Grim: Okay... so who's the new person in the room?
ShadowedTactician: Grim, meet Imppala, one of the most interesting people I have had the chance to know, and whom I've been discussing this fanfiction.
Imppala: Hi!
Grim: ...Should I treat that as a cause for worry?
ShadowedTactician: ...Perhaps not. If I'm planning on putting him in the fanfiction, he won't be showing his face until after Lyn's chapter.
Grim: ...You're putting him in the fanfiction?...

ShadowAngelUmbreon
ShadowedTactician: Thanks for thinking I'm professional. Actually, I wouldn't mind even if you hugged Grim, because if I knew him, he'd probably try to make himself invisible first.
Grim: Hey!

Toxic Bishounen
ShadowedTactician: Many thanks for another review; now allow me, and Imppala here, to go through your choices...
Imppala: Machoke... doesn't really suit Raven. Raven is more of the secretive type, and that is most certainly not Machoke. Absol isn't a bad choice, but I gather ShadowedTactician didn't give it to him.
ShadowedTactician: Lucius was assigned something girly in this fanfiction which should make a lot of sense, but he did get Blissey in the cards.
Imppala: Guy and Zangoose? Er... maybe not. I suppose we've all got varied opinions of Guy and Zangoose's similarities between their facial expressions...
ShadowedTactician: Although Bartre didn't get Numel in the cards, I did give him Rhyhorn. It's got a very small brain and whenever it charges, it usually forgets why it began charging in the first place. It also usually remembers if it demolishes something, but for this fanfiction I gave him something different that should make sense in time to come. Actually, Hector and Eliwood's Pokémon will be revealed in Chapter 7: Siblings Abroad, but I didn't give him Cyndaquil. The reason was because I didn't think Typhlosion suited him. In the cards Marcus was given really sad Pokémon with really sad statistics (because that's what he is anyway), such as Sunflora (Sunkern's got the weakest overall stats in Gold/Silver/Crystal) and Gyarados (Magikarp, enough said). Zubat... really doesn't fit Lowen. I'm sure you'll understand my choice for him later. Rebecca gets a bunch of cute Pokémon, but also some Grass-types (she is the Wildflower of Pherae). Anyway, thanks for the review!

Zero-Blazer
ShadowedTactician: Woohoo! I got a review from the writer of Fire Emblem Cross (a really interesting and great work, I must add)!
Grim: Which means you should remember to leave 'im a signed review sometime.
ShadowedTactician: Yeah, I'll do that. Yes, I'll admit this is a weird crossover. If you wanna know how I came up with the idea, go visit my profile, Zero. Thanks!

Generic Reviewer
ShadowedTactician: Thanks for the review!

Imppala
ShadowedTactician: ...Waddya mean, you're not my partner-in-crime?
Imppala: ...How come you're not giving me Charizard?
ShadowedTactician: Come on, the tactician can't possibly have overpowered Pokémon! And I'm not even sure I'm putting you in yet! You should be happy enough if I make you a muse!
Imppala: Grrrrrrrrr...
Grim: (watches as the two start to argue) ...Okay, I'll start worrying now...


Chapter 5: Beyond the Borders/VS Pinsir

The next morning comes too quickly. Lyn has fought back the bandits' attack. Now, she rushes for the border of Bern. If she can reach it, Lycia itself is not far off. For a moment, Lyn stops to imagine the face of a grandfather she's never seen.
After meeting up with Dorcas at the ruined fortress, Lyn's band of fighters continues to journey on through the mountains. Later that afternoon, the mountains finally gave way to smaller hills and lightly forested areas.

"We've almost reached the Lycian border," said Kent.

"Once we cross, we'll be safe from the bandits, right?" asked Lyn.

"We should be." Wil remarked, "I doubt they'll be willing to pursue us across the border."

"Lycia at last! It's been a long time," Sain sighed in relief. "Tomorrow, we'll dine on a feast of Lycia's finest foods! And the mistress of the inn at the crossing is said to be a beauty," The green knight said with a twinkle in his eyes. "Ah, yes... Food and love. No better way to restore a man's soul! This is going to be a fine evening, eh Kent?" The red cavalier merely frowned. "If your behaviour is as deplorable as ever, we'd best stay elsewhere. We're not here for sightseeing!"

"Oh, come now! That's not fair!" whined Sain.

"Kent, the inn will be fine." Lyn smiled.

"As you say, milady." The red knight consented.

"Lyndis!" Sain began to praise. "You are truly an angel from on high!"

"It's nothing. Forget it," Lyn said hurriedly as she tried to brush Sain off.

"Ah! We'll finally be able to get a good night's sleep." Florina yawned as she stretched her arm.

"Oh no... Those bandits are persistent, I'll give them that much." The plainsgirl said with worry. Sure enough, a group of bandits suddenly emerged from the eastern mountains.

"Ah! Here they are! I've found 'em!" A bandit that looked a little like Carjiga (but somewhat stupider) declared.

"What? Not again! They're still after us?" Wil groaned.

"Heh heh heh. Don't think you're getting away so easily!" sniggered the bandit. "You leave alive, and everyone'll think the Ganelon bandits have gone soft!" added another brigand.

"So? We care nothing for you or your reputations!" retorted Lyn. "We must get to Lycia! Get in our way, and you'll pay!"

"Cheeky little thing, aren't you? Let's get 'em, lads!" shouted the enemy leader. "And no holding back just 'cause there's women with 'em! Wipe 'em out!" The bandits obeyed, and moved into position over the land. Lyn's party got out their weapons and prepared for battle. Meanwhile...


"Oooh... We're lost. This makes me so mad!" A girl grumbled as she walked through a forest. She had pink hair tied up in two ponytails, blue eyes and she was wearing a cleric's clothes. A little pink, round creature with overgrown ears and crosses for eyes raced after her, trying to keep up.

"You told me you were certain this was the correct path." A boy walking behind simply told the girl. He had purple hair that reached his chin and had eyes to match. He was wearing the clothes of a practitioner of magic.

"What's your point, Erk? What are you trying to say?" The girl turned around, arms akimbo, sounding visibly annoyed.

"...I swear, you are NOT the woman I agreed to escort..." muttered Erk.

"What? What's that supposed to mean?"

"I heard someone was needed to escort a frail Lycian priestess to Ostia..." Erk began.

"Yes, and I'm that priestess."

"Frail? You?" Erk looked at the girl in bewilderment. "Serra, you have no need of any escort to protect you. Even the most hardened criminal would flee in terror after five minutes in your company." He quickly fished out a bag of gold from his pocket. "I'll return your money. Gladly. Now, will you please go on to Ostia alone?" Serra's eyes grew several times bigger as she stared at Erk like the world was about to end.

"NO! You're MY escort, Erk! MINE!" Serra screamed into his face. "You're so clean and tidy. A noblewoman like myself can't be seen without an escort. You're personality's nothing special, but you're not bad to look at," she added as an afterthought.

"I believe that's my line," Erk declared. "And I have to take you all the way to Ostia? I only hope my nerves can endure the journey..."

"What are you mumbling about? You're so gloomy!" Serra continued to yell at Erk when suddenly, she heard the sounds of battle elsewhere. "Hm? Something's happening over there. Let's take a look!" Picking up her dress, she broke into a light run. "Whismur!" Her Pokémon panicked as it tried to follow her.

"Ah. Of course. The first opportunity to get involved in trouble, and she jumps right in." Erk sighed as he re-pocketed his salary. "No amount of money is worth this. Hoo..."


"Wow! A fight! A fight!" Serra exclaimed when she had walked out of the forest. "Erk! Take a look! Fighting those bandits... It's a young girl!"

"Fool! Keep your voice down!" hissed Erk, clamping his hand over Serra's mouth. It was too late; an archer bandit noticed Serra and approached the two. "Eh? What's this? You in league with that she-devil?" he asked.

"Hm?" Serra gazed at the bandit, with no idea of what he was talking about. Erk began to sigh again. "Ah... this is so wrong..."

"Gyaaa!" The brigand had lost his temper. "I'll take care of you with one swift stroke!"

"Eeeeeek! Eeeeeek! Eeeeeeeeeeeek!" "Whiiiii! Whiiiiii! Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!" Serra and her Whismur started to scream in unison. "Erk! Help me!" the cleric yelled.

"So... loud..." Erk held his ears in apparent pain. "Serra! Behind me!" he shouted. Admittedly this order was redundant, for Serra and Whismur had already hid behind the mage in a huddled, shivering heap. "You there! See if you can match me!" said Erk as he produced a Pokéball and threw it on the ground. As the red beam touched the grass, the surroundings immediately started to dry up and the grass around the materialising Pokémon slowly burned away. The Pokémon was what appeared to be a puddle of red hot lava, but was in fact a gastropod creature of magma with yellow eyes and flaming eyebrows. "Slugma!" It said.

"Fire!" Erk shouted as he flipped through the pages of a magical tome and muttered a few chants. Fire began to rise from around his feet, collecting into a fireball over his head. As Erk performed his attack, Slugma's eyebrows suddenly flared up, shooting wisps of fire and adding to Erk's fireball. Without warning, Erk shot the fireball at the archer, just as the archer sent an arrow flying over that gave Erk a long graze on the arm.


"That scream..." Lyn rubbed her left ear, which was still ringing, with her finger. "Look! Shadow, someone's over there!"

"Hmmm... you're right." Shadow looked up casually from drawing his map of the area to plan for battle. "Maybe we ought to go over there and check." Nodding, Lyn and Shadow walked over to where Erk and Serra were. "Um, excuse me... hello?" she called.

"Hm?" Serra peeped out from behind Erk, who was gritting his teeth and holding his bleeding arm in pain.

"Why are you fighting these bandits?" asked Lyn.

"...It just happened." Erk muttered briefly.

"That's not true!" Serra suddenly stood up, pointing an accusing finger at Lyn. "Those ruffians thought that we were with you! You got us into a terrible situation! Now, how are you going to get us out?"

"Mur! Whismur!" Serra's Whismur leapt up, growling in agreement.

"Serra, if you'd not been so meddlesome, this all could've been avoided," chided Erk. He then turned to Lyn, "My apologies. Please trouble yourself with us no more."

"But... if you're going to have to fight anyway, shouldn't we team up?" suggested Lyn. "It'll end things faster, right?"

"That's true... Yes! That's a good idea." Serra's smile appeared on her face again. "Erk! Go and help these ladies."

"But I... fine!" Erk huffed, having had enough of arguing with Serra.

"Great! My name's Lyn," the plainsgirl introduced. "So tell me, will you join arms with us?"

"Yes, we'd be glad to. My name is Serra, and this is my escort, Erk." Serra introduced herself as well. "Be a good boy, and go fight now, Erk," she cooed. Erk could only resign himself to his fate and sigh for the uncountable time that day.


"Hello. You're Shadow, right?" cooed Serra at the tactician. Shadow turned his head from his map. "Yes, that's me."

"I'm Serra. Nice to meet you." The cleric suddenly grabbed Erk by the arm the one with the gash, of course and causing him to yelp and grit his teeth in pain. "By the way, see this contrary mage here with me?"

"I am not contrary!" Erk retorted.

"His name is Erk," continued Serra. "I think he's been hurt."

"You know, I could have told you that..." muttered the mage.

"I am Erk's employer. 'Master', I suppose you could say..." The cleric went on. "What I'm getting at is... I'm thinking of healing him free of charge. I know, I know, I'm generous to a fault." As Serra shamelessly praised herself, Shadow and Erk could only keep quiet and stare at her incredulously. "Hm? Why are you looking at me like that? Praise my generosity!"

"Serra, I understand that you are a cleric. And in case you've forgotten your oaths, clerics are meant to heal people without expecting any payment in return," Shadow stated. "However... this is the first time I'm witnessing an actual healing process. Please, do continue." Serra smiled sweetly, and gently shifted Erk's sleeve up his arm, revealing the bleeding wound. "Heal!" At Serra's command, the tip of her staff began to shine with a brilliant blue light which enveloped Erk's wound, and after a while, Erk's wound wasn't there anymore. Shadow nodded, "That was very interesting, Serra. You can leave now."

"...Leave? Wait! Aren't you going to praise me or " Before Serra could continue, Shadow had already firmly pushed her away. The tactician now faced Erk. "Your name is Erk, correct?"

"...Yes, Shadow. I'm not sure how I got into this mess..." Erk rubbed the back of his head with his hand. "If I'm going to fight, however, I will show you the true power of magic!" Standing in the direction of the archer from earlier on, who was still tending to his burns, Erk summoned another fireball with the help of his tome and his Slugma, and sent the bandit to a fiery end.

"Certainly impressive," Shadow noted. "It would appear that you also have a rather high proficiency level in Pokémon battling as well, Erk."

"Thank you, Shadow." The mage bowed politely. "However... I feel it might be better if you attacked from the back instead mages like you are rather lacking in their defensive skills. I think you would be better off protecting Serra, since she's non-offensive."

"Serra? Non-offensive? Tell that to my ears..." Erk groaned to himself as the tactician walked away. "Elimine, save me..."


Except for the constant noises of Serra and Whismur squealing and screaming away in everyone's ears, the battle went on quite smoothly. The Ganelon bandits proved themselves to be vastly dwindling in power with every wave that hit Lyn and her comrades. Eventually, the leader of this group of bandits, Bug, came into view...

"You're gonna learn why people fear the Ganelon Bandits!" he snarled.

"Why, because they might dirty their hands while taking you on?" responded Shadow with a smirk. "Why, you..." Bug's breathing intensified, as did his anger. "Pinsir!" he shouted, throwing a Pokéball from his pouch. A brown Bug-type Pokémon appeared, with layers of tough exoskeleton shielding its body and two spiky claws atop its head. This was Pinsir, the Stagbeetle Pokémon.

"Everyone, attack!" Shadow roared. The others needed no further instruction as they sent in their Pokémon for the attack. "Saur!" "Whirl!" "Pid!" "Cac!"

"Pinsir, use Revenge!" The Stagbeetle Pokémon glared at the incoming attackers, took their attacks, then launched itself into a frenzy, battering Bulbasaur, Poliwhirl, Mitch and Cacnea. "Revenge! It's an attack that does more damage when the user takes damage!" exclaimed Shadow.

"Shadow!" Serra's voice was heard. "We're back from shopping!"

"Shopping?" Lyn stared at Shadow. "I told Serra and Erk to visit the local armoury to buy a few new weapons, and sell the iron sword Erk found as well," Shadow explained. "And she made me do all the carrying," Erk grunted as he dropped his load.

"Three new javelins... good." Shadow picked up the lances and threw one each to Kent, Sain and Florina. "Try attacking him from a distance!" shouted the tactician.

"Right!" Leading the attack, Kent flung his javelin at Bug and Pinsir, followed by Florina and Sain.

"Harden, Pinsir!" At Bug's command, Pinsir held its arms in a cross position as it began to shine with a powerful sheen. The javelins bounced harmlessly off its tough exterior. "Seismic Toss!" Bug shouted. Pinsir swiftly grabbed the javelins from the ground, and threw them back at their owners. "Oof!" "Eeek!" The three lance users fell to the ground as their own lances dismounted them.

"Urrrgh... It's up to you to fight him now, Serra and Erk!" Shadow turned to see Serra sitting on a nearby stump with Whismur in her arms. "Absolutely not!" she huffed primly. "Fighting would give Whismur ugly muscles! Isn't that right, Whismur?" she cooed lovingly as she cuddled her Pokémon. Erk slapped his forehead.

"Never mind..." Shadow sighed. "Erk, you should suffice. You've got a type advantage anyway..." Nodding, the mage stepped up to face the bandit and his Pokémon.

"Okay! Slugma, use Ember attack!" Erk commanded, flipping through his magic book. "Fire!"

"Pinsir, use Dig!" Quickly, the Bug Pokémon started burrowing into the ground with its forearms, avoiding the fireball. "Uh oh..." Shadow started to look around, his eyes darting from here to there. "Careful, everyone," he warned. "There's no way of telling where it might "

"Pin-SIR!" The Pokémon in question suddenly burst from the ground, catching Lyn in its claws. "Kyaaaaa!" she screamed.

"Vicegrip!" Pinsir started to clamp Lyn across the waist in a bid to crush her.

"Slugma! Quick, use Body Slam!" Erk ordered! "Ma!" The Lava Pokémon quickly lunged at Pinsir and knocked it over, making it release its hold on Lyn. "Grrrrr! Pinsir, crush that little pest!" Bug growled.

"Sir!" Pinsir glared at Slugma, then jumped at it, landing directly onto Slugma. "It's Pinsir's own Body Slam!" Lyn gasped. "Now Erk's Slugma has been completely immobilised!"

"No... wait!" Shadow looked onwards. Pinsir had started to catch fire underneath! "That's... Slugma's Flame Body! Enemies will be burnt on contact with Slugma!" The tactician stared at Erk, who had a small smile on his face. Apparently he had been anticipating this all along.

"Now, Slugma, wrap yourself around Pinsir!" The Fire Pokémon suddenly stretched itself from under Pinsir like a melting snowball, and wrapped its fiery limbs around Pinsir, causing Pinsir's body to burn to a crisp.

"Pinsir!" Bug cried. "That does it! You're going down!" He charged forward, waving his steel axe...

"Slugma, now!" The mass of lava surrounding the fallen Pinsir regrouped to form Slugma, which stood upon its victim. Erk started to dance about with his cloak flying as the pages of his Fire tome flipped magically.

"FIRE!" Erk yelled, summoning a killer fireball along with Slugma's Ember that melted Bug's axe and left his skin scorched.

"...Blaaaaah..." Bug managed to mutter before collapsing. "Scum... you're all scum..."


"Nicely led, Shadow." Lyn complimented. "That should just about do it..."

"What a surprise. You are very strong, Lyn." Serra commented.

"Your staff is a wondrous thing," Lyn returned Serra's compliment. "Healing powers amaze me."

"Only those in the service of good can wield them," bragged the cleric.

"You helped us tremendously. Well," Lyn said as she looked at the setting sun, "it's time for us to go."

"Take care. Goodbye, Lyn." Serra smiled her farewells.

"Fare you well. You too, Erk." Lyn wished.

"Goodbye." Erk replied in his simple manner.


"Well, let us be on our way, Erk," Serra yawned as she stretched.

"What have we here? Another wildflower? Perhaps a butterfly?" A voice wafted from the trees as the leaves rustled. Then Sain, riding on his Ponyta, came out from the forest.

"What an absolutely delectable creature!" he breathed.

"Oh my!" Serra appeared startled, "Are you one of Lyn's companions?"

"Please, call me Sain," the green cavalier said as he smiled at Serra.

"I'm Serra. I serve House Ostia," the cleric girl introduced.

"Serra... what a lyrical name," Sain commented. "I am in service to House Caelin."

"Oh! So Lyn is a member of the marquess' family?" gasped Serra.

"She is the granddaughter of our lord, the marquess," answered Sain.

"Hmmm... such an important person." Serra said to herself, giggling.

"Serra... what deviousness are you contemplating now?" groaned Erk.

"Tee hee! Having a person of power in your debt is never a bad thing!" chuckled the cleric.

"You can't be serious..." The mage felt the blood drain from his face as he realised what Serra was about to do.

"Oh, Sain!" Serra called. "Do you think we could join the lady Lyndis' company? She seems like such a nice person, and I would ever so much like to help her." She put on her innocent-looking eyes for additional effect.

"Of course! We couldn't be happier!" Sain exclaimed. "Well, I would be happier," he thought. "Why, we were only just saying how we need some more fighting power!"

"Are you being hunted or something?" asked Serra, trying to sound concerned.

"Yes, it's an inheritance dispute. Assassins everywhere," Sain explained.

"Oh my! In that case, my healing staff and Erk's magic should come in handy," offered Serra.

"Well, I, er... It sounds... dangerous..." Erk stuttered.

"Your staff and magic would be extremely helpful!" Sain exclaimed, oblivious to Erk's reaction. "Please wait here! I will go and speak with Lady Lyndis on your behalf," he said as he rode away.

"Unbelievable..." Erk stared into the space where Sain was.

"This is fantastic, Erk!" Serra squealed. "Our good deeds will earn us gratitude beyond imagining!" She began to cheer and perform a little dance with her Whismur. For Erk, however, dancing was one of the last things on his mind as his face turned a slight shade of green.

"I... I... I think I'm going to be ill." Erk mumbled briefly to no one in particular.


At the same time, in Castle Caelin...

"What! That little girl crossed the border!"

"Yes, Lord Lundgren. She's en route to Araphen..." trembled the reporting soldier.

"Fool! Send out soldiers to meet her! Hold nothing back! Do anything to finish this now!" Lundgren roared. "First the old man, and now the girl... They cling to life like a drowning man to a rock! Double the poison's strength! If he struggles, hold him down and pour it down his throat! Once the girl is gone, Caelin is mine. I will let no one stand in my way!"

To be continued...


ShadowedTactician/Imppala: (still arguing )
Grim: Sigh. Review.