Chapter 1
"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING."
"What do you propose we do?"
"I… I dunno, but we can't just leave him here."
"Nnnngh…" Robin groaned and opened his eyes. Above him stood a man with blue hair and a girl with blonde pigtails.
"I see you're awake now" the blue-haired man said.
"Hey there!" Said the girl, here blonde pigtails bouncing a little as she bent down to look at him more closely. The man next to her also bent down.
"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground you know." He said with a chuckle. "Give me your hand."
He offered Robin his hand. When Robin grabbed his hand, he noticed his right hand had a strange symbol on it. It looked like six wings and eyes. The man pulled Robin to his feet. Once Robin was on his feet, he noticed a second man behind the other. Unlike the blue-haired man however, this man was heavily armored.
"You alright?" The man asked.
"Yes, thank you… Chrom." Robin replied.
"Ah, so you know who I am?"
"N-no, I… your name kinda just… came to me."
"Hmmm, how curious. Tell me, what's your name?"
"My name is… it's…uhhhhhh…"
"You don't know your own name?"
"I'm not exactly sure… look, this might be and odd question, but where exactly am I?"
"Hey, I've heard of this!" The girl exclaimed. "It's called amnesia!"
"It's called a load of Pegasus dung." The armored man said.
"So you CAN talk." Robin said to him.
"You expect us to believe you remember milord's name but not your own?" He continued.
"But-but it's true!" Robin pleaded.
"Frederick, what if it is true?" Chrom asked. "We can't just leave him here. What if bandits found him? What sort of Shepherds would we be then?"
"Just the same milord, I must ask you to be cautious. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock."
"Okay then-we'll take him back to town and sort this out there."
"Hold on just one second." Robin said. "Do I get any say in what happens to me?"
"Peace, friend. We'll hear all you have to say back in town." With that Chrom and the others began to walk away.
Should I go with them or run? Robin asked himself. No. They're my best chance of finding out about my past.
Robin quickly caught up with the group. After a few moments of silence Robin voiced a concern of his. "So am I a prisoner?" He asked Chrom.
Chrom smiled at him. "Hah! You'll be free to go once we're certain you're no enemy of Yilisse."
"Yilisse? So that's where we are?"
"You've never heard of the halidom? Ha!" Frederick scoffed. "Someone pay this actor. He plays quite the fool! The furrowed brow is especially convincing…"
"I wish someone was paying me for having amnesia…" Robin mumbled.
"Enough, Frederick." Chrom glared at him. "This land is known as the Halidom of Ylisse. Our ruler, Emmeryn, is called the Exalt. Oh! We haven't properly introduced ourselves yet, have we? My name is Chrom-but you already know that. The delicate one here is my sister, Lissa." He jerked his thumb in her direction.
"Hey! I am NOT delicate!" Lissa said with a scowl. "Ignore my brother please. He can be a bit thick sometimes." Now it was Chrom's turn to scowl. "You're lucky the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening."
"Shepherds, huh?" Robin gave Frederick another look. "You tend sheep… in full armor?"
"Well it's a dangerous job. Just ask Frederick the Wary here."
"A title I shall wear with pride." He said. "Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution. I wish I could trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise."
"Heh. Don't worry about it." Robin said with a shrug. "I probably wouldn't trust me either."
"I'm glad you understand."
Robin smiled and the group fell into silence once more. Well maybe Frederick isn't as bad as I thought. Now if only I could remember my name… What is it!?
There was a sudden *snap* behind the group. They turned to find Robin grinning.
"I remember now!"
"Remember what?" Chrom asked.
"My name! It's Robin!"
"Well, that's one mystery solved." Chrom smiled.
"Chrom?" Robin looked to him questioningly.
"Yes?"
"Do you smell smoke?"
"Chrom, look! The town!" Lissa yelled frantically.
It didn't take long for them to see what had Lissa so worried. A little farther down the road, smoke rose from the center of the town.
"Let's go!" With that, Chrom took off towards the town.
"Milord, wait!" Frederick called after him. "*Sigh*. Come milady." He said exasperatedly
Milord? Milady? Robin shook his head. Ah, I'll worry about that later.
He followed close behind, and in no time they made it to the center of the town.
Wait! Do I even have any weapons!? Robin began searching himself rapidly. Around his waist was a Bronze sword, and in one of his cloaks many pockets he found a yellow book. He put the book safely back in its pocket.
"Hey Chrom! Don't start the party without me!"
"Robin? You followed us, why?"
"Well why not? You helped me and now I'm going to help you. Just one thing…"
"Yes?"
"Where'd Frederick get that horse?"
"Hmm? Oh, that's his horse. He retrieved it from the stables on our way here."
Lissa ran up to them. "C'mon, Chrom! We have to stop them!" Lissa pointed to the other end of the town square where a large man dressed in animal skin was roughing up a young woman.
"Don't worry-after today, these bandits won't be bothering anyone ever again…"
Robin clamped a hand down on Chroms shoulder before he could take off.
"Wait, Chrom. You can't just go charging in. I have a plan. I'll go with Frederick and help him take out the bandits in the square. You and Lissa will follow behind and finish off any stragglers. You could use some of those produce stalls as cover. When we get to the bridge, Frederick and I will distract the leaders guards while you attack the leader. Your sword will give you the advantage." He looked at Lissa's staff. "So you're a healer. Make sure he stays alive."
"Right."
"Frederick, I trust going with you will help with any concerns you might have with me possibly hurting Chrom or Lissa?"
"Slightly."
"*Sigh* Ok."
Robin pulled out the book once again. The pages were filled with a strange writing. I understand it somehow… Time to see what this thing can do. If I'm right…
"Is that a magic tome? Robin, you know magic?" Chrom raised an eyebrow.
"I believe so. If I can't, I'm about to find out. That's another reason I want you to stay back. If I mess up, I have a feeling the magic could backfire. Alright, now that that's been dealt with, you ready Frederick?"
"Yes."
Robin glanced at the weapon Frederick was now holding. A Silver Lance. Yeah, he was ready all right.
"You take the Myrmidon, I'll take care of the Barbarians."
The man nodded and they charged. Robin ran towards the man to his left. When he thought he was a good distance away, he opened the tome. He skimmed through the incantation and threw his hand at the brigand.
"Thunder!" A ball of cackling electricity flew from his palm and sent the man to the floor in a shower of sparks. "Boo-yah!" He spun around and searched for the second Barbarian, but neither he nor the Myrmidon remained standing. "You work fast."
"Yes, but this fight is not over yet."
"Right, you ready Chrom?"
"Of course."
Robin and Frederick charged forward once again. Robin sent another ball of electricity flying towards the brigands. The ball exploded right in front of them.
"Hey stupid! Come get some!"
Robin succeeded in getting most of the guards' attention. Frederick only had to worry about A Myrmidon and a Barbarian. Of course most of them come for me. Well, I asked for it. An axe, a sword, and… that guy's a Mage isn't he? Ah great… Robin felt something spark in his brain. He felt like he'd been trained for a situation like this. Robin shifted the tome to his left hand and drew his sword. The Barbarian took a swing. Robin dropped and stabbed upward. Robin left his sword as the Barbarian fell.
"Thunder!" Now it was the Myrmidons turn to fall. Robin bent down to retrieve his sword. Suddenly he was lifted from the ground and sent into the stream under the bridge.
"That wasn't very nice of you." He shook himself off and frowned at the Mage who now stood above him on street level. He eyed the symbol on the mans tome. "Elwind, huh? No wonder that hurt…" He began to ready another blast of electricity.
"Don't even think about it. My spell's already ready. You'll be dead before your Thunder leaves your hand." The brigand smirked.
"Oh yeah?" Robin smirked back. "You just gave me enough time to charge it."
"Elwind!"
Robin jumped into the air. The blast of wind hit the ground under him and launched him into the air. He landed and spun to face the Mage. "You're finished!" The Mage's eyes widened as he was thrown into the river, a charred hole in his chest.
Robin walked back to retrieve his sword. It came free with a sharp scraping sound. I must've hit a bone. He grimaced. Looking across the bridge, he saw that Chrom had finished the leader and was headed back this way. Robin found his eyes drawn back to his sword. The brigands' blood still stained its blade. Robin suddenly felt sick.
"Well, that's it." Chrom said as he approached. "Hey, you alright? You're really pale!"
"I… I'm fine Chrom. I just… I'm not used to killing I guess. I don't remember ever having to kill before."
"It's… not really something you get used to." Chrom admitted. "But you're certainly no helpless victim, that much is for sure."
"Indeed. Perhaps you might even be capable of an explanation of how you came to be here?" Frederick asked skeptically.
"I understand your skepticism, Frederick. But you're going to have to believe me when I say I have shared all I know." Robin was beginning to wonder what it would take to convince Frederick he wasn't a threat.
Chrom smiled. "You fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough."
"And your mind, milord? Will you not heed its counsel as well?"
"Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with Robin's 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 his story, odd as it might be."
"Thanks, Chrom."
"So how about it? Will you join us, Robin?"
"I would be honored." He smiled.
Frederick spoke up once again. "Did you notice, milord? The brigands spoke with a Plegian accent."
"I know this'll sound kinda stupid, but what's Plegian?"
Chrom turned to him. "Plegia is Ylisse's westerly neighbor. They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate war."
"And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer!" Lissa clenched her fists.
"They do have us, milady: Shepherds to protect the sheep. Do not be swept up in your anger. It will cloud your judgment." Frederick advised her.
"Yeah, I know… Don't worry, I'll get used to this."
A new voice called to them. "Milord, please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!" Lissa's face instantly lit up with a huge grin.
Frederick turned to address the villager. "A most generous offer, sir, and no doubt your hospitality would be grand… But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol."
Just as quickly as it had appeared, Lissa's grin died. "What?! We're not staying?! But, Frederick, it's nearly dark!"
"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'?"
"I hate you so much sometimes Frederick…" She groaned.
"You've quite the stern lieutenant there, Chrom." Robin said.
"'Stern' is one name for it." Lissa pouted. "I can think of a few others!"
Chrom chuckled. "Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe."
"Uh-huh. Duly noted."
"*Ahem* You do realize I AM still present?"
"Oh we realize."
The frown never left Fredericks face. "Milord remains as amusing as ever. Now then, shall we be going?"
"All right. Ready, Robin? The capitol isn't far."
Robin nodded. I think I'm gonna like it here.
All right. Next chapter done! Once we get into the later chapters I'll be able to deviate from the story a bit more.