So. Fire Emblem fan fiction. Something I'm going to write. Something that is going to include a horrible OC that makes Mary Sues look good, a horrible plot, the ruin of canon, and so much other stuff. So basically cancer. I am writing cancer. But I like writing so I'll write this. Let's get on with this shall we?

Chapter One/Prologue: The Lie

I never thought I would say this but this is pretty boring. That's something to say considering I'm a mercenary that was hired by a group of Plegian bandits to help raid this town in the middle of the Halidom of Ylisse. Despite the bandits being supported by the Plegian kingdom and all that. The relations between the two countries is pretty weird. I'll try to remember it all later seeing how I'm helping raze this tiny village. Well if you count sitting on a crate while everyone else pillages and burns stuff as helping. I think it does.

But I really only accepted this job because it pays so well. Enough for me to finally repair my father's broken sword. It broke a week ago and it's the only blade I really feel comfortable handling. Not like this clunky bronze sword I grabbed from a blacksmith's clearance box. You see, I'm a Mercenary. It's a class that warriors have. Not warriors as in the Warrior class- You get the point! Mercenaries are basically the all around average sword fighters that can dish out some good hits while taking some. We aren't like Knights who can tank stuff nor Myrmidons who can kill tough enemies with one clean hit. Basically; my class is the backbone of armies besides the Soldier class. Soldiers are like out spear using cousins.

I'm getting off track. But how can I not seeing how I'm doing jack shit during this raid. But seeing how I'm basically telling my life story in my mind and possibly will be writing it on paper later; better get all the details out there! My name is Aiden Jaeger but I prefer being called Rider. It's the name I use for my contracts and it also sounds pretty badass. 'Look out! There he is! The Rider!' Stuff like that. Concerning my appearance; well it's nothing special. Short, cropped brown hair with 'Pure brown eyes like an angel' some maids said to me a while ago. Of course my beautiful eyes are diminished with my ugly black glasses that help me see things far away. My outfit is basically the standard issue Mercenary outfit. Patchwork leather and metal armor topped off with one giant shoulder plate on my sword arm. My shoulder plate is special because I took it off a dead Ylissean Mercenary I killed on a job a year ago. Hey; waste not want not am I right? This is starting to sound like some horrible story a Shaman writes in his or her's spare time. I'll stop now.

"Gwa ha ha! Get to it, lads! Grab anything shiny, and put the rest to the torch! We gots an example to set for these Ylissean types! Ain't that right, lass?"

"S-Stay away from me! Please! Someone! HEEEEEELP!"

There's my 'boss', Garrick. He's a generic muscle headed bandit chief. Nothing that makes him really stand out so he is remembered. I would've forgotten him if he wasn't the leader of this tiny raid. I hope this raid ends soon. I'm so bored. It's not fun killing civilians, especially women and children. I may be a mercenary who is easily swayed by gold but I still have morals. And taste. I prefer killing soldiers because it gives me a rush. When I kill civilians I don't get that rush. If I am going to die by the blade, I might as well make do so while feeling fantastic as all hell!

Speaking of which; I think I see some Ylissean soldiers running into town. Looks like a Priest. Looks like a girl so I'll let the others handle her. A… Great Knight. The Great Knight is packing silver weapons too; going to be a big problem. Two Tacticians. One is wielding magic and the other has a sword. Twins so it means they can figure out my weaknesses out twice as fast. And a Lord. That means it must be the Ylissean prince Chrom . Who wields the blade that is the bane of all dragons, Falchion. The Ylissean soldiers are the feared Shepherds, a band of elite Ylissean soldiers lead by the Lord Chrom. Oh… No... I wonder if I can sneak out of town before the raiders get destroyed.

But it's too late. The Shepherds are already on the move and already half of the bandits are dead; and I've just stood up! I draw my blade and run to the area on the right side of the bridge on the side of the town. I'm joined by the raiders only Mage. If he manages to keep the enemy pinned while I finish them off, I might make it out of here alive.

"Time to tip the scales!" is shouted by a Tactician, female from how her body is shaped and moves. After saying that, the Tactician spins around before shooting a FUCKING GIANT BEAM OF LIGHTING THAT COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATES THE MAGE! FOR FUCK'S SAKE! I look at the Tactician who is simply dusting her hands on her Plegian coat while Chrom comes charging in. I am so fucked. My bronze sword barely meets the legendary Falchion when Chrom reaches me. He easily disarms me with a few curt swings of his blade and sends me down to the dirt on my ass. I look up at Chrom; Falchion raised above his head, ready to cut me down.

But to my surprise, Chrom lowers his blade and glares at me. "That shoulder piece. It's Ylissean. You wouldn't happen to be a Ylissean soldier now?" He says, staring at my shoulder piece. I've heard tales of how gullible the leader of the Shepherds is so I may have a chance to get out of here alive.

"Y-yes! I am a Ylissean soldier," I say in desperation. Chrom's glare fades somewhat while he looks at me. I can't believe it's working.

"Then why are you fighting for the enemy?" Chrom says, stabbing Falchion in the ground in a at ease position. Shit. I need to think up of something clever. Or at least believable.

"They threatened to kill my family if I didn't fight for them. It was the only thing I could do!" I lie, my hand slowly creeping to the handle of my Father's sword. Broken or not, it can still cut a bitch. Or in this case, the prince of the Halidom of Ylisse.

Chrom glare finally breaks down before putting his hand out for me to grab it. "Come on then. Let's go save your family. What is your name Mercenary?"

I take his hand and stand up with his help. "My name is… Rider. Thank you for not killing me… um… Lord Chrom."

"How do you know my name Rider?"

"You're the prince of Ylisse. It's sorta hard not to know your name."

"Oh yeah… I keep forgetting that. Now come on Rider! Let's clean up the rest of these brigands!" Chrom rushes off; the female Tactician that Chrom called, "Robin", joining him. I go and pick up my bronze sword before joining the Shepherds to help finish everything. I cannot believe that my lie actually worked. But it worked so well that now I am cutting down my former allies with the help of my former enemies. I'm such a horrible person. Well I already was but this takes it to new heights.

I arrive in the marketplace where most of the Shepherds are gathered. From the names that are getting shouted out by Chrom, Robin, and the other Tactician that is apparently male; I learn all the names of the Shepherds currently here. The Great Knight is a man called Frederick and from the way he just cut down a Barbarian, I am not going to mess with him. The Priest is a woman called Lissa and she is Chrom's younger sister with a spunky attitude but a knack for healing. And the male Tactician is called… Robin. Which is weird seeing how Chrom called the female Tactician Robin as well. I guess they are really close twins who didn't have very imaginative parents. The male Robin has the sword while the female Robin has the magic. Neat. But I'm getting off track again. Back to the battle!

I look around the marketplace to find an enemy to fight to hold up my little lie. I see the male Robin battling a Barbarian and a Soldier. Two against one isn't all that fair so I might as well help him. I rush over to the male Robin just when the Soldier lunges forward with his spear aimed at Robin's heart. I barely make; grabbing the upper handle of the spear and tugging it away from Robin, the Soldier stumbling after it. When the Soldier nears me; I rear my bronze sword back before stabbing the Soldier in his chest, killing him. The weight I feel from the Soldier's chest while I grip my sword brings a wild smile to my face. I pull my blade out, the Soldier falling limp to the ground, before helping Robin finish the Barbarian. I leave a good mark across the Barbarian's chest before he is decapitated by Robin. Seeing the blood spray from the Brigands neck sends a pleasurable tingle down the back of my neck.

"Thanks for the help. Chrom said to me your name is Rider before going back to fighting. Thanks for helping us out," Robin says; huffing and puffing for air. He probably isn't use to fighting on the frontlines. I also notice something. He has hair. I thought he was bald but apparently he has hair. It's just bleached like a dried out sun. That must mean his sister… After the fight we gotta see if she also has hair.

"Yeah don't mention it. Now let's get back with the fight. I gotta save my family," I say; reinforcing the lie while digging myself a bigger grave if I ever get caught.

Frederick comes riding besides us, not even sweating or gasping for air from combat. He looks just prim and proper like a knight usually does. Frederick rears his horse and says, "Remember the weapons triangle you two! You got lucky this time. I'm still watching you 'Robin' and especially you 'Rider'." I think he knows that about my lie. Or is at least suspicious of it. Which isn't good but I just want to live right now.

But before I continue on with the battle; I gotta talk about the weapon triangle in case you don't know or you forgot about it. It's pretty simple. Swords are effective against axes, axes are effective against spears, and spears are effective against swords. You got that? Good. Now back to the fight!

I head deeper into the battle while male Robin goes to Lissa to heal his wounds that he got from the Barbarian and Soldier earlier. It looks like we've managed to reach Garrick and his 'officers;' a Barbarian and a Myrmidon. It looks like it's just those three left before the battle ends. I find myself standing besides the female Robin, who has bleached hair like her brother except it's longer, and Chrom while they examine the enemy.

"Here, sheepy sheepy! Come to the slaughter!" Garrick taunts towards us, spinning his axe in his hands, waiting for us to come at him. Garrick is a decently skilled Barbarian so it might be a bit of a hassle to kill him. But that won't be much of a problem considering I have the leader of the Shepherds and a Tactician with magic with me. The Female Robin shouts, "Thunder!" with a lightning bolt hitting the Myrmidon, her brother coming to her aid, while Chrom charges at the Barbarian. I guess that leaves me with Garrick. Oh boy.

I near Garrick, my sword resting on my shoulder plate while Garrick stops twirling his axe around. He stand like that before I run at him. Garrick holds his axe up high to chop me in half when I near him. I stepside his slice and slash at his chest, leaving a decent cut. I jump back, dodging another strike. Garrick jumps into the air and falls down with a slice that sends on my ass while me bronze sword blocks the strike. Garrick grabs my leg and throws my behind him into a pile of boxes and crates. I groan while I stand up, blood trickling out of my nose from hitting on of the boxes. I quickly wipe the blood away before glaring at Garrick. Time to end this mohterfucker before I shed anymore blood.

I place my sword on my shoulder plate before saying in the toughest tone I could think off, "Pay with your life!" I throw my blade up in the air, halfway between me and Garrick. I brace myself and jump for my sword, my body in a tight little ball. I grab my sword and speed down towards Garrick in one mighty strike. I hit Garrick before he has time to defend himself; my blade sinks through his collar bone and into his lungs and heart. I jump back, tearing my blade out of him while I twirl in a tight ball again. I land back in my original spot and watch Garrick let out "Bwaaargh!" before falling to the ground, blood pooling around him.

I look at my hands and see a faint glow resonant around it. Looks like my Spirit has improved. Spirit or what some like to call, 'Levels', is a weird power that everyone has. It can be improved if you manage to do something amazing or practice enough at your chosen craft. Like a Soldier can 'Level Up' by slaying a certain number of foes. When that happens, your body adapts to become stronger, more resilient, sexier, and other stuff that may apply. Now with that explanation out of the way; back to the action.

I look back up and see the Shepherds regrouping in the marketplace while Lissa runs around healing them. I sheath my sword and walk over to them to join them. Now it's the moment of truth. Time to lie my way to survival. I arrive and let the others talk. I watch and learn to make myself seem like a smart person.

The Robins dust themselves off and say in one voice, "Well, that's the end of that."

Lissa walks over and starts to heal me while she talks. The cool sensation and smell of water fill my senses while my wounds heal. Lissa says while she heals me, "Lucky for the town, we were close by. But holy wow, Robin and other Robin! You were incredible! Swords, sorcery, AND tactics! Is there anything you two can't do?"

Chrom nods at Lissa's statement and says, "You're certainly no helpless victim, that much is for sure."

Frederick glares at the Robins before he asks, "Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation for how you came here?"

The male Robin steps forward and says, "I understand your skepticism, Sir Frederick. And I cannot explain why only some knowledge has returned to me and my sister. But please, believe me. We have shared all that we know." It looks like the Robins are a pair of amnesiacs. Or they are just bluffing. But seeing how genuine the male Robin looks is making me lean to the former side.

But what Chrom says makes me be at somewhat ease while reassuring the Robins. "You fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough."

Frederick looks at Chrom with a questioning glance and says, "And your mind, milord? Will you now heed its council as well?"

Chrom dismisses Frederick's worries by saying, "Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with the Robins' talents. We've brigands and unruly neighbors, all looking to bloody our soil. Would you really have us lose such an able tactician? Besides, I believe their story, odd as it might be."

The female Robin bows slightly while saying, "Th-thank you, Chrom."

Chrom smiles and asks the Robins, "So how about it? Will you join us, Robins?"

The Robins say in complete unison, "We would be honored."

"And what of you Rider? Will you join us?" Chrom says, looking at me with a light but a somewhat forced smile. Looks like it's my time to shine! Time to leave this place! But… The more that I think about it; the more I want to join them. Being a Shepherd means I can get paid handsomely and maybe… Be something better than a mercenary. But that means being forced to live this little lie I've made. But… I'm really good at lying constantly. That's how I've survived long enough.

I open my mouth to say something but is interrupted by Frederick. Frederick asks Chrom, "Is this wise my lord? No doubt 'Rider,' if that is his name; has proven himself but do you really believe his story?" Shut the fuck up Frederick. I don't want to die.

Chrom taps his chin while he places a hand on Falchion handle while he looks at me. "Yes… His story does seem a little fishy… Where is your family Rider?"

Shit. Think of something… I glance around and see a couple corpses that could pass as my parents. Perfect alibi. I point at the corpses and say in a fake choked voice, "They're… over there prince. The bandits killed them." The Shepherds look over and pity cover their faces with Frederick covering it up. Perfect. I'm safe.

"I see… Well; if my lord permits it then you may join us," Frederick says looking at me with a mask of nonchalant. But I know he is just hiding that pity.

"Come on Chrom! Let him join us! We got the Robin and other Robin joining so let's include Rider! Three friends are better than two!" Lissa pleads, grabbing and hugging one of each of the Robin's arms. I feel a tiny smile forming when I see the male Robin blush a tiny bit while Lissa holds his arm.

"Ok. Your welcome to join us Rider but first, you gotta tell us your real name." Chrom says, crossing his arms while looking at me with a sympathetic smile. I don't know why but I feel happy. Must be me finally deciding to do something right in my life.

I rub the back of my head and say, "My real name is Aiden Jaeger and thanks for this chance to prove myself." I really mean it. I finally have something that I never had before; a chance. But enough of the cutesy shit. I follow behind the Robins while Chrom, Frederick, and Lissa lead the way out of the town.

"Did you notice, milord? The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent." Frederick says to Chrome.

The Robins, together, ask Chrom, "Plegian? What's that?"

Chrom responds with, "Plegia is Ylisse's westerly neighbor. They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate a war."

Lissa adds onto Chrom's answer by saying, "And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer! Totally innocent, and totally helpless…"

Frederick nods at Lissa's addition and says, "They do have us, milady: Shepherds to protect the sheep. Do not be swept up in your anger. It will cloud your judgment."

"I know, I know... Don't worry. I'll get used to all this."

Before I could stop myself, I say, "Don't worry cupcake. It's good to be disturbed by all of this. Keeps you human."

Lissa looks over her shoulder at me and says, "Really?"

Might as well reinforce this. I really need to keep thinking about what I say. "Yep. Everyone some sort of morality. Only true monsters don't have morals."

Before I could say anything else, a villager runs up to Chrom and says, "Milord, please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!"

Frederick rides in front of Chrom to separate him from the villager and says, "A most generous offer, sir, 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— Wait, what?! We're not staying?! But, Frederick, it's nearly dark!" Lissa says, looking at Frederick with a flabbergasted expression.

"When night falls, we'll camp. Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like... I believe you mentioned you would be 'getting used to this'?"

"Frederick? Sometimes I hate you."

The male Robin looks at Lissa and notes, "You've quite the stern lieutenant there."

Lissa adopts a thinking pose with Chrom and says, "Yeah, well, 'stern' is one name for it. I can think of a few others!"

Chrom retorts with, "Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe."

The male Robin smirks before saying, "Duly noted."

Frederick stares down Chrom, Lissa, and the male Robin and says, "*Ahem* You do realize I AM still present?"

Chrom nods and says, "Oh, we realize."

The male Robin adds onto Chrom by saying, "And we will continue to speak about you Mr. Stern."

The female Robin turns away and gives out a little "Heh heh," at Frederick's pain. Frederick right eye twitches before he says, "Milord remains as amusing as ever. His humor added with your help Robin. Now then, shall we be going?"

Chrom sighs and nods before turning back to the rest of us and says, ": All right, all right. Ready to go, everyone? The capital isn't far." Everyone nods and we finally start to leave. I let out a little sigh at the mess I just got myself in. I, Aiden Jaeger, am now a Shepherd by lying to the leader, the prince of the halidom of Ylisse.

This is going to be quiet the ride. I just know it.

So. Here is the first chapter. I got duel Robins and a Mary Sue. I bet you hate this fanfic already. But I guess I'll write more if you guys want more. Or I want to. It will probably be the latter. I guess this is the beginning of "Mercenary" and cancerous Fire Emblem fan fiction. Enjoy.