//------------------------------// // Twice Shy // Story: Fire Emblem: Waking in a New World // by Bishibosh the Shaman //------------------------------// Fire Emblem: Waking in a New World Chapter Four This land is so pretty, Olivia thought in her head. She had snuck out from camp one night, as she usually does, to practice her steps but instead finds herself momentarily amazed by the landscape. She stood on a hill that on one side overlooked a huge apple orchard, but on the other side gave an amazing view of the forests of this land. After gazing at the landscape she decided to get back to dancing. She found a nice clearing in the woods behind her, so she set her sword down by a tree. She would usually not carry it if Chrom wasn't so insistent she keep it for protection. Olivia's hands clasped around the drape of her outfit, her legs relaxed as the wind blew in her hair. She felt as if the land was setting her up for the greatest show of her life. The wind rustled the leaves from the trees above, she imagined them to be showering her with confetti for her dance. Her legs relaxed as they lifted her body into the air, her arms gently flowed through the breeze, the drape following behind in her hands. Twisting her legs to spin the drape around and across her body. Once again her legs lifted her into the air as she flew the drape above her. To finish the dance, she ran a hand up her waist and across her breast and bowed to the night. After the dance was complete, she did it more times over, unaware of the audience she was attracting. Many woodland critters had taken seats in the trees and watched as the human danced in the night. They awed as the moonlight struck her silky smooth skin and radiated the light across her body. Another viewer of the dance was also amazed. The little yellow pegasus was mesmerized by the humans dance, and was equally in awe of the grace such a creature could have. She remembered when her friend had her be on stage as a model and how embarrassed she was, yet here was this human boldly displaying herself in a beautiful way. The pegasus swallowed a gulp as she approached. Olivia lept into the air for the climax of her dance, the wind blew leaves across the dance floor and she guided them around her with her drape. As she landed on the ground, she followed up with a twirl on one foot as the leaves in the now still air floated down around her. She imagined the crowds cheering her name, everybody loving her dancing. She smiled, until she heard a soft whisper. "Th-that... was amazing..." The whisper said. Olivia froze, she wasn't aware anyone was actually watching her and she poured everything into tonight's dance. Her face glowed red with embarrassment as she turned to face her accuser. She was shocked to find a pony, just as red as she was. She stared at the pony and it stared back momentarily before it shifted it's gaze. "Th-thank... you..." Olivia responded, shaking in fear. "The animals... really enjoyed it." Olivia only turned more red as she looked in the trees to find hundreds of squirrels watching, and worse when she looked on the ground to find rabbits, bears, all kinds of birds. She never used to get embarrassed by animals watching but she also never felt like the animals were actually watching. Her legs felt limp as she stood there. "Are you alright?" the pony whispered with a hint of concern in her voice. "You are... getting very red." "EEP!" Olivia shrieked finally as the embarrassment overcame her. She darted away into the woods. "Wait... I just..." Fluttershy frowned as though she had been rejected, but then perked up and said to herself. "She is just shy, like me. I'll go see if I can find her..." The forest was much darker now, almost scary. Ok, very scary. Olivia was lost and had no idea where to go to get back to camp. She wanted to slap herself. She always got this way when someone was watching her. Remembering when Chrom caught her dancing, she turned red thinking about it. He tried to compliment her but she just panicked and ran. Stupid, she thought. Stupid stupid. She walked down the path in an attempt to find her way back to camp trying to calm down, but was brough to her knees in fear when she heard a fearsome roar just down the path. She looked up and saw a massive lion like beast with wings and a scorpion tail. It roared once more and Olivia huddled up on the ground. She prayed someone would save her. Chrom, Donnel, Priam, anyone. She didn't even notice the pegasus floating right above her. The beast roared once more but it's fearsome sound was halted. "Shh, shh, it's ok. What's wrong?" Olivia looked up to see the yellow pegasus right in front of the beast. She was nudging it's paw with her nose, and it's response was to open the paw revealing a thorn. "Aww you poor baby, let me take care of that for you." The pegasus pulled the thorn, the beast retaliated with a shout of pain but quickly embraced the pegasus in a warm hug. The beast let the pegasus down and went his way, and the pegasus approached Olivia. "Are you ok? You must have been really scared." She asked. "I-I'm fine... thank you." "I'm Fluttershy, what's your name?" The pegasus asked softly with a smile. "Ol...liv.... Olivia..." "Olivia is a nice name, there's no need to be shy. I'm not going to hurt you." "I know... I just... get that way sometimes." "I know how it feels, I get that way a lot." "But... you calmed down that beast, surely you are braver than most people... oh I'm sorry... ponies... out there." "Oh no... I'm just really kind, and I love all the different animals." Olivia stared at the pegasus for a moment, maybe she was a lot like her. Fluttershy must have been better than her though. She could never have stood up against such a beast like that thing. Her thought was interrupted by a soft suggestion. "Maybe we should get out of the forest, there are more than just manticores out here." Olivia nodded and let Fluttershy lead the way. "Where... Where am I!" A shapeless shadow screamed in the dark void. "You are with your master now..." A dark voice echoed through the void. "I am the Master! Now tell me where I am!" "You are the master? YOU LOST! You have failed the purpose you gave yourself... but fear not... I have plans for you... and all you have to do... is submit to me..." "You think you can control ME!?" "I don't think... I know... and not only you... All will bow, all will submit, and all... will... perish... even you... King Sombra..." "And what is the name of my 'new master'? "Hmmm, You may call me... Grima..." The laughter of the Fell Dragon echoed in the void.