Hellooooo! I can't wait for this to progress! My reasons? You might see in this chapter or the next! Depends on what I get to! I is soooooosssssss exciteds!

Woah, woah, woah! 804 views already?! Hot damn! Thanks guys!

….Okay. My brain is exploding right now! Those Pokemon updates! ^.^

Anyway! Slow internet shall be slow and the chapter is a go, go, go!

Chapter 5: Turnabout Witches?! Part 1

In the cosmos…

A white dragon stood atop a 'precipice' that had somehow formed in the cosmos. Kneeling in front of her was a messenger spirit.

"Mercury, I want you to warn Naga immediately," The dragon said as she flicked her tail.

The winged messenger bowed his head, "Yes, Lady Raava."

When the messenger vanished, another appeared in front of the Raava.

"A message, Mother? May I ask about the contents of this message?" The newcomer asked.

"I suppose you have a right to know, Aquarius…" She looked down at the eldest of her children as she morphed into a more humanoid figure, "It is worse than we originally thought. It isn't just Grima who's stirring, but his father as well…."

"But that's impossible!" Aquarius exclaimed, "The seal put upon the spirit of chaos and darkness by you, myself, my siblings and Naga cannot be broken! Not yet! A millennium has not past!"

"…" Raava remained silent for a minute, "It seems as if an outside force is at work…Or one of our own has turned. Only we have the power to break the seal…"

Aquarius looked in the direction of Ylisse angrily, "It's that manakete's fault isn't it?! She–!"

"Enough! You will not talk to your sister in that matter!" Raava raged, "She would never hurt her own people! She loves them too much!"

"She is no sister of mine!" Aquarius continued, "She's spawn of that–!"

"I said enough!" Raava glared at the water bearer, "Now leave! Bring this news to your siblings."

"Tell them Vaatu will return…"


Erin's PoV

"ERIN!"

"GOOD MORNING, YLISSE~" I yelled as Rei somehow got into my locked room to wake me up for the march, "EVERYDAY'S LIKE AN OPEN DOOR! EVERYTHING'S LIKE A FANTASY! EVERY SOUND'S LIKE A SYMPHONY~ GOOD MORNING, YLI–!"

*Slap*

"Thanks, Rei…" I murmured as I rolled out onto the floor and lied there a minute before getting up and pulling on my washed 'arrival' clothes. I need more stuff for this wardrobe!

"No problemo! Don't want the others to get mad at you for your sleeping habits!" She smiled, "And you've got breakfast duty before the march. So I got you up extra early! Make those heavenly scrambled eggs!"

That is the only thing I know how to make…Pathetic, I know. I never said that I barely passed Home Ec. Now you know.

"…So what you're saying is. It's still early," Rei nodded at this, "If you weren't my best friend, I'd kill you," I said as I walked to the door and turned the knob.

"I know~!" Rei chirped as she skipped out the door behind me.

"*sigh* Rei! Quietly! People are sleeping!" I 'whispered' harshly.

"Aww…You're no fun," She mumbled and proceeded to skip in slow motion to avoid making noise.

Rei Feuer, ladies and gentlemen!


Well. I think that turned out rather well. No one fainted. Which is a given with how awesome these eggs are…I probably didn't use that right. Whatever. It seemed like people enjoyed it.

*puts on imaginary shades* And I got everyone's orders. Deal with it…

I need someone to pop my inflating ego. Like right now or I might go and try to one-up people…

"…My one-up senses are tingling…." Rei murmured as she pointed a rubber spatula at me as we stood in the kitchen, cleaning up everything. We needed to finish this fast, as we were marching soon.

"Yes. Please. Pop my inflating ego…." I said as my hands began to twitch.

I have a problem…I think. I need therapy for this. ASAP.

"Already on it…" Rei smirked evilly as she pulled her phone out of a secret compartment in her yellow tactician coat, "Remember when this happened?" She showed me a picture of the time I got covered in mashed potatoes at lunch.

The nurse was out of spare clothes and my parents weren't able to drop clothes off, so, naturally, I had to walk around covered in mashed potatoes all day. I didn't speak to Rei for half a day…Heh.

"GODS! You still have that?!" I yelled embarrassedly, "Put it away! And delete that photo!"

"…Nope. I think I'll keep-."

Chrom poked his head into the room causing both of us to jump and Rei to throw her indestructible phone into an empty pot.

"Hey, are you done in here yet?" He asked, "We're about to head out."

"YES SIR!" Rei and I saluted smartly.

Chrom seemed to 'sweatdrop' as I call it–you can't really do that in real life…Okay, use imagination!–as he ducked out of the doorway, saying, "All right. Meet us at the end of the military district."

After a few seconds Rei whimpered, "My poor phone…" and reached into the pot, "No cracks or anything! That's a relief!"

I rolled my eyes, "Let's go…"

We both picked up our bags of packed clothes and stuff that we had left in the kitchen and headed into the military district.

? PoV

I walked into a crowded town, hoodies unzipped revealing a blue shirt. The civilians looked at me odd, but it didn't bother me, Mother planned it that way after all. My whole wardrobe and even my name.

Rory.

Ringing any bells? Not many know where the idea came from. Care to guess? Go on ahead.

Anyway, I continued to walk through the town, hoping to find some lead to one of the Gemstones or even my mother. That was until I heard a scream. A very familiar scream…That means…

"Ye curs! Unhand me this instant or ye'll be missing a few bits!" I heard Amelia yell.

…Someone has their hands on my girlfriend…

I immediately ran in the direction of her voice.

Running around a corner, I saw her waving her iron sword at some thugs.

"Hey! Meat sacs! Let go of my girlfriend!"

The thugs and Amelia turned their attention to me. Their expressions were mixed. Amelia's being one of joy and the bandits/brigands/thugs/whatever looked pretty made.

Thug number one smirked, "Then you shoulda kept the pretty lass in sight."

Thug number two nodded, "Not like she'd want the eyes of a whelp like you on 'er!"

While they were distracted Amy lashed out and kicked them away before running to me, as I ran at the thugs, sword drawn. I easily incapacitated them.

That was too easy. They didn't even have weapons!

"Aboot bloody time ye shawed up! A've bin wondering aroond aimlessly trying tae fin' ye!"

"Well, soooooorrrry! We were separated during the jump to the past!"

"…Hmph…Whatever," Amy said, finally calming down.

"….Where's your brother?"

"I dunno…Probably flirting with some village maidens….

Chrom's PoV

"Stahl's late," Robin murmured beside me as we watched Rei, Erin and Brandon absolutely fail at a crash course on horseback. It was required that each Shepherd could at least ride a horse, not necessarily in battle though. …Well that's what we told them.

I nodded, "Stahl was never a morning person," I turned from the newest Shepherds and faced the tactician, "Say…Robin?"

"Yes, Chrom?"

"You don't know how to ride a horse, correct?"

The tactician visibly paled as Cordelia, one of Phila's finest, walked up, Maribelle by her side. The color returned to his face as Cordelia spoke, saving him for the time being.

"All the equipment is loaded and accounted for, Prince Chrom," Cordelia bowed, "I best be on my way to join Captain Phila and the other knights."

"Thank you, Cordelia. You didn't need to organize the convoy…."

"It was my pleasure, milord!" Cordelia swiftly turned and walked away.

Maribelle stepped forward, "Milord," She hesitantly acknowledged Robin, "Robin, I wish you both good fortune in the negotiations with those brutes in Regna Ferox."

Robin forced a smile–or was it real?–and looked at Maribelle, "Thanks, Maribelle."

"Hmph," Maribelle turned away, "It is simply common courtesy to acknowledge all those present, don't expect that to hold any meaning."

I sighed. Maribelle will be Maribelle, "Just hold down the fort while we're in Ferox."

Maribelle turned back with a small smile, "Certainly, milord. Ylisse and your sister are in good hands. You'll pity any brigand that gets near me and my trusty parasol."

With that Maribelle walked back towards the garrison.

Robin silently watched the newest Shepherds again before smirking, "When are you going to tell them that this crash course is just a joke?"

"I was waiting for you to figure it out…." I said.

"AHHHH!" Rei soared through the air and landed on top of Robin.

"AUGH!" Robin yelped at he crashed under the weight of the petite girl while Brandon and Erin high-fived in the background.

I barely contained my laughter as the tactician pushed Rei off and slowly stood.

"Stahp," Robin grumbled.

"When can we stop doing this pointless crash course?" Rei asked, "Because I know all of this is a load of pegasus dung…" She frownec, "It doesn't add up. Pull this again and you'll dread your judgement day..."

"Yeah, you didn't have to do any of that...It was just amusement while we were waiting for Cordelia to finish with the supplies," I said fearfully, thinking of the many things Rei could do for revenge.

Erin's PoV

"WHAAAAAT?!" I yelled angrily, "We didn't have to do that?!"

The present Shepherds, including Chrom and Robin, tried to hold in laughter as we stood before the road.

"Don't worry, you get the first caravan shift," Robin said.

"Caravan shift?" Brandon asked.

"You get the first two hours of every day in the caravan. After your two hours are up, you swift with one of the marching Shepherds. Two Shepherds also ride in the convoy and switch with other marching Shepherds as well."

I smiled, "Robin! You're a saint! You know that, right?"

Robin sighed, "Don't praise me yet…."

Chrom nodded before turning to the rest of the Shepherds, "We'll be stopping at a town halfway to Ferox to restock and get warmer clothes if necessary."

Really? That's new…

Hm. Continue?

"Hey!" Stahl yelled from behind us, "Wait for me!"

Rei ran up to the cavalier, "Stahl! You made it!"

Frederick glared at Stahl, "Yes, and would you like to explain your tardiness?"

"It's not my fault. Honest. No one told me about the march. I found out from Miriel this morning," Everyone just stared until Stahl simply said, "…Vaike."

All present Shepherds, excluding Vaike, facepalmed.

Lissa sighed, "…Vaike? Did you forgot to tell Stahl about the march?"

The blonde haired man held up his hands defensively, "The Vaike doesn't forget…I just don't always remember is all."

"I swear to Naga that you'd forget you name if you didn't always say it to yourself!" Lissa looked around, "Speaking about forgetting things…Did you forget your axe again?"

"Hey! That only happened once…! Okay, twice tops! Training sessions don't count!"

Rei let out a distressed sigh, "Okay, Sleepyhead, why didn't you just ride your horse here?" She gestured to Stahl's horse, Pancake, who was being led by the reigns.

He blushed in embarrassment and rubbed his neck sheepishly, "I don't do well when I'm hungry?"

"…"

"What? I missed breakfast!"

The present Shepherds, including me, simply walked to our respective positions for the march.


I sat in the caravan with an old tome, inkwell and quill while Rei and Brandon talked with Sumia. Yay…Medieval times!

An account of the Shepherds by:

Erin Fedelta -

November 14 X178 –

I flipped the page and began the first entry…

"As you read in the first page of the book, my name is Erin Fedelta. Last January (X178) I turned eighteen and…left home. I found myself lost until coming across Chrom, Lissa and their valiant knight Frederick, who had been accompanied by the amnesiac tactician, Robin, in Southtown, a town south of Ylisstol, on the southern coast of Ylisse. I know. It's a run-on sentence. You may as well get used to it as you're reading this.

"I met many different characters after I made the journey back to Ylisstol with the group, another Shepherd, Sully, and a flirtatious noble named Virion, who later joined the Shepherds.

"Gods, you should've seen Robby's reaction to finding out Chrom and Lissa were the prince and princess of Ylisse!

"Soon after we arrived, I met the amazing exalt, Lady Emmeryn. Damn. If one word could label her it'd be serenity. She was a calming presence in this world of…love and war, I suppose? They truly are lucky to–."

"What's that you're writing?"

"GYAAHHH!" I jumped in my spot as I noticed Chrom's presence, "By the gods, Chrom! You almost gave my awesome self a heart attack!"

"….Um…Sorry about that," He muttered, "But seriously, you've piqued my curiosity, what's that book for?"

"Oh this?" I looked at my neatish handwriting on the pages, "It's a journal. An account of the Shepherds of Ylisse for future generations of Shepherds or for museums in the future…See what I mean?"

"That seems interesting," He took a seat in the caravan, across from me, "What else?"

"…You're just like my mother sometimes…" I murmured, "If I got a letter from anyone she would ask about the contents and who it was from! Like woman! I have a right to know what's in my mail and not to show you it!"

Chrom sweatdropped again.

...

DAMNIT.

"…My mother…" I frowned, "I don't know when I'll see her or my brother and sister again…They were annoying and I constantly wanted to brutally murder them…but…"

"Are you all right? I hope I didn't–."

"You did nothing wrong, Chrom!" I snapped, causing him to wince, "I just need some time to think," I looked away sadly, "I suggest you go before I say something I regret. I've got quite the vocabulary."

I heard the creaking of wood as he left the caravan.

That's when I let a few tears flow.

I shouldn't have snapped! I shouldn't have even brought that up!

And through all of it I could vaguely here the ding of a completed support…


"RAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHH!"

….

"Milord!" Frederick yelled back, "There appear to be Risen up ahead!"

No, that really loud groan/scream was a cow!

Rei, Brandon, Sumia and I stepped out of the caravan to see a frowning Chrom.

"Gods…Have they spread this far?!"

"No, Chrom, those are walking potato sacks!" I said.

"…Look, I'm sorry about–."

"Milord, the Risen are mobilizing, we best strike while the iron is hot," Frederick interrupted.

Rei jumped beside me and held up a Fire tome that someone for some reason let her keep. Like seriously?!

"We're gonna char that rotten flesh!"

Brandon sighed, "I guess this sword'll do."

"Nope," I swiped the iron sword, "Wild Gonzys cannot have sharp objects in their possession. It runs the risk of accidentally dead comrades. I shall use it in your stead."

Brandon frowned and just got a bronze one from the convoy…that was following Chrom like a sentient being.

OH GODS! IT'S SENTIENT!

"RAGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" The Risen cried again, the growl/groan accompanied by a blast of fire from its direction this time, causing the present Shepherds to run and duck for cover.

BADOOOOOMMMMMMMM!

"HEY! That's not fair!" I yelled, peeking out of my hiding spot, "They've got an almost infinite amount of explosives!"

"Yes, but they don't have the skill to wield such magic without the aid of tomes. I, on the other hand, am quite acquainted with tomeless magic…" Miriel muttered behind us, causing everyone to slowly rise from their cover sheepishly.

"If I had my axe, I'd drive it up their asses!" Vaike grumbled.

"Hmph," Miriel pulled an axe from her waist, "I was wondering what form of ignoramus would forget such a thing…" She hand over the axe, "but still Vaike is a deucedly uncouth ignoramus and a debauched simple-minded arbitrary dereliction of genetics."

"Was tha' an insult, lady?" Vaike asked.

"Debauched…Means corrupt," Robin said, trying think of what Miriel said, "She basically said you're a "Damnably uncivilized stupid and corrupt random neglect of Naga." Gods, Miriel! That's cold!"

"…"

"It is horribly true my allies," Miriel said as she threw a fire spell at one of the Risen archers.

We all shrugged and ran into battle.

Rei started firing fire spells at Risen, as I ran in and finished them off.

"Kill stealer!" Rei yelled unhappily.

"Too bad~"

"GUYS!" Robin's voice yelled, "PLAN!"

"OH….RIIIIGHT," Everyone said simultaneously.

"REI, STAHL, GON–ER, BRANDON, SULLY, VAIKE, VIRION, I WANT YOU TO CHARGE THE CAVALIERS! REI AND VIRION IN THE SECOND ROW AND STAHL, BRANDON, SULLY AND VAIKE IN FRONT!" He turned to the rest of us, "CHROM, ERIN, FREDERICK, LISSA, SUMIA (She's here?! I totally forgot about that!) AND MYSELF WILL FEND OFF THE SWORD AND AXE WIELDERS!"

"SIR!" Rei and I said simultaneously before running off to do our roles.

As we neared the sword users, I ran at one and aimed a slash at its torso, before falling back. I didn't escape unscathed though and yelped in pain.

"YOWCH! Big meanie!" I yelled, as Chrom finished off the Risen with a single strike…Screw you, Chrom, "That's what happens when you mess with the sheep! You get the slaughter!" That was a really bad 'Ally defeats enemy quote….'

I sighed in relief as I felt the pain of my wound disappear for a second, before the feeling the flesh force itself back together. OW. It hurts. …

And now it doesn't!

Lissa! You saint!

Anyway, it looks like Frederick finished off the leader in the time that I was waiting to be healed…Aww…

I wanted more action!


We finally reached the small town after another hour. From here it'll be about a week until we get to Ferox…

Rei and I had immediately located a store with wintery clothes. We may have NY blood, but I have a feeling Ferox will reach Canadian temperatures…Better safe than sorry.

"OH. MY. GOD," I gasped as I saw a very familiar cloak and dress, "Rei doesn't this look like Espella Cantabella's dress and cloak?"

"Yes!" Rei squealed like a fangirl, "What size is it?"

"My size!" I cheered as I snatched it off the rack and ran into the changing room.

"Erin! No far…Screw you!" Rei wailed in dismay, those wails were drowned out when she squealed again, "Maya Fey! It's my size!"

I stepped out of the dressing room. Cloak and weird dress thingy on. I don't like dresses, but this is an exception!

"So?"

Rei nodded enthusiastically...as we both ran to the cashier, who was an Anna.

"Oh, I see you discovered our Outrealm exclusive outfits…" She smiled evilly, "That'll be 10 gold for both."

TAKE MY MONEY.


As Rei and I exited the shop, wearing our new stuff, we heard a scream from the center of town.

"WITCH! It's her! She's a witch! The Great Witch Bezella!" A random woman cried.

Wait. Witch…Espella costume…Bezella

*turning gears noise*

"Excuse me, sir?" I turned to a random dude, "Do you happen to know the name of this town?"

"Labyrinthia."

Rei and I fangirled for a moment before becoming serious again and running to the scene of a possible crime.

When we got there the Shepherds had the same idea and had gathered at the scene. I walked up to the possible victim, accused and another person, who Chrom was already talking to.

"What happened here?" Chrom asked calmly.

The farmer lady looked at the girl who was sprawled on the ground and then at the knight who had another woman's arms restrained, "I witnessed this girl use a curse on the unconscious one ove–."

"LIES!" The girl cried with a sort of British accent, "Are you just going to believe that because she's unconscious!"

"Silence!" A female voice came from underneath the knight's helm, "You shall be put to the flame for your act of witchcraft!"

"Hold!" Chrom said, "You're seriously going to burn this woman because she supposedly performed witchcraft?! Magic is not an uncommon thing in these lands, for what reason should she be put to the flame then?!"

"No, you hold, prince," A woman stepped forward, "You have no power in these lands, nor will you ever. The exalt signed off this small portion of land to the creator of this town, Labyrinthia. The Storyteller has dominion here. What he says goes," The person turned to the knight, "Take her to the flames…"

"WAIT!" I heard Rei cry, "Will you at least try her in court?! I'm sure your "Storyteller" can't be that cruel!"

"No, even those who are sus–."

The cry of an owl interrupted the woman's sentence as it dropped a letter into his hands. She opened the letter and looked at the girl.

"Very well. The trial cannot be held without a defense…one of you must step forward to face me, the Inquisitor in court."

Robin, Rei and I stepped forward.

"There can be more than one person at the defense's desk, but only one is the true defender…"

I looked at Robin with puppy dog eyes and then at Rei. They both looked down in defeat.

"Let's hope you're as sharp as you say you are, Erin," Robin said as we, the Shepherds, accused, witnesses and victim, who had finally regained conscious, were escorted to the court along. Oh! This'll be so fun!

I hope I don't mess up too bad…


"We will now begin the trial of Ygritte Esselton. She has been charged with being a witch and using here witchcraft against a citizen of Labyrinthia. If the accused is not found guilty, we will conduct a search for the true culprit. The true culprit will be burned in her stead. If the accused is found to be guilty, she will be cast into the flames," The judge said as he sat in his bench, "Defense? Are you prepared?"

"Yes, Your Honor," I said proudly as both Robin and Rei pouted next to me.

"Inquisitor Stellaris, are you prepared?"

"The Iniquisition is ready," She said, "I do hope you're ready, defense."

"You'll be surprised at what we can achieve," I replied, "You should be the one checking if you're ready."

The judge nodded, "The Court Anna has provided us with an image of the crime scene with a snapshot tome. Thanks to her we never get anything wrong because of the Court Illustrator…." The judge glared at a bailiff, who shuddered involuntarily.

He must have been the Court Illustrator…

An Anna called from the back of the room, "No, you rock, Judge Ester! (Pfft! ESTER?! Hahahahaha!)" She paused for a minute, "That compliment will cost you one gold piece!"

…Classic Anna

"*ahem* Inquisitor, please call your first witness to the stand!"

"Yes, milord," Stellaris said, "I would like to call Peatrice Garnal to the witness stand!"

The farmer lady from before hobbled up to the Witches' Court-esque stand/bench.

"Witness, please being your testimony."

"Yes, Lady Stellaris," Cue sword crossing effect! Schwing! "I was walking home after completing my daily routine in the market. I stopped at the bakery, sold fresh vegetables at the stalls and sold a few of my prized hens. Soon after, I entered the square only to witness a flash of purple and the victim falling to the ground and losing consciousness. My reaction was to scream as loud as my lungs would manage."

I tilted my head, "You screamed? Was that the scream I heard from the shop? Something along the lines of "WITCH! It's her! She's a witch! The Great Witch Bezella!"?"

The lady nodded, "Yes, I that is what I said."

I nodded, "And what was this flash of purple you say you saw?"

"Naturally, it was witchcraft! Only witchcraft can't take that color in raw magic energy! That's common knowledge for every Labyrinthian!"

Robin shook his head next to me, "We're not getting much from this witness…"

"No, there's one more bit you can press about," Rei muttered, "Ask about when the witness fell. The sequence of events. Maybe that'll tip the scales in our favor and the final judgement will be hastened."

"Good idea, Rei," I turned back to the witness, "Mrs. Garnal? You say that the light flashed before the victim fell? Are you absolutely sure that is the sequence of events?"

"Hm…Well…" Garnal hesitated, "Th-the victim fell to the ground after the light flashed! Yes! That's what happened!"

"Are you sure that's what happened?"

"That is clearly what happened."

Robin smirked as I said the next sentence, "Then you are clearly lying!"

The farmer was taken aback by my sudden statement, "W-what do you mean?!"

Oh! I told Robin about this and we're gonna make it work!

I signaled to Rei and Robin and we both spun on our heels before pointing at the witness, "Objection! There's a contradiction in your testimony!"

"Your Honor! The witness clearly does not know what exactly happened and when, therefore, their testimony is unreliable!"

"What?!" The judge asked, "And wherein lies that reason?"

"The witness stated in their testimony that the flash of light happened before the witness fell unconscious. When questioned further they stated the opposite order of events: the witness fell before the flash of light. This shows that the witness is unsure!"

*camera moves to the Shepherds, then to the accused, witness, defense and then…*

"Objection!"


I don't care! That was so fun to write! I know. Testimony = really short and bland! But I couldn't resist doing this for the chapter! I just beat PF VS PW and my brain is like…*pshhwewewe* It was so beautiful! I laughed and cried through that wonderful ball of circuits and computer parts (?).

Can you determine who Rei's zodiac is? I dropped a few hints. Who's this Vaatu?! Raava?! Those names...haven't we heard them elsewhere? What's this Labyrinthia? Who's this Storyteller?! Find out next time! (Maybe! Labyrinthia is going to be an in and out thing.)

This should be wrapped up in the next chap, along with a bit of the journey to Ferox. And then I might do the Thanksgiving special. Maybe. I said a big FU to the dates! So I'll have to wait a bit to catch up…Meh. It comes out when it comes out.

I have so much planned for the Christmas one…Okay more like an outline. But. I. Can't. Wait.

Here's a preview

"Have a Merry ****ing Christmas!"

... And maybe some Mean Girls references...Catch my drift? Cuz I sure don't

….

….

That is all.

Again.

I have NO regrets!

If you would like, please leave a review. Please point out any mistakes I might have made. I'm not the most grammatically correct person in the world! ...Better than m-*Shot*