Good gods boats sucked. She hated them. So freaking much. And to think she was stuck in one for a whole month, she didn't know how she survived. The moment Peach stepped into the harbor, she took in a breath of fresh air, and despite the reeking smell of fish, she'd never felt more refreshed in her life.
"Talk about over dramatic," Marth said as he walked up to her. "Remember, we still have to make the trip back the same way."
"Shut up, please, let me enjoy this moment while I still can," Peach sighed.
"We could always travel on my back," Robin smiled as he also walked up to them.
"On your back? I think we're a little too big for that," Marth said.
"I meant in my dragon form!" Robin cheered. "I really feel like I'm gonna snap one of these days!"
"Ha. Ha," Marth laughed sarcastically. Suddenly, the three were engulfed in the arms of another, all of them brought together for an uncomfortably tight hug.
"Now, my friends, who's ready to fight giant bird monsters?!" Claude said as though he was talking to a group of children. Peach turned her head slowly towards him, horror written all over it.
"Birds?"
***
There's so many feathers. And they're all so itchy. They'd been fighting off multiple giant birds off the streets of Enbarr all day. Worst part? They're all so ugly and disgusting. They look like a mix between a turkey, a rooster, and an eagle or hawk, Peach couldn't really tell. Even worse was the fact that they were incredibly strong, certainly stronger than the Risen. And because they could fly, it was even harder to defeat them.
Claude, Robin, and Samus were doing most of the work, considering the fact they could fly or at least hit them from a distant range. Peach would've been cut into pieces by a single strike of the bird's talon if it weren't thanks to an arrow going right through it. And she would've been turned into a puddle after being pecked by one of them if the bird hadn't been set on fire. Let's not forget the time a whole feather almost pierced her but luckily the bird got a hole pierced through its entire body by a laser, leaving it no chance to actually fire off the feather.
Fodlan was terrifying, she'd learned. After this, never again would she come to this place. All of these huge bird monsters were too much. Too big, too tough to fight. Not only that, but after this they'd have to go to some other place to fight some other huge, ugly, giant monsters. Great.
"Hold your composure, Princess, we're nearly done," Edelgard said as she walked up to Peach.
"You sure weren't kidding when you said you had a monster problem," Peach chuckled dryly. Using her magic axe, she cast down a lightning bolt upon one of the birds, which sent it down to the ground so the soldiers around it could finish it.
"They've increased in number since we left," Edelgard said. "Still, I'm glad we have you to aid us."
Peach blushed and waved her hand. "Oh please, we're doing this because you helped us out in Skyworld! It's only right we help you too."
"No, you misunderstand," Edelgard said. She took Peach's hand in hers and smiled warmly. "I'm glad you are here, Peach."
"Excuse me?" Peach blinked, her blush reddening.
"After spending so much time with you, I realized just how amazing you are. You are capable of doing so much, like healing and fighting. You have great potential and abilities, I'm thankful that you decided to help us," Edelgard said.
Peach giggled and leaned away from her, using her free hand to cover her face. Oh goodness gracious she couldn't take compliments well, especially when they came from a pretty girl. Edelgard was nice, strict, but nice, but Peach didn't see her that way. Not before anyway. As for now...
A raw scream broke Peach out of her lovey-dovey trance and reminded her that they were in the middle of the battlefield. She snapped her head to the right and saw as Dimitri got pierced by one of the bird's talons, and then proceeded to decapitate said bird with one powerful swing of his lance. He then fell to his knees, gripping his wound. Peach gasped and tried to run to him, but was stopped by Edelgard's grip on her wrist.
Peach hurriedly ran to Dimitri, placing one hand on his shoulder and the other on his back to help him lie down on his back. There two large puncture wounds on his chest, each from where the bird's talons had entered his body. She knew it was a stupid question, but she couldn't help but ask, "Are you alright?"
"Does it look like it?!" Dimitri hissed, making her flinch. She knew it was a stupid question, but damn she was not expecting that kind of response. Especially not from Dimitri. He was usually quiet, like really quiet. He was unbelievably shy too. So to think he would respond with so much attitude, it almost made her feel bad. "I didn't see the damn thing, by the time I sensed it, it was too late."
"Didn't see it?! But these birds are huge!" Peach said. She carefully removed his chest plate to gain easier access to his skin and wounds. She had to touch at least the last layer of clothes before the skin, otherwise the healing wouldn't be as effective.
"I'm blind in my right eye, I can't see shit through it," Dimitri groaned as Peach gently touched his wounds. "The bird came from my right side, is that explanation enough for you?"
"...Yes," Peach nodded, letting her head hang low. She didn't know why but she wanted to cry. She felt as though she just got scolded by her parents for being an idiot. So what if she was? She was just trying to help. She didn't know he had a disability. Now that she thought of it, maybe she could help with that. But healing an eye sounds complicated.
A blaring horn sounded throughout the battlefield, and just as it did, every soldier started running away, leaving behind any bird they were in the middle of fighting with. Peach realized that was probably the retreat horn, so she hurried on with the healing process. Thankfully, Dimitri's wounds weren't too deep so it didn't take long to close them up. Unfortunately, just because his wounds were healed, it didn't mean he got his strength and energy back, so she had to carry him all the way back to camp, and due to their immense difference in height, Peach felt like she lost a couple pounds by the time they did arrive and let him be taken to the infirmary by other soldiers.
She could still hear the squawking of the birds as the sun set behind her. Multiple soldiers were being carried, all of them heavily injured. Missing limbs, missing organs, missing... everything. It was a horrific sight. She'd become used to it though. She treated both people and laguz back in Tellius, where she saw some of the most disgusting wounds in her life. Compared to all the things she saw in Tellius, this was nothing. Didn't make it any less horrendous, but she'd gotten used to the smell of rotting flesh and fresh blood.
She was about to go help the recuperation effort, before she was grabbed by the wrist, this time by Robin. He offered her a smirk and let go of her. "Two of the primary color trio wants to meet up, discuss some things. I'm sure the third one will join us later."
"Oh," Peach said. She looked back at the soldiers, feeling a little bad that she couldn't help right away, but she figured there were enough medics around to help. She nodded and followed Robin. "Um, I know you're immortal and all, but, are you feeling alright?"
Robin turned back and looked at her, eyes wide. She felt her heart stop, because after what happened with Dimitri, she felt as though anything she said was wrong. But to her surprise, he smiled and nodded. "I'm alright, thank you, dear. You should know your friends are alright too."
"That's a relief," Peach sighed.
He looked at her for a moment before turning back around. "Something interesting did happen, though. I was picking up an orb dropped by one of the dead birds, a black one, and it exploded in my hands. I figured that maybe it reacted to some magic I was casting, but when I told Marth and Samus about it, they told me the same thing happened to them! Isn't that odd?"
"Oh! It happened to me too! It was back in Tellius, though."
"Really?"
"Yes! To Ike as well, it was the oddest thing. We didn't mention it in the meeting since we figured maybe it was due to the surroundings, but now that it's happened here too..."
"Interesting," Robin smiled slyly. He stopped in front of her, leaning down and putting his hand up to her ear. In a low, airy voice, he whispered, "Try not to mention this while we speak with the other two, alright?"
"Why? Shouldn't we ask if it happened to them too?" Peach asked, his cool breath making her tense up.
"Indeed, but I'd like to do my own research with our closest allies first," Robin explained. "I'll be honest, I don't fully trust the three of them yet, especially that yellow-themed one. He reminds me too much of myself."
Well that much was true. Claude and Robin were both the smiley bastard type. She was also a little suspicious of Claude, considering they met before and even that was unbeknownst to his own allies. And the fact that he refused the explain why he visited in the first place just made him even more suspicious. Peach nodded, agreeing to Robin's plan, which made him smile. He offered her his arm, which she semi-gladly took, and he led her away to a large tent. Within it, Marth, Samus, and Claude stood on each side while Edelgard stood at the very back.
"That makes all of us," Edelgard said. "Dimitri will join us later, I'm sure."
"Actually." The entrance of the tent opened, and in stepped Dimitri, though he had to crouch. "I'm right here, thanks to Peach's healing."
"Oh! It's nothing," Peach chuckled, twirling a strand of her hair. Dimitri gave her a look she couldn't describe. Pity? Guilt? Regret? All three?
"...Well then," Edelgard continued, her voice being notably more irritated. "First, I'd like to thank you all for your cooperation today. We'll continue fighting the monsters tomorrow so take tonight to, well, look around, I suppose. Just make sure you're all well rested for tomorrow.
"Second, we know that the puppet master is also active in Fodlan as multiple orbs were found throughout the battlefield. Most of them seem to be clear, which would explain the birds' extra-erratic behavior. Regardless, we still don't know much. Once we clear out the birds here, we will be heading to Garreg Mach Monastery, where we will then split up and head to Fhirdiad in Faerghus, and Derdriu in the Alliance. Any complaints?"
"Will we really be going only to those cities, or all around the land?" Robin asked.
"We are already thankful enough that you're helping us, so we only ask that you only help us clear out the capital cities, we will take of everything else ourselves," Claude said.
"If we are fast enough, it should only take about two months, is that alright?" Edelgard asked.
"It's not ideal, but we'll help regardless," Marth said, Samus and Peach nodding along while Robin smiled.
"Well, that's all there's to report, Now," Claude clapped, "How about we all go for a drink at the bar?"
"Ugh, count me out, I'm not interested in alcohol," Edelgard groaned.
"Suit yourself," Claude shrugged. He then wrapped an arm around Dimitri, making him crouch more than he already was. "You'll come, right Your Highness?" Claude gave him a knowing smile, and Dimitri knew he couldn't refuse then, so he nodded.
"A little wine wouldn't hurt anybody," Robin hummed.
Peach was excited. Like, really excited. She'd never drank before, at least not in informal climates. Could be this the night were she chugs until she drops, or whatever the phrase is, and wakes up with a massive headache? She wouldn't actually go that far, but it did sound fun!
The group followed Claude out of the tent, past the encampment, and off into the streets of Enbarr. The birds had left, off to whatever cave they rested in, Peach assumed, and the city was left in an eerie silence. All that was heard were the clicking of heels against the cold stone ground of the streets. There was no one around, as expected, and not even the streetlights were on. Even within the buildings, some of which looked occupied, no light shone. She couldn't imagine how afraid the people must feel. The idea of dying to some giant bird didn't sound all that exciting. This only made her more determined to help as much as she could.
"Um, excuse me." Peach felt a tap on her shoulder which nearly sent her soul out of her body. She turned and saw Dimitri panic at her reaction. He cleared his voice and in hushed tones said, "I'm sorry for my attitude earlier. I was being mean when I didn't mean to, I really do apologize."
Ah. That must've been a spur of the moment kinda thing. Made sense, considering he did get stabbed in multiple places. She smiled and waved her hands around. "It's fine, it's fine! I understand!" Dimitri still looked a little guilty, but he figured not to act on it and simply nodded.
"Hurry up, now! You don't wanna get lost in these dark, spooky, streets do you?" Claude smirked, waving his fingers around. "Who knows? Maybe the ghosts of the dead birds are out for us to take revenge?"
"Very funny," Peach said, but in reality it did spook her a little. She and Dimitri caught up with the group as they turned to face an even darker ally. "Is... is this really were we have to go?"
"Yep!" Claude grinned, walking further in like nothing was wrong. Peach, on the other hand, felt her nerves rising. She took Samus' hand, who held it back tightly on impulse, and walked behind the rest of the group. They stopped in front of a door with dim light coming from bellow it. When Claude opened it, they were each slightly blinded by the light despite it not being so strong due to being in sheer darkness for so long. The door opened up to a staircase decorated by a red carpet with gold lining, each of the steps leading further and further down. The four outsiders looked at Claude, suddenly feeling a surge of danger. But he only smiled and walked down first, Dimitri following close behind, and they figured since Dimitri followed him so nonchalantly, maybe this wasn't a death trap!
The passageway was decorated with small torches, though only the ones at the bottom were lit, and when they did reach the bottom, they were greeted by yet another door. Claude knocked on it a couple times in a rather specific pattern, and as soon as he finished, the door opened, revealing a small bar. The was large table filled with all kinds of drinks and empty cups, and behind it were multiple shelves covered with sheets and barrels full of wine, there were also what looked to be large, round tanks on the wall. There were only a couple of people, the bartender included. And in front of them, sat a figure who stood out quite a lot from the rather somber ambiance.
Claude whistled as he put his hands in his pockets, looking around the place and stepping closer to the person. "To think you were able to arrange all of this in a month! Seriously, I'm impressed."
The person chuckled, their voice deep and smooth, as they began turning in their seat.