Western Border of Ylisstol, Noon


Three Shepherds and a future one traversed down the dirt road that eventually led to Ylisstol. It was more than a dozen miles away so for the sake of Lissa and Chrom, Frederick had already planned out a place to make camp along the way. Whether or not Corrin was getting tired was none of his concern, but it appeared the alleged princess had a few rucks under her belt already.

All with no shoes. What in the hell?

"So are you a Princess of Nohr, or a Princess of Hoshido?" Lissa asked quietly, as if her excited mutterings could sneak past the sharp ears of Frederick a few paces behind.

"Depends who you ask, I suppose. It's complicated and not even I know the whole story. Between the two families, no one will even agree on a name for me," Corrin droned, frustrated that she couldn't provide a full answer.

"Corrin, was it? What's the other name?"

"The Hoshidan side of my family insists I be called 'Kamui' and well... I suppose that's nice too. It's a wonderful name, no offense to them. I'm just not used to it."

"...Weird."

"That's just how things worked out, I suppose. I won't fault them for trying. I am growing fond of it... it's just unfamiliar, is all. Goodness, I ramble so."

"That's your cue to stop bothering her, Lissa," Chrom called from behind.

"It's quite alright, Chrom," Corrin stepped in, flashing Chrom a reassuring smile. "The Lissa I know is just as curious. I don't mind, really. I never got annoyed around you guys."

"Alrighty! If that's the case, this is the part where I answer your questions!"

Lissa seemed very excited to converse with Corrin, who found this younger iteration of the already young cleric to be quite a handful. Chrom and Frederick stayed back, the latter letting his horse rest while he led it along by the hand. Their boots crunched steadily along, steel pressing atop dried leaves in a steady cadence.

"I can't say I have any yet," Corrin admitted. "To be honest, I know so much about you already. It would feel weird for me to ask you things... especially since I know a different, older, version of you."

"It's very weird. Uh, don't get me wrong! I still believe you, Corrin! Hey, how about this: this was my very first sortie with Chrom and the Shepherds! So much for Chrom or Frederick complimenting my skills, phooey! I did great, didn't I?"

"That you did, Lissa. It's wonderful to have a good healer by our sides. Hah, you remind me of my own sisters right now. A trio of young princesses who were quite the closely knit group of friends. All three of you were reliable healers. I'm glad you got to come along."

"I'm glad too, Corrin. You're not much like my big sister, but I have a feeling we're going to be the best of friends!"

Big sister? Oh. Emmeryn.

Robin couldn't save her.

Corrin hid her thoughts with a smile, brightening eagerly at Lissa's complement and humming her agreement. Suddenly remembering she was being followed, she turned her attention to the two men behind her.

"How about you, Prince Chrom? Sir Frederick? Got any questions for a foreign Princess? I can imagine Frederick is going to be suspicious of me for a while. No offense but you don't look to have changed much in two years."

"You cannot wound me with words. Let's assume you are telling the truth," Frederick began, calculating his thoughts. "And let's assume you actually are a foreign princess here by happenstance. How are you taking this so casually?"

"Casually?" Corrin wondered, shaking her head slightly in disagreement. "I am far from casual: on the contrary I'm terrified. I have to keep talking, reminding myself that I have some semblance of control still. Everything is so... real. For the sake of my own sanity, I have to believe everything is as real as the world, no, the reality that I came from. The ground, the air... if I had a gold piece for every good illusion I've been trapped in, I'd have two. Which isn't much, but it's weird that it's happened twice."

"Then let me ask you this, Lady Corrin," Frederick continued. "What are your goals?"

The princess paused for a while, still walking absently as she perused her own thoughts. She sort of knew how to break Robin's Nightmare spell, but this? This could be very different. Robin had toned down the reality of Lucina's nightmare by removing any chance of actual harm to the inflicted. The consequences here however could be dire, no matter what happened.

"Goals... Well, for one I'm clearly lost out of my own mind. I need to find a way home. But... you said you haven't met a Robin before?"

"No one that I know bears that name," Frederick replied.

"Fair, which leads me to believe that I am Robin for the moment. That, I can sort of understand, because the... Nightmare spell and all behaving the same way," Corrin trailed off, the last few words kept under her breath so that no one else could hear. "Alright, here's my goal, Frederick. In a couple days' time, Ylisse is going to have to go to war, and all the Shepherds with her. I need to protect Chrom, and all of the Shepherds in any way I can. That is my goal. I think the only way out of this mess is for me to make it to the end. Hopefully... gods, I hope there's something at the end."

"Let's handle this one step at a time. Fight? Plegia?" Chrom interjected, growing worried at Corrin's account.

"Right," Corrin agreed. "I don't know the specifics, being that I didn't find my way to Ylisse until two years later. But what I do know is that the Mad King Gangrel is going to instigate a war against Ylisse in attempt... I don't know why he started the war. Ylisse won, that's all I do know. And the one who's shoes I'm in... didn't let a single one of you die."

Except one.

"Ah, Gangrel. I have some intelligence on the boy. He rose to the throne in the recent years, as he is a distant scion of the royal Plegian family. I've been keeping track on the Plegian family's state of affairs and..." Frederick left out the last part, having a good guess as to why Gangrel was an orphan. Chrom's father wasn't the most benevolent of warmongers after all.

"Milord, suspicious as Corrin may be, this is too real a threat to ignore," Frederick mused to Chrom. "That is a believable tale. Still, there are no signs of a border struggle. Those bandits were hardly uncommon. How do we know she isn't trying to use us as a proxy?"

"I don't know what that means. But I'm going to assume that you think I'm trying to bait Ylisse into a war. Once we get to Ylisstol and I have time to gather my thoughts, I pray I'll have more to give you. And I hope we'll have enough time."

"...We'll keep a close watch on you, Corrin. Your story may ring true, but it also has a lot of holes that I'd prefer to be filled."

"That's completely understandable, Frederick. Don't worry. I won't take as much as a step out of line until I have your trust."

"And what about after? Will you make your move, then?" the knight challenged.

Corrin deflated, her frown not too serious but still rather dejected.

"...You know what I mean. Jeez, you really haven't changed even through a war. Heh."


Wood of Ylisstol, Sundown


"So... I'm Exalt. At least, where you're from?" Chrom asked, eyes turned upwards toward the stars. The campfire between them was roaring a little too much thanks to Frederick's zealotry, but the warmth was comforting to stave off the cold outdoors. Lissa was fast asleep, and Frederick was taking first watch a stone's throw away.

I suppose I could tell them. Wait, no that's a horrible idea. Don't. Make something up.

"Correct," Corrin lied, "Exalt Emmeryn was never the Exalt in my world."

"Two years after the war." Chrom clued.

"...Right."

Uh oh.

"I see. I think I know what I have to do now."

"And what's that?"

"We have to stop Gangrel. We have to strike first. Before anyone gets hurt."

Corrin shot up, immediately shaking her head.

"Wait, no! That is exactly what Gangrel is trying to make you do! I think he wants you to justify another war!"

"And what choice would I be left with? That throne belongs to Emm, and she's the best Exalt Ylisse could have. If it means I get blood on my hands, just like my... father... I'll do it. Not just for Emm, for Ylisse."

Corrin took a pause, not sure how to handle the suddenly-invigorated prince. Chrom was brash, sure, but he wasn't bloodthirsty. What changed in those two years? Why did she have to be stupid and reveal everything she knew?

"Chrom, you aren't your father. I'm sorry it seems this way, but you have to let them make the first move. We can't bring Ylisse into another war. You saw how-"

The prince rose as well, staring through the fire to Corrin who looked upon him with pleading red eyes.

"And who are you to govern my actions? You are just a stranger-"

She grabbed his arm.

"A friend. I'm your friend, Chrom. Maybe not yet, but you and everyone else have been my closest companions for almost a year. We fought together, bled together. You have to trust me. I'll do the best I can to save Emmeryn, but you can't just run into Plegia swords drawn."

Chrom took a deep breath, nodding to himself. Slowly, Corrin let go, letting Chrom drop back to the ground without ceremony.

"So what do you propose we do? What good is one princess from the future?"

"Good enough."

"...Good enough," Chrom echoed.

Lucina.

A smile showed up on Corrin's face, the princess remembering the one who would be their true savior.

"But with two, I bet we'll have no trouble at all."


Robin opened his eyes for a brief second, and he recalled his surroundings. He was about to visit his Corrin's father, Garon of Nohr. A cruel man, yet powerful beyond words. Robin would show him what he had learned. Flora didn't know too much about him, but the two worked out a plan regardless. Robin was sort of good at impersonations, but that skill was about to be put to the test. Time to imitate his girlfriend.

His boots were light, not quite making the same metallic clang that Xander's or Leo's did. Still, they arrived at the throne room just the same. The doors swung open and Garon waited ominously upon the dark throne.

Phew, that's a big man. Alright, Robin, show him who's boss!

"Ah, so you made it here safely," the King laughed, stepping off his throne and using his great ax as a cane of sorts. Not that the hulking man needed it.

On second thought, don't piss him off.

"Yes Father," Robin tried to hide his smile, forcing himself to appear professional and curt. "Long have I wished to see you and Castle Krakenburg again."

I'm coming off a bit lame.

Garon smiled, and the gesture made Robin that much more uneasy.

"It is no doubt thanks to your diligence that you have come this far. I am told you are a warrior almost on par with Xander. You finally possess the strength to be an instrument of Nohr in this world. An instrument that the Hoshidans shall fear."

He... isn't suspicious?

"Is he ready for our war?" Camilla asked, concerned for her precious sibling.

"I appreciate your concern, Big Sister," Robin replied, "But I'm ready. I've bled the same as any of us. I want to kill the Hoshidans the same as any of you."

Eh, a little too strong and eager there. Tone it down, Robin.

"So be it," Garon decided. "And as a Nohrian Prince, you possess power blessed by the first dragons. And as such bearers of this divine flame, we will smite our foes with utmost ease. Your siblings have already proven themselves stewards of this power. I expect even more from you, Robin."

First dragons. Corrin... ah, I think I see things now. Her power is a pure manifestation of these 'first dragons.' I should be so lucky if I have anything to compare.

"I have trained to be the greatest warrior of Nohr," Robin boasted proudly. "I am aware of your expectations and I will not stop there."

"So it seems, boy. But do not feel confident in your abilities just yet. You have yet a proper weapon to bring Nohr's conquest..."

In a flash of light, a mysterious tome manifested in Robin's waiting hands. As soon as his skin met the bindings, Robin's head felt like it was going to split open and come undone all at once.

And then it spoke. Not the tome, but another voice deep within the recesses of his mind.

'Ah, my old friend. It's good to hold you again.'

Slightly uneasy now, Robin felt the pages, the power, and felt a cold chill run up his arms and spine.

"This... tome..." Robin muttered, not entirely comfortable.

"This is Expiration. It is infused with magic from another world. With the breath of a dragon at your fingertips, you will scatter the Hoshidans like pebbles to the tide."

'A dragon's breath. An apt description.'

"Thank you for the... generous gift, Father," Robin stuttered, still at a loss with the dark power in his hands and the voice within his head.

"Generous indeed," Leo noted, almost envious that he was no longer the 'sole' proprietor of royal magical tomes.

"Now let us see you breathe it! Guard, the prisoners!"

A Nohrian lancer nodded, pulling away the doors to reveal a number of Hoshidan captives. Almost instantly, a rapid string of shuriken embedded themselves in the soldier's face and he collapsed in a puddle of his own blood, even as smoke scattered from the doorway. A few moments later, Hoshidan samurai and a sole warrior with a club stood defiantly against the royals, waiting for the ninja who collected his last shuriken from the dead soldier just as the smoke faded.

"Such faith they have that they will survive," Garon taunted, "True Nohrians let the filth keep their weapons, all the more despair when we pluck defeat from them nonetheless!"

"Kaze? Rinkah?" Robin realized, feeling the dark corruption at his fingertips itch.

Corrin spared them. But how? This is a trial by combat. How am I-

"Now then, Robin. Let us see what the dragons have blessed my son with!"

Robin willed his body to move, sluggish as it was. He put down the tome, strapping the infernal thing by his waist and instead drawing his sword. To his surprise, Flora and Jakob rushed to his side, daggers drawn. Garon didn't react, only repeating his order.

"Kill them, Robin."

And then the headache returned, stronger than ever.


Northern Valm, Former Rigellian Territory


"It took so long to find the damn boy. What the hell kind of spell is he under?"

"What of it?"

"He is in no immediate danger, but... Well, he's going to be out of the picture for a while until the Shepherds find him. I can't be bothered to rescue him at the moment."

"Is he so pivotal to the plan?"

"It takes the mind of a genius to maneuver a hundred men through the entire continent of Valm without getting utterly erased-"

"Valentia."

"If you insist. Valentia. Regardless, a tactician that can lead a paltry force through enemy territory unhindered is rare."

"You said a hundred men. What kind of invading force is this? That is hardly a reconnaissance party."

"Well, the main army of Feroxians and Chon'sin serve as a decoy of sorts. While the Ylissean League draw away the main force, I suspect the Shepherds are the ones executing key strikes on strategic locations that have been abandoned."

"That sort of movement only works against a truly incompetent foe. Have my people truly fallen to such pathetic ineptitude?"

"It seems so. And that's why you're on my side, and not Walhart's."

Grima and Berkut stood atop a ridge, watching some Valmese soldiers laze about their drills.

"To think this is what became of old Castle Rigel," Grima sighed. "And look at that bumbling oaf atop the ramparts. The commander, see?"

"I do," Berkut said with a squint. "That worm was with Walhart when he bested me. It is a mage of sorts, though with a body like that I doubt it could be anything else."

The proud Berkut was once more his acclaimed self. Long gray hair- no longer matted and unkempt- flowed over his broad shoulders. While his cape and armor were still faded and tattered, nothing else was. A face more than two millennia old no longer held gaunt cheeks and withered skin, instead being restored to a strong jaw and keen, aged eyes. He looked more like a fifty year old warrior than an immortal guardian that he had been relegated to being.

Correction, Grima thought to himself. Berkut looked fit to sit atop the Valentian throne.

"If your 'Robin' has been abducted, that means the Valmese know their location. Look here," Berkut advised, unfurling the map he held by his side.

"Steiger. They took Steiger. They don't have the numbers to defend her. If I had to guess..." Grima trailed off, the tactician's mind within allowed to stretch. "Here."

"The Mila... tree? Is that what became of that thing?"

Berkut seemed suprised that Mila had any semblance left. Then again, he had been dwelling in Duma's temple for two-thousand years.

"That thing was one of my kin."

"I care not," Berkut replied. "You know well my opinion of your ilk."

"Yes, yes. I don't care much either, to be fair. But it seems a great tree has grown over her decayed corpse. A power necessary to our cause dwells at the summit. I suspect the Valmese have another stronghold there."

"And I assume there is an immediate need to reach that power?"

"This war is only a sideshow, Lord Berkut. You will be long dead, but this isn't the true conflict that awaits the people of this world."

The man shook his head, his gaze straight ahead.

"Like I said earlier, I only care to restore my homeland. What happens after is none of my concern. I will be dead, after all."

"Indeed. So tell me, Son of Rigel. What do you know of the Fire Emblem?"


Corrin snapped out of her trance as she sensed Lissa stir. Taking that as her cue, she glanced over at Chrom who was sitting upright, and Frederick who was dozing (and stomach growling) with silence.

"Hmm..." Chrom grumbled, and Lissa sat up too.

"I-is something wrong, *yawn* Chrom?"

"Something is stirring in the woodline," Chrom warned, rising slowly. With Falchion drawn, he walked slowly towards the trees beyond. "I'm gonna check it out."

"More bandits!" Lissa piped, joining her brother even as Frederick was woken by their noise.

"Mil-"

"We follow," Corrin ordered, to which Frederick nodded. "But at a distance. I don't know what's happening but I have a vague idea what it could be. We need to secure the road to Ylisstol first and foremost. Can I trust you to watch their backs?"

"I'd prefer to watch Milord's front," Frederick groaned, trudging onward.

Suddenly, Chrom stopped, and so did their following party. Chrom whispered something to Lissa, and suddenly she was running away. Chrom followed suit a few moments later, and that's when Corrin felt the earthquake.

Trees fell, rocks split, and the sky itself seemed to shatter. Corrin fell to the ground, propping herself up with Yato as the soil beneath her shifted into a great chasm. Frederick must have already ran towards Chrom because he was out of sight by the time she righted herself. Steadying herself onto her feet, Corrin began to run, her bare feet wobbling and nearly causing an ankle sprain ever few steps.

"And what- oof. What in the -aah! What is all this?!"

If Corrin had to guess, this was just like when Kana and Morgan had appeared. Actually, when any of these slight aftershocks occurred, a child escaping a dark future was soon to follow. If those were aftershocks... this had to be the epicenter.

Lucina!

With a knowing smile, Corrin ran. It took a lot of effort to catch up to Chrom and Lissa, especially with the ground shaking as it was. Magma shot up from around her and Frederick suddenly reappeared atop his horse. Grabbing Corrin by the arm, he hoisted her behind him and charged towards Chrom, shouting for them to keep running. Corrin turned, the chasm growing and following Frederick as his horse outran the split for now. With a few feet between his own and a generous plummet to certain death, the prince caught up to his sister and they sprinted side-by-side to outrun the falling mass of land. Barely avoiding getting caught, Frederick steered his horse left just as the chasm passed by. The cracking of earth was too loud for a warning to be called, so the only thing to do now was too ride as fast as horse and rider could.

"I can suppose Corrin can explain all this?" Chrom gasped as he made a mad dash away from the woods, ducking and weaving under branches and rocks. Lissa was in a bit of pinch, seeing as her dress did not let her extend her legs nearly as far. It was only a matter of time before she tripped and-

"Ah! Chro-"

Hearing Lissa's voice suddenly plunge several feet below, Chrom winced as he turned, only for the rushing chasm to consume him too. Lissa grabbed onto Chrom's falling body, her dress' metal frame conveniently caught between two juts of hot rock. Crunching his body upwards, Chrom somehow maintained another handhold onto a ledge, give or take sixteen or seventeen feet from the surface. So the two hung, as Frederick and Corrin watched helpless from above.

"It's only a matter of time," Frederick breathed, thinking frantically of how to save his liege and lady.

"Throw your lance and make a hold for them to grab down there," Corrin thought out, and Frederick looked at her in bewilderment. The flames didn't seem to help, and this was the closest Corrin had seen Frederick come to a state of panic.

"Are you mad? No human can make that jump, and even if they tried, their efforts would only send them even further down!"

Corrin nodded and watched as the chasm grew wider and wider over the ridge and towards Chrom and Lissa's confines. Twenty seconds at most before the two fell into the abyss.

"No human indeed," Corrin retorted, before leaping off Frederick's horse and allowing her cape to billow behind her. Acrobatically nabbing Frederick's lance and throwing it ahead of Chrom, Corrin's throw struck true, leaving a handhold for the prince to grab onto. Hearing the metallic ringing above him, Chrom understood and grabbed the shaft that was embedded in the rocks, pulling him and Lissa up another few feet.

"Milord!"

Chrom groaned as his grip on Lissa was faltering, and both arms were around the lance now as his finger strength gave out.

"Chrom! Ah!" Lissa narrowly avoided the magma that jutted up, only to see Corrin's shadow cast itself over them as she too leaped over the edge.

"Are you insane?" Chrom yelled, still holding for dear life. Corrin grinned as she grabbed a nearby ledge as she landed, much more nimble than the two below her. "You heard Frederick! No one could possibly jump ten feet and catch-"

"Let me have my moment, darn it!"

With a shout, Corrin's arm shifted into its dragon state and impaled the cliff face adjacent to Chrom and Lissa. With Corrin dangling by her own arm a few feet away, Chrom and Lissa barely had time to react before the cliff face started to tumble.

"Grab onto my legs," Corrin ordered, and Chrom hesitated as he swung his body for Lissa to grab onto Corrin's left leg. Once the princess had a steady grip on the Nohrian, Chrom shot himself up to do likewise on the right. Corrin struggled to hold herself up, being that an adult was dangling on either of her legs.

A shame for that Silver Lance. Those things are pricey.

Swinging her legs, Corrin felt her shoulder tear as her tendons began to falter one by one.

"This is gonna sting," the Nohrian winced, ripping her body upwards at such a pace that an audible pop was heard, signifying the dislocation of her shoulder. At the same time, wings sprouted from her back just as her arm had, and they would hopefully give the necessary boost to best that far gap. Corrin could never fly on her own like Nowi, but she could still control her wings after nearly a year of practice. One flap gave her a few more feet and at the apex of her jump, she kicked upwards. An agonizing few seconds later, Chrom and Lissa found themselves firmly upon solid ground, with Corrin squirming in pain right next to them. Frederick came swiftly and attended to all three of the rescued stragglers.

"Are you alright, Milord?"

"I'll live. Lissa?"

"All good here. Wow, Corrin, you're... Corrin?"

Chrom shook off his initial nausea and stared at Corrin, who despite her pain, was smiling in slight thrill.

"Forget about me, Frederick," Chrom hobbled over to Corrin and helped her up. "Are you alright?"

His blue eyes stared deeply into her red ones and slowly but certainly, a soft grin spread from the prince's lips-

Olivia, Robin, save me from this rather handsome man.

Corrin rapidly shook her head, the pain in her shoulder coming back quickly.

"Well," Chrom coughed, clearly as flustered. "Let's get out of here. The earthquake stopped, but I still sense our night's not quite over."

Meanwhile, Lissa laughed and winked at Corrin, forcing the blushing princess to smile back. Though why was she rapidly looking between her and Chrom?

Oho, don't you dare, princess. I know all your pranks.

"That was awesome! If not scary."

"You're alright?" Corrin asked, struggling to her feet and rubbing her injured arm gingerly.

"I was terrified, but just until you rescued us!"

Of course, now that Corrin's standing was higher than Chrom's in Lissa's twisted head, the little princess looked down upon her puny brother in mock disgust.

"And here lies Chrom; what's the point of all your 'training' if you can't even pull us out of a darn hole!" Lissa whined, punching Chrom in the shoulder even as she gestured suggestively at the unaware Corrin, who was dusting herself off and examining the rest of her body for additional injury.

"Ooh, about that!" Lissa yipped, cleric senses activated. Her eagerness was replaced with a frown, realizing that her healing staff had fallen into the abyss just as Frederick's lance had. "Oh."

Add a healing staff to the shopping list. Yikes, this is getting expensive.

Corrin sighed. Her good arm was out for the foreseeable future, Frederick was weaponless, and Lissa was useless. Chrom would have to fight everything with Falchion and nothing else... She still had Yato, but no one else could use it, right?

And to top it all off, the first of the Risen began to drop in in front of them.

But so did Lucina.