?"
Robert thought for a moment before he remembered his smartphone. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled it out.
"I saw that thing in your hand when I first ran into you people," recalled Wallace. "What exactly is it? It looks too small to be some sort of tome."
"… Let's just say that it's an artifact that's special to me and leave it at that," replied Robert evasively before he gave his smartphone his full attention, opened up the map application, and cleared his throat. "Find Eagler's wife and son."
In a second, there were two dots displayed on the smartphone's screen denoting where Eagler's family was.
"They seem to be stationary and are together," noted Robert. "And it appears that they're inside some sort of building… Were they imprisoned?"
"That should be the case if Lundgren wants to ensure Eagler's cooperation," replied Wallace. "And what a nifty device! May I take a look at it?"
Robert handed Wallace is phone, giving Wallace a chance to view the map on the screen, his eyes squinting at it. Wallace handed the phone back to Robert and began to think.
"I think I know the place," said Wallace. "Saw it before I ran into you guys. I thought that that fort in the middle of the woods was being used to house soldiers and supplies, especially with the guards around. But now, I'm not so sure."
Robert was silent for several seconds.
"I have a plan," declared Robert. "Here's what we're gonna do."
He then called over Matthew before explaining the plan to him, Wallace, Lyn, Sain, and Kent.
"Are you sure you're going to be okay, Robert?" asked Lyn anxiously.
Kent nodded, agreeing with her. "It's going to be dangerous, especially if you're going in with so few people."
"Don't forget that I still have my Pokémon with me," reassured Robert. "They'll be more than a match for those soldiers in the fort. And they'll be useful for freeing Eagler's family."
"Such a plan is cowardly… but if it means not having to kill General Eagler, then so be it," conceded Sain.
"I'm in with the plan!" laughed Matthew. "Sounds like fun!"
"A bold yet sharp plan!" added Wallace boisterously. "And it's for a good cause. Count me in!"
Lyn placed her hand on Robert's shoulder. "Please, be careful, Robert."
Robert ignored the sniggering and smirks from his male comrades nearby, his cheeks a light pink. "I will."
Using his smartphone, Robert carefully navigated through the thick, foggy forest, accompanied by only Matthew and Wallace. He had changed out of his white cloak and was now wearing his brown cloak, giving him the appearance of a traveler who keeps to himself, especially with his hood up. Matthew had put on a similar cloak as well. Wallace kept his armor on, which clanked as he moved between the trees and bushes.
"We're almost to the fort," whispered Robert. "Do you guys remember the plan?"
Both Matthew and Wallace answered with quick nods.
"Okay, let's do this."
A pair of cavaliers stood in front of the entrance to the fort, keeping watch. The cavaliers were bored as they grew tired from scanning the treeline.
Loud clanking noises soon alerted them to a person approaching the fort. They saw a bald man dressed in plate armor. The cavaliers recognized him and immediately saluted to him while noticing a pair of hooded men standing behind him.
"General Wallace, sir!" greeted one cavalier cheerfully, glad that the monotony of guard duty was momentarily broken. "I thought you had retired!"
Wallace laughed jovially. "I was, but Lord Lundgren has given me orders to take down the impostor and the two traitors."
The other cavalier nodded in acknowledgement before he pointed to the cloaked men. "What about those two, sir?"
"They're with me. They have valuable intelligence on the enemy," explained Wallace, not missing a beat. "I'm taking them in so we can negotiate for that information and to ensure their safety."
"Understood."
The cavaliers each moved aside so that Wallace and the two cloaked men can enter the fort. Wallace led the pair past the lobby area, which had a few Caelin soldiers and mercenaries milling about; one of the soldiers was busy arm wrestling with a mercenary. Another of the mercenaries glanced at them but otherwise paid them no mind. The three went further into the fort before they finally arrived at an empty corridor. There, Matthew and Robert lowered their hoods.
"All right," said Wallace, glancing at the ends of the corridor they were in. "We should be fine here for now."
"Where to next, Robert?" asked Matthew.
Robert checked his smartphone, which was now displaying the blueprint of the building before he pointed to a spot on the screen. "Looks like they're in there. Do you have the lockpick ready?"
The thief grinned and held up the metal tool in his hand.
Robert, Matthew, and Wallace carefully walked through the corridor before they found the stairs leading to the basement of the fort where the dungeon was. The dungeon was dark and damp, only lit by a few torches and whatever light that could pass through the bars at the window near the ceiling of the prison cell at ground level. Inside of the cell were a woman and a young boy, both of whom only looked dirty and disheveled but otherwise appeared unharmed.
The woman gasped and rushed to the bars making up one wall of her prison cell. "General Wallace! Is that you? What are you doing here?"
Wallace shushed her. "Shhh… don't let 'em hear us. We're going to break you two out of here."
"What about dear Eagler? Is he okay?"
"He's alive right now, don't worry," answered Robert. "You're all gonna be together again once we get both of you out of here."
Matthew made his way to the cell door with his lockpick ready. "This will only take a few moments."
Wallace watched the stairs as Matthew fiddled with the lock. After several seconds, the lock clanked as it was undone, allowing the cell door to finally be swung open, creaking. The woman and her son rushed out of the door and were just about to make a beeline for the exit when Matthew stopped them.
"Not so fast," warned Matthew. "We haven't taken care of the guards yet."
Robert nodded. "Now it's our turn. For now, just pretend that you're still imprisoned and wait for us to come back."
He, Matthew, and Wallace went back upstairs to the ground floor before he pulled out his smartphone once again.
"Show Caelin soldiers," ordered Robert quietly to his smartphone.
The handheld device displayed a number of dots concentrated in two different locations on the map of the fort.
"Looks like the troops are in the lobby or in the stables" whispered Matthew. "How do we take them out?"
Robert reached into his bag to access his inventory and pulled out a small, spherical object with a piece of rope sticking out. "Allow me."
Robert summoned All Star, handed the sphere to it, and used fire magic to light the rope. Matthew and Wallace watched as the sphere appeared to be floating in midair before it moved towards the door to the fort's lobby. The door seemingly suddenly opened by itself before the ball was then tossed into the room, rolling on the ground with an audible tumbling sound, making the guards and mercenaries inside the room stop whatever they were doing. All Star quickly shut the doors before the men could do anything as the sphere finally detonated, expelling a powerful burst of air that rushed in all directions, sending shiny blue and pink powder everywhere into the air.
The men sniffed the cloud of mixed powder.
"What is this stuff?" gasped a soldier.
"What a nice smell," remarked a mercenary.
"Oi, did some rich brat buy perfume for some kind of joke?" asked another, rolling his eyes.
"I dunno but I feel…"
Before the Caelin soldiers and mercenaries could figure out what had happened, many of them yawned, relaxed, and closed their eyes. They all collapsed, asleep on the floor or on their seats.
Outside the lobby, Robert, Matthew, and Wallace waited by the closed door.
"Sleep Powder Bombs," thought Robert proudly. "My own little invention that isn't too out of place given how bombs actually exist on Elibe. I loaded a shell up with Ivysaur's Sweet Scent powder to distract the victims by having them smell it and Ivysaur's Sleep Powder to knock 'em out. I also added a few air runes for the wind magic and a chaos rune to act as a charge to blow the powder all over the place."
Robert pressed his ear against the door. He heard nothing but snoring from the other side of the door.
"The guards should be asleep right now," said the tactician as he rummaged through his inventory to fish out some scarves before handing Matthew and Wallace a scarf each.
"What's this for?" quipped Matthew cheekily. "Winter's already over, you know."
"Covering your noses and mouths," answered Robert. "If you breathe that stuff in, you might fall asleep, too."
Once they fastened their scarves securely over their breathing orifices, the three men entered and surveyed the fort's lobby. The Caelin soldiers and mercenaries were all deep asleep, snoring away.
"Looks like they'll be sleeping for a long while," remarked Matthew. "Whatever you put inside of that… mine… thing… was strong!"
Robert then left to use a Sleep Powder Bomb on the stables, leaving Matthew and Wallace alone in the lobby with the sleeping soldiers. When Robert returned after knocking out and looting the soldiers in the stables to loot the soldiers in the fort's lobby for their weapons and supplies, he was surprised by the amount of blood splattered on the walls and floor.
"Wallace!" hissed Robert as he watched him slit the throat of another soldier with his lance. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"These men are not part of Eagler's unit," answered the formerly retired knight with a heavy sigh. "They most likely answer to Lundgren only, not Eagler; otherwise, they would've tried to sneak out Eagler's family to safety. Not to mention that several of these mercenaries seem to be from bandit groups."
"He's got a point," said Palutena to Robert telepathically.
"All right," conceded Robert solemnly as he finished stealing several of the troops' weapons and supplies. "Just take care of the ones in the stables before they wake up. Matthew, get ready to get the two out of here. Make sure to cover the kid's eyes."
Before long, Robert, Matthew, and Wallace escaped the fort with Eagler's family safely in tow and with all of the enemy soldiers in the fort dead, including those in the stables. They managed to rendezvous with Lyndis's Legion outside of the thick forest. Then, the reunited Legion made its march around the edge of the woods, where a massive fortress stood.
At the front gate of the fortress was a man dressed in full gray light plate armor and mounted on a horse dressed in similarly gray barding. In the paladin's hands were a lance in one hand and a bold, red shield with gold trimming in the other. The paladin had dull green hair that was slicked back as well as a moustache and a short goatee. Flanking him were a pair of lance-wielding foot soldiers.
The paladin glared as he saw Lyndis's Legion approach.
"Bring forth the impostor who calls herself 'Lyndis'!" commanded Eagler loudly as the lancers both pointed their lances at the Legion, getting ready to fight and protect their commander. "She shall not pass beyond this place!"
Lyn stepped forward, her face set with a look of steely resolve. "I am Lyndis. I'm no pretender, General Eagler. I'd ask you to believe me, but your heart and mind seem set."
Eagler pointed his lance at Lyn, getting ready to fight her. "Enough talk… Draw your sword!"
"Hold on now, Eagler!" barked out Wallace, as he stepped forward, his armor clanking.
"General Wallace… So you've sided with the girl, too, have you?" sighed Eagler.
"I fight for Caelin's honor, not for Lundgren's lies!"
"Ah… Is that so? You are–"
"Enough!" burst out Wallace. "We've got important people who want to see you, and it's not Lyndis."
The knight turned to the Legion. "Come on, you two. It'll be okay."
Eagler felt his eyes widen with shock as he saw his wife and son walked up to the front of the Legion. Tears began to leak out of his eyes as he dropped his lance and shield carelessly and hastily dismounted from his horse. He then rushed towards his family, prompting the woman and the young boy to rush to him, too, before they happily embraced each other. All were crying from overwhelming happiness and relief that they were unharmed and together again. The two foot soldiers relaxed and lowered their weapons.
"My dear dove… and my precious little Falcon," sobbed Eagler. "When that old dastard spirited you two away, I thought the worst had happened."
"It's okay now," said Eagler's wife, trying but failing to restrain her own flow of tears. "The kind people following Lady Lyndis saved us. You should no longer need to follow Lundgren's orders."
"Please, father," begged Eagler's son. "Please don't fight Lady Lyndis's group. They're here to fight that evil old man!"
"Everything will be okay now that we're together again," reassured Eagler before he turned his full attention to Lyn. "Lyndis… er, Lady Lyndis, I cannot thank you enough for reuniting me with my family. So please, for the sake of all of Caelin, quickly go to the marquess. He knows nothing of what's been going on. His life is in danger – he's being poisoned."
"We've heard," confirmed Lyn resolutely. "Now, you, your family, and your men should get to safety."
Lyn then turned to address her comrades. "May Lundgren never know the peaceful embrace of Mother Earth! I care not what others do. I WILL stop that man!"
At once, Lyndis's Legions roared in affirmation.
"Robert!" called out Lyn.
"Yes!" answered her friend, straightening his back as he saluted her with a grin.
"The final battle is approaching!"
As the thick fog settled over Caelin, an old man rested in his bed in his dark bedroom within Castle Caelin. The old man coughed, sending droplets of spittle onto his blanket. His eyes were fraught with worry, regret, and anger.
Lundgren barged into the room, his face bearing a toothy, triumphant smirk.
"How are you feeling today, my dear brother?" he asked smarmily.
The Marquess of Caelin, Hausen, could do nothing but to glare helplessly at his younger brother as he coughed.
"Lundgren…" he panted angrily, coughing between his words. "You… You fiend…"
Lundgren mockingly laughed off the insult from his older brother, his grin only widening with sadistic glee as he delivered the news. "Your granddaughter is dead by now. And soon, you will join her."
As if he had been struck by a heavy gut punch, Hausen spluttered loudly, feeling nauseated. "Lyndis… Why did this happen? I… I only wanted to see her once."
Lundgren watched as Hausen seemingly fell limp onto his bed, as if he were a marionette whose strings had been cut. He leaned over the bed to take a closer look at his elder brother, whose eyes had closed in despair, tears leaking out from the concept of dying before he could meet what remained of his family.
"Have you lost all hope? Has your life lost all meaning?" jeered the usurper. "Then hurry up and die, you miserable old dotard! You and your precious granddaughter are in my way! I curse your name! I despise you, my worthless wretch of a brother!"
Lundgren still had a grin on his face as he moved to exit the room. "Now then, I believe I have important matters to attend to. Farewell, dear brother!"
He left, leaving the room silent at last, except for the heaving sobs of a lonely, heartbroken old man nearing his grave.
Happy New Year 2024! Lyndis's Legion is on their way!