This is the shortest chapter of the story I've written, and while that could be seen as laziness, I feel like it covers exactly what it needs to. Most chapters will be 9,000 words or higher, due to both the scale of the world and the pace I'm hoping to set. The scale doesn't really have an effect this chapter, though, as all of the primary characters are in the same place.
Chapter 2: Off the Road to Bathoneo City
King Dedede shut the door behind the blue haired prince. He was not in any mood for politicking and that junk. He always hated doing it, and he knew he was no good at it. His friend needed him to show patience, though. So it was that the penguin king offered the Prince a place by his fire. King Dedede himself stood by the blanket that covered Meta Knight in the corner.
"Before I tell you anything, my friend needs healing," he firmly said, waving the girl in a yellow dress over to him. The girl nodded, carrying a blue topped staff that was almost as tall as she was.
"If I'm going to heal him, I'll need to move the blanket off him. Can I...?" The healer trailed off as King Dedede grabbed the blanket himself. The girl nodded gratefully and got a look at her patient. "Um... What is he?"
"He is my friend. Healing magic has worked on him before, if that's what you're worried about," King Dedede answered. The girl looked at the masked ball that would be her patient again.
"I've never healed anyth- anyone, sorry, like this before. Do you know what the damage was at least?"
Dedede's eye twitched as his composure threatened to slip. What kind of crummy healer did Bandana Dee bring him? Whatever he wanted to say was buried quickly and replaced by a quick explanation.
"I found Pi- urm, Meta Knight buried under a pile of debris." King Dedede said. Keep it short and sweet, he thought. "From when we crashed. I don't know more than that."
The girl took a deep breath and raised her staff over Meta Knight.
"I'll try to fix him as best as I can. At the very least, I can make it safe for us to move him. The priesthood has a lot of much better healers than me. We can take him to the capital and get the best healers in Ylisse to do the rest." King Dedede nodded absently in response, still standing beside his friend expectantly. The healer girl fidgeted a little bit. "So, I'll need some elbow room to do this. Could you wait a little farther away?"
Dedede gave an overly dramatic harrumph but he did as he was asked. He approached the dying fireplace and plopped down with an earthshaking thud opposite of Chrom. From where he sat, he could see as the staff began to shine.
"So, Prince. If I'm going to be interrogated, let's get on with it," Dedede said.
"This won't be an interrogation," Chrom clarified. "I don't know anything about that... Thing you have on the beach, but all the same it's pretty obvious that you didn't land here on purpose. Besides, the Exalt Emmeryn would never allow me to hold royalty captive. So long as you can convince me that you are no danger to the people of Ylisse, I won't touch you or your people."
Dedede nodded, his features lightening up slightly. He reached for the tray that he had been neglecting. He lifted the top to reveal an odd combination: a slice of cake and a bowl of nuts. He felt ready to chow down when he looked over to his guest. He could practically hear Meta Knight's scolding him for being rude.
"Want something before we start? I got nuts and cake," Dedede offered dutifully. He was admittedly thankful when Chrom shook his head no. He hadn't been able to eat for a while, and now the hunger was hitting him like the swing of a Bonkers' hammer.
"So, I know your name and what your people are. I guess the next question to ask would be where are you from?"
"I am the king of Dreamland. Or I was anyway," King Dedede started, stuffing a nut into his beak. "Ugh, I hate nuts. Anyway, life was great there. Everyone looked up to their great king, and my palace was a sight to behold."
"It sounds like you had it good there." Chrom stated skeptically. Let him doubt, Dedede thought. "Why did you leave?"
"The Rebirth, of course! The whole place disappeared without us. It might have stopped existing five years ago, or maybe we were just removed from it. Either way, I am a king without a country." Dedede punctuated his loss with a drawn out sigh, followed by another nut. Chrom's eyebrow raised in confusion.
"Wait a second, what is the Rebirth?" The prince asked.
"Ha! Like you don't know." Chrom shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Wait, you really don't know? Even those people in Tellius managed to figure it out before we got there!"
Chrom's face scrunched up as Dedede spoke. Picking up on the prince's lack of information, he sighed and grabbed another peanut. This was going to take a bit, so he took a bite.
Lissa kneeled over the masked creature's unconscious body, her staff raised over it. Carefully, she channeled her energy through her body into her staff. From there it it emitted a bright light that focused onto her patient. Lissa believed she heard the penguin king refer to him as Meta Knight. Healing magic was often very uncomfortable, as both the healer and the patient could feel the damage repairing faster than nature ever could alone. Her unfamiliarity with Meta Knight's body type made it even harder. She was just lucky he wasn't conscious. She wouldn't be able to concentrate enough if he was kicking and thrashing.
Still, the process was going smoothly as far as she could tell. She would be exhausted by the time she was done, but it would be done. He would probably have the energy to wake within the week, if not a few hours. As she guessed, there was an issue that she wouldn't be able to correct. She was amazed when she realized that Dedede's friend actually didn't have bones inside him. The closest comparison she could come up with was a malleable cartilage. Unfortunately, the cartilage was deteriorated by one of his feet and she wasn't sure she could figure out how to fix it.
She got to a point in the process where she felt comfortable not fully concentrating on the process. As she was moving along, she listened in on the conversation that her brother was having.
"The Rebirth happened five years ago. Everywhere that I've gone has had a different guess as to why it happened. Gods, a mad scientist, demon rituals, the tampering of fate, etcetera etcetera," Dedede was explaining. Ooo, this had to be good. "What it actually did is practically the same everywhere. A bunch of different worlds or realities have been merged into one. This world we live on now has changed from the wherever we lived in before."
"What? That is absurd! How can you claim that?" Chrom adamantly denied. And why wouldn't he? Lissa agreed that it sounded absolutely nuts.
"Come on, you can't tell me that something didn't change five years ago. Some person or animal you couldn't explain," King Dedede insisted with a laugh. "Hey, even me and my subjects are proof enough for my claim! I bet you have never had a Waddle Dee in this El-Ice place before!"
"It's Ylisse - Ill-eese - And I'm sorry, but I'm not sure I could believe you. It's just... It's insane to even consider."
"Ugh. Believe what you want. No skin off my beak."
Lissa didn't have to look to know that Chrom was at a loss for words. His face was probably scrunched up hilariously. She almost messed up healing a scratch imagining her brother's confusion. She refocused on healing the foreign king's friend. Besides the damage that would cripple him temporarily, the worse thing that Meta Knight suffered was no worse than a concussion. Sure, that was still absolutely awful, but unlike most all of the alternatives it was actually possible for her magic to remedy it.
"Fine, let's say I believe you," Chrom said, skepticism coloring his tone. "Why does Ylisse still exist just as it always had, and how is it that Valm is still just as far? By what you're saying, no map we have should be accurate."
King Dedede chuckled mockingly. "Yeah, I've asked that same question in other places I've been. Some worlds just up and disappeared! Many of the people and creatures that lived on 'em were scattered across this new world."
"Did everyone not make it from such world's?" Chrom asked.
"Not as far as I know. Most of the people from Dreamland are still missing." Dedede answered soberly. His rambunctiousness returned as he continued his rant "Other lands became a part of this world we're in now. Kingdoms now border different kingdoms, somehow perfectly threaded together. Different species that never existed in the same place now shop at the same places. I even met someone who was a bomb. A bomb, Prince! How can a person who is an actual explosive be safe to have around?" Dedede ranted with another laugh. Lissa heard a nut crack.
"You've... thought about this a lot, haven't you?" Chrom responded carefully.
"I've had to. There isn't much else to do when all that surrounds you is the an endless sea. Meta Knight and the Waddle Dees did all the work to keep the Halberd flying, so I was stuck lounging whenever we moved," the king lamented
"Right... Wait, flying?" Chrom asked.
"Yep, flying. I'm sure you saw the Halberd on your way in. The mask on it's bow, the miles of metal, the capability to fly for months without stopping... It's a Dreamland original!"
Lissa lowered her staff and the light dimmed from its tip. She heard Chrom get up - it had to be him, as Dedede getting up would be a lot louder- and walk up to her. He offered her a hand, which she happily took. He lifted her up a bit too fast, and she nearly fell forwards.
"Are you alright, Lissa?" He asked, reaching out his other arm in case she fell.
"Yeah, of course. I'm not some delicate flower, Chrom. I got this." She boasted. She was really kind of exhausted, but there was no use admitting that.
"So... Is he going to be okay?" Dedede asked with something that may have been melancholy in his voice. Lissa looked at him and gave a nod.
"Yes, he'll be fine. I repaired the worst of the cuts and bruises. He got hit hard, and as little as I know about him, I don't think he would've lasted much longer. I am sorry to say I couldn't fix his leg," she said solemnly.
King Dedede scowled at the last bit of news. "Well, why can't ya?" He demanded. Lissa grimaced.
"Well... I..."
"Bah. Bandana Dee got me a bad healer. Of course he did..." The king grumpily trailed off. "So why exactly can't you do it?"
"Because I don't know how! This is above what I've ever learned. If he was human I could do it, but I don't even know what he is, let alone how to put his leg back together!" Lissa shouted, thrusting a finger into Dedede's face. To her surprise, Chrom pulled her away from the penguin king.
"Lissa, that's enough. Your teachers have taught you better than that."
"What? But I..." She growled where words failed her. "I'm stepping out."
Angrily, she stomped to the wooden door and threw it ajar.
Bandana Dee was scared when the King's door flew open and the healer princess stormed out. The man with pretty words, Virion, had been entertaining him and a bunch of the other Waddle Dees while they waited. He was telling some kind of story about a pretty friend of his, but Bandana Dee didn't understand most of it. He just liked the sound of his gentlemanly prose.
Fixing his bandana first, he ran to the door. He stopped steps away and creeped inside. Both his Greatness and the Prince guy were standing dumbfounded by the door. When Dedede noticed him stepping in, the king waved him in. Bandana Dee nervously stepped in and closed the door.
"Chrom. Did I pass your test?" Dedede asked quietly.
"Pass? Sure," Chrom jabbed. He turned to Dedede and stabbed his finger into his gut. "You do not talk to my sister like that. You may not be a threat to Ylisse, but you have not made me your friend."
Chrom stepped out of the cabin shortly after. The Waddle Dee looked up at his king with wide, sad eyes. His king looked by with the same gaze.
"I think that I messed up, Bandana..." Dedede sat down. He put the lid back over the still untouched cake.
"Captain, wait up!" Sumia said, trying to keep up with the Shepherd's Commander.
"Milord!"
When she left the cabin, Lissa disappeared with barely a sign of where she went. Virion had been distracted and Frederick had lost track of her amongst the Waddle Dees. When the knight tried to pursue her, the crowd had not been as malleable as when they had arrived.
Chrom had first checked with the back up Shepherds to see if she was with them. None of them had seen her either. As he rushed past them, and reemerged on the other end of the forest, two sets of footsteps followed him. Sumia and Frederick had followed him out.
"Milord, we should gather the rest of the Shepherds to organize a search. We won't find her if we go off on our own without any kind of plan," Frederick advised. Chrom shook his head.
"Lissa is angry, not stupid Frederick. She won't be too far. You go organize the Shepherds so that we're ready to depart as soon as we find her," Chrom ordered. "Sumia, you should go as well."
"I already set Virion to doing just that, milord" Frederick stated. "If we aren't organizing a search, I won't be needed there. You could use me out here more than they could. With your permission, I'm staying milord."
"I'm staying too, Captain!" Sumia insisted. "Lissa needs us, doesn't she?"
"Right. Let's go."
They were followed the edge of the forest until they came to a river. This river fed directly into the forest, likely straight into Dedede's camp.
"Um, Chrom... Can I ask what happened in there?"
Chrom sighed. He began to explain as they followed the river away from the woods.
By the time Lissa stopped moving, she knew that she didn't act very princess-like. That penguin jerk had been pushing her around like she wasn't good enough, and she let it happen because someone needed her help. Help that wasn't good enough, apparently. Not for that bully.
She stormed away from the camp into the forest like an emotional brat. Not really her thing most of the time, but she felt nothing like a princess dealing with that lunatic. If she was hearing him right when he was talking to Chrom, and he actually believed those crazy things he was saying, he was more like... like a lunatic plus!
Yeah, good one Lissa.
After a moment of thought, the princess frowned.
No it wasn't.
She stood at the top of a hill. She could see the ocean from where she was. At the foot of the hill flowed the river that flowed into the woods. Her gaze couldn't help but follow it back towards the shore she just left. Poking through the woods was the metal ship that the Dreamlanders came in on. She quickly looked away, gritting her teeth at the very sight of it.
She followed the river away from the woods. She did consider that her brother would be furious with her for taking off like that, probably scared too. Same with Frederick and the rest of the Shepherds. She didn't really care at that moment though. She wanted to clear her head a bit.
She walked parallel to the flowing water, watching the animals that swam in them. They were very strange, certainly nothing that she had ever seen as a kid. Then again, how often can a princess leave the palace? She was lucky that Chrom and Em let her join the Shepherds, otherwise she would probably be trapped in the palace forever.
She stopped when one of the creatures left the water and walked up to her. The small creature's orange cheeks contrasted pleasantly with it's water blue slippery skin. On top of it's head and as a tail it had what appeared to be fins. It looked up at her curiously, carefully edging a little closer. Another larger one hopped out of the water and ran up to the and started... Communicating with it. It sounded like it was just saying 'Mudkip' over and over again. Lissa giggled at the sight, feeling a little better.
Both of the creatures returned to the river and she kept walking. It was definitely irresponsible to not be heading back to the Shepherds, but she needed to keep going. She had never seen those things before, maybe she could find something else out here too. She looked around, looking for anything else like that thing.
Further along the river, she thought she saw something in the distance. Was that a person? If it was, they weren't moving. Lissa was about to run over to help when she heard running behind her. She turned around to see Frederick running up to her, followed by Chrom and even Sumia.
"Lady Lissa, thank Naga you are alright," Frederick said relieved. "It's dangerous out here alone. What if you tripped and fell? Or if some bandits found you?"
"Thank you for your concern, Frederick, but-"
"Lissa!" Chrom practically shouted. He ran up to her and grabbed her shoulder sternly. "You shouldn't run off like that alone. We need to get back to the others now. We're going home."
"Okay, thanks again for being worried but-"
"I said we're going back, sister. I don't know why you'd want to stay anywhere near that... Whatever that was," Chrom interrupted.
"Captain, what's that over there?" Sumia cut in, pointing in the distance.
"That's what I was trying to point out!" Lissa fumed with a stomp. "There's someone collapsed over there!"
"What?" Chrom followed Sumia's pointing finger to where the figure lay. Looking now, Lissa though she also saw something moving nearby. "Then there's no time to waste. Let's go." Chrom moved briskly. Sumia and Lissa were just behind them.
"Milord is this... He's gone... Why do I bother?" Frederick bemoaned, following after them.
Four people were approaching. His master hadn't yet awoken yet, despite all of his efforts. The master had suddenly collapsed, and he had no idea why! His first master had disappeared, but this master had been his friend even before then. He treated him well and fed him and played with him... Now he was in danger.
All of these thoughts passed through the creature's head. He had to be quick to scare off these threats. He jumped over his master's unconscious body, and his bright red cheeks began to spark with electricity.
"Pi!"
Immediately all four of the threats stopped where they were, confused. Most people were confused whenever he had to do it. The master always used to laugh when they cowered away from him. Probably because the creature was pretty small, and men were so much larger than he was.
"Milord, stop!" The big one in blue said. He'd be the easiest target if they attacked. The electricity would cook him in that armor.
"But we can't just leave that man in the open, Frederick! Can you calm it down?" The blue haired man tried to reason. The creature couldn't trust him though. Men had said nice things like that before and still attacked. While the blue haired man and the blue armored man argued, the yellow haired one stared straight at him, clearly intimidated. The other woman did something that he didn't expect. She began to step forwards carefully. The creature began to spark more, and enough energy flowed in him to stop her.
"Hey little guy. Don't be scared," she said in a soft voice.
"Sumia, wait!" The blue haired man said. "This monster could attack at any moment, you need to be careful."
"Don't worry, I've got this, Chrom," she responded to the man. She turned slowly and deliberately back at him. "We just want to help. We are worried for this man. It isn't safe around here." The creature listened carefully, not even realizing that it was lowering it's guard. "You're scared for him, aren't you? You didn't do this to him, did you?"
"Pika..." The creature responded, it's black pointed ears lowering mournfully and the sparks dissipating from his cheeks.
"We can take you both somewhere safe. Is that okay?"
After a moment, the creature stepped forward. The girl opened the palm of her hand to him. Cautiously, he stepped forward and he sniffed the open hand curiously. Once his curiosity was satisfied and it felt safe, he walked back on all four legs to his master's side.
"Pikachu!" The yellow mouse creature shouted, hoping the people understood. The friendly one stepped forward. When he didn't attack her, she waved the others closer.
"It's safe to approach Captain."
"Wow, Sumia. That was incredible!" The blue haired man said. Wait, didn't blue armored man call this one Chrom? Why did she call him Captain, then? Was one just title or nickname? People's naming conventions were always so confusing. He just knew himself as what he said all the time, just like his master did. He was Pikachu.
The Chrom-Captain and the blonde girl approached and then stood directly over the master. Pikachu stood just opposite of them by his face.
"Chrom... We have to do something."
"So what do you propose we do?" Chrom-Captain asked
"Oh... Um... I don't know." The girl stuttered. As she spoke, Pikachu noticed movement. His master's eyes were opening!
"Pi!" The girl gasped, not in fear but in relief, as both of them saw what Pikachu saw.
"I see you're awake now." Chrom-Captain said with a smile.
"Hey there," the blonde girl said.
"There are better places to sleep than on the ground you know," Chrom-Captain said. He reached out his hand in offering. The master just stared groggily at the outstretched hand for a second before the man added, "Here, give me your hand."
The master took it silently, and was hoisted to his feet.
"You alright?" The man asked.
"Yes... Thank you, Chrom." The master said. Chrom-Captain, Pikachu mentally corrected. Though how did he know either of his names? Pikachu only knew it because they said it, but the master was still asleep then. The thought was dismissed, though, as Pikachu sat anxiously behind his master, waiting for him to notice his best friend.
"Ah, so you know who I am?"
"Ah... No actually." The master conceited, visibly confusing the others. Pikachu was confused too. He had never seen any of these other people before. "It's strange. Your name just sorta... Came to me." The master gave an awkward laugh.
"Hm... How strange." Chrom-Captain said. "Tell me, what is your name, and what brings you here? And for that matter, what is that thing with you?"
"Wait, what thing..." The master turned around, and -overjoyed to finally be acknowledged- Pikachu enthusiastically jumped up at him. Caught off guard, the master awkwardly caught him. The momentum nearly threw him off his feet. Pikachu rubbed his head against the master in a simultaneously animalistic and human-like hug.
"Pika!" Pikachu cried happily. His master was okay! After all that time he sat there worrying and watching, his master was okay! But... Why wasn't he rubbing his head though? Pikachu looked up to see the master looked startled and confused.
"I... Don't know what this is... Nor my name. I can't remember anything." The words pierced Pikachu like a Beedrill to the heart.
"Pi..." Pikachu slumped. He woefully stared at the man holding him. The confused man who didn't remember him.
"You don't know your name?" Chrom-Captain asked curiously.
"No... I'm sorry but... Where am I?"
"Hey, I've heard of this!" The blonde girl said. "It's called amnesia!"
"More like a pile of Pegasus dung," the man in blue armor interjected. "You think we could believe that you know milord's name and not your own?"
"B-but it's the truth!" The master insisted, throwing his arms wide open. Pikachu fell to the ground with a solid thud. Even with how blurry the world was, he could still see the master cringing at his mistake.
"Frederick, what if it is true, and we just left him?" Chrom asked. "What kind of Shepherds would we be if we left him out here for someone worse to find?" Pikachu reoriented himself and looked angrily at this Frederick who appeared to be threatening his master.
Frederick let loose a sigh. "All the same, milord, I advise caution. It would not do to let a wolf into our flock." He finished with a pointed glare.
"With a pet like that, how could he be dangerous?" The nice girl with light brown hair said, crouching down and reaching out a hand towards Pikachu. The hand lingered for a moment before Pikachu his behind his master. The girl lowered her hand despondently, to the amusement of the others.
"Alright. We'll take him back with us to Bathoneo and hear what he has to say there." With a wave, Chrom ushered everyone to the river where he came from. Pikachu was hesitant to follow, but once the master was moving he had no choice. He stayed a few paces ahead of him, but even while he tried to avoid it, he could still feel the confused gaze boring into the back of his head.
They had been walking silently for a while. Chrom stayed at the head of the group, with Sumia beside him. Lissa was just a few paces behind them, and Frederick was at the back. Chrom knew that Frederick was watching every single step that the stranger and his yellow mouse made.
The stranger was... Odd. Lissa suggestion of amnesia was the only reason he was bringing the man along with them. His purple coat certainly wasn't Ylissean, and the design of it made him feel uneasy. He also noticed the sack the man carried, and the cheap sword under his coat. The man, whatever he was, was equipped to fight and to travel. His hair was also a curiously pale blonde that Chrom had never seen before. Then again, his own hair was blue so...
"So what, am I to be your prisoner?" The stranger asked very worriedly.
"Peace, friend," Chrom answered calmly as they walked. "We will hear your piece once we get back to the city. We have to meet up with the rest of the Shepherds first before we move for there. Once we establish you are not an enemy of Ylisse, then you will be free to go."
"Ylisse? Is that where we are?" The stranger asked curiously. Frederick let out a callous laugh.
"You've never heard of the halidom? Somebody pay this actor! He plays quite the fool." Chrom turned around to see Frederick staring down the man. "The furrow of the brow is especially convincing..." The mouse's cheeks started to spark with electricity again. This had to stop quickly.
"Frederick, peace." Chrom ordered sternly. The knight and the mouse both backed down, but Frederick's eyes never turned to face his Prince. "You are in the Halidom of Ylisse. Our leader is Emmeryn, the Exalt. I suppose introductions are in order, aren't they?" The man nodded in agreement. For the second time that day, the Prince introduced himself, this time much more formally and with a lot less tension. "I'm Chrom, though I suppose you knew that. The delicate one over there is my sister Lissa."
Hearing his descriptor, Lissa was quick to intervene. "I am not delicate! Hmph!" Her exaggerated fuming made Chrom break out in laughter. Her hostility quickly vanished as she turned to address the stranger. "Please excuse my brother, he is bit thick sometimes." Something seemed to hit her then as her expression shifted to a mischievous smile. "Hm, but you are lucky it was the Shepherds that found you. Brigands would have been a rude awakening."
"Shepherds? I heard you mention that earlier. So you tend sheep?" The stranger asked, his brow furrowing as he looked over the company. "In... full armor?"
"It's a dangerous job," Chrom answered. "Just ask Frederick the Wary here." Smooth transition, Chrom thought with a hint of pride. Frederick scowled at the teasing before defending himself with a tone that spoke his pride.
"At least one of us should err on the side of caution. Not that it has done us much good lately."
"Oh? Has something happened?" The stranger asked.
"It's nothing you'll need to worry about. Just.. Negotiations gone wrong." Chrom answered vaguely. The stranger looked like he wanted to ask more, but Chrom continued on. "The last one of us is Sumia. She managed to talk down your mouse when we found you."
"It was my pleasure," Sumia said. "He is really well trained. It was almost like he understood my every word.
"Oh?" The stranger looked down at the mouse curiously. Hearing the mention of a mouse, the creature looked back up. If Chrom didn't know better, it looked up at the stranger hopefully. "Did I train you?" Instantly, the creatures pointed ears fell sadly. It's yellow tail with a brown end started to flick.
"Pika, Pi!" The mouse yelled, its cheeks sparking again. Chrom hadn't ever seen a creature use magic before, so every time that this mouse's cheeks had started to spark, he was nervous. If not for Sumia sweet talking the creature earlier, Chrom would have chased it off. That might have been the better call, as the creature looked ready to attack the man. Chrom was reaching for Falchion when the situation suddenly changed.
"... Pikachu?" The stranger asked. The mouse lit up joyfully at the word, all of it's anger dissipating in an instant as it jumped once more into the man's arms. The man patted its head carefully as it crawled up into his shoulder. "I guess I remembered something, then. Shepherds, this is Pikachu."
"That's wonderful! Did anything else come back, by any chance?" Sumia asked hopefully. Pikachu watched her curiously.
The man rubbed his head with his unoccupied arm. He gave a sigh and shook his head. So no.
"This is great and all, but we really need to get back to the rest." Frederick said. "Odds are they are still searching for the Princess. They'll take this out on the Waddle Dees if we take too long, and we already have enough to explain as it when we get home."
Chrom nodded his head and led the way. The stranger raised a brow at the mention of the Waddle Dees, but nobody felt the need to explain it. They reached where the forest and the river met. They followed the tree line further along the forest, heading back to camp. At some point, Sumia had abandoned Chrom, falling back to the stranger. Chrom could hear her barrage of questions about Pikachu. What does he eat? How did you train him? Animal care stuff. The stranger expressed his regret that he couldn't answer any of her questions. He just didn't remember.
What a strange day. Chrom thought as he laid down on the ground. He argued with a penguin that morning. How the hell was he going to explain that one? Phila or Emmeryn themselves would have to come down here to confirm that the Shepherds hadn't gone crazy. Belisar would be easier to convince, though. The old man was always trusting of his Prince, if not always kind. And if what Dedede said was true... That this wasn't the world they were born on... What did that mean? Were there other races and countries out there? Gods, this was so confusing.
By the time they had made it back to the others, the sky was darkening fast. Chrom had quickly explained the situation with the stranger and Pikachu and they started to move. The other Shepherds introduced themselves as they walked. They left the Waddle Dee's forest behind, putting as much ground between it and them as they could, before making camp. They weren't willing to travel the rest of the way back to Bathoneo during the night. The gates would also have been closed.
They hadn't brought any tents, so they laid around two different campfires. Frederick sat close by the stranger to watch him, but there was no need. The stranger and his pet were both asleep. Pikachu had ridden on his shoulder all day, and was cuddled up against him like he would forget him again if he didn't. Sumia had said that animal was smart, and Chrom knew that he could trust Sumia when it came to animals. Especially since even Chrom could see the intelligence in its eyes.
Stahl and Sully were on first watch. They had their horses tied down whilst they walked the perimeter of the camp. It always amazed Chrom how much they managed to get along, considering the difference between them was as clear as night and day.
The rest of the camp appeared to be asleep. That was partly why he was being hit by a bout of insomnia. Vaike was not a quiet sleeper, which would surprise absolutely no one, but the stranger was certainly trying hard to top him. The combination of their snores and the philosophical debate with himself about penguins and bomb people made sleeping difficult.
"Milord, is something troubling you?" Frederick whispered.
"No... It's just been an insane day. How am I going to explain any of this when we get back to Ylisstol?"
"You could try to do so politely and without leaving out any details, milord," Frederick offered. His watch never drifted from his charge, yet Chrom could see how the normally stoic knight's eyes sagged.
"Frederick. Get some sleep. I'll watch him." Chrom offered.
"Milord, I have this situation under..." Frederick trailed off into a deep yawn. "I guess I must, then. Forgive me for that milord. I shouldn't have let myself get so tired. I'll be up in two hours at most, and then you'll get your own rest. It wouldn't do for either of us to be tired tomorrow.
"Sounds good. Good night, Frederick."
"Milord." Frederick moved closer to the fire and laid down, but not before brushing aside a stray pebble from from his spot. Chrom took Frederick's spot at the tree.
Chrom thought it was silly to have to keep such a close eye on the stranger. If this man tried to attack someone or run, any one of the Shepherds would be able to stop him. Chrom didn't think this man was that dense, though. His amnesia story seemed plausible enough. The mouse's affection and the stranger's apparent confusion were good enough for him to buy it. Even so, wouldn't it be cruel to just leave this man once they arrived in town? Without any memories, he probably had no clue where to go.
The man's sack laid by his side with the flap closed. Chrom was tempted to rummage through it, but he gave his word. This man was not his prisoner, and it wasn't his right to look through his stuff. Frederick would probably agree, though he wouldn't be happy about it.
Chrom adjusted himself against the tree. It served well enough as a prop, but it wasn't exactly comfortable. One bit of the trunk stuck out more then the rest and was stabbing into his back. Finally, he managed to find a somewhat comfortable position to sit.
It turned out to be too comfortable, he found, as the comforting call of sleep edged onto him at last. It took hold, and Chrom left the world of the waking.
Lissa awoke to the sound of yelling.
"Milord, the stranger and his pet are gone!" Frederick yelled panicked.
"Eh...?" Lissa got up from the ground and rubbed her eyes. The fire was out, probably taken care of whilst she slept. On the dirt. Again.
"What? When could he have fled?" Chrom asked.
"I found you dozed off, milord. I told you we couldn't trust him."
Lissa finally opened her eyes. It was barely even dawn. She couldn't even see the sun. It's light lit up the horizon.
"It appears you were right, Frederick. Gods. How do you suggest we find him?"
"We need to find a trail. Sully, Stahl and I could catch up to him. He can't be far. I only fell asleep an hour ago, and he was still there when I did."
The Princess of Ylisse stretched out before standing up. She always felt terrible after a night of sleeping on the ground. They didn't even bring blankets, and the experience was not kind to her back. She approached her brother and the stalwart knight.
"What are we yelling about over here?" She asked groggily.
"The man and his monster are both gone. They vanished in the late hour while we all slept."
"Yeah. Okay, so?" She asked.
"So? Milady, this man could be a threat to the Ylissean people. He could have friends amongst the local bandits, and he knows where we are," Frederick stated.
"Oh... That's not good. How do we find him?"
"Quickly, and without hesitation." Chrom answered, giving Frederick a nod. Frederick nodded back before walking away. He kicked both of the cavaliers awake.
"Chrom..." Lissa trailed off. What if bandits were already on their way here? Most of the Shepherds were asleep and-
"We will find him Lissa," Chrom comforted with a smile, obviously sensing her discontent. It was probably the eyes-darting around that tipped him off, she realized. She took a deep breath and nodded.
"Uh huh..." A barely familiar voice said. "Who are we finding?"
Chrom turned around confused. Lissa looked past him to see the source of the voice. The stranger, with Pikachu on his shoulder and his sack over his shoulder. Chrom stared for a second before slapping his face into the palm of his hand.
"We... Ugh. We were going to be finding you. Where exactly did you go?" Chrom asked embarrassed.
"I was thirsty. There is a river just through those trees." The man stuck a thumb out towards the trees behind him, "So I drank some water, Pikachu drank some water, and I filled a skin so we can do it again later," the stranger answered. His brow quirked. "Why, worried for me?"
"Milord! We are ready... To..." Frederick trailed off as he saw the stranger.
"Is there something on my face?"
Lissa broke out into laughter as everyone else stood around in confusion at each other. Sully started to laugh with her. Between the two of them, the rest of the Shepherds were awoken early in the morning. The group set off for Bathoneo two hours earlier than they had originally planned to. At least Frederick had that going for him, Lissa mused tiredly.
"We need something to call you, stranger." Chrom said suddenly as they walked.
"Oh?" The stranger raised an eyebrow. "Did you have something in mind?"
"No, I concede. I do not," Chrom admitted. "Still, I can only say 'stranger' so many times before it gets old."
"Imagine all of your known life just being 'stranger.' It isn't exactly the happiest of thoughts," the man in question joked.
"No, I can't imagine it would be."
"Milord, how about 'vagabond' instead." Frederick suggested from beside him.
"I don't like that name." The stranger said with a grimace. Pikachu gave a short, disgusted 'Pi' in agreement. "Hmm... Who's someone that was famous for their pets?"
"Ah, there was the infamous Mad Exalt Arvis. He was famous for importing beasts from Valm and Regna Ferox to keep in the courtyard," Frederick offered. "Most of them starved from neglect of course, but no Chon'Sin Bears have been seen in Ylisse in the four hundred years since."
"I don't even know where those places are. All the same, that... doesn't sound very appealing. What made him the Mad Exalt, though?"
"He was a fan of public executions." Lissa answered plainly. "Boiling. Beheading. Typical stuff for a mad ruler, really."
"So... not Arvis you're saying," the stranger sighed.
The group walked on, the front of the line throwing names out. The stranger was rejecting every single one. 'That one doesn't feel right,' He said about every single one. Eventually, the conversation reached the rest of the Shepherds, and soon every single one of them were trying name him. Pikachu even chimed in with a joyful 'Pikachu' when Vaike suggested that he was also Pikachu. He said that was too confusing to even consider.
Miriel had suggested Mendel, but the stranger couldn't figure out the relevance. He wasn't even sure if she knew the significance. Stahl gave the name Gustav, after a famous baker in Themis, but that name fell through quickly. The stranger wasn't sure if he could cook at all. Mark, Corrin, and Kris were also all thrown out there, but none of the sounded like him. If only he could remember... Wait...
Like a raging bull, a name hit him suddenly and quickly. It wouldn't get out of his head. He thought about it for a moment, before deciding that it felt right.
"You may call me Robin." He said suddenly. "That... That's my name."
"Oh?" Frederick spat. "Let me guess, it just 'came to you' as well?"
"Your wariness has been noted, Frederick," Chrom said mockingly. "Well then, Robin, it's my pleasure to formally meet you."
"The pleasure is mine, Chrom," Robin said amiably.
The trek back to the city had quieted for a while. Just as Robin began to tire, a man appeared as if out of no where to tell him they were almost back to the city. Just as quickly, the man vanished. He was buried in huge plates, how did he manage to do that? Was he even real to begin with? Was anything real? Stop it Robin, you're confusing yourself. Lost in his thoughts, Robin didn't notice the gaseous stench of flames on the wind, nor did he notice when the Shepherds stopped walking.
"Oh no! Chrom, the city!" Lissa cried. Black smoke rose over a hill just ahead. The Shepherds and Robin quickly ran up it. It took Robin a second to take in the devastation.
The whole city seemed to have been sacked. Countless small fires spread across the city, stretching as far as the smoke would let them see. As they watched another fire lit up by the city's port.
"Shepherds, lets move!" Chrom ordered. Frederick grabbed his shoulder to stop him.
"Milord, what of our guest?" Frederick asked.
"Is he on fire?" Chrom demanded. Frederick barely got out a no before Chrom started grimly back down towards the city. The Shepherds all followed him down quickly, leaving Robin standing alone with the electric mouse at the top of the hill. Robin and Pikachu stared incredulously at the scene.
"Do I?" In response to the amnesiac's rhetorically question, Pikachu hopped off of his shoulders. Robin reached for his hip, grabbing the sword that hung from it, and gave it a few experimental swings. Regardless of his own lack of memories, his muscles seemed to remember how to swing a sword well enough. "Well fine then, Pikachu. Let's go be heroes."
"Pikachu!" The mouse's cheeks sparked in affirmation, and together they followed the fleeting silhouettes of the Shepherds into the burning city.
So ends Chapter 2.
It took a chapter and a half, but I'm happy to introduce to you Robin and his Pikachu. In every iteration of this story that I've gone through and dismissed, Robin has always been one of the main characters. His amnesia makes his placement very flexible across all of the games represented Smash Brother's.
Pikachu, on the other hand, brings out the changes in this world compared to its sources. King Dedede speaks of the Rebirth at the beginning of the chapter, and then Robin appears with a Pikachu to prove it to the audience, if not to the characters.
Speaking of Dedede, I'll admit I feel a bit iffy on how his conversation with Chrom and especially his outburst played out. I mean, I'm sure it got the point across, but I'd like to hear some thoughts on that.
I'm also gone back and fixed a formatting issue with chapter one. I didn't realize it when I had posted it, but the website had taken away my "-" whenever I jumped from perspective to perspective. And that's just no good. If I'm going to put out trash, it will be the neatest trash you've ever seen. Or at the very least it will be average.
Edit - August 2016: I've changed some of the dialogue between Dedede and Chrom. Originally, I had it written that everyone from every world represented in Smash Brothers was in this new Post-Rebirth world. Whilst this likely won't change the narrative much, it makes future chapters much less of a logistical nightmare. It also means that maybe not literally every Pokemon ever to exist is contained on Ylisse and Valm.