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31_days2020-05-15 10:30 pm
gershom_onyx) wrote in 31_days2020-05-15 10:30 pm
Entry tags:
[05 / 15 / 20] [Fire Emblem Heroes] Three Heroes
Title: Three Heroes
Day / Prompt: 15 / The Wind Sings of A Journey
Fandom: Fire Emblem Heroes
Character(s) / Pairing(s): Alfonse, Anna, Sharena
Rating / Warning(s): All Ages
Word Count: 930
Notes: Fifteen days. Hard to believe, but there it is.
The pieces have been placed on the board, and the former leaders of the Order of Heroes – Alfonse, Anna, and Sharena – are preparing to make the first move in the assault upon Castle Askr and the forces of the Summoner. All are aware of the high stakes, all have their doubts, but the task before them remains: They must overthrow the architect of their misfortune.
* * * *
Alfonse adjusted the bandages that had been wrapped around his neck for what felt like the hundredth time as he sat at the round table in the cantina at Castle Embla. Veronica had managed to hold her sanity until she and Xander had returned to the World of Xenith, but, as soon as she laid eyes upon the Prince of Askr, her thirst returned with a vengeance, and Alfonse had obliged it.
Sharena touched his shoulder to express her concern, saying, "Not much longer. Maybe, if we're lucky, that'll hold her until all this is over and done." She turned her gaze to the Commander at the table. "What's our strategy, Anna?"
Anna nodded. "Most of it's already in place. The Orbs are hidden, Bruno's gone to close the gate in the Forest of the Fallen, and now its just a question of getting our diversion up and running." She turned to Alfonse. "Have you spoken to your father? The Knights of Askr are still the best option we've got."
Alfonse pushed the exhaustion that permeated his entire being down into the depths of his mind. "He's ready to ride at any time. He'll meet the Order's troops at the border and hold them in place while we infiltrate the castle and capture the Summoner. We'll have to wait for Bruno to come back, but, as soon as he does, that's when we'll move." He looked at the others. "Are you ready?"
Sharena smiled broadly. "I don't think I've ever been this ready for anything. Lilja and the others have promised that they'll come with us, and that's as much as we can ask for. It all depends on whether or not our insider can make sure the secret entrance is undefended." She looked at Anna. "Can he?"
That made Anna wrinkle up her nose. "I had to make him two promises. One was noble, one was awful. You can guess which one's involved with that, but ... that's for later. He hasn't failed us yet. And Odin's going to be with us whether we're interested in his help or not, so there's that, too."
Alfonse ticked the names off his fingers. "I've brought Celica, Sharena's brought the Emblians, you've brought Odin, Anna, and Bruno's got Leon. Then, Xander's got Inigo. It's a handful, but it's a start. I'd like to have more, but –" He took a deep breath. "– time's an issue. We can't let the Summoner invade Embla on his own terms. We're lucky it hasn't happened yet."
Anna narrowed her eyes. "It's like he's waiting for something, and that something hasn't happened yet. Remember, there've been plenty of times when he's known something was going to happen before it happened, but I get the feeling that everything he's done has thrown off that mental timeline of his, and now he has to make decisions from imperfect information, just like the rest of us. If that's true, it's probably our greatest advantage."
Sharena nodded. "We'll need to get some rest, then. As soon as Bruno gets back in the next day or so, we'll act at midnight on that same day." She rose to her feet. "Let's use what little time we have to rest and get ready."
Anna excused herself, and Alfonse turned to do the same, but the voice of his sister stopped him: "No, you wait a minute, brother. You said you went to the World of Binding, right? To Arcadia? There aren't any gates that'll take you directly there, so you went the long way." He could feel her eyes boring into his back. "Despite everything you say about not getting too close to Heroes, that's an awfully long time to travel alone with someone."
Alfonse sighed. "I don't have impure motives, if that's what you're wondering, and, if I did, Celica's too canny to fall for any of that. Don't tease me."
She smiled and stood in front of him to hold his attention. "You're my brother. I'm allowed to tease you a little bit, you know." She lowered her voice slightly. "And, if you fell for any of them, she'd be one I'd pick for you. You need somebody with a caring heart, and she's got one of the biggest hearts I've ever known." She tilted her head. "If she's anything like the other Celicas we've known, that is. You haven't said."
"She is," Alfonse mumbled, a little embarrassed, "but —"
"But nothing. I'm not telling you to do anything, but ... you shouldn't have any regrets, either." She winked. "Go get some rest. Maybe see her first. That's up to you. I want you alive, awake, and fighting fit tomorrow."
"All right." He shooed her away. "You're impossible, sometimes."
She laughed as she departed, reminding me of all the times she had teased him about one thing or another as they grew up together in a more peaceful time.
But, he thought to himself, is that why, when we looked at our choices, I chose to search for her first? Was my heart in the right place? He shook his head and left the cantina. I certainly hope it was.
END.
Day / Prompt: 15 / The Wind Sings of A Journey
Fandom: Fire Emblem Heroes
Character(s) / Pairing(s): Alfonse, Anna, Sharena
Rating / Warning(s): All Ages
Word Count: 930
Notes: Fifteen days. Hard to believe, but there it is.
* * * *
Alfonse adjusted the bandages that had been wrapped around his neck for what felt like the hundredth time as he sat at the round table in the cantina at Castle Embla. Veronica had managed to hold her sanity until she and Xander had returned to the World of Xenith, but, as soon as she laid eyes upon the Prince of Askr, her thirst returned with a vengeance, and Alfonse had obliged it.
Sharena touched his shoulder to express her concern, saying, "Not much longer. Maybe, if we're lucky, that'll hold her until all this is over and done." She turned her gaze to the Commander at the table. "What's our strategy, Anna?"
Anna nodded. "Most of it's already in place. The Orbs are hidden, Bruno's gone to close the gate in the Forest of the Fallen, and now its just a question of getting our diversion up and running." She turned to Alfonse. "Have you spoken to your father? The Knights of Askr are still the best option we've got."
Alfonse pushed the exhaustion that permeated his entire being down into the depths of his mind. "He's ready to ride at any time. He'll meet the Order's troops at the border and hold them in place while we infiltrate the castle and capture the Summoner. We'll have to wait for Bruno to come back, but, as soon as he does, that's when we'll move." He looked at the others. "Are you ready?"
Sharena smiled broadly. "I don't think I've ever been this ready for anything. Lilja and the others have promised that they'll come with us, and that's as much as we can ask for. It all depends on whether or not our insider can make sure the secret entrance is undefended." She looked at Anna. "Can he?"
That made Anna wrinkle up her nose. "I had to make him two promises. One was noble, one was awful. You can guess which one's involved with that, but ... that's for later. He hasn't failed us yet. And Odin's going to be with us whether we're interested in his help or not, so there's that, too."
Alfonse ticked the names off his fingers. "I've brought Celica, Sharena's brought the Emblians, you've brought Odin, Anna, and Bruno's got Leon. Then, Xander's got Inigo. It's a handful, but it's a start. I'd like to have more, but –" He took a deep breath. "– time's an issue. We can't let the Summoner invade Embla on his own terms. We're lucky it hasn't happened yet."
Anna narrowed her eyes. "It's like he's waiting for something, and that something hasn't happened yet. Remember, there've been plenty of times when he's known something was going to happen before it happened, but I get the feeling that everything he's done has thrown off that mental timeline of his, and now he has to make decisions from imperfect information, just like the rest of us. If that's true, it's probably our greatest advantage."
Sharena nodded. "We'll need to get some rest, then. As soon as Bruno gets back in the next day or so, we'll act at midnight on that same day." She rose to her feet. "Let's use what little time we have to rest and get ready."
Anna excused herself, and Alfonse turned to do the same, but the voice of his sister stopped him: "No, you wait a minute, brother. You said you went to the World of Binding, right? To Arcadia? There aren't any gates that'll take you directly there, so you went the long way." He could feel her eyes boring into his back. "Despite everything you say about not getting too close to Heroes, that's an awfully long time to travel alone with someone."
Alfonse sighed. "I don't have impure motives, if that's what you're wondering, and, if I did, Celica's too canny to fall for any of that. Don't tease me."
She smiled and stood in front of him to hold his attention. "You're my brother. I'm allowed to tease you a little bit, you know." She lowered her voice slightly. "And, if you fell for any of them, she'd be one I'd pick for you. You need somebody with a caring heart, and she's got one of the biggest hearts I've ever known." She tilted her head. "If she's anything like the other Celicas we've known, that is. You haven't said."
"She is," Alfonse mumbled, a little embarrassed, "but —"
"But nothing. I'm not telling you to do anything, but ... you shouldn't have any regrets, either." She winked. "Go get some rest. Maybe see her first. That's up to you. I want you alive, awake, and fighting fit tomorrow."
"All right." He shooed her away. "You're impossible, sometimes."
She laughed as she departed, reminding me of all the times she had teased him about one thing or another as they grew up together in a more peaceful time.
But, he thought to himself, is that why, when we looked at our choices, I chose to search for her first? Was my heart in the right place? He shook his head and left the cantina. I certainly hope it was.
END.