Hello there everyone, and welcome to the first chapter of my first ever story! As suggested in the story description, this story will (eventually) feature romance, while the main couples will be Robin/Cordelia and Chrom/Sumia. Apart from these two pairings, nothing else is set in stone. So, if you want any other pairing, please do let me know what your wishes are. I cannot promise to incorporate every suggestion as I already have some ideas of my own. The Robin featured in this story is pretty standard, only unique(ish) trait of his is his blonde hair. Anyways, enough with all of this, please enjoy the story!

To his right, a blue-haired swordsman dashes towards a tall, dark skinned mage before slicing at said man and unleashing a flurry of strikes, which are all either dodged away from or parried with the help of dark magic. While Robin continues circling around his target, he charges up a bolt of lightning in his left hand, only to see the ominous mage pushing Chrom back before launching a deadly, purple sphere of energy towards him, who narrowly evades by rolling forward, slashing upwards in one motion.

"Up there!", he shouts, looking upward, swiftly noting his slash had only met air. Raising his head to the new location of the mage he notices the second sphere of dark energy and jumps out of the way before it collides with the floor in an explosion of dark purple light, all the while shooting his lightning beam upwards, though his attack is evaded and hits the roof before exploding.

"You fool!", the dark haired mage hisses, as he swoops to the ground surrounded by the same purple energy he had used before to attack, knocking the swordsman to the ground. Watching his ally regain his footing, he shifts his attention back towards their enemy who conjures up yet another magic sphere, which he releases towards the incapacitated man before him. "Die!", he yells, followed by a mad cackle.

Realizing he had to something, he desperately holds out his hand and intercepts his opponents magic with a ball of lightning of his own. As the two magical spells collide, a bright white light is unleashed, blinding all three combatants. When the light dissipates, he is met with the mage, whose facial expression warps from a victorious smirk to an annoyed frown.

"This is it! This will be our final battle! Remember, you're one of us and nothing, not even destiny, will ever change that! Now let's rid ourselves of this dastard and end this once and for all!", Chrom exclaims with a determined expression and the two of them proceed towards Validar once more.

"Gyahaha, why do you struggle? After all, it has all been written! You are nothing to fate!" he taunts seconds before the duo reaches him. The fighting resumes with Chrom attempting to slash him across the chest, which is parried with the magic of the dark mage. Sensing an opportunity to strike, Robin launches another of his lightning bolts and lands a hit on Validars right arm – the one he uses to cast his spells. "Gah, you wretched fool! You dare strike me? ME?" Ignoring this, he charges up another spell to lure his attention towards him.

Chrom, noticing what his plan was, jumps high into the air before spinning his body with his sword outstretched above his head as he falls back to the ground where his blade meets the back of his enemy, causing him to collapse. Thinking him finished, he turns toward Robin smiling.

"Gah, this ISN'T over!" the dying mage exclaims, launching his last bit of energy towards them, in a last ditch attempt to kill Chrom. "Damn you both!"

Pushing him out of the way, Robin is now the one to be hit by the sphere, his vision once again going white. When it returns, he falls to the floor, seeing a blurry Chrom rush towards him to kneel at his side.

"You alright?" he questions, panting, before helping him to his feet. "That's the end of him." he states, and indeed, as the both of them look to where the corpse of their dreaded foe should have laid, only purple smoke remains, only to dissipate shortly after shifting their attention towards it.

"Thanks to you we carried the day" Chrom says, turning back towards him. However, as he gets up with the assistance of his friend, his vision goes bloodshot and starts pulsing. He was barely able to register Chroms "At long last", his hearing starting to betray him as well.

'What is this? Are these the effects of that dastards magic?'

Noticing something wrong with his companion he asks, "What's wrong? Hey, hang on-"

'What happened?' Seeing Chroms expression change from worry to shock and pain, Robin looks downwards and sees the blade of lightning protruding from Chroms abdomen as he stumbles backwards gasping for air. The disappearance of the bloodshot in his eyes coming as suddenly as its appearance, he looks at his own hand in shock, still crackling with the remaining electricity of the spell it had just released.

"This is not your- your fault. Promise me you'll escape from this place... please... go...", he pleads, the last of his life leaving his body, before he crumples to the floor, dead. Not able to comprehend what had just happened, Robin retreats, staggering backwards. Accompanied by the cackle of the mad man he had believed dead just a minute ago as his sight slowly fails him, everything goes black.

After what feels like an eternity, a high-pitched voice intrudes the cold, hostile darkness surounding Robins consciousness.

"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING," a voice states. He opens his eyes and, as they adjust to the light that suddenly replaces the dark, he sees two figures standing above him, talking to each other, one male clad in a blue tunic which lacks its right sleeve and hair of the same color, the other female dressed in a yellow and white dress, her upper body covered by a brown corset. Her hair too matches the main color of her clothing and is neatly done into two pigtails.

"What do you propose we do then?" the male asks, to which the female replies " I... I dunno...".

Before the two can continue their conversation however, they notice that the man to their feet has regained consciousness and turn to him, both smiling. "I see your awake now," the blue-haired man says softly.

"Hey there! Hehe," the girl adds.

„There are better places to take a nap than the ground, you know. Here, gimme your hand," he says offering his hand to him and Robin swiftly follows, placing his own hand in his counterparts. While he immediately notices the purple mark on the back of his right hand - six eyes connected by... two bolts of lightning? - his attention is quickly pulled away, as he is hoisted up and now stands face to face with the smiling Chrom.

Now standing, he notices a man wearing blue armor standing a few feet back, simply watching what had happened up to this point. Once more his attention is pulled back towards the blue-haired as he asks, "Are you alright?"

"Ye.. Yeah. Thank you, Chrom," he replies in an unsure tone.

"Ah, I see you know who I am then," Chrom responds, slightly surprised.

Raising a hand to grip his head, Robin answers "No, actually. Your name just... came to me, I guess. It's.. strange."

"Hmm... that's curious. Tell me, what is your name? What brings you here?" Chrom enquires.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I. Well, my name is... it's... Huh. I can't... remember.." Realizing he doesn't even remember who he was, despite instantly knowing the name of the man in front of him, who he didn't even have any recollection of meeting before this day, he had to try his damndest not to panic. "You don't even know your own name?", Chrom asks, now slighty confused aswell. "Excuse me for asking, but... where am I?"

At this the blonde girl joins in on the conversation "Hey hey, I've heard of this before! It's called amnesia, I think."

„It's called a load of stinking pegasus dung," the armored man interrupts "We're to believe you know milords name, but have forgotten your own? Ha, if only we all were blessed with such a conveniently cognitive memory!"

"B-but I speak the truth! I have no idea why I can't remember anything!" Robin blurts out, now in full-on panic mode.

"What if he does speak true Frederick?" Chrom questions, which calms him down a bit again. "We can't just leave him here alone, confused and all. What sort of Shepherds would we be?"

"Just the same milord. 'Twould not bode well to invite a wolf into the flock, would it now? I simply must emphasize caution, milord," he warns.

After contemplating for a short while, Chrom decides on his further path of action, "Alright, then we'll be taking you to Southtown where we'll sort all of this out."

"Wait a second. Do I even get a say in the matter?", Robin asks, fearing he'll be arrested and simply jailed.

"Be at peace, friend. I'll be sure to hear everything you have to say once we get there. Now, let's go.", Chrom reassures him, before leading the group down the road they were standing at until now.

After a while of marching in silence, Robin finally decides to voice his thoughts "So, what do you plan on doing with me? Am I to be imprisoned?"

„Hah, you'll be free to go once we establish you're no enemy of Ylisse," he replies with a reassuring smile on his lips.

"So that's where we are? Ylisse?" Robin repeats, thinking furiously to try and remember if had ever been to this so-called Ylisse before.

"You're implying you've never heard of the Halidom? Haha! Someone, please pay the man! He makes quite the actor. Those furrowed brows and the frown are most realistic.." Frederick scoffs.

"Frederick, please.." Chrom interrupts, cringing with embarrassment. "These lands are known as the Halidom of Ylisse. It is ruled by Emmeryn, who is called the exalt. I suppose proper introductions are in order... I'm Chrom, but apparently you already know that. This delicate girl is my sister, Lissa"

„I am NOT delicate", Lissa pouts, "Hmpf. Ignore the idiot that is my brother, please. He can be pretty thick sometimes. But you're lucky we, the Shepherds, found you. Brigands would have made for a pretty rude awakening, wouldn't they?" she exclaims, her mood going from annoyed to elated in an instant.

Taking an interest in their.. well, profession, Robin asks "Shepherds? That means you tend sheep?.. In full armor? Is it that dangerous around here? You did mention brigands after all."

"Heh, it can be quite the task sometimes, just ask Frederick the Wary here," Chrom answers.

"A title I shall wear with pride. Naga forbid someone around here keeps an appropriate amount of caution. I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station requires different of me," Frederick states proudly, with what Robin could swear was a sarcastic undertone.

Dropping the thought, he quickly responds "I understand, sir knight. I think I wouldn't act differently in your stead." After another minute of silence, he adds, "Robin. That's my name. I just remembered it, how weird. Oh well, that's one mystery solved."

„Robin huh? Is that foreign?", Chrom wonders out loud. "Ah well, we can discuss it later. We're almost in town, there we can-"

He is interupted by Lissa who is frantically pointing in the distance, "Chrom look! There's smoke!"

As Lissa points it out, the group shifts their attention to the settlement in the distance. "Gods damn it! The town's ablaze! It's the brigands work, no doubt about it... Frederick, Lissa, quickly!" Chrom shouts.

Turning back to Robin, Frederick asks, "But what about him, milord?" "Unless he's burning to the ground as we speak, he can wait!" Chrom snaps back.

"Well spoken, my liege.", Frederick replies curtly.

"Let's go already!", Lissa urges and the three of them head out towards the burning settlement, Chrom and Lissa running while Frederick trots alongside them atop his horse, leaving Robin behind.

"But what about-" he begins, before suddenly noting a tugging sensation at his belt. Pulling his robe back a bit, he notices a bronze sword and takes it in his hands. "Since when did I have this? Well, no matter, I have to go help them before anything bad happens.." he mutters to himself as he breaks out in a sprint to follow the 'Shepherds'.

Robin barely reaches the town center in time to witness what he supposes is the leader of the brigands giving his gang their orders. "Grab anythin' dats shiny an' put de rest to de torch boys!", he shouts, earning cheers and roars from the near dozen bandits standing before him, before they disperse in different directions, effectively beginning their raid. Turning to his side, he adds in a quieter tone "Now te you lass, let's ave ourselves some fun, eh?"

"NO, s-stay away from me you beast! Someone, anyone help me!" the maiden, whose hair is being hold by the ruffian, begs desperately.

"We HAVE to stop them, Chrom!" Lissa pleads, immediately followed up by a reassuring statement of Chrom.

„Don't worry, Lissa. After this day, no bandits will terrorize this town again. I'll make sure of that!"

"Wait!" they suddenly hear from a few feet behind them. Turning around, they are met with the panting tactician.

"Robin? What are you doing here? Did I not tell you to wait?" a surprised Chrom asks.

"Well.. to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure. But I discovered I'm armed and I somehow get the feeling I'm familiar with battles, so I figure it would only be right to help," he answers, showing his bronze blade.

"I see. In that case, I'll gladly accept their help. Now let's finally get to ending these dastards' lives! Stay close!" Chrom says.

Before they enter actual combat, Frederick shouts a last piece of advice "Remember Robin, the foes we face are practiced bandits and marauders, who will not hesitate to kill, so do not spare them either!"

"So, your weapon of choice is the sword, is it now? And that in you hand is that- Wait where did you get a tome from?" Chrom enquires, as they run side to side towards the bandits occupying the marketplace.

"I'd love to answer that question, you know, but honestly I don't know either." Robin answers, prompting a questioning look from Chrom.

"So uhh, do you at least know how to use that thing?" he asks a bit uneasily.

"Well, I suppose we're going to find out right now!" Robin states briefly, grinding to a halt and stretching his left hand forward while holding his tome in his free hand, unleashing a small ball of fire after a short "Fire!" shout, which engulfs a myrmidon several feet in front of him, setting his body ablaze with magical flames.

Desperately trying to quench the flames, he drops his head and runs for the nearby creak, only to be cut down by the blade of Chrom.

"I'll take that as a yes" he says, not even trying to hide the astonishment in his voice as he turns to regard Robin.

"Watch out!" his counterpart shouts, ripping him to the ground behind a food stall just before another fireball can hit Chrom square in the chest.

Looking up, he scans the area for the source of said magic spell. Strangely, while doing so, the battle slows to a crawl, allowing him the opportunity to take in the battlefield in its whole. Diagonally behind him, Lissa standsalone with a bandit only a few feet away from her. Frederick is battling three opponents on his own, and is apparently crushing all of them without as much as breaking a sweat. Still, he was in no position to help her, and neither was Robin.

Nearly panicking, he tries to calm down and search for the best possible procedure. As he finally decides on what to do, after what seemed like an eternity, but was in reality only the fraction of a second, he springs his plan into motion.

"Chrom, I'm going to distract the mage with my own magic, as soon as I launch the spell, keep to the stalls and get the guy! When you're finished with him, get to helping Frederick. I doubt he really needs assistance but better safe than sorry I guess. When the two of you are done with that, regroup and await further orders!" he blurts out while simultaneously getting up and starting the distraction.

Chrom, although severely surprised by receiving an order, obliges and darts towards the mage and out of his sight. As soon as Chrom starts moving, Robin commences phase 2 of his, admittedly very spontaneous, but at the same time necessary, plan, which was also the much harder part. He sprints towards Lissa, who by now had also noticed the axe-wielding bandit targeting her, and noticed he might not make it in time. "LISSA!" he shouts frantically, "DUCK!".

After turning to the voice and seeing Robins panicked face, she does as she is told just in time to dodge the axe, which, in turn embeds itself in the left shoulder of the man behind her. While she gasps in surprise, Robin, who had anticipated this course of action, simply grunts in pain and stabs his opponent through the heart with his blade, ending his life immediately. He removes the axe from his shoulder to examine the wound.

"Damn it..." "Robin! You alright?" Lissa asks, tears in her eyes.

"I'm fine, Lissa, don't worry about it. More importantly, how are you?" he says in as calm a tone as he can muster and a reassuring smile on his lips, despite the immense pain he is in.

"What? I'm fine, but you obviously aren't!" she shrieks before yanking his hand away from his shoulder. "Oh, you are DEFINITELY not 'fine'!", she exclaims as she raises a staff to his wound.

"What are you-", Robin begins, but as the tip of the staff starts glowing, the numbness in his shoulder disappears and the wound closes, leaving only a cut in his robe as well as a bloodstain to remind of what had just happened. "You're.. a healer?", he asks with disbelief in his voice.

"A cleric, to be specific, but yeah, I'm basically a healer.", she answers, now with her trademark grin plastered across her face. Again, he wonders how her mood could shift so easily, but lets it go, seeing as the conflict was not yet resolved.

"Robin!" He turns his head to see Chrom and Frederick head towards them. "I did as you said, we took down two more myrmidons and an axeman, aswell as the mage you pointed me towards. I must say, that wasn't too bad a strategy, distracting him and all, especially considering how fast you came up with it."

„I too, must commend you. It seems, there is even more to you, than you initially showed," even Frederick concurs.

"Yeah well, I'm just happy the two of you are fine. But let's save that for when we're actually done."

"Truer words you have not yet spoken, stranger. Now what are those orders you have for us that milord mentioned?" Frederick demands.

Taken aback by the knights lingering hostility towards him, Robin hesitates before replying. "Right. From what I've observed, there are four enemies remaining, the leader excluded. I want Lissa to stay a bit behind us and have you cover her Frederick. We don't want her to be targeted after all."

Lissa pouts a bit muttering something like "I am NOT as fragile as you think, dummy..." while Frederick simply nods.

"You and I, Chrom, will have to take the brunt of their attacks. I'm sorry to have to put you at the frontlines, but-"

"Say no more, I'd have it no other way," Chrom interrupts, a confident smile upon his lips.

"Heh... I get the feeling I'll have to talk to you about that in the future.." Robin mutters before continuing.

"Alright. The biggest problem will be that remaining mage, but I think we should be fine. Basically, we'll be taking on the axe fighters and the myrmidon first, but don't aim to kill them yourself. I know, I know, it sounds really weird, but we'll just disarm them so Frederick can take them out afterwards, so that he doesn't have to worry about Lissa. After that, we'll just deploy the same tactic to deal with that mage as before. Be careful to stay out of the range of their leader though, this'll only reliably work as long as he stays where he is, but I doubt he'll move a finger himself until he really has to." Recieving nods from his three companions and trusting smiles from everyone except Frederick, who wears his typical stoic expression. "Alright, let's go!"

They take their formation and begin the battle with the final bandits. While Chrom has no trouble at all disarming the myrmidon, as he just smashes his sword aside with brute strength while uttering a fierce war cry, Robin initially has a bit of trouble against the axeman before him. He blocks the first strike of his opponent with the broad side of his sword, almost loosing it due to the raw power of the barbarian opposing him, similar to the myrmidon, who was now also lying on the floor, dazed, courtesy of a punch of Chrom, but manages to redirect the weapon to his side, where it harmlessly clangs against the ground.

Losing his balance, he stumbles forward, where his neck meets the tip of Robins sword. Sputtering as blood trickles from both his mouth and neck, he drops to the floor dying. "Change of plan Frederick! You take that last axeman! Chrom, get ready!" Robin shouts, finally sensing an opportunity to take out the blasted mage, who, fortunately, isn't able to fire any spells without hitting any of his allies until now. However, as said allies are now either lying dead or dazed on the ground, he now prepares to cast a lightning sphere towards him. Dodging to his right he fires a spell of his own at the mage, who, unlike the myrmidon from earlier, does not go up in fire, though he still stumbles backwards at the impact, allowing Chrom to quickly dispatch of him with a slash across the chest.

Turning to the leader, he demands "Drop your weapon, scum! Your pathetic group lies defeated, and you would be wise not to follow their example!"

"Har har har!" he laughs, pushing the maiden he had kept hostage up until this point to the side, prompting a squeak from her. "Arm Garrick, princeling! This ayn over yet, now come to yer slaughterbank, ye sheep!" he provokes.

Before Chrom, or Garrick for that matter, can do anything, Robin charges forward, lunging at him with his sword arm outstretched. "Take this!", he yells, only to be parried by the axe of the bulky man.

"Bah, dat all ye got? C'mon, ya can do better then-", he begins before abruptly stopping and looking down at his stomach, where the tip of a silver lance, wielded by the knight he had completely disregarded until now protrudes from his lower torso. "Whut? When did ya.. Gah!", he manages to croak prior to Frederick twisting his weapon around before roughly yanking it from his body.

"An end befitting of a barbarian," he spits.

"That's the end of that." Chrom says, sheathing the Falchion.

"But oh woow, Robin! You did amaaazing!" Lissa exclaims wiggling her arms around hysterically.

"You're certainly not a victim, that much has become clear," Chrom agrees.

"Indeed," even Frederick admits, before returning to his hostile and mistrusting self. "Perhaps now you can come forth with an explanation of where you come from, no?"

"I understand you're skeptical of me, Sir Frederick. But I assure you, neither do I have an idea where all that came from, nor do I remember anything else about my self. Please, believe me, I have shared all that I possibly can."

"You have fought to defend Ylissean lives, and more importantly, you saved Lissa. That's all the information I need. My heart tells me that is enough," Chrom reassures.

"But what of your mind, milord? Does it suffice for your sense aswell? Shall you seek it's council now too?"

"Frederick, you know as well as I do that the Shepherds can use someone of his caliber and talents. We have more than enough enemies with brigands and bandits as well as our unruly neighbors. Do you really wish to just send someone of Robins capability away? Besides, as odd as his story may be, I choose to believe him," Chrom quickly counters.

"I-thank you, Chrom."

"So, how about it? Will you choose to join us, Robin?" Chrom asks, a hopeful gleam in his eyes.

"I would be honored." Robin accepts, adding a short bow.

-Later-

"Did you notice, milord? Those bandits spoke with a Plegian accent," Frederick informs.

Confused at the mention, Robin asks "Plegian? What would that be?"

"It's the language spoken in the nation west of here, Plegia. They send marauders to pillage and plunder, in hopes of instigating a war," Chrom clears up his eyes narrowing at the mention of a war.

"And it's the townspeople and salesmen who get caught up in the trouble! It always hits the innocent and helpless the hardest..." Lissa adds, clearly shaken up by the thought, and, possibly, the overcome battle.

"Now now, milady. They do have us, the Shepherds. Do try not to let your senses be clouded by grief and anger. At times like these, one must stay calm, lest your judgement be clouded," Frederick comforts her. "I know, I know... don't worry, I'll get used to all this soon!" she declares confidently.

At this moment they notice a villager rushing up to them. "Please milord, milady! You must stay the night and enjoy the best meal we can offer! It is but the least we can do to repay you for your troubles," he pleads.

"A most generous offer, but I fear we must depart as soon as possible. This encounter requires a detailed report to be delivered to the capital, so we have no time to spare," Frederick interrupts.

Choosing to ignore this statement, Lissa begins rambling away about her wishes "Alright, I want your best room, dark meat, medium rare, no salt in the soup and feathers in my-"

"Milady, I hate to interupt, however we must make haste, Besides, you did want to, 'get used to it', as you so aptly put it. I hope you realize that includes camping in the outside, sleeping on twigs, feeding upon wild animals and the like."

"You sure are quite the stern lieutenant, Sir Frederick," Robin chuckles.

"Hmph, stern's one way to put it. I can think of at least 5 more for it!", Lissa pouts, a childish look on her face.

"You should know Frederick only smiles when he is about to impale an enemy or when he plans on putting you through his hellish 'training routines'. I still say those are advanced torture methods, though.", Chrom adds, a playful smile now also finding its way to his face.

"Duly noted.", Robin attempts to say with as much earnesty as he can, failing horribly, ending up nearly breaking up in laughter at the antics of the two siblings.

"Ahem. I hope you do realize I am still present."

"Oh, we know you're here Frederick. Wouldn't be half the fun without you around," Chrom jokes. Not able to hold it anymore, Robin breaks out into heavy laughter, which is quickly joined in on by the royals.

Frederick, stoic as ever, ignores it and simply says „It appears, milord remains as humorous as always. Now then, shall we get going now?"

"Alright, alright. Let's get a move on Lissa, Robin," Chrom finally gives in, the group of four now heading down the road once more clouded in a now not uncomfortably silent, but a cheery and joking atmosphere.

A/N: If you've made it this far, I must sincerely thank you for reading my story up to this point! I understand that there will me multiple problems with this story, seeing as this is my first story and all. I'd greatly appreciate any and all reviews, as they are essential for finding out what the readers wish for in this fic, as well as for giving me advice for further writing or pointing out mistakes. I'll make sure to read every single review and will try to reply to every single one, either by PM or in the ending author's notes of the newest chapter. Currently, I plan to publish the second chapter sometime next week or so, but I really don't have a definite date as of right now. Disclaimer: starting next chapter, I will begin changing some events up a tad. It won't be anything major enough to affect the main story, but they will be changes nonetheless, so don't be surprised about that. Huge s/o to the user Prescribed-Madness, btw! The advice and thoughts I've received from her were a huge help, so go check out her work if you haven't done so already.

I'm D4v3Hunter, and once again, thanks a bunch for reading and I'll hopefully see you next chapter!