Author's Note: After a two year absence, I decided to revisit this story and fix it up. Who knows, I may even post some new chapters now that summer's coming up. Even so, these first two chapters are still a bit rough. Once I have the time, I plan on re-writing them both so they'll be on par with Chapter three and my current level of writing.

One

An Unwelcome Change

Risen were not the smartest of foes. They'd attack a village, destroy everything and then leave... On this day however, that was not quite the case. These risen seemed to be more focused, more attentive. Their attack patterns seemed more strategic, as is there were actually some sort of monster leading this group of terrors... The thought of intelligent risen was enough to make her skin crawl. She had enough trouble trying to slay these beasts when they were just barbaric brutes, the last thing she needed was for them to start formulating complex plans and outmaneuvering her. Lucina took a moment to think and allowed her mind to wonder. Such a peaceful village. She thought. I wonder... was it our being here that attracted the Risen?

"Lucy, look out!" Cried a voice off in the distance.

Lucina quickly spun her body one-hundred-and-eighty degrees drawing Falchion at the same time. The Holy blade clashed with the blunt end of a rusted axe as a hideously malformed Risen growled mere inches from her face.

"A simple day without hearing of you beasts is too much to ask for, isn't it! She grunts as she kicks the Risen in it's shin to set it off balance and assumes her normal combat position. It was one her father had taught her. "Used by the Hero King himself!" He'd always say. She ran toward the Risen, thrusting her blade forth in an attempt to pierce it's heart. Much to her delight, it did. The Risen cried out a terrible scream that shook Lucina's very core. A wail of a soul trapped and tortured finally being released. And then it finally dissolved into purple mist.

"That was awesome Luci" Her sister cheered, getting off of her pegasus "The risen was all like Blarg and you were all like Hiiiiyyyaaa! You looked just like a hero!"

"Cynthia!" Lucina replied sharply, trying her best to look angry. "This is no time to be playing games. We are in the midst of a damned battle!" In truth, Lucina found the thought of being a hero slightly amusing, but this was no time for games and she needed her sister to understand that.

Cynthia looked at her with wide-eyes. Lucina found her younger sister to be much too soft at times. "Cynthia" she said in a much softer voice. "I am honestly quite honoured that you think I look like a hero but, could you save the compliments until after the battle is won?" She gave her sister a soft smile.

With a small sniff and a wipe of the eyes Cynthia returned the smile to her sister. "Yeah, I suppose I should... sorry."

"It's quite alright Cynthia as long a-" In the midst of their conversation, a new group of risen began to surround them.

…...

Why won't these worms just die already, he thought to himself. Pulling his cowl further over his head, Marc stood idly by cracking his knuckles enjoying the sounds of the distant combat. This tremendously more difficult than he had assumed it would be. Of course, he never imagined killing these... insects would be easy, much to the contrary, he was well aware of their ability to cling to life, however, after hearing of his sister's recent success, he was sure he would at least preform as good as she had. Of course this was to happen! She's the tactician, I'm the blade!

"Marc..." The hideous voice of his caretaker, Baba, brought him out of his thoughts.

"What? If you are to tell me about the state of the battle, save your breath. I am not so daft that I cannot tell when I have lost." He did not turn to face Baba. He would not allow him the pleasure of seeing his disgruntled face.

Baba sneered. "Already admitting to defeat? Yet you were so confident earlier..."

"Begone, make yourself of use and by me some time. Step on some worms if it pleases you I care not!"

"As you wish, my lord." Baba chuckled softly and warped away.

"Damnit!" he said beginning to pace back and forth." Why can I not do this!? I'm just as smart as her, if not smarter... my plan was flawless. He begins thinking in stark contrast to his earlier thought of simply being the sword. See this is the problem. I can't adapted to the situation, how am I supposed to lead father's armies if I can't adapt to sudden changes. Dammit if she can do it why can't I! "I need more training that's all." He stopped pacing and turned to look down at the burning village below. "There's no point, I've lost, father is going to be furious." he tried to pushed that thought aside, not wanting to let his doubt get the better of him. Right now he needed to focus, was there anyway he could turn the tide of the battle, none that he could think of so his only other option was to retreat. He knew his father would make him pay for this.

…...

Lucina quickly finished of the last of the Risen and turned to face her sister. "Cynthia" she said in between breathes "Go find Owain and make sure he's alright."

Cynthia, not wanting to anger her sister any further, complied and flew off in search of her cousin.

The sound of footsteps signaled someone's approach and Lucina quickly turned to face the sound.

"A pleasant surprise this is, The princess herself."

"Grimleal!" She spat "I knew someone must be commanding these Risen."

Baba laughed. "Oh! You flatter me princess, but it was not I who commanded them. I do not posses the required... shall we say, blessing to control Risen. But enough with the flapping of our mouths yes? Shall we let out weapons do the talking?" With a movement of his hand a crimson axe spawned inside the mans hand and it was sound not a second later. Quickly jumping to the side, Lucina was able to narrowly avoid death, and seeing as how he was now open she ran in for the attack. The man was simply quicker than she was. He easily dodged her attack and kicked her in the stomach with such force that it not only sent her flying, but caused her to throw up her last meal as well. Clutching her stomach and gasping for air, she could only look up in horror as the "man's" grotesquely disfigured face came into view.

"Is that truly all you have to offer, princess?" he said readying his axe "I was expecting more of a fight, considering how you managed to kill so many of our risen." Lucina closed her eyes and waited for the end to come

Authors notes: So I'm really looking to get back into this, and decided the best way was to come back and edit the hell out of this first chapter. So here it is, the revision I should have done two years ago. I may revise chapter two sometime soon, or just go straight to a new chapter, I'm honestly not sure. Anyways, I guess I should end this before it drags on for too long. So until next time -Neo