Fire Emblem Fan Fiction ❯ Love From The War (Nephenee x Lyre) ❯ Chapter 2 - The Maiden's Army ( Chapter 2 )

Nephenee lifted her boots out of the mud with a disgusted look on her face.

She hated fighting in swamps, it badly cut her mobility, and wielding a lance, she needed all the mobility she could get.

Kicking the leeches off of her, she stumbled forwards.

Ahead of her she could vaguely make out the silhouette of a small army.

She heard a cry from above her.
”Ike! There's a small attack force up ahead.”

Janaff grinned down at Nephenee.
”Hi Neph! Stole your thunder, eh? Need any help getting out of the mud?”

Nephenee snorted.
”Please. I can get out of this on my own.”

Janaff laughed, and almost lost his balance in the air.

Nephenee scowled at him.
”Why, I oughta…”

A voice came from the back of the company.

“Oi! You two lovebirds! Stop fighting! People will start talking!!

Nephenee sighed. Boyd always had to be the centre of attention.

However, she had no time to think about that, as the army had smashed through the trees, and a heavily armoured knight had moved to the front of the army.
”Who is the commander of this army?”

Ike stepped forward.
”I am.”

A wave of discord spread among the soldiers.
”Isn't that the same Ike that single-handedly defeated King Ashnard?”

“I heard he can kill the likes of us with one blow!”

Ignoring the murmurs from the army behind him, the knight continued to talk.

“Ike of the Greil Mercenaries! You are siding with the Laguz Alliance! Surrender to the Maiden Of Dawn, and the lives of you and your comrades will be spared!

Ike lifted his sword high.

“We cannot surrender here! Our goal is the Beginon capital! Greil Mercenaries! In position!”
Upon hearing this, Nephenee grinned. Time to do what she did best.

“Hey! Wait!”

Nephenee turned, to see a woman running towards her.
”Neph! Don't tell me you forgot?”

Nephenee decided to play dumb.

“Forget what?”

“You were gonna team up with me for this battle, remember?”

Nephenee laughed.
”'Course I did.” She winked at Lyre. “Just messing with your head.”

Lyre punched her lightly on the shoulder.
”Come on then. Let's get some Daeins.”

Nephenee pointed the tip of her lance at the opposing army.

“Let's go!”

 

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Nephenee pulled out a cloth to wipe both the sweat from her face, and the blood from her lance. She had been fighting for at least 2 hours, and her armour didn't even have a scratch in it.

“Not slacking off, are you?”

Lyre walked over to Nephenee, reverting back to her normal form.

“Just a bit tired, that's all. You go ahead.”

“Fine, your loss.”

A barrage of small sparks surrounded Lyre, and she changed back to a cat.

Nephenee jumped a bit, but she was getting used to Lyre transforming now.

“Go on without me for a bit.”

Nephenee sat down on a rock, and just watched Lyre fight for a while.

Everything about her is…elegant, exquisite, and…beautiful.

As Nephenee sat and watched, she felt a longing coming over her.

“Shame you won't live to see your girlfriend again.”

Nephenee jumped off the rock, as a sword narrowly missed her head.

Nephenee grabbed her lance, and held it ready.

However, nothing could prepare her for what she saw.

Her assailant was…

“Z-Zihark? What? Why did you…?”

“Nephenee…I'm afraid I must raise my sword against you. Micaiah's orders were to eliminate the Laguz Alliance. I cannot let old friendships cloud my judgement. I'm sorry.”

He moved into a fighting stance, his sword gripped tightly in both hands.

“Ready when you are.”

Nephenee held her lance in front of her face.

“Zihark. Even though it pains me to fight you…I won't die here.”

“I thought you'd react like this. Nephenee. I'm sorry, but you must die.”

He began to wave his sword around so fast, Nephenee couldn't even see it.

“Astrum.”

Zihark charged at her.

Nephenee moved her lance in front of her body.

No time to counter. Gotta block.

Zihark's sword hit its target.

“Urgh.”

Nephenee managed to dodge one slice, but 3 more hit her before Zihark stopped.
She fell to her knees, bleeding heavily from her wounds.
Then, her knees gave way, and she fell to her hands, coughing up blood.
”It's nothing personal. I have to do this. Good bye, Nephenee.”

Zihark's sword hand paused.
Nephenee was getting back to her feet.

“I told you…I won't…no…I can't die here.”

She picked up the lance at her feet.

“Zihark!”

Nephenee gathered up the last of her energy.

“I'll take you down!”

She rushed at Zihark, who, as he was not expecting the attack, had no time to block.

Her lance penetrated straight through him.

“Aaaahhh.”

He turned, and placed his hand over the wound on his stomach.

“Still. You're all but dead. Micaiah! I'm retreating! I'll be back soon!”

With that, he ran through the trees, and out of sight.
Using that attack had drained Nephenee of all her energy.
This time, she collapsed to the floor.

Lyre, spotting this, ran straight over to Nephenee.

“Neph! Listen to me! Are you ok? Neph!”

Nephenee coughed up another mouthful of blood.

“Damnit! Nephenee! Listen to me! Don't die!”

“Lyre…I…lo…”

Lyre's worried face was the last thing Nephenee saw before she slipped out of consciousness.