Chapter XII: Does the Scythe Reap Farmland or Souls?

Now the Shepherds were currently on the boat that would ferry them to the Southeast islands. They'd already solved the problem of Southtown's Risen issue, not it was time to address the bandit problem on the farming islands at the kingdom's edge. Said bandits had been causing trouble for several of the more rural communities, and because they lacked the proper town guards the Shepherds were called in for duty.

The ship was fairly small, but all of the shepherds still had enough room to walk around, and the cabins below were available for use if anyone needed to get some rest. Currently Ragna was above deck leaning on the rail as he looked out into the sea and enjoyed the salty air. It'd been too long since his last sea voyage, so the Reaper was set on taking in and relaxing with this little experience while it lasted.

'Where was I last time I was on a boat?' Ragna thought to himself. 'If I'm remember things right, it was when I went to the past and saw Celica. That was when the Black Beast was still rampant… I still haven't told Chrom or the others about the Black Beast yet, or the fact that I can end the world if I ever let myself lose control… On the other hand, I don't really think that they need to know. This'll be my only secret from them.'

Ragna stayed there for a while longer before he heard footsteps approaching him, he turned his head and saw that it was Lissa. The young princess leaned on the railing beside him for a moment and enjoyed the sea breeze before speaking.

"Enjoying the trip?"

"You could say that," Ragna admitted. "It's been forever since I've been out in a boat. Anyways, did you need something?"

"Yeah actually, it's Cordelia," Lissa said to him. "Something's… different about her. I don't really know what it is, but she just kinda seems different. You know?"

"Why are you coming to me for this?" Ragna questioned, though not harshly. "You realize you could always just ask her yourself?"

"I tried, but she just never seemed to say anything to me," Lissa said, admittedly somewhat disappointed. "Maybe you could try asking her? I know she seems to trust you a lot."

"If you really think it's such a big deal, I'll talk to her. No promises though." Done with enjoying the scenery for the moment, Ragna headed below deck. He found the room he'd remembered the redhead had said she'd be resting in before knocking on the door.

Realization

"Yo Cordelia, you inside?" he asked.

The door opened, revealing the crimson haired Pegasus Knight. To Ragna's satisfaction she didn't look like she was drowsy from a nap, so he at least knew that he hadn't waken her. The room behind her was mostly empty, but there was a bed and a chair, so the two would at least have somewhere to sit."

"I'm always available to talk," she told him with a bright smile that Ragna didn't remember seeing when he'd talked to her back in the fort. "Please come in."

"Thanks," he said as he walked inside. Cordelia closed the door behind him and sat on her bed while Ragna took a seat on the nearby chair. "So… how have things been? We haven't had much of a chance to talk lately."

"I've been doing rather well," Cordelia assured him. "I've been excelling in my training and I've had a good time talking with the other Shepherds. I even talked to Robin and Elphelt when we were in Southtown and got to know them a little better. They seem to be very people, no doubt why you helped them."

"Yeah, they do," Ragna agreed. "Though it was really more of a right place right time sorta thing. They're also pretty optimistic, despite not having any memories to go off of or even knowing where they are. Anyways, I was actually here because Lissa said that you seemed different."

"So she put you up to this," Cordelia said, looking somewhat disappointed. "I told her that I'm fine and that there's nothing wrong with me."

"I can believe that you're still doing well," Ragna said to her. "But I also have to agree with the princess here. You sure as hell seem different, but not at all in a bad way. You look like a weight's been lifted off your shoulders or something. None of my business, but she just wanted me to check in on you."

"Actually, it's more of your business than you think. After all, you're the reason that I'm doing so well," Cordelia said, giving the Reaper a small smile.

"Sorry, but if you're referring to something, I have absolutely no idea what. Care to explain explain?"

"It was when you talked to me back at the fort, remember when I was disappointed after the battle on the road?"

"Yeah," Ragna said. "You were disappointed after that fight because you weren't noticed by… Chrom. Sorry, I remember that I was an ass and went too far with my advice."

"On the contrary, it was just what I needed to hear," she assured him. "I gave some thought to your words and I… finally realized you were right. I was letting this obsession eat me alive, but now I've realized and I'm moving on."

"Wait, seriously!?" Ragna asked, completely surprised. "I didn't expect my advice to be so… effective."

"Well it certainly was," she told him. "Of course part of the reason for that was the compliment you gave me afterwards. You gave me the same feeling that I used to get from Chrom. That's when I realized that the only reason I felt like that was because I was unused to receive such heartfelt compliments like that. It's just that… infatuation developed from there because I didn't know enough to address it."

"Huh, so it was the compliments that was doing it for you…" Ragna said, mostly to himself. "And now you're deciding to look past that?"

"At one step at a time, but yes," Cordelia told him. "Chrom's still my commander and a wonderful person, but now I know that there are other people out there that I need to turn my attention. People who will take notice and see me for who I really am. So… thank you."

"I… guess you're welcome," Ragna said giving a small chuckle and a smile. "If it's alright with you, can I let Lissa know what this was about? I don't think she'll stop nagging me otherwise."

"Certainly, I think everyone knew about the crush I used I have on Chrom anyways," she let out a giggle. "Well, except for Chrom himself of course." It was funny, earlier she'd felt pain when talking about this, but now it was starting to feel like something dumb she could look back and actually laugh on."

"Yeah, I get the feeling Chrom's not exactly the sharpest tool in the romance shed. Anyways I'll see you later Cordelia. Good luck in the fight today."

"To you as well," she said to him. After Ragna had left, she lied on her bed and thought to herself. 'It's good to know that Ragna is there for me and his kindness has done so much for us all already, but… I should be careful; I don't need another unrequited love story.

Despite her uncertainty, Cordelia was still feeling better than she'd had in years. Even if Ragna didn't end up becoming her lover, she'd always have him as her friend… and that meant the world to her.

Support Rank B obtain with Cordelia

Later

Ragna walked beside Robin, Fredrick, and Chrom at the front of the Shepherds as the three looked at the plains around them and tried to figure out the map that they'd been given of the area. Clearly it had been some time since any cartographer had been into this rural area because to Ragna the thing looked dated as hell.

"So according to the information we've received, it looks like we'll find the bandits base to the south, inside those woods over there," Frederick said. "It seems pretty straightforward."

"But there's also the local small farming town to the east," Robin reminded him. "We'll want to make sure those people are properly defended. Maybe they could give us insight on what's going on and a more precise location of the bandits."

"But the bandits could attack another town while we're helping that one," Frederick argued back. "I'd say we wipe out the bandits now and look after the towns once the main threat is dealt with."

"Or we could pay attention to what's right in front of us," Chrom scolded them. Putting their argument aside and looking ahead, the party saw a young boy being chased by two rather filthy bandits. The boy seemed fairly young and had curly brown hair underneath his tin pan hat. Once the bandits took notice of the Shepherd, they immediately began to retreat.

"Robin!" Ragna commanded as his as his assistance tactician got the message. He cast his bandit wind spell as she cast a lightning spell. Each of the spells hit the bandits slayed them in that one casting.

"Prince Chrom!" the young farmer exclaimed. "I need yer help ser!"

"Calm down," Chrom said to him. "Just tell us what's going on."

"It's my village! Those darned bandits attacked us and kidnapped my ma and Jessica! They're taking over my village!"

"Looks like we know what to do," Ragna told the others. "What's your name?"

"I'm Donnel," he told them. "My village is over thar to the east. Please hurry!"

Out of the corner of his eye Ragna noticed Robin giving Frederick a cocky grin since she'd been right. He decided to leave their shenanigans be. "All right then, c'mon Donnel, we're heading out!"

"Wha? But I can't fight! I'm just a farm boy!" Donnel protested.

As the rest of the Shepherds started heading out Ragna stayed behind to address the young man. "They've got people close to you right?" Donnel nodded. "I've been in your spot myself, but back then I didn't have a chance to fight back and I've always regretted it. You have this chance so don't do something you'll regret… or something you'll regret not doing."

Donnel said nothing as he just stood there and grimaced. "But… I-!"

"Tch! Fine, be that way," Ragna said as he ran off. He knew that he'd been too tough on a kid he just met, but there wasn't anything he could do about it now. He'd apologize once he made sure that everyone got out of this alive.

Meanwhile

"Where the hell are they!?" Roddick yelled as the peasants he'd just taken over started loading this year's harvest onto wagon for the bandits to take back to their base. "Those two idiots said that they'd kill that twerp and be back shortly!"

"Look boss," one of the brigands said to him. "Maybe the kids just faster than we thought. But it doesn't matter anyways. The closest force that could take us is in the capital and they have problems of their own from what I hear."

"You're right, those stupid nobles and those weak Shepherds wouldn't be able to take us anyways! We're the strongest bandit group in Ylisse!"

"You got that right boss!" the brigand shouted before cupping his ear. "You hear something? It sounded like-"

"Virion Away!" came the battle call as an arrow impaled itself in the brigand's heart. The man looked at the fatal blow in surprise before falling forward dead. Across the battlefield sounds of screams echoed as the brigands were being quickly dispatched.

"We're under attack!" Roddick shouted. Noticing that he had few options, he tried to find an option to escape, but all he saw was a few of the… oh, that could work.

Ragna was busy cutting through the bandits on his side of the town. He'd had the Shepherds split up so that they could each take out a smaller portion of the bandits and ensure the safety of the captured townsfolk. It was then he looked up and noticed one of the bandits was trying to sneak away while holding a middle-aged woman hostage.

"Not this again," Ragna said as he ran forward trying to catch the bandit off guard. Unfortunately for him as soon as he was within ten feet then bandit turned to face him with the axe at the woman's neck. "Shit…"

"You bastards really screwed up my plans!" the bandit yelled at Ragna with hate filled eyes. "Now I need to raise a new bandit group! Do you know how long that's going to take!?" Ragna didn't say anything as he kept his sword drawn. "How the hell did you manage to find us anyways?"

"We were brought here by a kid who managed to get away from you freaks," Ragna said without emotion.

"That was my son!" the woman shouted. "Is he safe? Is he alive? Is he-?"

"He'll be dead later!" Roddick yelled, before noticing Ragna taking a slight lean forward. "Oh no you don't! Either you drop your weapon or I'll slit he throat right here and now!"

Ragna was silent for a moment as he weighed his options, considering rushing the bandit like the last time he'd been put in this situation… before oddly releasing his tension. "All right," he said planting his sword in the ground. "You win."

"Wha?" the bandit exclaimed, completely confused on how his plan had worked so easily.

"I surrender, you got me. You won't have any trouble from me," Ragna said surprising both of the people in front of him. "But that's not going to sit well with the kid."

"What kid?" Roddick demanded before he was startled be a battle cry.

"MAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Donnel yelled as he stabbed bandit leader in the back with a pitchfork. The leader gave a surprised grunt of pain as he slowly turned and looked at Donnel with total loathing.

"Little... bastard..." he was barely able to say he his last breath left him and he fell to the floor. Donnel's mother looked down at the corpse of her previous captor in surprise before going to hug her son.

"Ma, I'm fine," Donnel said looking somewhat embarrassed. Ragna gave a small chuckle as he grabbed the Aramasa out of the ground and placed it on his back, heading off to check on the rest of the city.

"Hey wait!" he heard Donnel call. "I'm not the strongest guy in tha village, but I swears I can help ya!"

"Donnel! What are you saying!?" his mother demanded.

"Ma, he's with Prince Chrom and the Shepherd's! I can help them! And if I do, I'll be helping the entire kingdom! Isn't that my duty!"

"But…" his mother sighed. She knew her son was only doing what he always did; what he thought was right. "Stay safe and make sure you say goodbye to Jessica," she said to her son with a small smile.

"All right, ma. Love ya," Donnel said as he embraced her before he ran off.

"He'll be in good hands," Ragna assured the mother. "We'll teach him everything we know and he'll go far with that courage of his."

"Will he really get a chance to work with Prince Chrom?" his mother asked.

"Considering he was the one who lead Chrom here, so I'd say he already is," Ragna told her. "I've got to check in with the rest of the city, but my group should have everything handled."

As Ragna did his inspection around the city, he passed by Donnel talking to a girl that seemed to be about his age. 'That must be that Jessica girl they were talking about,' he thought to himself. It was then that Jessica lunged forward and met Donnel's lips with her own, much to the amazement of the young farm boy. 'Well now, wasn't expecting that one. Kid's a smoother operator than I thought.'

Ragna heard a sigh beside him and saw Elphelt observing young Donnel. "Young love in its purest form is so amazing."

Ragna grimaced slightly as he grabbed the Valentines' arm and started to drag her away. "Let's give the kid some room."

"Sorry," Elphelt said as she blushed slightly and began walking beside Ragna. "It's just I've always enjoyed a good love story…"

"Yeah, I can see that El. I just think that there needs to be a bit of privacy for those two, I mean it's a special moment and all of that."

"Oh, I didn't think that you were much of a romantic Ragna. Then again, I suppose it does make sense."

"What do mean?" Ragna asked, not sure where this was going.

"Well, you're from another world right? That means that you're probably fighting to-!" Elphelt stopped for a moment, blushing for what she was about to say.

"Uh… What is it you think I'm fighting for?" Ragna asked, his interest piqued.

"Well, you're fighting to go back home right?" El said, now not meeting his gaze. "I mean you obviously have a family to get back to or a… lover." Her blush seemed to increase tenfold with that last word.

"Okay first off, I'm not fighting to go back to my world. I was wanted dead by everyone before I erased myself and came here. Second off, this war looks like where my friends need me, so this is like my second chance. And third, I never had a lover."

"Oh… okay then," Elphelt said. "So you really didn't have a special someone where you were from?"

"No, I didn't," Ragna told her. "I was fighting a war most of my life, so I have no experience dating whatsoever."

"But that's so lonesome," Elphelt complained as the two walked through the city. "Maybe I can help you find someone."

"Pass," Ragna said. "Why do you care anyways?"

"I just said I enjoy a good love story, didn't I? I bet this could be an amazing chance to play matchmaker!"

"Play matchmaker?" Ragna repeated with a sense of dread starting to cover him. "Look El.."

"Oh! I should ask around and see if someone else is interested in being set up! Maybe I can find your other half by the end of today!"

"You-! Elphelt!" It was no use. She was already running off before Ragna could get another word in, sparkles in her eyes at just the prospects. "…This is gonna bite me in the ass, isn't it?"

First off, thank you all for the vote you submitted. I'll probably come up with the next chapters myself. Hopefully you enjoyed it.

Speedking535: I'm trying to keep this a Ragna only story (despite adding Elphelt) so no tales characters, sorry. I have played Tales of Symphonia, but I'm not that great with the lore. I see you've pick your pairing.

Sugouxxx: Whatever floats your boat I guess. You'll be seeing some of the archest of Archers in the coming chapters.

Warrior of Six Blades: The Summarizer returns. I'm glad to have someone reading my stories so in depth.

Mrgamerandwatcher: Well here's the next chapter. Hopefully this holds you off for awhile.

IdeaPerson1097: It's only the way I present him getting his powers is like the gamer. The real way he gets his powers is through intense training.

Black sun 123: I get the reference, but Ragna will be able to one-shot a lot of the guys in the earlier chapters.

Until Next Time!

Ciao!