We'll be strong and stand our ground

Lissa continuously dragged Vincent by the arm mercilessly through out the castle. Vincent was positive his arm would not be movable after this ordeal. Not to mention he was getting very dizzy.

Note to self, don't piss Lissa off.

"And here we are! The Shepherd's garrison! Time to meet people!" Lissa practically yelled in her normal cheery way, dragging a now lifeless looking Vincent. The look was complete with plenty of hairs out of place, his cloak hanging off a shoulder and a dead pan look in his eyes.

Gods, does she ever calm down...?

Well, it was a roomy place, more like a place of arms. Weapons and crates scattered about with tables set up along benches, each covered with sets of papers, weapons and even an occasional mug of mead. But without any movement, the place felt practically devoi-

"Lissa, my treasure! Are you all right? I've been ever so worried!" a woman cried in a posh voice. The woman ran into the room quicker than a woman should run.

Is that…a parasol? Why is she carrying a parasol?

"Oh, hey, Maribelle!" Lissa said cheerfully, letting go of Vincent who flopped onto the ground, thanking the Gods that he was free. However, no one really noticed his distress, so he promptly say up, fixing his hair and cloak.

Something tells me this Maribelle will not like me…

"I've sprouted at least ten gray hairs waiting for you!" Maribelle fretted, her voice cracking in anxiety.

Who the hell looks for that!? Much less who cares! You have ten thousand hairs-

"Aw, you worry too much. I can handle a battle or two!" Lissa grinned as she let Maribelle check her body for any sight of scratches or blemishes.

They all turned at the sound of footsteps. A large man with huge muscles rambled in, looking like he owned the place.

He could punch my head off my shoulders! …Vincent is frightened of strange man.

"Hey! Where's Chrom? I bet he had a rough time out there without ol' Teach to get the job done!" said the large man with a smirk.

"Oh, so you're "Teach" now, Vaike?" Lissa sniggered, "And here I thought people were just born lacking wits. It can be taught?" Lissa said slyly.

"Never doubt the Vaike!...Hey wait! That was an insult, wasn't it?" the Vaike said with visible veins popping from his fore head.

"Sorry to interrupt, but when might we see the captain?" a new voice inserted.

Too many people. Can't keep track! And that suit of armor over there just moved…

Vincent turned to see a new woman enter, one with long brown wavy hair. He turned back as Maribelle was speaking, "Poor Sumia. She's simply been beside herself with concern..."

Lissa was practically jumping up and down, "Aw, Sumia! That's so sweet of you!"

Finally someone noticed Vincent. "So who's this stranger here?" Vaike said curiously, bending down to grab the former's cloak and help him to his feet in one fell swoop.

"No one's stranger than you, Vaike... But allow me to introduce Vincent! He just joined the Shepherds. Chrom's made him our new tactician. You should see all the tricks he's got up his sleeve!" Lissa exclaimed proudly, like she was showing off a rare animal.

"Now Lissa, I'm not that good-"

"Ah! Captain! You've returned! I was, I mean, we were so-" Sumia began to walk forward and then she tripped and fell right onto her face, skidding a good few inches before stopping to have the rest of her body flop to the ground.

Holy crap…that looked painful.

"Sumia! Are you alright?" Chrom asked worriedly. But it was clear this had happened before.

"No! I mean, yes! I mean...sigh." She stood up very quickly, dusting off dirt on her armor in record time.

She probably has experience.

"Alright, listen up everyone! Tomorrow, we march to Regna Ferox! And Vincent, to save you from asking," Vincent put down the hand he was raising and shut his mouth, "that is the kingdom to the north which is supposedly inhabited by barbarians. We'll need their help with this new threat that has appeared."

Vincent raised his eyebrows, "Wow Chrom, you know me so well already. It's kinda creepy that you do… we've known each other for a few days…whatever! I shall cease my ramblings!"

"Now this mission is voluntary-"

"I wanna go!" Lissa cried raising her hand.

"You can't go without the Vaike! Ol' Teach needs to watch your back!" Vaike shouted as he pounded a fist into his palm.

A voice reached Vincent's ear, he turned around to only see a suit of armor, so he paid no mind for it slipped his mind before he could process the words, "I'll go as well…what? I've been here this whole time!"

"Um…" Sumia said nervously, picking at the tip of her gloves.

"Sumia?" Chrom asked.

"I…I just don't think I'm ready for a mission like this captain…"

Chrom thought for a moment, "Well, you could stay behind the main group, and if a battle is met, just watch? Your choice, of course. But some lessons can only be learned on the battlefield."

"If you think that's wise captain…" Sumia said with a lowering tone, unsre on the whole thing.

Chrom gave her a warming smile, "Just stay by me and you'll be fine."

"Oh yes! I mean, of course captain." Sumia quickly switched from unsure to overjoyed.

She has fallen for him.

You know? That is the best pun I've ever made. Good god, I need to share that with Lissa.

The next day…

All the Shepherds gathered outside of the castle. Well, outside of the city was more like it. Very grassy. Many beds of grass.

I really need to let that joke go.

"We all here and ready?" Chrom questioned, glancing at everyone who was gathered.

"W-wait for me!"

Another new voice. Another Shepherd. How am I supposed to remember all these names!?

"Stahl?" Chrom said puzzled.

"Why am I the last one to hear about this expedition to Ferox?" Stahl said breathlessly as he rode up to them, looking like he just crawled out of bed.

"Huh? Wasn't Vaike supposed to tell you? Vaike! Explain!" Lissa said, annoyed.

"The Vaike never forgets!...I just don't always remember…" He started strongly then ended with a mumble.

"Ugh! You'd forget your own name if you didn't say it every sentence!" Lissa said exasperatedly, rolling her eyes.

"Oh man, I had to miss breakfast…no muffins…" Stahl moaned, a look of pure despair on his face.

Lissa glanced at Vincent to get his attention, then said, "No time to stall, Stahl!"

Oh, she's trying to beat me at my own game!

Vincent mouthed 'good one' to her and she grinned.

I'll get her back soon!

"Gods, have the Risen spread this far?" Chrom said despairingly.

"Risen?" Vincent said curiously.

They were at a river where the bridge they planned to cross was located. And it was crawling with the things from the forest. The dark demonic creatures really put a downpour on the happy, comfy looking green grass beds.

"The council needed a name for these things, they decided to call them Risen," Chrom explained.

Vincent nodded. Chrom turned around, "Alright everyone! Remember what we're up against!"

Vincent turned back to the bridge. Battle plan needed. Quick. He closed his eyes thinking. He ignored someone getting mad at Vaike, something about an axe or some shit. The Risen were spread randomly across the big bridge. No real formations, no planned defenses.

Good.

"Alright people! Listen up! It's time for our battle on the big bridge! Frederick and Chrom, I want you in the front while me and Virion take out as many as we can from the back. Vaike, get out of the way until you find your axe! Hmm, who am I forgetting…Lissa, stay here for if any injuries occur. I'm drawing a blank right now, I can't remember who I'm forgetting…"

That was rather redundant.

"Us too Vincent. We need positions!" called Stahl with Sully near him.

"Of course! Stupid me," Vincent muttered, slightly embarrassed, "You two help Chrom and Frederick. Let's do this!"

Everyone got into position surprisingly quickly. They readied their swords, axes, and bows. In Vaike's case, he readied nothing, but that was irrelevant.

"Let us begin!" Vincent called in a carrying whisper. Virion nodded, for once, he wasn't flirting with a woman. He drew an arrow as Vincent drew on his magic. His practicing had made him better yet, but without a proper teacher, he would be inventing his own style before long.

That sounds cool…my own style. It'd probably be shitty though…

Virion's arrow hit the nearest Risen in the neck. He wasn't lying, he was good. Vincent's spell hit another Risen in the arm, crippling him for the rest of the fight.

But now the entire Risen group had noticed them. They weren't very observant apparently… But they came running quickly. The front line of defense readied their weapons while Vincent and Virion kept their onslaught up.

Suddenly, another mage's fire sailed over Vincent's shoulder. He turned slightly and saw it was a human, not Risen.

Burn enemies first, questions later. Oh look, the Vaike seems to have found an axe.

Now that they had two more people fighting on their side, Vincent felt more confident.

Until a Risen slipped through their line of defense and ran towards Vincent, axe raised.

Um…Shit!

Vincent through a fireball at the Risen. He missed in his fatigue, which was building rapidly with each fireball.

Improvise, you fool!

When the Risen was upon him, Vincent punched it in the face.

It would have been comical if he wasn't going to die. And he punched with his thumb inside his fist, and he just broke it.

Fuck! That hurts! I wish amnesia didn't cover things like that! I should have remembered how to punch correctly.

Chrom killed the Risen by stabbing it in the back. He motioned Lissa over for his friend's sake. When Lissa arrived, she scolded Vincent, slapping him behind the head.

"Why would you punch a Risen!? Much less why punch like that!"

"How should I know how to punch correctly Lissa?! I can't remember shit!" Vincent groaned as he felt the unnatural feeling of his bones reconnecting and fusing together.

Their minor skirmish had mostly resolved with the final of the Risen being chopped to bits. Frederick finishing up with one Risen was it though. Chrom walked over to Vincent, placing a hand on his shoulder, "You alright?" he asked.

"Chrom, I'm fine! Isn't there a saying that you can never get rid of the amnesiac?"

"…No."

Vincent stared at him, swore, and muttered, "...Well, there should be."

Chrom shook his head, "I'll never understand you Vincent. You're a strange one. A strange one who can't punch. Everyone knows you keep the thumb on the outside of the fist."

"Silence peasant! Do not correct me! Actually…I'm the peasant…you're not. Gods dammit," Vincent muttered.

"Chrom! Look at that! A pegasus!" Lissa exclaimed, "Let's go check it out!" She ran after it. Chrom sighed and ran after her as Vincent cracked a smile in amusement.

He watched from afar as they examined it. Vincent saw Sumia appear from like, nowhere and run to the pegasus, tripping no less than three times. Vincent snorted.

Yep, she fell for him. Hard.