Disclaimer: NO, I do not own Fire Emblem or anything related to it. (shocking, yes?) I just do this for my own enjoyment.

The rolling plains of Sacae were peaceful under the clear, blue sky. It was picturesque. Among the waves of grass, a lone figure treaded on a well-worn path. The burgundy haired girl shot glances sporadically from the way she had come and seemed to stumble every few steps. She was exhausted.

Don't pass out. Don't pass out. She repeated the mantra to herself over and over, forcing one foot in front of the other. Don't pass out. Don't pass out. She stumbled yet again but managed to catch herself before keeling over. Curse it all! This situation would be much improved if she had the proper provisions. She had left the last merchant she saw without buying a thing, due to his outrageous prices. Hoping to conserve what little coin she had left, she had pressed on, thinking to reach the next village before her supplies ran out.

As luck would have it, after leaving the merchant she had stumbled into a duo of thugs. She wasn't completely helpless, but she was no trained fighter and there were two rather burly bandits and only one of her. She was forced to relinquish the pack she carried on her back, but that allowed her better maneuverability. Once they had reached for the pouch at her side, the one that contained her money and a few items she'd rather not be without, she had struck. Whipping out a dagger, she slashed at the man's face and ran like her life depended on it, which it probably did. The other thug was too busy rifling through her pack to comprehend what was going on till she was already a fair distance away, disappearing in the waves of grass. That was a couple days past now.

Unfortunately, her food and water had been in that pack. Fortunately besides that, all the other things could be replaced. That still left her in the middle of the plains without supplies, and the sun had begun its descent once again. With a deep breath to steady her, she took another step but wasn't terribly surprised when her leg crumpled beneath her. She cursed it all once again before succumbing to the dark.

She was surprisingly comfortable. After stretching stiff muscles, she repositioned herself beneath the covers. Then memory came back and she bolted upright, clutching her head to ward off the dizziness. A quick scan of the surroundings revealed canvas walls and modest accommodations. Had she been found by one of the plains people? The answer came in the form of a girl, roughly eighteen or nineteen years old, with striking green hair and emerald eyes to match. The garb she wore confirmed she was from a Sacaen tribe.

The girl seemed surprised yet pleased to see her patients eyes open. "I'm glad you're awake." She received a blank stare, so she elaborated, "I found you the other day unconscious on the plains. My name in Lyn."

"I'm Kensey." She winced at the raspy tone of her own voice. Lyn noticed and quickly handed her a cup of water, which Kensey accepted with a look of appreciation. "Thank-you."

Lyn took the cup back and set it aside, before turning to study her patient. "There aren't usually lone travelers wandering the plains. It can be dangerous; as I'm sure you've learned, for those who don't know the land."

Kensey winced, knowing all to well that Lyn spoke the truth, "In my defense, I was doing just fine until my little run in with a couple of thugs."

"Bandits!" Lyn said it with such venom that Kensey was taken aback. She nodded in agreement though. Shouting drew both girls attention to the tents entrance. Lyn shot up to peek outside. Kensey stood, albeit more slowly with a hand to her head still, and followed Lyn at a more sedate pace. Grabbing her pouch from a nearby table as she passed, she had barely made it to the entrance before Lyn came flying back inside, grasping a nearby sword and strapping it around her waist. "Bandits," she muttered. The venom was still there, along with an edge of determination. "I have to do something. There are only a couple of them. I can do this." Lyn quietly spoke, seemingly for her own benefit. She looked to Kensey as she prepared to exit once more, "You'll be safe here. I won't allow them this far."

Kensey's arm shot out to grab hold of Lyn's before she took another step, eyebrow raised, "Alone? It's never a good idea to knowingly march out to a fight where you're outnumbered without a plan. That is something I can assist with."

Lyn looked doubtful. "Can you fight?"

Kensey admitted to herself she probably didn't look fit to do anything right now. Although she may not look her best, the sleep had rejuvenated her back to functioning levels at least. "Well enough to defend myself," hopefully, she added to herself, "but it is not my forte. Battle tactics are what I find myself to be good at, and it's always nice to have a tactician in times like these, yes?"

"I see," Lyn gave a small smile. "A strategist, huh? Yes, it would probably be best if you came. Come on, we'll do this together."

Once outside, Kensey took her spyglass from her pouch and surveyed the situation. She took in the enemy and their surroundings. Lyn had been correct; there were only two of them. Where was the rest of her tribe? Surely they would have warriors who could easily dispatch a couple of brutes? Her scan showed no others around though. Odd but it was something to think about for a later time. Her attention came back to the task at hand and she was curious why the two were so far apart. They were leaving each other wide open. The nearest bandit turned his head and Kensey let out a startled gasp. She recognized that face. These were the same bandits she had encountered before. That would make stopping them so much sweeter. There was just one thing that gave her pause.

Kensey turned to Lyn, "Do you have much fighting experience?"

Lyn kept her gaze forward, face set in determination, "I used to spar with my father, but that is it." She turned her head to meet Kensey's eyes, "I can do this."

Seeing the fire in her eyes, Kensey slowly nodded. "Together then, I will not lead you astray." It was a promise, to Lyn and herself. She would never allow any under her orders to fall if she could help it. Kensey had announced that to her teacher once. He had smirked with affection, but his eyes showed sorrow.

'Even the best laid plans can go astray. You will not always be able to anticipate your opponent's movements. That is probably the most important lesson I can teach you. The unexpected will happen. It is how you react that determines your worth as a tactician.' His words stuck with her. It would not resign her to accept that death under anyone's command was inevitable, though. Death was inevitable, yes, but she'd give all she got to keep those under her orders well.

The young tactician focused her attention to the task at hand. It was essentially two to one if you were looking from a fighter's stand point, so she would have to ensure the fighting was one on one. With the distance they had put between themselves, the two had already done it for her. There was a burly bandit due west of Lyn and Kensey. He would be the first to fall. Pointing out the intended target to Lyn, they crept towards their foe.

Halfway there, Lyn drew her sword. "He's spotted us."

"Well, I guess that saves us the trouble of going all the way to him." She studied his lumbering run. "Be careful Lyn. He's not very well balanced but his swings are sure to pack some power. Strike fast and watch his axe." Kensey quickly side-stepped to allow Lyn the room needed to maneuver. Not wasting any time, Lyn sprinted past in a green blur to meet her opponent. They came together in a clash of metal. Knowing not to try and match power, Lyn deftly side-stepped and twirled around to his back, drawing the first blood. In his pain, the bandit howled and spun with his axe out wide. Lyn leapt back but not quick enough to avoid the incoming weapon all together. Fabric tore and a crimson line could be seen. Unaffected by this, the swordswoman lunged to exploit the tremendous gap in his defenses. He was gone before his body hit the ground.

Lyn looked down on her defeated opponent, her mouth in a grim line. With a steadying breath she sheathed her sword. "One less bandit to cause pain and suffering."

"Are you alright?" Kensey inspected her wound.

Lyn looked down, as if noticing it for the first time. "Hmm? Oh, it's just a scratch. I have some vulneraries on me." She reached in a pocket and pulled out a small bag of the salve. Quickly smoothing some over the cut, it began to heal instantly. "That ought to do it."

There was one left to defeat. He was the one Kensey had got with her dagger. "Lyn, are you ready?" She nodded. "His back is protected by the dwelling so you'll have to draw him out or, if you prefer, take him head on. Use your sword's reach and maneuverability to your advantage." They were nearly upon him, but unlike his fallen comrade, he did not come charging at them. Instead, he kept the wall to his back and studied the two as they approached. Lyn had drawn her sword once again so his attention was mostly on her, barely even sparing Kensey a glance. Though when he did, recognition hit and he snarled. It was actually intimidating with the fresh red scar standing out.

"You!" he looked between her and Lyn. "You decided to get help to challenge Batta the Beast? No matter, for you both die today."

Batta raised his axe and Lyn was on him in a flash. Her strikes were fast but slightly sloppy. Batta countered with a powerful sideswipe after Lyn managed to stab his side. His swing connected, sending Lyn staggering sideways. Kensey experienced a moment of panic before she realized he had only managed to strike her with the backside of the axe. There was no blood. Still, Lyn was doubled over, sword raised before her. She slowly straightened. Grabbing the hilt with both hands, she charged at a speed Kensey would have thought impossible with the hit she had just taken. Batta, holding his own injury, didn't even have time to raise his weapon in defense before Lyn cut him down with a powerful blow.

Kensey approached Lyn, who had still not moved from her finishing stance above Batta. She was breathing heavily and favoring her left side. "Lyn?"

She sheathed her sword. "I must become stronger." Lyn seemed unaware of Kensey approaching until she was right by her.

"Lyn," Kensey tried again while putting a hand to the young woman's shoulder.

She turned from the body and started back to her own dwelling, "I'm fine."

That's what she said, but Kensey saw her flinch every few steps while still holding her left side. Kensey reached into her pouch and pulled out a small vial filled with a blue liquid. She offered it to Lyn, "Here, take this. It should have you feeling as good as new in no time."

Lyn gave it a once over before accepting it, "An elixir? These are rare in this area. Thank-you." She popped the cork and swallowed it all in one go. The healing was quick after that. She straightened almost instantly and gave an experimental stretch. When there was no pain, she shot Kensey a grateful smile. They were silent after that. Each lost to their own thoughts. Kensey did not wish to impose on Lyn's hospitality longer than necessary and so was thinking of the best time to continue on, once she was in no danger of passing out of course. Lyn's thoughts were not too far removed from Kensey's own, though she had other ideas. They made it back to Lyn's door before Lyn stopped and whirled on Kensey. "Let me come with you."

Kensey blinked, not quite grasping what she was talking about, "Excuse me?"

"I wish to travel with you. I know we just met but that doesn't matter to me. I wish to go with you. There is nothing for me here," Lyn looked away as she whispered that last bit.

Nothing for her here? Kensey's mind began to make connections. She looked to Lyn, who seemed downcast and noticed a permeating sadness about her. She looked to her surroundings, where there should have been multiple dwellings; there was only Lyn's own. It wasn't normal for a nomad on the homeland to be alone. Nothing for her.

Lyn, taking Kensey's silence for disagreement, quickly rushed through her sad tale. Parents killed. Tribe killed. Merciless bandits! Through the whole explanation, she did not lift her eyes. Not until the end did she meet Kensey's eyes, her own filled with unshed tears and a fierce determination, "I must become stronger. Strong enough so no one can defeat me. That won't happen if I stay here. You know the ways of war, please, allow me to come with you, to train under you."

How could she deny her request? She wished to improve herself. Isn't that what Kensey herself was doing? Who cares if they just met? She put a hand to Lyn's shoulder, "We can leave tomorrow or the day after. Whenever you're ready."

Lyn gave a true smile, relieved but true. "Thank-you. Just wait, I'll become a peerless warrior and you'll be the master tactician."

Kensey returned the smile and merely followed Lyn back inside. She paused in the threshold and turned to the open expanse of the plains with a smile. A peerless warrior and master tactician? If you're going to dream, I suppose it's best to dream big.