Brandon Skyblade

Well, Shin Megami Tensei in general has revved up in popularity overseas ever since Persona 3 and SMT Nocturne became huge hits (less so with Nocturne I think, but still popular) and now Fire Emblem exploded into awesome with Awakening since everyone I've heard talk about it seems to love it to death (which I agree with). It seems like an "er, what?" decision at first, but a crazy crossover like this will honestly be really cool. It could open up other Nintendo x Third-Party ideas that isn't just more Mario+Sonic's Olympic Shenanigans. That and it just might lead to more Smash Bros. possibilities. Plus, it's not like SMT hasn't had an SRPG before since Devil Survivor was partially one combined with old-school SMT battle scenes. Just imagine Devil Survivor's system with Fire Emblem characters joining in. I'd buy that up real quick.

My Story Any criticism or otherwise goes here, since I forgot to make a thread like this after posting the story before. =P I'm already in the middle of doing Chapter 1, but I'll happily take this into account. So...any suggestions? More/less humor or subtle references? More explaining where certain characters come from? Advice on possible future Support conversations? Have myself talk more or less? Have at it!

Feedback topic: HERE YOU GO. So, yeah...I got bored after doing homework today. And as some of you know, me+bored=very bad things. Or at least amusing things. This probably falls under the latter. Yes, this mere concept is going meta with the idea of a fanfic about a game that acts like one. BUT, Ray's cool with it, so I thought why not? I've tried to add a bit of humor amidst the serious nature of the plot, so it's not a dark ride the whole time. Also, I don't know how far I'll go with this, since I'll have to rely on LP's/playthroughs of it since I never usually play more than half of an FE game to begin with for quite a bit of the dialogue. One last thing: I just use my name as a reference for myself for the Tactician as it's just pure convenience for me. Without further ado... Fire Emblem 404 Chapter -1: The Duchess of Tahra Being unconscious is never a pleasant experience, let me tell you. What was pleasant, however, is what brought me out of a state like that. "Are you awake?" A soft, female voice said. It was a redundant question at first, but it was more ironic as hearing that silently changed the answer to that. I awoke just as silently, seeing before me a young green-haired woman looking straight at me with a smile. At least, that's what I thought. "Um, I'm over here!" The voice said again, realizing it came from behind me. It was silly of me when I realized I was about to answer a portrait for a second. "Hello there. I'm Linoan, of the city of Tahra." She said politely. The names might've rung a bell, but I didn't question it at the time. "The woman in that painting used to live here." She continued. I figured that was so. "What happened to her, you say? Well, apparently they say she disappeared a while ago. I ended up living here by chance." I wondered why this girl had left, leaving behind a nice quiet space like this. "Oh, you haven't said who you are yet. Would you mind telling me?" It was only fair to return the greeting after all. I merely stated "Brandon." I'd have gone for a hand-shake if I wasn't so groggy at that moment. "Brandon, is it? I'm pleased to meet you. If you wouldn't mind, would you share your story?" Linoan then asked. I was about to merely tell her how I was knocked out from behind while travelling in this area when… "Huh? What was that noise?" Linoan said about a rustling noise outside the tent. "I'll go check outside, please stay here alright?" She asked of me. She left the tent, though I was curious enough to peek my head out. I noticed two shirtless men with axes, one hiding out near a building. I back-pedaled when Linoan was returning as to not worry her. "Ah, bandits! They must have come down from the mountains nearby!" Linoan nearly yelled. "They must be planning on raiding the local villages. I…I must stop them!" She added. She was quite brave for a girl in robes, especially after presumably carrying me here from the fields. "If that's all of them, I think I can take them on my own." She then said, re-affirming her confidence. "You'll be safe in here, Brandon." It didn't seem very fair to carry the responsibility solo, at least right after helping me. "Hold on. I want to pay you back for bringing me here." I said to her. Linoan looked taken aback by my offer. "Huh? You want to help? Well, are you able to fight?" "Actually, I'm what others call a 'strategist by trade.' A tactician, if you will." I told her, yet I couldn't help but feel bad that my physical capabilities aren't…well, that good. "Oh, you're a strategist? You don't see those everyday…very well. We'll go together!" Linoan replied, walking out of the tent with me sticking right behind her. "This way, Brandon! I only see two of them and they don't seem too tough." She told me. I agreed, they just looked like run-of-the-mill, single digit IQ thieves. Linoan moved forward a little, however there wasn't much to hide her presence in this environment. The first bandit quickly took notice and charged this way. Linoan stood in place, quite determined. "Alright, here I go!" She stepped forward once more and pulled out an orange tome with a light on it. She read a few quick words and summoned a blinding light to strike the bandit. The bandit futilely tried to retaliate, but missed completely. Linoan struck him again with her light before stepping back. The bandit looked heavily weakened from the barrage of light, yet was able to strike Linoan's arm before she struck back. She responded by putting him out of his misery with one last light attack. "I…did it! I've been hurt though…I must…heal myself." Linoan said with quite the gash coating the sleeve of her robe in blood. "There's another bandit in the hut to the west…agh…I must treat this wound quickly…" She said, slowly approaching the hut. "I'm carrying a couple vulneraries with me. I better use one now." Almost instantly, I found and used one of the six potions she carried, quickly sealing up the wound. Oddly enough, she had a perfectly fine staff that looked like the magic healing variety. Why she didn't just use this herself when she's obviously a mage of some kind, I don't know. "Thank you, Brandon. Now, let's go get that brigand over by the hut!" She charged the man, reinvigorated. Though her magic provided a clear advantage of attacking from a distance, she didn't use it. It was as if something didn't want her to freely maneuver herself… "Who do you think you are?" The bandit with blond hair and a green bandana said. "You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?" I had to laugh at the ridiculous title, but then I realized something. I heard a voice like that when I lost consciousness before…and then it hit me. This man had blind-sided me before, but probably fled when he saw a witness! He then likely stayed here and hid, hoping I would come back…then when he saw I only brought the girl from before, he had his buddy try to knock me out again. Unfortunately for him, my only partner is more than enough to handle this moron. Linoan and Batta traded blows with magic and axes, backing away before someone fell. "Ohh…he's tough. It all comes down to this next spell. Brandon, if I fall, I want you to flee. You must escape!" She told me. "Not a chance. You won't fall with the power you have!" I encouraged her. It seemed to motivate her enough to dodge the Beast's last attack and read her tome one final time to finish him off. "N-no…the other girl was…so easy…to defeat…" He uttered as he slumped to the ground, dead as his friend. I patted Linoan's shoulder on a job well done, feeling as though a surge of power flowed through her. The experience served her well…however, Batta's last words seemed to haunt me. "Whew…that was close. Thank the heavens for aiding me. Apologies if I worried you." Linoan said to me. When I saw the smile she had right before the final blow, my worries already faded. She then made sure no other bandit was inside the hut and came back out. "Good work, Brandon! We're done here." The two of us headed back to the tent, where I immediately took a nap. "Are you awake yet?" I heard Linoan say. Just like the last time, I got up, but more quickly this time. "We really did well in that fight yesterday. Say, Brandon…" She trailed off, to which I stopped looking around the tent and kept my view on her. "I want to talk to you about something." "If you wanted me to tell my story, I'll happily-" I started before Linoan held up her hand. "No, not that. You see…I can't stay here much longer. I'm looking for two certain people. Would you like to help?" She asked. I nodded at first, but then a thought occurred to me. She was pretty young to be all on her own out here. "Sure, but…I have a question, first." "Yes?" Linoan responded. "Not to pry, but what of your parents? Do they know you're in a dangerous place like this?" I asked, curious again. "What? You…want to ask my parents for permission?" Linoan assumed. I thought the statement was close enough to what I asked, so I shrugged. "My mother and father…are both dead." She stated, to which I immediately regretted asking. "My mother died of natural causes. My father was…executed by the Grandbell Empire. He was only trying to help a friend of mine." She continued and my heart sank even further. "My father was the Duke of Tahra, and now I'm the Duchess. But, I had to flee. The Grandbell Empire is aiming for complete control…and I wound up here." She sniffed, looking like she could cry at any second. "I can't forgive them…I will never forgive them!!" She shouted. There was silence. I was afraid to upset her further, so I didn't comment. I still wish I didn't get my answer. "No…no more. I won't cry anymore." She said, wiping her eyes. "I'm sorry…I'm alright now. Brandon, I need…I must become stronger so that I may avenge my father's death! But, I feel I may need the help of my friends. I won't accomplish anything by sitting here alone." All of a sudden, Linoan took my hands and held them in front of me. "Brandon, I would really appreciate it if you came with me!" "My mind was made up already before you asked. I'll gladly help you find your friends." I told her. The smile from before came back. "You will? That's wonderful! Oh, thank you so much! I know we'll succeed together, I just know it." She began to pack up her things as I turned to look at the picture again. Batta must have referred to that woman yesterday. She disappeared and he claimed to have defeated a girl very easily? It wasn't hard to put 2 and 2 together. "Brandon? What's the matter?" Linoan asked, turning to see me staring at the portrait. It didn't take long to figure out what I was thinking. "You think he was talking about her?" "I think so." I said back. "If only I was there…I might've saved her the same way you saved me." "Brandon, it's not your fault." Linoan replied, putting a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah…but I still feel bad." I responded. "I'll be fine, just give me a minute." "Take all the time you need." Linoan said before continuing to pack up. I stared at the picture some more until I noted a sword tucked away in the corner. I unsheathed the blade and saw the name "Lyn" engraved on it. "She had a weapon…why didn't she use it?" I asked myself. I shook my head, as it didn't seem right to criticize her now. I looked back up at the picture one more time. "I took care of that bastard for you…and I'll keep this blade safe. Rest in peace, Lyn." I spoke to it. Suddenly, speaking to a portrait didn't seem so silly anymore.

...that I can manage to fail at vanilla FE8. And that I can also manage to lose Boyd in Chapter 1 in FE9. All you know is, I'M CALLED THE STIG! ...No, not really for that last part. I dunno why I never signed up for here yet, I frequented here when I became really interested in FE as a whole. And now that FE13's coming soon, I am freaking psyched as hell. So, heya! =D