#❀Have you heard the tale of the common boy who became king? ▻ (drabble)

[roseofbaron]

One By One

Summary: Rosa recounts the losses the party has endured thus far. How many lives must be taken from them before their quest may succeed? Words: 1,205

Also available on: FanFiction.Net Archive Of Our Own

Needless sacrifice after needless sacrifice.

Why is it that men, when placed upon the battlefields of war, give their lives over and over again for little reward besides death? Is it a selfless need to protect the ones they care about, or is it a deeper, more selfish desire to be remembered in stories as a hero laying their life on the line to protect their kingdom and their world?

Whatever the reason, I cannot bear to watch another brave soul die. I cannot withstand the torment and pain placed upon myself and the others as our comrades fall, one by one, by the plots of Golbez.

First, ‘twas the old sage Tellah. An exceptional man, by the stories Cecil has told to me. He was a caring father seeking revenge for the first real bloodshed our own circle had to endure. Anna, the beautiful young girl Prince Edward loved so passionately, so truly. Never have I witnessed a bond as pure as theirs, even only knowing the man and his harp. But the words he sang and the emotions he conveyed moved me to tears more often than not; it was a sadness no person could emulate lest their entire world be taken from them. It was this sadness, also, that was the fuel to Tellah’s rage.

I did not know the old man, though his sacrifice was the first I witnessed. Before him, two young mages from Mysidia who gave their lives in Baron, turned their very beings to stone to prevent the collapsing of the walls around them. It is this sacrifice, most of all, that weighs on my dear Cecil’s shoulders. I can see in his eyes the determination to carry forward, ensure that their sacrifice was not in vain.

But Tellah’s death, his own revenge that very well should have been the end-all of this war, was very much in vain. Meteor, that deadly spell, collected its toll: his very life force. It was the remaining husk of a man, withered away by the draining magic that I saw as we exited the Tower of Zot. Kain had placed himself between me and the old man, a shield for my eyes from the sight of such tragedy. His attempts had not been enough to prevent the weight of loss that suddenly fell upon my shoulders. This man whom I knew not was the first of many to shoulder the burden of sacrifice. His would be the first failed attempt at putting an end to this ever-growing war, but I knew then that it would not be the last.

And indeed, I had been correct. Yang was next to offer his sacrifice; the canons within the Tower of Babil threatening to blow the entire structure to bits and fragments, ourselves included. The brave monk of Fabul stayed their fire, pushing us from the room despite our endless pleas and locking the door to forbid our entrance. It was Cecil, then, who seemed most distraught, though the cries of protest arose from us all. It was our paladin’s scream that was the loudest, his actions the most desperate as his fist collided with the barrier before him, over and over and over. My own hand placed itself upon his, a simple act of comfort to keep his noble blood from spilling around his knuckles. They were bruised already from the repeated actions, though once kept from further damage, fell to his sides as his head slumped in grief. We were all silent for a moment, the deafening canons inaudible now as well. At least, though it saddens me to say, Yang’s attempt had succeeded, though it never should have been necessary in the first place. We waited for eternity, time standing still as our breaths were held, all expecting those doors to open and our comrade to return victorious.

He never did.

This time it was Rydia who remained our voice of reason, as our patience depleted and our sorrowful hearts began to overwhelm. She was our constant motivation to keep pushing forward no matter the pain we felt. There would be time to grieve later, but it was important in that moment that we stay focused. The past cannot be changed, but the future can still yet be determined.

It was impossible for any soul to match the strength and determination that young summoner possessed. Perhaps the strongest of us all, her resolve to keep fighting until our goal had been fulfilled was a trait most admirable, and one I often envied. How could she maintain so much confidence that we will succeed when she had been the receiver of perhaps the greatest loss of all? Her mother and her entire village—her home and her culture and all she had ever known… swept away in a torrent of fire and Baronian righteousness…

Still, we continued forward, back on our path until we could once again return to the world above the dwarven realm. Of course, our efforts were faltered by the rage of Golbez, his attempts to prevent our progress ever growing. Yet we could not be ceased. Our dear friend Cid, with his airship in tow, saved us from certain doom just when we had believed it to be impossible. It was only when he had handed the controls off to Cecil that I knew a plan was turning over in his brilliant mind. In order to give our party a head start and temporary safety away from Golbez’s pursuits, Cid had the idea to seal off the portal from our surface world to below.

“The bomb must be deployed at just the right time,” I remember his jovial voice explaining, his words as confident as ever they had been. He did not seem concerned in the slightest of what his words implied, though I could feel tears in my eyes begin to sting and scorch my vision. I would not let them fall. Not yet.

Without a word, I moved forward to place my hand upon his arm in a plea for him to reconsider. “We can find another way.” Yet I had no ideas.

He, too, was taken from us before our very eyes, the cavern walls of the entrance crumbling above him as he plummeted downward, the explosion sending our ship quickly above to the surface. It was then I let the first tears of sorrow flow, my face buried in Cecil’s shoulder as he piloted us toward Baron. No one spoke a single word the entire journey there. We all were beginning to feel the weight of loss pile upon us.

No, it was not foolishness or selfishness that drove men to sacrifice their lives in war. It was rage, vengeance, hope, and valiance. It was the prayer that, though one may fall, the greater number may continue forward and succeed in their goal. It was passion and duty and love that initiated each and every sacrifice thus far. I prayed I would witness no more friends throw their lives away for our endeavor. What I had not accounted for was the tragedy awaiting us upon our arrival in Eblan. Yet more devastation to add to our growing collection of morbid anguish.

[pinkstarbeam]

Pidgance royalty AU

Happy Plance day! Rewriting an old AU that was previously just a drabble

Katie became the successor to the crown when the king, her Father, and the previous successor, her brother Prince Matthew went missing after a visit into town.

It is widely speculated that their majesties were kidnapped by a group of bandits known as the Galra

Katie, unbeknownst to her already grieving Mother takes matters into her own hands and runs away from the castle in commoners clothes after cutting her long hair off and taking on the undercover name Of Pidge Gunderson, an orphan from the next town over hoping to make a new start.

Lance McClain is one of the castle guards and when he hears Princess Katie is missing he feels his stomach jump into his throat

Hunk and Keith, two of Lance’s fellow guards as well as himself go out into town to see if they can find any leads as to where the kingdoms beloved princess has gone 

Katie, now going as Pidge spots the guards and quickly makes a B line for the nearest shop, her green cape secured over her caramel colored hair.

Lance quickly notices this shift behavior and chases after Katie, yelling for her to stop

Katie panics thinking if he got a good enough look at her he would immediately know, she turns and quickly ducks under him before bolting into alley ways moving as fast as her little legs can carry her.

Lance orders Keith and Hunk to stay put and chases after Katie only to find the what he thought to be shifty possible trouble maker had fled, he cussed himself out mentally and returns back to the other guards.

Panting Katie slides down the boxes she was hiding behind and starts her new undercover work as a commoner

Luckily enough for Katie, her Mother had been a commoner so she knew how to do things for herself unlike other royals she had met, the only other royal she knew that didn’t have people waiting on them hand and foot was her best friend Princess Allura from the kingdom of Altea, or well soon to Queen Allura married to soon to be King, King Takashi.

A week had passed and Katie found that in her abandoned little shack she was low on food, mumbling to herself she got out the coins she had brought with her and only took out a few as to not look suspicious being a commoner with a half years pay in her hand.

Lance was enjoying his day off in a cafe when he seen the same green cape from a week ago walk in and go up to the counter asking for one baguette and some croissants before sliding the lady a few coins.

Lance silently and quickly made his way behind the caped figure 

Katie knows he is there but decides to have a little fun with him and starts running

Lance is just like “Oh no you don’t!” and runs after her

It takes Katie everything not to laugh as they keep running, once on the outskirts of town she stops

Lance stops a few feet away and puts a hand on his sword in case the stranger charges him

Katie turns to face him putting her hood down “Why are you chasing me?”

Lance, oblivious boy, doesn’t quite recognize Katie right away “Because you’re acting suspicious.”

Katie can’t help it and laughs “Buying bread is suspicious? I mean I kinda gotta eat.”

Lance glares “Okay sure, but why are you running?”

“I can’t go back to the castle yet.”

“Why would-” and realization “ARE YOU OUT OF-”

Katie slams her hand on Lance’s mouth “Wow you’re louder than I remember.”

Lance fights a blush as he pushes the princess’s hand off of his mouth “We’re going back. Now”

Katie steps back from him “I told you I can’t, I am not going back until I find Matt and our Father.”

Lance tsked as he pinched the bridge of his nose, he knew Katie was stubborn from what he heard from her old personal guard Shiro AKA Takashi, but damn was she being difficult.

Lance went to argue only to notice Katie was now gone with no sign of where she went “Oh come on!”

A month passes and Lance had managed to locate Katie, however she still refused to go back until her family was found, Lance agrees not to report his findings as long as she lets him act as her personal knight/companion for this mission. Katie agreed knowing it was the only way to keep her mission going

“So you’re found their hideout?” Lance asked while eating a day old pastry.

Katie nodded “Lotor, the leaders son is a bit careless and attracts attention to himself via a womanizer, obvious Daddy issues.”.

Lance choked back a laugh “Alright, well what is stopping us from just barging in and getting your family back?”

“How did you ever become a guard?” Katie half joked “We have to wait for an opening, I found a good galra bandit by the name of Thace and his friend Ulaz, they told me that every Friday at midnight the group goes to Haggar’s bar to drink leaving only a few men behind to guard prisoners.’

“Wow you’re really on top of this…”

“I can’t just sit by and do nothing.”

Lance looked to the window “My family lives in a Kingdom a good three days from here, I supply for them ever since my Father died in the war.”

“Lance I-”

“It’s okay Princess, i’ve come to terms with my fate, but you…I’ve never met someone so strong.” he gave a small laugh “A princess who commands not only her staff but the whole world, not for her own wants, but for the good of them all.”

Katie blushed a bit “You should go back to the castle, you need to rest up before midnight so you’re ready to fight.”

“What about you, are you actually gonna rest?”

Katie looked to the basically pile of cloth and padding she had slept on for over a month now “The best I can.”

Lance speak without thinking “Come rest at my place, my bed is comfier.”.

“Pervert!” Katie screeches blushing

Lance waves his hands frantically “No I meant you can take my bed and i’ll sleep on the couch.”

Katie gave him a look that said you better not try anything before agreeing as that way they were together and ready to fight without the meeting point.

Katie settled into Lance’s small cottage while he finished his last fer hours at the castle

When he came home around eight pm he found Katie was asleep on the couch with a book of old fairy tales in her hand

Lance can’t help but smile as he picks the sleeping girl up and moved her to his bed, but before he can will himself to go to the couch, he falls asleep in the chair by the bed.

Katie wakes up to see the sun has set then looks over to see Lance slipping out of the small wooden chair fully asleep and drooling

She giggled and gets her handkerchief from her bag before wiping the corner of his mouth

Lance smiled in his sleep and mumbles her name “Katie…”

Katie nearly jumps out of her skin “Y-Yeah?”

“I love you.”

Katie’s face goes bright red, but as she goes to ask what he said he snores signalling to Katie that he is asleep, he just sleep confessed to her, oh boy this was gonna be an interesting conversation later.

“Lance!” Katie said flicking his forehead,

“Ow!” Lance howled as he slipped fully out of the chair and onto the floor with aloud thud, a groan following

“Sorry!” You weren’t waking up to my calls.”

He rubbed his forehead as he got up “You better hope that doesn’t leave a mark.” he pouted.

Katie giggled a bit “Come on the clock chimed twelve times a few minutes ago which means our window is now open.”

Lance nodded and followed

Sneaking into the bass was pretty easy as nobody was really guarding the front seeing as the Galra truly thought they were hidden, Katie hurried to a back room that Ulaz had told her prisoners were kept in and opened it to find her brother and father chained up to a wall

“Katie!” Matt called out

Lance hurried in behind her “I have a bad feeling, there is no way they would just leave this place completely unguarded, even Thace said there would be a few guards.”

Suddenly there was a gun click behind them “No, just me.”

Lance and Katie turned to see Lotor smirking at them with a gun pointed right at Katie’s temple

“I should’ve just kidnapped you from the start princess.” he smirked “You’re the one who holds the true power.”

Katie arched an eyebrow as she glared back at him “Oh?”

Lotor continued “With kingy wingy and glasses son here that makes you the heir, and the heir will need a prince, and that prince is gonna be me,”

Katie felt her stomach flip “Hell no! Let my family go!”

Lotor shook his head “Such a disobedient little princess aren’t you?” he laughed as he put his hand on the trigger “The kingdom doesn’t need a queen like you.”

Trigger pulled and blood splatters

“LANCE!”

Lotor lays on the ground now beheaded by Lance’s quick movement with his sword, and Lance on the ground grasping his shoulder.

“I’m…I’m fine.” he winced with a smile “It just grazed me.”

Katie quickly unbuttoned Lance’s shirt and pulled it down to check the wound, luckily from her reading of medical books back in the castle’s library she knew what to do and aided him before finding the key on Lotor and setting her family free

The next day Katie and her family were back safe and sound, the Queen though upset at Katie for putting herself in danger was just thankful her family was safe

Lance laid in the castle infirmary and had just woken up as Katie walked in

“Hey you.” Katie smiled sitting down some water and food “How is the shoulder?”

“Just find thanks to you Princess.” Lance smiled taking the water and savored a few sips

“I told you that you can just call me Katie.”

“I’d rather call you mine, but Katie works.”

“I mean you already confessed to me so.”

“What!?”

“You talk in your sleep.”

Lance blushed horribly and stared down at his water

Katie kissed his cheek “Love you too, oh and don’t forget you’re my new personal knight once your shoulder fully heals.” she aid quickly hurrying out of the room

Lance touched his free hand to his cheek smiling, personal knight or not he knew he was goign to protect Katie for the rest of their lives.

[roseofbaron]

/// tag dump

[roseofbaron]

By The Honor of My Sword

Words: 2358 Summary: Rosa sits in contemplation in front of the dwindling embers of a campfire. The dangers of Mt. Hobs weighing heavy on her mind and causing her to doubt her strength and resolve. She finds, however, that she is not alone in her doubts as the world falls steadily into the flames of war. Also available on: FFN // AO3

The night was well underway, darkness looming over the world in a thick, starless blanket. The only light source provided to the party came from the two moons hanging in the sky and the dwindling flames of a campfire near forgotten.

Mt. Hobs was less than hospitable, thankfully only partially inhabited by the undead. More so than Rosa would have liked, though her own magic and the newly acquired spells of the young summoner that accompanied them were enough to keep the boys alive. The trek upwards was exhausting, creatures of all kinds attacking any chance they got. Supplies were low, magical resources depleted, morale plummeting quickly…

It was a blessing when the four of them managed to find a safe space: a place the creatures seemed to avoid. It was the perfect spot for a campfire and some rest. After a quick meal, Rosa volunteered to take the first watch, staying awake while the others dozed. It was easier for her just to stay awake the extra few hours if it meant she could sleep the rest of the night through. However, there was much that weighed on her mind, heavy emotions, doubts, fears. None of which were settled by Cecil’s earlier words of comfort. He was confident in their goal, convinced of the king’s corruption. He maintained a calm composure and a stride worthy of a commanding knight. Every ounce of him exuded leadership and fortitude. Nothing seemed to weigh on his mind.

Of course, Rosa could see more than what was skin was deep. She could tell he also held doubts, could understand his pain as he quietly mourned the loss of his dearest friend. She saw in him the regrets he held towards the actions elicited by his dark blade. The night-colored armor he wore was slowly eating him alive, though to the others he seemed complete. Put-together. Not as though he were falling to pieces. Rosa shared in his pain: wanted to share the burden with him. The other two, while experiencing and suppressing pain of their own, could never enter the bubble Rosa and Cecil shared—the pain in knowing their home, which had once been so peaceful, was now the source of a planet-wide war. Or what seemed to be the start of one.

As Rosa sat prodding the embers of the fire, caught in the rare moment of serenity and lingering thoughts, she noticed the figure of the young girl stir from her sleep, sitting up slowly and wiping a hand across her face as if she had been crying, though not wanting that fact to show.

Rosa offered a smile to Rydia as she met her gaze, the girl quietly getting up to sit next to her by the fire. She had known the young summoner for only a few days now, yet she found herself rather fond of the girl. There was a kind of maternal instinct she elicited from Rosa, one that Rosa herself had never felt towards anyone, even around the young children in Baron. They had not been the victims of mass genocide as this girl had been, yet Rydia was stronger than any child she had met back home. More mature. She had been forced to grow up far quicker than any child should have, and she took it in stride. Should Rosa have been in her shoes at her age, she would have given up immediately. As strong as Rosa needed to be for Cecil, she could never be that strong for herself.

Or perhaps Rydia’s strength was for Cecil as well. This stranger whom, by all accounts, she should despise. And yet, Rydia hardly ever left his side. She saw the light in his heart just as Rosa did.

“Having trouble sleeping?” Rosa asked softly, offering the stick she had been using to prop the fire with, if for no reason than to give the girl something to do. Rydia took it and began poking at the fire, some jabs more violent than others, causing sparks to fly up from the shifting logs. Her face remained passive. It was an outlet, at least, for her pent-up emotions.

Rydia said nothing, staring into the light of the fire. Those mesmerizing flames in which Rosa could imagine the ghosts of a burning village dancing around. The young girl’s face proved that was exactly what she saw when she looked upon the fire as well. She had overcome her fear of it—a feat Rosa was inexplicably proud of her for—but the memories of destruction and death would undoubtedly haunt her forever.

Heavy silence lingered between the two, clouds shifting over the light of the moons and casting more dramatic shadows to spring up from the flames. It would have been a relaxing night had the weight of the world not been placed on their shoulders.

“Rosa?”

The weak voice from the girl beside her snapped the white mage out of her thoughts, a soft hum of acknowledgement, coercing the girl to continue. There was a brief pause before she finally did.

“Can you fight with a sword like Cecil can?”

Rosa was caught off guard by the question, not entirely sure where it came from or how to answer. All she could manage was a small chuckle at her inquiry, “Why do you ask that?”

“You carry a sword with you, but I have never seen you use it. Do you know how?”

Hands instinctively moved to rest upon the elegantly decorated hilt of said sword. Anymore the weapon was such a constant presence amongst her accessories, she hardly ever noticed it was there. It was like the earrings dangling from her ears, the tiara-like pin in her golden hair, or the capes and beads that hung from her figure. It was a decoration that got lost amongst the others. Not for any practical use, but it gave her comfort to have it, despite her mother’s constant insistence that it was unladylike for a woman to carry around such a weapon. Her father would have disagreed had he still been alive…

That was the real reason she carried the blade on her person: it had belonged to her father. The mighty dragoon who had captured the heart of Lady Joanna. It was a source of security and offered her the comfort she needed to continue carrying the weight of Cecil’s sins. The sword, to her, represented all her mother had done for her father and it represented all Rosa was willing to do for Cecil in the future. She was there to protect him, not the other way around. She would lay down her life if it meant Cecil could live to fight another day. That was the role of a white mage to her knight. That was Rosa’s role in life.

Many would call her foolish, including her mother. Many would even say she was delusional to believe in her love so strongly. They were wrong; her father’s blade rested on her waist in proof of that. On the right side, not meant for her to unsheathe as she was not left-handed, but for Cecil should his blade become lost and he require another. Kain had often teased her for carrying the weapon, claiming it was nothing more but extra weight that she need not burden herself with. And yet, that too became a symbol to her. A physical reminder of the weight she carried for Cecil and for Kain.

The question Rydia had asked was complicated to answer. The sword was symbolic, it was practical, it was a memento… It held such a deep presence in her heart and in her mind that she could not even begin to explain to the child why it meant so much to her. She supposed Rydia could understand holding onto a keepsake from a deceased parent, but that was merely the surface of her reasonings. Rydia did not understand love and sacrifice the way Rosa did. She was nowhere near old enough.

Deciding finally on how to simplify her answer in a way that would be satisfactory, Rosa smiled at the young girl. “I know how to hold it, yes, but the sword is not mine to fight with. It is Cecil’s, should he require it in a pinch.”

“Oh.” A moment of silence passed between them as the girl contemplated the answer she had received. “That’s rather nice of you to carry his sword. You must care for him a lot.”

“More than anything,” Rosa admitted easily, a small smile gracing her lips.

“He loves you too. I could tell when you were sick. He was worried.”

Her eyes glanced over to the sleeping figure of Cecil, her smile widening slightly. She knew he had been worried. He had told her so himself and the embrace they shared when she awoke from her fever proved how deeply he cared. He had done so much for her already and she wished for nothing more than to do the same for him.

“Cecil has a heart of gold, despite his fears that he is being engulfed by the darkness. He worries for everyone. Despite the things he has done under orders of our king, he is a good man.”

“I know.” The response came immediately from the girl, her eyes still fixated on the fire, though occasionally Rosa would catch her looking over at the sleeping men.

Once again, the silence built up around them. It was less heavy than it had been before, though it was clear they both had much on their minds. And once again, Rosa’s mind began to drift to thoughts of the future and concern over their lost friend Kain. She thought about Edward and how he had found a love as strong as her and Cecil’s, only to have it stripped away from him along with everything else. Rose prayed she would not encounter a similar fate. Were she in his shoes, should Cecil be taken away from her, Rosa wholeheartedly believed she would not be able to continue living.

She was lucky compared to her two companions. She could easily imagine herself in either of their places, yet she had not had the displeasure of experiencing such drastic grief as they had. Her own losses seemed minute compared to theirs. Was she being selfish trying to keep Cecil so close to her?

She did not have time to contemplate her own question, a strong hand resting tenderly on her shoulder. Somehow, she had completely missed Cecil move to get up, focused so heavily on her own thoughts. His body was clad in dark armor though his face was bare of the helmet; his warm smile ebbed away her worries and her doubts and she returned it without issue. However, his focus was not on her long, turning his attention to the young green-haired summoner.

“Are you not sleeping well, Rydia?”

She shook her head, “I was having nightmares.”

Cecil hummed in understanding, crouching toward the ground to be at her height as he spoke gently. “We need all your strength come morning. Rosa and I will be nearby. Nothing will hurt you; I promise.” His smile was as illuminating as the moon; Rosa watching the scene with her own small smile spread across her lips. “Please get all the sleep you can.”

Rydia nodded curtly, consoled by his words. She found her spot again a laid down, making herself as comfortable as possible.

The sound of an amused chuckle could be heard from Rosa, Cecil giving her a look of inquiry. “When did you get so good with children, Cecil?”

He let out his own chuckle, moving to sit closer to the blonde woman. “I’m not sure. Perhaps it is a natural gift.”

“One of many you have been given.”

Another chuckle from Cecil before they fell into a comfortable moment of silence. Cecil watched the flames of the dwindling fire, though not with as much malice as Rydia had. His eyes were thoughtful, sad, perhaps.

“You are thinking about Kain, aren’t you?” Rosa knew all too well that the disappearance of their friend weighed heavy on his mind. They could only hope for the best: that he returned to Baron and was safe and alive.

“Yes.” He paused, turning his attention upward toward the sky. “You say he was pronounced dead by the Baron guard, though I cannot believe it to be true. Kain is far too stubborn to die, especially by something as trivial as an earthquake.”

There was a hint of jest in his voice. Kain had bragged once about his ability to survive in the harshest of weather conditions, making a statement that not even a strike of lightning could take him out. It had become a joke amongst Rosa and Cecil that nothing, not even natural forces, could slay Kain. And yet… here they both were in doubt that they would ever see their friend again. Rosa herself had been told that Kain and Cecil were killed on their assignment. She refused to believe it when she first heard the news and now, knowing that Cecil had lived, she had even more reason to believe that Kain was still out there as well. She only hoped they would be reunited soon.

“You should get some sleep as well.” Cecil replaced the grip of his hand to her shoulder, squeezing gently, comfortingly. “We need your strength too if we hope to survive the treck up this mountain.”

Rosa nodded; her own hand placed atop his if only to reassure herself that he was there beside her. “If we return to Baron—”

Cecil held up his free hand to cut her off, a knowing look on his face. “When we return to Baron, we will talk then.” He placed a chaste kiss on her lips, ending as quickly as it had begun, and smiled his warm, affectionate smile. “Now get some rest.”

She hesitated only a moment before nodding once more and moving to a more comfortable space to lay. “Goodnight, Cecil.”

There was a slight pause before his low voice replied, “Goodnight, Rosa.”