Fire Emblem Awakening: Path toward the Future
Chapter One: Prelude to the Beginning
By: Krimson Tears
AN: Okay... I wrote this story for my own personal enjoyment and as well as for practice. It has not been betta'd so there could be many things wrong the chapter I'm sure. I'm following the game to some degree so if it seems boring, please tell me and I'll switch it up a bit. I will most likely make this mature later on due to wanting to push my writing to a new degree. Also I'll have relationships with various different characters along the way. If you have any suggestions of who u think is a better match do tell me I'll consider pairing them up with one another if I like the idea of it ^_^. Also please tell me if you find a spot that say Teriques, i changed the name after I finished the chapter to Robin because its the default name for the game itself. Also...it may be a bit confusing in the beginning cause even the character doesn't know her name. I'm sorry if it is.
It was dark, everything felt cold and empty. Where has she been, what was she doing? She didn't know, but why?
She could hear the wind whistle softly in her ears, could feel the grass prickle against her skin ever so lightly. She could even feel the warmth of the sun's ray's warmth on her skin. But, why was she here?
Footsteps echoed in the distance, the sound of a horse neighing quietly. The footsteps grew closer as she felt strength return to her body.
"Chrom...We have to do something," she heard someone speak, a young girl for the sound of it, though not much younger than she.
"What do you purpose we do?" a male, a deep but kind voice.
And for some reason she couldn't help but find that voice to be familiar, why did it tear at her heart to hear him speak? She wondered as she finally managed to open her eyes.
"Eh… I don't know..." the girl's voice trailed off, and then she glanced down at her, "Ah,"
Two individuals stood above her, their faces obscured from the sun as momentarily as her blurry vision cleared. Two people, a man and a young girl stood above her, the girl wore her blonde hair up in twin tails. Her companion to which she could only assume had darker hair and equally dark eyes that were as dark as his hair.
"I see you're awake now," he said, why did his voice sound so familiar?
She had never met this man before, but then again… She also had no clue to where she ever was or to what she was doing.
The girl spoke, "Hey there," she smiled at her with a kindly.
"There are better places than to take a nap on the ground you know," the darker haired one spoke once more.
What had the blonde called him again? Chrom? When she thought about it, no other possible name could ever fit him.
"Give me your hand," he continued and held is hand out to her.
She stared at it for a moment before she graciously placed her hand in his and he pulled her up off the ground so she could stand.
As she stood she couldn't help but notice that they were in some sort of field of some kind, it explained why she felt grass, however not why she was here.
"You alright?" the dark haired man called Chrom asked.
She smiled at her unsurely, "Y-yes… Thank you, Chrom." She replied which had been a slip of the tongue; it had just come out so naturally.
Chrom blinked, "Ah, then you already know who I am?"
She shook her head, "No, actually, I… It's strange… Your name, it just… came to me…" she replied sheepishly.
Chrom's expression remained the same but she could see a glint of curiosity in his eyes.
"…Hmm, how curious," he began, then continued, "Tell me what's your name? What brings you here?"
She blinked; her name? 'Huh?' she thought…what was her name again? "My name is… It's…" she said and looked to the ground, "Hmm?" a sharp dull ache throbbed throughout her head.
"…You don't know your own name?" Chrom concluded.
"I'm not sure if… I'm sorry, but where am I exactly?" she questioned as she looked around.
The girl with the twin tails cut in, "Hey, I've heard of this! It's called amnesia!" she frowned as she realized that that wasn't exactly a good thing.
A new voice cut in, "It's called a load of Pegasus dung."
She looked at the armor clad man with uncertainty, Pegasus dung, really? He continued, "We're to believe you remember milord's name, but not your own?"
Well, yeah actually she did. "B-but it's the truth!" she protested, why would she lie about something like that?
Chrom stepped in and looked towards the knight, "…What if it IS true, Frederick? We can't just leave her here, alone and confused. What sort of Shepherds would we be then?"
Frederick she assumed continued as he crossed his arms behind his back. "Just the same, milord, I must emphasize caution. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock."
'How rude', she thought, though understandable.
Chrom cleared his throat, "Right then-we'll take her back to town and sort this out there," he explained.
"Wait just one moment. Do I have a say in this?" she asked worriedly as she took a step back away from the group.
"Peace, friend- I promise we'll hear all you have to say back in town. Now come," Chrom reassured.
She believed him, but still…
They walked for some time and passed many trees grass along the way, though she had no clue where they were it must have been somewhere towards a town as they said. Still…
"What will you do with me? Am I to become your prisoner?" she asked as she gazed to the ground and to her feet.
The group came to a halt.
Chrom laughed, "Hah! You'll be free to go once we establish you're no enemy of Ylisse,"
Ylisse? She thought as she tilted her head to the side with confusion, "Is that where we are, Ylisse?"
The three all looked at her puzzled by her question but Frederick spoke up, "You've never heard of Halidom? Ha! Someone pay this actor. She plays quite the fool!"
'I'm not playing!' She thought as she bit her tongue to keep quiet it would do her no good to lose her temper here.
"The furrowed brow is especially convincing…" Frederick continued it was obvious he didn't trust her, not that she could truly blame him, she had not a clue who she was, she could very well be an enemy and not even know it.
"Frederick, please." Chrom sighed and turned his gaze towards her, "This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse. Our rule, Emmeryn, is called the Exalt. I suppose proper introductions are in order… My name is Chrom-but then, you already knew that."
She nodded slowly, yes somehow, though she did recall the blonde haired girl in the yellow dress say his name when they found her.
"The delicate one here is my little sister, Lissa." He nodded towards the blonde, while she was inclined to agree with that Lissa didn't seem to think so.
"I am NOT delicate! …Hmph!" Lissa protested and waved her arms about as if to prove her point, she then reached out and grabbed the girls hand with a smile, "Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick sometimes." She told her then quickly added, "But you're lucky the shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening."
'Brigrands, what were those?' The nameless girl wondered.
"Shepherds, so you tend sheep? …In full armor?" she looked the two men up and town quizzically.
Chrom chuckled and grinned at the nameless girl, "Heh, it's a dangerous job. Just ask Frederick the Wary here." He joked.
She glanced to him, 'wary indeed' she thought with a slight frown, who bowed at his lord.
"A title I shall wear with pride." He replied.
'Of course he would,' she thought she somehow wouldn't have expected anything less from him.
"Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution." He turned his gaze to the nameless girl.
"I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise." He finished with a slight bow which was barely even noticeable.
The nameless girl fiddle with a strand of her long hair which parted in the middle and fell neatly to the side of her face before it stopped at her chest, the rest was held back in a horse tail high above her head.
"I understand, sir. I would do no less myself." She replied and gave a little barely noticeable bow of her own. Then it dawned on her, her name that is. "My name is Robin. …I just remembered that. How odd. I suppose that's one mystery solved." She joked halfheartedly.
"Robin is that foreign? …Ah, well. We can discuss it later."
However Robin doubted there would be very little to discuss as she had only just realized that that was indeed her name…
Lissa brought her out of her thoughts, as she pointed towards the direction of the city. More specifically to the gray smoke clouds rising from it, Chrom's eyes widened with shock and well controlled furry.
"Damn it! The town is ablaze! Those blasted brigands, no doubt…"
Robin frowned she never did get to hear what those were, bandits perhaps? Chrom rushed ahead of her, Frederick and Lissa.
"Frederick, Lissa quickly!"
Frederick motioned to Robin, "What about her?"
Chrom glanced back, "Unless she's on fire as well, it can wait!" he hollered back to them.
Frederick agreed, "Aptly put, my lord,"
Lissa grumbled and stomped her foot to the ground as emphasis. "Let's go already!" she stated and the three headed off and left Robin alone.
"But what about – hmm…" Maybe she could help them, but how? She'd have to worry about that later, she followed after them to the city.
She reached the city shortly after them oddly enough she wasn't out of breath in the least as she had ran as fast as she could. Someone laughs echoed through the empty city ablaze in flames. Many houses she ran passed were broken into some still on fire, windows broken even people who hadn't made it out alive lay lifeless on the ground in front of her.
"Gwa ha ha! Get to it, Lads! Grab everything shiny and put the rest to the torch! We gots an example to set for these Ylissean types!"
'Oh so they were bandits after all,' Robin realized, well that was another question answered.
They had a village girl with them by the looks of it too, Robin realized. Lissa noticed as well as did Chrom and Frederick. Robin ran a head of them and turned to face them.
"Wait!"
Chrom looked surprised to see her and frowned, "Robin! You followed us! Why?"
Robin shook her head unsure of the reason herself as she answered, "I…I'm not certain myself." She started truthfully and then placed a hand over her chest.
"But I'm armed, and I know my way around a fight, if you'll have me." She continued with a serious gaze in her eyes.
Chrom nodded, "Of course- strength in numbers. Just stay close!"
Robin grinned at him and nodded as they began to take out the bandits one by one. She stood next to Lissa who had partially hid behind a fallen fruit stand, she and Robin watched as Frederick took out one, then two of the bandits with one hit each time.
"Amazing…" Robin mumbled next to the girl who smiled back at her.
"Yep that's Frederick for you" she giggled.
Chrom was no different, he used a sword, but it was still just as brilliantly executed as Fredericks lance.
"Wow…" Robin mumbled to herself in awe, but then she couldn't help but wonder why the stench and sight of blood didn't bother her.
Frederick had stabbed through the bandits as if they were nothing but flies, blood gushed out everywhere, especially on his lance which was cloaked in a fine layer of blood now. Chrom's sword was very much the same, but somehow his attacks were swift and clean cut. Yet the sight still did not brother her in the least.
Lissa screamed as a bandit rushed at her, his sword raised and ready to fight. Robin pushed her out of the way; the sword grazed Robin on her forearm then clashed against the ground.
"Lissa!"
Chrom rushed over to his sister as the bandit raised his sword once more until a jolt of lightning zapped the bandit and sent him flying into the air. Lissa helped Robin stand as Chrom and Frederick on horseback made their way over.
"A tome? You can use magic?" Chrom questioned eyebrows raised surprised.
Robin looked at the tome in question; it was bound in dark leather and looked fairly new as well. She shrugged, "It would appear so…" she concluded but not only that, for some reason she could also see the bandit's weaknesses.
Lissa gasped, "You're hurt! Here let me heal you!" she held up her staff as Robin looked at the small cut on her arm, courtesy of the bandit.
"Oh no it's just a scratch don't worry about it," she waved her hands in protest but, the siblings gave her an evened look that left no room for argument.
"Shouldn't we take care of the bandits first?" Robin suggested and pointed who she assumed was the leader.
A man, older than she, with a scar along his face, a throwing axe in one hand the village girl in the other. He grinned, which sent chills down Robin spine, 'What a disgusting…' she trailed off in thought. "It's strange…" she mumbled.
The three looked towards her as she continued, "For some reason, I can… Well, I can see things, like the enemy's strength, their weaknesses the flow of battle… I must have studied this somewhere…"
Chrom nodded slowly, "So you can size up the enemy at a glance then?"
Robin nodded back, "Yes, and perhaps more, if I apply myself," she replied.
Chrom thought for a moment before he nodded at Robin once more. "Well then I'll leave it to you to come up with a plan,"
So she did and as she told it to the two, Chrom and Frederick hurried towards the bandit leader as Lissa stayed behind and healed Robin who smiled gratefully at her before she too hurried and joined the two men as she made their attack against the bandit. She fired another spell at the bandit as Chrom attacked him and Frederick saved the village girl. The Bandit fell dead to the ground, blood seeped from his wounds and to the ground.
"Well, that's the end of that." Robin commented as the village girl rushed off to the various other villagers who had come out from their hiding spots.
Lissa smiled in agreement, "Lucky for the town, we were close by," she said full of relief that everything had worked out for the best.
"But holy wow, Robin you were incredible!" she added hurriedly and grabbed her hands in hers happily.
Robin smiled her cheeks flushed pink with slight embarrassment. "I wouldn't go that far…" she insisted.
Chrom who had remained silent finally spoke, "You're certainly no helpless victim that much is for sure."
Frederick joined in, "Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation for how you came here?"
He still didn't believe her? Duty or no Duty his wary and suspsion was beginning to grow tiresome. Robin cleared her throat, "I understand your skepticism, Sir Frederick. And I cannot explain why only some knowledge has returned to me. But please, believe me. I have shared all that I know," she tried to convince him.
Chrom grinned, "You fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough."
Robin felt her heart flutter with excitement and relief however it died as Frederick spoke once more.
"And your mind milord? Will you not heed its counsel as well?"
Chrom's smile faded as he spoke again, "Frederick, the shepherds could use someone with Robin's talents."
Lissa nodded in agreement, "She's amazing!"
Robin could feel her cheeks grow warm again as Lissa beamed at her.
"We've brigands and unruly neighbors, all looking to bloody our soil. Would you really us lose such an able tactician?" He told Frederick.
Robin couldn't help but wonder if the situation was indeed that dire as Chrom preserved it to be, then again who was she to question him? The bandits had destroyed the town they were in, killed villagers. It was plausible that much for sure.
"Besides, I believe her story, as odd as it might be,"
Robin felt her heart fluttered again but she dismissed it. "Th-thank you, Chrom,"
Chrom nodded at her, "So how about it? Will you join us, Robin?"
"I would be honored," she replied as she smiled at him.
Frederick cleared his throat to gain his lords attention, "Did you notice milord? The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent."
'This again…' Robin thought.
"Plegian? What's that?" she finally questioned.
Chrom answered her question. Plegia was the western neighbor of Ylisse. Apparently they began sending small bands of bandits and warriors into Ylisse's territory to instigate a war. The townsfolk suffered when they ravaged the towns throughout the empire. But that was exactly why the Shepherds existed.
'So they don't herd sheep after all…' Robin thought absently.
A villager offered give them shelter for the night. Frederick refused the offer and that they were going to camp and eat off the earth. Not that she minded, Lissa turned to her a furious look in her eyes as the group left the village.
"Don't you want to sleep in a bed Robin?"
Robin blinked and thought for a moment, well she couldn't remember the last time she had in slept in a bed, but not sleeping in one didn't bother her per say.
"As longs as there's food and a nice warm fire, I don't mind sleeping on the ground," She replied with a big grin.
Lissa frowned and groaned, "You're all impossible," she whined mostly to herself.
The sun began to set over the mountains and dyed the sky a deep red as the four walked, and walked until the sun started to fade over the mountain range beyond. Robin and Lissa settled in for the night as Frederick and Chrom went to hunt for dinner. As night came along and grew and the planes grew colder and still, Robin had fallen asleep near the warm flames. She hadn't even noticed when Lissa and Chrom disappeared from camp and into the woods nearby. That was until the earth started to shake and rumble, and woke her with a start.
"Wh-what's going on?" Robin exclaimed shakily as she tried to stand.
Through it proved be difficult as the ground shook and cracked under her feet. Frederick's horse bucked nearby and freed itself from the tree it been tied to and ran over to him. It was only then that she noticed that Chrom and Lissa were gone. Frederick though was already on his horse when the forest went ablaze. Robin watched for a moment before she felt someone grab her by the back of her clothing and pull her up into the air and onto the back of a horse.
"Pardon me but, we don't have time to dawdle!" The horse galloped towards the woods as Robin gripped on to Frederick for dear life so she wouldn't fall off of the horse.
They passed by up rooted trees; ground had split and rose up into the night air. The air grew hotter as Frederick caught sight of Lissa and Chrom as they reached a clearing.
"Milord, milady Are you hurt?" Frederick called out as he and Robin arrived behind the two.
Robin hopped off of the horse as Lissa rushed over to them. Robin however paid attention only to the soldiers that faced them, however something was off, even with the flames around them the soldiers their eyes were different, they shined red, they may have resembled humans, but Robin doubted that they were.
"Are such horrible creature's commonplace in these lands?" she asked with a grimace.
Chrom shook his head his sword in hand. "They're not from Ylisse, I promise you that."
'Oh wonderful…'