A/N:

For this work of fiction, I'm writing a crossover between Fire Emblem and another fantasy series. I want you guys to be able to guess which series though, the title mostly gives it away.

I do sincerely apologize for not posting this story in its correct crossover section, but I thought that, since there was only one other work in there, no one will find out that this story exists if I did post it there. So for the time being, please excuse my rule breaking. I'll eventually move it to its proper section, though.

And now to begin.

Awakened in the Third Age

Chapter 1: Arrival

Lucina staggered out of the out-realm gate, falling on her knees. She felt nauseous, traveling through time coupled with the constant malnutrition she endured in her doomed world certainly took its toll on her. She looked to see how her friends fared, though was disheartened to find that none had made it on the other side yet. She sighed, Naga had spoken truly when she told her they'd be separated, but that did little to ease the tightness in her heart. She slowly rose to her feet, wobbling a bit from dizziness. Her head was pounding, and her vision was still blurred, but she tried to shake her head clear of it.

A loud crash from behind her made her jump and sent her forwards onto her knees once more. She turned around and noticed the doors of the out-realm gate had slammed shut and were now starting to fade away. There was no going back now it seemed, her mission was now set in stone. With a deep breath she climbed up to her feet once again, this time with more confidence. Her vision became clear and the fog that seemed to cloud her mind drew back, allowing for clarity of thought once more. She took the time to survey her surroundings properly now and gasped at the wondrous sight that sent chills down her very spine.

Many trees with their many coloured leaves swayed gently in the light breeze. Short and soft-looking grass covered the forest floor along with fallen autumn leaves, glowing in the sunlight that peeked out from the canopies of the trees. She could even hear birds singing many melodious tunes as they called out to their kin.

'So, this is the past,' she thought, mouth still agape. She'd never seen a forest so alive before. Her future was filled with dead woods and burned grasslands. She only remembered hearing birds this merry when she was a young girl, before the world had ended. She walked slowly through the forest, admiring the sights around her. It still astounded her that her land had so much natural beauty to it. It was no wonder Her father had fought so hard to protect it. Her thoughts turned ill as she remembered what would eventually come to the serene forests and grasslands of Ylisse.

'Not this time.'

Determination was set on her face, she'd find her father, she'd save everyone, she would stop Grima! A sudden realization came to her then, she had no idea where she was or if she was even in Ylisse. There wasn't going to be much saving if she couldn't get her bearings.

Farther and farther she walked in the forest until she came across a wide dirt road that cut through it. She figured this road would most likely lead to some town, then she could figure out what land she was in, and where the next major settlement was.

She walked along the road for what seemed like hours. It was nothing short of strange how quiet the road was, she hadn't seen a single person this entire time. Not even any soldiers patrolling the lands. Had she traveled back to the right point in time? Naga had told them this timeline was a little before her aunt Emmeryn was assassinated, a plot that would scar her father more than just physically for the rest of his life. Perhaps there was a war going on, so all the soldiers were on the front lines. If that was the case, she needed to make haste. She quickened her pace as she strode along the road with long strides, arm at her sword.

She kept this pace for a long while, even while her feet burned underneath her. When it was that the sun began to dip beyond the horizon and pass into the evening, Lucina stopped for a short break. She leaned her back against a tree and pulled out her water flask from her traveling bag, taking a greedy sip of what little she had.

She knew that the forest would become dark in about an hour, and so would end her first day in the past. It wasn't exactly how she'd imagined it, but she supposed a peaceful entrance was more fitting of this time.

Suddenly, there was a ruffle in the brush beside her. Lucina instantly swiveled towards it. It could have been an animal, but she felt it was not a terrible thing to be cautious. Her arm was at the hilt of her sword, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

Then a large figure calmly walked out of the brush and stood some distance up the road, and 'large' was an understatement. This man was well built and incredibly tall, probably almost seven feet in height she guessed. He carried a longsword at his side which looked to be high quality too; castle forged steel she was certain of. A gruff face with hardened features stared daggers at her, appearing to be sizing her up.

He had a real raggedy look to him; a grey cloak hung about his shoulders, his hood drawn over his dark hair, and his brown tunic and simple mail underneath hung loosely on his form. His other clothes consisting of similar earthy tones. All suggesting that this behemoth of a man was some highway bandit.

Oddly, the man brandished a silver broach in the shape of a pointed star with many rays. Lucina knew not of any noble house in the Halidom of Ylisse with this sigil, she started to wonder if maybe she'd arrived in Valm instead. Lucina also noticed some men in the foliage who also brandished the pointed star on their cloaks, his comrades most likely. Lucina widened her base and stared at the man, careful not to draw her sword just yet.

"Who are you?" the man said, his voice was booming and seemed to command authority. Lucina stood her ground however and was in no way intimidated. She'd faced beasts far larger than him.

"I am just a simple traveler," she replied.

"From where?" he questioned quickly. Lucina considered her words carefully for a moment. Should she tell him she was from Ylisse? Her blue hair and sword certainly were trademarks of Ylissean royalty, she didn't want them to be able to connect the dots and possibly expose her. And it was also possible that these bandits were some of the Plegian raiders that had started the Plegian-Ylissean conflict during her Aunt's rule. Exposing her lineage to them would make her a high value target, and she needed to keep a low profile.

Then again, Lucina doubted these potential bandits had the wits to figure any of that out so easily.

"The Halidom of Ylisse," she said with confidence.

The man paused, quietly observing her. He seemed to be pondering over something. Lucina could only guess that he was deciding on fighting her or not. She stood straight, eyes never wavering away from his as he watched her carefully with keen eyes. At last he opened his mouth to speak, and in his booming voice he said, "I know of no such place, nor would I believe it is anywhere near here."

Lucina's eyes narrowed behind her mask. This was strange, how did he not know of Ylisse? Even if she was on Valm, the legendary homeland to the descendants of the Hero-King Marth was known throughout every corner of the world. Yet even more strange was the way this man spoke. He didn't seem like a simple peasant. His tone of voice carried a certain air of learnedness. Perhaps he was a noble turned brigand, and it would be that he should have knowledge of the world and the lands it holds. He could also have just been lying…

"It's probably far from here," she said.

"Indeed? And what business would a 'simple traveler from Ylisse have with the little folk so armed?"

She raised an eyebrow, she could only guess that little folk meant peasantry. In which case she wondered why he would question her on them. Lucina's scowl grew deeper. What right did this ruffian of all people have to question her intentions, was it not they who'd be thieving from these poor folk? But she reared in her anger. To lose her temper now while she was surrounded by the enemy was far from wise.

"No business, I'm looking to head to Yllisstol, capital city of Ylisse. I seemed to have gotten lost along the way."

"So, it seems," the man said. His hand was moving ever so slightly towards the hilt of his sword, and Lucina's grip tightened around hers. She knew there was going to be a fight, it was just a matter of who would draw first. Her stomach lurched at the thought. Could she do it? Could she strike down a living man, even if he was no better than a beast? Though many a risen had she slain, never had she used her blade against the living. Life was too precious in the future.

Lucina resolved herself. She must do it, she had to. If she were to fall here then the world was doomed to suffer the same cataclysm of her time. She could not let that happen. After all, what was the life of one detestable man to a world of innocent? She took a deep breath in and out, ready now for what was to come.

"There have been a number of unsavory characters wandering these lands as of late," the man said. His voice was low, and his hand was now firm around the hilt of his sword.

"Indeed, men such as yourselves!" she proclaimed, and almost in unison they both drew their blades. Lucina rushed the tall man, quickly closing the distance between him, the man took a defensive stand against her, his sword pointed out in a low guard. Lucina swung her sword in an upwards arc from low, clashing with the Bandit's sword as he deflected. She then brought her sword high and started slashing in a downwards arc but feinted her attack midway and thrusted the tip forward, but the man dodged her sword point.

Lucina slashed and stabbed, whilst the man expertly parried every blow. Lucina noted how uncharacteristically skilled this man was for a bandit, even if she was extremely weathered down from many factors, she was still quite the formidable swordswoman.

Lucina continued to pressure him, making sure to keep the man on the defensive. The difference in height made it easy for Lucina to keep the man occupied, she kept her attacks low so that he would have to extend his reach to block, then she would strike high to throw him off. If it weren't for the skill of this bandit, she would have easily taken him down already.

Finally, the man went on the offensive, and Lucina had to brace herself from the sheer strength of each strike. The man swung his sword high and slashed downwards with all his strength. Lucina knew she could not deflect that, so she leapt out of the way using her superior speed. She then thrusted inwards while the man's guard was down, but she over extended herself, and the man was able to narrowly dodge it. He then slammed his shoulder into her and Lucina was hurled sideways onto the ground, a good distance away. She stumbled onto her feet and held her sword out in front of her. She was panting hard from exertion, whilst the man seemed relatively unfazed.

Then, two more men in similar dress walked out of the bushes and stood next to her adversary. They too had quite the height to them, but not as much as the tall tower of a man she was fighting. She also noticed a few archers crouched in the bushes beside her that had drawn their bows and were aiming them at her.

Lucina cursed, this was a tough situation she was in. She could rush the three swordsmen and get a back full of arrows. Or she could flee but suffer the same result. There was one option that she could see working. Perhaps she could trick them, let them think she was surrendering. Then while they were distracted, she could flee. Lucina took a short breath in and out, making up her mind. She lowered the tip of her blade to the floor; her enemies kept their guard up.

"I yield," she calmly stated, "you can have any valuables I possess, but there isn't anything of worth." Lucina watched with curiosity as the three men looked at each other, confusion clear on their faces.

Just as they were about to respond, a horseman ripped through the bushes. He was dressed the same as the others, but his face was ridden with fear, and he was panting heavily.

"Black riders!" he cried, "they assail us at the ford!" The horseman seemed panicked and his voice was shaky.

"What is their number?" asked the tallest bandit.

"Nine."

The bandits exchanged glances at each other, seemingly confused.

"Nine riders overwhelmed you? There are twenty men at least still at the ford," a bandit said.

"No, you do not understand," the horseman argued, "these are no mere riders. They—they are a fierce foe, and darkness makes them stronger. I–I fear they must be servants of the enemy."

Silence filled the air. The men looked towards the ground with hardened eyes. Lucina could see the fear that had come across each of their faces.

"You need not say more," the tallest bandit spoke, sheathing his blade. "Go north, rally the others, and make haste! We make for the ford!" The horseman then sped off down the road.

"Captain, what servants are these?" one of the bandits asked the tallest one.

"I shall not say, lest you lose heart. Courage must now be our weapon, for sword and spear will not avail us."

"What of the boy?" another asked, gesturing at Lucina. She now began to internally curse herself, wishing she'd ran while they spoke. But she was too intrigued by this new development.

"Our fellows are near, he will not get far," the tall bandit said, or rather the bandit captain as she now knew him. He then turned to his companions and shouted, "Men! With me!" At once, they all rushed off into the forest in the direction the horseman came from. Lucina was now left alone on the road.

'Well, that all solved itself out nicely,' she thought. Lucina wondered who these 'black riders' were. She figured that they could have been an elite group of soldiers, like the shepherds. In that case, they must have had some amazing capabilities if they were able to scramble the likes of the men she just faced. She sheathed her sword, standing firm as a victor on the battlefield, and awaited these black riders. Perhaps now she could get some answers about what kingdom she happened to be in. And if it came to it, she would gladly lend them her sword in defeating those bandits.

She waited for a bit, but there was no sign of anything. So she decided to continue walking down the road in the direction she decided was north. As she walked, Lucina listened closely for the marching of soldiers, or the trotting of horses, but there was…nothing. Not even the sounds of birds or insects. The forest became eerily quiet, there were no sounds except for the crunching of leaves beneath her feet. Lucina couldn't help but be reminded of the terrifying quietness of the dead wilderness in her ruined future, and she started to feel an uneasiness creep into her.

She stopped and turned to face what she guessed was south, staring down the road. A chilling breeze swept past her and seemingly stripped away all the confidence she bore, leaving only a harrowing sense of dread that grew in her stomach every second. Her instincts screamed at her to get off the road, to flee into the wilderness, and Lucina was no fool not to heed it. She turned around and was about to sprint into the trees, but then she heard it.

clop….clop….clop

The slow, steady pattering of a horse's hooves came from behind her. Her body whipped back around to see a lone rider a good distance away, covered in long, black robes, and sat hunched atop a black horse. A hood covered the rider's head, so she couldn't make out the face underneath. Her eyes drifted to a wicked sword strapped to it's side. She wanted to run, but she couldn't. Her trembling hand moved slowly to her sword, but she could not muster the strength to draw it. She stood only in muted terror as the rider came closer, and closer.

At last, the rider halted its horse a few feet away from where Lucina was frozen in fear. The Rider's head swiveled to look directly at her, and Lucina felt all her breath escape her lungs as she stared back at an empty abyss. For underneath that hood there was no head, only darkness. No eyes caught the glint of the sunlight. But she felt it's piercing gaze nonetheless.

The black horse huffed, and the rider continued down the road, ignoring her completely. Lucina continued to stare wide eyed off into where the rider had been. Her lungs burned for air, but she could not breathe. It wasn't until she could no longer hear the trotting of the horse that she was able to take in a deep breath, and she dropped to her knees.

Her breaths became fast, and her heart was pounding in her ears. No thoughts came as her mind was clouded by the terror of what she had just witnessed. The corners of her vision started to grow dark, until at last she fell forward onto her stomach, and plunged into a nightmare filled slumber.