Beruka and Kellam - The Phantom Pain

"Did the assassin pick up the dead drop?"

"Yes sir. Our contact should be informed of her mark by now."

"Excellent, most excellent..."

Iago nodded slowly in his chair, finding himself content with his schemes at the moment.

Being in Valm still had some getting used to, but the Conqueror's style of command resonated quite fluidly with the ways of Nohrian warfare. Iago was still rather surprised that the hulking beast of a man that was Walhart would ally himself with Nohr mere hours after the supposedly mythical continent had risen from the depths of the Valmese Sea, but there were more trivializing events to handle, as surprising as that sounded.

...Like the whereabouts of the Nohrian soldiers that were supposed to engage the Hoshidans on the border, who mysteriously disappeared after reports of 'blinding displays of magic and dark sorcery' were witnessed. What was interesting was that a small segment of the Hoshidan force vanished as well, essentially robbing both countries of their crown royalty and elite soldiers.

The common denominator in both of these incidents was a group known only as the 'Shepherds.' Who they were, what they did, and how they affected the situation were widely disputed by the witnesses until the Nohrians could connect their own speculations with the historical events of the Ylissean militia over the past year. The Valmese provided this information after their prompt armistice-turned-alliance, which gave Iago the means of speculating just what the group of soldiers could have been, and how they related to the disappearance of Nohr's finest.

These 'Shepherds' as they called themselves seemed to be a somewhat competent force, easily trailblazing through the Plegian deserts in the span of a very pop-and-go campaign. Considering that they originated from a country that did not have its own standing army, the Shepherds made quick work of an entire Plegian army, using cunning minimalism, demoralization (apparently their own queen sacrificed her life in a display of appealing to the weaker wills of the Plegian army), and a strategic aggression which could only be described as a suicidal charge. Not even 30 soldiers bravely (foolishly) charged against a militarized nation, and the few won. If this was the solitary force that was responsible for abducting two groups of foreign nations, truly the Shepherds were worth the effort of trifling with.

This was where Nohr came in. Seeing that an entire continent's worth of land was now in the way of the area he wished to impose upon, Walhart had tactfully agreed to Garon's terms of temporary allegiance, if only to get rid of one country that juxtaposed itself between him and the Ylissean front. Hoshido could be trampled, both Garon and Walhart agreed upon a political meeting in Nestra, which meant free reign to Ylisse and more importantly, Plegia and their Grimleal.

With three countries in the way of the Shepherds returning back home, Nohr would commence its war on Hoshidan soil, even without their royalty heading the battles. Iago would be the field commander for Nohr, both distracting the Shepherds long enough to stall them, and spearhead the campaign into Hoshido. His third mission, one that Garon had insisted was the most important one, was to discover the whereabouts of the Nohrian royalty and the soldiers they had under their command.

When the Valmese and Nohrians had attempted a light invasion on the Shepherd camp, their scouts hadn't reported any signs of the Nohrians; only Hoshidans and Ylisseans. They assumed that Prince Xander and the rest of his men were being held prisoner, either in the Shepherd camp, or elsewhere. In the guise of a rout, the Nohrians and Valmese retreated, their mission accomplished. There were no Nohrians allying themselves with the Shepherds, that much had been clear, Iago had come to believe.

So when the assassin that Iago had frequently tasked with executing marks had resurfaced near the Nohrian border, the same assassin who was Camilla's retainer, Iago immediately pounced on the situation. If Beruka had been among the Nohrians at the time of their disappearance, then surely something must have been amiss. Not taking foul-play out of the equation, Iago was thinking more along the lines of escape. Corrin, who no doubt was behind the Nohrian kidnapping, must have orchestrated this whole fiasco, seizing control of all four Nohrian princes and princesses under the illusion of... what, exactly?

Iago knew from the start that Corrin was nothing but a filthy traitor. But to capture the Nohrian elite? Surely this girl had a mind for tactics, if anything. After all, he had taught the girl himself for a while, so it was to be expected. The girl had a soft heart and a weak will as a child, surely not suited for the glorious campaigns that Nohr waged. He was surprised that she even survived Shirasagi, of all the things that she had gone through and failed miserably before.

But now, she was trapped in the Northern Fortress, lost in her own dreams, with Robin right under Iago's own doorstep. Both of them were incapacitated, though the latter had started to rapidly lose vital levels ever since Morgan had come for him, so the white-haired devil had to be attended to constantly to keep him alive.

Which left Beruka his only dependable means of figuring out the Shepherd's true intentions. Where were the Nohrians, and why haven't they tried to escape, just as Beruka claimed to have done?


"Our scouts are looking at a single wyvern and her rider bearing towards our vector, sir," Subaki reported, interrupting Robin, Leo, and Takumi's late-night tactics meeting. With the march towards Valm less than 10 hours away, Robin felt it necessary to get their brightest minds in one room for an hour or two before it was back on the road again. At least, that's what Robin would have done, if not for the fell dragon acting in his stead.

"Good. That should be Beruka... she is returning from Nohr from her assignment," Leo replied, relieved. Robin looked at the Nohrian curiously.

"What? When did this happen?" Leo realized that Robin was not here when they sent Beruka out, being that she was the only Nohrian that could safely travel to their homeland due to their allegiance with the Shepherds.

"We... spun some lies throughout the area," Takumi explained, "as soon as we heard news that the Nohrian and Hoshidan continent had emerged from the Valmese Sea. This was right after your kidnapping, mind you."

"What... kind of lies?" Robin asked curiously.

A whisper campaign? These boys are clever. Would be interesting to see them at work without my interference.

"Firstly, seeing that Nohr is bordering the Valmese empire now, we had to spread misinformation that we," Leo explained, "we being Xander myself, and everyone Nohrian, were under captivity by Shepherd forces. Makes us look less like unwitting traitors and more like prisoners. Of course, the size of the enemy combined with the multiple duplicitous falsities we whispered... Let's say they won't have any solid leads for a while."

The tactician understood Leo's ruse and followed along, thinking back on how clueless Iago's cronies were when they gathered intel on the Shepherds after the kidnapping of his human counterpart.

"Ah, that would be bad if the wrong sort of news emerged," Robin realized. "But how about that battle? Were you not fighting alongside us when I was gone?"

"We were, but with disguises. They were... a hassle to make, but with a thorough dose of magic and ninja trickery, not a single Nohrian was there to be reported." Robin raised an eyebrow, highly doubtful that the distinctly Nohrian personas of the army could just... disregard genetics.

"I highly doubt they were that good."

"They were that good," Takumi reassured. "Blondie here made an ugly Hoshidan, but he looked just like a Hoshidan nonetheless." Leo winced and closed his eyes briefly, but smiled it off and nodded in sullen agreement. "Would've fooled me if I didn't already know the plan."

"Yes... as my Hoshidan counterpart so aptly put it, we were not Nohrian upon scrutiny, let alone the heat of battle. Ninja arts are not to be trifled with," Leo stated, "and neither is old Nohrian witchcraft. Nyx knows quite a bit on changing one's appearance, considering she is locked in a curse of her own. Like I said, the process was lengthy, but well founded. Not even our own countrymen recognized us in the heat of battle." Robin seemed to nod in agreement, not pressing the issue further, but instead migrating to larger dilemmas.

"I see... I have avoided this rather large wyvern in the tactical room thus far... but I suppose now's as good a time as ever to address it. How exactly is our Nohrian element going to handle facing off against their own countrymen?"

"We tried to kill as little of them as possible," Leo sighed, "But it was inevitable. We joined you out of fear and desperation... but now that our own country is in the way, not to mention my father... I don't know how we can weasel by any longer... Nohr is going to stand in our way of slaying Grima, as if Valm and Hoshido won't. I'm afraid... we may have to part ways soon. I will not willingly harm my own countrymen if I can help it. I may not speak for Corrin or Xander, but I agreed to this crusade for the glory and future of Nohr. Not its downfall."

"Ryoma and I can get negotiate our passage through Hoshido simply enough... but Valm and Nohr are nothing to just sneak past," Takumi added.

If I wanted to sneak you past, I wouldn't have dropped those countries here in the first place. Everything happens for a reason. When you're a dragon maintaining the balance of the universe, your reason is synonymous with your will.

"We're already a few weeks away from Valm," Robin decided. "Dealing with the immediate threat should allow us our full attention to divert to Nohr and Hoshido, and our eventual return to Ylisse. As for now... good work. I'm taking things from here."

"Beruka should be coming back with news within the next few minutes," Leo continued, "Any moment now, considering the Hoshidan scouts saw her flying this way."

"Very well. Are you sure you two can stay up past your bedtime? We are setting quite a brisk pace tomorrow," Robin jabbed lightly, relaxing in his chair with a light smile. Takumi and Leo chuckled but nodded in agreement.

"It would behoove us to get to sleep soon," the Nohrian advised. "The Nohrians have to rise early to reapply our disguises."

"And I really should get a horse or pegasus or something," Takumi grumbled. "20 miles a day on foot is nothing to laugh at."

Not a second later, Beruka opened up the tent, saluting quickly before placing a handwritten report on the desk the three Commanders were using.

"Ah, there you are," Leo greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"Yes," the assassin answered levelly, standing by the doorway. Leo stared at her blankly before sighing and taking the note.

"I suppose that means your alive," Leo groaned, before opening up the letter. "Hmm..."

"Allow me?" Robin asked, while Takumi peeked over the taller Commander's shoulder to read the note as well.

As you are well aware, the entire continent of Nohr and Hoshido seemed to have followed the path of our royals, emerging in the middle of a land unknown but just as promising as our eastern neighbor. Over the course of the last few days, Nohr has allied with the Valmese Empire, a power considerable in strength and similar in ideologies. Led by the man known as Walhart the Conqueror, any troop flying his banner are to be considered temporary allies of the Nohrian Kingdom. I am uninformed of your current comings and goings, but if what the Valmese are saying is to be believed, then our utmost priority is the securing of our Crown Prince Xander, and the other three siblings.

Under my jurisdiction, the former princess of Nohr, Corrin, has been deemed a traitor to the Nohrian crown, and will be sentenced to execution once our plans have proved fruitful. We have reason to believe that she is a major factor in both the disappearance of our royals and the abrupt relocation of our continent. Whether this was through pagan magics or something more sinister, will be determined after all our information is compiled.

"That's not good," Leo gulped. "He already has Corrin in his custody... we have got to find her... and fast."

"Perhaps splitting up may prove useful-" Takumi suggested, which Robin was quick to shut down.

"No. We can't risk our Nohrian's cover being blown, as fragile as your disguise is at the moment. Not that it's going to get any stronger with time, but we have to take advantage of this whisper campaign. Once they figure out our truth, we won't be able to move as straightforwardly."

Plus, I know where Corrin is already. And Robin, that poor sod, trapped in a dream-Valla with Azura. They'll learn their parts soon enough, and wake up to a scattered Valm.

"I agree," Takumi admitted. "But Robin's right; Nohr will find out soon enough, if they haven't already."

"I would suggest Nohr to stay until Walhart falls. That way, we can blend in with the routed Valmese and retreat safely to our country with a likely cover," Leo theorized.

"And what that sort of cover be?" Robin inquired.

"I... I am not sure, yet," Leo admitted. "But if we can keep up appearances as Ylissean prisoners instead of co-conspirators against Valm, that will make things a lot easier until Walhart falls."

"We shall elaborate on this later," Robin sighed. "Let's get to finishing Beruka's report..."

Aside from the retrieval of Prince Xander, Princess Camilla, Prince Leo, and Princess Elise, our next issue would be the handling of the militia group known as the Shepherds. You are no doubt familiar with them, if the rumors that the Shepherds are responsible for all this are to be believed. It is pure speculation but it seems that the traitor Corrin encouraged the Shepherd's hand. It is clear that she is an enemy of Nohr, and therefore striking at Nohr's infrastructure would be her course of action.

Thus, I am contracting you with a mark, as per the usual standards.

Your mission parameters are free, as we still do not have many names of the Shepherd's ranks. What we know so far is that the Hoshidans are potential allies of the Shepherds, even bolstering their numbers. We are in possession of two of the heads of this cunning snake, Robin and Corrin, who are both-

"What?" Takumi wondered, reading over the last bit. "Robin? I know that we don't have Kamui back yet, but Robin..."

"Uh," Robin craned his head in acting fascination, "That's news. Last I heard, I escaped quite dramatically."

"When did Iago give you this contract?" Leo asked, turning to Beruka. "You've been roaming free since we heard that Nohr and Hoshido were in the Valmese Sea, which was... what, three days ago?"

"You are correct. You ordered me to monitor the Nohrian command for the last three days, hence my report."

"I see," Leo continued. "And I'm taking it our misinformation is manifesting with clear effect." Beruka nodded again, not saying a word. "Perhaps to such an effect that Iago does not know that his own prisoner escaped from under his own nose."

"I saw the cell myself," Beruka clarified. "Commander Robin is under constant surveillance of the Valmese and Nohrian guards. This was 7 hours ago, before I flew back to the camp."

Leo and Takumi turned to Robin, who scratched his head in innocence.

"They had me in chains, and the only people I saw were the ghosts in my dreams. You," Robin added, pointing at Takumi, "were one of them."

"I don't get this," Leo sighed. "What is Iago playing at? Does he know that we have abandoned Nohr to fend off Walhart and Grima, with Robin at our command? Why does he claim that he has him in his cell?"

"I do not think so, Prince Leo," Beruka replied. "He thinks that Ylisse and Hoshido have conspired a plan to invade Nohr, with Commander Corrin at its forefront. He is aware of something, but not entirely, and certainly not our ulterior motive. Commander Robin... I still do not understand. Was that some sort of magical ruse to suggest that he still had Robin in his custody?"

I always end up leaving a loose end around somewhere...

"We'll sort this out on the way," Robin decided. "When can we send you back out into the field?" Takumi cocked his eyebrow and looked at the tactician curiously.

"Hmm? Robin, we're stepping off tomorrow morning. Wouldn't it be better to wait a few days until we send her back to Nohr?"

"Clearly, your misinformation mission has succeeded," Robin explained. "Why not capitalize on your enemy's confusion while we can? Once they discover that Nohr is part of our band of merry men, Beruka would be useless in her position. Which is why we need her out there as soon as possible."

"I am ready," Beruka reported, "but my wyvern is exhausted. It will take a few hours, at most, and then I can report back to Iago, or Nohrian command in Windmire."

"Risky if they catch on to our slights while you're en route," Robin mused. "But I'm assuming you can handle yourself behind enemy lines. We need to stay informed if we want to maintain our tactical edge."

"As you command," Beruka nodded. "As long as the story remains the same, I can adapt to whatever Nohr thinks is happening out here."

"Let's finish this missive first, as outdated as it seems." Robin decided. "Then we'll see how to best proceed."

We have acquired the name of one of the Ylisseans, who is a key member of the Shepherds. It is a rather disconcerting foe to be faced against, but we are confident in your abilities as both a superior fighter and a Nohrian assassin.

We know not his appearance nor his role in the Shepherds, but we have a dossier of what information the Valmese spies could derive of this man.

He is an Ylissean by the name of 'Kellam.' We know little on his capabilities aside the fact that he has been the vanguard of every Ylissean campaign since the militia's involvement in the Plegian war. One would think that he would be as well-announced a foe as Exalt Chrom or Tactician Robin, but over the four years that he has been with the Shepherds, we have next to nothing. Some claim to have seen him in battle, only for him to disappear into thin air without the use of any implement. Others report that an invisible wall stood between them and their quarry, followed subsequently by unannounced stab wounds or the complete hindrance of their movements.

No matter, we believe it is a priority to have this man not stand in our way any longer. If a man that can disappear at will is on a force that has kidnapped our royals, it is prudent that he is silenced.

Make it happen, and return when it has been done. Make sure to give an update on the Shepherds if possible, and the location and condition of our princes and princesses.

-Iago, Commander of the Nohrian Army

Robin immediately bursted out in laughter, causing the three others to stare at him in bewilderment.

"Robin, what are you..."

"H-he wants to kill Kellam?" Robin snorted, "Oh, such high, pitiful dreams of an inferior opponent..." The novelty wearing off quickly, Robin excused himself before regaining his composure. "Ah, I apologize. I should take your mark seriously, shouldn't I..."

"Yes," Beruka scowled, "I will kill Kellam, and report back to Iago to continue our espionage."

Robin looked at the assassin in disbelief, not knowing whether to take her seriously or not. Seeing that she wouldn't budge, he assume she was hell-bent on ending Kellam's life.

"Uh, you realize that Kellam is in our army? Your army?"

"That is a myth," Beruka dismissed. "I have never seen this ghost, and I will prove to Iago that he does not exist-"

"By ending his existence," Robin stated, half humored but not enough to actually laugh. "You're going to kill one of our own Shepherds to appease our enemy."

"I must maintain their suspicions," Beruka replied flatly, still not seeing Robin's qualms.

"Does... Kellam even exist?" Takumi whispered, prompting Leo to shrug.

"I have never seen him before, yet hear rumors of his actions. Beruka, are you sure you can even find this... phantom?"

"Oh gods, you guys are serious," Robin said through tears, putting his head in his arms in sorrow. "What the hell is wrong with this army? You guys sounded like I could actually take you seriously not even five minutes ago..."

"Do not worry," Beruka reassured. "I will find Kellam, and end this rumor once and for all. Once I fulfill this mark, I will report back to Iago and get up-to-date intelligence."

"So... ahem... let me get this straight," Robin, in a sheer force of will of not cracking up into laughter, asked, "You want to kill one of our own soldiers, who may or may not exist according to your 'judgements,' just for the sake of fulfilling the enemy's contract?"

"Yes," Beruka replied, just as level as ever. "I always silence my marks. It is my duty as an assassin."

"So," Robin continued, "let's disregard the fact that you are, and have been a Shepherd for the last year. You are going to kill someone who you don't even believe exists and somehow..."

"It is a daunting task, even I shall admit," Beruka said with conviction, "but the job must be done, no matter the cost. I will go now, and report back as soon as I can."

Robin didn't bother stopping her, so lost in his laughter that he didn't see her walking out the tent with a determined grimace.

I'm never going to understand these buffoons, no matter how many universes I watch them... And this is just my first...


There was supposed to be a page dedicated to Kellam in the Shepherd roster, but when Beruka had opened up the book to find her mark, she instead was met with an empty sheet of paper. The ink seemed to have faded into obscurity, and yet the next page was completely normal. It couldn't have been interfered with, because the roster was in the middle of the war tent, which meant it was always under constant guard. What was this?

Closing the book in defeat, Beruka turned instead to the tent set up, seeing where he would be camped...

He wasn't there either, she realized, shutting the book and cursing her premonitions. Clearly, this 'Kellam' was a wily foe that covered his own tracks well enough to put doubts into any who questioned his existence.


The guards on duty watched as Beruka went from tent to tent, seeming to ask a question to the sleeping denizens within before retreating back into the shadows of the night. She was methodical, swiftly manifesting from door to door without much trace of her traversing.

"What do you think she's up to?" Gaius wondered, turning to his partner on guard duty, Saizo. The ninja didn't say a word, instead scanning her movements.

"She is looking for someone."

"How do you know? We can't hear her."

"The way her eyes dart around after leaving each tent. It is clear that she is searching for one of our own." Gaius' frown deepened and he questioned his fellow guard contemplatively.

"How do you even see that far? I mean, does having one eye-"

"Be silent."

"Should we help her?"

"No."


Beruka frowned as she couldn't divulge from any Shepherd the location of Kellam. Lissa claimed the last time she saw him was on the Valmese beaches, while Stahl was certain they left him in Ylisse. Odin wondered if the Shepherds left him behind on the Hoshidan plains when the Shepherds first met the Hoshidans and Nohrians. Others weren't too sure on Kellam's existence in the first place. And yet others looked at her as if she were crazy, telling Beruka that Kellam was sleeping... right over...

"Where did he go, anyway..."

Scratch that, no one knew where Kellam was.

Either way, Beruka was running out of contacts to fulfill the mission, and she was running out of time. The Shepherds would be up in a few more hours...

"Any luck yet?"

The assassin turned to see Robin standing behind her, trying his darnedest to hide his grin.

"None, commander," Beruka apologized. "How can one soldier prove so crafty in his wiles? To cover up his tracks and yet be among our ranks all this time. I hate to say it, but I am outmatched."

"Indeed you are," Robin chuckled, "if I've had Kellam follow you this whole time."

"W-what," Beruka turned and found herself face-to-face with...

Nothing.

"Why do you want to kill me?" a voice asked, causing her to jolt in surprise. It came from right in front of her, yet...

"H-how is this manner of stealth even possible?" the Nohrian gasped, both in surprise and in curiosity.

"I've been training under Saizo's tutelage. I figured that someone like me'd make a pretty good ninja. I've been following you ever since you came back, actually."

"Haha, the look on your face," Robin snorted, "Well, you know what to do, Beruka. But will you do it? I am genuinely curious."

"I will not relent on the mission," Beruka insisted, drawing her short hand ax and confronting the whisper of a man in front of her. "I will strike you down for Commander Iago, and for the preservation of Lady Camilla-"

"It's the stuff like this that makes me question whether you're on our side or not," Robin admitted in a seemingly relaxed tone. "Ah, I'll never get you guys. Do as you will! Kellam, you have your orders."

"R-right!" the Ylissean responded, giving his full attention to Beruka.

"Will you draw your blade?" she asked, not wanting to give her seemingly mythical comrade a dishonorable death.

"Of course not. You're my ally, and Robin gave me something better to do. He... also said you'd be pretty hard to convince, so..."

Beruka felt the ax in her hand get knocked away and was met instead by a man who seemingly appeared out of thin air.

"Neat trick, right? Saizo taught me that. Just... without the smoke bomb."

"H-how-"

"I still don't understand why you want to kill me," Kellam admitted, still at an uncomfortable position, "but I still think you're pretty cool. Robin told me to come with you to Iago's stronghold, because that's what your mission entailed, right?"

"I am supposed to kill you," Beruka corrected.

"Well, that's not going to happen," Kellam sighed, "But I think I know how we can both win."


"Commander Iago, the assassin has returned, with a prisoner."

A prisoner? Iago rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and hobbled over to his study. Beruka rarely took hostages. But if it meant that he could get his hands on Kellam, who even without his abilities was still a pivotal piece of the Shepherds, he wasn't complaining.

"Send her in."

Beruka and a taller individual were escorted into the room, with Beruka bowing slightly and the prisoner being led in in chains.

"This is this... 'Kellam?'" Iago asked curiously, not seeing anything special from this rather tall man. In fact, he was taller than most in Valm, besides maybe some of his border guards and King Garon himself.

"Yes, sir," Beruka answered, kicking in Kellam's knees from behind and forcing him to the ground. "You will answer Commander Iago's questions, honestly and thoroughly."

"O-or... what," the Ylissean gritted, not too pleased at having his face pinned to the carpet.

"You will end up like your commander," Iago answered. "Minus the beating heart."

"Y-you'll never get anything out of me."

"No, of course not," Iago mused. "That is why you'll be telling me everything." Reaching to his side, he pulled out his tome, ancient and worn, but still very deadly.

"Ginnungagap, the primordial void," Iago recited. "I can start an entire new universe between your ribs. I wonder how that'd feel?"

Seeing Kellam's voice contort in fear, the Nohrian hid his smirk if only for a moment.

"F-fine. I'll talk. What do you want?"

"Where is Prince Xander and his younger siblings?"

"They are our prisoners."

"Oh?" Iago repeated in mock surprise. "This is news! I do not like that answer very well, though." Kellam hunched over as Iago's spell worked its magic deep into his chest, causing an agonizing feeling of seperation.

"Care to... elaborate? The Shepherds could be anywhere. Well, we already know where they are. But where could our little Nohrian royals be? Will you... tell me? Or do I get to recite another page in my tome?"

"G-gh... They... t-they are being held in the Longfort. R-regna... Ferox," Kellam sputtered out, clearly not enjoying whatever the hell was happening between his ribs.

"Regna Ferox..." Iago mused, looking over to his map of Valm, then finally over the now-incorrect sea and into Ylisse. Regna Ferox was their neighbor, so it seemed.

"I see..." Iago sighed. "That's quite a ways away... And Hoshido is in my path. So be it. Beruka, take him to the cells for questioning."

"Yes sir," Beruka replied blankly, leaving the room and hauling Kellam by the neck.

"Captain," Iago called out, hearing the sound of the Nohrian-Valmese officer standing outside. "Ready the Faceless and our ground troops. We are going to jump the arrow a little. Prep your men for snow-acclimation. Make way for Regna Ferox."


Beruka threw Kellam into the cell, before kneeling down as if to mock him more as the rest of the guards left them. Seeing her coast clear, she silently untied Kellam's binds.

"T-thanks for that," Kellam coughed, still in a slight bit of pain. "This stuff is fun! Much better than being an invisible wall... I'll meet you guys at the rendezvous!"

"Acknowledged," Beruka nodded, slipping a key into Kellam's sleeve before she locked his cell shut. "We will meet again."

"Alrighty!" Kellam exclaimed, slowly rocking to a sitting position, stretching his arms around as he simultaneously disappeared. "Let's get to work."


"The prisoner is safely secured," Beruka reported, handing a report to the guard. "See to it that Commander Iago is informed. And do not let the hostage out of sight. He has been trained by the finest of Hoshidan ninja, along with personal magics. He can easily escape."

"Aye, mercenary," the guard scoffed, taking the report gruffly before leaning back in his chair as Beruka exited the Fortress. Passing the cell she recognized earlier, she was surprised to see that what had appeared to look like the Robin under captivity was now just an empty cell. Had he been moved?

Judging it as unwise to ask Iago, she decided to make do with what she had and saddled up for the flight back to Windmire.

She hadn't been in the air five seconds before the alarm bell rang out, signalling Kellam's escape.


AN: Hopefully I start making a lot more sense in the coming chapters for you guys who are out of the loop. And if it hasn't been made apparent by now, Grima is in control of the Shepherds. Remember when Robin jumped in the Bottomless Chasm and Grima said that there was a change of plans? That's when he was rescued by Lucina and Kana, leaving Robin's body still in captivity in the Valmese fortress.

I'm going to be getting into Morgan and Azura's interactions a lot more, because I actually have something really cool and big planned out for the two schemers. I... still haven't figured out if she's married yet, though, as much as I want to pair Shigure with Morgan.

Good to see people are understanding the Roster tidbits a lot more now; it gives me a nice change of pace instead of writing the same convoluted plot under the guise of character interactions. But don't worry, character interactions and witty dialogue are still the heart of this story.

Judging by the amount of people PMing me to do something for Azurin week, I suppose I'll comply, seeing as I haven't done anything on our favorite dragon princess in a while. And sorry guys, no Yuri, just pure fluff and friendship, and possibly an explanation to the Morgan and Azura thing anyway.

What were the prompts for the Azurin week? I know it went something like

Bloodline

Weapon

Bed

Role Reversal

?

Rain

?

Anyway, I'll be pumping out the Corrin and Azura chapter out by tomorrow or something like that, and hopefully I can also explain Azura's motives and expand Corrin's character a bit - I'm horrible at writing characters, especially ones without any gimmicks like Robin and Corrin. Help.

Anyway, onto some Q&A

"How did Morgan know Azura's song?"

-Will explain in next chapter, along with why she sent those two and not Caeldori.

"Is Grima good or bad?"

-He's in it for himself and Naga. Thankfully, his plans align with 'Good,' for now. Bad Grima is still the dragon though, and will come when he comes.

"When is Lilith coming back?"

-When Corrin is rescued.

"When is Robin coming back?"

-Well, no one knows he's still in the fort aside from Beruka and Grima, so...

"Is Leo and Maribelle a thing?"

-Of course. Give it time to season with Lissa's tears.

"Are the Hoshidan/Nohrian kids from the future?"

-Kinda spoiling it, but yes, they are. The Justice Cabal kids are deeprealmed though, not future. I'm going to build on this. I was going to make them all come from the future, but it's too late for that now, and I gotta come up with something that connects both sets of kids together somehow.

"Why is everything so jumbled?"

-This story was originally created as a jumble of one shots and two shots, but eventually after a while I ran out of ideas and had to come up with some sort of plot as to why Nohr and Hoshido would work together, along with how and why they are in Ylisse. Yes, it is rather unproffessional and untidy to do everything in arcs with random stories juxtaposed between them, with no keen indicator of date.

And yes, the Corrin Azura chapter is probably going to mind-fuck all of you if I don't put in dates.

But do I do it with all the other chapters? Do I just put 'Day X' on the chapters that require it? I know the Roster handles it pretty well because it's rather disconnected from the plot and more focuses on interaction.

Anyway, let me know in the reviews or PMs and I'll see what I can do to keep this story from falling into shit.

Also:

WHY THE FUCK DOES NO ONE APPRECIATED THE DICKEN YOU GUYS ASKED FOR IT AND NO ONE ACKNOWLEDGES THE DICKEN. TAKUMIA I CAN UNDERSTAND, BUT THE DICKEN