Fire Emblem: The Awakening of the Demon King

[T.G. Oskar]

"Hail Gradoans! What may thoust want?"

An unexpected cry spawned from the heights. Caius looked at the fort's balcony, noticing a figure echoing a greeting. He ordered his men to stop, moved his horse parallel to the walls, and broke the seal upon the warrant scroll. He rose the window of his helm, and bellowed in a mighty voice his demand as he unfurled the scroll.

"Greetings, fortsmen! We are here in official command of the Prince Lyon of Grado, by request of the Chancellor of Grado Keep. We are searching for a criminal who has escaped our territory, and we may suspect he might have traveled this location. We would be grateful if you have heard news of this brigand, either location, hostage or passage. The Prince has offered a reward for any individual that provides with means to this man's capture. If you have no news of this criminal's location, we would also desire passageway to the town of Flarg, of which we have received reports of his destination. Spare you the whereabouts of this man, or have you captured this man?"

Caius expected that the few soldiers and the scroll with the warrant of capture would do enough. If not, the promise of a reward would sweeten the deal for the hardiest of man. He gulped, as he was unaware if the warrant was truly providing a reward for the capture of the spy, but even if it was a lie, he was a man of honor. He would spare of his own coffers if needed, if only to retain the facade; his true mission was far more important than the capture of a petty "criminal", but even his "capture" would provide strong information. None in Tai'zel, the closest town to Jehanna, were aware of a fort in the midst of the desert; news of this force would be well appreciated, even if at the very end he would fail on his main task.

He showed the scroll of warrant even as his hand tired from the weight of his own armor, while he held the left arm holding the reins of his horse. Neither Fred nor Dietrich moved from their spots, eagerly awaiting for a response.

[Magi of Worlds]

"Greetings, fortsmen! We are here in official command of the Prince Lyon of Grado, by request of the Chancellor of Grado Keep. We are searching for a criminal who has escaped our territory, and we may suspect he might have traveled this location. We would be grateful if you have heard news of this brigand, either location, hostage or passage. The Prince has offered a reward for any individual that provides with means to this man's capture. If you have no news of this criminal's location, we would also desire passageway to the town of Flarg, of which we have received reports of his destination. Spare you the whereabouts of this man, or have you captured this man?"

Arc had to think about that one for a moment. A reward would have been nice but being a Prince rewarded him with more money than this lowly man ever could.

"You mean the Gradoan spy we captured earlier in the day? Nay. I shall not hand him over so that you may go after Prince Stephan good sir. I have a better idea."

Arc gave his Sniper's the order to fire. They killed the two Cavalair's but spared the Knight because of order's from Arc. He then sent a trio of General's with Silver Axes to capture the Knight and bring him to Arc. After this was over Arc would question the man to get more information about Prince Stephan.

[T.G. Oskar]

The figure in the distance pondered for a while. It seemed, Caius thought, that it would be an uneventful night. The thought, however, did nothing to dispel the fears he held.

What the figure did, however, confirmed his worst fears.

"You mean the Gradoan spy we captured earlier in the day?" Caius gasped at the sudden revelation. It appeared, because of the revelation of the figure, that the spy had been captured. Fred and Dietrich were astounded, as they were unaware that the criminal they were to capture was truly a spy; for all they knew, the criminal was just that. Not even the scroll was of any use... "Nay. I shall not hand him over so that you may go after Prince Stephan good sir. I have a better idea."

It was worse. How would this man know about his true mission? Caius stood still, his men ready for the first order of their commander.

But not even that was to happen. A swarm of arrows flew from the walls, piercing the hearts and the helmets of Caius' escort. That would have been the last drop, but Caius simply closed his eyes. He tried to contain the tears that would flow from his eyes. How would he explain Agatha, Dietrich's sister, that his brother had perished because of his fault? And Fred; whom would care for his lands now that he was cowardly slain? Caius mulled over his own failure, and his terrible decision, but he could only think to himself.

This...is war. People live...and people die.

He could only hope that he had the strength of the Generals he so admired. These were friends, partners...he couldn't simply stand still, he had to avenge them. But he was also a commander as well. They had no guilt; it was only his own. These men were ready to die for their lord, and so they did; that they were not slain honorably was Caius' own regret.

The gate opened. From the gate, three heavily armored men emerged, each wielding a massive axe glistening with the light of the stars. He could recognize all of them were veterans, willing to slay him in a single strike. Pirates, bandits, and even the lowly foot soldier...these were nothing to his own prowess. But he knew, every bit of his soul knew that this would be a lost cause. His heart urged for revenge; he couldn't lay idle as he saw his men slain cowardly by the arrows of bowmen he didn't even notice.

The men surrounded him. One gave orders to surrender his weapons and his horse; Caius' couldn't do more than to agree. Perhaps, perhaps he was to pay for the lives he had taken, both from the unjust and from the innocent. But such was war; there was no good, no evil. Just honor, and treason; just the victors, and the slain.

He grasped the scroll in his hand. Even if he had to lie, even if his own life was at stake, he would not betray his own lord. Even if his men were captured, they were willing to follow him; they knew they would die, and perhaps they would have no regrets. But he was to be silent, as a wall was; broken, but never moving from the spot.

[Heartless Angel]

He arrived too late to witness these events unfold, but looking at the scene afterwards was enough to surmise what had occured here. He looked at the two corpses with a sick grin, and began laughing hysterically. "How ironic... that the battle I tried so desperately to flee from begins right here where I came to hide from it.", he said. He looked around the area, there was no sign of a third corpse. The third man must've been captured.

He took a large drink from his freshly refilled jug, mead ran down his face, through his black beard. "The drink saitsfies once more, then it is truly begun.", he said. He thought back to his days in Nivix, in particular his first trainer in the ways of the sword. An old, wise man; easily in his 70th year. He had a long grey beard, and looked as though he'd never touched a sword in his life. He remembered very clearly one of the many fragments of wisdom his master had given him, "A mere soldier rejoices at battle's end, but a true warrior is only at peace when he is at war." He was absolutely right. Combat was a way of life for Lucian. He had tried many tiems throughout the years to leave that life behind. He'd been a traveler, an explorer, a merchant, and many other things... but if he did not find battle, battle found him. One way or another, Lucian's life was caught in a spiral of unending warfare. In times of peace, he hated war with all his heart... but when the chance came to take up the sword once more, the sword became his only friend, and the battlefield the only place he could call home.

He began searching for Arc. If he was to fight, he'd need to choose a side...

[Victoria]

“So, I suppose we should get going, hm?” Stefany said with a yawn as she awoke late in the morning. She lightly shook Brenna's body to stir her awake. With a reluctant grunt, Brenna sat up in bed and looked toward the person next to her.

“Yeah.. I guess,” her lips mumbled. A yawn escaped as she stretched her arms. Stefany leaned toward Brenna and blew in her ear. Immediately, Brenna startled and shook her head. “Okay okay, I'm up I'm up.” She rubbed her ear and stood up and gathered her clothing for the day.

Stefany smiled and slid off the bed to get dressed as well. But then she bit her lip when she saw her dress. Perhaps the night was a little bit too rough. She was now out of a dress to wear. “Well... isn't this something? My dress seems to be torn to shreds. I suppose I can just wear my traveling cloak, but I at least need some undergarments. Do you happen to have any spare, Brenna?”

Without even a response or a reply, Brenna fixed up her leather armor to a comfortable spot and dug through her drawer for an extra pair of breeches. She couldn't help but grin at what she found. “I hope you won't mind a dancer's brassier and er, a very short skirt, I think?” she tossed the garments onto the bed for Stefany to inspect.

She tilted her head in query and placed them over her form, and then tried them on. She gave a twirl in front of Brenna. “How do I look?”

“I feel like taking them off, if that means anything.” Brenna gave a smirk and a tiny chuckle as she prepared food and drink in her satchel for them.

“That good, huh?” She thought to wear her traveling cloak just to prevent distractions from their traveling. After all, priorities had to be straight. She couldn't play around all the time. She had a home country to usurp.

With her cloak fastened and their supplies prepared, they set off to the shop down the road to buy some more provisions. A Flux tome for Stefany and some vulneraries just in case. The armory next door provided an Iron Sword for Brenna to use. After all, she only had a single Wakizashi, and she wouldn't want to waste that on just anybody.

While at the store, Stefany thought it be wise to also purchase a map of the country. Given that she's never been there before, she thought it would be good resource material. “Bah, what do you need that map for? I know Frelia like the back of my hand!” bragged Brenna.

Stefany slipped the map in her cloak and took Brenna's arm. “Well, then, Miss Guide, lead the way to the capital. I have some business to tend to.”

Brenna gave a cough and looked away with flushed cheeks and took a deep breath and removed the embarrassment from her mind. “All right then, my lady. Stay close to me and we'll be there in no time~!” she said with enthusiasm.

Half a day later, they wound up in a small ocean side area with what looked like small shacks and houses. However, these shelters looked rundown and abandoned. On the plus side, it looked like there were wild mares roaming around. “Oh look, horses! Lets see if we can tame two of them.” Stefany suggested as her eyes scanned the area for a prime looking specimen.

However, in the shadows of the trees in the distance, a lone figure stood in watch and moved with the wind back toward one of the large huts.

“Hey Boss, it looks like someone finally came for this girlie over here. Aren't you lucky, huh?” the grunt teased the girl and chuckled.

“Oh? How many have come to try and save this wretched girl? It's been days since the last force came to attempt to save her. Isn't that right, Lady Finola?” The burly figure mocked her and stroked her chin. The tanned girl grimaced and spat at him. In turn, he dropped her head and gave her a slap heard through the whole hut.

She could do nothing in her bound state but look on with an ice cold glare. “Just you wait, they'll save me. My father must've brought his strongest forces to deal with you!”

“Hush, girl.” he said with a kick to her abdomen. The blow sent her to the dirt floor, her eyes watered and cheek full of dirt. With the way she was bound, she could not easily sit up. “How many were there again?”

“Two, Boss. Just.. two. However, one of them looked extremely talented. The other looked as fragile as this girlie here though,” he stroked his chin in thought. “Perhaps they aren't here for the girl after all, but all the same, they can't be left alive now that they found our spot.”

“Aye. Take care of 'em, will ya?” He snapped his fingers as the grunt went out the hut and made his way toward the two oblivious girls trying to tame some horses.

Before Stefany could step up to a horse and greet it, an arrow shot at her feet. “Not so fast, girlies! We can't let you leave here alive! You found our spot and now you'll be silenced for it. Get'em, fellas!” Sounds echoed through the entire area as Brigands, Fighters, Archers and Mercenaries showed themselves from their huts.

Stefany gazed at the field full of battle hardened men, and then looked at Brenna, who was busy sizing up the opposition as well. “My, my. Well aren't I in heaven? I came for a horse and I stumbled upon handsome men. I'll tell you boys what; If you manage to take us down, you get to have all of this~” she flapped open her cloak and ran her hand down her body. Brenna smirked and unsheathed her sword and ran her tongue along the blade in a sensual manner.

“Oi oi, don't think you're gonna con me, ladies! I've been around the block. I know your types. I'm not fallin' for your games, ya vixens!”

Stefany shrugged, “Suit yourself, then,” she closed her cloak back up. “What's so important about this spot anyway? It looks pretty run down to me.”

“It's not the spot itself that's important, but the cargo we hold--”

“HELP MEEEEEE!” a head pierced through the window and shrieked at the two unknown figures. However, Stefany locked eyes with the girl in the hut and knew the situation instantly. Now, things have changed.

“Well, well, lookie here. Seems my minion has been captured.” A sigh escaped Stefany's lips. “Don't worry, Finny, I'll get you out!” she yelled, nonchalantly ignoring the threats in front of her.

“Why, you!” he snarled as he shot an arrow to her head. “She's no minion, she's the princess of Frelia! Get that straight!”

Before the arrow made its mark, a gust of wind changed its direction and split the wood into two. The pieces fell to the ground as a sheen of steel blocked the arrow's path to Stefany's head. “Sorry, mate. Gotta get through me first.” Brenna twirled the blade in her hand, vanished in a cloud of dust and appeared on the other side of him. She shook the wet blood from the blade and sheathed it.

His body fell in two different places. He still seemed to have small bits of life left in him, as he snarled at the swordswoman. Stefany spoke while he was still conscious, “I know she's the princess, but she's still my minion, no matter what. Only I can touch my minion. No one else.” He reached out toward the young shaman and lost his life.

The next closest opponent was far away, but Stefany moved a few paces, closer to Brenna. The enemy forces closed in during the next round. Brenna sliced through Brigands and Fighters like butter, and Stefany wracked the minds of the Mercenaries and other units left over.

They seemed to keep coming from nowhere. Brenna and Stefany were exhausted and couldn't keep fighting for long. However, whinnying and galloping could be heard off in the distance. “Lady Stefany, do not worry! We're here to assist you!” a man's tone cut through the wind. His voice felt familiar to Stefany somehow, but she couldn't quite recall. It bled so much valor and honesty, there were only a few men she knew who had that kind of voice.

The two cavaliers managed to slay most of the remaining enemies before things calmed down enough for them to talk. “Lady Stefany, Vahn and I tried to catch up with you since you fled Renais. We managed to break through their defenses and flee to Frelia. But now we finally managed to catch up.”

“Ah, Vahn and Eric! Long time no see!” she exclaimed with a smile. “This is my new concubi—I mean, maid, Brenna.”

A fighter charged toward the exhausted Brenna, but foolishly ran his throat right into the tip of her blade. “Were you just going to call me a concubine, Stefany? I could've sworn I was more than that.”

“You are, but...I...” Stefany drooped her head downward and blushed.

“You like me that much, eh?” she winked and ruffled her hair. “No worries, m'lady. Let's go save that minion of yours.”

“Minion?” Eric asked.

“You know, Eric. I think she means Finola.” Vahn replied.

“Oh, her. I always forget.”

The small group of adventurers made their way to the center hut where the boss and Finola were. Suddenly, through the window, a rather large axe spun in the air and caused the mounts to stir. Stefany and Brenna ducked to the ground as the axe flew through the door.

The burly man stepped through the doorway and held the axe on his shoulder. “Well, well. Seems I underestimated you girls, but I see you got some more help. Those pups won't be enough, though. I'll take care of you all myself.”

A tall Berserker stood in their path to the princess of Frelia. However, what he didn't know, was that Finola managed to stand up and crept up behind him. She gave a drop kick to his knees and fell to the ground as she did so. When his guard dropped for but a moment, Brenna became several blurs and vanished as a loud slice echoed through the area, followed by a thud.

The Berserker's head fell to the ground, his ass in the air and his helmet in two. “Ugh....I'll get you for that...!” his fury surged through his veins as he stepped back up and swung his mighty ax toward the red head. She backflipped out of the way and ran up the thick silver handle and up his arm and somersaulted in the air and drove the blade through his head and body.

His body fell in opposite sides as she flicked the blood from the blade and sheathed it. Brenna's chest heaved from exhaustion as her eyes closed. Her body fell limp and collapsed into the open arms of Stefany, who smiled and ran her fingers through the auburn hair. “Thank you, Brenna...good work.” she kissed her forehead.

Vahn and Eric blinked dumbfounded for a moment and the fast action in front of them, but proceeded to snap into reality and untie the dirtied Finola.

“Thank you so much... everyone. I knew you'd come for me, Madam Stefany...” Exhausted, Finola collapsed into a slumber, much like Brenna. With the help of Vahn and Eric, the five traveled to the next town through the night and arrived in a few hours. It wasn't the capital, but it had an Inn and some shops.

Later in the night, Brenna awoke with Stefany at her bedside. “So, what's the story with a princess being a minion of another princess?” she asked.

Stefany yawned and crawled up onto the bed and laid against Brenna. “It's just our personalities. She's more of a follower than a leader, and I'm more of a leader than a follower. So I made her my servant.”

“Makes sense, I guess.”

The group stayed at the inn to rest from the weary long battle they had earlier that day.

[Magi of Worlds]

Arc himself had not liked to give the order to kill the two Grado Cavalair's that had ridden with the Knight. Unfortunately war was war and war had no honor whatsoever. Especially since Grado was now their enemy and they were technically allied with Prince Stephan after torturing the spy. Arc furrowed his brows in frustration. Why did this have to happen now? Sighing he called together a group of five Sniper's and ten Wyvern Lord's as scouts to look for more Grado soldiers in the desert and to kill them if they did.

He turned to the stairs that led to the third floor and there stood Myra. Arc's will crumpled and he went to her and kissed her and held her.

"Why must war be so bad my darling?" he asked Myra and her only response was to kiss him again and hold him even tighter to her small frame.

Together, and with general's Julius, Meena, and Maximus they headed for the War Room and started planning for a war that everyone knew would be brutal. Before closing the door behind them all Arc motioned a Captain over.

"Make sure that the Grado Knight is sent to the same room that we are holding the spy in so that we can question them together."

The Captain nodded and saluted and went off to fulfill his task. Meanwhile Arc and his general's got down to business.

[Heartless Angel]

The door to the war room was flung open, and an obviously inebriated Lucian entered the room, sword in hand. "I come to offer you my sword, my friend.", he said seriously, but with an unmistakable slur. Some of the other men stationed here may have already noticed that their supplies of alcohol had dwindled to almost nothing in the past few hours. Any left wondering would now know exactly where it had gone. He walked towards the map table, stumbling a time or two on his way. "General Lucian Valeth, reporting for... for... duty! Reporting for duty sir!", he said, introducing himself with the rank he'd earned centuries ago in a now forgotten Kingdom. He put one of his large boots on the table, leaning in as he attempted to sheathe his weapon. In his drunkenness, he missed the sheath entirely and carelessly allowed the blade to fall to the ground, not even aware of the fact. "So, who exactly is our enemy? Where is he? And when do we kick some ass?", he asked, his slur getting worse by the minute.

[Treize]

Ray had been working for what seemed like an eternity under the brilliant sun in the capital of Frelia. She had just arrived here a little over a week ago, but she felt as if she had been working nonstop for months. Ray was a cleric sent here by the Church to do some mission work; however, she didn’t know how tough it would be when she first arrived. The days here were long, and there was never a lapse in the work that needed to be done. There were not very many missionaries sent here because the capital, located on the edge of the continent, was a long journey from the Church’s headquarters. There were also many people in need because the majority of the populace was quite poor. As a result, there were always more things that needed to be done than time permitted.

“Why did I have to come here,” Ray thought to herself. “The work here is never-ending, and I’m not even that good at this kind of work. If it was spying or an assassination, I would be fine, but I hate having to keep up this cleric façade. It was fine in the beginning when the work was easy and I was given plenty of time to hone my skills, but I don’t know if I can take this much longer. I’m now strong enough to survive on my own.”

Even though Ray felt slightly indebted to the Church for taking care of her and giving her an easy life for all these years, she decided it was finally time to cut her ties with them and live for herself. Unfortunately, now that the Church wouldn’t provide for her any longer, Ray needed to look for some work to survive. She, however, knew that she could make it easily with her skills, and, if nothing else, she could always take advantage of some unsuspecting noble.

Ray looked around the city for work that looked both easy and paid a hefty sum. This was not an easy task, but soon enough Ray came across the Frelian colosseum.

Ray thought, “This’ll be perfect! The prize is pretty high, and who would suspect an innocent looking cleric like me to be a trained assassin? I’m sure they’ll go easy on me and won’t see me coming. I’ll be able to make a fortune! Who knows? If I win the grand prize, I might not even have to work for quite a while.”

Before Ray entered the arena, she looked up into the sky. It was a radiant day in the capital of Frelia. It appeared to be almost too nice of a day. Ray was still fretful, however, because she knew that the weather here could change in seemingly no time at all.