Prologue The Verge of History
In a town south west of Ylisse
"Listen here old geezer hand over all the gold in this village and we promise not to take anyone's soul including your family," the leader of the brigands says with his hand in axe form ready to kill if the Elder of the village if he refused.
"N-NO! Pl-Please NO! Take anything you want, just leave the villagers and my family alone." the Elder says scared nearly to death by the berserker.
"Alright then boys you heard the geezer take all the gold you can carry," the leader shouts out to his men. As his back is turned on the elder, he tries to make a break for it only for the leader to grab him again. "I promised not to take your families and villages souls, I never said anything about yours."
"No! Please no!" the elder begged for his life as the leader rases his axe. The leader lets out an evil grin as he brings his axe down only for it to come in contact with a sword. The leader gives an irritated look at the one wielding it and then is surprised to see the brand of the exalt on his right shoulder.
"You know it's dastards like you that make me sick, never caring about the innocent, only about gold or taking peoples soul to make yourself powerful," Chrom says as he keeps the berserker's axe hand back with his sword. "Since I'm a nice guy I'll give you one chance to take your men and leave this village, refuse and I'll take your soul."
"Grrrrr, Why you," the leader growls as he lets the elder go and rases his axe hand to strike Chrom only for him to block the strike.
"Very well then. You made this choice not me," Chrom says as he slices the leader in half.
"Gaaahhhh, Damn...you," the leader says as he is ripped to shreds leaving only his evil soul. As Chrom stands upright three of the brigands show up behind Chrom.
"Damn you." the one on the right says.
"Your going to pay to for that you runt," the one in the middle says.
"I think not," a new voice says
The brigands look in the direction the voice came from to see a man in a light blue and gray armor welding a red lance charging at them with top speed on a horse. Before the brigands could react to this, the newcomer had striked each of them and killed them.
"Nice job you two," Chrom says as he tosses his sword up for his weapon partner Sumia to transform back.
"Thank you milord," Frederick replies as he tosses his lance up for his weapon partner to transform.
"Ha! It didn't really take much to kick the crap out of them," Ferderick's weapon partner Sully says as she consumes the souls of the brigands Frederick and her killed.
"Yeah," Chrom says as he hands the leaders soul to his partner Sumia. He then turns around to ask his younger sister something, "Hey Lissa are any of the villagers hurt?"
"No there fine," Lissa replies.
"Thats good. We should be on our way the-," Chrom begins but is interrupted as the Elder from before shows up.
"Oh bless you milord for saving the people of this village how can we repay you?" the Elder ask.
"There is no need to thank us in anyway. We are glad to help the citizens of Ylisse," Chrom replies. "Wish we could stay and chat but we must be leaving farewell."
-On the road to southtown
"*Sigh*"
"You alright Lissa?" Chrom asks his sis.
"Yeah, I just wish I had a meister partner to help me collect souls so I can become a divine weapon of Naga. Everyone is already at 50 or 60 including you and Sumia and I got none." Lissa replies.
"Hey now don't worry I'm sure you will find a meister partner soon," Chrom says tring to cheer Lissa up.
"Yeah, by that time everyone will already be divine weaaaahhhh!" Lissa is cut off as she trips.
"You alright Lissa?" Chrom ask.
"Yeah," Lissa replies.
"Haha funny its usually me who trips." Sumia says as she, Frederick, and Sully walk up to the price and princess.
Lissa lets out a giggle. "What did I trip over," she asks as Chrom helps her up.
"I believe you mean "who" milady," Frederick says as he helps dust the princess off
"Uhh," Lissa, Chrom, Sumia, and Sully look and see someone unconscious wearing a dark coat on the ground
"Fellow must have decided to take a nap on the road," Sully says as she crosses her arms
Lissa checks the unconscious man to see if he's alright. "Hmm, he seems fine must have just fainted."
Lissa attempts to wake the man up by giving him a soft shake. "Milady lets not wake him. We do not know rather he's an enermy or not," Frederick says.
"We can't just leave him here," Lissa responds, then she looks at Chrom who was using soul perception to look at the persons soul and was surprised to see how strong it was.
"Chrom, we have to do SOMETHING," Lissa says.
Chrom looks at Lissa. "What do you propose we do?" he asks her.
Lissa gives a worried expression. "I... I dunno..."
A groaning sound caught both of there attention and they look down to see the man waking up. "I see you're awake now," Chrom says.
"Hey there!" Lissa says.
"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground you know," Chrom jokes as he holds his hand out to help the man up. "Give me your hand."
The man reached out his hand and noticed a mark on there hand, but chose to ignore it as he took Chrom's hand and got up. He felt a little dizzy as he stood up.
"You all right?" Chrom ask the man.
"Y-yes," the man replies, "Thank you, Chrom."
"Ah, then you know who I am?" Chrom says.
"No, actually, I... It's strange... Your name, it just... came to me..." The man says unsure of himself.
"Hmm, how curious." Chrom seemed surprise at this. "Tell me, What's your name? What brings you here?" Chrom ask.
"My name is... It's... Hmm?," The man seemed to be having trouble remembering his name.
"...You don't know your own name?" Chrom ask surprised the man didn't know his name.
"I'm not sure if..." The man sayed as he began looking looked around. "I'm sorry, but where am I, exactly?"
"Hey, I've heard of this! It's called amnesia!" Lissa exclaims as she realizes whats wrong.
"Really? Sounds like a load of pegasus dung to me," Sully says as she crosses her arms.
"We're to believe you remember milord's name, but not your own?" Frederick says as he takes a step towards the man.
The man takes a step back out of fear of the kight. "B-but it's the truth!"
"What if it IS true, we can't leave him here alone and confused" Sumia says.
"She's right there, we wouldn't be worthy of being rank 3 Shepherds if we did that," Sully says.
"I know, but I must emphasize caution. 'Twould not do to let a wolf into our flock." Frederick replies.
"Right then- we'll take him to southtown and sort this out there," Chrom says
"Wait just one moment," the man says, "Do I have a say in this?"
"Peace, friend-I promise we'll hear all you have to say back in town," Chrom says to calm the man.
The Shepherds and the man begin walking to town while on the way the man was wondering who he was and where he was at and what they were going to happen to do to him. He decided to ask after a while of thinking. "What will you do with me? Am I to be your prisoner?," he asked Chrom, who he assumed was the leader of the group.
"Hah!," Chrom laughs then stops walking and turns to look at the man and replies, "You'll be free to go once we establish you're no enemy of Ylisse."
The man gaved a confused look at the name Ylisse. "Is that where we are? Ylisse?," he asks.
You've never heard of the halidom? Ha? Someone pay this actor. He plays quite the fool!" Frederick says while laughing
Sully lets out a smirk and adds in, "That furrowed brow makes it look more convincing."
"You two please." Sumia says as she turns to face the man, "This land is the Halidom of Ylisse."
"Our ruler, Emmeryn, is called the exalt." Chrom says. He then realizes that he and the others forgot to introduce themselves to the stranger. "I suppose proper introductions are in order... My name is Chrom- but then, you already knew that, my weapon partner there is Sumia Falchion. The delicate one here is my little sister, Lissa."
"I am NOT delicate! ...Hmph!" Lissa yells at her brother then turns toward the man. "Ignore my brother, please. He can be a bit thick sometimes. But you're lucky the Shepherds found you. Brigands would've been a rude awakening!"
"Shepherds? You tend sheep? ...In full armor?" the man asks
"Heh, it's a dangerous job. Just ask Frederick the Wary here and his weapon partner Sully the red weapon triangle." Chrom says gestering towards Frederick and Sully.
"A title I shall wear with pride. Gods forbid one of us keeps an appropriate level of caution." Frederick says. "I have every wish to trust you, stranger, but my station mandates otherwise."
"I understand, sir. I would do no less myself. My name is Robin," the man, now identified as Robin, says surprised that he remembered his name. "...I just remembered that. How odd. I suppose that's one mystery solved.
"Robin? Is that foreign?" Chrom ask, "...Ah, well. We can discuss it later. We're almost to town. Once we-
"Chrom, Look! The town!" Lissa exclaims as she points at the town up ahead.
Chrom and everyone look towards where she was pointing to see the fire coming from the town.
"Damn it! The town is ablaze! Those blasted brigands, no doubt..." Chrom says in rage at seeing the town ablazed. "Everyone! Quickly!"
"What about him?" Frederick ask refering to Robin.
"Unless he's on fire as well, it can wait!" Chrom replies as he signals Sumia to transform.
"Aptly put, milord." Frederick says as he signals Sully to transform as well
"Let's go already!" Lissa says as they take off towards the town leaving Robin behind.
"But what about- Hmm..." Robin begins but stop as they run off. He then realize he has a bronze sword with a rope tied to it and a tome. He thinks for a moment then decidesto run after them.
-Southtown-
"Gwa ha ha! Get to it, lads!" Garrick, leader of the brigands, commands. Grab anything shiny, and put the rest to the torch! And don't forget to take some souls while your at it! We gots an example to set for these Ylissean types! Ain't that right, lass?" He look at a women he has corner.
"S-stay away from! Please! Someone! HEEEEEEELP!" the maiden shouts terrified
Chrom, Frederick, along with there weapon partners and Lissa arrive and find a few human souls floting around.
"Chrom, we have to stop them!" Lissa says as she uses her staff to seal the souls so they couldn't be consumed.
"Don't worry- after today, these bandits won't be bothering anyone ever again..." Chrom replies
"Wait!" someone shouts from behind them.
"Isn't that..." Sumia begins
"Robin!" Chrom finish. "You followed us! Why?" Chrom askes surprised to see him.
"I...I'm not certain myself. But I'm armed, and I know my way around a fight, if you'll have me." Robin replies.
"Of course- strength in numbers. Just stay close!" Chrom says.
"But remember, Robin, we face practiced thieves and murderers. They will grant us no quarter." Frederick says.
"So it's kill or be killed, got it?" Sully adds in.
Robin nods in response and takes out his bronze sword and thunder tome which Lissa notices right away.
'He wields a sword and tome tied together, wow I wonder...' Lissa thinks to herself.
"I see you carry a sword... tied to a tome you know magic Robin?" Sumia asks as they are about to enter a battle.
"I...believe so?" Robin says as he opens the tome.
"You believe so? Perhaps I'll just keep a few paces behind you for the time being..." Chrom says.
"No, I can control it. Now, how did this work again? Ah, yes..." Robin says as he remembers.
"Milord theres 5 brigands on this side and 10 in front of the building across the bridge along with the leader," Frederick says after he used his soul perception to see the enermies.
"I see, lets deal with the 5 on this side before we take them." Chrom says.
"Right milord." Frederick says.
Frederick and Chrom get ready to charge as Robin launches a thunder at a myrmidon who takes the hit in the back of the shoulder, but it didn't cause much pain. The myrmidon charges at Robin and strikes at him with his sword but Robin blocks it with his sword. After blocking a few more attacks Robin grabs the rope and uses it to spin his sword around him so fast the myrmidon couldn't get close. Robin throws the sword at the swords man who dodges it and attempts to strike the rope but Robin pulls it back and tosses it again. The mymidon gets ready to block it but is shocked to see Robin pull it back and charge at him and try to strike at him again. The myrmidon holds it back with his sword. Robin then strikes the myrmidon with lighting from his thunder tome hitting him in the face makeing him take a few steps as he held his face with hand. Robin uses this opening to finish it striking his foe across the chest killing him. The mrymidon's body is ripped to shreds leaving only his soul. Robin look around to see how Chrom and Frederick were doing and spots Chrom fighting.
Chorm charges at a barbarian that had both his hands in axe forms. Chrom strikes at the barbarian and misses. He dodges to strikes from the barbarian and tries to counter attack but his attack is blocked by the barbarians two axe hands. Chrom notices another barbarian coming about to strike him he jumps back barely dodgeing both barbarians attacks. He puts some distance between him and them to catch his breath. One of the barbarians lets out a laugh as he transforms into a axe that the other one grabbed ready for round 2. The barbarian slams the axe on the ground causing the ground to break apart. Chrom jumped out of the way as it happened and charges towards the barbarian trying to strike him but he kept blocking and trying to get a strike in himself. Chrom jumps over the barbarian as he went to strike and hits the barbarian with his soul wavelenth. The barbarian coughs up blood as he falls foward he turns around and swings his axe partner at Chrom who grabs his arm and cuts him across the chest. As the man tumbles back both him and his partner swap positions. "Damn, should of seen that coming," Chrom says tiredly as he gets ready to face the next barbarian wielding his partner with his blood coming down the handle. The barbarian get ready to toss his partner but a tome tied to a rope wraps around his partners axe form stopping him from tossing it. He looks at Robin and grabs the rope and pulles on it hard enough to make Robin tumble over. When the barbarian's partner is freed from the rope he tries to toss it at Chrom again but is to surprised to see Chrom right there in front of him. Chrom strikes the barbarian killing him. His partner tries to strike him but stops his attack when he is hit with a thunder in the back. As Chrom is about to deliver the final strike a red lance with a mage and myrmidon at the blade comes out of nowhere and stabs him killing him along with the mage and myrmidon.
"Hehe. Sorry for taking your kill," Sully says as she transforms back and consumes the three souls.
"That takes care of the ones on this side milord the rest are on the other side," Frederick states as he walks up.
"I see. Where is Lissa?" Chrom ask looking for his sis.
"She's tending to some of the villagers wounds," Frederick replies.
"I see," Chrom says. He looks at Robin and says, "Still with us, Robin? We have another wave to go before were done"
"Yeah lets go," Robin replies as the three of them, along with Sully who transformed back into weapon form, run to where the leader of the brigands are. When they get to the bridge they notice the there are 5 more brigands there with their boss. "Seems like were going to have our hands full here."
"Yeah but at least we'll be having fun," Sully says as her reflection appears from her weapon form.
Robin lookes up at the buildings and at his sword to see it's almost busted. "My sword is almost busted and I'm not sure if I can handle myself in close combat with just a tome. So I'll provide support from on top of the buildings. You two take them from down." Robin says.
"Oh right," Chrom says. Robin climbs up a ladder to the top of the building and makes his way to the building the brigands and their leader is closest to. After spoting Chrom and Frederick, Robin grabbed the rope and used it to spin the Sword around as a signel to attack and to toss it at an brigand.
"Let's go," Chrom says as both him and Frederick charge towards the brigand.
"Well, well, seems the Shepherds have come to the slaughter!" Garrick says with a smirk. "Get to it lads, show them hell," he orders his men. The brigands charge towards Chrom and Frederick, some with there arms in weapon form and some weilding a partner. A barbarian was the in the lead until a sword with a rope stabs him in the back killing him then tossing him into some crates. The brigands and Garrick look for the person who did it and saw Robin on the building With a smirk. Two brigands are striked down by Frederick and Chrom. The brigands turned there attension to them and tried to dodge the sword and thunder strikes that came to them "Take care of those two I'll take care of this runt," Garrick goes to a ladder and climbs to the roof of the building Robin is on.
"He didn't think that though," Robin says as he kicks the ladder sending it down. But before it fell Garrick jumped off and grabbed the ledge and pulled himself up. "Great."
"Your going to pay for that cheap shot on one of my men runt," Garrick says as he turn his hand blue and sliver axe. He charges at Robin and strikes at him with his axe. Robin ducks and dodges the next strike and tries to hit Garrick with his sword but Garrick dodges and launches another strike which barely misses Robin's neck. Robin puts distance between him and Garrick by jumping back and launching thunder at him which Garrick blocked by hitting them with his axe. When Robin put enough distance in between them he started spinning his sword then tossed it towards Garrick. He dodged it then ran towards Robin who pulled his sword back and attempted to block Garrick's strike but to his dismay the sword broke when it made contact with Garrick's axe hand.
"Damn it," Robin says as he jumps back to dodge Garricks attack.
Chrom took down 4 brigands and Frederick took three and was dealing with a pair that swaped positions. "Milord it seems Robin's in trouble,"
After killing a myrmidon Chrom looks and sees Robin dodgeing Garricks strike and launching a few thunders at him. "We need to deal with these bastards fast and help him!"
"Allow us milord. Sully!" Frederick says
"Let's do it!" Sully replies as she turns from a lance to a Sword.
"SOUL RESONANCE!" Frederick and Sully shout. Sully's sword form begins to glow bright red.
"AAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!" Frederick swings Sully's sword form sending out a red sword beam striking the brigands killing all but two, which happened to be a weapon pair. "Go milord we'll take care of these scum."
"Right." Chorm says as he runs to help Robin. The brigand tries to strike Chrom but jumps back when Frederick attemped to strike him down. Frederick swings Sully in her weapon form as she transforms into her sword, axe, and lance forms making it hard for the brigand to come up with a plan to attack. The brigand jumped back and tried to strike Frederick, but Frederick catches his arm weilding his axe and stabs him in the chest and swings upward killing him leaving only his soul.
"One down, one to." Frederick says as he gets ready to face the brigands weapon partner, who transforms to himself and turned his hands to axes.
Chrom runs between two buildings and wall jumps off them to get on the roof to help Robin.
Robin was on the defense dodgeing each of Garricks strikes and tring to find an opening to strike Garrick with his thunder tome. Garrick launched two strikes, which Robin dodges, then elbows Robin in the stomach then hits Robin in the head with the side of his axe sending Robin flying to the side. Robin turns and tries to launch another thunder but Garrick kicks his tome out of his hand sending it into a few crates that were on fire. "Damn," Robin says as he rolls out of the way as Garrick brings his axe down. Garrick begins launching multiple strikes at Robin, who was dodging them the best he could until he tripped. Robin caught his balance but not fast enough to dodge Garrick's next strike.
"GAAAAHHHH," Robin cries out in pain as Garrick strikes him across his chest. He falls to the ground putting his hands on his chest where he was hit. Garrick walkes over with a grin on his face as he rased his axe hand to finish Robin.
"Robin!" a voice from behind Garrick shouts. Garrick turns and sees Chrom running toward him about to strike. Garrick turns and blocks Chrom's strikes holding it in place.
"So another sheep has come to die. I will make it a painful, gruesome death," Garrick says as he pushes Chrom back. Chrom strikes at him again but Garrick blocks it and strikes with his other axe hand which Chrom jumped back to avoid. Chrom and Garrick keep attacking each other tring to hit the other. Chrom jumps back when he realized he wasn't going to land a hit like this. Chrom then charged at Garrick. Garrick strikes at Chrom, expecting him to block it or jump back, but was surprised when Chrom jumped over him.
"Soul Force," Chrom slams his hand against Garrick's back hitting him with his soul wavelenth sending Garrick flying forward. "Sumia!"
"Right," Sumia replies as the handle of her weapon form extends making her into a lance version of her Falchion sword form.
Chrom takes a sec to aim and then throws his weapon partner straight at Garrick. His weapon partner goes right though him.
Garrick cries out in pain as his body his torn to shreds. Sumia transforms as she lands on the ground holding Garricks soul which she consumes.
Chrom and Sumia run to Robin to see if he's ok. He was bleeding to death barly able to stay awake. Chrom ran to the edge of the roof to find Frederick and Sully at the bridge. Frederick collecting the souls of his and Sumia's kills which was 5, and Sully consuming the 10 souls she and Frederick killed.
"Frederick!" Chrom shouts to get the great kights attension. Frederick and Sully look in his direction. "Find Lissa! Robin's been injured!" Frederick nodded in responce as he and Sully take off to find Lissa.
"Chrom, you might want to look at this." Sumia calls out to Chrom. Chrom turns around and walks up to Robin and Sumia and is surprised by what he sees. Robins blood was changing to black blood.
"His blood it's...it's," Sumia started.
"Black," Chrom finishes as he and Sumia watch the blood heal his wound.
"Chrom wheres Robin!" Lissa says as she climbs the ladder Frederick lifted back up, Frederick and Sully following behind her.
Lissa runs to Chrom's side and sees Robin black blood. "*Gasp* His blood its black" Lissa says as she sees Robins blood.
Frederick and Sully walk up and are both shocked to see his blood. "Milord what should we do about this!" Frederick asks Chrom.
Before Chrom could answer they heard Robin groning as he began to get up. "Easy now that wound isn't completly healed." Chrom says as he and Sumia help Robin up.
"Th-thanks for th-the save," Robin says as he stands up.
"Don't mention it," Chrom replies. "You're certainly no helpless victim Robin."
"Indeed. Perhaps you might be capable of an explanation for how you came here? And how you have black blood?" Frederick ask not sure if Robin could be trusted with the black blood.
"I understand your skepticism, Sir Frederick. And I cannot explain why only some knowledge has returned to me. But please, believe me. I have shared all that I know." Robin says as he looks down to see the black blood from his wound as it finished closing.
"You fought to save Ylissean lives. My heart says that's enough." Chrom says.
"And your mind milord? Will you not heed its counsel as well?" Frederick asks.
"Frederick, the Shepherds could use someone with Robin's talents. Kishins have been popping up due to unruly neighbors, looking to bloody our soil. Would you really have us lose such an able tactician?" Chrom says.
"Yeah plus he might be a possible meister partner for me," Lissa says with a big smile thinking she might have found a perfect meister partner.
"That might be true. He is the first person I've met that can fight with a sword and tome connected to each other," Sumia says thinking it might work out if he became Lissa's meister.
"Just because he can, doesn't mean he will be able to wield Lissa. It depends on rather there souls can resonate with each other," Sully states.
"We'll check to see if they can later right now we should help the villagers put out the fires. But first," Chrom says as he turns to Robin and asks. "Tell us, will you join us, Robin?
Robin simply gaved a smile, tring to ignore the pain coming from his chest where the wound was at, and said, "I would be honored."
-Scene shift-
Robin and Chrom just helped a villager pick his fruit stand back up as Frederick walked over after putting a fire out with a bucket of water. "Milord, did you notice that the brigands spoke with a Plegian accent?" Frederick asks. Chrom simply nods
"Plegian? What's that?" Robin asks not knowing what Frederick was talking about.
Chrom turns to answer Robin. "Plegia is Ylisse's westerly neighbor. They try to turn themselves into Kishins They send small bands into our territory, hoping to instigate a war."
"And it's the poor townsfolk who suffer!" Lissa says sadly as she, Sumia, and Sully walk up. "Totally innocent, and totally helpless... Its bad enough we have those that are kishins already trying to take there souls."
"Which is why they have us-," Sully starts.
"Shepherds to protect the sheep," Frederick finishs, "Do not be swept up in your anger. It will cloud your judgment.
"I know, I know... Don't worry. I'll get used to all this," Lissa says.
A villager comes up and says, "Milord please! You must stay the night! We are simple folk of simple means, but we would gladly toast your valor with a feast!"
"A most generous offer, sir, and no doubt your hospitality would be grand..." Frederick says. "But I'm afraid we must hurry back to Ylisstol.
"Dark meat only for me, medium well, and no salt in the soup. I simply-," Lissa begins but stops when it dawns on her what Frederick said. "Wait, what?! We're not staying?! But, Frederick, it's nearly dark!"
"When night falls, we'll camp. Eat off the land, make our bed of twigs and the like..." Frederick says then lets out a smile as he says, "I believe you mentioned you would be 'getting used to this'?"
"Frederick? Sometimes I hate you." Lissa says annoyed that they aren't staying.
"You've quite the stern lieutenant there," Robin says.
"*sigh* Yeah, well, thats one name for it. I can think of a few others!" Lissa says
"Frederick only smiles when he's about to bring down the axe, sword, or lance." Chrom says smiling
"Duly noted," Robin says with a nervous smile.
"*Ahem* You do realize I AM still present?" Frederick states
"Oh, we relize." Chrom says as everyone chuckles
"Milord remains as amusing as ever." Frederick says. "Now then, shall we be going?"
"All right, all right," Chrom says after letting out chuckle. He turns to Robin and asks. "Ready to go, Robin? The capital isn't far.
Robin simpley nods and walkes behind Chrom along with Frederick, Lissa, Sumia, and Sully leaving southtown.