Emmeryn had been placed to her eternal rest quietly with the Shepherds, Phila's knights, and a few of the other Ylissean nobles present. Chrom had decided a public memorial would be held once they had tracked down Gangrel and brought him to justice. He and Lissa bade goodbye to their sister and he'd held her tightly in his arms as she sobbed. While he tried to keep an outward demeanor of strength and resilience, his heart inside his chest had shattered. Once the activity had died down and he'd found a moment to himself, he'd gone to Robin for comfort, trusting she would be the one to let him drop his guise as a prince and just let him grieve. She hadn't fallen short of his expectations.

Now, Chrom had led the Shepherds back to Ferox and relayed their predicament, and Flavia had risen to the occasion with some mix of outrage over the Exalt's death and excitement for the chance to get out on the battlefield. After some time, she approached him with a small smile, though her eyes betrayed the slightest hint of sympathy for his plight.

"I have good news," she told him. "The Feroxi army is finally ready to mobilize. Every last warrior under my command is itching to meet those Plegian bastards head on. I look forward to relishing a few battles myself!"

"You'll be accompanying us?" Robin asked, and Flavia nodded.

"Of course! A Khan must have her fun, after all. I'm even bringing my insignificant other."

"Who?" the tactician wondered.

"She means me," a curt voice said, and Basilio joined them a moment later.

"He may be an oaf, but he can at least be good for stopping a few stray arrows," Flavia scoffed, and her smile faded. "Don't worry, Chrom. They'll pay dearly for what they've done. That mad scoundrel Gangrel will meet death at the edge of a sword if I have anything to say about it."

"I know," Chrom agreed glumly. "And I want him stopped as soon as possible. I…" He curled his fingers into tight fists. "I will avenge my sister. I don't care if I have to crawl to Plegia myself. I'll run him through."

"Don't hog all the glory!" Basilio snorted. "We've got to think this through. You said the assassins not only killed Emmeryn, but they stole the Fire Emblem, no?"
"Yes," Chrom growled. "Perhaps more than anything, we have to retrieve it at any cost. …That's what Emmeryn would want. She wouldn't want vengeance. She would want peace. And if Gangrel has the Emblem, that won't be possible."

"Don't worry, Chrom," Robin told him lightly, placing her hand on his unarmored shoulder. "I'll find a way to do both. By the end of all this, Gangrel will be dead and the Emblem will be back under your protection. I won't fail you."

"Bold words," Basilio said. "You sure about that, Robin? You're talking about waltzing right into Plegia, killing their king, and swiping a national treasure."

"We fell for it," Chrom muttered darkly, and Robin's hand tightened on his shoulder slightly.

"Enough of this!" Flavia snapped, and the prince looked up, surprised. "This dull wallowing in self-pity and depression doesn't suit the Exalt of Ylisse, and that's what you are now. So hold your head high and prove to those Plegian dogs that your spirit won't be broken so easily! You've got your Shepherds and the entirety of the Feroxi army standing behind you. So go trounce them and call it a day!" Chrom frowned, but he realized the truth in Flavia's words even if they hurt as bad as a battleaxe. He took a deep breath and squared his shoulders, straightening up. "That's better," the East-Khan said with an approving smile. "MUCH better. This is the Chrom I know! That's the stalwart determination that won me the tournament." At those words, Chrom's eyes widened.

"Basilio," he said, turning to the West-Khan. "Kris was at Ylisstol that night. He saved Robin and me from two of the assassins, but I lost track of him in the chaos and he vanished. I didn't find his body amongst the dead and I refuse to believe a swordsman of his skill would fall so easily."

"Okay?" Basilio said with a furrowed brow. "What's your point?"

"Do you know anything at all about him? Where he comes from? How he learned his way with a sword? Where he might have gone?"

"I already told you everything I know," the West-Khan said shortly. "He showed up one day, knocked Lon'qu flat, and disappeared when you beat him in the tournament. I've got no clue where he's from."

"I hope he's okay," Lissa lamented. "He's done so much for us already. I'd hate to think he died protecting us."

"Regardless," Flavia interrupted, "We'd best focus our time and energy on Plegia, not one man. We're ready to deploy as soon as you are, Chrom. Just give the word." Chrom nodded and lifted his head.

"Shepherds, Feroxi, and friends! We march for Plegia! We will defeat Gangrel. We WILL bring the Exalt's murderers to justice!" Shouts and cheers filled the hall and Flavia gave the prince an approving smile.

"Well, you heard him!" she snapped at their assembled soldiers. "Get moving!"

Chrom had led his army south to the desert of Plegia. As they reached the sands, their progress slowed down considerably. Regardless, they pressed on, finding footing as best they could and trying not to stumble too badly. He looked up and peered through the swirling desert winds to scan the horizon as Robin came to his side.

"I'd like to believe it's our cunning that got us this far without being spotted… but we've seen far too little of the Plegian Guard. Where are they?"

"They don't have much of a reason to seek us out," Robin pointed out. "As far as they're likely concerned, they've already mostly won. The Exalt has fallen and they have the Fire Emblem. That's what Gangrel wanted."

"True," he sighed. "But Gangrel wants a war- he made that clear. Perhaps he only wants it to be on Ylissean soil…" He looked up as Frederick approached them and dipped his head.

"Milord, our scouts report some manner of engagement downfield," he reported.

"Understood," Chrom replied with a nod. "Get everyone ready to move."

"These desert sands are certain to bog down our units, Milord," Frederick went on with a frown. "Only mages and fliers will likely be able to proceed unhindered."

"Good point," the prince said. "I'll keep that in mind." He turned to their tactician. "Robin, let's discuss strategy."

Once their preparations had been made and they had set their formation, Chrom peered forth onto what was about to become their battlefield. He jumped at the sound of a scream and looked around frantically until he found what appeared to be a young girl being pursued by an older man.

"You there!" he called, catching the man's attention. "Fiend! Keep your hands off that maiden!"

"Who is fiend?" the man replied with a heavy accent. "…You mean Gregor!" he realized. "No, friend! You have idea wrong!"

"Yeah, right," Lissa spat. "Creep!"

"This day has been nothing but insults and punches to groin," Gregor grumbled. "And all for doing good deed! Listen, friend! Gregor only want to-"

"Gotcha, you slippery scamp!" The enemy leader interrupted as his men approached the girl. "Prepare for a dose of Grima's wrath."

"Oy, this is most terrible!" Gregor said. "Do you see now? They make with the catching of us!"

"Why are you all after the girl?" Chrom demanded.

"All?" Gregor echoed. "What is this 'all?' Gregor is not one of 'all!' Look close! Maybe you not see from so far? Gregor have innocent baby face!"

"Hmm…" Chrom thought with a furrowed brow, and Lissa turned to him.

"Well…" she shrugged.

"Yeah… Not sure 'innocent baby' is how I'd describe it," Robin said curtly.

"Gah!" Gregor yelled. "Never be minding! Gregor is not enemy! You must believe!"

"This is making my head hurt," the Shepherds' commander said. "We'll sort him out later. Right now, we need to protect the girl."

"Y-You're going to help me?" the girl called to them.

"We'll do everything in our power to keep you safe," Chrom replied. "Just hold on until we an reach you, and we'll drive them off!" He scanned over the rest of the battlefield quickly and noticed a few settlements among the sand. "We need to warn these villages of the danger. But who to send? Best if it's someone who can move swiftly through the sands…"

"Maybe Sumia and Cordelia?" Robin suggested. "They'll be able to cover the most ground the quickest."

"Right." He turned back to their fliers. "You heard her! Get to the villages, but be careful!"

"Yes, captain!" both the Pegasus Knights replied quickly before taking off. With that, Chrom gave the signal for the rest of the Shepherds to advance, making their way toward Gregor and the girl. Unfortunately, the sand inhibited them more than their leader would have liked to admit.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" the girl screamed as one of their opponents closed in on her, and she transformed in a flash of light into, to Chrom's shock, a dragon. She let out a blast of icy breath and felled her assailant quickly before reverting to her human form.

"What in blazes?!" Robin demanded, mouth agape. "The girl is a dragon!"

"By the gods, she's a manakete," Chrom breathed. "I never thought I'd see one."

"Hmm… Perhaps she doesn't need our help so much as we could use hers…" the tactician thought aloud, and Chrom nodded.

"That doesn't change that we need to get to them as quickly as possible. Let's move!" He doubled his pace as best he could and Robin followed his example, and she shot a cast of magic at an axe wielder coming toward them. Chrom closed the distance between them quickly and ran Falchion through him, putting an end to him quickly. He returned to Robin and they reached the girl and Gregor in a short time.

"Don't be worrying!" Gregor told them as he blocked an oncoming sword and finished its wielder without a second thought. "Gregor will protect wee one. You go fight nasty bad guys!"

"Well, at least let us leave a few of our soldiers with you," Chrom replied. "If we can take out the leader, the rest of them should scatter. You with me, Robin?"

"Of course," she agreed. "Let's put these freaks to the sword." He nodded and started toward the dark mage leading their enemies and grit his teeth as they approached.

"You dare defy Grima, god of annihilation?" he demanded with a sick laugh.

"Grima?" Chrom repeated. "You're all Grimleal…" He shook his head. "May Naga have mercy on you!" He slashed his sword and hit his target, who countered with a cast of dark magic that struck Chrom and made his body feel like his energy was being siphoned away. The wound he'd left on their enemy healed quickly, and he gave the Shepherds a maniacal smile.

"Nosferatu," Robin grumbled. "Enough of you!" She attacked him with her sword and Chrom fought through his pain to finish the dastard off, sending him falling to the sand.

"Master Grima…" he choked. "My life force… is yours…" With that, the few remaining Grimleal scattered and Gregor and the manakete girl came to join Chrom and Robin.

"This is just the worst. Day. EVER!" the girl sobbed, and Gregor knelt down slightly to her height and grinned.

"Ho now, wee one! Do not make with the crying of tears. The evil people are now dead people. This is good, no?" Chrom and Robin exchanged a slightly bewildered gaze, but said nothing.

"You…" the girl mumbled. "You're right. Th-thank you. And… I'm sorry I was so mean to you earlier. I just get nervous around people who are… outside my age group."

"Your age group?" Gregor laughed. "Gregor much closer to your age than others here!"

"Say, um…" Chrom spoke up. "Gregor, was it? Gregor, do you mind looking after her? We need to press on."

"Mmm…" Gregor thought. "Gregor is mercenary, yes? Maybe you hire Gregor instead. True, Gregor just finish killing former employers, but still very reliable!" Chrom blinked and Robin cleared her throat. "So long as you not try to hurt little girl, Gregot will not hurt you. Also, Gregor need steady income… Many angry former employers."

"You're a sellsword?" Chrom asked.

"Yes! Very swell sword!" Gregor replied with another laugh. "Cost performance very high. You have Gregor's word." The prince looked back at his tactician, who only shrugged, and he turned back to the mercenary.

"Sure, why not? You're hired."

"But!" the girl interrupted. "But what about me?! I WON'T go back on the auction block!"

"Wait," Lissa said. "You've been sold? Like a… like a slave?!"

"To men more despicable than you can possibly imagine," the girl said as she tried not to break down crying again. "They made me transform for them… They drank and laughed and called out tricks…"

"What kind of scumbags buy and sell a little girl?!" the princess demanded. "Even if she CAN turn into a dragon…"

"She may be little, milady, but not nearly so young as you might think," Frederick told her as he approached, his horse struggling to find footing in the sand. "Manaketes live a very long time."

"Really?" Lissa wondered. "…How old are you?"

"Oh, I dunno," the girl shrugged. "A thousand… something? But look!" She smiled brightly. "No wrinkles!"

"The dragonkin are said to be more resilient than men," Frederick went on. "This girl would make a strong ally. Besides, we cannot risk her falling back into the hands of the Grimleal." Robin frowned slightly and her left hand crept to cover the back of her right one, and Frederick eyed her. "Something the matter, Robin?" he asked flatly.

"No, not at all," she replied and dropped her hands to her sides.

"Well, shall we get some rest?" Flavia asked as she approached. "We're almost to the Plegian capital. We'll need all our strength, soon enough…"

"Right," Chrom nodded. "We'll make camp and see if we can't replenish some of our supplies at the villages, now that the danger has passed." He turned his attention back to Gregor and the girl. "So you're okay joining us too?"

"Sure!" the girl grinned. "Just watch. I'll burn all those stupid Grimleal to a crisp!"

"Right…" Chrom said a bit uneasily. "My name is Chrom. What's yours?"

"I'm Nowi!" she said gleefully. "Now I'm gonna go wash up. I've got sand EVERYWHERE." She started off toward a nearby oasis, and Gregor followed quickly.

"Wait, wee one! Don't be making with the running off! Let Gregor come!"

"Ew, no!" Nowi spat. "I just said I'm gonna take a bath!" Chrom blinked as he watched them and sighed.

"Cordelia?" he called, and the red-haired Pegasus Knight immediately came forth at attention.

"Yes, captain?" she said.

"Do me a favor and keep an eye on Nowi. She may feel more comfortable with another woman around." Cordelia nodded.

"Yes, sir," she replied. "No harm will come to her." With that, she headed to catch up with their new manakete ally before she could cook Gregor. Chrom turned to the rest of his gathered troops.

"Everyone else, let's make camp. We have a big day tomorrow, so I want everyone rested."