Nightmare of Ventrilqo (Puppet TF, SFW)

Though the Shepherds were victorious in defeating that strange fellow from the mountains, a lingering sense of dread persisted in Chrom's mind. A slight paranoia, founded or otherwise, but a fleeting thought with no relevancy past the thought Chrom gave it. A powerless idea with no merit of standing...but when Chrom, tuckered from his last meeting with his fellow men, fluffed his pillow and went to sleep, this would all change...for the worse.

Chrom had seen mages in combat- though they stuck to their more consistent fare- fireballs, icy winds, bursts of energy. Even his brother in arms, Robin, always gravitates towards electric spells. But that Ventrilqo...

He didn't seem to be a puppeteer, only a clown or jester. It didn't even appear that what he did to Severa was his favored incantations of choice. Yet, to rob Severa of all her mobility, all of her fighting prowess in such a simple, nonchalant way...it unnerved him in a way he couldn't explain.

Just what if that was Ventrilqo's specialty? The proverb with the number of different kicks versus the same one, perfected...what then if when he and Robin charged at him, he'd simply flick his palms and have the main authorities of the Shepherds reduced to simple husks of wood? What then...?

His encounter with the foe was lightly paced, almost a comedy act or a villain of the week in a story a child would write. But magic can be taught as any other trade, even if to limiting success. If he fought any foe with that magic who so much as WANTED him dead, would he and all of his friends' bodies be hung up in a cabaret closet by now?

And Severa...she took her fate like a champion, all things considered. She was angry, she was confrontational- even to those trying to help her- and she was unamused. But she must have been confident enough in her allies to have a perplexing, possibly permanent paralysis be nothing more than "irritating"...right?

He took solace in her trust of Robin's leadership...but it wasn't enough. The terror grew. The stakes in his mind grew impossibly large. Ventrilqo, the stray mechanist, now a force of evil that rivaled the very gods themselves. And, apart from himself, what worse fate to have this befall onto than his very pride and joy, Lucina?

Chrom shook his head, recoiling on his pillow as he recounted Severa's description of the spell post encounter, and the hellish implications that could have been. And Lucina's voice...Lucina's confident, brave, noble voice...begging out for her own father's aid as any helpless child would. Chrom would want to move his chisled, blocky arms to do anything he could- embrace her, try to climb up the faux facility of a two walled mockery of home behind them, even risk tearing off their strings- if it meant even a chance of undoing this horrid spell, cast onto them as easily as a thunderstorm casts water. Though as any puppet is acutely aware, doing anything along those lines wouldn't be up to him, but an evil hand who only has the worst intentions for the pair... a monster who'd take someone so dear to him and twist her into a wooden damsel, trading their strength for sadistically pathetic banter. Their very lives as heroes, for worthless, feeble minded marionettes with nary an important will of their own, from the day they obtained their strings to a purgatory that could outlast any of their unhexed friend's lives. For all he could imagine, his prided daughter could be inherited by his master's daughter, once he passed of a despicable life well lived- a privilege that infuriated and belittled Chrom for having such a thing taken from the one girl on this very earth he knew deserved such a chance more than any...

When will the dancing end? When will the mockery ever end...?
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If you're curious about the references to Severa or Ventrilqo, this is a sequel picture!

https://www.deviantart.com/animerionettes/art/Severa-s-Ambush-of-Amusement-Puppet-TF-SFW-944584830

Lucina and Chrom Smash Bros. Ultimate Fire Emblem Awakening Heroes Three Houses Engage Blue Haired Princess Knight, Marionette Puppet Doll/Object Transformation TF

Happy Halloween!!! I hope to have one other picture out by early November, but we'll see.