Grim: Wow, you actually got reviews.
ShadowedTactician: It's more than you'll ever get, you boneface, so do me a favour and help me sort them out...
Grim: Alright! Alright! Do you really have to reply to each one?
ShadowedTactician: It's only the ethical thing to do...

ShadowAngelUmbreon
ShadowedTactician: And thus we welcome the first reviewer! Cheers for all and PokéChow for some!
Grim: Doesn't work for me. I can only float through it... Treecko and Torchic? Not really bad choices, but not quite close to what ShadowedTactician's allocated to them...
ShadowedTactician: Quiet, fool! You'll give it away!

Psycho Sword Lady
ShadowedTactician: Actually, PSL, you've hit several nails on the head in your review... Karel is getting a Scizor and a Ninjask in the cards, and Vaida a Salamence... and, I'll be introducing both Karel and Harken, so you don't have to worry. Levels won't be included, but there will be scenes when trainer and Pokémon get a complete makeover simultaneously...
Grim: Wil getting a Psyduck? Why didn't you think of that?

nayrugoddess
ShadowedTactician: Truthfully, I have thought of that. But it's still unconfirmed if I'm going to use that in the plot. Trouble is, my opinion is that Latios suits Ninian more because Latios is apparently the older of the two dragon siblings, and appears to be more solemn... just like Ninian really, except that Latios... is... male. I'm working on it!
Grim: That reminds me, you haven't disclaimered for the first chapter.
ShadowedTactician: ...And you're telling me this now?
Grim: As a matter of fact, yes.
ShadowedTactician: ...I don't Fire Emblem or Pokémon.
Grim: Proceed.

Chapter 1: Footsteps of Fate/VS Machoke

The apprentice tactician Shadow and the young swordfighter Lyn. A strange pair on an even stranger journey. To prepare for the long road ahead, they go to Bulgar, the commercial center of Sacae. Unbeknownst to Lyn, she will discover something that will alter her life forever...
"Shadow! Over here!" called Lyn from a market square.

"Just coming!" Shadow struggled as he made his way through a sea of shoppers. "Where did you say we were again?"

"This is Bulgar, Shadow," Lyn repeated herself. "It's the biggest city in all of Sacae. We should purchase supplies for our journey..."

"Oh, my heart!" came another voice. "What a dazzling vision of loveliness!"

"Hm?" Lyn turned around. A person in green knight's armour appeared, with a brown band around his forehead, light brown hair and matching eyes. He was riding a yellow horse-like animal, only it had a tail and mane of red-hot fire. "Wait, O beautous one!" The knight called. "Would you not favour me with your name? Or better yet, your company?"

"Where are you from, sir knight, that you speak so freely to a stranger?" Lyn asked.

"Ha! I thought you'd never ask!" laughed the knight. "I am from Lycia. I hail from the Caelin canton, home to men of passion and fire!" The Ponyta neighed after its master as if to agree.

"Shouldn't that be 'home to callow oafs with loose tongues'?" Lyn responded with narrowed eyes. Even though he could tell Lyn was rather miffed, Shadow couldn't help but chuckle silently.

"Ooooh... you're even lovely when you're cruel." The knight simpered.

"Let's go, Shadow. I've nothing more to say." Lyn said simply, evidently disgusted by the cavalier's behaviour.

"Wait! Please..." begged the knight as Lyn and Shadow turned their backs, walking away. Just then, another cavalier appeared. This one was dressed in maroon armour, with orange hair and eyes. He was mounted upon a brown deer-like creature with yellow antlers. "Sain!" he said sharply. "Hold your tongue!"

"Ah, Kent! My boon companion!" Sain turned to face his partner. "Why so severe an expression?"

"If your manner were more serious, I wouldn't have to be so severe!" Kent retorted. "We still have a mission to complete, Sain!"

"I know that! But how could I remain silent in the presence of such beauty? It would have been discourteous!"

"What do you know of courtesy?"

"Excuse me! You're blocking the road." The cavaliers halted their argument, to see Lyn and Shadow in front of them. "If you would be so kind as to move your steeds..."

"Of course. My apologies..." Kent said as he moved his Stantler. Sain followed suit with his Ponyta. "Thank you." Lyn smiled. "You, at least, seem honourable enough."

"Hm?" Kent suddenly looked straight at Lyn. "Pardon me, but... I feel we've met before."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Hey!" Sain whined. "No fair, Kent! I saw her first!"

"Tsk!" muttered Lyn. "It seems there are no decent men among Lycia's knights!" Lyn then grabbed Shadow by the arm, leading him out, "Let's go, Shadow! I've run out of patience!" Grim and Bulbasaur quickly followed their trainers.

"Wait! Please!" Kent yelled after the departing pair. "It's not like that... Sain, you lout!" snarled Kent at his counterpart.

"Huh? Not like that?" Sain backed off, surprised. "I thought you were..."

"I am NOT you!" Kent roared. "Come, we must follow her. I suspect she might be -"

"Be what?" asked Sain. Realisation then hit him, "She's... our mission? You're joking! Hey, wait!" Sain shouted as he tried to catch up with Kent and his Stantler.


"Run! We're being pursued!" Lyn hollered. "Could it be those knights from town?"

"Don't think so," Shadow panted. "They don't seem to be riding any sort of animal."

"It's not them!" exclaimed Lyn as the pursuers began to catch up. "These men are out for blood!" Just then, an ugly mug appeared in front of the two escapers, with a muscle-bound humanshape beast by his side. He had grey hair, a stubble and a scar across his left eye.

"Heh heh hehhh... Aren't you the pretty one!" sniggered the villain. "Your name is Lyndis, is it not?"

"What did you call me?" Lyn gasped in surprise. "...Who are you?"

"Such a waste. An absolute waste," The brigand sighed as he shook his head. "The things I'll do for gold... Ah well. Time to die, darlin'!" He said, somewhat resignedly, as he brandished his axe. "C'mon out, boys!"

"Ma! Choke!" The Pokémon beside the bandit cracked its knuckles. Other bandits suddenly appeared from the forests and mountains beyond.

"Oh, no!" groaned Lyn as she scanned the scene. "There are more than I can handle... But I'll not give up!" Lyn clenched her fists.

"Hey! There she is!" Sain's voice came from behind.

"Huh?" went the bandit. "What?" went Lyn.

"Whew... Finally caught up..." panted Sain as he and Kent rode their Pokémon onto the field. "Hold! You there!" he shouted at the bandit. "What is your business? Such numbers against a girl? Cowards, every one of you!"

"You! You're from - " Lyn gasped.

"We can discuss that later." Kent said quickly. "It appears these ruffians mean to do you harm. If it's a fight they want, let them look to me!"

"Stand back! I'll take care of this!" argued Sain.

"No! This is my fight!" Lyn insisted. "Stay out of my way!"

"Well, I can't just stand here and do nothing..." Sain muttered.

"I have a solution." Kent suggested. Pointing at Shadow, he said, "You there, command us. I am Kent, a knight of Lycia. My companion is Sain. We will follow your orders in this battle. Is this acceptable, milady?"

"Yes, it is." Lyn conceded after some thought. "Shadow and I will lead! Let's go!"


"You! You are called Shadow?" Sain rode up to the tactician. Shadow was staring at a general map of the area, trying to plan for his first battle with multiple allies.

"Yes, that's me."

"I want to impress my beauteous one! Let me attack first!" begged Sain. Shadow's eyebrow twitched slightly, then pointed to a bandit about a hundred metres away. He had a Quagsire next to him, a dull-looking blue creature with a dark blue ridge along its spine. "Alright," said Alvis. "Try attacking the bandit over there and let me see what you can do."

"Haaaai!" Sain yelled as he charged into battle with his lance in his hand. The bandit spotted him easily and ran over, easily dodging Sain's spear and delivering a hefty blow onto Sain's arm. Sain's armour deflected most of the impact from the attack, but Sain still suffered a gash on his limb. His Ponyta breathed a stream of fire onto the Quagsire, but the attack just bounced off, and the Ponyta was struck with a blast of water

"Whoa! I missed?" Sain exclaimed, pulling back his Ponyta.

"Sain!" shouted Kent. "Why aren't you using your sword? And look at the enemy Pokémon! You should know Fire-types have a disadvantage over Water-type Pokémon!"

"The lance is more heroic." explained Sain. "A knight should look heroic, don't you think? And besides, a flame attack is so much more impressive..."

"You're hopeless." Kent sighed. "If you don't take fighting more seriously, you're going to find yourself on the end of a blade!"

"Truth be told... I forgot to buy a sword. And I've only brought Ponyta with me." Sain replied sheepishly.

"Forgot?" Kent smirked. "Or were you simply too busy dallying with the ladies?"

"Don't be so mad! I'm fine with a lance. I'm that good!" retorted Sain.

"I'd prefer to rely on your skill, not your empty bragging! Take my spare blade and use it to attack the next time!"

"Are you sure? My thanks, Kent!" Sain caught the sword Kent threw at him and waved his thanks back at his partner. Kent just shook his head. "You're almost more trouble than you're worth," he muttered to himself. "Almost." The redhead cavalier then turned to Shadow. "Shadow!" he cried. "Allow me to make up for my companion's blunder. I am at your command!"

"Alright. Since the enemy is wielding an axe, let's try using a sword for your attack." At Shadow's command, Kent went forwards and slashed the brigand by the back. "Quagsire, Water Gun!" cried the bandit.

"Stantler, Role Play!" Kent commanded. The Stantler's horns began to glow, and as Quagsire's attack struck, Stantler's body appeared to absorb the water completely. Sain looked on, surprised.

"Role Play is an attack that copies opponents' abilities," Kent explained. "Quagsire's ability is Water Absorb, which soaks up Water attacks and turns them into energy. Now that Stantler used Role Play, Quagsire's Water Gun has become useless." Looking at the bandit, Kent turned at Lyn. "He's almost defeated. Lyn, deliver the final blow!" Kent called.

"Right! Bulbasaur, use Razor Leaf!" Lyn ordered, as she leapt at the bandit and slashed him in half, lengthwise. Bulbasaur fired a barrage of leaves that sent the Quagsire fleeing. As this happened, two of the other brigands moved closer.

"Shadow!" Sain pleaded. "Give me another chance!"

"Well," Shadow paused. "I don't know..."

"I'll not fail you again! Please give me another chance!"

"Fine then." Shadow pointed to another bandit. "That guy over there has got a Cacnea. You should be able to defeat him easily with your Ponyta." Sain nodded in determination, and charged forward.

"Ponyta, Ember!" Sain shouted as he made a slash with his sword, but missing. His Fire Horse breathed out a blast of fire, but failed to hit its target as well. The same thing happened for the brigand and his Cacnea as Sain and Ponyta barely dodged the attacks. "Gah!"

"Sain! Are you all right?" cried Kent in concern.

"Yes. Yes, I am. I was able to dodge in time. I can't believe he evaded my sword stroke so easily. This is no jest..."

"Look closely." Kent noted out. "The enemy is hidden in the woods. The branches make it difficult to attack, don't they?"

"...You're right," agreed Sain. "I was so focused on attacking... I didn't see."

"Your lack attention may someday cost you your life!" warned Kent.

"Fine! I understand already! Let it go, Kent!" Sain retorted.

"If you truly understand, then act like it!" Kent yelled back as he went forwards and gave the bandit a strike across the arm.

"Kent worries too much." Sain muttered. "He's going to grow old before his time."

"It seems like a wise decision to leave that bandit to the knights, Shadow." Lyn suggested.

"You may be right. Hmmm..." Shadow pondered. "Okay, go take care of the bandit to the left. Since Kent's established that woods are advantageous, I suggest that you hide in the woods over there."

"Okay!" Lyn and Bulbasaur darted in front with Shadow and Grim following, and the bandit advanced with his Machop. Suddenly, Lyn turned around to see the two knights.

"You... Your name is Sain, right?" she called.

"Yes! Sain, the gallant man of Caelin. That's me!" The green knight said as he flashed Lyn a bright smile.

"If you insist... Why have you not healed yourself?" Lyn asked. Sain looked down at his arm. "Huh? Hey! I've been injured! What a cad I am! To wrinkle that perfect brow of yours with worry for me..."

"Uh..." Lyn sweatdropped. "I was thinking of giving you a vulnerary, but... it looks like you're fine. So, never you mind..." Lyn started to walk away. "No, wait!" Sain yelled as he started to give chase. "I'll take it! Please! I'll take it!"

"Oh, alright." Lyn sighed irritably and tossed a healing potion to Sain, who poured some of its contents over himself. "Ah, much better! You have my gratitude, my angel!"

"..." went Lyn and Shadow as they watched Sain ride away. He went forward and struck down the bandit with his blade, while his Ponyta threw the Machop into the horizon with a sharp kick. Kent in the meantime had put an end to another brigand and his Poochyena. When that was settled, the three fighters (and tactician) regrouped to fight the lead bandit, at the bottom of several mountains.

"Accursed knights, always tampering in others' affairs." growled the bandit.

"Defending the people IS our affair!" Kent shouted as he charged. "Take Down!"

"Vital Throw!" ordered the bandit. The Machoke calmly waited for Kent and his Stantler to come forward, then grabbed Stantler by the horns and threw them aside.

"UNGH!" Kent groaned as he hit the ground.

"Kent!" Sain cried. He then turned to the bandit and snarled, "You just made your last mistake! Ponyta, Fire Spin!" The Fire Horse neighed, then breathed out a river of flame at the feet of the bandit and Machoke, trapping them inside a vortex of fire.

"What!"

"Bounce attack!" yelled Sain. His Ponyta leapt into the air, and a moment later, came down crashing on the Machoke. "HYAAAAAA!" Sain shouted as he raised his sword and brought it down on the bandits head, the force of his attack multiplied by Ponyta's Bounce.

"Blast..." muttered the brigand as he fell, his life slowly ebbing away, "There was only... supposed to be a lone... girl..."


"That's the last of them!" cheered Lyn. "Fantastic work, Shadow!" She turned backwards. "And now for these knights of Lycia. You were going to share your story with me?"

"Yes," answered Kent. "We have ventured from Caelin, in Lycia, in search of someone."

"Lycia... That's the country beyond the mountains in the southwest, isn't it?" Lyn asked.

"Correct. We've come as messengers to the lady Madelyn, who eloped with a nomad some nineteen years ago." Kent continued.

"Madelyn?" Lyn looked startled.

"Our lord the marquess of Caelin's only daughter." Kent explained. "He was heartbroken his own daughter would abandon him so. Eventually, the marquess simply declared that he had no daughter."

"And then this year," Sain continued, "we received a letter from Lady Madelyn. It said that she, her husband, and their daughter were living happily on the Sacaean plains. The marquess was ecstatic to learn he had a granddaughter of eighten years," recalled the knight with a smile. "I remember the smile on his face when he announced that he'd suddenly become a grandfather. The granddaughter's name is Lyndis. This was also the name of the marquess' wife, who passed away at an early age."

"Lyndis?"

"That she should bear this name thawed the marquess' heart. Now, his only wish is to meet his daughter's family at least once. This is why we're here. We didn't know that Lady Madelyn died a few days after sending her letter," Sain turned serious. "We only learned this shortly after arriving in Bulgar."

"But we also learned that all was not lost," added Kent. "Her daughter yet lives. We heard that she was living alone on the plains..." Finally Kent could hold it in no longer. "I... I knew it immediately. You are the Lady Lyndis." Lyn could only stammer, "W-Why would you think that..."

"Your resemblance to your departed mother is remarkable," said Kent.

"What? Did you know my mother?" Lyn asked.

"I'm sorry to say I never met her directly... but I saw her portraits in Castle Caelin."

"To the rest of the tribe, I was always Lyn. But when I was with my parents... When it was just the three of us, I was Lyndis," Lyn mumbled, slowly drifting into her personal world. "It's all so strange. I was all alone in the world, and now I have a grandfather. Lyndis... I never thought that I would hear that name again." For a few moments, neither human nor Pokémon said anything as Lyn took in the new information about her background. "Wait!" exclaimed Lyn. "That bandit! He called me Lyndis, too!"

"What?" Kent gasped. "How could he have -"

"...He was a henchman of Lord Lundgren, wasn't he?" Sain growled.

"Lundgren? Who's that?" Lyn asked.

"He's the marquess' younger brother." Kent began. "Everyone assumed the lady Madelyn was gone forever. This made Lord Lundgren heir to the marquess' title."

"To be blunt, milady, your existence is an obstacle to your uncle's ambitions," finished Sain.

"That's - but I have no interest in inheriting any title!" Lyn gasped. "Bulba!" Her Bulbasaur nodded in agreement.

"Unfortunately, your granduncle is not the sort of man to believe that. I believe the attempts on your life will continue," Sain explained.

"...What should I do?"

"Accompany us to Caelin," Kent answered. "Continuing on this way is dangerous."

"I feel I have little choice," Lyn sighed. "I will go with you." She turned back to see Shadow and Grim looking rather concerned.

"Shadow..." she began, "I'm sorry. This changes everything. What will you do, Shadow?"

"Well, why don't you choose?" The tactician suggested.

"You... want me to decide?" Lyn shifted uneasily. "Of course, your companionship would do much to ease my journey, but... It's going to be so dangerous..."

"Don't worry, Lyn!" Shadow grinned reassuringly. "I promised you I'd help you through this!"

"You'll come with me? Are you sure?" asked Lyn in an anxious voice.

"Kull!" Grim answered, reflecting the same thoughts as his trainer.

"Really! Thank you!" Lyn smiled, shaking Shadow's hand. "Let me ask once again for your friendship and your aid."

To be continued...


ShadowedTactician: Review!
Grim: What he said.