Instead of continuing the original storyline, we are doing a paralogue in this chapter~. This paralogue is a little different from how it was originally, but who said I can't make changes in the fanfiction world?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fire Emblem or Pokemon. I also do not own the opening, which is Papermoon, a Soul Eater opening.


*OPENING*

(Instrumental)
(The scene begins with the assassination of East Ninja Village. Coral, watching the scene from above, lets out a loud scream. Scene then changes to the title)

I'm falling
Down into my shadow
Holding in my every breath
As I await the deadly night
(Coral fell in dark water. She looked up at the surface and saw her family looking down at her as she tried to reach them. A whirlpool was picked up, dragging her away from them)

So scary
But you can't give into this
Fear of pumpkin carriages
Cause all the witches see it in your eyes
(Chrom and Robin were walking down the halls of the former's castle with troubled looks. Camera zooms out to reveal that it was seen in the eye of a crazy ruler and a dark mage. Screenshots of a Dark Flier and a general covered the screen)

See you in your dreams
Yeah, baby
(Screenshots of each of the Shepherds and Emmeryn going on with their normal lives came and gone in order of appearance)

Your nightmares, too
That's where I'll find you
(Scene changed to somewhere in space where Arceus was seen watching over Coral)

Fairy Blue
It is only for you
That I would crush the stars
And put them on display
(Coral, her Pokemon and the Shepherds were battling against the Risen and Plegians)
Black Paper Moon
(Coral's team were watching their leader sadly watching the sunset)

If you really put your faith in me
(Camera zooms over to many Pokemon that will be joining the Shepherds)

When you're lost here, I am
Forever with your soul
(Marth was fighting off many Risen on her own while heading to a portal)

Waiting here above you patiently
Just like the shining moon
(Scene changed and Coral took Marth's place as she ran to her clan's killer with a killing intent. They clashed and fought. Coral skidded back as she glared up at the murderer)


The next day, the Shepherds made it back to Ylisstol. Almost immediately after their return, Coral and Kazuto dragged Robin and Chrom to the training area, Gladiknight and Sparky following. The Shepherds all wondered why and followed them, quite curious as to how training works in their world. Emmeryn had to return to the castle for a meeting, Phila following her.

"I kind of still don't really see the point in this training!" Robin shouted, as she and Sparky used the Thunder tome/Thunderbolt combo at Coral, who paired up with Jack the Weavile.

"You may have worked well in the previous fights, but there's still much to learn! Like your Pokemon's abilities, how to use them and how to help them improve!" Coral answered, as she and Jack avoided the attacks. "If you stick to one strategy, your enemies will catch on and may find a way to prevent it from happening!" To Jack, she then said, "Jack! Hone Claws!"

"Wea." The Weavile's claws glowed and seemed to have gotten longer.

"Sparky! Electro Ball!" Robin ordered, giving Pikachu more energy.

"Pika! Chu pi!" Sparky tossed his ball of electricity at the two.

"Jack! Metal Claw!" The Sharp Claw Pokemon hit the oncoming attack, sending it right back at them, much to their shock.

"Dodge it!" At Robin's shout, both she and Sparky managed to avoid the Electro Ball. In the process, they both got separated.

"Got you now." Coral sudden appeared before the tactician.

She tried to use her Thunder tome, only for the electricity to be sent over to Sparky. "What?!" Robin was then met with the tip of Sword of Kusanagi.

Sparky saw the electricity coming to him and waited to absorb it, only for Jack to get in the way and be shocked.

This surprised most of the Shepherds.

"Why did Jack get in the way?!" Sumia asked.

"Sparky would've just absorbed it, so why?" Kellam also asked.

"You're naive," Seth said. "Take a better look."

Although it was clear enough that Jack took the full force of the attack, the Sharp Claw Pokemon looked at the Pikachu behind him and gave a smirk.

"The magic didn't faze him?" Virion asked.

Miriel saw the reason. "Look at his claws!" The Shepherds looked and saw the Weavile stabbed one of his claws in the ground, Metal Claw still being active.

"There are many ways of making a lightning rod. In the case of a Pokemon, it's by having a physical Steel-type move and stab it down to the ground. After all, metal attracts electricity," Merlin explained. "And not only that, but at that distance..."

Before Seth could say anymore, Jack breathed out a powerful blizzard from its mouth at Sparky. The Mouse Pokemon tried to withstand the attack, only to see and feel himself slowly being frozen.

"That's enough, Jack," Coral called. At her order, Jack ceased the blizzard. "What was it about this training having no point?"

Robin sensed a hint of mockery in her voice. "I see your point now," she said with a nervous smile.

Coral sheathed her sword and helped the amnesiac up on her feet. "Alex, defrost Sparky." Her Typhlosion walked up to the said Pokemon and flared up, slowly melting the ice.

"Pika..." Sparky spoke to Jack.

"Wea wea vile," he said back.

"What did they say?" Vaike asked.

"Sparky just commented on how strong Jack was. Jack simply said that with a bit more training, he too will be just as skilled," the Alakazam telepathically answered.

Frederick looked over to Chrom and Kazuto's training. "I wonder how milord is fairing," he said.

The two were doing similar training with their Pokemon as Robin and Coral's.

"Now that you saw for yourself how important this is, Lord Chrom, how about we take this spar up a notch?" Kazuto said, blocking his opponent's strikes.

"If it means improving my bond with Gladiknight, let's do it," the prince agreed.

Distancing themselves away from each other, the two regrouped with Gladiknight or Dart.

"Dart, Poison Jab!" the ninja ordered.

"Croak!" His Toxicroak charged forward at their opponents, one of his claws glowing purple.

"Block it with Wide Guard!" Chrom countered. Gladiknight called upon a barrier to block the attack.

"How naive," Kazuto muttered. "Feint!"

Dart struck with his non-glowing claw first. To the Shepherd's surprise, the attack broke through the Wide Guard and struck the Gallade. Not giving him the chance to recover, Dart struck with his still active Poison Jab.

"What just happened?!" Vaike asked.

"Feint is one of the few offensive moves that still hits the opponent using a defensive one like Wide Guard," Coral explained. "You can't always depend on defense to save yourself. And not only that, both Poison Jab and Dart himself has an additional effect."

"What's that?" Stahl asked.

"Dart has an ability called Poison Touch. As the name states, both his ability and Poison Jab have a 30% chance of poisoning the target." They gasped at the information and saw Gladiknight's face turn purple from the poison.

"He's poisoned!" Sully exclaimed.

"Gladiknight!" Chrom shouted in worry.

"Shall we finish this, Dart?" Kazuto asked his partner, who nodded in response. Charging forward, he shouted, "Venoshock!" The Toxicroak fired several bursts of poison from his mouth, right at Kazuto.

"Where's he aiming?!" Lissa gasped.

Chrom noticed Kazuto running to Gladiknight and ran over to protect his partner. What he didn't expect, however, was for Kazuto to throw his sword over at Chrom's feet, making him stumble.

Rather than striking the Blade Pokemon when he was within range, Kazuto jumped over Gladiknight and pushed him to the oncoming Venoshock, taking the full force of the attack. The ninja took out some needles from his pocket and tossed them at Chrom's feet, making the prince jump back to avoid them. It proved to be a distraction to get to his sword, as Kazuto now engaged himself in a sword fight against Chrom.

Back to Gladiknight, he was severely damaged by Dart's attacks. The poison wasn't helping as it was sapping away his health. Dart stood above him, right claw glowing with Poison Jab.

With Kazuto and Chrom, the former disarmed the latter and stabbed a sword down in the hole, pinning it down. With Kazuto's other sword, he pointed the blade at the prince's neck.

"You're skilled, young prince. But you've still got ways to go," the ninja stated.

"In more ways than one, it seems," Chrom agreed.

Sheathing his blade, Kazuto helped Chrom up and tossed a Pecha Berry over to Dart, who gave it to the weakened Gladiknight. The North ninja walked over to their swords and retrieved them, unexpectedly tossing the prince back his Falchion. Chrom, shocked and surprised, did a little hot potato with his weapon before getting a firm grip on it. He sighed in relief, as did the other Shepherds.

"Hey! What's the big idea?!" Frederick demanded. "What would happen if Lord Chrom loses a hand?!"

"Hm? Well, considering how skilled he is with the sword, I assumed he is able to catch an unsheathed sword," he reasoned.

"Don't be ridiculous! No matter how skilled, no man can ever-" Cutting Frederick off, Kazuto tossed one of his swords at Coral. The kunoichi leaned back, letting the weapon pass her, and grabbed it by the hilt. She twirled it a few times and stabbed it down, proving that it was possible for a skilled swordsman to catch an unsheathed weapon.

"You were saying, Great Knight? Or is that just a title?" Coral asked, tossing the sword back to its owner, who caught it and sheathed it in one fell swoop.

Frederick cringed at the insult. Seeing as training was over, the two ninjas called their Pokemon back in their balls. Just when their Pokemon were called back, they heard a cry for help.

"HALP! HALP!"

The Shepherds turned and saw a young boy running to them. He wore beige trousers, a blue shirt and a pot on his head, for some strange reason.

"Halp! You gots to help us! I'm beggin' you milords!" the boy cried.

"Slow down. What happened?" Chrom asked.

"Y-Yes, milord! Well-! It's-! Oh god, there ain't time for explainin'! My village needs halp now!"

"We won't understand if you don't explain properly," Frederick said.

Hearing that the boy's village needed help was all Coral, Seth, Kazuto and their Pokemon needed to hear.

"Where's your village?" Seth asked.

"Th-This way!" The boy took off at the direction he just came from, the ninjas following. As soon as they left, the Shepherds followed after.

As they ran, Donnel explained his village's situation. Apparently a group of ruffians arrived in his village, which was on a small island off the coast, and took over. To make things worse, they took some of the villagers hostage, Donnel's mother being one of them. After hearing him out, Chrom agreed to help the boy.

The group arrived at the coast and saw a small boat, most likely Donnel's.

"Not to be rude or anything, but how are we going to get across?" Lissa asked. "That boat can fit up to four of us."

Coral and Kazuto looked at each other and nodded. They then took out their Pokeballs. "Come out!" Out came Bella, Neo, Zelier and Merlin.

"Wah! W-What in tarnation?!" Donnel shrieked in shock.

"Don't worry, Donnel. These creatures are friends," Chrom assured. "You may have heard of them as 'Magical Creatures', but they're really called Pokemon."

"'Pokemon'?"

"For what reason do you have for calling them out?" Frederick asked.

"Three of you ride with Donnel on his boat. Neo and Zelier can only hold one person each, so I and Kazuto will ride on them. Bella can carry two of you across. Merlin can carry a handful of you. He would carry the rest but even a Pokemon can age, plus he has to watch his head. Don't forget about Sumia and her Braviary, who can carry a couple more people," Coral planned out.

"That's actually true," Sumia said, realizing she, as a pegasus knight, can fly over the water with one additional person on her pegasus and Braviary is big and strong enough to carry one or two people.

"And the rest of us? Also, why is Jack out?" Frederick asked.

Rather than answering, Coral called out, "Jack, Blizzard."

"Vile!" The Weavile breathed out a strong breath of cold air at the sea, freezing the water, creating an icy path sturdy enough for the horse to cross as he went on ahead of them.

"That's actually really clever!" Robin complimented. "So Pokemon's attacks can also be used like this?"

"And so much more," Seth added. "Which is why the training Coral and Kazuto had done is essential, if you want your Pokemon to improve their moves like this."

"Enough chitchat," the female ninja said, getting on Neo's back. "We have a village to save. Go!" At that command, Neo flew across the sea.

Zelier jumped into the water, followed by his trainer, who was riding on his back. Bella grabbed Virion and Vaike and flew after the group, followed by Merlin, who used Psychic to carry Kellam, Lon'qu and Salamander over to the other side. Seth, to the shock of many Shepherds, was running on water... via Agility, but they have yet to know the truth about him. Sumia got Lissa on her pegasus behind her and her Braviary, which she named Avian, carried Ricken and Miriel on his back, both flying after them. Chrom, Gladiknight, Robin and Sparky got on Donnel's boat, the boy in question already on board and rowing after the group. This left all the horse riders to take the ice bridge.

The ninjas were almost to the island, when they heard a cry for help. "TEEEEEEEP!"

Donnel, whose boat wasn't that far from them, knew the cry. "Wilbert!" The next thing anyone knew, he jumped off the boat and on the icy path the horses were taking, running the rest of the way to the island. Whoever Wilbert was, it was clear enough that Donnel cares about him, going as far as to jump into the water and swim the rest of the way before Jack could finish the path.

Coming onto shore was an orange and black pig-like creature, being chased by a small group of fur trimmed men.

"Wilbert!" Donnel called.

The pig looked over to the sea and saw the boy, putting a smile on its face. Until one of its pursuers grabbed it from behind.

"Oy! There's the wee piglet!" he said.

"Tep! Tepig!" Wilbert struggled to break free.

"Ya varmints! Let 'em go!" Donnel demanded, getting out of the waters. His shivering and attempt to sound brave made the brigands laugh at him.

Wilbert didn't like how they all laughed at his friend and faced his captor. "Tep!"

The brigand holding him raised him to his eye level. "Well lookie here. Someone doesn't like us laughing." They laughed again, annoying the pig-like creature even further.

"Pig!" Unexpectedly, Wilbert released a spiraling stream of red-orange flames at his captor, burning his face and forcing him to release Wilbert. The piggy took the chance to run over to Donnel.

"Why that little-!"

"Swift!" Kazuto called out. He jumped off Zelier's back and the Floatzel leapt out of the water. His tail glowed and he swung it, releasing yellow stars with golden sparkles around them. Following those stars, Kazuto tossed his shurikens.

Seeing the stars coming at them, the brigands all moved away from Donnel and Wilbert.

"Great. Bandits," Chrom sighed. Donnel turned and saw the rest of the Shepherds arriving onto shore.

"What's this? A little lording come to watch over his chattel?" one of the brigand laughed. His laughter ceased when he noticed who he was mocking. "Aw, damn me! Sh-Shepherds!"

"That's right. So, what'll it be? Run and live? Or fight and die?" the prince questioned.

The group of brigand gritted their teeth and growled before taking their leave.

Chrom sighed and looked back to the young villager. "Donnel, what were you thinking? Running off like that."

The boy realized that he could've gotten himself killed, acting reckless like he had and bowed. "A-Apologies, milord. But I couldn't let anything happen to Wilbert."

"Wilbert?"

"My pet pig, sir." Donnel gestured to the orange and black pig by his feet. The Shepherds took notice of the creature and saw that it wasn't any ordinary pig.

"Seth. This is a Pokemon, isn't it?" Lon'qu asked the ninja closest to him.

"Yep. A Tepig to be exact. A Fire Pig Pokemon who can deftly dodge its foe's attacks while shooting fireballs from its nose. It likes to have its berries roasted before eating them," the disguised Zoroark informed.

Donnel looked at Wilbert in surprise and shock. "So you are one of them Pokemon!"

"Pig!" he nodded.

"I hate to interrupt, but shouldn't we go after them?" Frederick asked.

"Ah! That's right! My village is this way! Follow me, Your Sirness!" Donnel said, as the group took off in one direction. Or were about to.

"Why are we going to the village?" Coral asked.

"Isn't it obvious?! Or did you really forget that you were the first one to agree to helping the boy?" Frederick asked back, only to be ignored.

"Donnel, are you sure the brigands are staying at your village?"

"Huh? What do you mean?" the young boy asked.

The great knight didn't take being ignored too kindly. "I asked you a question!"

Chrom held him back. "Wait, Frederick. I think she's on to something."

"I'm not saying this from experience, but wouldn't it be too weird and obvious if the brigands stayed in the village they took over? Surely even the leader knew he wouldn't rule your village forever. If anything, there will be some brigands at your village, but only to observe the villagers' actions and report back to the leader. Those handful of ruffians might also be from the group, but the one leading it must have some kind of connection with the leader himself," Coral reasoned.

"But if that's true then, what can I do?!" Donnel asked.

"You have the right idea of going to your village, don't get me wrong. But instead of all of us going there, a handful of us should go to where the leader is."

"But how would you know where he is?" Sully asked. "Don't get me wrong, but those bandits are long gone by now."

"If you were just a normal human being, then you're right. I've just wasted our time and gave our enemies time to prepare. However, you seemed to have forgotten we have Pokemon on our team."

"They can sense where the leader is?" Stahl guessed.

"Rather than saying 'they can sense them', if they have the right move, finding the leader would be easy as pie."


Meanwhile, as most of the brigands returned to the village, the leading bandit went to their campsite, giving his boss, Roddick, some report.

"And you're sure of this?" he asked.

"On the grave of my sainted mother, I swear it," the brigand said. "It was Chrom and his Shepherds, and no mistake!"

Roddick let out a dark laugh. "Heh heh heh. A fancy lord'll fetch a high ransom from noble folk. We'll have the little man squealin' for mercy in no time!"

"We got nothin' left to take, sirs! Please, let our children go!" pleaded a middle-aged woman.

"Quit yer bleatin'!"

The brigand seemed to have noticed something about the woman. "Oy, Roddick! I think this cow's the mum of the brat what ran away."

Roddick took a good look at the woman. "... Say, I know this one. You're the wife of the man what broke my rib last time we were at yer' village."

"And you killed him for it, monster!" she confirmed. "I wish he'd done for you first..."

"Small wonder the brat's got more brass than brains if you're his mum. Guess we'll see for ourselves when we catch him, eh?" An evil smirk formed on his face. "Maybe we'll even make ya watch as we gut him! Bwa ha ha!"

Hearing this horrified her. "N-no! Please, he's just a boy!"


At the same time, Donnel led the Shepherds to his village. As Coral stated, there were only a handful of brigands there, keeping watch for any and all activities the villagers were doing.

"Coral wasn't kidding about this," Robin whispered. The group were hiding in the woods near the village.

"Yeah," Chrom agreed. "Donnel, the leader isn't here, is he?"

The village boy looked around what he could see and answered, "He's not around."

Robin looked down at Sparky. "Send the message," she whispered.

"Pika," he nodded. The Mouse Pokemon dashed off deep into the woods.


In the woods, the Shepherds' ninjas, Frederick, Maribelle, Sully and Stahl were just walking. While the ninjas returned their Pokemon back in their Pokeballs, Neo remained out.

"You still sense him, Neo?" Coral asked.

"Zone," he nodded.

"Do you know where we're going?" Maribelle asked.

"Must be to the enemy's hideout, if she kept asking that question," Sully assumed.

"Not really," Seth corrected. "We actually don't know where we're going."

This shocked the Shepherds.

"Then why are we just walking around like this?!" Frederick demanded. "For all we know, Lord Chrom and the rest-!"

"Are fine, so long as they stick to the plan," Kazuto interrupted. "Do tell, Frederick, has Robin's plan ever gone wrong?"

"Then why are we just walking?" Stahl asked.

"If we stay in one spot, those brigands will find us eventually," Seth reasoned. "We're better off moving than staying."

"Then why does Coral keep asking if Neo can sense someone?" Maribelle questioned.

"Neo may have a locked-on to the leader of that small group before they made their retreat earlier. His constantly confirming that he still senses his target means that he's still alive."

They heard rustling in the bushes and looked to see Sparky approaching them.

"Pikachu pi," he said.

Seth turned to his master. "Coral."

"As we thought. Neo, Zap Cannon." Everyone looked at the female ninja like she was crazy, as her Magnezone shot an attack into the air. "Follow that Zap Cannon!"

"To where?! You deliberately showed the enemy-!" Frederick had his mouth shut as they saw the attack redirect itself elsewhere, the ninjas and Sparky following it.

"What are you waiting for?! Hurry or we'll lose it!" Kazuto shouted at the dumbfounded Shepherds as they ran.

The dumbfounded group snapped out of their confusion and had their horses run after the group.

"Pokemon really are amazing!" Sully stated.

"So this is what they mean!" Stahl agreed. "And how lucky we are that we just happened to be near their campsite!"

"I admit, they do have their uses," Maribelle commented.

Frederick stayed silent, not sure what to think of Pokemon.


Back at Donnel's village, everyone all saw the Zap Cannon shot into the air, heading straight for the brigand's campsite. Said group of baddies all panicked at the sight.

"What the-?! What's going on over there?!"

"An ambush?!"

"No way!"

The bandits all ran to their campsite, leaving the villagers be.

"It worked!" Robin cheered, as soon as they were left the village.

Chrom nodded in agreement to the statement. "And up next is..."

On cue, an arrow was shot and hit one of the brigands, taking him down. After it was a wind and fire magic that took down another brigand.

"What the-?! Here too?!" another asked.

Gladiknight, Vaike, Kellam, Lon'qu and Salamander leapt out of hiding and attacked the remaining brigands, Virion, Miriel and Ricken still in hiding as they secretly continued to support their close-range soldiers.

"Yeah! Never mess with the Vaike and team!" the Shepherd's fighter declared.

"Okay, now we have to catch up with everyone else," Chrom said to the remaining group. "Donnel, stay close."

The boy blinked in surprise. "Beg pardon, milord? You don't mean…? I…I can't fight, sir! I ain't never even stuck a pig before!"

Chrom looked at the boy in slight shock. "Oh, sorry. I just assumed… I mean… Look, just stay here then. The rest of us will take care of the brigands."

"I wish I was strong as you sirs and madams! Kick that scum out single handed, I would!" the boy said in disappointment in himself. Wilbert looked up at his friend, not liking the expression he was making.

"Then you should fight and grow stronger," Chrom had offered.

The farmer tried to decline the offer. "But I ain't-"

"No man is born a warrior, Donny. And farm work makes for fine training—a sickle's not far from a sword, after all. Bandits may be tougher than wheat, but the principle's the same." Chrom saw Donnel was still having doubts. "Just follow you heart. Let it be your guide." To Robin, Sumia, Avian, and Lissa, he said, "Let's go!"

They all nodded and, as Chrom got on Sumia's pegasus behind the owner and Robin and Lissa on the Braviary, took off to the direction the Zap Cannon struck.

As they left, Donnel looked down on himself. He knew he wasn't able to fight off the brigands, heck he might get himself killed if he went with them, but at the same time, he couldn't help but be angry, disappointed at himself. He looked back to his father's last moments. His father knew what he was getting himself into, and yet, for his fellow villagers, he stood up for them. Donnel's situation isn't the same as that time, but to him it was similar enough.

"What am I doing?" he started to ask. "I should be there, helping out. And yet..."

"Tepig!" Donnel lifted his head, looking at a determined Wilbert. "Tepig!" The Fire Pig Pokemon pointed at Donnel's chest, where his heart was.

Donnel may not be a Pokemon, nor can he understand him, but he was Wilbert long enough to know what he was thinking.

"Yer right, Wilbert. My heart knows what it wants. And it also knows that no matter what happens, you'll be there with me, through the end!" he said. Wilbert nodded at his words. "Then what are we waiting for, Wilbert? For our people!"

"Tepig!" With that, the two ran after the soaring Shepherds.


With the other group of the Shepherds, they arrived at the brigands' hideout, which was a rubble of the forts. There, they saw a familiar bandit, shocked and paralyzed to the core... literally. Same went with a handful others around him.

"All that practice with Lock-On really did pay off," Seth stated, smiling at the results of Coral and Neo's training, prior to their arrival to Ylisse.

A bandit noticed the group running over to them. "Roddick! Over there! No doubt it's the Shepherds!"

Roddick looked his way and noticed the small group coming at them. "So they're actually here. Then it's time them castle whelps learn what us wild-born men can do!"

"You guys remember the rest of the plan?" Kazuto asked.

"Take the lead, you three!" Sully said as a reply. "Well, four!"

The ninjas and Neo, if he had a mouth, smirked at the reply and went on ahead. Well, Neo did. The three ninjas skidded to a stop, much to their allies' confusion.

"What's wrong?" Maribelle asked.

"Shield your eyes!" Coral shouted, already covering her eyes with her scarf, as did Seth and Kazuto. At her warning, Sparky hid behind Coral and closed his eyes as the rest of the Shepherds covered their eyes, and tried covering their horses. Well, all except for the stubborn Frederick.

'This is not part of the plan! I will not have these ninjas and Magical Creatures-' Before he could finish his thoughts, Magnezone suddenly glowed brightly, blinding some of the brigands and Frederick and his horse.

"What's that light?!"

"I can't see!"

"Is this a new weapon?!"

"Lower their numbers even further, Neo! Flash Cannon!" Coral shouted.

"Mag ne zone!" The Magnet Area Pokemon transferred its glowing light into an energy ball before him, charging up his Steel-type move and released it on the brigands, lowering their numbers.

Sensing the blinding light had finally died down, the Shepherds lowered their arms.

"Now's our chance! Go!" Seth shouted, charging on ahead. Coral and Kazuto followed after him, their swords in hand, as did Sully and Stahl on their horses. Maribelle wasn't far behind them, for she was a healer and healers aren't needed on the front line.

She noticed Frederick rubbing his eyes. "Frederick, what's wrong?"

"M-Maribelle? Is that you?" he asked, increasing her confusion. "I think I need a psychiatrist."

Hearing that made her suspicious. "You didn't cover your eyes when they warned us, did you?" Frederick sweat dropped as he faced her. One look at his dilated eyes was enough to answer her question alone. "Yeah, you do need to see one."

"Tell me the Healing Staff can heal this?" he practically pleaded.

"Just give it time to pass. It happened to Vaike, remember?" she instead replied in a slightly annoyed tone.

By this time, Chrom and the others had arrived, the prince himself and Robin jumped off their ride and was assisting in taking out the enemies from the ground. After letting Lissa safely off his back, Avian joined his trainer in attacking the enemy from the skies.

Coral ran over to a big group of villagers, most likely the hostages. With the group were a few bandits. The ninja took out some senbons and tossed them at the bandits. The needles struck them all in the neck, knocking them out. She approached the villagers, who all looked at her with wide eyes.

"You're safe now! Come with me if you wish to return home!" she shouted.

"Stop right there!" Coral looked behind her and saw a couple of archers with their arrows ready to shoot. "Drop your weapon and nobody gets hurt."

Coral gritted her teeth, mentally cursing herself. 'Damn it! I screwed up!'

"TEPIG!" Out of nowhere, a certain Tepig came and, covered in flames, knocked one of the archers down.

"What the-?!" the other archer gasped, only to suddenly be impaled by a lance and die.

"Whew. Looks like we made it, Wilbert," Donnel sighed in relief, as he removed his weapon from the dead bandit's body.

To say Coral was shocked would be an understatement.

"Donnel!" came a cry from the hostages. The ninja, the farmer boy and his Pokemon looked and saw the middle-age woman running out of the crowd.

"Ma!" Donnel happily cried back, dropping his weapon and embracing his mother.

"Oh, Donny! Thank goodness you're safe! I was worried near to death, boy!" she said.

Seeing Donnel and his mother hugging like that made Coral remember her own mother and her hugs. The memories caused a small tear to shed. The ninja quickly noticed this and got a hold of herself.

"Donnel. Did you come to help?" she asked.

Breaking away from the hug, the boy answered, "Of course! Dis' here is my home! And I'm going to do whatever I can to help!"

"Donnel, what are you saying?! A farmer can't fight as well as soldiers!" his mother protested.

"Pa was a farmer and he did what he could to protect us because this is his home! It's my home too and I want to do what I can to help, even if it kills me like it did pa!"

Hearing his answer made his mother speechless and Coral widened her eyes slightly. Slowly, but surely, the latter was starting to see herself in the young farmboy.

"Stay close," she spoke. "Don't fight someone who's obviously much stronger than you, unless if you have an idea on how to kill him instantly."

"Yes ma'am!" he saluted.

"Te pig!" Wilbert also saluted.

She turned back to the hostages. "First thing's first; getting the hostages out of here. Think you got the guts to protect them from brigand attacks as we run?"

"Yes ma'am/Tepig!" both answered once more.

To his mother, Donnel then said, "Don't worry, ma! I'll definitely protect you!"

With that, the three led the villagers to safety. Some bandits noticed and tried to stop them from escaping, only for Donnel, Wilbert and Coral to stop their attempts. Surprisingly enough, the boy and his Fire Pig Pokemon work so well together for their first fight.


Later, the bandits were all beaten. The Shepherds had won and the villagers returned home. All except one pair.

"My sweet little boy." Donnel's mother hugged her son once more after the terror had ended. She then looked up to the Shepherds and said, "I can't thank you enough for saving my son and our village, milord." Realizing her savior was a royalty, she immediately released her son and told him, "Donny! Where are your manners?! Take a knee and thank His Lordness!"

Donnel did just that. "Er, I can't begin to repay what you done for us, sir! T-Thank you!"

"You did enough, Donny," the prince said with a smile. "And you're young yet. In time, as you hone your potential, you'll be defending this village singlehandedly." That said, the group made their leave. Or was about to.

"W-Wait! Please!" Donnel shouted.

"Something wrong?" Chrom asked.

"I has a request, sir. If it please Your Graceliness... Take me with you, milord! Lemme be a Shepherd like you! I'm good with livestock, I am! Please, sir!"

His mother looked at him in shock. "Hush now, you fool boy!"

Donnel turned to her with full determination. "I want to hone my... whatever he said. I want to keep this place safe! I never thought I was good for nothin' more than shovelin' dirt... But milord showed me there's more I can do. More I needs to be doing!"

"You needs be knowin' your place, boy! A farmhand's no fit for a royal-"

"Actually, we'd be thrilled to have him," Coral interrupted, much to everyone's shock. "The Shepherds need every good man we can find, and your son fought bravely. You saw for yourself what he can do. He'll make a fine soldier. Besides, he won't be alone; he'll have Wilbert with him. Right?"

"Tepig!" the Pokemon in question nodded.

Donnel's mother looked at the Tepig with a funny look. "Donnel, is this the reason you've been at the fields more than usual?"

Donnel looked away, chuckling nervously. "Heheh... Yeah..." He kept Wilbert a secret from his mother, so she wouldn't either be freaked out by the looks or make pork chop out of him.

His mother looked at Wilbert then back at Donnel. A small smile formed on her face. "Well, you're a man grown now, Donny. I s'pose you can make up your own mind."

"Aw, Ma..."

"You just come home safe, love. I'll see that the village is still standin' when you return a hero." She looked at Wilbert in the eyes and patted his head. "You take good care of him, okay?"

"Tepig!" he nodded.

She got up and was walking back to the village. After taking several steps, she looked back and saw Donnel and Wilbert still where they were. "Well?! Off with you, then! Glory's waiting', boys!"

"I ain't fightin' for glory, Ma; I'm fightin' for you! But if I do find some glory, I'll be sure to bring it home for you!" he declared, giving his mother one last hug before his leave.

"Just come home alive, Donny," she whispered, hugging him back. She felt something rubbing her leg and looked down to see Wilbert comforting her. "You promise to keep my boy safe, no matter what."

"Te pig!" Wilbert looked at her in sheer determination, placing one of his front legs on his chest as if to say, 'leave it to me!'

With the new recruits, the Shepherds went back to Ylisstol.

"Coral," Kazuto called in a whispered tone. "I must ask; why were you insistent in having Donnel join us?"

"I guess... I saw myself in him," she answered.