Finally, Plegia got their ass in gear and sent the boats over for us. Our main group took the lead boat with Camo and CJ, with the redshirt soldiers taking all of the other boats. The fleet was huge! Then we saield off towards Valm, hoping to intercept the rest of their ships before bad stuff happens.
<Drohn> Woo, I'm on a ship!
<IE> Yes, it's lovely. In my time, all the ships were smashed and burned to pieces.
<Light> Wow, aren't you a mood killer.
<Drohn> It's nice to have you fighting on our side finally, IE. Why didn't you stick around after you helped us foil the assassination plot?
<IE> It would have totally ruined my mysterious demeanor. Besides, being from the future, I didn't want to change things too much. Butterfly effect and all. I was happy just saving you and Vesperia.
<Cinesra> So, my lady, what exactly would have happened if you hadn't saved our Prince that day? Clearly he must not have died or he wouldn't have been around to father you.
<IE> No, he survived the assassination attempt in my time, but became crippled and broken. Though, really, I'm not sure how long that will last. The river of time seems to favour its original course. Sure, I saved Vesperia from being killed by that sorcerer assassin, but she still died not much later. Makes me wonder if coming back was worth it at all.
<Drohn> Well, you saved my butt, and for that I'm grateful.
<IE> Don't be so cocky; you're not invincible. And you did still die in my world, too, just later.
<Drohn> How did that happen, do you know?
<IE> Yes, you were betrayed and murdered by someone very close to you, though I don't know who it was.
Suddenly, a sharp pain jabbed into my head, and I reeled on the deck, clutching my forehead in agony.
<Athena> Oh, damn that hurts.
<Drohn> Athena, are you okay?
<Palutena> Don't mind her, she's just foreshadowing.
<IE> Aaaaanyway, since stuff is still messed up, I figured I may as well put my all into the fight, and that's why I'm here now. Though I'm still hoping we can rescue some of my companions at some point.
<Drohn> We'll find them, no worries.
<Camo> Actually, I think there's at least one worry.
<Drohn> What's that?
<CJ> Our scouts have reported back that the Valmese navy has just as many ships as we do, but at least double the soldiers. Their ships are filled brim to brim with sweaty horsemen, and ours are half-filled at best.
<Athena> Hmmmm.... what other assets do we have?
<Camo> The usual. Food, supplies, rope, fresh water. Oh, and like hundreds of barrels of oil for some reason.
<CJ> Really? Oil?
<Camo> Oh, I know! We can set their ships on fire! :D
<Everyone> ...
<CJ> You do know that we'd be just as likely to set our own ships on fire, right?
<Athena> BRILLIANT PLAN
<Drohn> Wait, what?
<Athena> Don't worry guys, I got this. But first, we're going to need to have a small group of people kill their general.
<Drohn> Sure, we can volunteer for that. But why do we need to kill the general?
<Athena> Because otherwise we wouldn't get to have a battle this chapter?
<Drohn> Fair enough. I'm all for a fight anyway. Killing bosses in small skirmishes seems to be our destiny.
<Athena> No way, man. Don't put any stock in that destiny hogwash.
<CJ> Hey, that's my line! D:
<Athena> Sure, we're connected, but we're connected through the ties that we forge with each other, like with supports and crap. There's no such thing as "destiny". That's the whole theme of this game!
<Drohn> Okay, okay, I get the picture. Forget I said anything. I'm not good at plot themes and junk anyway.
Drohn led our command ship up and soon we were directly engaged in battle with their own command ship and its two mates. I sent TT and Palutena to take out the second ship and Cinesra and Light to the third, with the rest of us storming the main ship where there general awaited. Their soldiers rushed us and their flyers harassed us, but we killed them as they came and most of the soldiers went down in their first wave, the remainder acting more cautious as we followed them onto the ships and took their lives. Light rushed around healing us while TT found some chests to loot, and soon it was just us as the general, who went down like a sack of broccoli after IE skewered him through the weak points in his armor.
<Drohn> Alright, the general is down; I'm giving the signal! Ramming speed, full ahead!
<Light> Oh sh*t, oh sh*t, oh sh*t....
<Athena> Everybody prepare to jump.... now!
<Ships on Fire> VWOOOOOOOSH
<Keeper> Yay, fire! :D
<TT> I can't believe that actually worked.
<Camo> Only you could hatch such a brilliant scheme, Athena. Who else would desert half our vessels and turn them into flaming cannonballs? They never considered anyone might be willing to sacrifice half a fleet...
<CJ> More likely they never considered anyone would be cold-blooded enough to kill thousands of troops without a fair engagement.
<Athena> Eh, no rules in love and war.
<Drohn> Now, onto Valm so we can kick their asses!
With all of our troops packed into the remaining vessels, we continued our journey to the heart of Valm. It would still be another couple weeks before we would reach their shores, so we spent the rest of the trip recuperating and saving our strength.
<PMJ> You did very well during that last battle, Minerva!
<Drac> PMJ is fighting bravely too, yes?
<PMJ> You weren't so shabby yourself, Drac.
<Minerva> *grumblesquak*
<Drac> Don't grumble at Drac, Minerva, I was just going to give you the complimentings too!
<PMJ> Wait, you can understand Minerva?
<Drac> Oh, yes, Drac know wyverns very well. Did job one in Wyvern Valley. Not fun job, but Drac learned many things, like wyvern speakings.
<PMJ> Not a fun job? I would have loved working in Wyvern Valley! What did you do?
<Drac> Drac ordered to collect claws from dead wyverns, yes? But Drac is with wicked men. They turn mission into wyvern–hunting party. Soon, we come across mother wyvern trying to protect baby. …Mother not make it.
<PMJ> D:!
<Minerva> *screechsquakroarchomp*
<PMJ> Oh, Minerva, what's wrong?
<Drac> …Wait. Gregor remembers this cry. Is sounding like baby wyvern in a valley.
<PMJ> Drac, would you mind leaving us alone for a bit?
<Drac> Drac melt into shadows like piece of butter. *walks off*
<PMJ> Now, Minerva. What is it you want to tell me? ... *gasp* …are you sure?
...
<IE> I love sparring with you, father. It's so fun! ^_^
<Drohn> Still weird to hear you call me that sometimes. You're not much younger than I am in this time, you know.
<IE> It bothers you? I can stop if you want.
<Drohn> You don't have to stop, it'll just take some getting used to. Consider it a father-daughter secret.
<IE> In the future, you used to tell me little secrets like that all the time, it was great!
<Drohn> What, you mean I was some furtive guy keeping secrets from his wife?
<IE> Ah, no, not like that, just little stories. Though you never did tell me how you and Athena fell in love.
<Drohn> Well, uh, that's, uh, not really a story I'd feel comfortable telling my daughter.
<IE> Why? Is it sexy?
<Drohn> >_>
<IE> How about this, if I beat you in sparring next time, you have to share. Deal?
<Drohn> Deal.
<Drohn> *whisper* Now to go practice like my life depends on it....
GM DracLord and PMJ attained support level B! Ice Espeon and Drohn attained support level B!