Chapter 1: A Girl from the Plains

by SodiumChloride12

from content derived from the Fire Emblem series owned by Nintendo

A/N Welcome to the second installment of the series, if you'd like, please leave a review so I can improve my writing. Thanks a bunch!

N: Sam finds himself in a new world, without any memory of his past. Gagged and immobile, his start isn't exactly ideal. A local come to his aid, igniting a lifelong friendship. The first of many.

A voice appeared to me in my dreamy haze. It seemed angelic and oddly familiar, but I couldn't seem to assign a name to it.

"Life can seem like a blur sometimes. Sometimes, it just seems like we just pop into existence, and only through the help of others before do we realize our origins. Feel free to discover who you are, and who you were. There will be obstacles in your journey, sometimes there is nothing you can do but fight. Remember, everyone, is the hero in their own story."

It disappeared as quickly as it came, and gradually, I began to sense my surroundings...

In an undisclosed location…

I awoke in darkness, and completely immobile. My mouth was gagged, and I took a moment to sense my surroundings. A warm wind brushed against my body, and I could hear the peaceful flow of a river nearby. A rope was tied against my arms and legs, the tension being too much to overcome. I brushed my leg against the floor, feeling a splinter dig into my limb. The discomfort caused me to flinch, and a jolt rocked my body. The ground below me seemed to move with the jolt, almost like I was on a moving object. A large assortment of junk landed on me, giving me a nasty bruise.

I was overwhelmed with pain. I had injuries all over my body, with the most severe located on my head. I was overwhelmed with the sensation of brain fog.

I heard a voice, "Money ain't easy to come by around here, that's why you gotta take it where you can."

Another voice responded, "Yup. We're going to get a pretty penny of a guy like him. Those traders will take anybody for a premium."

My mind was too dazed to realize that I was in the back of a slaver's cart. Nor did I realize that I was bloodied all over, my wounds being of unknown origin. My body flew in the air again as the cart's wheel collided with a small molehill. The only sound I could muster was a small groan.

"Urmpf."

The cart stopped, the inertia throwing me onto the cart's walls. My body was slammed into them with an awkward angle, and I felt my elbow give in. Going into shock, I lost all feeling…

The bandits looked back at their motionless captive. One of them said, "Did you hear that Shiloh?"

His companion paused for a moment, confused, "I didn't hear anything Laals."

Laals' eyes rested on the crimson filling his cart. Turning back to Shiloh, he bit his lip, "Shit...I think we've killed our merchandise."

Shiloh frowned, and disembarked from his vehicle. He took a nearby stick and poked the body, attempting to solicit some sort of reaction. Nothing came of it.

Laals shrugged his shoulders, "They ain't worth anything if they're dead." He motioned his hand towards his companion. "Throw his body out, we don't want to carry dead weight. Besides, I'm sure we can get someone else down the road."

Shiloh agreed, and he began to lift up the captive's body from the cart. Once that was done, Shiloh used his free hand to wipe blood into his shirt. He looked at the river nearby, with its deep waters barreling liters upon liters of clear liquid downstream. He lifted the light body up against his shoulders, preparing to dispose himself of it. Just as he was about to do, he remembered something a friend had told him long ago.

Don't throw bodies into rivers Shiloh. The gods work hard to make the rivers flow with clean water, and undoing that work would bring about their wrath.

The captive's body fell into the soft sands with a soft thud. Shiloh returned to the cart, satisfied with a job well done. They disappeared over the horizon, leaving him there bound, gagged, and motionless. He went in and out of consciousness, often questioning reality…

Hours later...

In my delirious state, I felt a comforting force remove my binds and lift me from the ground. As it removed my blind, I was overwhelmed with light. Shortly after, I passed through consciousness once more, and although I barely remember anything of that day, I was sure of one thing. On that day, through the overwhelming light, I bore witness to an angel.

Inside a small hut in a southwest part of Sacae...

What? Where am I? Why does my head hurt so much?

I was laying down on a cot, in what appeared to be a nomadic dwelling. The dwelling was small and made of straw, and despite its light materials, it seemed very structurally sound. I raised my head to look around me, and I observed how the building seemed to elevate the closer you were to the center. To my right, there was an open kitchen with a knife laid out on the table. To my left, I saw a big open green door that let in warm air. In front of me laid what appeared to be a pestle and mortar, currently undisturbed along with some medical equipment. Behind me sat a separate room with its door closed.

I felt a sharp pain grabble my forehead, and I raised my hand there. I felt a cloth between my finger and skin, along with a moist sticky substance gradually diffusing through it. I looked at the red substance that accumulated on my finger. Blood.

Why do I feel like someone gave me a concussion? Was I in some sort of accident?

I turned my head to the entrance to see that the green door revealed inviting sunlight, it's warmth tempting me.

Might as well see what's going on outside.

I heaved my body to take my first step, and dizzy spell instantly took hold of me. I felt my weight shift towards my left as my left ankle failed to support my weight. I landed on the rug flooring with a thug.

WHACK!

"Ouch!" I exclaimed.

I probably should've stayed in bed a bit longer instead of half-consciously falling on my first step. Noted.

I began nursing my hurt elbow as I had instantly regretted my decision. Through all my half-conscious pain, I heard a voice from behind me.

"Oh, you're awake!"

I looked over my shoulder to see a green haired girl (green hair?) no older than 18 emerge from the unseen part of the dwelling. She had a blue dress on and had her hair fashioned in a long ponytail. She approached me with a smile that seemed to make the even the saddest orphan happy.

"Where...where am I?" I asked.

The girl extended her hand to help me off the ground, which I accepted, "You're in Sacae, the nation of the plains. You seem to have taken quite the tumble."

I dusted off some dirt from the green cloak I just realized I had on, "You know I was so excited to start my day that my ankle couldn't handle it."

The girl laughed, "You seem to be quite the comedian stranger."

Wouldn't really call myself much of a comedian. But definitely a stranger. I need some questions answered.

"Pardon me miss...but how did I get here?" I asked.

The girl placed her hand on her chin, and took a moment to think, "I saw you unconscious near the river when I was hunting a few days ago, I thought you needed some assistance."

Okay explains the bandage. Who is this girl anyway?

"Hmm…thank you. Judging from this wound I was probably in some hot water. By the way, ma'am who are you?"

"Ma'am?" she asked.

Was I not clear enough? My accent isn't that thick...?

"Sorry... Um, who are you?" I replied

"Oh! My name is Lyn from the Lorca tribe, and you are?"

I raised my mouth instinctively to answer, "My name is-"

I paused.

What...is my name actually? Come to think of it, I don't remember much at all.

Lyn was concerned, "Something wrong?" she asked.

I dug into the depths of my memories, looking for anything that could explain who I was. But I found nothing.

"I can't remember anything Lyn." I replied.

Lyn scratched the back of her head, "Nothing at all?"

I shook my head feebly, and the room filled with silence.

I placed my hand on the bandage Lyn expertly had on my wound. I felt my head pulsate as my hand brushed against it. She took notice of this.

"When I found you...it was like you were attacked by somebody. Your head was a bloodied mess...like it was hit with a blunt object. It was like someone left you for dead. You lost so much blood...I was worried I wouldn't be able to save you." she said.

I was targeted?!

She added, "Bandits are a huge problem around here. I wouldn't be surprised if one those vile goons snuck up on you."

"Bandits?" I inquired.

She nodded, "Yes...they're a huge problem around here. Sacae is ruled by many tribes, some of whom will periodically war with one another for hunting lands. Since no centralized force is guarding our frontiers, bandits took the opportunity to raid weaker tribes and travelers for profit. They're a disgusting bunch."

So Sacae is a divided nation...I'll remember that.

I dug my hands into my pockets.

So a bunch of bandits mugged me and probably took my stuff. A blow to the head is known to cause amnes- wait a minute. What is this thing in my pocket?

I felt my fingers brush up against a lone wooly object. I grabbed onto it and pulled it from the darkness. My eyes bore witness to a long black fabric with a hole on top.

Lyn raised her eyebrow, "A black sock? I wonder where that came from."

I replied, "I...am so confus-"

Suddenly, I heard some noise outside. Perhaps we had some guests I wasn't aware of? Lyn gave a worried expression. She went to her storage chest nearby and took out a long rusted sword.

"I'll look outside, you stay in here." she said. Blade in hand, she walked out through the front door.

I took the moment to think about my situation. No memory, a green cloak, black boots, a bad forehead, and a black sock. Why the hell do I have a black sock?!

Somewhere in Illia...

Canas is a simple man living his simple life, and although he is constantly learning about his favored topic, elder magic, he likes to take some time to help his mother do their laundry. Having finished that, he noticed there is one pair that is not yet folded. His 27th pair of black socks.

He looked over at his companion as he struggled to look for his lost sock.

"Niime, do you know what in Saint Elimine's name happened to my black sock?" he asked.

His elder mother, a hermit, ready to finish with such boring labor, looked at her son.

"Canas, you know I have better things to do then find your footwear."

Canas sighed, "So, it is lost then?"

Niime lazily scanned the room and shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah."

"How unfortunate." said Canas.

"Indeed."

Back in Sacae...

Lyn came running back, bursting through the door with such force that the building nearly shook.

She spoke with a quivering voice, "Big trouble! There are bandits! They are only two, so they must be scouts. If they cross this pass, they may attack the nearby villages. I-I think I can take them on."

I took a quick look outside and saw two men in their early to mid-twenties. Although they look like they couldn't hit the broadside of a barn, strength wise they looked very capable of transforming me into cream cheese.

I closed the door shut. Dumbfounded, I looked at her. "You vs them? I may be concussed, but I think your odds victory alone is slim to none."

Shaking away any initial doubt, she responded, "I must stop them…my neighbors have been kind to me, if I don't stop them now, they may bring in a larger force."

I thought about the two men that stood outside, and I considered leaving this foolish girl to her fate when suddenly, I felt a memory invade my mind. My breathing intensified.

I looked into a hut of straw as 4 men surrounded a lone woman who was bleeding from the stomach. I turned away towards the flames that surrounded us as the woman cried out for help in vain...

"I-I'll go with you."

Lyn was surprised with my change in attitude, I had just been questioning her decision earlier.

She placed her hand on her hip, "Didn't you just say our odds of victory were slim to none? Why would you want to risk your life for this?"

I shook my head and thought of the terror I had just experienced, "I just...I have a change of heart. I'm sure we can figure something out."

Lyn looked at my battered body, focusing in on my legs that had failed me moments ago.

This man can't be serious...he just fell on his buttocks earlier.

Sternly, she asked, "Can you fight? You barely look capable of walking".

I took off weight from my still sore ankle.

"That fall was a fluke. Totally not going to happen again. About that fighting part though, I'm not sure…you don't happen to have some sort of weapon?"

She went to her storage chest on the other side of the building to find a mighty weapon for my pending heroic deed. She opened it, and started pulling out stuff ranging from bow strings, cloth, and a spoon. Having emptied out the contents of the chest, she turned towards me.

"There's nothing."

"What?!"

Lyn cracked an awkward smile, "It seems I've been a bit negligent in my shopping lately. Hey, actually, I've been meaning to give this back. I found this by the river."

She grabbed a pocket watch with a shield and feather on it.

"Does this ring a bell?"

I looked at it and felt the same sensation that I had experienced earlier. Another memory came to me...

"This pocket watch is the symbol of our top strategist, the tactician."

A mysterious man placed the pocket watch onto my hands as I felt its silver body.

"Take care of it. A tactician's watch is his most prized possession."

"Er...I'm a tactician...I think." I said meekly.

"Oh, so you're a strategist by trade?" she replied.

Lyn's expression into something more sinister, she covered her mouth as she hid her smile. I could hear whispered laughter.

Is this girl laughing at me?

My face turned red with embarrassment. I was teetering somewhere between anger and shock.

I said with an annoyed tone, "Is there something wrong?"

Lyn mustered enough strength to hide her amusement, "It's just that...well...tactician's are the type of people...how do I say it...less sociable than average. Nerdy, awkward, and usually unfitting of a weapon. Some people go as far as to call your position redundant."

I replied sternly, "Well I'll let you know that I am most uncertainly not useless."

Lyn pushed the door of her abode open, the sunlight landing on my right foot.

She said, "We'll see on the battlefield. Lead my sword tactician. I'm counting on you."

An aura of confidence filled me as I looked into her green eyes, "Trust me. I only give my best."

We ran out of the house to face our foes. How heroic it must've been to see us on our way to stop the evil of this banditry. Then something in my knee gave in.

"Ouch!" I stopped for a moment clutching my kneecap.

Somewhat annoyed, Lyn said, "Thought you said it was a fluke?"

"Should've warmed up before going off on a sprint, been laying down for too much."

I shook off my leg a bit, which allowed a small air pocket built up in my knee to pop. I felt flexibility in my joints that I had never felt before. "Okay, I'm good now, let's go!"

I scanned the scene out. At first, I was overtaken by the beauty of the plains. Green, lush grass as far as the eye can see. The river that silently flowed behind us. The mountains that brought in cool air that refreshed me. Somehow, it felt familiar. I saw the same two men, one walking around and the other guarding the entrance of a bright red hut. A plan became formulating in my mind.

"Okay Lyn, here's what we're going to do".

At first, Lyn was unsure why the Tactician decided to run towards the bush, much less so without a weapon. But when she saw the bandit get his ax stuck within the bush, she knew she had her chance. She drew her sword…

The ax came within an inch of hitting me, only for the assailant to miss horribly.

I suppose I was right when I thought he couldn't hit the broadside of a barn.

I took my weapon, the sock filled with a couple of pointy rocks, and used my makeshift sling to swing for his head, landing the shot as crimson flowed from his wound. Disoriented, he stepped back…only for Lyn to drop his guts onto the vegetation. The bandit raised his hand as if to say something, but he collapsed. He laid there in his new red-green tomb. I looked at our last foe who was guarding a small grain depot.

"Lyn, I doubt I'll be able to do that again". I took off some thorns from my cloak.

Lyn wiped her sword of blood with a cloth, "You won't need to, I can take him on myself."

The bandit looked at us, unsure of our next move.

"Be prepared if he tries something dangerous, he seems less incompetent than the last guy, but be careful." I told Lyn.

Lyn and I approached the last bandit, the grass around us moving with the wind.

The bandit waved his ax very threateningly, "Who do you think you are? You think you can stand up to Batta the Beast?!"

I replied, "Leave now sir, we killed your companion, we'll kill you to."

The bandit flexed his muscles, "Heh, what makes you think you can talk to me like that? I'll use your bones for toothpicks!"

Before any more words could be exchanged, I heard Lyn rush forward.

Within seconds Lyn struck at Batta and created a deep gash through the center of his chest. Batta recoiled but threw himself back into the fight from the non-fatal blow. Batta swung his ax and although Lyn was able to escape the brunt of the blow, Batta still managed to tear a deep bloody gash into Lyn's leg.

"Ack!" Lyn held her leg as she fell back.

I managed to catch her before she fell, and although she was able to get back up on her own, I knew she couldn't take another hit like that again. Silently, I noticed that as she stood back up, she began to sway back and forth from the blood loss. She was beginning to lose strength.

I said, "Lyn are you alright? Get behind me!" I stepped forward to face the brute, but Lyn grabbed my arm to stop me.

"No, if we both die no one will be able to warn the villagers. Leave me here!" she pushed me back.

"If I fall you must run!"

Batta swung again, but due to his injury, his technique was sloppy, and Lyn was able to escape without getting hit. Lyn readied her sword…and for a second I completely lost sight of her. When she reappeared, there were about 5 deep cuts throughout Batta's body, fatally wounding him.

I took one good look at Lyn, I had no idea how she did that. It's almost like it was generated by a cast of the die.

"What? How…How did you—". Batta fell on the grass, and he was no more.

"Wow! Lyn, you did it! You saved the villagers!" I said as I raised my arms in the air.

My gaze widened at her grievous wound.

"We need to get your leg treated!"

I put her on my shoulder as she started getting delirious from the pain. Before she passed out, she placed a weird pouch thing on my hand. "Use this…."

Later...

Before Lyn came to, I was able to use the vulnerary to heal her leg up, and afterward, I found some bandages she didn't use on my forehead to finish the job. I was pretty relieved when I found her awake the day later.

"Finally, you're awake. I was starting to get bored. A bit ironic that the roles are switched now huh?" I chuckled.

Laughing she said, "Yes, very ironic indeed."

She took in a deep breath and got up from her cot. She looked at my bloodstained robe.

"That fight must've taken a lot out of you tactician."

I scoffed at that, "I think you got the short end of the stick during that battle Lyn. I didn't go into a day-long coma."

We laughed at that and began to dwell into some small talk. Lyn questioned if I had any recollection of my past [nope] and I tried to get as much information as possible about the new world I found myself in. Eventually, we came upon the subject of my departure.

"Hey, can I ask you an important question."

I nodded my head, "Yes, of course, anything."

"Would you allow me to travel with you?" she asked.

I nearly fell out of the chair I was sitting in. "Me? You want to travel with me? Honestly, I don't even know where I am going after this, or who I even am. Even if I did, you need to get permission from your parents!"

As soon as that last word left my mouth, I realized that Lyn began to tear up.

"My mother and my father...died six months ago. My people...the Lorca tribe... we don't exist anymore. A man unleashed a great sickness upon our tribe, it made us all so weak. Then they came...at night. That's all it took. O-One night. Very few survived...and the ones that did didn't want to follow the chieftain's daughter on the basis that I was a woman. The Taliver...took everything from me."

Lyn began to cry silently as she turned away.

She's been through so much. What do I do?

"I'm sorry. I've been alone for so long… No, no more. I won't cry." she said.

"I don't care where we go, but I know that if I sit in this ger forever [oh that's what this is] I'll never get strong enough. Had you never came along, I would've died today. I must get stronger to avenge father, my people! Please, help me do that! Let's find out who you really are!" she exclaimed.

What am I supposed to say? No? Besides, it's not like my schedule is busy.

Smiling, I said, "Well, I suppose I don't have anything else to do, I appreciate that you'll help me get my identity back, and in exchange, I'll help you become the best swordswoman ever!"

"Yes!" She extended her hand, and I shook it.

"We'll leave first thing tomorrow! You'll be my master strategist, and I'll be your peerless warrior!"

My hand crushed under her grasp.

Oh my! Her handshake is brutal! How strong is this woman?

I tried to wiggle myself out of her grasp. Although Lyn was smaller than me, she really packed a punch.

"Hey! You're awfully physical aren't you?" I squealed.

She released me from her grip. "Oh? Sorry! Anyways, I'm tired of calling you tactician, let's give you a name!"

"Like what?" I inquired.

"Let's call you Mark because you were so on-the-mark today."

I planted my palm onto my forehead. "That's really corny."

Lyn raised her eyebrow, "What's a corny?"

"Never mind."

So, there it was. After managing to almost get her killed, Lyn decided it'd be best for me to lead her on an adventure with no apparent destination. Was it desperation? Perhaps there was something in me that she found promising. I'm not sure, but it'll be my mission to improve on my skills and not let her down. For the both of us.

A/N: Patch 4/1/2019.