The sun was low in the sky and the light of day was fast fading to the dark of night, already one could see the stars and moon. Robin sat in silence, looking intently on the faded design on his shield. There was a strong possibility that the sigil was some clue to who he was but nothing was coming to him, it was just that, a sigil on a shield.

With a frustrated sigh he looked around the camp, pausing briefly on the dark haired youth, this "Chrom" which served only to add further questions to his mind. Why was it that he knew that name? Why was it that his memories seemed to be perfectly fine so long as they were not related to himself?

With a silent curse he looked back to the shield. A dark, maybe black, shape on a grey, probably meant to be silver, field. Funny that he recalled that when describing a coat of arms one never says "white" nor "yellow", only silver and gold. He smirked humourlessly at this bit of knowledge that somehow survived in his mind before returning working out what the sigil was meant to be. A tower? Maybe though the very top of the design didn't fit into that very well… maybe it was something resting on a tower? As he looked at the sigil he was…

In front of a towering craggy mountain and stone bridge, then a spiralling stone stairway that seemed to stretch up towards the heavens. From the rough bare rocks, ominous roars and deep breathing can be heard, as if the very mountain itself were alive.

- 'Robin?'

He jolted at the sound and instinctively reached to his dagger even as he turned to see who spoke. Lissa had taken a step back at his sudden movement but still put on that easy smile of hers.

- 'We're going to eat, join us.'

The man slowly shifted his hand from the dagger and nodded, the girl's smile seem to grow slightly as she turned around and walked back to the fire at which her brother sat. Setting the shield aside Robin stood up and noticed Frederick standing near, well with in easy strike distance, a most dutiful knight it would seem.

- 'You don't have it easy with your lords, do you?'

He found himself asking. The knight seemed surprised and answered so quickly that he probably had been thinking it.

- 'They can be difficult but it is my duty.'

Robin nodded.

- 'And the superior man is the man that fulfills his duty.'

Silence fell, Frederick looking at the man with a raised eyebrow while Robin suddenly felt faint, his hand pressing at his head before he was even aware of doing so.

- 'That is indeed so, not many know the saying.'

The knight said. Robin sighed and slowly straightened, the throbbing pain that had appeared was already subsiding.

- 'I have a strange feeling as if I knew someone like you once.'

- 'Maybe you did.'

Frederick shrugged his shoulders as he answered.

- 'Many younger knights might be obsessed with strange ideas of what chivalry is but you will still find many that understand that it is all about duty.'

Robin turned fully Frederick.

- 'I think that is exactly the sort of thing that person would have said.'

The two stood in an awkward silence, mercifully cut short by Lissa's voice.

- 'Frederick! Stop harassing Robin and lets eat!'

Robin couldn't help a grin spreading across his face as Frederick sighed a weary sigh.

- 'You heard the lady, get moving.'

He prompted and the two were soon sitting at the fire. Having noticed how hungry he was Robin eagerly pulled his gauntlets off and reached out for a bowl only to stop short at an audible hiss. All eyes turned to Lissa who, having realized the noise she had made, covered her mouth with her hands before lowering them with a sigh.

- 'I'm sorry but that is just a very unpleasant looking scar.'

Robin looked to his hand and saw that most of what was visible of his right hand was a mass of scars.

- 'Looks like the result of a burn.'

Frederick offered an educated guess after a look. Robin looked at the scar quietly for a moment before shrugging.

- 'Possible, I can't recall anything about it.'

- 'No point in fussing over it let us eat.'

Chrom decided, picking up a bowl followed by the others, Lissa grinning as she lifted hers.

- 'You're lucky Robin, we've been stuck chewing hardtack and jerky for a few days and you join up right before we get something fresh…'

He voice trailed off as she sniffed the contents of her bowl and looked to Frederick.

- 'Frederick, this had better not be the bear that we passed a few hours ago.'

Chrom woke. There was no period of waking, no sluggish moment of reaching full awareness, one moment he slept the next he was wide awake. Sitting up the prince took a look around. A sentry turned to look at the sudden movement before turning back to peer into the night once he realized it was nothing to be alarmed by. All around people slept, most resting there heads on saddles and all wrapped up in cloaks. The fire had turned to embers though it was obvious the sentry was doing his job of keeping it alive.

There was absolutely no reason to be awake and yet here he was, wide-awake. Standing up Chrom took another look around before approaching the sentry.

- 'Anything to report?'

- 'No milord, quiet as the grave.'

Chrom nodded but for some reason the sentry's words did not calm him down. He made another round of the camp before stopping as he reached the spot from where he started.

- 'Chrom? Something wrong?'

- 'It's nothing Lissa, go back to sleep.'

Lissa sat up, rubbed her eyes and yawned before taking a look around.

- 'If it's nothing than why are you up?'

Chrom frowned but had no way to honestly answer that.

- 'I'll just have a quick look around, you go back to sleep.

Lissa, however, was now well and truly awake and got up.

- 'Not alone, I'll go with you.'

Chrom started to protest but stopped himself, there was no real reason to say no and besides, once his sisters decided something they went through with it. It made growing up for him very difficult.

- 'Fine. But if you complain about insects I get to kick you.'

- 'What sort of thing is that to say to your little sister?'

Chrom turned to Lissa with a smirk.

- 'What sort of little sister drops dye into her brothers bath?'

Lissa huffed but decided not to push the matter less her brother remembers other incidents and opted to obediently fall in line. The sentry looked up at the royals.

- 'Perhaps milord should take someone else as well?'

- 'We'll be fine, just a quick walk around and we'll be back.'

The sentry frowned but did not push the matter.

The walk itself yielded nothing as the two neither saw nor heard anything out of place. Despite the rather dense woodland the moon shone with such intensity that they had no need for a torch and though the shadows were dark visibility was good. Lissa snorted.

- 'There is nothing to see or hear. We should head back.'

Chrom was about to nod but stopped, Lissa had just pointed out what it was that was bothering him.

- 'You're right there is nothing to hear. No wind no insects, no animals. Nothing.'

Lissa did not seem to understand at first but than her eyes opened wide as she did, there was no way a forest would be this quiet. She looked around as a sense of dread crept in as her imagination began supplying endless cause for the unnatural silence.

- 'We should…'

A rumble interrupted the sentence and the siblings stumbled as the ground moved beneath them. As they watched the earth seemed to ripple before part shifted up, a tree uprooted by the movement falling with a bone shaking crash.

- 'Run Lissa! To the clearing!'

Stumbling the two escaped the immediate threat of falling trees and reached the relative safety of a clearing just as the quake finished and the silence fell like a curtain again.

- 'Is it over?'

No sooner had the words left Lissa's mouth than a sudden flash of light blinded both, as their sight slowly returned they found the sky, split for the lack of a better word. It was as if a wound had been torn in the night sky, the blinding light pouring from within. He should run, the logical part of his mind said, he should grab Lissa and run yet Chrom found himself mesmerised by the sight. He only managed to look away when he felt Lissa grab his arm.

- 'Chrom! We should go!'

- 'Let's go.'

He agreed as he turned to make his way back to the camp but stopped. In the gloom ahead shadows were moving, slowly turning into dark shapes moving in their direction.

Everything about them seemed wrong, they shuffled and twitched like puppets whose strings were cut, tangled or otherwise incomplete. As if that wasn't enough drifting towards the royals came a sound, as if a dozen people of all ages and genders were wailing, hissing, crying and moaning from the inside of a well. Lissa shuffled behind Chrom who himself took an involuntary step back, the movement seemed to draw attention to themselves as the things stopped the movement forward and shifted their faces towards the siblings before resuming their march, their step becoming more certain the closer the came.

They were armed and armoured, their helmets forged so that the visors resembled faces set in snarls or screams. In the shadow of the helmets their eyes seemed to glow with a red hue. With a faint hiss Falchion left it's scabbard as Chrom shifted his stance.

- 'Lissa, stay behind me.'

His sister did not argue this time as she took a step back. The closest of the things suddenly stopped and seemed to sway in the spot for a moment as it released a long wail that faded into a hiss before charging. The sudden change in speed caught Chrom by surprise and he struggled with the block, his entire body feeling the strength behind the blow. Instincts honed from nearly two decades of training kicked in and the prince shifted his weight, freed his weapon and brought it round with a movement of his wrists and hips slashing across his enemies stomach.

Experience said that what would follow where his opponents intestines sliding free from the wounds, the man himself dropping to his knees while desperately trying to keep his innards from landing on the ground even as his life faded, that did not happen.

The thing, for Chrom was now certain it could not be a man, shrugged off the wound and brought his own weapon round in an attack that the prince barely dodged. The thing showed little skill and no thought of self preservation, its attacks were fast, brutal and left it wide open for a counter which Chrom promptly did, this time shifting his weight on the balls of his feet, bringing Falchion around a wider arc and slamming into his enemies back where a man would have his spine. There was little in the way of resistance and soon the blade had passed through and was lifted into a guard stance.

The creature itself staggered a few more steps, turned back to Chrom and fell, a dark mist rising from between its armour that, for a lack of a better word, collapsed on itself, as if the body inside vanished.

The prince barely registered this as a scream reminded him of his sister; his fear confirmed when he turned. Lissa had been backed up a tree as another of the things readied to strike again. The staff the girl held would offer little resistance before the axe would snap it, going on deep into flesh. There was no conscious thought, merely a burst of speed born from urgency yet even as he ran Chrom saw he would be too late.

A shadow left the woods and appeared before the thing barely in time to block the strike, sparks flashing from where the two weapons met. The force of the blow staggered Lissa's saviour however and was pushed to their knee as the thing did not pull its axe back for another blow but kept pushing as if wanting to drive its new opponent into the ground.

Chrom did not slow down and closed the distance, the thing paused its assault and, shifting its head so far back that the movement would have snapped a mans neck, looked for the source of the noise the prince was making. The distraction meant the weight behind its axe slackened enough for the newcomer to free his own weapon and pivot for a blow to the things stomach even as Chrom closed the distance and struck at the things neck. The two blows fell almost simultaneously and the thing released a wailing gasp before it collapsed on itself, a dark mist rising to the sky as the armour clattered to the ground.

For a moment no sound was heard save the heavy breathing of the combatants until Lissa sighed a deep breath of relief and Chrom shifted his stance to regard the newcomer who had likewise shifted to a more neutral stance. He was smaller than himself in both height and stature and was dressed in armour much like his own, a lighter kind an aristocrat would don for travel in dangerous but not outright hostile lands though the light helmet had an elaborate visor that left little flesh to be seen. The stranger stood still, holding the princes' gaze with what, Chrom was certain, was an intense stare.

- 'I am going on a whim here and guessing that that is not considered a natural phenomenon in these parts.'

Robin said tilting his head towards the bright light resembling a tear in the night sky as he strapped his sword belt on. Frederick turned to the man with a frown before shrugging.

- 'It is not.'

He was having a retainer assist him with putting on the steel plates of his armour, Robin being a stranger among the Ylissians had chosen to sleep with most of his armour on, whether from habit or distrust of his newest travelling companions he could not say with certainty. Before long Frederick had his helmet on and approached the man who had been on sentry duty.

- 'Where did our lord and lady go?'

- 'Yonder.'

The man replied, pointing to the trees before continuing.

- 'His lordship said he'd be back soon.'

- 'And you chose not to alert myself? To get them a retinue?'

The sentry now looked decisively uncomfortable under the glare he received from the knight and stuttered slightly as he answered.

- 'His... his lordship said it was not needed.'

Frederick scowled but said no more turning back to the camp and taking stock of the men he had, they now stood in silence, awaiting orders.

- 'You three stay at the camp, make it ready for departure, the rest with me, we have to find their lordships.'

As the men made to do as told the knight stopped Robin.

- 'You shall stay close to me.'

The man nodded, seemingly accepting the fact that he was being kept on a short leash. Chrom might have already decided to trust the stranger but Frederick was not Chrom, he would keep a close eye on the vagabond and if there were any signs of treason… The knight shook his head, reminding himself that he had other priorities at the moment and moved to his mount and with one swift moment he was in the saddle.

- 'Spread out, if you see our lord or lady immediately signal those next to you.'

The men spread out efficiently and in silence, in part thanks to the unnatural light that made the area as bright as day though it was not a pleasant light. Cold and, some might say hostile it blinded those who looked too closely to the source and cast the world in wither blinding brilliance or blackest shadow, when it vanished the men released a collective sigh of relief, even if the light offered by the full moon seemed paltry when compared to the previous light.

They rode through the woodland looking around for the missing duo, men occasionally dismounting to lead their mounts through less certain ground, Frederick showed his skill in this regards as he managed without dismounting, the knight noted Robin likewise managing. Whatever the stranger was he had the skill of a veteran horseman Frederick noted adding this bit of knowledge to the list of reasons why he should keep an eye on the man.

A scream echoed in the night and both men looked up towards the source, Frederick kicking his mount into action followed shortly by Robin where they soon found the source.

Two of the retainers were fighting while a third was already a corpse. The enemy drew attention, armed and armoured their helmets included visors shaped to resemble human faces twisted in rage or agony, a red glow seeming to emit from where the view slits were.

Frederick took all this in a moment before kicking his mount into action, charging with his cavalry spear couched under arm. One of the things looked up just in time to take the tempered steel point through the chest and here Frederick was in for a shock as instead of the known feeling of the point punching through armour, flesh and bone with ease there was an initial resistance followed by, nothing. The thing, for no other word could describe his enemy, simply collapsed after the blow, arms and armour clattering to the ground while a dark mist seemed to rise to the heavens. Confused the knight forced himself to push aside his surprise and concentrate on winning the fight first.

Close by a man managed to push his shield into his opponents axe and pushed it upwards, leaving his enemies gut open for an attack. It was a textbook thrust with a lot of force behind it and the blade sunk deep in what should have been a mortal injury. The thing seemed unaware of the wounds severity and simply punched the retainer, sending the man stumbling back, the blade wrenched free of the mans grip and left in the things gut gut. The thing paid it no mind as he stepped closer and readied another attack only for Frederick to strike a blow that smashed into the things head, leaving behind a nasty dent in its helmet that would have sent a man to the ground, incapable of fighting and possibly dying. The thing turned around, and made to attack the knight and seemed very surprised to see its hand wielding the axe was missing.

Even as the axe and the hand holding it fell to the ground Robin leaned in his saddle for another attack and stabbed down, piercing the thing between its collar bone and shoulder blade even as Frederick thrust again, punching through the things gut. This time the thing collapsed, its armour hitting the ground in a heap as a dark mist rose to the sky. Frederick let go of the breath he had not been aware he had been holding before turning to the retainer who was looking at the shapeless bundle of armour and clothing with wide eyes.

- 'Pick up your weapon man! Fight!'

More men had arrived and the small clearing was the scene of a vicious struggle as the Ylissians slowly overwhelmed their enemies, hacking them apart to ensure they would not get up and before long it was over with Frederick and the others left standing among the fallen, catching their breath after the exertions of combat.

- 'Frederick! Sir!'

The knight turned at the known voice.

- 'Sully? Why are you here?'

The cavalier rode up to him and, after a slight tilt of her head, she answered.

- 'You guys were behind schedule and we were sent to investigate, especially when we heard a larger group of pirates had been seen raiding the coast. We were actually camped not far from here and when we saw the light show we went to investigate, heard the fighting and stumbled on you lot.'

She paused in her report and looked around the clearing, pausing briefly on Robin, the strangers presence causing a raised eyebrow before she turned back to Frederick.

- 'Where are Chrom and Lissa?'

Frederick scowled at that as he replied.

- 'They wandered off before this happened. Now we're looking for them.'

Sully swore at that but before she could answer someone else interrupted.

- 'Than we must find them immediately! Lest some misfortune befall them in this most terrible of nights.'

Sully rolled her eyes as she forced her mount to shift sideways to make room for a man who, though his armour was light was in the best of quality and held himself in the manner of a man accustomed to command. Sully jerked a thumb in his direction.

- 'That's Virion, he joined up recently from whatever dung heap of a country he claims to come from.'

The man named Virion seemed ready to object when a retainer rode up.

- 'Sir! Fighting up ahead, it looks like it is his lordship!'

Frederick turned and issued quick orders.

- 'You three collect our wounded, the rest with me!'

They covered the ground quickly and stood at the edge of another clearing, another group of the creatures closing in on Chrom and Lissa. Deciding there was not a moment to lose Frederick turned in the saddle and gave his orders.

- 'Form into two lines and prepare to charge!'

The Yllisians moved to do as told save for Robin he moved in front of Frederick before leaning in.

- 'I would have a suggestion.'

Lucina felt her stomach clench. Up to this point she was too focused on the risen to think of anything else but now that the immediate threat was done and she could look around she started to panic. In front of her stood her aunt, younger, smaller but without a doubt her dear aunt Lissa whom she had not seen since her funeral. The temptation to hug the woman, squeeze her tight and say how much she had been missed was overwhelming and yet it was nothing compared to what she felt when she saw him.

Younger but just as broad shouldered as she remembered the man that was not yet her father stood there, looking at her with a wary expression.

Father, she wanted to hug him, seeking comfort, confirmation that the choices she had made had been the right ones it would be worth the miseries she had suffered to this point. Lucina forced herself to stand her ground, it would not do, as this man was not her father, she should not meddle with the timeline more than is necessary.

- 'Thank you for the rescue, you were very brave.'

She turned to her aunt who had just thanked her, as if one such act could repay her for the great debt she and many others owed to the woman. She knew she could not say that instead she forced her voice to be calm as she gave a reply.

- 'No thanks are necessary.'

- 'I beg to disagree.'

Lucina turned to face Chrom who had shifted his expression of wary to an honest smile.

- 'It is an act worth thanks and I add my own.'

Lucina had to force herself not to say anything, not trusting herself to stay calm in the situation she had found herself in. She was saved from further troubles with movement in the surrounding woodland.

- 'There are more of them.'

Chrom shifted his stance and saw it was true, there were more risen in the woods and they were already closing the distance with frightening speed. A significantly larger force than last, too many for them to handle and Lucina had all but made up her mind to convince her father to take aunt Lissa and escape when the closest risen were flung off their feet as if they had them kicked out from under them.

The remaining risen stopped their assault as if confused by the sudden development only to turn as shapes burst from the woodland and bore down on them, within a heartbeat two risen were impaled on long spears, their unnatural forms literally shattering under the impact, the lighter horsemen following lashing out at any that were within reach.

Seemingly confused by the onslaught the remaining risen stood for a moment until several of them were knocked back, Lucina now saw this was caused by missiles, arrows and bolts signalling the presence of archers in the woods. The risen turned as if looking for the source of the latest attack only to be ridden down by the horsemen.

Lucina stood in silence as she observed her fathers retainers run rings around the risen, why was it so easy? The risen she knew were a nigh unstoppable force; fast, ruthless, immune to pain and driven by a dark will with what seemed like a single purpose. She paused, was that it? Was the fact that Grima had yet to descend on the world leaving the risen slower and dim-witted without its influence?

If that was the case than maybe this action had a chance of succeeding.

But that was for a later time. Now she should leave before they turn their attention back to her, she should but she couldn't help but wait as she recognized more faces. Sir Frederick who rode up to her father with a look of concern on his face and a suspicious glance in her direction. She was glad for the elaborate mask her helmet had, as she could not help an upward tilt of her lips at the sight. He was younger but the expression was the same as the one she knew so well from her childhood. What was no doubt the Dame Sully was on his heels and from the distant woodlands came another group under the lead of, if she was not mistaken, the Duke Virion.

- 'My lord?'

- 'We're fine Frederick, thanks to… what was your name?'

Letting out a soft sigh Lucina, trying to sound as neutral as possible, answered with the name she had chosen.

- 'You may call me Marth.'

Eyebrows were raised at that, Chrom slowly smiled as he replied.

- 'An interesting choice of name, no doubt you have a reason for using it. Where did you learn to fight? It was…'

- 'I'm not here to talk about myself.'

Lucina cut her father off, as much as she wished to speak with him it was not prudent to do so; she had to concentrate on why she was here.

- 'The world stands on the edge of the abyss. Many more of these risen have crossed the planes, you must take action swiftly.'

- 'Standing on the edge of what now?'

Lissa asked, an incredulous look on her face. With some regret Lucina turned to leave only to find the path blocked by two retainers and a third rider, armed as a man at arms, his face hidden under a helm, the eye slits seemingly boring into her. Behind her she heard Fredericks voice.

- 'I'm afraid we're going to need you to explain in a bit more detail what you're on about.'

She tensed, wondering whether she'd be able to somehow run past the men blocking her way when her fathers voice reached her.

- 'Let him go Frederick.'

She paused at that; several others seemed just as surprised as she was. She had always been told that her father was a very trusting man and it seemed to be the case, was that why he had… She shook her head to clear away the unnecessary thought as she walked through the retainers who had moved aside to let her pass.

- 'You've more luck than brains girl.'

She looked up to meet the helmed retainer, though nothing could be seen of his face it was clear he was looking down at her from the height of his saddle. Several things bothered her, the fact that he had addressed her as girl, the words before that and the voice itself, she felt she knew it from somewhere but could not place it. There was no point in wondering, she finally decided, and moved into the darkness of the forest without answering the insult.

- 'Any casualties?'

Chrom asked as Marth disappeared into the woods. Frederick sighed.

- 'We have a few wounded, two dead. It could have easily been worse had we not encountered Sully.'

The girl spoke up at this.

- 'We were thinking of linking up with your lot and were camping nearby when we saw the light, naturally we came to investigate and were set upon by these… things.'

Frederick nodded to confirm this before continuing.

- 'We seemed to clear most of these creatures but I think it would be prudent to break camp and march for Yllistol as soon as possible.'

- 'That would probably be for the best.'

Chrom nodded and made to order the group move but was interrupted as Robin rode up closer to the group, slowly turning his head from the forest where he was looking after the now gone figure of Marth to the Ylissians.

- 'Out of curiosity why does that girl get to walk away free while I was dragged around for an interrogation?'

Robin asked, a somewhat bitter note detectable on his voice. Chrom smirked as he replied with a shrug.

- 'The situation is different, you…'

He paused as he thought of something before asking.

- 'Girl?'

- 'That "Marth" character.'

Robin confirmed with a nod as he jerked a thumb behind him to where the stranger had disappeared. Several looks were exchanged and an awkward silence fell before Chrom shook his head.

- 'It would seem, Robin, that amnesia is not the only thing wrong with you.'

Razelux: Glad you like it. As for magic it is an integral part of FE so it will be present, though maybe not in the way people are used to seeing it.