The girl sprinted across the plain in panic knowing full well that it was practically right on her heels. She had been forced to swallow her tears over her mother, who had given her life to buy her the precious time she needed to escape, time that she couldn't help but feel she had wasted. No matter how much thunder she had thrown at whatever it was it had simply shrugged it off with arrogant laugh.
"Why are you bothering to run me?" it shouted "You are only fleeing from your own destiny." The girl had no time to respond, she simply focused her mind on finding the most efficient path through the trees, which was even more difficult with the tears in eyes and the shadows of the night. Despite her mother preparing her endlessly for this day she couldn't stop her tears from falling.
After running till her legs felt like jelly, the girl found herself in a field illuminated only by the moonlight. Looking around, she turned back to stare at the forest she had just emerged from [This plain are too large for me to escape before she catches me, here I'll have to make my final stand.] she thought as she drew her thunder tome from the bag at her side.
The girl did not have to wait long for her pursuer to arrive. The person strolled with confidence out of the trees and smiled arrogantly down at the girl. "I had thought that you would continue running for a while more, I was quite enjoying the chase." The woman said as she reached out her hand for the girl. "Well then shall we become one and finally cover this world in darkness?"
"Chrom we have to do something!" a young girl exclaimed brining the girl's fuzzy consciousness back to reality [gods, my head hurts, what happened? Where am i?] She thought.
"What do you propose we do?" a voice deeper and obviously masculine answered back.
The girl mind moved a mile a minute as she tried desperately to figure out what was going on around her. Where was she? Was she injured? Who where the two people who were talking about her? The girl slowly opened her eyes and slowly the world came back into view. Before her were two people. One was a sixteen or seventeen year old girl wearing a yellow dress that had metal bars parallel to the ground in the bottom. Her hair a bright blonde color was tied into pigtails. The other was a man who looked to be around the girl's own age. He wore a blue tunic that had a long sleeve on one side while the other exposed his entire shoulder which bore a strange tattoo. His other shoulder was adorned with a metal shoulder pad that lead into a white cape. Both his eyes and his hair were of the same color as his shirt.
It was at that moment that they both looked down to see the girl gazing back at them.
"I see your awake now" the man said as he smiled down at her. "There are better places to take a nap then on the ground. You know." He said to which the girl giggled slightly. "Come on, give me your hand." He said as he reached out to help her up.
For a moment, the girl hesitated. Part of her wanted to trust in their smiles but a small part of her told her to get up and run as fast as she could, that she wasn't safe. But in the end she smiled and grabbed the man's hand. "Thank you, Chrom"
The man lifted her easily to her feet, "Ah then you know who I am then?"
"No, actually, it just…came to me." The girl replied as she put a hand to her head in an attempt to stop the throbbing ache in her skull.
"Hmmm, that's curious" the man said as he drew back with a slight frown upon his face. "Tell me then, what brings you to this field?"
"My name…it's…" The girl trailed off as she struggled to recall something that should be obvious.
"You can't remember your name?" Chrom said with concern upon his face.
"Oh, oh I know what that is. Its amnesia right?" the young girl said sounding a little too excited.
"I'm not really…Wh-where exactly are we?" The girl questioned unable to fully keep the anxiety out of her voice
"I would not call this amnesia; it's a load of Pegasus dung. Do you expect us to believe that you remembered Milord's name and not your own?" a third voice declared dripping with mistrust.
It was at that point that the girl noticed a third man standing slightly behind and to the side of Chrom. The man was wearing full plate armor that was blue and grey. His hair was a shade of brown and he seemed like he had a permanent frown upon his face.
"B-but I'm telling you the truth, please believe me!" The girl nearly shouted.
"What if it is True Frederick? We can't just leave her here, confused and alone. What short of Shepherds would we be then?" Chrom said as he turned his head back, speaking to the man.
[Shepherd's?] The girl questioned to herself.
"All the same Milord, I must emphasize caution. It would not do to let a wolf into the flock." The man named Frederick said as he starred daggers at the girl.
Chrom paused at that, his hand on his chin. "Right then-we'll take her back to town and sort this out there."
"W-wait a minute! Don't I get a say in this!" The girl exclaimed as the conversation took a turn she wasn't quite fond of.
Chrom laughed for a moment before he answered, "peace friend, I promise we'll listen to what you have to say once were in town."
"Right then, let's go!" the young girl said as she bounced forward and grabbed the girl's hand, leading her forward. With Chrom and Frederick right behind them.
For a while they all walked in silence, the young girl having let go of The girl's hand but still leading the way humming a tune to herself, till The girl stopped and starred at the ground.
"What will you do with me then? Keep me Prisoner?" The girl questioned
"No of course not," Chrom denied, "You'll be free to go once we determine your no enemy of Ylisse."
The girl's head jerked back up "Ylisse? Is that where we are?"
"You've never heard of the halidom?" Frederick questioned, "Ha, you are quite the actress, your furrowed brow makes it all the more convincing."
"Peace Frederick, This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse, Our ruler, Emmeryn, is called the Exalt." Chrom explained. "Now that I think about it, introductions are still in order; my name is Chrom- though I guess you already knew that. The delicate one here is my younger sister Lissa"
"I am NOT delicate!" the girl said as she smacked her brother on the arm before turning back to the girl and smiled. "Ignore my brother; he can be a bit thick at times. Though your luck we Shepherds found you! Brigands would have been a rude awakening!" Lissa said as she smiled at the girl.
"You tend sheep? In full armor?"The girl questioned.
"Indeed, it can be a dangerous job sometimes, just ask Frederick the wary here." Chrom laughed as he gestured to the man in armor.
The man's expression did not change as he responded. "A title I wear with pride. God forbid someone maintain some level of caution." He then turned and faced the girl, "I have every wish to trust you stranger, but my station demands otherwise."
"I understand, I don't think that I would do any different if I were in your shoes." The girl said as she turned back to Chrom and Lissa. "My name is Kara it's nice-"she started before realizing what she had just said and brought a hand to her mouth in surprise. "I just remembered that, I guess that's one mystery solved." She said as she smiled.
"Kara? Sounds foreign to my ears, though it does have a familiar ring to it." Chrom as he thought to himself for a moment. "Regardless the town is not far off, we can sort this out there." And with that the group continued forward.
For another few minutes the group continued in silence, until Kara came to a stop. The others looked at her in confusion. "is it just me? Or is there smoke coming from the direction we're walking." Kara commented as she pointed off into the distance.
The others turned and squinted off in an attempt to make out what she was talking about.
"Milord! She speaks the truth!" Frederick shouted "I can barely make it out but undoubtedly there is smoke in the direction of the town!"
"Damn it, the town must be under siege, those blasted brigands no doubt!" Chrom cursed as he turned back to the others. "Lissa, Frederick quickly!" he shouted before starting to run
"Milord! What about her?" Frederick questioned as he gestured at Kara.
"Unless she's on fire too, it can wait!" Chrom shouted back at which point Frederick and Lissa took off after him
"Wait a moment!" Kara shouted but they were already too far to hear her. "Well now what am I supposed to do?" she questioned out loud as she stared off into the sky.
It was then that for the first time Kara felt the weight upon her side, she looked down to see a large bag and a sword at her side. Thinking that she might find some answers in the bag, Kara started to reach into the bag when she stopped after seeing her hand. Her right hand was adorned with a strange tattoo; it was purple in color with six eyes, three on each side, connected by spiraling lines. And while the tattoo was curious it was the condition of the hand that drew her attention. It looked like it had been burned in a flame; the skin was bright red with some blisters around the outside of the tattoo.
While she was disturbed by the fact she had a bad burn upon her hand it was the fact that she felt no pain from it that she found most disquieting. And while it caused her to pause for a moment she none the less reached into the bag. After rummaging around for a second, Kara discovered a tome held within. Brining it out to look at, Kara got the feeling that what she was currently holding was a tome of magic.
"Seems I wasn't exactly a damsel in distress." Kara mumbled to herself as she looked out at the smoke before her. "Oh well, might as well help where I can." And with that she took off after the others.
"GHAHAHAHA! Get to it lads! Grab anything shiny and put the rest to the torch! We gots to set an example for these Ylissean dogs!" A man standing in front of the town's church yelling to his men who were busy looting the towns market When Chrom and the others ran into town.
"Chrom, we have to stop them!" Lissa shouted as she looked around at the damage the Brigands had done.
"Don't worry; these bastards won't live to see tomorrow." Chrom growled as he drew his sword.
"Wait up!" a voice sounded behind the three who then turned to see Kara running up to them before stopping before them with her hands on her knees.
"Kara? Why did you follow us?" Chrom questioned
"Well… I'm not quite sure myself. But I found a magic tome amongst my belongings and I have a sword at my side. I know my way around a fight if you'll have me."
To his credit, Chrom only needed a moment to consider her offer before nodding in affirmation. "Of course-strength in numbers as they say, just try not to get separated."
"Remember Kara, our enemy are nothing but thieves. They will give no quarter nor will we offer any." Frederick cautioned. As he drew his lance and took a position in front of Lissa.
"Right." Kara said as she too drew her weapons and moved to stand at Chrom's side.
"Well lookie at what we got here boys! More Ylissean dogs ready for the slaughter." The bandit leader shouted as his men jeered and moved to intercept.
It was at that moment that Kara noticed that she fully understood the movements of her enemies at just by watching them. She could see which of them were their strongest and could even tell which ones would move in first.
"How strange," she mumbled "I'm able to tell the flow of battle at a mere glance. I must have studied tactics at some point."
Chrom starred at her, wide eyed, "you mean you can see the flow of battle? That's quite a useful talent to have. Glad to have you on our side." He said as he cut down an axe wielding man who was stupid enough to move in by himself.
"Well, well, look at the pretty lady who's decided to give us a show boys." One of the brutes sneered earning Kara nothing but leering gazes from the lot of them. "Once were done here I think I'll give her the pleasure of a good ti-"the man never finished his sentence however before Kara shot a bolt of thunder through his chest.
"With the day I've been having, the only good time you boy could give me is the joy of watching fall under my blade. So, who's next on the chopping block?" she threatened in a low voice that sent more than a few of the brigands stepping backwards, an opening a tactician like Kara was quick to take advantage of.
The battle did not last long. Not with Kara, Chrom, and Frederick slaughtering those who stood against them while Lissa handled the healing of the light wounds any of them suffered. The town's people came out of hiding to thank Chrom and Frederick while Kara and Lissa chatted.
"Good riddance," Kara said in a huff as she placed her tome back into her bag.
"Agreed" Lissa said as she walked up and grabbed Kara's hand. "But holy cow Kara! Swords, magic, and tactics! Is there anything you can't do!" she said so happily that she was practically bouncing.
[Remember who I am for one.] She thought to herself while she endured her arm flailing about in the young girls grip.
"Indeed, you're certainly no victim from what I've seen." Chrom said as he and Frederick approached.
"Perhaps you would even be capable of explaining to us how you ended up in that field?" Frederick questioned his frown once again upon his face.
"I understand why you're still wary of me Sir Frederick, but I can't explain why only bits of who I am have returned while others have not." Kara said with a strained smile, realizing that by helping them she might have only brought more scrutiny down upon herself. "But I ask that you please believe me, I have shared all that I remember."
"You have fought to save Ylissean lives today. My heart says that's enough." Chrom declared as he smiled at her.
"And what of your mind Milord? Does it not give you any counsel on this matter?" Frederick cautioned.
"Frederick, the Shepherds are in need of someone of Kara's talents. With all the threats inside and out of Ylisse would you have us lose such an able tactician? Besides I trust he and her story, as strange as it sounds."
Kara could hardly believe her ears, she doubted that she could be so trusting of someone claiming amnesia but yet Chrom was willing to give her a chance. "Th-thank you Chrom" she said as she smiled back.
"So then, are you willing to join us?" Lissa asked from her side. Practically begging with her eyes.
"Of course, I would be honored." Kara replied.
Lissa gave a joyful yelp while Frederick turned to Chrom. "Milord did you notice? Those brigands spoke in a Plegian accent."
"Plegian? What exactly is that?" Kara questioned
"Plegia is our western neighbor. They've been sending small bands of forces into our land disguised as simple brigands for months now trying to ignite a war."
"And every time they do the people suffer." Lissa said with the first frown Kara had ever seen on her face.
"They do have us Milady, the Shepherds to protect them." Frederick declared.
"Right, well then we need to get moving to the capital." Chrom said as he started to walk to the north.
"Wait! What?" Lissa exclaimed in disbelief. "Can't we stay in civilization for one night? I'm tired of sleeping with every insect in existence making as much noise as they can.
"Oh it's not so bad, just think of it as building character." Chrom said as he continued walking
"awww." Lissa pouted as she and Frederick started to walk as well with Kara following shortly thereafter. Though in those moments, Kara couldn't help but look down at her burnt and tattooed hand and worry about what she had lost. Though at the very least she had gained something in return.