It was a peaceful afternoon in southern Ylisse, the warmth of the sun shining down on the fields as a blue-haired young man walked through them, accompanied by his little sister and his second-in-command. The men were armed while the girl held a staff as they traveled.
"Whew," the girl said with a smile. "So how far do we have to go before we can turn around and head home?"
"You should know, Lissa," the blue-haired youth replied. "We're headed for the border. With any luck, the Plegians will have stayed put, but it's our job to make sure."
"Right, right," Lissa sighed. "But come on, Chrom. ALL the way to the border and back? At least Frederick has a horse!" Frederick chuckled and shook his head.
"And yet he's been walking just as much as us," Chrom pointed out. "Don't worry. We'll make camp once it gets dark. But for now, we keep marching."
"Ugh," Lissa sighed and scanned the horizon, and her eyes widened. "Chrom!" She pointed toward a town in the distance and the smoke rising from it. "That town's on fire!"
"Yes, I see that," Chrom replied curtly. "Bandits, no doubt. Lissa, Frederick, let's move!" He took off toward the town with Frederick close behind despite his heavy armor.
"Hey, wait for me!" Lissa complained as she tried to keep up.
The three arrived to find brigands attacking the town, stealing anything not nailed down and setting the rest on fire. The townsfolk cried out for help and mercy, a call Chrom was ready to answer. He unsheathed the sword at his hip.
"Alright, these dastards won't answer to anything less than death. We have no choice. Lissa, stay back and be careful."
"Hey, I can handle myself!" Lissa replied. "You always go charging in. You'll need my staff when you get hurt!" Chrom shook his head.
"Don't worry, milord," Frederick said. "I'll make sure she's kept safe while we fight."
"Alright," Chrom nodded. "Let's finish them off and call it a day." He rushed for a nearby swordsman and quickly engaged him, dodging once he had struck and quickly finishing his opponent off. He spun around as he found a brigand armed with an axe barreling at him, and he blocked the strike.
"Gwargh!" the brigand cried out as a sudden bolt of Thunder magic hit him, and Chrom blinked. He shook his head and finished the brigand off, then scanned around quickly. Had that magic attack been miscalculated? Or had they found an ally?
"You alright?" he heard a voice call, and he turned to find a stranger in a dark coat approaching him. The stranger lowered the cowl hiding her face and nodded to him. "Prince Chrom, no?"
"Yes, that's me," he agreed, looking down at the tome in her hand. "Thank you. Will you help us finish these brigands off?"
"Of course," she nodded. "I'm just glad more help showed up. You came just in time, milord."
"Right, then. Might I ask your name?"
"Robin," she replied. "My name is Robin." She looked past him to find Frederick finishing off another brigand with his lance and Lissa close behind him. "They're with you as well?" He looked behind him, then back to her and nodded. "An armored knight on horseback with a lance, you with your sword… You seem rather quick and nimble, but strong. I'll have my sword and magic, and you have a healer…" He blinked as she rattled this all off to herself. "As long as we're not reckless, I can't imagine we'll have much difficulty removing these nuisances. Their weapons aren't that strong. Though I suggest you leave the mages to me."
"I take it you know more about what's going on than I thought," he noticed, and she smiled.
"I've spent quite a few years studying strategy," she said. "But more about that later." She opened her tome and quickly struck for a mage to their side, and he ran in to finish their target off. "Well, that works too," she chuckled. He nodded and made his way toward the brigands' leader, meeting back up with Frederick. Robin followed closely behind him.
"And who is this?" Frederick asked as he eyed her.
"This is Robin," Chrom replied. "She's got an eye for tactics and agreed to help us finish the brigands off." Frederick didn't appear convinced.
"Well, good!" Lissa grinned. "We could use another lady to keep these guys in line. Just point us in the right direction, Robin." Robin nodded and looked over to the brigands' leader just as Chrom engaged another swordsman. He took a blow from his opponent, but still succeeded in winning the fight. Once it was safe, Lissa hurried over and patched up his injury.
"Looks like their boss has a Hand Axe," Robin noticed as they regrouped. "So, Sir Knight, your lance will be weak against it, though I doubt it would be able to penetrate your armor very easily." She turned to Chrom. "If you go for him with your sword, I can cover you with my magic. That should be plenty enough to put an end to him."
"Alright," he nodded. "Let's finish this." He readied his sword and rushed for the boss, striking quickly, and Robin followed up with a shot from her Thunder tome. The brigands' leader managed to strike him with his axe, but Chrom ended his life with his next attack.
Once the townspeople had deemed the threat had passed, they went about putting out the fires the brigands had started and Chrom could hear cheers of praise around him.
"Well, that's the end of that," he said as he turned to his companions.
"Lucky for the town, we were close by," Lissa said with a grin. "And wow, Robin! You're incredible! Swords, sorcery, and tactics? Is there anything you can't do?" Robin smiled sheepishly and scratched the back of her head.
"That's quite the praise, coming from the princess of Ylisse," she replied, and Frederick watched her warily.
"So… Robin, was it? Where are you from?"
"I've spent most of my life moving around Ylisse," she replied. "My mother passed away a few years ago during an attack by Plegia. It's part of the reason I wanted to save the people of this town from those dastards."
"You fought to save Ylissean lives," Chrom agreed. "My heart says you're a friend, Robin."
"And your mind, milord?" Frederick inquired. "Will you not heed its counsel as well?"
"Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with her talents. With the brigands and Plegia all looking to bloody our soil, would you readily lose such an able tactician?"
"Wait, what?" Robin interrupted. "You want me to join you?"
"Yes," Chrom nodded, turning to her. "How about it, Robin? Will you lend your expertise to Ylisse? Will you help us protect our people?" She smiled.
"How can I pass up an opportunity like this? Serving the Exalted family of Ylisse? I couldn't dream of such a chance." She dipped her head to him. "Thank you, Prince Chrom."
"You can just call me Chrom," he told her. "I've never been one for formalities."
"Milord, please!" a villager called as he ran up to the band that had saved them from the brigands. "You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!"
"A most generous offer, sir," Frederick replied. "And no doubt your hospitality would be grand, but I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol."
"Dark meat only for me, medium well, and no salt in the soup. I simply-" Lissa stopped short as she realized what Frederick had said. "Wait, what?! We're not staying? But Frederick, it's nearly dark!"
"When night falls, we'll camp," Frederick replied as he turned to the princess. "Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like… You'd best get used to this, milady."
"Frederick?" she said sweetly. "Sometimes I hate you." Robin laughed to herself and turned her attention to Chrom.
"You've quite a stern lieutenant. But I suppose that could be a good thing."
"Yes, usually," Chrom agreed. "Now, shall we? We need to get back to Ylisstol." The tactician nodded, and the group of four headed for the path back to the capital with Lissa grumbling to herself.