Fire Emblem Awakening: My Story

The Grimleal

Anna

We walked down the long hallways of Castle Ferox, Chrom rubbing his jaw where Sumia punched him. I reached up and caressed his cheek. His eyes sparkled in gratitude.

"Thanks, Anna... but don't worry about me right now, we need to focus on what Basilio wants to tell us."

I nodded. "Ok..."

We entered the throne room and Basilio was pacing back and forth. "Chrom! Good gods, I've been looking for you everywhere!"

"Is something wrong?" Chrom asked.

"Our scouts have reported back. Dark news, I'm afraid... Ylisstol... has fallen."

Oh...Gods, no...

"What?!" Chrom's eyes were wild with fear and anger.

"The Plegians captured your exalt and retreated back across their lines," Basilio said. "Gangrel has declared she's to be publicly executed within the moon." 

"E-executed?!" The prince looked like he was about to throw up.

Lissa began to stumble. "Ooooh..." I wrapped my arm around her as she fell.

"Lissa? Lissa!" I rubbed her arms, trying to comfort and calm her down.

"The dastard's not even trying to be subtle anymore," Flavia growled.

I nodded. "I agree. It's an obvious trap."

Basilio's nails dug into his palms. "The Mad King knew our scouts would relay this information back. It's clearly a provocation - a hot brand to the buttocks! We should consider our opinions carefully before jumping to any-"

"Shepherds! We march to Plegia!" Chrom declared. If I wasn't holding Lissa, I would be rushing to him to calm him down.

Basilio cleared his throat. "Well, that would be ONE option, yes... But perhaps we've seen enough royalty waltzing into traps for one war already, eh?"

"I don't care if it's a trap, Basilio. He's going to murder my sister!"

"Peace, Chrom. Breathe a moment. No one's suggesting we don't act," the Khan said. "We're simply saying we should act WISELY. We'll need guts AND wit in equal measure if we're to save your sister."

Guts and wit she says... "The Khans are right. I'll think of something, Chrom. I promise," I said.

Everyone turned to me. "...All right, Anna. I leave it to you to formulate our strategy," Chrom sighed.

"Are you certain you're up to the task, Anna? It won't be easy. You hold the exalt's life in one hand, and all of our in the other." Flavia asked.

"A responsibility I do not take lightly. But I am equal to the challenge."

Flavia laughed. "Haha! You've got stones, at least. I like that!"

"No hesitation, no mincing words... She's either a genius or a fool!" Basilio chuckled. "I suppose we'll find out once we march. Hold on to your tassets, Ylisseans. We've an exalt to save!"

...

On our journey to Plegia, we came into conflict with a strange group of cultists. They were chasing a little girl and mercenary. However, the girl was not as little as we thought...

"What in blazes?! The girl is a dragon!" I exclaimed.

Chrom stared at the bright yellow dragon, who was clearing a path of enemies with her breath and claws. "By the gods, she's a manakete... I never thought I'd see one."

"Hmm... Perhaps she doesn't need our help much as we could use hers..." I muttered.

Chrom and I continued to fight our way to the leader of the band of cultist.

"Chrom, look out!" I shouted.

"What?" He shouted back. I pushed him out of the way as a dark magic spell almost hit him. We both charge and killed the wielder.

A few enemies later, we approached the leader. "Haha! You dare defy Grima, god of annihilation?"

He shot a Nosferatu spell at Chrom, but I blocked it. He charges forward and slashed at the man, I shot a bolt of Lightning at him. He tried attacking Chrom once more, but I blocked it. Chrom was too fast for the man, ending his life with a slash of Falchion.

"Master Grima... my life force... is yours..." He gasped as the light left his eyes.

A half-hour later, we all regrouped. Chrom decided to invite the dragon and mercenary to the Shepherds. The manakete was named Nowi and was over a thousand years old. The ginger mercenary, Gregor, was simply a sell-sword. The two also happened to be married.

"The dragonkin are said to be more resilient than men. Nowi would make a strong ally. Besides, we cannot risk her falling back into the hands of the Grimleal," Frederick said.

"Beg pardon, but who are the Grimleal?" I asked.

"Followers of the fell dragon, Grima. The selfsame dragon the first exalt defeated a thousand years ago. Even today there are some who yearn for the fiend's return," he responded.

Why does that make me worry so much? "I...see."

"Well, shall we get some rest? We're almost to the Plegian captain. We'll need all our strength, soon enough." Flavia suggested.

"Yeah, let's. Anna, let's go scout an area," Chrom said.

I nodded "Alright..." For once in my life, my thoughts were not on Chrom, but on that mysterious cult.