Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( Pegastorky, you could use SomehowBadass!Aidan? Or Aidan's manlover or whoever Jaylin was (forgets). I NOMINATE A PEG LEG! Or, like, BSed Automail. -shot-

Oh, and Tibby and Mallow, I'm probably going to have Zelos take control of Rei. Do I need to make a Bio for him, since he's kinda canon, but at the same time, a character imported from another series? XD ))

[Haah, I have no clue. :V Also, I'd prefer a Zelos!Rei bio so I have a better idea of his powers.]

((....83 I made an OoC thread.
Also, I think Blossom latched onto Elliot and might've gotten with him too, as Aidan wasn't around and since HE wasn't around Rie never met Elliot either.
Come to think of it, I wonder what would have happened to Rie and Aidan's parents if he had died, since they wouldn't have found him again, since he got lost when FE7 began and was found after it ended. Maybe they heard about him by his reputation and asked one of the Lords...))

Amelia absently considered the strength of Siegell's grip, pushing against the ground and climbing up to Shastah's back. She wasn't quite sure if the wyvern would pay much attention to her, but she murmured a grateful "Thanks" for the help he lent her, settling wordlessly into position. She grasped onto the horn with one hand and kept her hand at her spear, not knowing what else to do with it.

She held on fast to the horn, keeping her seat on the saddle. Amelia watched with wide eyes as Siegell cut a deep swathe through a group of the fighters she had just been defending, wincing in empathetic pain. She still didn't know what was planned here. Why had Siegell come, an army riding on his coattails? And the castle... as she lifted her eyes towards the conflagration still surrounding the stone walls, his voice cleanly cut into her thoughts.

She frowned at his comments towards her, although the way he said it was... nice, to say the least. Amelia studied the back of his head wordlessly, waiting until he had finished speaking, after he mentioned perfecting everything.

"I... don't understand. So you lead all those warriors here. You're the one that lead this... this assault. But why?" Amelia turned her head towards the scene of the vicious battle, but a combination of the strong glare from so many Purge spells and the realization of just how high up Shastah was made her focus her eyes on Siegell's back, holding them there with a resoluteness she usually reserved for the battlefield. "And for your information... I can handle myself in battle. But the concern is appreciated." Amelia wondered in curiosity what else Siegell had in store as her ride took her farther, farther, farther away from the destruction she was abandoning.

~~~~~

This was getting too overwhelming.

Maiara was burning through pages of her spellbook like mad. As she cast out one Elfire and an enemy Mercenary sizzled and burned, a Soldier was running at her, Iron Lance drawn. "Do these people realize that they're just cattle rushing to the slaughter?" she wondered as a sweep of her hand and shout of a spell sent a wave of heat and flame spiraling from a spot just before her palm. It was as she turned a page in her book, the Soldier neatly taken care of, as she felt magic energy to the side. Maiara ignored it, taking a step back. The unmistakable smell of burning hair and clothes made her nose wrinkle. "Ew."

Maiara looked around to assess the damage, fire gathering before her palm. There was a huge scorched spot on the ground, along with what remained of poor Florina, not to mention Garcia and Devdan. (Maiara had to gulp down the bile rising up her throat at that.) Heath and Hyperion had rushed off, and even before this, Kent had been killed in one fell swoop.

"We're holding them off." Maiara turned her amber eyes back to the battlefield. The Elfire at her palm spiraled out as a Warrior threw his Hand Axe at her. She received a deep gash across the arm holding her book, causing her to drop it, but the Warrior burned and charred to cinders. Maiara gripped her wound tightly with her good hand, falling back before moving forward again. At her back, the castle burned. At her front, enemies attacked. There was no place to fall back.

"Dammit! Goddammit!" Maiara ducked over to a Hero, letting him take up protecting her as she dug a Vulnerary out of her pouch. "Don't screw up," she muttered to the man, who rolled his eyes, but still followed through and cut down a Soldier approaching the tall woman.

Tibarn spread his wings, wrapping them around Ayra and the fitful toddler in her arms to protect them from the heat of another explosion that rocked the armory, and he felt fragments of burning stone strike his back, leaving little black marks and tiny burns. His face and bare chest were shiny with sweat, his coat long discarded after it caught flame inside the castle.

He leaned back, pulling his wings away, and ushered Ayra toward the stable. Kent's horse was trotting around outside the door fretfully, and Tibarn took it by the reins, patting its nose gently. While Ayra coddled Vaherianslyeri, trying to comfort her, he quickly removed Kent's corpse from the saddle and cast it aside. "Ayra, come on, climb on... take Vah and go, don't look back. You need to get her out of here... get to Bad Noving and wait. Do not come back unless I come and get you." He led the slightly skittish horse over and paused. Ayra wanted to stay and help. He could see it in her eyes.

But even more, they both wanted to protect Vah. He leaned forward to kiss his little girl's forehead, and he listened to her burble, "Da... Da, da...!" His lips pressed to her forehead again, and then he stood and leaned forward to kiss his mate as well.

"I love you," he murmured. "You have to go, now. I'll be fine." He flashed a cocksure smirk, but his frightened eyes didn't seem to get the memo, and it didn't work as well as he'd hoped it would. "Come on..." He helped the two of them up into the saddle and handed Ayra the reins as Vah settled down in the sling around Ayra's chest. "Go! Before they close off the west exit!" He slapped the horse's rump and stood, watching it dash away through the gate among the escaping throngs. Then, slowly, Tibarn turned and there was a flash of bright green light.

The Hawk King took to the sky, and his talons doused the roaring flames with the blood of his enemies.

Aliki blinked as he was tugged up to his feet.
"Uhm... thanks..." He muttered, embarrassed. The sage didn't feel like correcting her; he was being alert, but he was a klutz. He seemed to trip always at the worst possible times, and it irritated him that she thought that he was just dozing off. Still, he was grateful for her help. It saved him the struggle (and embarrassment) of trying to get out of that hole by himself.

Akihi brushed the dirt quickly off his robe, forgetting about his irritation, and then grabbed his heal staff again. Luckily for him, it didn't shatter when he fell. If that happened, then... he didn't want to think about that.
He started to run around, healing any nearby ally, making sure there wasn't anything in his way to trip on along the way. Of course, he was extra-careful, for if he was attacked, he could maybe defend himself, if lucky enough. The sage also knew that he wouldn't be able to actually fight back, because of his lack of physical strength. It would be more likely that his opponent would burst out laughing at his attempts to knock said opponent out than him actually accomplishing the task.

Somehow, before he knew it, everything had turned to hell. Left and right spells were firing off, mages making the battleground into an intense display of lightning, wind and fire. Janaff skewered an enemy with his talons, head pounding- who was dead? Who was wounded? He didn't have time to worry about that right now. The air shimmered warningly before the giant hawk, barely twirling midair to the side before a powerful blade of air would cut through bodies and possibly wings. He took off only with strengthened flaps despite his growing exhaustion, but the skies were equally dangerous, punctuated with flashes of lightning which he had to avoid. It was like flying through a storm, but the initial exhilaration of combat had already worn off. He was growing weary of this, and quick.

The silhouette of the Hawk King fighting above was unmistakable above the blazing fire. Janaff joined him with an upwards swoop, but not before grabbing a soldier and dropping him down from above, only to let him crash others into the ground.
"King! Need some support up here?"
He knew the great hawk could fend for himself- but with years of companionship when it came to fighting, supporting each other in battle was something that would allow them to fight faster, longer, more effectively.

Amelia stood behind Siegell. She was glad to have her feet back on solid ground, but seeing the destruction, the wanton murder and clashing of powers down below... was it worth it to improve their country? Siegell had sounded very, very sure of himself when he spoke of rebuilding Learania anew. To be able to renew their land, it would take removing the dissenters... right? Amelia ran a hand through her hair, stepping closer to Siegell. She couldn't tell who was who down on the ground, save for flashes of armor she recognized from the castle armory. Amelia felt a pang through her chest when she realized she didn't know which side to cheer for.

Amelia turned with the sudden noise. Her eyes were skeptical as she looked at the man, and she rested a hand gently against Siegell's arm. Even relaxed, she could feel the muscles bunched underneath the skin, and it was enough to relax her stance. "A physical, huh..." she questioned, her tone more matter-of-fact than questioning. She glanced back over at Siegell, noticing the russet wyvern circling around an empty trebuchet, then looked back this "Igor" fellow. Amelia went into Igor's tent, making sure the flap closed behind her.

The short General stayed quiet through the process of going through her physical, removing her armor and stripping down to her undergarments, as was expected of her. The physical was a very routine process. Lift your arms, a poke here, turn around and take a deep breath, check her heartbeat, and so forth. Amelia felt goosebumps rise all over her arms, legs, and stomach, keeping her arms out as he ran his fingers over her shoulderblades. Finally, he was done checking her body, and she pulled her skirt and polo shirt back on. The inoculation was next, a process that thankfully took less time. When Amelia came out of the tent some time later, a thin band of bandages were wrapped around both of her upper arms. She hadn't put her shoes back on yet, and her small, bare feet made little noise against the yellowing grass. Amelia rested a hand against Siegell's elbow, looking up at his face. Not knowing anything better to say, she told him quietly, "Physical's done." Her hand slowly slid around his elbow until she held his arm around hers, resting her palm on his bicep. She noted in the back of her thoughts the way his arm felt, nice and strong and warm.

Amelia put her other hand quietly into the pocket of her skirt, her thoughts wandering. She paused. Had that been in there before? Her fingers closed around the small, smooth object. Fingertips brushed against an intricate design engraved into the surface of the metal, and Amelia slowly removed the circular disc from her pocket.

The tsuba she had received at Christmas just a few years ago glistened in the sunlight. She had taken good care of it; a gift was a gift, no matter who gave it to you. Amelia traced her thumb against the metalwork, then looked up at Siegell's strong jaw, following the curve of his lips and his nose to his eyes.

The memory of that Christmas, the attack on Learania, were still very fresh in Amelia's mind. More specifically, one certain event. The trip had turned out simple enough -- get to town, find Merlinus' tent, and carry the rations back to Fefga's home for everyone. There had been more monsters in the snow than they had expected, however: mauthe doogs, revenants, and some Mogalls had all swarmed them. Amelia wasn't sure how things would have ended on their way into town had Siegell not swooped in to join the fray. It was the most relieved she had ever been to see the cocksure wyvern lord, however, Amelia realized now. The event was such a blur of blood and smashing buildings once they had found the tent; the huge clocktower monster, limbs flailing and mouth erupting with the sorriest yell she had ever heard, had destroyed all their hard work. All their food crushed or launched into the sky, Team Rocket-style. Everyone had been forced to flee, all different directions.

Amelia had ended up in the barracks of the barrier wall that separated the castle town from the land beyond. Either the creature hadn't paid attention to her, or had lost track of her, because he never burst in. Siegell had, though, with the same intent as her: reaching safety.

It was strange, really. He was so harsh, almost sinister, but... Amelia wanted to feel there was something under that. He had known she was cold, even though she had tried to hide it. He felt warm and... solid against her, hugging her against his strong chest, as if to shield her from the chill. It was a very unfamiliar side of him, but was it the real him?

"...Siegell." Amelia kept her eyes at his, her gaze firm. She held the tsuba up for him to see, pausing before speaking up again. Her voice was soft, but forceful. There was no doubt. "I need to know that you really you intend to help this country. To improve it. I want to know that I can really trust you. There's only so many chances that I can give." Amelia closed her hand tightly around the tsuba. "Answer me. Please."

---

Maiara was already off and fighting again as Akihi got himself straightened out. She called a Thunder down upon an approaching Warrior, getting him to fall to one knee for an allied Halberdier to shish-kebab with a sturdy Steel Lance. It was as she continued to hold off the approaching front line that she realized she was nearly out of pages in her Thunder tome. Maiara checked her bag and swore, the sound lost in the clatter of crashing weapons and booming magic. Forgot an extra spellbook! Dammit!

Maiara stepped back, wincing. This wasn't good... without magic, she was powerless. A Sniper was felled by a mage nearby as a Hero approached her, readying his axe. Maiara reacted instinctively; the welfare of those that could fight were more important than her own welfare, when she had no more spells to expend.

She removed a oak rod about a foot long from her bag, and with a small burst of her own magical ability, its length tripled. Feathers tied to one end dangled as Maiara parried the strike of the Hero's axe. The axe was dull, and only chipped into the thick, magically-reinforced wood as Maiara kicked at his ankles. She was not very talented with hand-to-hand, and a strike with the flat side of his axe was enough to send Maiara toppling backwards, swearing at herself. The mage came to her rescue without asking, and the Hero fried on the ground.

Maiara looked away. "...I could have handled it."

The fellow Sage said nothing. She handed her an Elfire tome, though. Maiara didn't say thank you, but nodded slightly. The Sage went back to work, and Maiara gripped her staff still in one hand, flicking open the book in her other hand. Another source of fire rained down upon the battlefield again.

[[Now with 30%* extra content!
*30% is a fictional percentage used for comparison purposes; there is not necessarily 30% more text.]]