DISCLAIMER: I Do Not Own Fire Emblem. That belongs to Nintendo. I just own original characters, and this version of the plot.

Reviewer Corner:

Dairokkan: If you want to know about the pink-haired thief, you either have to play or read about FE, or continune to read my chapters as I make them ... ;o).

Scriptor Pulcher: Sorry about the POV switch. I didn't notice it, until you had reviewed. I'll try to look out for it in future chapters. Thanks for pointing it out.

Green Paladin(& GB): Thanks GP. And yeah, with your story, 'Until the Dusk,' it gave me some ideas for mine with Groznyi, and maybe one or possibly two, other characters.

Kratos the Judgment: Thx Kratos. You should know too that your story, 'Legend of the Twin Swords'is one of my favourites. Thats a nice piece of work you got going there.

(A/N: The chapters that I'll be putting up after the Prologue are flashbacks, that lead up to what happens in, and after the Prologue. But it will still be from the tactician's PoV. This chapter will also be Rated M, due to violence, blood/gore, and suggestive themes. You have been warned. One last thing, this past week has been busy for me, so thats why I didn't put another chapter up).

Chapter 1: Flashback: Three Years Ago.

I was staying at the village inn for a couple of days now. This village was located in the south west of Ilia, just a half-days ride from the border of the Plains of Sacae. Somewhat isolated, this village was in a valley, with a thick forest to the west, a group of mountains in the northeast, and a mountain range just to the south which separated Ilia from Sacae.

Normally, I would have continued on my way, but there a few reasons why I decided to stop at this little town. One, my supplies were getting low, as I only had one Vulnerary, and only a little food left. Two, there were reports of bandits in the area, as reported by the scattered locals. I didn't want to be caught at the wrong end of a blade during the night, all the while being outnumbered. I was only a apprentice tactician after-all. And Three, my gold was also getting low. I had to see if there was any group within the town that needed or wanted a travelling tactician...I was hoping anyway.

That hope had dissipated on the morning of the second day. The town bell in the square was being rung furiously by a panicked villager. I couldn't blame him. There was screaming coming from some of the women all over the place,who were running to their homes, and closing the doors behind them. The shouts and screams were all the same word however:...Bandits!

There were rumours of bandit activity increasing in southern Ilia, along with another disturbing tale with these rumours: that these bandits were recruiting and gaining numbers, and with those that did not join them, were brutally murdered.

'There were several different clans of bandits in the region, but most of these rumours seem to be about the Taliver. They are based in Bern, so if bandits did attack, they would only steal gold and possessions, not kill people too...'

The crashing of the main gate broke me out of my reverie, and I dashed for the inn. I had to get inside quickly, or I could have been mistaken for a village defender if I stayed in the town square.

The only thing strange was that I was the only traveller that had made it back to the building. I always thought my luck was bad. But anyway, I had managed to get to my room upstairs and pack my things, just before I looked out the window. What I saw astonished me. There were a few farmers and merchants who had some iron weapons, but by the was they were standing, I could tell they were no match for the brigands that came in through the gates. Two merchants were beheaded, just from standing there. I assumed they were paralysed with fear. As their bodies fell like a sack of potatoes, the heads fell and rolled on the ground, bleeding. The rest were slain after realising that they had no chance, and tried to run, only to have several arrows, or an axe dig into their bodies.

I then went downstairs, looking for a secluded spot in the inn. I spotted a table in a darkened corner, and decided to take out my map and sit down. The innkeeper saw me.

"It would be wise for you to try and escape, traveller. Only St. Elimine would know what's going to happen if you don't."

I looked at him and said, "that may be, but we both know what happens to someone who tries to escape from a village that is surrounded, don't we..."

"..."

'In reality, I probably could have escaped, but the odds of it actually happening, well... I don't want to die today.'

He shrugged and went back to trying to hide whatever gold and ale he had inside the bar to another spot in the inn. I was content to stay where I was at the moment, and actually try to find a path through the mountains on my map.

'Slim chance of finding a path out of here. Let's see, mountains to the north, east, and south. And theattack is coming from thewest. What ahellish situation that Im in now...' as I thought.

A lesson form my mentor came reverberating into my head however: 'Surprise is always in your favor,butis also a necessitty if you are outnumbered.' I startedthinking on a plan.

I was also periodically peeping out the window, trying to get a definite number on how big the group of bandits were. I counted about 15-20 bandits, with most of them carrying axes. But there also appeared to be a couple of archers as well. So if I did try to make a break for it, I wouldn't get far. My skills with a sword was low, and there were just too many to fight it out with. But then I saw a swordsman walk into the village square. He was tall, scruffy looking, with scratches on his face, with a scar on his arm as well. His clothes consisted of blue pants, but with a black shirt, and a brown vest. His weapon of choice appeared to be a sword, and the way he walked, it appeared to me, that this was the leader. My belief was confirmed, when an axe-wielding lackey, came up to him giving a verbal report of the raid. I could only pick out some of what he was saying though.

"A'ight Boss, we ... ave..most of ..da gold from 'dose buildins."

"Good. Only one ... not .. robbed yet. Check dat Inn ov'r dere."

"Ok Boss. Dis way boys!"

I stopped looking out the window at that moment, as I knew what was about to happen. And by this time, the innkeeper had part of his door barricaded, and was about to reinforce it. While doing this, he had his barmaids still try to hide the drinks.

There was aloud smash, and the barmaids screamed, as wooden splinters went flying everywhere. But then again so was the innkeeper. He flew through the air, over the counter and fell down inside.

'That's gona leave a mark...'Although, it was no time to have a sense of humour. So I stayed as quiet as I possibly could and continued to look down at my map, but on the inside, my mind screamed at me to move, to get away. But I had to stay put. If I moved now, even something that was ever so slight, I would surely get noticed and die quicker than I could blink. Plus I was still tryin to get my young mind to think of a plan of escape. Problem was, the only plan I kept thinking of was to rush them, which was pointless. There had to be an advantage around here somewhere.

My thoughts stoppedthinking onescape, and went to stealth mode. It was my best bet at the moment, as three bandits came in.They were all brutes, every one of them. And each of them was also carrying an axe of some kind.

"Get dose women ov'r dere, and take 'em outside. 'Ave a liddle fun with 'em, Sid."

"Sure will, Toma. Heh heh heh..."

The barmaids were screaming and kicking as they heard this, but to no avail. They were dragged outside, as their clothes were slowly being ripped off. I could only guess as to what was going to happen to them, but I had a sick feeling as I believed I already knew.

The bandit who I had managed to figure out was Toma, an average built brigand, had stepped over the man who was still on the floor. I heard a moan, and realised it was the innkeeper. Toma ignored him on the floor, and raided the stash of gold and whatever ale thathe could find hidden away. Apparently the guy who did the somersault over the counter, was too frantic to do a good job of hiding his goods. He finally got up and lunged at the bandit, only to have a hand axe fly into his back. The man fell hard onto the floor face first, twitched once, and then abruptly died.

The throwing axe that came in through, belonged to the third brigand that was now heading upstairs, possibly to check if anyone was still up there hiding. Then another bandit came through the doorway. He looked around and finally spotted me. He then turned to Toma, shaking his head angrily while doing so.

"Toma, your as blind as a dead wyvern!"

"Whaddya mean Groznyi? I found all the gold that this dump got, and even some cheap ale to go wid it..."

"Did you bother to check to see if there was anyone else in the room before sacking the place? Did you!"

This guy was obviously ticked off of the fact, that his men had didn't even notice me in the corner of the inn. Then again, I wasn't making much noise or movement either, so it wasn't hard to just pass me over as part of the surroundings. I smiled a little as Toma looked genuinely perplexed. Then he looked to where Groznyi was pointing. My smile immediately faded.

Toma looked, and saw me. He began to smirk, as he jumped over the bar, and started to walk over to where I was sitting. That was his first mistake.

"Hey you!"

I looked at him, but then looked back at my map, but was also readying my dagger, which was sheathed under my dark green cloak. Unfortunately, my conscience was screaming at me to flee. Somehow, I managed to block it momentarily as I began to concentrate on getting a way to ultimately ... join ... these bandits. An unspeakable act and thought. Plus,I really didn't want to, but given the circumstances,it was the only plan,and advantage that I could think of.Besides, my will to survive forced me to start thinking like this.

"You won't ignore me!" he said. He came over and raised his axe, swinging it into the table, creating a split all the way through. And in the process, grabbed my map, and ripped it to pieces. This was his second mistake.

"Your right. It seems I can't ignore you now." And so I stood up, looked him straight in the eye and asked him, "What's a tactician to do now without his map?"

This Toma only laughed at.

"Oh, did I mess up yur little pepper? HAR, Ha ha hah ha ha ha ha!"

That was the third and last mistake he would that he would ever make...

Unknown to me and the idiot who destroyed the table, the bandit leader walked in. He began questioning his second in command about what was going on.

"Groznyi! What's taking so long? Get the gold so we can leave this worthless village!"

"Boss, hold on. Toma is havin some fun with dat dimwit of a tactician ov'r dere..."

"A tactician, eh?" ... 'He might come in handy if Toma doesn't kill him,' the leader thought.

I had already begun to pull out my dagger from underneath, and was now almost ready tostrike him.

'The fool is still laughing his head off, so this is my chance!'

I lunged forward into the man, and my weapon, struck into his ribcage, and pierced his heart. The bandit stopped laughing almost immediately. Instead he began to cough up blood instead. I then ripped out my blade, all bloody and dripping with the blood of this bandit, and kicked him back somewhat. Toma staggered a couple steps backward, while staring at me, and then fell backwards to the floor, dead.

"Well, I'll be..." said the bandit leader. He then noticed Groznyi was wide-eyed and jaw-dropped. But was rapidly turning into a rage at the lost of his comrade. As the second in command was about to attack, the leader held him back.

"LET ME GO! He just killed my brother, Boss!" Yelled Groznyi.

"As far as Im concerned, Toma deserved it. But we could use a tactician against the other bandit clans. If you want to let loose some steam, do it outside!"

The hot-tempered bandit managed to get a arm loose and threw a hand axe at me however. So I instinctively ducked as it flew over my head, and lodged itself into the wall behind me.

"JUST STAY AWAY FROM ME, WHELP!" roared Groznyi, as he stormed out of the inn.

'Don't worry, I will make sure of it.'

The leader looked to be contemplating something, but was still staring at me as I began to clean my blade, and get into a defensive combat stance.

'Hmm...skilled somewhat with a weapon, has knowledge of battle tactics, and an small edge in stealth and surprise.'

"Hold on there, boy. You do not want to fight me, just hear me out."

I was a little surprised. I didn't think I'd actually be talking to this manafter killing one of his men.

"I'm listening," I said, but I wasn't going to lessen my combat stance just yet. 'I must stay alert, as this might just be a bluff.'

But as I thought about it, if he wanted to fight me, we would already be fighting. And I probably would be on the losing side. He only asked one question:

"So you are a tactician are you?"

I eyed him carefully and looked at him. I wasn't sure if I made a good impression on him or not when I killed Toma, but I decided to answer his question anyway.

"Yes, I am a apprentice tactician, looking to make some gold."

"Well, my new friend, I have an offer you won't be able to refuse."

(END.)

(A/N: This is my first FanFic ever, so I would like for people to Read & Review. But please, I would like reasonable and constructive criticism, not pointless flaming. Thx.)