cover art by hyolks, check out her tumblr under the same name

Chapter 1: Lost and Found

"Come on, Big Bro, we have to do something!"

"...What do you suppose we do?"

"I-I dunno!"

Robin stirred from their slumber, mind foggy, as if just waking up from a nap, but a thousand times stronger. Their eyes fluttered open and they saw two people standing over them, a dashing blue-haired fellow, Chrom, their mind dredged up, and a sprightly blonde girl.

"I see you're awake now." Chrom said, happy to see that their sleeping stranger had joined them in the waking world.

"Hey there." Lissa giggled, her smile friendly and inviting.

"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know," Chrom quipped. "Gimme your hand." He reached out to Robin.

Their eyes fell onto the back of their right hand as they took a hold of Chrom's. What a strange tattoo, they thought, quickly taking in the sight of the strange purple design.

Chrom pulled them up to their feet and took a step back to give them space, for which they were thankful. They took a moment to dust themselves off, admiring for a split second the color of their purple cloak, before looking up at their awakeners. Chrom was simply dressed in a light leather, with one sleeve removed to show off his own tattoo, some manner of tear drop shape inside of a skyward-facing arch. The girl - his sister, judging by her calling him 'Big Bro' - was wearing a light set of half-plate armor, which focused on protecting her chest and arms and left her legs free but unguarded. A rider of some kind, Robin mused.

Standing behind them was a taller man with brown hair who stood in front of two horses. Does that white one have wings?! A pegasus… The man was well-armored, though not overly so. His plate mail was more ornate than the girl's, and underneath his collar Robin could see he was quite smartly dressed. His pauldrons bore the same mark on Chrom's arm, the metal shaped to accommodate the design. He watched Robin with a discerning eye.

"You all right?" Chrom asked, watching them take in their surroundings as they awoke fully.

"Mmm, I… I think so? Thank you, Chrom." Their voice was a little rough from… disuse? They stopped a moment to clear their throat, and found their voice anew. "Yes, I believe I am."

"You know who I am, then?" Chrom asked with a quirk of his eyebrow.

"Huh?" Robin opened their mouth to answer, but found no words coming out. How did they know Chrom's name? Who was he, exactly? Wait… where were they?! "No, I don't. Um… this is, a little odd. Your name just came to me and…" Robin trailed off as their mind raced with questions it couldn't answer as they tried to get their mouth to catch up.

"A little odd, I'd say," Chrom agreed with a laugh. "So, what's your name? What brings you here?"

"My name?" Robin blanked. All the little Robins in their head scrambled to find that word that so firmly established one's identity and came up empty.

Chrom watched Robin's expression furrow in confusion and it dawned on him that this might not have been normal. "You… don't know your own name? Yet you know mine?"

"Ugh, I can't… this is killing me! Where am I, exactly?" Robin asked, looking around at the field they'd fallen asleep in. They were in a clearing just north of a few hills that stretched down to the coast, a tree having provided Robin shade for their impromptu nap. The grass was lush and the plants were beautiful, but something about this place seemed foreign to Robin in a way they couldn't quite explain.

"You don't know who, or where, you are? I know what this is, they've got amnesia!" The girl exclaimed proudly.

"They have need of a better explanation than 'amnesia' if they expect us to believe they remember your brother's name and not their own, Lissa." The man in back said firmly. Robin winced at the accusatory tone, the way his eyes dug into them as if looking for any cracks in their demeanor, yet finding none.

"I swear, it's true! I mean… you have to believe me!"

"...Frederick, I think they're telling the truth. We can't just leave them here, alone and confused. We're the Shepherds! Helping people like them is our job." Chrom came to Robin's defense, and they heaved a sigh of relief. It was good to see that honesty had worked better than had they tried to come up with some excuse. Chrom certainly would have had trouble believing someone with no name, and Frederick would have seen right through them.

"So it is, but I shall remain cautious. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock." Frederick said, turning to the horses and preparing them to move.

Chrom turned and walked with Lissa to the horses, saying, "Alright, we'll take them back to town and figure everything out there. Sound good?"

Feeling ignored, and more than that, powerless, Robin cried out. "Wait! Don't I have a say in this?!"

"Relax, you can say what you need to say back in town. Unless you'd rather just stand out here…" Chrom said with a shrug of his shoulders as Frederick helped Lissa mount her pegasus and effortlessly pulled himself up onto his horse's back. Robin huffed and followed, miffed that they were being dragged around like this.

[~~~]

As they walked together, Robin noticed the very sharp-looking lance strapped to the side of Frederick's horse, a less threatening one on Lissa's, and a strange longsword on Chrom's belt. Realizing that these people were armed and dangerous, their walk took on a new light. Robin's breath hitched as they called out, "What's going to happen to me, if I can't remember anything? Am I to be your prisoner?"

Chrom laughed and - after exchanging a glance with Frederick, who nodded - turned to Robin, saying, "You'll be free to go once we establish you're no enemy of Ylisse."

Ylisse. A proper name. "Is that where we are? Ylisse?"

Frederick scoffed. "Anyone who can claim not to have heard of the halidom should be paid handsomely for their acting abilities. You play quite the fool! The furrowed brow is especially convincing…" Frederick's ribbing turned speculative as he watched their expression.

"Frederick, cut them some slack." Chrom turned back to Robin and explained, "This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse. The land is ruled by a line of kings, and protected by those of the Exalted bloodline." As he took in Robin's contemplative expression, he continued, "And, I suppose this is the part where I'm supposed to give introductions. My name is Chrom-though, I suppose you already knew that. The delicate one on the pegasus is my sister, Lissa."

"I am NOT delicate! I'm a full-fledged pegasus knight now!" Lissa pouted. "Ignore my brother, he's about as thick as brick sometimes." As Chrom feigned offense, Lissa smiled, "But hey! At least you're lucky the Shepherds found you instead of someone else. Brigands would've been a rude awakening!"

"Shepherds? You tend sheep? ...In full armor?" Robin asked incredulously. Chrom had said they helped people, and if they were sheep herders they would have a good lay of the land, so that would make sense… and if banditry was a common problem, they would need to be armed to defend themselves.

"It's a dangerous job. Just ask Frederick the Wary here." Chrom joked.

"I would prefer you use my actual title, but if caution is what I am to be known for then I shall wear the title with pride. I suppose someone has to keep their guard up, and gods forbid it be one of you two," Frederick jeered, causing Lissa to pout again, flying off to scout ahead as if to prove him wrong. "Perhaps I would trust you, stranger, but a man of my station must be attentive, or he invites danger otherwise."

Robin nodded. "I understand, sir. I would do no less myself." They side-eyed Chrom, who seemed to miss the implication as he simply met their gaze with a charming smile. Something about that smile made something click, as if one of the little Robins in their head had that smile pinned as a photograph somewhere, signed to their name. "My name is Robin, by the way. I only just remembered that, but hey! That's one mystery solved, I suppose."

"Robin, huh?" Chrom tasted the name on his lips. "Like the bird?" He looked around, as if by searching, one of the thrushes sharing their name would appear just for the sake of it. "We're almost to town. Once we're there, we-"

"Frederick! Chrom! Come look! The town!" Lissa called out from above, pointing to just over the hill. When the others could see what she was pointing at, Frederick swore as he saw pillars of smoke rising up from various parts of the town.

"Fires! Follow me!" Frederick spurred his horse forward, galloping off to the town.

"Frederick! What about Robin?!" Chrom called out as Lissa matched Frederick's pace, leaving the two on foot in the dust.

"They're not on fire, it can wait! Hurry!" Frederick answered.

"Blasted brigands, no doubt…" Chrom muttered before dashing off after them, leaving Robin behind.

"But, what should I…?" Robin looked down at their belt and recognized the glint of green metal. They were armed? They could help! Robin raced after them, knowing somewhere in the back of their mind that rushing into battle was exactly what they were meant to do.

[~~~]

"Ba ha ha! Get to it, you louts! If it shines in the light, you grab it, and if it doesn't, it can burn for all I care!" The bandit leader called out to his men, who were spreading out after having started the fires to distract the civilians. "It's time we set an example for the Ylisseans, aye?!" He sneered at one of the women cowering in the church behind him. "Isn't that right, girl?" She cried out for help as the man laughed.

"Gods, Frederick, this is awful!" Lissa cried as she saw the wreckage the bandits had caused before they'd arrived.

"Worry not-these brigands shan't cause any more harm after today," he called out, readying his lance arm.

As Chrom caught up to them, Frederick looked back to see Robin following as well. "Hm? Why have you come, Robin?" He asked suspiciously.

"I can't say I know, myself. But! I'm armed, and after testing my sword arm on the way here, I'd say I know my way around a fight, if you'll have me."

Frederick grunted, but Chrom answered for him. "There's strength in numbers. Stay close!"

The fighting was intense. Before anyone knew what was going on, Robin was directing them on where to go and who to attack without even thinking about it, and while Frederick had his reservations, he admitted to himself that he could do no better. Robin's idea of covering each other by fighting in close proximity ran counter of his own strategy of divide and conquer, but he could see its merits. Even more than usual, he found himself guarding Lissa and Chrom against blows, and found that Robin themselves was a more than capable fighter. Their swordsmanship was standard, but when they pulled out a tome to finish off Chrom's opponent he couldn't help but be awed. Magic was not something that came easily to anyone, and to see Robin switch from blades to blasts of thunder so effortlessly was very impressive.

He turned his attention to the opponent in front of him. Robin had smartly kept with Chrom to combat the barbarians amongst the enemy, directing him and Lissa to pair up and fend off the myrmidons. With Lissa's speed on his side, Frederick made short work of them, allowing Lissa to get her licks in and getting her own kill against the mage that tried to electrocute him. Frederick noted the quake in Lissa's lance arm and made a note to help her improve her steadiness next training session.

Soon all that was left was the Shepherds and the bandit leader. "Look how the sheep line up for the slaughter!" He taunted, but kept his guard up. He was outnumbered and he knew it.

"Frederick, with me!" Robin called out as they rushed the bandit. Frederick managed to deflect some of the force of the axe that came down to meet the tactician, and noticed the ease with which Robin shrugged off the cut they'd taken before swinging their arm out and across the bandit's midsection. "Chrom, Lissa!" As if on cue, the heir to Exalted bloodline and his sister came forward, Chrom swinging Falchion's divine edge skillfully as he locked blades with the bleeding axeman. Lissa took the opportunity to get a stab in while he was left open by his clash with Chrom, and as he staggered from the hole in his shoulder, Chrom managed to slash his chest open. The fire in the man's eyes had yet to go out however, and he turned, almost expertly, to Robin. He could tell who it was calling the shots in this battle, and was determined to take them down with him. Frederick was about to move to intercept when he saw Robin duck back from the arc of the axe swing, before shooting forward and swinging the blade out and into his gut, cutting away the last tie the man had to life.

With the bandits taken care of, Frederick saw to it the Shepherds and their savvy companion ensured the safety of the townspeople. The fires were mostly put out, but Frederick made sure that there were no stragglers looking to start another blaze.

"Wow, Robin! That was amazing! Swords, sorcery, tactics?! Is there anything you can't do?" Frederick overheard Lissa fawning over them as he returned to the center of town.

"Whoever you are, now that you've gotten your bearings, you're no helpless victim, that's for sure," Chrom said with a pat on the shoulder to whom Frederick could see was a new friend for him.

"Quite. Perhaps you might even be able to explain how you came to be here?" He probed, eager to hear even a single slip in the disguise of the amnesiac wearing Grimleal robes. Chrom hadn't mentioned it, but Frederick could not shake the uneasiness the eyes sewn into that coat made him feel.

"You're skeptical. I understand, Sir Frederick. Why has only some knowledge returned to me, and not the rest? I don't have an answer, but I can only hope it will come with time. Please, believe me. I have shared all that I know." Frederick bore into them with his gaze, his eyes a keen tool for finding any tell that could give Robin away as a liar and a fool, but found nothing.

"...I can see that you are being truthful, and yet, I cannot be certain," he said with more bitterness than he'd have liked to let slip.

Chrom, of course, was quick to their defense. His heart had claimed Robin as a friend, there was no denying that. "They fought to save Ylissean lives. Is that not enough, Frederick? My heart tells me it is."

"And your mind? What has it to say on the matter?" He retorted.

"Frederick, we could use someone with their talents. Brigands and bandits, foreign enemies, religious fanatics, all looking to spill Ylissean blood. Would you really have us lose such an able tactician?" His words made Frederick scowl. He was right, Ylisse had many enemies out to destroy it, and they needed all the help they could get. The army was still in tatters from the previous war, and the Shepherds were the best Frederick could ask for in terms of a personal militia.

"...Fine. I yield to your counsel, Chrom. But know that I have my reservations on the veracity of their story."

"Well, I believe it, odd as it may be," Chrom said with that stubborn firmness that made him such a good leader. Frederick had many regrets, but agreeing to Chrom's idea of forming the Shepherds was not one of them.

"Thank you, Chrom," Robin said with a sincerity that almost made Frederick drop his guard. No, he could not afford to let an emotional showing get the better of him. Better liars than they had tried to pull the wool over his eyes, and he always saw through it. Years of courtly duties had trained him well.

"So? Will you join us?" Chrom asked, with Lissa's eager face right behind him, silently pleading for a positive answer.

"I'd love to."

Frederick simply accepted this new reality as the one in which he lived. One of these days Chrom was going to start recruiting everyone that caught his eye, be they strangers, enemies, assassins, or nutcases. Gods' breath, but he would have to keep his guard up whenever Chrom meets a fellow who strikes his fancy. This Robin may have proved well-intentioned but the next recruit might not be so kind as to not stick a knife in the back of Falchion's Chosen. Something was bothering him though.

"Did anyone else notice the brigand's accent?" He asked, turning to Chrom and Lissa questioningly.

Lissa shook her head and Chrom pouted. "Can't say I did. He sounded like he could have come from anywhere," he answered, pondering the issue.

"Indeed, it would seem these hired hands aren't quite as dumb as their looks might suggest. They could be Feroxi, Plegian… perhaps Valmese?" Frederick pondered, before turning to look at Robin's coat. "My guess would be this was Plegia's doing."

Robin turned, as if sensing his gaze, yet unaware of his unspoken accusation, and asked, "Plegia? What's that?"

"Plegia is Ylisse's neighbor, to the west. Some speculate that they're the ones sending bands of cutthroats and mercenaries into our territory, to spark a war," Chrom explained and, for the first time, Frederick noticed, seemed to take note of Robin's coat, tan complexion, and snow white hair, and backpedaled, "However, their new Queen has been nothing but amiable… if a bit off-putting. She's very experienced in both politics and warfare, and wiser minds than I believe that if she wanted war, she would have it. Personally, I think this is the work of our neighbors to the north, in Regna Ferox. They're a warrior khanate of strong barbarian roots, and they're incredibly proud of their military strength. Bullying a weaker nation like ours while we're still recovering from war seems something they would do."

"Blah, blah, blah, all this nonsense about who's attacking us is real interesting, but it's the poor townsfolk who suffer!" Lissa cut in and lamented. "Totally innocent, and totally helpless…"

"Don't forget, Lissa, they do have us; Shepherds to protect the sheep," Frederick answered calmly. He could already see the fire in Chrom's eyes at the indignation of being made a victim of brutality, the sadness in Lissa's at the thought of civilians she couldn't protect. Watching them had always helped him keep a cooler head, when he compared himself to what he saw in them. "We must not allow anger to cloud our judgment. We must be rational and calculating in our response to this insult."

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard it all before…" Lissa may have rolled her eyes, but Frederick could tell she'd made great strides from the time she first picked up a lance. When he'd first told her to reign in her emotions, she'd thrown a tantrum, calling him cold and heartless, but now she saw his side of things, the calm that one must maintain as a protector. The shift in her posture to one of a proper pegasus knight was also an encouraging sight. "Don't worry, sir. I'll get used to all this."

And like the fell dragon seeing his chance to offer his temptations, one of the village leaders rushed towards them. He was out of breath and clearly coming down from the fear and excitement, but his tone was nothing if not grateful. "Milord, please! You must stay the night! We can offer little in the ways of extravagance, but your bravery on this day shall not go unaddressed! Please, we would throw a feast in your honor!"

Though he could already see Chrom's mouth water, and Lissa beginning to rattle off an order as if she were back in the castle kitchens, Frederick cut in, saying, "Your generosity is most kind, sir, and I am sure your hospitality would be a welcome reprieve… but I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol."

Lissa, of course, was absolutely taken aback. "What do you mean, Frederick?! It's nearly dark! Why can't we stay and sleep cozy tonight?" Her pout might have swayed lesser men, but Frederick had learned to resist her charms long ago.

"When night falls, we'll camp. Live off the fat of the land, rest amongst the grass and such. Did you not say you would 'get used to all this'?" He asked with a quirk of the eyebrow that he knew she just hated.

"Frederick, I swear, I don't know how you do this. Sometimes I hate you. So much," she declared, as if her youthful scorn could phase him.

"He's quite the firm man, I see," Robin quipped.

Lissa laughed, "Yeah, well, 'firm' is one word for it. I can think of a few others!"

Chrom seemed not to value his own neck enough not to join in on the joke. "Frederick only smiles when he's bringing his lance to bear."

As Robin snorted in laughter, Frederick decided to end this whilst getting the last laugh, metaphorically. "I AM still present, you know. Unless you'd like to see me smile?" He asked with a quirk of his lip daring them to continue. That stiffened them right up. "Let's get going. Lissa is right, it is nearly dark."

"Alright, alright," Chrom answered with a roll of his eyes as he prepared to join Lissa on her pegasus. He seemed to understand that, with news of the latest attack needing to make it to Ylisstol, they hadn't time to tarry. He turned back to Robin. "Ready to go? The capital isn't far." Robin nodded, and though Frederick was tempted to let them walk, he pushed the idea aside as he helped them up onto Serenity, his noble steed.

Frederick could tell from the tightness with which Robin's arms wrapped around his midsection, and the wide-eyed look they had on their face as he took Serenity into a gallop that this was likely Robin's first time riding. He had always understood riding to be a very visceral activity, and one that, like fighting, came naturally to a regular, and Robin's visible nerves made it clear they were very new to this. As he turned his head forward and rolled his eyes, he decided that he'd need to do quite a bit of drilling with the newest Shepherd if they were to be integrated into the Ylissean militia.

As the four rode off to the north, the night that fell over the land came down less like a blanket of rest, and more like the beginning of a new, dark age for the world, though the lord and his companions had no way of knowing it.

A/N: Welcome to Heavy is the Head, inspired by tatizekes's AU where Freddy-bear's the Prince! Oh, but so many more roles have been swapped~ :3c

I'm uploading here to from Ao3, where I originally posted it. I'll be uploading the next 9 chapters every couple of days until FF is all caught up with Ao3. Props to Narwhal Lord for helping me navigate this place's hellish editing and publishing process.

The cover art is posted with permission from hyolks on tumblr. The pic and comic actually helped inspire me to write Heavy is the Head, and I figured it only appropriate to share that inspiration with you guys

Please leave a review with what you think! I'd appreciate any feedback anybody provides.