The World of Dragons

by Galliar

Five years ago, the worlds were brought together as one. Kingdoms were remade, the seas grew larger, and the world became more diverse than anyone could comprehend. Some worlds were lost, and only their inhabitants remained. Dreamland is one such lost world, but its King and its greatest Knight refuse to stop looking.

6. Snowman

Been a while, hasn't it? I'm sorry for that. Life got in the way, and procrastination got in the way, and Overwatch got in the way of finishing this chapter. This was the first chapter I had to write from start to finish since I put up chapter 1, and it came out to almost 14,000 words. Honestly, I should have split it in two shorter parts, but I'd promised last time that this chapter was Snowman.

---

Chapter 6: Snowman

It didn't take long for the streets to empty into the cathedral. Robin had been woken up early so that they could get a seat near the front. He sat far up enough that he could make out the features of the robed and wrinkled man that spoke his sermon. Robin couldn't really follow it very well, as he referenced parts of scripture from across the entire unfamiliar text. Really, he would have much rather say near the back of the room, far from the incense that assaulted his nostrils as he waited.

Unable to follow the sermon, Robin allowed his thoughts to wander. Something felt off about... Well, Robin wasn't sure. He figured the feeling came from the empty space on his shoulder. Pikachu had still been asleep when they left. Lissa had told him pets weren't allowed in the cathedral. Robin hoped Pikachu wouldn't get in any trouble without him. Sumia had been told ahead of time to make sure Pikachu got fed and was watched while he was gone, so he was mostly sure that he'd be fine. More than anyone else in the barracks, Pikachu had taken to her the best, and Sumia had been growing fonder and fonder of Pikachu.

She did seem a bit awkward around Robin, though. He wasn't sure what that was about.

Lissa squirmed in the seat next to him. She had ask him to come. He didn't have anything he needed to do, and he'd finished his drills for the day, so he agreed. She seemed a bit distracted as well, but she'd likely heard every story from the Book of Naga before. It was awkward, though, since she sat them near the front of the room. From how filled the room behind him was, he extrapolated that most of the city of Ylisstol was in attendance.

The service thus far had been welcoming and relatively calm, which came to the amnesiac as a well earned respite. Robin had survived three days of drilling with Frederick and pouring over tactical manuscripts in the library. The Shepherd's Mage Miriel had technically kept him company while he read. Technically in that they were both in the library in the same time, and nothing else. He did play a couple games of chess with Virion in the evenings, but those never went well for him. It was pretty embarrassing, the tactician losing in a game of strategy.

He'd win next time. Always next time.

He also set aside an hour a day just for his apparent best friend, Pikachu. When he wasn't studying or drilling with Frederick or losing at chess, he took Pikachu outside and together they let loose on a training dummy. He was slowly figuring out his companion's fighting patterns. Besides conjuring electricity from his cheeks, Pikachu was capable of bursts of speed to get close to his opponent, and dance around them. His skull was hard enough that if Pikachu threw himself at an opponent, he would likely crack a rib. It didn't seem necessary, considering Pikachu's other trick. His tail would glow white, and he'd slam it into the dummy. The dummy always lost a limb, meaning it would hurt enough to break bones on an actual person.

Besides abusing hay, he was also relearning Pikachu's other habits. The mouse had proven generally wary of anyone that wasn't Robin, and prone to sometimes violent anger. A merchant had gotten zealously pushy when he was passing the market to get to the Library on their third day in the city, and Pikachu nearly fried the man. Much as Robin was grateful for the distance the merchants gave him now, it was not something he was proud of.

"By the will of Naga you may go," the speaker announced.

"By the will of Naga," the room echoed. The room started to clear out little by little. It was a massive building, and even the main part of the cathedral took time to traverse. Together Lissa and Robin sat quietly and respectfully. Well, if Lissa's impatient tapping of her foot could be considered polite. Eventually, the room was clear enough that one could see the middle aisle from the alter to the exit door. More importantly, the speaker was no longer conversing with anyone else. Lissa took this as her cue, and stood up to approach the pulpit. Robin followed after her.

"Hello, Princess Lissa," the speaker said, a pleasant smile on his old face. He close the book he had been reading from. A coin bearing the sigil of Ylisse hung from the man's neck. "What could I do for you?"

"Hey, Father. I wanted to visit someone. Is the hospital open for visits?" Lissa asked. The speaker nodded. "Thanks. Cmon Robin."

She didn't grab his arm, nor drag him anywhere. He followed her into a side hallway of the cathedral. A blue carpet cut through the stone texture of the floor. Tapestries hung from the walls, depicting scenes that could only be from the Book of Naga. Depictions of the first Exalt and the Holy Dragon standing beside each other, as though they were equals.

"Thanks for coming with me, Robin," Lissa said.

"It's my honor, Princess," Robin replied.

"Robin, you know that you don't have to be so formal with me," Lissa clarified. She sounded a bit serious about it, too. "No one's going to care out here."

"Oh really, then?" Robin smirked, "In that case, it's my pleasure."

"Ugh, you need to spend less time with Virion," Lissa complained, "This is how it starts. I already heard about what you said to Sumia. Chrom and I were very disappointed."

Robin sighed as they turned a corner. The new hallway was much the same as the last, but for the clergyman praying at the end of the hall. Robin was tempted to join him. The priesthood seemed less likely to mock him for his apparent sin of complimenting a friend who deserved a compliment.

"You and everyone else in Ylisstol has heard about that, I feel. Even Miriel mentioned the one time she looked up from her book. Something about trespassing upon vulpine ground. Honestly, I meant nothing by it," he insisted.

"I'm sooo sure you didn't mean a thing," Lissa teased with a roll of her eyes. "Really, though, Sumia still hasn't even looked Chrom in the eye, she was so embarrassed."

"What? Why not?" Robin asked.

Lissa planted herself where she stood and turned only her head to face Robin. As though a snare took to his leg, he felt planted to the ground with no choice but to take the brunt of her judgement. Logically, he knew that there was an entire hallway he could run back through to escape the scrutiny, but her stare was hard enough to stop him from taking a single step. Suddenly, he understood why she and Maribelle got along so well. They were both terrifying when they wanted to be.

After a moment, or a lifetime - it felt like both to Robin - Lissa backed down with a softer look.

"You really don't know, then?" She asked. Robin shook his head cautiously, and received a sigh in answer. "Chrom and Sumia are practically a thing."

"Oh. Oh!" The implication sunk in before Robin concluded with a horrified "oh..."

That explained the looks that Chrom has been giving him. And Sumia's more uncomfortable attitude towards him. His inner voice was lost in self conflict. Is he supposed to apologize, or let it be? And then he asked Sumia to care for Pikachu too. Did she think he'd meant something when he asked? Did Virion put up with this all the time?

His mental breakdown was interrupted by the sadistic girly giggles of Lissa.

"Anyway, that shouldn't much matter. We're just about to reach the hospital wing, so you can repent when we're done," Lissa teased, adding a mischievous wink to end her statement. Robin hadn't even realized they reached the end of the hall and stood next to the praying clergy member. Still a bit flustered, and definitely not eager to somehow dig himself into a deeper hole, Robin said nothing.

They waited for a moment, and the robed figure stood up. Long blonde hair flowed down the holy person's back, and when they turned they revealed a fair face.

"Ah, Lissa. It is an honor to have you here. I take it you're here to visit him, then?" The radiant, soothing voice of the cleric asked.

"Yep! He was my patient first, Libra. You know that," the princess answered.

"I guess I do," Libra chuckled. "He's inside, likely reading whatever Sumia brought for him yesterday. I'm sure he'll appreciate the company."

Lissa thanked the cleric, and reached for a nearby door. As Libra returned to prayer, Lissa and Robin entered the hospital room together. As he entered, Robin's eyes still lingered for just a moment on Libra in hopes that he would find out what was off putting about her, but he couldn't figure it out. Haunting beauty, maybe? With a shrug, Robin accepted that as the reason and looked inward into the hospital.

It was a dead place, in contrast to the halls and the main cathedral. The walls were a stagnant and tidy grey. No tapestries colored the crags in the stone. Beds lay against each wall of the hallway-like room, some with patients and others empty. Some were hidden from sight by curtains, similarly dull. Each bed had its own table complete with a dim candle which lit the bulk of the room. The wood served as the some of the only color in the room. A few windows let in the sunlight high on the walls, too small for even an arm to stick out.

As Lissa and Robin entered the room, a few heads shifted to face them. Some were old and sickly. Some were covered by bandages, or had a broken appendage hung by a sling. One man took one look at Robin before he screamed and hid himself under his sheets.

Did Robin do something wrong to scare the man? Or was the man's mind just...

Robin didn't want to think about it. He was starting to regret agreeing to come. Lissa lead him through the hospital with an uncharacteristic stiffness. Even the church's cleric that the duo passed could only give her patients a strained smile. No one wanted to be here.

Near the back of the hall was the bed they were looking for. Two stacks of books sat on the table next to it, one standing noticeably higher than the other. A crutch leaned against the side of the bed, far too small for anyone but a child to use. Yet, it wasn't a child in the bed. Meta Knight looked up from his book, no expression clear on the yellow orbs that were his eyes. He closed his eyes for a moment, folded the corner of whichever page he had opened, and put the book down.

"Hi Meta Knight," Lissa greeted with reserved cheer. Anything more would've been out of place in there, Robin thought. "I wanted to check up on you before we left."

"I am doing well, Princess," Meta Knight answered. He offered no more.

"Um... Is your leg getting better?" Lissa pushed.

"A bit. Libra had me try to take a step last night..." Meta Knight's frown reached his eyes.

"At least it's progress," Lissa sighed with relief. "I was worried that even the monks wouldn't be able to help."

"They have done fine thus far, Princess, do not fear." Meta Knight tried to comfort. "They have been nothing but helpful. Still... Never mind."

"Never mind what? Don't leave me hanging!" The princess demanded loudly. Too loudly. A few heads turned to look at them in annoyance. Lissa didn't seem to notice.

"Well... The procedure they are using is experimental. It could take some time for me to be released," Meta Knight admitted. With a downwards stare, Meta Knight mournfully continued, "I will not be able to repay my debt to you stuck in bed."

"Pft, that's it? Please, Don't worry about it." Lissa put up her hand to stop Meta Knight's protests before they could begin. "Pay me back by getting better, okay?" After a brief pause, Meta Knight sighed.

"Fine," Meta Knight agreed halfheartedly. "I suppose I have to live that for now."

"Great to hear." Lissa punctuated her statement with an enthusiastic thumbs up, which earned a chuckle from Robin and an amused 'hmph' from Meta Knight. "So, what'll you do first when you can walk again?"

"Find a sword and hit something," Meta Knight answered immediately.

"Oh, wow. Not really what I expected of you." Lissa didn't seem completely sure she believed him. Robin was a bit surprised too. He hadn't interacted with him much, but he seemed like a very calm and composed person.

"I guess not," Meta Knight sighed. Lissa moved to ask what was wrong, but Meta Knight was already speaking again. "Robin, I'm guessing you were asked to escort the princess?"

"Huh? I mean, she did ask," Robin answered, caught off guard by the question. Meta Knight considered this for a moment.

"It is brave of you to put yourself so close to danger, tactician," he complimented. "The Shepherds are lucky to have that, at least."

"It was only a walk through the capital of her country during peacetime. Hardly a high risk job, I think," Robin dismissed.

Meta Knight shrugged, an action which looked strange given his lack of shoulders.

"Take the compliment, or don't. Doesn't hurt me either way," Meta Knight said flatly.

"There's no need for anyone to be testy here," Lissa called out. "We're all friends, aren't we?"

Meta Knight sighed, pinching at where his nose would be, if he wasn't wearing his mask. And if he had a nose. Robin learned at the pub that he didn't, and that was weird. How did he form that habit if he didn't have a nose?

"You're right, Princess. Of course you're right. I'm just... feeling trapped, I suppose," Meta Knight said. "I'll feel better by the time you all return from Regna Ferox. Maybe I'll be able to take a step without floundering onto the floor by then."

The word 'floundering' conjured a very spectacular, if bizarre, mental image of Meta Knight bouncing around like a fish out of water. It took an impressive of restraint for Robin to keep his face as neutral as he did. The sick deserved some respect, and he hoped to show it through his silence. Lissa seemed less amused, and the conversation stagnated. Someone's coughing from a few beds down was the only prominent noise in the room. Libra entered the hospital and rushed to the coughing patient's side.

Meta Knight broke the silence between the trio eventually.

"Speaking of your expedition, I shouldn't keep you. I've got ways to kill time," Meta Knight gestured to the stack of books, "and nothing else to look forward to but Libra's next visit and your return."

"Yeah, I guess we should get going. I didn't tell everyone we were going to visit, they might get worried," Lissa reluctantly agreed. Wait... Frederick didn't know where they were, did he?

"Frederick's going to kill me," Robin realized. He looked out the one window and saw the bright, late morning sunlight shining through.

"Hmph! He just might," Meta Knight agreed. Robin quickly turned on his heels to leave, but Meta Knight continued speaking, "Before you leave, could you both promise me something? King Dedede can get out of control if he doesn't have someone to restrain him. I won't be there, so someone needs to keep an eye on him."

Lissa and Robin agreed. How hard could it be to watch an overweight penguin King? Well, considering the size of that hammer, it was probably pretty difficult. As they left the hospital, Meta Knight was already buried in the same book he'd been reading when they arrived.

---

"... and as tactician, it is your responsibility to help keep everyone in line and on time! Not actively take part in these delaying excursions!"

Chrom didn't want to feel bad, but he couldn't help it. Anyone being lectured by Frederick deserved pity, more so than any grilling they truly deserved from the knight. Robin and Lissa had returned to the barracks just moments earlier, and Frederick was absolutely livid. In this case, Robin really should've known better than to sneak off with the princess. Especially when he knew that they had to leave early to keep on schedule. Whether or not it was a well meant trip, the only thing keeping Frederick from shouting louder and angrier was the threat of Pikachu.

Then again, even the mouse seemed unhappy with Robin. He had been left behind when Robin went on his trip, and had been in distress the entire time. He had been searching every nook and cranny in the building trying to find any sign at all of Robin, and hadn't stopped until Sumia brought out his food and spoke to him. Chrom really didn't understand how, but it was like the mouse understood what she was saying. He'd calmed down a bit and eaten the berries, and when he was done he barely left Sumia's side until Robin returned. Even then, it wasn't with the normal joy that Pikachu followed his master, but a rather reserved scuttle.

Sumia had already been scolded for not reporting Lissa's plan to Chrom or Frederick, though. Lissa wouldn't get quite the same treatment, but she wouldn't be getting off easy either.

Chrom was waiting by the carriage with most of the Shepherd's supplies on it. It was more heavily packed than when they went south, as the road north to Regna Ferox was less populated. The towns that were along the way we're smaller, and likely wouldn't be able to fully supply them for the whole trip. A second carriage would be waiting for them by the gate, alongside Dedede and his company of Waddle Dee servants. That would hardly lighten the burden, considering how much trouble the King of Dreamland had been for the Palace's kitchen staff to accommodate.

Bandanna Dee was in the barracks' yard with the Shepherds, kicking his feet anxiously off a chair. The rest of the Waddle Dee's were camped outside of the city in a garish sea of bright and colorful tents. As a member of the Shepherds, Bandanna Dee was expected to stay in the barracks. He had refused any offers of a room in favor of a chair by the fireplace. Two other Waddle Dees had stayed with him the first night, but since then he had been isolated from his people so he could train with the Shepherds.

Training with Bandanna Dee had caught a few of the Shepherds off guard. Nothing about Bandanna Dee's demeanor had hinted at just how ferociously he could fight. Vaike was still heavily bruised from when he sparred the Dreamlander. Most prominent was the purple and red line going from his shoulder to his opposite hip. He refused to have that one healed immediately, claiming it'd help him do better next time to be reminded of it.

Only Chrom and Frederick had proven capable of besting Bandanna Dee in a spar so far. So much about Bandanna Dee's style was new territory for them due to his size. It was like fighting a fast child with decades of arms training. Chrom expected that Sully may have a chance too, when she was returned to the Shepherds. She'd be able to keep him on the defensive and tire him out. Not Stahl, though. They were both still with the Knights in Bathoneo, though. Belisar had departed to join them just after Dedede met the council as well.

It did worry Chrom a bit though. If this was how a single Waddle Dee fought in a spar, just how scary did Meta Knight have to be to be called the best? Chrom had to admit, he was a bit excited to find out.

"Milord, pay attention to your surroundings," Frederick ordered suddenly from behind Chrom. He nearly jumped out of his skin at the warning. As it stood, he only jumped off of the carriage.

"By Naga, you nearly killed me Frederick," Chrom hissed.

"Ah, it is a good thing you can take more than that, then," Frederick teased. "Is it not time to march?"

"I was waiting on you to finish scolding the youngest, 'mother' Frederick," Chrom shot back. He ignored the cold glare piercing his skull coming from the general direction of the knight, and shouted out the order to march at last. It was about twenty minutes later than they had intended, which was a bit frustrating. Much as he was teasing Frederick for his scolding, Chrom had half a mind to shout at his sister and Robin as well.

They reached the gates without issue. King Dedede was leaning against his own overpacked carriage, flanked by two Waddle Dees who were fanning him down.

"You know, Your Grace, you could just take off the coat," Chrom offered as a greeting. "It's getting to be Summer, and the Ylissean heat won't spare you because you're royalty."

"No way! I just got this baby back, good as new. You aren't taking it away!" Dedede insisted, parting the fanning Dees with a wave. He then rubbed his face against the fur outline for further emphasis.

"I can't make you do anything, Dedede. I can personally reserve the right to laugh at you when you regret it later," Chrom joked. "Ready to march?"

"I've been ready! And then no one showed up for forever!"

"Yes, my apologies for that. We had some... Delays on our part," Chrom said, consciously not glaring back at the offenders.

"No excuse to keep a King waiting! Let's go!" King Dedede insisted. Chrom had been wondering where his pushy personality had gone since they entered Ylisstol. Learning for certain that the King's patience had been an act was bothersome, but not exactly unexpected. Emmeryn probably appreciated it, if nothing else.

The city of Ylisstol disappeared over the horizon behind them. The Prince could still hear the largest bell in the Cathedral thunder eleven times in the distance. When they returned, Chrom was determined it would be with help.

---

From sea to sea the Longfort extended, cutting the continent in two. Made of miles of cold stone, the Longfort was manned by a number of Feroxi clans in exchange for favors and land from the Khans. It had bordered the deserts of Plegia and the snowy North of Ylisse since a time barely recorded in Regna Ferox, when the Khans were first uniting the clans. It had been built centuries before by the peoples of Ylisse and Plegia, when they were known by other names, to keep out the threat of the hordes. They never came. Infighting had kept the Khans busy since the nations birth.

When Ylisse had officially made their peace with the united clans of Regna Ferox, the Feroxi had been given control of the wall in exchange for the free passage and protection of their traders. Plegia eventually agreed to the same deal, after trying to control the smugglers had become too expensive an endeavor.

The word had reached the Longfort two days prior. A letter had been flown to the coliseum from Ylisse, saying that Prince Chrom and some king from across the sea were coming to Regna Ferox. The Feroxi had never been known for their ability to keep a secret. Word was spread across the countryside of the both sides of the fort, and imposters were plenty. Bandits, conmen, and other unsavory people posed as the Prince Chrom and this unknown king. Every single group had a different name for the king, but they lacked an important aspect, a part of the message that hadn't been made well known this far North. The King wasn't a human.

General Raimi looked out at the snow covered road. A few spots of red still colored the white landscape from the latest failed impersonators. Most evidence of the conflict had been buried under fresher snows. The weapons of the fallen had been cleared from the road and moved into an armory within the fort.

She heard boots crunching in the snow just behind her. She turned around to face the man. From the bow slung over his shoulder, she figured he was a tracker.

"We found another one," he reported. His Feroxi accent was a distinctly Eastern. An outsider wouldn't be able to tell, but Raimi was from Western Ferox. She knew the difference well.

"Another? And they didn't report him I take it?" She surmised, displeasure evident in her voice.

"No."

Raimi acknowledged the answer with a nod. It hadn't been uncommon whenever they were faced with battle to find someone like this. The past few days they had found these poor souls especially common.

She wouldn't have any problem with their misconduct in these cases if there wasn't protocol on the Longfort. No foe gets away from the Feroxi on the wall. Weapons are to all be claimed or destroyed. It was law when she first came to the Longfort, it was the law when she was promoted to a general of the Western Khan's forces, it was law when she was born. She'd follow the law to the letter, and so would everyone under her command. Even if they were the Khan's favorites.

"Where is he?" She asked. The wind picked up, snow brushing her face. She made a conscious effort not to wince at the chill. The cold had been excessive over the past week.

"Woods, not far from here. It was the Prince's imposter. I'll lead you to him."

She stepped down from the side of the fort. Her armor more than doubled her weight, but she moved as though it were barely more than a fourth of that weight. That still made her slower than the man. She followed the tracker past the other watchmen on their shift. At every gate of the Longfort, two stairways gave defenders a way down from the wall besides the main gate on the Ylissean or Plegian sides. Relics of when the wall was not Feroxi. The tracker led her down one such stairway into the trees nearby.

And into the trees they walked. As the tracker said, their destination hadn't been far. Hidden in the trees, they came upon one small creature that resembled a snowed on tree. She recognized the creature as one the men had been calling a Snover. Normally the creatures would be excited to see people, likely because no one in the right mind would try to kill and eat one.

This Snover had other things on its mind. Encased in the ice it picked at was a man, terror frozen on his face. On his uncovered arm was a tattoo of the Ylissean sigil. The points were too wide to right. The amateurs hadn't even darkened the inside of the symbol. Raimi had seen enough patriotic merchants brandishing their flags to know when it was wrong.

She'd often tell those merchant's to hide the flags, lest they attract unsavory attention. Attention from the likes of the man frozen before her.

"Heh. I think I made a snowman like that when I was a kid," Raimi reminisced. That guy hadn't survived, either.

"What should we do?" The tracker asked.

"Move him out out to the road as a warning to others," she answered with an apathetic wave, "and get someone to bring the kids to me. We can't keep wasting time trying to track down dead men. We can't all float through the cold like them."

---

"Vaike, where's your axe?" Robin asked.

"Huh?" Vaike questioned. He reached around his hip to find his axe was in fact missing. "What? It was right here! I swear!"

Robin's sigh could be heard from end to end of their march. It was the second day of their expedition to Regna Ferox with the rising sun lighting their way. Frederick had informed the line that they should be coming upon a checkpoint soon where they could restock.

"If you lost your axe, I swear to Naga..." Robin didn't feel especially keen on asking the checkpoint officer for another axe while they were there.

"Ah, I was wondering what dullard would lose their weapon," an apathetic voice came from behind them. "It seems my curiosity has been satiated."

Miriel approached them both from behind. She was struggling to carry the axe in both of her hands.

"Aw, thanks Miri. Teach was just wondering where..." Vaike started, but was interrupted by the Mage shoving it into his hands.

"In case of a repeat result, I'll be looking into a method to permanently affix the weapon to your hands," Miriel threatened in such a way that no one could doubt her sincerity. Her business done, she retreated back to the rear of the line with only a nod of acknowledgement to Robin.

"Geez, what a witch," Vaike muttered loudly. Robin had no doubt that Miriel could hear his whining.

"Vaike, you lost your weapon during a march. She has every right to call you on the irresponsible treatment of your equipment," Robin said.

"Ha!" Vaike guffawed. "Teach didn't call you out when you snuck away to flirt with the Princess."

Robin winced at the remark. He knew he was being baited. He'd fallen for that at the pub, after he'd complimented Sumia. That one still stung. Especially with Lissa getting on his case about it in the cathedral the day before.

"I'm not going to dignify that with a response," he said.

"So you ain't denying it is what you're saying?" Vaike concluded through an ear-to-ear grin.

"Knowing you, it'd be worse if I tried to, regardless of what happened," Robin claimed. Vaike didn't deny it, either. He only laughed as they both looked forward.

Pikachu wasn't by Robin's side at that moment. It was probably for the best, for Vaike's sake. Robin could see his best friend at the front of the line next to their resident animal expert. After Robin had left Pikachu in Sumia's care the morning prior, Pikachu hovered between the two of them at random. Robin wasn't jealous at all. The mouse wouldn't even let her pick him up, he only walked beside her. His hand subconsciously reaching around his shoulder where the mouse normally perched certainly meant nothing, too.

Frederick's hand shot up from the front of the line, signaling the Shepherds to halt. Curious, Robin made his way to the knight.

"What's the situation?" Robin asked. He knew that if Frederick made them stop, it had to be serious.

"We should have run into the checkpoint's patrol by now," Frederick answered simply. Chrom nodded his agreement.

"Well, I still don't see the issue! Let's go!" King Dedede insisted. He took one step before Chrom grabbed his shoulder.

"If the patrol's missing, there might be a trap waiting for us ahead. We need a plan," Chrom told him. He let go of a frustrated Dedede and turned to Robin. It was a pretty obvious cue, so Robin stepped into his role.

"Frederick, what could you tell me about the checkpoint?" The tactician asked.

"It's located by the Northroad Main Bridge, within thirty minutes march from our current position along the path. The river it sits on isn't long nor deep, but it is a hazard to mobility. Two small outposts sit on each end of the river which could serve as cover from fire, and as a choke point. The landscape is mostly open. Not nearly enough trees to hide our entire force in for long, if we were to try something," Frederick reported.

Robin had the image in his head. If whatever happened comes to blows, the bridge would be an obvious choke point. The forts would also be a priority, in case someone needed to fall back. The trees might provide a good cover. Still, there was just too much that Robin didn't know. He didn't know what kind of force, if any, he was facing.

After a moment's deliberation, Robin knew the first step they'd need to take.

"King Dedede," Robin spoke.

"What?" The king responded.

"I need Bandanna Dee. Do you know where he is?"

"I'm here!" The ever jovial voice of Bandanna Dee called out. The dark blue bandanna was the first thing that came into view as Bandanna Dee stepped out from the Shepherds.

"Good. Frederick will be taking you close to what could be dangerous territory alone. You are to hide in the trees and scout out a few outposts near the river ahead. You will return without engaging the enemy. Will you be able to do that?" Robin knew he was asking a lot of what was barely a soldier, but he didn't trust anyone else in the Shepherds to move that quietly on purpose. Kellam might be able to do it, but he couldn't risk the man's safety on a quirk. Bandanna Dee had managed to sneak into the Merchant Palace of Bathoneo before, though.

Bandanna Dee wasn't so confident. He looked to his King first - who had no input to give on the matter - before giving Robin a weak nod.

Frederick reached down towards the Waddle Dee. Bandanna Dee slowly approached the outstretched hand before placing his own upon it. With a soundless pull, Frederick hoisted him up onto to his horse and say him in front of him.

"If you are caught out, Frederick will be nearby. Either make your way to him, or find somewhere to hold out until we get there. Frederick will be able to give you any other instructions on the way, I presume?"

"Of course," Frederick ascertained. "Shall we be off?"

"Yes," Bandanna Dee answered.

---

'I'll be nearby. If you're found out by someone dangerous, you know the signal. If possible, I'll make my way to you. If not, I'll ride for the other Shepherds,' Frederick had said. He'd handed him the device that would serve as the signal; a device that wasn't at all known for its subtlety. Bandanna Dee was surprised they even had them in Ylisse.

Bandanna Dee slipped around the trees, through the brush, and over branches towards the edge of the foliage. He'd harder things before alone, but he always felt nervous. Like he knew he was capable of doing his part right, but what if he messed up?

The possibility of there being nothing wrong at all had crossed his mind. The patrol could just be running late, and then Frederick would scold them for it. After a few days of drills and spars with the Shepherds, Bandanna Dee learned that the knight was good at that. Frederick was good at fighting too, Bandanna Dee reminded himself. He was the only one to beat Bandanna Dee really badly during their sparring. If he did get found, then having him for backup was great.

An opening in the trees became visible ahead of him, stopping him in his tracks. He couldn't make anything out from where he was but the sound of the river. It seemed obvious that he should move closer. With a shiver, he edged nearer to the light.

The clearing opened to the main road they had been walking. The shallow river flowed eastward underneath a plain wooden bridge. Just as Frederick had said, two small forts flanked the road on each side of the river. Each on its own could probably only hold eight to ten people comfortably. Absently, it occurred to him that Frederick had really described the area well.

From what he could see, though, there was nothing. No movement but the wind. Even the animals were gone. That wasn't a good sign. Bandanna Dee figured he had seen enough and should head back to Frederick to tell him everything he wasn't seeing.

But then there was a sound. A whinny came from the nearest fort along with the clip clopping of horseshoes on the against stone. A sign of life in the forts, creating a choice. He wasn't supposed to be leaving the cover of the trees. He knew the obvious choice should've been to just turn around.

But Robin needed information. A horse could mean people! If he could get a view of the creature, he might at least find out if something happened or if anyone was still around. And if he knew that, then Robin would know. If Robin knew what was here for sure then he could make a better plan, and keep King Dedede safe. It'd be scary and dangerous, but it'd have to be worth it.

Bandanna Dee burst from the brush, grass tickling underfoot as he sprinted toward the structure.

Even as he moved towards the fortress, the world was still. The river ran by, its current not even throwing enough water at its banks to make an audible splash. A chill wind blew in his face rudely, slowly his pace a bit so he could cover his eyes. It kinda stank, too.

The horse let out another cry, another frenzied cacophony from a panicking mare.

The gate wasn't exactly open. It was destroyed, the portcullis partially melted to open the way. Taking a deep breath, Bandanna Dee entered the fort. It was pretty empty, with a building integrated in a far corner of the wall. A mechanism consisting of a wheel and chains sat next to him. Bandanna Dee gave the wheel an experimental tug, and was rewarded with the clattering of chains as the portcullis raised a bit. He couldn't pull it much before it got stuck. When he let go of it, the melty gate crashed down, throwing some dirt into the air.

He turned away from the gate to and saw what had drawn him to the outpost. A utilitarian stable was built into the wall, consisting of a few posts, containers for feed and drink, and a roof. It was from here that hooves stomped and from where the outpost's desperate occupant cried.

Bandanna Dee had seen Pegasi before. He'd seen them flying in and around the tower above Ylisstol's Palace. He'd seen them on a continent across the sea once too, when they'd gone to meet another royal family. He'd never seen one so frantic though. Never so scared.

"Hold on!" He shouted, running towards the Pegasus through the empty fort. The creature kept stomping and making noise, but it looked straight at him now, Nobody at all came out to meet him.

He tried to make straight for the rope on the post, but the Pegasus cried out again, throwing up its forelegs as a threat. That stopped him in his tracks, out of the beast's reach.

"Hey, easy there! I'll get you out!" He told it, hoping it'd understand. He concluded it didn't when it shouted and stomped toward him again.

"Please, let me help! I'll get you out of here!"

He took a careful step forward. It kicked towards him and extended its wings, narrowly missing his face. He didn't understand.

"Why don't you..." His hands were still wrapped around his spear and the signal. "Is it my weapons? Is that making you nervous, friend?"

A less angry whinny came out, which could have just as easily meant anything as it did yes. All the same, he put down everything he was holding gently, so as to not startle the creature further. He knew he'd be scared if someone was waving and throwing around sharp and explosive things.

Unless it was the Star Warrior, because they always got along, and they always had explosive or sharp things. Sometimes they were the explosive and sharp things...

Now disarmed, the Waddle Dee took an experimental step forward, and the beast did not attack him. He slowly made his way towards the post it was tied to. It was a lady Pegasus, Bandanna Dee noticed. A guy Pegasus wouldn't be so pretty, would it? Finally at the post, he started to undo the knot.

"You won't have to be alone now," he told the creature as he worked. "Everyone here looks gone, but you're not. I know someone, I'm pretty sure she can talk to animals. She talks to another guy's mouse a lot, and he seems to understand her. Maybe she could figure out why you're so... There we go!"

The knot was undone, a fact that Bandanna Dee proudly showed off to the Pegasus. She snorted, unimpressed. She took a few steps away from the post, and flapped her wings.

"See, now you can-"

It was the worst sound he'd ever heard from a creature, signaled by the opening of a door. She took off towards the hole in the gate, out the gate and across the bridge. He didn't have time to consider why she did that, as there was a familiar, demonic roar. From within the wall, lifeless red eyes emerged. Pale, lifeless bodies shambled out towards him, their discoloration even more obvious in the sun. Risen.

Bandanna Dee's eyes went wide, and he ran towards his equipment. He found his signal in one piece, but his spear had been snapped in two by the fleeing Pegasus. He did the first thing he could think of, and grabbed the signal device. A string dangle from the bottom of it. He held it over his head, and pulled that string. There was a snap, a whistle as the flare traveled into the air, ending with an explosion high the air.

The Risen charged at him, heedless of the flare. He grabbed the stub of spear he had left, and turned to run. He did manage to get out of the fort, and found himself by more of the monsters. The outpost across from him was opened up too. The thunderous footsteps behind him stormed closer. He took a heavy breath and raised his pointed stick towards the nearest Risen and charged.

There was a whinny in the distance, a cacophony of hooves that traveled farther and farther from him. The Risen he was charging at didn't care. It roared at him, accepting his challenge, and started to run at him with an unbroken spear. The Waddle Dee could hear the footsteps getting closer to him from behind, but he didn't have time to address it. The Risen stabbed towards him, an attack that grazed his side as he sidestepped it. Bandanna Dee jumped and drove his spearhead between the creature's eyes.

An opening in the circle was made, opening the way to the bridge. He darted across it, the Risen following him across. He could see into one of the outposts, and the gate looked neither melted nor otherwise broken into. The gate just looked raised. Bandanna Dee ran inside as was grateful to find this outpost was identical to the last. The mechanism to raise the door was right beside it.

The Risen were close, he could hear them. He pulled at the wheel with all of his strength, barely nudging it. And then, all at once, it was unstuck. The stress of holding up the gate took over and the wheel spun without his effort. The rotations threw him off the wheel, and he landed on his back just as the portcullis fell. He sat up dizzily, happy to see nothing has gotten inside with him. A dark cloud and dirt cloud intermingled into one around the closed gate.

The Risen outside smashed themselves against the gate, heedless of the futility. Finding himself with the room to breathe, Bandanna Dee found it a bit funny that they were the ones trying so hard to get through the metal. He was the one stuck in the cage.

He figured that had been an oddly philosophical thought for how terrified he felt. The Risen shouted and groaned their disapproval.

---

It was a bit surreal, seeing the sky explode in the distance. It was a marvel to behold, but the meaning behind it was grimmer than the fascination of its spectacle. Bandanna Dee had been found by something dangerous. Robin ushered the Shepherds to pick up the pace, an effort that even Dedede didn't dare delay. It was his subject in danger. That it was under someone else's command could infuriate him later. The logical self-assurance the King presented himself didn't stop him from silently steaming during their quickened march.

The sounds of a horse down the road didn't stop them, but the sound of steel being pulled from sheathes was loud behind Dedede. The Waddle Dees that had been attending to him were now hidden behind the combatants, he knew. Most of them couldn't fight very well, and were scared of the weapons people used.

The rider came over a small incline revealing himself to be Frederick. The knight stopped in front of the Prince and King Dedede.

"Milord, Risen have overtaken the checkpoint! Bandanna Dee is trapped in one of the outposts," he said, turning his horse around towards where he'd came from. "I couldn't reach him safely. We can still get there if we move quickly."

Chrom muttered a curse under his breath, and a doubly colorful phrase was uttered by Virion.

"What? You left him?" Dedede accused, stomping towards the knight. Robin jumped in front of him.

"We don't have time for this, Dedede. We can still get him out, but we all need to move and move fast, as Frederick said," he reasoned. When Dedede stopped to breath with only a deep scowl, Robin turned to Fredeick. "How far away are we?"

"Not far. You should be able to see the river from atop the hill," the knight asked, brushing aside King Dedede's anger for the moment.

After giving an order to prepare for a fight and to keep a watch for movement, Robin ran to the top of the hill alongside Chrom. He could see the four outposts in the distance, none all too impressive. A few Risen wandered with a seeming aimlessness along the open road, but most of their number stalked around an outpost across the bridge, waiting for a chance to swarm it.

"Gods, so many..." Chrom gasped.

"Twenty-one. Close range weapons only, far as I can see" Robin noticed. He turned to "We can rush the bridge, use it as a choke point. Lure them in. Our melee fighters block the bridge. One or two stay on the sidelines to cover our support if any get through the bridge or cross the water."

Chrom agreed, his footfalls already sounding against the dirt road back toward the rest of the Shepherds. Robin surveyed the field carefully as the shepherds approached. The sound of so many people marching toward them caught the attention of the aimless Risen. Robin doubted it would be a problem. He turned to the Shepherds behind him.

"Chrom, Frederick, we're the frontline," Robin commanded. "Everyone else, watch our flanks. Keep an eye on those forts for more Risen. We move fast, take the bridge. Vaike, Sumia, Dedede, you shift in if we get tired or hurt."

A collective cry of acknowledgement - and the dissatisfied groan of King Dedede - rang out. Robin brandished his sword in one hand and his thunder tome sat in his satchel. From within the Shepherds, The patters of a small yellow set of feet weaved through the Shepherds ranks, and planted itself beside Robin.

The Risen were approaching them in an unorganized collection. Virion loosed an arrow at the nearest Risen which planted into its shoulder with a thwack. The Risen barely flinched but for the arrow's momentum, and threw itself at their frontline with a roar. Chrom blocked the downward swing of its axe, and Robin cut through its side as he held it in place. It burst into the same dark cloud that had defined the Shepherds' first fight against the Risen.

Frederick sweeped his lance to deter two from approaching their flank. A ball of fire conjured by Miriel charred one, stalling it long enough. A javelin from who-knows-where traveled clean through the other one's chest. Pikachu rushed down the next approaching Risen, hitting its skull as though his tail were made of iron, downing it for a clean kill by Chrom.

The Shepherds advanced towards the bridge efficiently. Only Vaike had taken a hit when he purposefully stepped a non fatal blow. He apparently knew what he was doing, as it brought his opponent closer to him, and it was Vaike who walked away.

Across the river, their fighting had stirred the Risen that had been eying Bandanna Dee's hiding spot. Just as Robin had ordered, the Shepherds' frontline fighters were forming a wall along the bridge, keeping Miriel, Lissa, and Virion in the back for support.

A larger Risen brandishing a sharp and stained axe stepped out from the crowd of Risen and stared down the Shepherds. The monster's animalistic battle cry rallied the Risen around it, and together they charged at the bridge.

"Hold the bridge!" Robin shouted out, his eyes trained upon the large Risen. He was silently grateful when Dedede stepped up to the beast, successfully blocking its downward blow with his hammer. The King was swinging back at the beast when a Risen spearman engaged Robin.

He parried the first jab, knocking it over from his shoulder. He tried to use his momentum from the parry to run the monster through, but he move just barely to slow and only nicked it's hip. It's next approach was more careful, as it poked at him from a distance. Robin couldn't figure out how he could possibly break through to the creature with only his sword, so his free hand went into his pouch. After a week of drills, he could remember the words to his basic thunder spell without opening the book. The spell threw the Risen off its feet enough for him to finish the job alone.

He turned to Dedede, who was still fending off the large Risen. His hits weren't landing, though, as the beast narrowly stepped away from any swing that he threw out. His hammer looked surprisingly intact, considering how he had to block every swing from the Risen. Robin decided to break the stalemate, throwing a thunder into the Risen's side. It was thrown off its feet for a moment, and Dedede swung his hammer down in a full two-handed swing. The force of the swingleft a hole in the bridge where the Risen's head had been.

"I had him, tactician!" Dedede shouted.

"Great, I just made sure you had him even more!" Robin shot back, a cheeky smile on his face. He surveyed the rest of the bridge, and was pretty happy to see that the rest of the Risen had also been dealt with.

Chrom had already sheathed Falchion. Sumia was leaning against her spear with heavy breaths. Pikachu was beside her, his ferocity still dissipating from his face as he registered that the fight was won. That Pikachu had fought alongside her didn't make him one bit jealous, not at all.

---

The clashing of steel against steel had stopped. He hadn't found any weapons in the outpost, so all that Bandanna Dee could do was wait in hope that he was saved. He took a peek out the gate, and didn't see any more of the Risen waiting for him either.

"Bandanna Dee," the familiar voice of Frederick shouted, "we've cleared the area. You can come out."

Happy to hear this, he ran to the wheel and started to pull. The wound in his side made it difficult, but the wheel did give way. It wasn't long after that he was outside of the outpost, surrounded by the relieved and concerned faces of the Shepherds.

"Hi guys! You saved me!" He announced. They still looked a bit unhappy, though. He wondered why that was. Lissa approached him staff in hand, and started to heal his injury.

"Did you see any sign of the checkpoint's guards, Bandanna Dee?" Robin asked in a serious voice. Bandanna Dee only thought about this for a moment before he nodded.

"Yep! I found a Pegasus. When I freed her, the Risen showed up and she ran down the road away from you guys. A bad plan, since you guys-"

"Hold on, you freed a Pegasus?" Sumia asked.

"Yeah! She was alone and tied up in one of the forts, so I freed her!" Bandanna Dee clarified. Feeling a bit proud of himself, he struck a pose. "I know, really brave of me, right?"

"Indeed, brave or foolish, considering you shouldn't have left the cover of the trees," Frederick said. Bandanna Dee flinched. He turned to face the knight's stern disappointment. With a gulp. "You endangered yourself and the rest of us with your mistake."

"I know, but-"

"No excuse you give could pardon you. As you are only a Shepherd in name, it will be up to your King to decide your punishment," Frederick told him.

Eyes wide, Bandanna Dee turned to King Dedede, who had been sitting on the edge of the conversation disinterested. He didn't know when the tears got in his eyes, but all the same Bandnana Dee threw himself at Dedede's feet.

"I did it for you, Dedede! I wanted you be sure you'd be safe, and if I knew more that would let Robin make a better plan, and-"

"Hush!" Dedede ordered, and the Waddle Dee clamped down on his babbling. "You disobeyed an order, Bandanna Dee! Half rations for a month."

Bandanna Dee nodded into the ground. His piteous sobs were starting to calm down.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," he muttered.

"We need to move, or we'll never get to Regna Ferox!" Dedede scoffed. He then whispered something to Chrom, and walked a bit further down the road. Bandanna Dee eventually got up.

A number of the Shepherds had to return across the river to fetch their carriages and the other Waddle Dees that couldn't fight. Bandanna Dee awkwardly hung alone by the outpost he holed up in while they waited, lost in his thoughts. Thoughts which mostly consisted of regret and self-criticism. A selfish part of him was also considering how he'd survive on half-meals for a month. Food was an important part of every day! And now his every day was half as important!

The carriages were brought across, the Shepherds carriage dragged along by Ylissean horses and the Dreamlander's carriage by borrowed Ylissean horses. The servants were grateful, as it meant their only duty was to cater to Dedede. After what had just happened, though, Bandanna Dee didn't feel comfortable joining them. For the time being, he wanted to be somewhere else with someone else.

"Hi Virion," he greeted.

"Hello, my rebellious friend," Virion responded. Bandanna Dee would've frowned at the title, but he didn't have the same kind of mouth other people did. No one could see it, so only his eyes bothered.

"Please don't call me that," Bandanna Dee requested of the archest of archers.

"Very well. I must admit, you gave us all a fright," Virion let him know. "Why, were I able I would have cut down every Risen in the field myself to see you to safety!"

"Really?" Bandanna Dee asked. "But I messed up, and someone could've gotten hurt because of it. I wouldn't have been worth you getting hurt."

"Ah, but look at me. I am unharmed, and as are you. Even if you had returned to us safely, Vaike still would have taken a thrashing and marched on through pain and healing magic alike."

Bandanna Dee nodded. He wasn't so sure himself, but he couldn't disprove what Virion said either. So he said nothing.

There was a whinny in the distance, one that Bandanna Dee had heard before. In the past hour, even! He was kind f excited to hear the Pegasus again, if only so he knew that he hadn't done that wrong. He ran to the front of the Shepherds train, and regretted it immediately.

The bodies of soldiers littered the sides of the road, intermingled with horses and weapons that didn't look like they belonged to any of the deceased. A couple of strange animals and birds also surveyed the scene curiously, but they fled as soon as they saw the Shepherds.

"They've been dead for hours," Frederick announced from beside the devastated Bandanna Dee. He really had gone ahead for nothing, then.

The Pegasus cried out again from across the field. Bandanna Dee ran towards it, desperately hoping for someone to have survived. He heard someone else running behind him, but he didn't turn around to find out who.

The Pegasus nuzzled her nose against a the body of a soldier with a hole in her chest. She nudged her shoulder, and looked again in hopes of a response. The Waddle Dee was heartbroken.

"You poor girl," Sumia said from behind Bandanna Dee. She stepped in front of him, barely louder than the wind. Heavy boots ran up beside her. The Pegasus threw its front legs up in threat.

"Careful Sumia, the beast is mad!" The voice of Chrom warned.

"No she's not, she's scared," Sumia lightly scolded. When she turned her attention back to the Pegasus she spoke softly. "Aren't you girl?"

The Pegasus snorted back. Sumia gave a cautionary signal to Chrom and Bandanna Dee, asking them to stand back without words. With her other hand she slowly reached out, approaching the Pegasus little by little. She stepped over what Bandanna Dee assumed to be original owner's body. Sumia reached out to the Pegasus. The Pegasus did not kick out at her, nor did she bite at her. She leaned her head into the approaching hand.

"There, there," Sumia softly comforted. "It's good that you don't seem to be hurt. We need to get you out of here, okay? Will you come with us?"

Chrom let out the breath he had been holding. Bandanna Dee hadn't been holding his breath. He had freed the Pegasus in hopes of bringing her to Sumia anyway, so it kinda worked out like he'd planned.

"You're amazing, Sumia," Chrom said.

"Oh, it was nothing," Sumia assured the Prince. "I've always been good with animals."

"Yeah, I suppose I knew that. It never gets less incredible."

This earned a bashful smile from Sumia. But her face darkened quickly, and she looked down at the dead woman she stood over. The woman that must have once been the Pegasus's rider. Chrom had followed her eyes, his own features lowered as well. He turned to Frederick.

"Frederick, tell everyone we're burying the dead," Chrom ordered. Frederick acknowledged the order, and rode off to spread the word.

"Can I help?" Bandanna Dee asked. Chrom looked down to the Waddle Dee with a frown. Bandanna Dee could understand that, since no one seemed very happy with him. But something in Chrom's eyes changed, and he nodded. So Bandanna Dee walked to Dedede's carriage, grabbed an old pan, and started to try and dig on the side of the road. He wished they'd had shovels instead.

It had been long into the evening when they had finally finished. Bandanna Dee felt a bit better for having helped.

---

A step. Another step.

He looked up at Libra, he stood just far enough away that he wasn't in the way and just close enough that he could catch him if he fell over. A feminine looking man with soft features and long blonde hair, Libra had become his caretaker for the past number of days, checking in with him whenever he found the time between his other duties. The monk had a healing staff in hand, crafted specifically for more advanced healers to more precisely mend wounds.

He gave him a patient nod, urging him to keep going. A few of the other patients in the hospital were watching too. Many of them had been brought in after he came and hadn't seen him before. Others watched anxiously, hoping his success would assure their own eventual recovery.

His third step from the bed was on his healing leg. He had to bite down his tongue in his lips to keep his pain quiet, but he couldn't stop flickers of pain flashing through his face. His eyes drew the attention of everyone who could see them, given that he hid the rest of his face.

"Do you need to stop?" Libra asked.

"No," Meta Knight answered. "Not until I reach the door."

Libra nodded and asked nothing more. Meta Knight took another step, which got him past the foot of his bed. He'd made it to the center of the room, and it was a straight shot to the door. The crutch that had defined the last weeks of his life lay unattended behind him. He took another step, again putting his weight all on his injured leg, away from the books that Sumia had left for him. He hadn't gotten the chance to return them before she left. He did manage to pass on the Legends of Hyrule to her before she left, though. However far the Shepherds were from Ylisstol, he hoped that she was enjoying the book. We'll, that was if she got the chance to enjoy it.

He leaned on the neighboring bed for the next step without thinking about it. Three steps later, he'd noticed what he was doing and took his hand off. Libra was close by, ever ready for if he fell again. He had no intention of falling again today.

"Are you alright?" Libra asked again. Meta Knight nodded.

"The door," he insisted. Barely ten steps, and he was losing his breath.

Libra backed off again, not asking anything further. He got past his neighbors bed finally. A step, another step. A wince of pain, the weight on a healing leg.

"You might make it worse before you make it better, Knight."

"The door, Libra," Meta Knight panted.

The pain was getting worse. Three beds passed, which still left most of the hall to go. More eyes from the sidelines. They were soldiers injured in conflict. They were peasants who survived raids from bandits and monsters.

One was a nobleman who had lost everything he had when he fled Bathoneo, including his family and an eye. He had been a broken man when he told this to Libra. He had confessed to corruption and smuggling throughout the halidom, and in Plegia.

'Naga holds love for all under her protection,' Libra had told this man. 'This is her house. We may judge, but we are hers to serve. While you are here, you are not a corrupt man. You are healing.'

Meta Knight took a pained step closer to the door, five beds past. The last time he had tired to walk, he had already fallen down by now. Another step forward.

"The Exalt had asked me how you have been recovering," Libra said as he started past the sixth bed. The entire hospital could hear him, as they all were watching wordlessly or in silent pain.

"She came to you?" Meta Knight asked curiously, the pain a seemingly permanent resident in his voice. One of the stones in front of him was loose, set a bit higher than the others around it. He stepped around that one. He'd come too far to fall.

"Not at first. She'd asked the Preacher, and he told her to seek me out." Libra had relaxed a bit, looking a bit more confidant in his charge's recovery.

"And?" Meta Knight inquired as he passed the seventh bed. His pained legs protested his every motion, and his breaths grew heavier. Another step.

"I told her you were making remarkable progress, considering the circumstances," the monk answered. Meta Knight nodded between steps.

"It is gracious of her to ask," Meta Knight commented in what he intended to be a casual manner.

"Hoping for me to gossip, Meta Knight?" Libra hazarded. When Meta Knight passed the eighth bed from his in sullen silence, Libra chuckled. "It's quite alright, though there is nothing I couldn't tell you that you don't already know. She was concerned for your health as a living person."

"I'm sure she would hate to see her ally rendered incapable," Meta Knight said. He would've spat, but it didn't seem appropriate in a hospital.

"Are you offended?"

"No... I shouldn't be," Meta Knight answered honestly. Libra sighed.

"When Dedede last visited, he couldn't keep it a secret that you weren't exactly happy with him. Does your contempt extend to the Exalt?"

Meta Knight didn't answer for a few moments.

"I hold no contempt for your Exalt, Libra. Just this alliance. I do not know Ylisse. Dedede does not Ylisse. Neither the Exalt nor the council know Dreamland. It was a rash decision."

Libra sighed.

"I am not a politician, Sir Knight. I have no sway in any council, nor would I feel comfortable with it. I can only trust they hold the people's well-being and faith in the protection of the Divine Dragon in their hearts, and though you advise your king, you must do the same," Libra advised with a sagely calm.

Meta Knight didn't answer again. He'd lost track of how many beds he'd passed.

"Perhaps you could tell me of Dreamland, if it is not too much for you," Libra suggested.

Meta Knight considered the proposition. On one wary hand, anything he told Libra gave the monk more to bring to his superiors, if Ylisse was so willing. On the other weary hand... The wooden door that would bring him into the hall was still so far away. His leg screamed for relief, but the best he could give it was a distraction.

"Dreamland was full of life. It had little structure outside of the King's castle and my ship. Back then, most everyone else made their homes in the caves and natural shelters across the land. All of its creatures knew their roles, from the simplest creatures to the most fearsome, and they strived for little more. It was far too carefree for me, I had once thought. I was the best warrior in the realm, and no one cared enough to even try and best me," Meta Knight began. He remembered the first crew he'd brought aboard the Halberd. Dedicated to their own betterment, each and every single one. Good people, now nowhere to be found.

"It's funny, in a way. Once, I had gotten fed up with what I'd seen as laziness. I tried to take control of Dreamland, all of it. Every grain of dirt and sand and lazy creature and its fields of fruit and cake. I'd thought it'd be easy, and that none would be capable of stopping me. And then the Dreamlanders would have to do away with their passive, contented lives and improve themselves." An ambitious project in hindsight. King Dedede would have let him do it too, because he could have never stopped him.

Libra listened silently, walking alongside Meta Knight as he spoke of his home.

"I had failed, though. For all that I had in resources and strength, both from myself and my supporters, it only took one person to beat me. The star warrior named Kirby."

"Star warrior?" Libra seemed to taste the title on his lips. Meta Knight assumed any life coming from the stars must have been a foreign idea to the medieval Ylisseans. "And did this Kirby join you to Ylisse?"

Meta Knight frowned under his mask, and his eyes seemed to sag.

"I don't know if Kirby even made it through the Rebirth," Meta Knight admitted. "And so I am once again the greatest warrior of Dreamland, yet I am crippled in a foreign land. I am the captain of a wrecked ship. I am the advisor to a king who didn't need to heed me."

A part of Meta Knight wanted that to be the end of the conversation. He wasn't quite sure where or when he'd found himself so full of self pity. After the past few weeks of diplomacy, of travel, and of reading, he likely never gave himself the time to notice. He looked around to the cold stone surrounding him, devoid of every color but for the wooden color of the beds around him. Sick, crippled, and broken men from all walks of Ylissean life trapped in here without anywhere else to turn. Meta Knight had brought himself here willingly.

But then the servant of Naga spoke again.

"You have lost much, Meta Knight. I am sorry for that," Libra began in earnest. "But even in your every loss, you display strength beyond what many of the other men or women I know has to offer. You act as though your king abandoned you, yet you asked our princess to take care of him. Your ship is gone, yet you led your countrymen to safety and fought for them as though your own life were on the line."

"Libra, could you-"

"And when you lose use of your legs, great warrior, you only shake it off as another trial. You haven't given up despite everyone else in the hospital hearing and feeling your pain in every step. And now, you've succeeded."

Meta Knight's eyes narrowed, uncertain of what the priest meant, before he looked ahead of himself. The door was there, right in front of him. Light from the hallway snuck in, a promise for what lies beyond the soulless door. Libra graciously grabbed the handle and opened the door for him. Meta Knight didn't hesitate for even a moment before he stepped through. The colorful, candlelit hall was the most wonderful thing he'd seen in a long while.

"There is little else we need to keep you here for, Meta Knight. I can have your possessions returned to your quarters in the Palace by tonight. A monk or cleric will need to check in on you occasionally," Libra informed him. A proud smile painted the man's face. Meta Knight bowed respectfully to his caretaker.

"I thank you for your kind words and for your care Libra. You have given me much to think on," Meta Knight said as his brought his eyes back from the ground.

"You'll need help getting back, I assume. I can bring your crutch here for you if you'd prefer. Otherwise, I'm sure that an escort could be arranged."

Meta Knight thought for a moment before he gave his answer.

"Bring me my crutch," Meta Knight asked. Libra bowed his head before leaving Meta Knight to fetch it.

Before the sermon the next morning, a mother brought a pile of broken sticks to the Preacher, asking if it belonged to someone. She had found it on her son's seat when they went to sit down.

---

"Impersonating royalty is a crime punishable by death. Consider this your only warning," Chrom read. The sign was nailed into a tree. Beside it sat a man encased in ice. He had a poorly done Mark of the Exalt tattooed into his shoulder, and an expensive looking sheathe on his hip. Most prominent of his features was the absolute terror forever frozen on his face.

"It's a good thing we're not fakin' it then!" Dedede declared proudly. Chrom just gave a stiff nod in return. The King had become increasingly more smug as they got closer to the border. Whilst the Shepherds start to shake in the cold, Dedede just basked in the ire and jealousy drawn by his warm comfy coat. The first time Chrom even mentioned the temperature, Dedede was on him.

'I reserve the right to laugh at you when you regret it!' The King had chortled. Gods did Chrom hate that that was getting thrown back in his face. He did kind of deserve it though. His own cloak barely kept him warm. He really needed a new one. The brown thing he had been using was full of holes from combat use, which it was definitely not designed for.

The foreboding corpse had been deliberately placed on the road to discourage others, and it was certainly working. Prince Chrom couldn't help but feel nervous about what came next.

"C-Chrom, what's wrong?" Robin asked.

"Ice magic isn't often practiced in Ylisse. The one time I fought a rogue who knew it, he only ever made shards, never enough to encase an entire person. I have no idea what we're getting into," Chrom answered honestly.

"Ah. Unders-s-standable," Robin chattered. "If it makes-s-s you fuh-feel better, I'll personally d-dig you out if you get encased."

"That's not what I..." Chrom sighed. "I'm just going to let it go."

"W-would you rather I got F-F-Fredrick to do it?"

"Milord, if it comes to it I will be personally heat the ice with my own personal warmth until you are safely returned to us," Frederick declared seriously.

"Thanks?" Chrom offered incredulously. Robin burst into laughter, while Frederick settled for a restrained chuckle. "Knowing you, Frederick the Wary, I'm not sure all the warmth in your being would be enough to melt me out."

Robin lost it, and Frederick's light chuckle faded. Dedede also burst into laughter at Frederick's expense, having apparently been listening in. Chrom's grin did little to placate Frederick, though.

The days had been getting longer, but the warmth that summer should have brought only followed them so far North. It had been a week since the conflict at the Checkpoint, and they were expecting to arrive at the border in the hour. Sumia had already chatted Robin's ear off explaining history the Longfort. Chrom knew that she had because he had been right there the whole time.

He was only a Prince, he wasn't quite sure how to compete with something as adorable as Pikachu for Sumia's attention.

He was starting to grow a bit fond of his new tactician. The man seemed to be casuallycapable of getting along with everyone. Robin's charm was certainly working its magic on the Shepherds. If Frederick's suspicions of the man ever proved true, Chrom had already decided they were resigned to that fate. Then again, Chrom wasn't even sure Robin realized he was doing it.

"Who's idea was it to make snow so cold," the tactician muttered when his mirth faded. He was practically buried inside of his shivering robe.

"Naga only knows," Chrom answered.

"Hey Chrom!" Dedede shouted from close enough that he didn't need to shout. "That it up ahead?"

Down the road, the snowfall broke against a wall of stone. His eyes followed the portcullis up to the top of the wall. It extended as far as one could see in both directions. As the Shepherds approached the gate, figures appeared on top of the wall. Chrom recognized the sight of bows and javelins even from the angle they were standing.

"Hold, travelers! State your business in Regna Ferox!" A man shouted down. Chrom stepped forward.

"I am Prince Chrom of Ylisse. We are here to meet with the Khans," He shouted back.

"Ha, another one!" The man laughed back. Voices went back and forth from above. "You've got one chance to turn back, bandit, or we unload everything we have into your skull."

"Milord, get back!" Frederick shouted. Chrom ignored him.

"No, I will not go back. My sister, the Exalt Emmeryn is counting on us. I demand to speak to your commanding officer," Chrom shouted back. There were whispers up top.

"Where's your visiting king?" The man on the wall asked.

"I'm right here! Now let us in!" Dedede demanded. The figure looked down from the wall at Dedede. More whispers made their way down the wall.

And they received silence. More whispers. Chrom had a hand on Falchion, in case it came to a fight. In case he survived to see that fight.

"We're getting our captain. If you try anything, Ylissean, no one will hesitate to kill you."

Chrom nodded, and the man speaking disappeared. Through the tense air, Chrom heard someone approaching him from behind.

"Chrom, we're surrounded," Robin quietly informed him.

"Tsk. Hope for the best, prepare for the the worst," Chrom ordered.

Robin nodded, and retreated to the rest of the Shepherds. Eventually, hard footsteps echoed in the silent air, each crunch in the snow cutting through the air. The man returned to the wall alongside a bulkier figure, encased in heavy armor.

"I am Raimi, General of the Eastern Gate of the Longfort. I'm told we might have the actual Prince and a King at my gate, finally," the newcomer shouted, sounding much more feminine than she looked.

"You've heard truly," Chrom answered.

"I'll be the judge of that," Raimi answered. "We've been warned the king isn't human. From up here, he just looks fat and painted blue."

"You- WHAT?!" King Dedede growled. "You-"

"What am I, Your Highness?" Raimi laughed back. "I've spent the last week of my life killing crooks pretending to be you and the Prince. They don't make for good sport, so I'm going to need more then a lack of restraint and another tattoo. Give me proof, I'll walk you into the Western Khans hall myself."

There was movement in the snow around the Chrom and Dedede. Behind the Shepherds, Feroxi Warriors emerged onto the road. Just as Robin had said, they were surrounded.

---

"So where's your proof?" Raimi demanded of the newest wannabe infiltrators. The boy stood back a bit, ready to rush down the wall as soon as he got the signal. His sister was just as anxious, though he knew it was for a different reason. She always worried a bit more than him, but she always followed him whenever something happened. Just like he did when she felt like taking charge.

"Ya want proof?" The theoretical king shouted. "I'll come up there and give you my proof if you don't open this gate!"

"Your threat is hollow, 'Your Highness,'" Raimi mocked. She raised her open palm in the air. Bowstrings were strung, javelins were lifted, and boy was he ready.

His sister pulled at his sleeve. When he turned to face her, she pointed towards the stairs. Ah, right. She had been a little upset the last time he jumped from the wall. Mostly because that meant she had to do it too. He felt bad, but he didn't apologize. If he was sorry, he'd never get to do it again.

And then something strange happened.

"Hollow nothing!" The king yelled.

"Dedede, what're-"

The kid wasn't really sure what he'd have called the sound he heard from below the wall. The air seemed to pop and whoosh at the same time, and then there was a thunk as a fat man they assumed to be the king landed on the wall. He punched Raimi in her exposed face, throwing her to the ground. Ever man and woman on the wall turned their weapon on the offender. The boy and his sister both had their hammers ready, and ice magic flowing through their mana. The man's angry smile faded from his beak - beak? - as he realized that he was surrounded, isolated, and alone.

And then it got stranger, as Raimi burst into laughter.

"I don't know where you come from, Your Highness, but I'd bet that you've got Feroxi in you somewhere!" She hollered. "Stand down, everyone, this is the real deal."

A sigh of relief came from the sister. On the boy's face was a disappointed frown. He was ready to fight.

---

"I suppose I need to keep my word then, Prince Chrom," Raimi told Chrom. Immediately after Dedede's stunt, she'd ordered her men to stand down and came down a side stairway alongside a proud looking King Dedede. Because, after all, Dedede needed even more excuse for his big ego.

"I guess I should apologize for holding you up," she added. "As I said, it's been a busy week."

"You'd said bandits had been coming through posing as us, right?" Chrom asked. He was still trying to catch up with what had just happened.

"Aye. If I had to guess by their accents, I'd say they were Plegian."

"Hmph, trying to stir up bad relations between Ylisse and Regna Ferox, no doubt," Frederick figured. Raimi was inclined to agree.

"Still, the King's proven himself. Can't say it isn't a shame though. A battle against a Prince, a King, and their best? That'd be a fight!" Raimi laughed. "Speaking of best, I'll be bringing mine with us. Might as well meet them now."

She waved Chrom and whoever would follow up the stairs she'd come down. The Feroxi trackers and Knights went back to their patrols, or lack thereof, in case another group showed up while the Shepherds were there. Most of the Feroxi were large men, easily twice the size of Chrom and just as threatening looking. When Raimi waved over a thinner man with a bow slung over his shoulder, Chrom was a bit disappointed.

"Lieutenant," she'd greeted the man.

"General," the man greeted. "I'd already heard you were looking for them."

Raimi quirked a brow.

"From who?" She asked.

"You. You said you needed your best. They're inside, grabbing their things. They should be out..."

"We're ready!" A childlike voice shouted, throwing the door inside the fort open. Chrom's eyebrow quirked high, and his jaw could've hit the ground from how little brain power was being diverted to his composure at that moment. Two young children, buried in furry coats that were blue and pink in color and travel packs weighing them down, ran through the door. They held wooden mallets in their hands and excitement in their wide eyes.

"Good. We've stalled the Shepherds long enough," Raimi said. She turned to the Prince. "Chrom, these are my best fighters, Nana and Popo. Nana, Popo, this is Chrom."

"Hi Prince!" The boy in blue, Popo, shouted. A tuft of hair stuck out from under his hood. He ran over and stuck out his free hand."It's a pleasure to meet you!"

"The, uh... The pleasure is mine," Chrom responded, stumbling a bit. Popo didn't seem offended. Chrom offered his own hand, which the boy took gleefully. Judging by how excitable the kid seemed at first, Chrom was pleasantly surprised when Popo only gave his hand one firm handshake.

"Yeah, it's nice to meet you," the girl in pink, Nana, said much more calmly. She did not offer her hand, but a short and curt how of the head. Chrom nodded in return.

"So, they'll be joining us to meet your Khan then?" Chrom asked.

"Yes. They haven't seen the Khan in nearly a year," Raimi answered. "Most soldiers wouldn't get such a privilege, but most soldiers are a bit older."

Chrom bit his tongue down. If the situation at the gate had escalated, these kids would have been amongst their opponents. He wasn't sure if he'd have been able to attack children. It didn't sit well with him, but he wasn't Feroxi. He didn't know what constituted as moral north of the Longfort.

"Besides," Raimi picked up, "this'll be their first tourney year."

Chrom quirked a brow. The Feroxi were holding a tournament? Was it really the time, considering how much conditions were deteriorating with Plegia?

He didn't get to say as much. True to her word, Raimi, Nana, and Popo led the Shepherds through the gate. It closed behind them as they entered Regna Ferox.

---

I can't tell you how everyone else feels about him, writing Bandanna Dee scenes is always a joy. There's a childlike glee I get trying to find the simplest way to portray a scene I can. Whenever he's the focus, the language I use gets simpler. I use very and really in plenty, where with any other character I avoid using those words entirely if I can. It feels so different to wirte, and I love doing it.

A big part of this chapter was bringing out the flaws of our Dreamland cast a bit more. Obviously, King Dedede is brash, quick to anger, and very self-enamored. I don't think anyone who's ever seen the character would say any of those traits are misplaced on him.

Meta Knight takes everything incredibly seriously, to the point of being a bit hard for others to talk to. He's also guilty of holding back information and often keeps his responses to others a bit too brief. He doesn't always do this intentional, either, as with during the conversation with Lissa near the start where she had to prompt him to elaborate.

And then Bandanna Dee is loyal to a fault. Coupled with his naive and optimistic way of thinking, even at his worst he tends to expect the best. Endearing or not, these traits combined this chapter to get him into trouble on the Northroad.

And then there was the reveal at the end, with Nana and Popo. Before I even knew for sure who the main characters were going to be, I knew that I wanted the Ice Climbers on the Longfort. They haven't gotten much time nor fleshing out here, so talking about them will have to wait for another time.

I guess the last thing I feel I should say is that the cast is getting bigger, little by little. As time goes on, not every major character is going to get time in a chapter. For example, Pikachu barely featured at all in this chapter. This problem will grow, and I don't think I'll ever really have another chance to feature all the principles at once in a chapter again until the very end.

Anyway, sorry again for the long wait. We'll talk again in Chapter 7: Battle Against the Masked Man. Hopefully that won't be a month from now.