Hello all you beautiful people! As of now, The Awakening has received almost 200 views overall! And I am extremely grateful that for the moment, you all seem to be enjoying this story! But as always, here's some house cleaning!

1. I've received some reviews over the past couple ideas giving me some very good ideas on where I can go with my stories, and some other reviews that are jumping the gun slightly on some things!

a. I do not mind suggestions, no author should! A reviewer only leaves feedback for changes they can see will improve a story! But we still have quite a ways to go my friends! For example, one reviewer told me to consider a Fates sequel. Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down there buddy! I appreciate that you would like the idea of a Fates sequel, but let's get through this project first, yeah? Yeah c:

b. For the moment, I have a relatively clear idea on where I want to take this story and how I want to go about writing it. While of course, I will always value suggestions (one reviewer even left me some pretty neat ideas on how I can expound on war attrocities committed by both sides during the wars of Awakening!), for the moment, reviews I am looking for revolve mainly around writing style. How it flows, the enjoyability of reading, how realistic and close to the game my portrayal of the characters are, etc. By all means, keep leaving suggestions, but if I don't get feedback on if you think my actual writing is good or bad, then I don't know what to, or even if I need to improve anything out there for my lovely readers! So please, feedback of any kind is appreciated!

2. I have decided to implement short story elements if I deem it necessary. For example... Ahh you'll see later on in this chapter what I'm talking about, but I have made the decision to implement some support conversations in the chapters themselves before the "battles" at intervals at where I think they'd work best. Please let me know what you think of this!

3. Chapters will most likely be split into multiple parts. For example, this is the first part of Unwelcome Change, and my next uploaded chapter will be Unwelcome Change (Cont) as I want to keep everything neat so you're not jammed with so much in one chapter, so at my discretion is how chapters shall be split.

Gosh! With all that prefacing done, you might think we won't ever get to the actual meat but no worries, that is all I have to say! Now, please enjoy this next chapter in The Awakening!

Chapter 1: Unwelcome Change

West of Ylisstol: Ylisse

They didn't have much time left in the day to get any significant distance done to get back to Ylisse's capital. However, the group of four still did get a fair enough distance in the few hours of sunlight that they did have left in the day.

With that in mind, and judging by how fast the light from the weak evening sun was quickly disappearing, the group of four stopped and Lissa decided to bring up a point she had only made hours ago.

"I told you—" The young blonde girl pouted, "it's getting dark already!" There were then several buzzing sounds as the insects of the night began to make their appearance known and Lissa began to swat at the air as she said, "... Ech! And now the bugs are out! Noisy, disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when—"

Suddenly, her tirade was cut short and was instead replaced by several spitting sounds as she coughed excessively, "Agh! Won goph in mah mouph! Blech! Ptoeey!"

Chrom laughed slightly at this display and putting a hand on his sister's shoulder, he said, "Aw, come on now, Lissa. Hardship builds character. Want to help me gather some firewood?"

Lissa, apparently hadn't heard a word her brother had said because she was still spitting while he had been talking. "Tpht! Tpht! Yeeeeeuck!... I think I swallowed it…" Then in a statement that showed that she HAD indeed been paying attention to Chrom, said to him, "I'll pass on finding firewood, thanks" She threw her hands up in the air in frustration and said loudly, "I think I've built QUITE enough character for one day!"

Robin broke the course of this conversation by saying mildly, "We should probably think about food. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving" To accentuate this statement, Robin's stomach let out a mighty grumble.

Frederick, simply nodded and said, "Yes, I should think a little hunting and gathering is in order." Looking to the rest of the group, he asked, "Now, who wants to clear a campsite? We might as well bed down for the night if we're not going to be making anymore progress for today."

"I can do that." Robin said immediately, but Chrom was shaking his head.

"No, Robin. I'd like you to come with me. I'm going to go hunting for some meat and I'd prefer it if I had someone else out there watching my back so nothing unpleasant sneaks up on me."

Frederick immediately objected. "Milord, I must insist—"

But Chrom had already seen the interjection coming and held up a hand to stop his retainer. "I understand where you're coming from Frederick, I really do. But I think it's time that we put some trust in Robin." Then he turned to Lissa and the potential ground for their campsite and further added, "Besides, even if I did have you come with me instead of Robin, wouldn't you be worried about Lissa?"

Frederick saw the logic in this and said hesitantly, "Well milord, Lissa could go with you as well."

"Uhh, I am still here you know!" Lissa said pointedly, but having a grin on her face all the same to see the usual conversation of Chrom's safety from the overprotective Frederick

"Fair point, Frederick." Chrom had said, "But if something really nasty is out there, small a chance as it may be, I'd rather not my little sister be in harm's way."

Sighing, the older knight conceded the point. "I suppose you're right milord." Then, looking at Robin, said more reasonably, "Robin, you fought with us and protected us and many innocent Ylissean lives. I'm putting my trust in you. Please do not abuse it."

Robin, recognizing what Frederick had done, appreciated the gesture and nodded respectfully towards the bigger man. "I promise you, Sir. No harm shall befall Chrom."

"Make sure it doesn't." Replied the other man very seriously.

"Come on, Frederick!" Chrom said with an admonishing smile. "Give Robin a break, he definitely deserves more than that at this point!" Then to the white haired tactician, grinned and added, "Now let's go find dinner!"

"Gladly." Robin replied with much enthusiasm.

With that goal in mind, the duo marched off into the surrounding forest as Frederick and Lissa began to clear a space in the ground to make their campsite.

As the two ventured deeper into the forests, they had removed some of their more elaborate outerwear. For example, Chrom had removed his white cape from his armor and pauldron (which despite the warrior's best efforts would always manage to attract some form of dirt or other mess on it). Robin on the other hand had removed his rather elaborate coat.

As the two were going hunting, they figured that it would only be natural that they be able to have freedom of movement and have less problems of something getting snagged on a tree or another small issue which could cause them ruin.

Both men had their weapons close to hand and ready, neither of them were archers, but Robin had discovered that Chrom had an incredible speed to his reflexes and actions. He had seen this first in the battle in Southtown and saw that, despite his youth, Chrom would be well on his way to become a master swordsman of the highest caliber. However, speed wasn't his only strength, as he had plenty of that too.

Looking to the tome he held, which was still the basic thunder spell, he decided that even though he held both a sword and tome, he figured somehow that he would be better at casting spells rather than involving himself with swords. I should take lessons from Chrom or Frederick however. Robin thought to himself. Never hurts to have more skills and talents which could save your life later.

They were in a hunting atmosphere granted, where they needed their wits about them in case they heard some miniscule sound (dinner was on the line after all!), but Robin couldn't help but notice that this was the first time that he found himself along in the presence of Chrom and he started wondering about something as he now reminded himself, they'd only barely met that same day.

Shrugging, Robin decided that there was nothing wrong for talking to the man he'd obviously be working more with, and with that, he opened the door. "Can I ask you something, Chrom?"

Chrom turned to face Robin and with an expression, half joking half serious, replied, "Uh-oh. Should I be nervous?"

Robin shook his head to push any doubts away and said, "When you found me collapsed and without memory, why did you take me in?"

Chrom raised an eyebrow at this and answered the question with a tone of voice that sounded as if the reason was more than obvious. "Well… Because you were collapsed and without memory?"

"That's it?" Robin asked. "Pity was your reason?"

Shrugging, Chrom said, "Isn't that enough?"

"Did you never stop to consider if it was some kind of trap?" Robin asked doggedly.

"Heh," Chrom guffawed slightly, "that's what I have Frederick for."

However, Robin wanted more and he started saying, "But why didn't—"

Chrom stopped walking and after a second, Robin noticed and turned around to face him. Now with a very serious expression, the blue haired swordsman said, "Robin, if I see someone hurt or in need, I'm going to help them. That's just who I am, and there's no changing it." Gesturing to the ground, he added, "Or would you rather I'd left you there, face down in the muck?"

Robin shook his head, denying the claim and said, "No, of course not. I'm thankful for what you did, I truly am. But it scares me all the same." Tapping a hand on his forehead as if to find the words he needed, he apparently did and said, "Chivalry and longevity don't often go hand in hand."

"Ha!" Chrom barked with laughter, "I wish I had a gold coin for every time I got this lecture!"

Robin shrugged. "I can only offer advice, I'm afraid. You really should be more careful in the future."

Chrom was already shaking his head before the white haired man finished his sentence. "I'm sorry, but no. If it happened again today, I'd do the same exact thing…"

"But—" Robin tried to say.

Chrom however, was now holding up his own hand. "Peace, Robin. I have heard your counsel, and I know you mean well. But as I said, this is who I am. I can't change that, nor would I want to."

Robin nodded, somewhat reluctantly admittedly, but he did all the same. "I… I understand. If that is your decision, then so be it." As Chrom started walking again, he said after him, "Just do try and be careful, Chrom. For my peace of mind at least, if not your own?"

Chrom turned back to him and said, "I will. I promise."

Robin smiled at this. "Good, then that's all I could ask for."

As Chrom returned this smile, the duo felt like they now understood each other a little better and shared a moment of camaraderie. That was at least, until there was a loud snapping of branches from somewhere in the trees.

Both men were immediately put on alert at the sound and Chrom drew his sword as Robin whipped out his tome.

"Whatever made that sound," Chrom said quietly, yet intensely, "it's big."

Robin nodded in agreement, "I think I would say the same as well."

Their eyes scanned the dark trees and Robin was processing this information. "The sound we heard…" He began, "They were branches snapping… Not sticks on the ground… Most of the branches to get snapped on are about our head heights if not slightly higher, so that can only mean that a—"

Robin was cut off by an almighty roar as a bear shambled into view of the two armed men. As soon as it saw them, it got on its hind legs, roared even more loudly, and bared its rather large teeth at them.

"BEAR!" Chrom and Robin both shouted as the huge animal dropped its paws onto the ground and began running at them.

It scattered them with its first charge and it blundered on by as Chrom and Robin hurriedly got back to their feet.

"Thunder!" Robin shouted as he cast the spell and felt the concentrated energy leading his hand.

It hit the bear's backside and made it jolt forward slightly, but other than that, appeared to not have much impact. It instead turned back to him, roared once again, and now started charging him."

"Robin!" Chrom shouted as he ran to his friends aid. With a shout, he aimed a slash at the bear's side and opened a cut there, but the fur was too thick for the strike to be effective. It was however, very effective in distracting the attention of the bear off of Robin. And now onto him.

"How do we kill it?!" Robin shouted to Chrom as he decided drawing his sword should probably be something that he do about now, in addition to wielding his tome.

"I don't know!" Chrom shouted back as he parried a bear paw by striking at it viciously with his sword. The bear was absolutely enraged now and continued advancing on the warrior. "I've never hunted a bear before! All I know is, we aren't equipped for this!"

"We have swords!" Robin shouted as he cast a thunder spell to try to divert some of the huge creature's attention, "Isn't that enough?"

"Most hunting parties use long spears or pikes!" Chrom shouted back as he swung another slash at the bear. "Keeps the bear at bay!"

"Well, we don't have that!" Robin shouted in frustration.

"Robin, look out!" Chrom shouted and the tactician barely managed to avoid the huge paw that swung past his head with a deadly "whoosh!" of air.

He had sidestepped the attack, almost tripped on a rock, quickly regained his balance and ran by the bear to stand side to side with Chrom. "We have no choice!" He shouted, let's throw everything we have at it!" And more thunder began forming in Robin's hands as Chrom continued to slash at the bear, finding openings in its attack patterns, but they were doing little damage, even fighting together.

Then, the bear, apparently deciding it had had enough, swung its paw and knocked the two men back several feet into the air, before landing back to the ground in an explosive "whoof!" of breath.

"This isn't working!" Chrom panted as he leaned his weight on his sword. "We need to go back and get Frederick, he has a lance!"

"And what, are we supposed to outrun the bear?!" Robin shouted back. "We'll be eaten long before we make it back to Frederick!"

Frustratedly, Chrom gestured to the bear who was approaching them again, "Hey, I had an idea! YOU come up with something, consider this your first test as the tactician of the Shepherds! If you fail, WE BOTH DIE!"

"I GOT IT, I GOT IT!" Robin shouted angrily, "Just give me a moment to thin—" His head suddenly was filled with an image. What seemed like…. Was it a memory? No it couldn't have been.

"Robin now!" Chrom shouted at him and he saw himself in this vision shooting some sort of lightning into the blade of Chrom's sword as he heard himself shout encouragement at the other man."

Shaking his head, he had no idea what happened. But now he had an idea.

"Chrom!" Robin shouted as he cast another thunder spell at the bear. "Do you trust me?"

Chrom laughed in a somewhat nervous, but yet also derisive way, "You're asking me that now?! When we're about to be eaten by a bear?!"

"Do you trust me?!" Robin asked again, more loudly this time as he dragged Chrom to him by the arm.

Chrom looked into his eyes, deep dark brown eyes. In that moment, he decided, he did trust Robin. "I do." he said.

"Good," Robin said and he released Chrom as the bear prepared for its final assault on the duo. He began casting a thunder spell in his hand, but instead of letting it go at its usual increment, he continued building it up.

"Uhh, Robin?" Chrom asked anxiously as the bear was getting closer. "Mind telling me the plan?"

"I'm going to shoot a concentrated bolt of energy into your sword!" Robin called. "After that, stab that pointy stick into the bear as far as it can go!"

"ARE YOU INSANE?!" Chrom shouted. "NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO FRY ME, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON, NAGA DEEMS ME TO LIVE, THE BEAR WILL BITE MY HEAD OFF!"

"Trust me, Chrom!" Robin shouted back more loudly as the bear got even closer. "Get ready! I don't know how much longer I can hold this!"

"Oh for the love of all the gods…" Chrom said in frustration. Gritting his teeth, he held his sword out, planted his feet in the ground, and prepared to charge. "I might actually be insane…"

"And…" Robin said over the noise of his charging magic as the bear was now only feet away from them, "NOW!" And with an almighty boom, the concentrated energy shot out of Robin's hand into the blade of Chrom's sword as he began to charge forward at the bear.

Chrom was letting out a battle cry almost as loud as the bear and as he thought about this insane situation, and how he had AGREED to put himself in this dangerous situation, the adrenaline began dumping into his bloodstream and he resolved himself, that he would not die here. He would not be defeated by some mere bear of the forest and he shouted out loud (as if the bear were some evil bandit), "YOUR END HAS COME!"

They were only inches away from each other, and Chrom, still continuing that earth shattering battle cry, used all the muscles in his shoulder, back and arm to plunge the sword in the center of the bear's huge mass. There was an almighty glow as the sword made contact and a loud, but yet also oddly satisfying, slashing sound as the sword continued going deeper and deeper until it reached the hilt of the weapon.

Chrom's eyes were jammed shut and he was still yelling as he felt the sword going in and half expected to feel the bear's jaws snapping in on his head any moment now, but as he stopped yelling and opened his eyes, he realized that the bear had been killed as soon as his sword, imbued with Robin's magic, had touched it. There was a huge thud as the bear's enormous weight made it hit the ground to shake it a little, and Chrom fell, his buckling legs being unable to support his weight.

Robin, was white as if death himself had just come for him and he now ran next to his friend, voice shaking almost as bad as Chrom's legs and asked (or more accurately shouted), "Oh my gods! Are you alright?! I thought you were a goner!"

"Oh!" Chrom said in a voice heavily laden with sarcasm, "The madman with the plan thought that I wasn't to have any chance of surviving this! That I wouldn't have been able to kill this little bear!"

Robin shook his head in disbelief. In that moment before sword and Chrom had made contact with the bear, it had been nerve wracking, he had only just promised to Frederick mere hours ago that he would keep Chrom safe and he threw him in the middle of a rampaging bear's path. But, he returned the sarcasm with some of his own, "Really, 'little bear'? Those legs of yours are still shaking, quite a reaction for only fighting a 'little bear'!"

"I'll have you know, that I—" Chrom began, but then stopped, looked at himself, then the sword stuck in the bear. He stood up, tested his weight, removed the sword, cleaned the blood off it, and sheathed it. Then he turned to Robin and said grudgingly, "Thank you."

Robin was more than shocked. " 'Thank you' for… what? You called me a madman earlier, where's this coming from?"

"If we followed my plan, we would undoubtedly be dead. And in the stomachs of that bear over there" Chrom said as he gestured to the dead beast. "With your plan, at least we could stand a fighting chance. Plus, you did save my life… In some weird convoluted way, but you did."

A smile began to come to Robin's face and he tried to say, "Chrom, I—"

"BUT YOU PUT ME IN THE PATH OF A RAMPAGING BEAR DAMMIT!" Chrom shouted angrily. "AND THE ONLY THING YOU HAD TO GIVE ME FOR COMFORT, WAS SOME QUESTION OF IF I TRUSTED YOU, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION?!" And he began to wave his arms wildly, as if this, somehow made it more clear of how angry he was

"Calm down, Chrom!" Robin began as he tried to hold down the warrior's flailing arms. "Chrom. Chrom! CHROM!" Robin shouted in louder and louder increments as he tried to get his friend under control. "Listen to me!"

"WHAT?!" Chrom shouted, his face actually red now. "WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY HAVE TO SAY NOW?!"

"We have a problem solved!" Robin shouted back, albeit more quietly.

"Oh yeah, what problem is that?" Chrom asked, his anger rapidly dispelling.

"Our problem of hunting." Robin said and he pointed to the massive bear carcass.

"... You mean, you think we should eat the bear?" Chrom asked in what Robin interpreted as a very dangerous tone.

"Ye—" Robin swallowed, cleared his throat and said, "Yes?"

Silence.

Then, Chrom dropped a hand on Robin's shoulder, started laughing heartily, and said, "Oh, Robin my friend. I think you and I are going to get along just fine."