Alright, next chapter! So everyone knows, I will be in summer school for a mini-mester, so don't be surprised if nothing goes up for a while. Shoving a full semester of physics into five weeks is… a lot.

Regardless, let's get back to shenanigans, shall we? Who's ready to see Fuga have a heart-attack while Sakura gets in on the fun? Someone that innocent is going to be so much fun, especially with these nutjobs.

Meeting the Wind Tribe

Leaving Valla proved to be an interesting affair.

After everyone had recovered, Corrin announced they'd be seeking the aid of the Wind Tribe. Having the largest of the independent tribes on their side would lend credibility to their cause and give Nohr and Hoshido reason to listen.

Assuming they weren't kicked out on sight of course, but Robin and Cordelia assured everyone that Chief Fuga was amicable and willing to listen. All they had to do was prove their determination and his support was guaranteed.

How they would prove their determination kept the locals up that night.

When morning came, Lilith gathered everyone together and took them back into Valla, the sight of the devastated land making the plane-walkers pale.

"Oh crap…" Robin muttered as they started to walk. "Guys… I think we know where the rest of our party ended up."

Cordelia shuddered as she passed a shattered tree. "You don't think they caused too much damage, do you?"

"I hope not." Olivia sighed, their conversation drawing wary looks. "But, knowing them, it's bound to be something silly."

Hana groaned, making the party stop. "What are you talking about? I know you guys are, like, super-powerful, but even you couldn't do all this!"

She gestured to one stretch of land bending into the air, it's entire surface scoured of life.

"Trust us, you don't want nor need to know." Lucina said, playing with an annoyed Severa's hair. "That is our business, I doubt it will help anyone to know. Instead, why don't we deal with the guests coming to greet us?"

On cue, a hail of arrows flew from the trees ahead, the party ducking behind boulders and trees. Figures cloaked in purple energy charged their hiding spots, Hana took the lead with a roar and slashed the first attacker's chest open.

Gunter wasn't far behind, his horse baying a challenge as the knight split the attackers with his charge. A pair of lance strikes turned two into smoke while a third found itself breathing through a new hole in its head.

Corrin got in on the action with an acrobatic strike, flipping over his opponent and dragging Yato through its back. A song filled the air after that, energy flowing into him and granting him a burst of speed that let him catch an enemy trying to sneak up on Felicia.

As Felicia dealt with her own opponent, Corrin turned to find Azura singing. "Wait, that works in battle too?"

Azura only nodded, her lance finding a home in an axe-man's shoulder before she gave it a guided tour through his guts.

Corrin turned from the gruesome sight to catch a lance on Yato's blade, sliding down the shaft to punch the lancer. The creature staggered but fell to smoke when Yato swung around and rent it in half.

"Clear!"

Gunter's shout let Corrin relax, applause coming from the peanut gallery. Corrin ignored them and walked to Azura. "Wow, I didn't know you could use a song in battle."

"It's my pendant." Azura explained, gesturing to the gold charm. "My mother's last gift. The power within answers to the song I sing, and I can use it to empower those I fight beside. It is taxing however, so I cannot use it for long."

Corrin could already see the strategic advantage. "That'll help a lot. We're not exactly strong in numbers so any boon is appreciated."

He looked back to the plane-walkers, gaze flat. "That is, unless our friends would deign to step in from time to time."

"We are not here to solve your problems." Olivia reminded him. "The kids are free to do as they wish, but the rest of us agreed not to get involved unless it's needed. If you needed our help to deal with a small ambush, your journey is already doomed."

Corrin couldn't fault that logic, but he was annoyed nonetheless. "Fine, whatever you say. Let's go everyone, better not to sit here like frogs on a log."

Hana cracked a joke about toads and witches that no one understood, leading the young samurai to sulk for the next leg of the trip. Everyone was on high alert as another ambush was bound to be waiting for them and it was likely to be larger and better organized than the previous.

It was with some disappointment the rest of the trip was quiet. In fact, Hana pulled out her blade and apologized to it, the plane-walkers doing the same with added dramatics like offering promises of virgin deer-or something similar.

Corrin was getting worried. There was no way one should get used to antics like this so quickly, but he was swiftly acclimating to this bag of nuts. Maybe it's because he'd already seen the power under those goofball facades?

He could only hope.

"Well, we're here." Lilith said with a cough, eye twitching in annoyance. "This will take us back to the canyon. I warn you though, the trip isn't always smooth and we can, in very rare instances, end up somewhere else. Please be ready."

Then they flashed and vanished, right as a pillar of light fell from the sky and slammed into the ground.

"Hail mortals, for I am the new ruler of Valla! Cower before me and accept your fates!"

The world was silent, the light dissipating to show a miffed Lissa. "Damn it I missed them! Now I look like a complete idiot, and we have to wait for them to come back before going home!"

She kicked a pebble and shouted to the sky, "Donnel, this all your fault! If you hadn't tried to convince me not to do this, we'd be home already!"

Several bands of energy flashed into existence, the ropes twisting in a random pattern.

"You don't put anyone on the couch mister!" Lissa roared, body shining with blinding light. "That's my right! And I'm gonna ride you for all you're worth after this! Get ready tin-head!"

She vanished, a streak of white cutting the sky and marking her passage. All was silent for a moment before the land seemed to sag in relief.

There would be no more carnage today. At least, not here.

-Corrin-

"Lilith?"

"Yes, Corrin?"

Corrin took a deep breath before groaning. "Does this look like the Bottomless Canyon to you?"

Lilith glanced around, silently chuckling at the bodies of the others splayed on the ground. There was sand as far as the eye could see and the sun seemed dead set on murdering them if the haze didn't do it first. "We appear to be in a desert. I did say we don't always end up where we started."

Corrin gestured to the ground, where Hana was picking herself out of the sand. "Can you at least say we're back home, such as it is? We're not in some desert land nowhere near Hoshido or Nohr?"

Lilith nodded. "That I can. We're in the desert just north of Izumo, I can see the entrance to the Eternal Staircase from here. That places us in Wind Tribe territory."

Robin's head popped out of the sand, grit sprinkled in his hair. "Oh hey! Cordy, this is the place we landed!"

Cordelia's arm burst from the sand, the left side of her body buried. Once she was free, she looked around. "What do you know, it is. That scorch mark I made is still here too."

Her Pegasus cantered over and offered Cordelia a snout up, the others standing once they'd gotten their bearings.

"Heavens, it's hot." Olivia coughed, body rippling. "Good thing I remembered to refill our flasks."

Corrin could see the ripples carrying sand off her skin to the ground and felt an irrational surge of jealousy. If only he could be self-cleaning, his life would be much easier.

Azura brushed the sand from her dress, silently ruing how much was in her hair. "We'd best make for the Wind Tribe village. It's only a few hours from the Eternal Staircase, and this land is known to conjure sandstorms at a moment's notice."

Corrin started looking around, internally wondering how Gunter wasn't sweating in the terrible heat. "Where is the entrance? I see nothing but sand."

Hana finally got to her feet and pointed behind her. "It's that way. I've had to walk through it a couple times over the years, but I'm glad to skip the walking. They don't call the stairs endless for nothing."

Corrin looked in that direction but couldn't see much through the heat haze. "I'll take your word for it. Everyone ok and ready to go? I don't like this heat any more than the next person."

"I'm quite ok with this heat." Morgan chirped, her family apparently nonplussed as they looked around. "So are my mom and sister. Dad though…"

Corrin glanced over to Robin who was clearly sweating. "Sir Robin, why do you not take off your coat? That is sure to help."

"And lose my identity?" Robin queried even as he reached for his flask. "I take this thing off and no one recognizes me, not even my wife! I had to conceive both my daughters in this thing."

Cordelia clocked him hard enough to make a shockwave, Severa groaning in embarrassment. "Dad, you did not. Don't even try and sell something like that, we recognize you just fine without it."

"He doesn't want people to see how skinny he is." Lon'qu quipped, inspecting Balmung as the party talked. "Then again, when you have mountains like some of our friends… I can see where the insecurity comes from."

A bolt flew from Robin's landing site, but Lon'qu shattered the energy with nary a glance.

"Ok…" Azura hedged, still rattled by the plane-walkers. "Shall we get moving? I think we've dallied enough."

A cleared throat made everyone look at Lucina. She was being held up by Owain and Inigo, but not because she was tired or disoriented.

She was… melting.

"Oh crap!" Severa shouted, running to her wife's side. "I should've realized sooner Lucy, I'm so sorry!"

Lucina smiled, though it looked like she was slowly turning into a funny doll as time went by. "That's ok… you were buried up to your waist… can you just get me a, uh… container or something?"

Severa took out her waterskin and dumped it, a surprising amount of water flowing onto the sand. "Aunty, can you help us out? She won't stay solid much longer!"

Olivia leapt over and started waving her hands around Lucina, the princess forming into a ball of deep-blue water with grey swirls. Her circlet was still prominently placed on top of the ball and everyone could see her eyes and mouth floating in the liquid.

"That is so damn weird." Hana muttered, Felicia nodding absently in agreement.

"I didn't quite believe that they were the cause of all that destruction." Gunter noted as Olivia began to guide Lucina into the waterskin. "Yet I watch the impossible."

Olivia finished putting Lucina in the waterskin and gave it to Severa. "Keep this close and closed. Last thing we need is someone forgetting what's in there."

Everyone grimaced, not liking where that line of thought went.

"She'll… be ok, right?" Inigo asked, more than a little disturbed.

Olivia had the look of someone far too familiar with the situation. "Sure… after she comes out. I could reform her body but we would need to wait. At least she'd be able to direct where she went, but we all know the quickest way out."

The waterskin appeared to shudder and Felicia blanched. Owain's cough brought everyone away from that disgusting realm. "Truly, we have tarried long enough, my brave friends. I cannot speak for any save myself, but I'd prefer the sand not burn holes through my boots."

Corrin felt everyone look at him, or rather, his bare feet.

He picked up a foot and wiggled it, scales coating the bottom. "Half-dragon, I'm fine. I thought my feet were just super calloused for years, but now I know better."

Everyone continued to stare before the group had a laugh and got their things in order. Once ready, Azura looked to Hana. "You've been here on diplomatic missions before. Please, lead the way."

Hana nodded and took the front, already in guide mode. "Be warned, the people we're going to meet aren't trusting of outsiders. Don't be surprised if there's some kind of 'test' to prove we're trustworthy."

She received grunts of acknowledgment and they set off. Lilith vanished shortly after they'd started, saying she'd show up when needed, so there was no one to complain to about the heat.

Only the Volk family was going strong, minus Robin, but they cheated by being so closely aligned with fire. Aside from them, no one was properly equipped to deal with the desert, this showed as they began to sweat through their clothes.

Olivia sighed two hours in and opened her flask, turning it over and finding it empty. "Oh shoot. Lon'qu, honey, you'll have to carry me."

Lon'qu grunted, his robes tied around his waist to show off his impressive physique. Olivia handed him the flask and rippled before flowing into it, Lon'Qu tied off the skin with a white string and tucked it into his pocket.

Cordelia hummed from her spot-on Theresa, the Pegasus forming an awning with her wings. "I didn't think she'd drop out after only a couple hours. Robin and I were out here for days."

"We weren't grounded." Robin pointed out, his coat thrown over his head as a makeshift blanket. "And remind me why Severa, who was talking so tough, is on Theresa with you?"

Severa groaned, slung over the saddle like a fresh kill. "I'm not pure fire, Dad. I'm more like you and that means I run out of stamina quick. At least you can still walk."

"I'm not doing great either." Morgan noted, sipping on her flask while her Theresa formed shade. "But I have a Pegasus to help. You really need to get out of your scores more often, it's messing with your stamina."

Severa looked up and glared at her sister. "I don't wanna hear anything about stamina from you, Cherry Head. If you'd find something else to do besides jump Owain whenever he gets home, we'd have other stuff to talk about."

Morgan didn't deny this accusation, but Owain tried to stop the argument. "Now-now, there's no need to bring up our private lives. Say, um, Lady Hana, how far are we from the village?"

Hana shrugged. Her robes were also tied at the waist, linen covered her chest while her coat formed a meager hood for shade. "We should… be close…"

Azura sighed and tightened her dress, the skirt enclosing her legs for once. "I do hope so. Felicia won't last much longer."

She glanced back to see Felicia curled up behind Gunter, using his broad frame as shelter from the sun. Her dark outfit was far hotter than then clothes of anyone save the knight, but his greater endurance and lack of affiliation to the Ice Tribe strengthened him in the heat.

"I would prefer… we get there soon." Corrin panted, his armor almost sizzling under the sun. "I mean… I don't want to end up as… well-done… dragon steak…"

Hana fell back a bit and punched his shoulder. "I'm impressed you and Lady Azura have lasted this long. I knew you were quick, but you have more stamina than I thought."

"I've… wandered through blizzards." Corrin said, Azura giving him an impressed glance. "I'm far more impressed Azura hasn't been sweating near as much as the rest of us. Dancers are something else."

Hana frowned before nodding. "True… I've seen her dance for many hours on end before getting tired."

"Please, I'm not that great." Azura muttered. "I'm simply better dressed for this environment. I assure you, were we on a mountain or in a snowfield, I'd be far less composed."

Corrin and Hana clearly didn't believe her, but Cordelia's giggles made them look up.

"Are you alright, Lady Cordelia?" Corrin asked, making the woman smile and nod .

She gave no further answer, so Corrin turned back to his friends. "Anyway, I'll gladly take on whatever test the Wind Tribe has. Anything to get out of this heat."

"I'm glad you think that."

Corrin, Hana, and Azura nearly leapt out of their skin, whipping around to find a large, bare-chested man before them. Behind him stood many fighters, their weapons bared and glinting in the sun.

"Fuga, good to see you." Cordelia said as the man walked forward. "I remember you being the chief of a tribe, but you never did mention which."

Fuga grinned at her. "My apologies Lady Cordelia, but it wasn't important at the time. Who are these poor bastards traveling with you? I recognize your husband, but no one else."

Introductions were given and Fuga looked to Corrin. "So you're the 'traitor' I've been hearing so much about. Took guts to declare neutral standing in the crossfire of two armies."

"I don't know about guts." Corrin said with a sigh. "But I want to stop this fighting. There's plenty of reasons not to fight and I'm sure if they'd all listen this would end."

Fuga laughed. "Humans are not known for their ability to reason where emotions are involved. Regardless, I respect your decision, but I cannot offer my aid out of hand."

Robin stomped forward and fell to Fuga's feet. "Please, we don't care what tests he must go through, but have mercy and give us shelter! Two of our own have melted and Inigo's soon to follow them!"

He gestured to the swordsman, who skin was starting to run with water. "Yes… I'd prefer not to join my mother and friend."

Fuga and his soldiers blinked, but the chief shook his head. "Very well, we can't just leave you all to die on our doorstep. Follow me, we'll talk more after you've recovered."

Corrin, in a stroke of realization, took off his breastplate and unhooked his cape. "Azura, take the cape, it'll shield you until we arrive."

Azura blinked and took the cape, wondering why he was doing this now. "Um… thank you, but why?"

"You're starting to burn." Corrin said, Azura glanced down to find her arms a light pink. "That, and Hana's on her last legs. I'm the only one that can carry her right now and handle the abuse."

On cue, Corrin offered his back to Hana, only for the samurai to refuse. Corrin was unperturbed and told her to prove it, only for Hana to tilt forward as she tried to take another step. Thus, she ended up on his back, complaining the whole time.

Heavens, I wish I could be like that. Azura thought. So open, so willing to jest and enjoy life. Maybe… maybe when our task is done, I can start trying.

Azura giggled at the idea and followed the group as Fuga set out. They were hemmed in by the Wind Tribe warriors, but it was obvious they regarded Cordelia and Robin with reverence.

Well, reverence that Robin was ruining with his effusive praise of Fuga and the offer of shelter.

Regardless, they arrived at the village within an hour, the villagers coming out to greet their chief and gawk at the newcomers.

"You'll have to forgive them." Fuga said as they strode through the streets. "There have been rumors that your stance of neutrality is a declaration you intend to conquer the continent. Were it not for the presence of Lady Cordelia and Lord Robin, I'd be inclined to listen to them, especially considering the delegation Hoshido sent."

Corrin felt Hana tense on his back. "May we ask who's in the delegation, if they're still here? We'd prefer not to be ambushed."

Fuga chuckled and pointed to a large stone palace. "They're still in Repu Castle, they arrived just yesterday. One of the Hoshidan princesses came to visit us alongside her retainer and some guards, she's a sweet girl. Not a mean bone in her. You'll be safe, swear on my word."

Corrin gulped, already feeling Hana go still. "Hana, you ok? I know Sakura told you to come after us, so surely she'd be delighted to see you."

"I'm not too worried about her." Hana muttered, earlier indignation extinguished. "I'm more worried about Subaki and the others. Oaths are too important to let things like orders get in the way."

Azura walked up and patted Hana's back. "we'll keep them off of you, and I'm sure Sakura will make them stand down."

"I'll help too!" Felicia said at long last, the cooler air in the village revitalizing her. "I mean, we're all comrades, so why shouldn't we look out for each other? Just, uh, I apologize in advance if I break something trying to help."

That got a laugh out of everyone.

"I'll do the same." Gunter said, bowing his head to Hana. "You are my liege's friend, as well as a friend to Felicia. You need not watch your back, for my shield will cover it."

Hana didn't know what to do with those promises, so Morgan broke the silence. "Ya know, this is really cute. Kind of reminds me of when we first met Kjelle and Noire."

"Don't remind me." Owain groaned, the party ready for something weird. "I swear, those two are the oddest comedy duo. I can't even talk normally just thinking about it."

Severa gave him a stink eye. "Your definition of normal doesn't hold up in any reality but yours. Also, can we hurry it up? Before the horny young women around us decide to jump Lon'qu."

A glace around showed that indeed, many young women had started to gather, their eyes locked on Lon'qu. The flask at his side started to jiggle before a great hand of water shot out of it and reformed into a dragon's head, its roar sending everyone scattering.

"Gotta love her." Cordelia laughed, though she had Theresa standing protectively next to an exasperated Robin. "Then again, no one touches our spouses."

Fuga cleared his throat, clearly alarmed. "May I ask that you not do that again? I have enough trouble dealing with the regular doomsayers, let alone whatever problems that spawned."

He pulled out a bundle of dried leaves, picked one, and started chewing it. "Just trying to get the caravan Lady Cordelia and Lord Robin traveled with to stop making shrines has driven me to these things."

Everyone looked to the pair in question, but they only shrugged. With nothing further to discuss, they continued to the palace and the throne room.

"Hana!"

A pink blur crossed the room and wrenched Hana from Corrin's back. Hana didn't know what hit her for a moment before her vision cleared to show a sobbing Sakura hugging her close. "I thought you were dead!"

Sakura continued to sob as Hana tried to calm her down, looking pleadingly to the others for help. Azura stepped up and rubbed Sakura's back. "She's fine, Sakura, just tired. Please, stop crushing her ribs, we need her."

One of Sakura's arms shot out and pulled Azura in. "Azura too! I missed you both so much, don't leave like that again!"

"It… was… your wish…" Hana choked, wondering where Sakura's strength was coming from. "Choking… no breathing…!"

Sakura finally realized what she was doing and let them go, looking away shyly as Hana and Azura gulped in air. "Um… sorry. I just…. Got excited…"

"There is much strength in you, small one." Lon'qu noted with a grunt. "You don't look it though…"

Sakura blushed and pushed her fingers together. "I uh… haven't told anyone, but… I accidently crushed a rock last week, before I came here. Oh, and I almost broke Subaki's arm when he tried to help me onto his Pegasus."

She bowed as the others stared at her in shock. "It's good to see you too, Mr. Lon'qu. Um… where's your wife?"

Lon'qu held up his flask, a hand of water popping out to wave at Sakura. "She's in here, couldn't handle the heat. One of the other's is in a similar state and Inigo almost joined them before we arrived."

Sakura nodded silently, not willing to press for further information.

Severa, already knowing they'd have to start the introductions again, got the ball rolling. "Before you ask, yes, we are the kids the others were looking for. We're just sticking around until we find our way home. Now, please be a dear, and console your older brother who's cowering behind this Pegasus.

They heard a cry of betrayal before Theresa cantered forward and a nervous Corrin was revealed. "Um… hi, Sakura. I didn't… think we'd be meeting so soon."

Sakura stared at him before her face morphed into a sobbing mess once more and she charged into him. "Big Brother! Thank the gods you're alright, I couldn't bear losing another!"

Her words were more than a little alarming. "What do you mean? We've only been gone three days!"

"That's all it takes." Sakura sniffed, arms constricting Corrin. "Ryoma just up and vanished, no one knows where he is, and Takumi never got back from his patrol. Oboro's beside herself, but I got sent here by Yukimura to ask for aid."

Corrin nodded, trying to ignore the creak of his ribs. "That… would be trying… but where… could they have… gone?"

Sakura didn't see him turning blue. "No one knows, that's why I'm so glad to see you! What brings you all the way here though?"

Corrin didn't answer, being starved for air, so Azura swooped in to rescue him. "We're here to ask for aid as well. If you'd release Corrin, we'll tell you what we can."

Sakura realized Corrin was dying and released him, blushing deeply as he coughed and gasped. "I'm so-so sorry! Subaki and Hinoka keep telling me I need to look people in the eye, even with hugs."

Corrin gave her a reassuring smile, even though he continued to cough. "You're good… don't worry. Yeah, how about we give the overview then get on to that test, we don't have all the time in the world."

He looked back to find Severa and Inigo at each other's throats, power flowing between them like serpents. "Uh… what happened?"

"They got into an argument again." Morgan said as she hopped down and pulled her sister back. "These two have been as bad as cats and dogs for years."

Lon'qu grabbed Inigo's collar and yanked him back. "If you're going to use the power, go outside. I doubt our host wants to see his home in ruins over a petty fight."

Fuga looked very alarmed, so Hana cleared her throat and changed the subject. "Lady Sakura, where is Subaki? He should be with you night and day with me gone."

Sakura smiled demurely. "Oh, you know him. I mentioned wanting a snack and off he went. Rather boring waiting about my room, so I decided to wander around. It's really a nice place."

Hana dragged a hand down her face and Corrin felt this had happened before many times. "Lady Sakura, I understand you're curious, but there's more than one reason it's a bad idea for you to go off alone."

"Like me." Cordelia said as she cantered over, snatched Sakura, and placed her on Theresa's saddle. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'd like to have a chat with the princess. Don't bother chasing, I'll return her after your test is done."

Theresa took to the air and turned for the castle gates, "Ciao!"

Everyone stood stunned before the plane-walkers jumped into action, Robin leading them. "Cordy, come back this instant! You don't kidnap royalty so brazenly, has Gaius taught you nothing?!"

Corrin didn't want to know how any of them had experience in kidnapping royalty, but he was glad the nuts ran after their own and left the rest of them be. Besides, Cordelia wasn't malicious in her intentions, she'd just burn them all to ash if that was the case.

He took a deep breath and looked to Fuga… who was clutching his chest and panting. "Chief…?"

"I'm amazed you don't feel it…" Fuga gasped, breath coming hard and deep. "The aura that hangs around them, the force… it nearly made my heart stop being so close to them."

Corrin and friends blinked, not knowing what he meant at all. Seeing this, Fuga shook his head. "It matters not, come. Your test shall be atop this palace. Should you succeed, my aid will be yours."

Corrin nodded and snatched Hana's robe as she got over her stupor and started after the plane-walkers. "She'll be fine, Hana, don't worry. We need your sword for this and you can catch up with Sakura after we're done.

Oddly, he didn't feel the cloth jerk as Hana ran past, confusing him. He was even more startled when Azura and Felicia shrieked and ran after Hana, Corrin's cloak held high between them.

Then he looked at his hands and felt himself slump.

He'd gotten the loose end of her bindings… and Hana hadn't noticed.

He was dead.

Gunter watched this happen from the sidelines, his horse pawing the ground as Fuga joined him. "They're quite thick, aren't they?"

Fuga nodded, relieved at the levity, "That they are."

"But they do say luck favors the foolish. Who knows, maybe you won't be serving a eunuch this time tomorrow?"

Gunter could only hope.

Ch. End

Alright… that's a chapter my friends.

I hope this goes over well, and for anyone wondering where Flora is and when she'll join this wacky group, fear not! She'll join before long and take her place amongst the love… pyramid?

*Brief look at a geometry book later*

Yep, it's a pyramid!

Also, it's a bit of a headcannon that Sakura is secretly super strong but doesn't look it. So she tends to surprise people when she gets close enough to touch them. Maybe there's a club lying around, just waiting to be used?

Anyway, reviews!

SilverStorm0: I always thought he'd learn being around Flora and Felicia, then having his sisters visit. My cousin learned how to style just by being around his sister all the time, so I thought it applied. As for Lissa and Donnel, it will involve lighting, but lots of other things too. I haven't revealed what Donnel has power over quite yet.

Suzaku Mizutani: They are, essentially speaking. The Shepherds are just much higher on the totem pole in this particular universe, so they're just madly strong compared to the rest. Also, how'd you guess I was going that route with Lissa and Donnel? Did you read my mind? Do I need a tin-foil hat?

That's all I got! See ya next time!