Lannie:I own nothing, except Arthiel and Lunar. Her storyline is mine but the Fire Emblem storyline and all characters belong to Nintendo.

Prologue: A Girl From The Plains

A girl with crystal blue eyes and a short, chin-length shock of bright orange hair run through the woods, nimbly dodging the trees, branches, roots and other things that whiz by.

Running. Running is all I do now, all I can remember doing. I think I've blocked out all the rest, I don't want to be haunted by it all. I can remember some things that pass through, some good things…I know I wasn't always alone.

She glances to her right and sees a mass of black fur running alongside her a few feet away, his four paws beating the ground solidly as he runs. He has an odd mane that flows down his spine; it's of a faded dark bluish color, like moonlight reflecting off of a lake at night. His eyes are the same shade and he has markings all throughout his fur in the same dark blue color; the tip of his tail, his shoulders, his paws, his cheeks and just around his eyes as well as one on his forehead. The markings are intricate designs of moons and patterns.

I remember running with my black furry friend…what was his name again? …Oh yes, that's right, his name was Lunar. I can't remember who he is, or why he's with me, but he is, he always was I think. I've tried to think back, think of why he's here, why I'm here, but I can't. I really have blocked everything out…I think,

A yell erupts from behind her at a thick flaming arrow is shot at a tree in her path. The fire spreads and burns the branch, causing it to fall. She dodges left and it swings past her, missing her. As she moves, the little bells attached to the end of the ribbon around her neck, the little bells that hang down to her knees at the back, they jingle.

Accursed things, they're just alerting the people we're running from to our presence. Wait, why are we running again? Oh yes…we're running from them. We're running from the people who tried to hurt us, to hurt us when we did good…although they called it bad. I know I've blocked out almost everything…but I remember four things; my training, Lunar, my name…and the people that destroyed my home, my family and my life…I run from them…because they still want to hurt me…

They reach the end of the woods, where they find a cliff with flowing water – a waterfall. She glances behind her, watching shadows and lights in the distance come closer like impending doom. She looks at Lunar, who nods and they count to three before diving off, into the turbulent waters below…

-------- When you wake from a nightmare, everything is supposed to be fine, right? --------

"Are you awake?" A voice woke the girl from her nightmare. She blinked her eyes repeatedly, adjusting to the natural light that filtered in through a hole in the tent roof – wait, she was in a tent? When had this happened? Where was she?

The orange-haired girl opened her eyes completely and sat up slowly, looking at the girl who had spoken, one that looked her age. The girl had deep green hair tied in a high ponytail that hung straight down to her waist, if not further. She also wore a blue dress that ran down to her knees with yellow trim that sported ¾ sleeves and an open slit on both sides of her waist at her hips. She had brown knee-high boots, dark blue open-fingered gloves and enchanting emerald eyes.

"Where am I?" the orange-haired girl managed to choke out.

"I found you unconscious on the plains near the river; you were covered in cuts and scrapes and drenched but nothing I couldn't fix with a vulnerary. I am Lyn of the Lorca tribe. You're safe now," the emerald-haired girl smiled warmly. "Who are you? Can you remember your name?"

"Arthiel," she replied simply. At was one of the four things she knew, one of the four things she remembered about herself, something she hadn't pushed away into forgotten memories.

"Your name is Arthiel? What an odd-sounding name…," Lyn mused. "But pay me no mind. It is a good name. I see by your attire that you are a traveler."

Arthiel looks herself over, remembering if this was what she had been wearing in the nightmare…memory…whatever that had been.

She wore a form-fitting strapless with loose fitting t-shirt sleeves, all in a few shades of blue. Her shorts were of mid-thigh length and dark blue, a contrast to the pale color of her shirt. She also had a golden belt with a blue stone in the middle buckled loosely around her waist, lightweight brown boots that ran up to her knees, a thick brown belt strap around her left thigh and both her arms were wrapped from her elbows to her knuckles to form sort of open-fingered gloves out of white cloth that were tied tightly together with brown straps. And then of course, there was that ribbon around her neck; the blue one that split in two and ran down to her knees at the back with a little golden bell on the end.

She was missing one thing however – her cloak. The huge dark grey tattered cloak that hung loose on her shoulders, obviously too big, and covered her petite frame by allowing her to hide her arms inside as well as the rest of her body, for it stretched down to her ankles. She usually also had the hood up, shadowing her entire face to hide to bright orange hair and crystal blue eyes that stood out sorely.

"Where's my--" but Lyn interrupted her, still smiling.

"Your cloak? It's outside on a line, drying. It was too thick to let dry on you, so I took the liberty of setting it out to dry, hope you don't mind," Lyn replied.

"No I don't, thank you," Arthiel nodded.

"So traveler, what brings you to the Sacae Plains? And more importantly, why be unconscious by the river, completely soaked?" Lyn pondered. "Would you share your story with me?"

Unfortunately for the kind-hearted plains girl, Arthiel was just as lost as she for information about what had happened. The nightmare was all she had.

"Actually Lyn, I…I can't seem to remember much really. I can remember running from people, and some studies I did, but…not much else before that. I do know at least my name and my age, they stick to me no matter what," Arthiel replied, frowning.

"How old are you?" Lyn questioned. "If you don't mind me asking, that is."

"It's alright, I don't mind," Arthiel smiled. "I'm nineteen I believe. You?"

"The same," Lyn returned her smile. "It's nice to have someone else here with me now…what about you? How come you were by the river?"

"It's like I said, I honestly can't remember much else…except for someone who was with me…Lunar. I know he was with me, but I can't remember why…"

The girl looked around the tent wildly, trying to spot the black furry creature, but she couldn't see him anywhere.

"Would he be a black wolf with strange markings?" Lyn questioned.

"Yes, why?" Arthiel answered, still looking around. "Would you know where he is?'

"Yes, he's lying down outside, keeping watch. I found him with you, watching over you. Terrible pain to try and help you when there's a wolf snarling at me and trying to bite my hands off," Lyn commented, laughing a little at the look on Arthiel's face.

"Oh I'm so sorry! I apologize for his behavior!" Arthiel exclaimed.

"Don't worry about it Arthiel, I'm sure he's just being protective of his master and—

Suddenly a distance crashing was heard and bird cries echoed outside.

"Huh? What was that noise? I'll go see what's happening. Arthiel, wait here for me," Lyn told the girl before getting up and walking to the tent exit.

She stood in the sunlight outside and peered across the field to look at two figures approaching a nearby village. They were tall and muscled but looked dirty and they carried large axes with them, mischievous looks painted on their faces.

Lyn's eyes widened and she ran back inside where Arthiel was sitting on the bed, tidying up her belongings into her pack. The orange-haired girl looked up at the sight of Lyn rushing back in.

"Oh no! Bandits! They must have come down from the Bern Mountains!" Lyn announced frightfully. They're heading towards the local villages, probably planning to raid them. I…I have to stop them!" Lyn exclaimed, shuffling across the tent to pick up her long thin blade, sheathing it on the holster at her waist. "If that's all of them, I think I can handle them on my own. You'll be safe in here, Arthiel."

"No way! You can't do this alone!" Arthiel shook her head, jumping to her feet.

"What? You want to help? Well, can you use a weapon?" Lyn asked.

"No but I…I'm a tactician, I've studied all sorts of battle strategies," Arthiel explained. "It's one of the four things I remember clearly."

"Hmm…a strategist by trade? An interesting profession Arthiel. Very well. We'll go together!" Lyn declared, smiling. Arthiel nodded and the two ran outside, where Lunar noticed his master and got up, walking over to nuzzle her right hand lovingly.

"Hey Lunar," Arthiel whispered happily, patting him fondly on the head. Lyn had already continued a few feet and glanced back to see Arthiel had stopped with Lunar.

"Over here!" Lyn called to them and they looked up, nodding before running over.

"If you want to help Arthiel, I could use your advice. I'll protect you, so stay close to me and Lunar, since he'll do a fair job of protecting you from what I gathered earlier," Lyn told the other girl.

"Deal," Arthiel smiled.

The two girls turned to see that one of the two bandits was heading their way, axe in hand. The other, who seemed to be the boss, stayed back a bit, watching.

"Uh-oh, looks like he's seen us Arthiel," Lyn announced.

"Just stand your ground Lyn, you have the advantage in this situation, you with a blade and him with an axe," Arthiel reassured her. "its part of the weapon triangle, blade beats axe, axe beats lance, lance beats blade. You'll be fine as long as you're quicker on your feet than him."

"I am, that I can assure you," Lyn smiled. When he was about five feet away Arthiel stood by Lunar and told Lyn to go right, it was his weaker-looking side. The green-haired girl nodded and took off, light on her feet, rushing her opponent.

She dodged the swing of his axe easily and brought her blade up, catching him up the side and he cried out in pain. When he dropped to the ground, he tried to throw his axe out and hit Lyn but she jumped out of the way again.

Seeing that he wasn't going anywhere, the girls nodded to one another and took off through the field towards the other bandit, Lunar dashing after them.

They stopped a few feet away from him and he regarded them with an evil smirk. "This is amusing, two girls and a mutt, you don't look so tough," he cackled with laughter.

"Overconfidence is always a weak point. Separate a bit to cover more ground," Arthiel whispered to Lyn, who nodded before taking a few side steps.

"What's this? You intend to fight me? For real?" the bandit asked, laughing. "That's rich! Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?"

"Looks like we were wrong in thinking we could do this on our own Lyn. I highly doubt we could best a bandit of his caliber," Arthiel shook her head, looking defeated. Seeing this submission, Lyn picked up on it and sighed sadly, her sword arm hanging loose.

"That's what I like to hear!" Batta smiled, taking a few steps towards Arthiel. "Poor little girlie, ya look like you're lost 'round here, not from the plains at all, a fine prize."

He approached her again, making Lunar growl fiercely. "Well, well, well, protective mutt, I might have to get rid of you to take these pretty ladies won't I? That won't be much of a--" He was cut off by a blade piercing him through the stomach from behind.

He looked down, shock printed across his features. "What? How…How did you—"

He crumpled to the ground, twitching and looked up at the two young women. "A warrior should always boast of his strength and plans after the defeat or submission of his opponent, never during the battle, for it is a distraction," Arthiel smiled, words from her training echoing in her mind.

Batta's eyes closed and the two girls sighed heavily before beginning to walk back towards Lyn's tent. Lunar sniffed at the bandit before shaking his head as if in repulsion and trotting off after them.

"Phew. That was close, I sorely underestimated him. Sorry if I worried you," Lyn told her companion, who merely laughed.

"Don't worry about it Lyn, I knew I just had to distract him long enough for you to sneak up and hit him," Arthiel smiled. "You did a wonderful job; don't know what you're apologizing for."

"Thank you…," Lyn returned the smile warmly. "I'll need to be stronger though if I'm going to survive…strong enough that no one can defeat me."

"Someone's an optimist!" Arthiel giggled.

"I try!" Lyn laughed alongside her. "Good work Arthiel, let's go home!

-------- What if nightmares are only the beginning? What if there is more to come? --------

"Good morning, Arthiel! Are you awake yet?" Lyn asked as Arthiel's eyes began to flutter open the next morning. She was lying on the bed in the tent again but this time Lunar slept at her side, curled up and warm. Her cloak lay on the chair beside the bed, now fully dry.

She looked up at Lyn, who was smiling and somehow, this was contagious, for Arthiel smiled too. "That fight yesterday must have taken a lot out of you," Lyn commented. "You fell asleep a little while after we arrived back here."

"I guess it did!" Arthiel laughed. "I may have studied these arts, that much I know, but I haven't practiced them in the field completely yet! I think that's why I'm so exhausted!"

"Say Arthiel…I want to talk to you about something…," Lyn began, much more serious now. Arthiel's face darkened, thinking she wanted to speak about her past again, to see if she could remember anything else. "Don't worry, it's not to press you about yourself, I've learned you like your privacy, as does everyone. It's about something else…"

"Fire away," Arthiel smiled, relieved.

"You have some experience in the ways of war, I can see. Would you allow me to travel with you?" Lyn requested.

"Are you allowed? I mean, I left home on my own but…have you asked the higher ups?" Arthiel laughed, smiling.

"What? You…want me to get permission from my parents?" Lyn asked. Arthiel smiles, waiting for Lyn to see it was a joke. Sadly, Lyn does not and her face darkens.

"My…my mother and father…died six months ago. My people—The Lorca—they don't…I'm the last of my tribe. Bandits attacked, and…they killed so many people. The tribe was scattered. My father was our chieftain, and I wanted to protect our people. But I'm so young and our people are so old fashioned. They wouldn't follow a woman. No one would follow me," Lyn told her sadly.

"I would," Arthiel stated simply. Lyn's head snapped up to look at her, shocked but then she smiled and a tear rolled down her cheek.

"Really?"

"Of course, you're a wonderful person Lyn, set on protecting those around you, whether you know them or not, like you did for me. And I'm sure you're a great leader," Arthiel explained. "You took me in when I was lost, and I don't remember much but you don't press me about it, because I don't want to talk about it. I thank you for that and I trust you greatly. I'm just sorry I made you remember the type of bad memories I'm trying to forget as well…"

Lyn sniffled and wiped the tear away, closing her eyes. "It's me who should be sorry; it's ok that you brought it up. It's just…I've been along for so long…No. No more. I will shed no more tears."

She opened her eyes and looked at Arthiel, smiling. "Thank you Arthiel, for you trust and your kind words, even though we have known each other for merely a day. I'm better now. Arthiel I want—I must become stronger, so that I may avenge my father's death!"

"There's the optimistic Lyn I know!" Arthiel exclaimed, smiling widely.

"Yesterday's battle taught me something you know," Lyn told her.

"Oh?" Arthiel asked, intrigued.

"I won't become stronger by sitting here alone. Arthiel, tell me you'll train me, that you'll let me travel with you!" Lyn exclaimed happily, hope dancing in her bright eyes.

"Of course I will Lyn! You saved my life and after telling me the story of your parents' death, I'm compelled to help you, no matter what! We'll travel together then, you, me…and of course Lunar!" Arthiel giggled with happiness.

"You will? That's wonderful! Thank you! Oh, thank you! We'll be better off working together, I know it. You'll be my wonderful tactician and I'll be your peerless warrior along with our trusted companion, the black wolf Lunar! Wan can do it! Right?" Lyn managed to say all in one exited breath, making Arthiel giggle again.

"Hmm…lemme think," Arthiel began, looking puzzled before laughing and smiling. "Of course!"

Lyn smiled and nodded before grabbing her pack and beginning to pack the belongings she needed. Arthiel did the same with what she had not finished the day before. Lunar was still curled up on the bed, watching them as they went along.

While packing, Lyn absentmindedly spoke her thoughts. "And maybe you can learn more about what you'd remember as well travel…"

Arthiel froze a moment and Lunar's ears perked up before she relaxed and continued packing. "Maybe…"

Or learn more about pushing it away and forgetting it…

-------- What if everything we do, every step we take, only brings us close to Destiny? --------

Lannie: Alright so there's the first chapter. Just a little story I've had shoved in some obscure folder of my laptop for some time. Hope you liked it, it took me forever to touch up this prologue chapter but I managed it finally. I actually rewrote Arthiel's nightmare like three or four times before I was satisfied. Anyway, won't say much about her past, you'll find out eventually, same with Lunar. For Arthiel's description, I actually used Lethe from Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, for those who either recognized it or know the character. She just doesn't have the cat features like ears, tail, etc…obviously. R&R!!!