Pre-chapter review answer corner GO!

The Worldwalker - Mags: Like I said in my notes last chapter, this started as a joke suggestion to Tori when she was doodling her Tactician from Awakening. It has spiraled into something amazing.
Tori: Mags can blame me all he wants - he wasn't exactly complaining, and we've been wanting to work on a story together for a while now. This one just gave us an opportunity that we're running with.

pureshadow013 - Mags: I feel like it's gonna end up being snark to snark combat with them, personally.
Tori: Solna enjoys a good verbal spar. Frederick is a perfect opponent for such; Virtoliric Best buds are so much fun~

Overlord Duelist - Mags: Oh we'll definitely make Awkward Zombie jokes. As for the War Cleric thing... well, ask Tori.
Tori: *coughs and looks at her save file for Solna's game* What's this tactician class you speak of?

And now, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

A disgruntled whine softly echoed through the forest's night air, followed by a faintly amused chuckle.

"I told you it was getting dark, but you just HAD to not wanna stay at that village for the night..." Lissa complained, swinging her staff back and forth. "Ech! The bugs are out now! Noisy, disgusting bugs that buzz around and crawl all over and bite you when-" A half strangled noise escaped her, followed by several coughs. "-Agh! Won goph in mah mouph!"

Chrom chuckled again as Felix tried to help Lissa cough the bug out of her throat. "Aw, come on now, Lissa. Hardship builds character. Want to help me gather firewood?"

"Tpht! Tpht! Blech! Yeeeeuck! Oh good, it came out..." she sighed. "I'll pass on finding firewood, thanks. I think I've built QUITE enough character for one day."

"If you're going for firewood, you mind looking for something edible?" asked Solna. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving."

Fredrick hummed in agreement as he dismounted his horse. "Yes, I should think a little gathering and hunting is in order about now... Provided our guests don't mind clearing a campsite while Milord and I find us a meal."

"Not at all." replied Felix as he started to do just that. He winced in pain and sharply withdrew his hand from a stone he'd tried to move. "Ngh! And here I thought this had stopped being a problem..."

"What happened to your hand anyways?" asked Lissa, stepping closer to the light haired male.

"We don't know." said Solna. "It was pretty badly burned, so I wrapped it as best I could before he tried to bandage my back..."

The blonde hummed, then beckoned Felix. "Come here and lemme see your hand."

He did as requested, holding his right hand out to the healer.

"Well, these are on here pretty good if nothing else..." Lissa noted as she removed the bandages. A startled gasp escaped her once enough were removed that the condition of his hand was visible – the flesh was burnt worse than if it had been a simple accident, such as touching a pot over a fire. His fingers appeared to have escaped whatever caused the injury, but the back of his hand, his palm, and his wrist bore the scars. "...Holy smokes, I haven't seen burns like this since I had to help patch up Vaike after he got Miriel mad!"

"I don't recognize those names, but it certainly sounds like one hell of a story." commented Solna. "Is there anything you can do for him?"

Lissa nodded. "Yeah, I can heal this... at least, enough that it won't hurt. I can't do anything about the scars... and what's this?"

"What's what?" asked Felix, then he looked at the back of his hand. A strange purple marking sat unmarred in the center of the burns. "...When did I get a seemingly magical tattoo?"

Now curious, the lavender-haired girl approached and gave the mark a curious look. "...I don't know, but..." she pulled off one of her gloves and moved her hand beside her brothers. An identical symbol was on the back of her hand. "...I have one as well."

"Maybe it's a birthmark?" Offered the healer, her staff glowing with blue light as she mended Felix's hand. "I mean, you guys said you were twins. Kinda fitting it's even on opposite sides..."

"Doesn't mean I like it." Solna said, a sigh following as she pulled the glove back on. "I really hope your brother and the big guy bring enough food..."

Felix nodded as Lissa re-applied the bandages to his hand. "Likewise."

"We're back." Fredrick proclaimed, causing the three seated by a campfire to turn towards him.

"Hey, about time- is that a BEAR?!"

"No, it's dinner." laughed Chrom. "Hope it's not a problem-"

"I'll take a leg, please!" Solna said, a gleeful gleam in her eyes.

Apart from the crackling fire and a half stifled chuckle from Felix, there was silence.

"...What?" she asked, sounding perplexed by the odd looks she was getting. "I'm hungry!"

"...But will you actually eat it?" asked Fredrick.

"I'd wager this is a moment where it doesn't matter what the food is, she's going to eat it and you can't stop her."

Solna gestured to her brother. "See? He gets it!"

"He's your brother."

"It still counts, Chrom!"

Lissa just sighed. "I'll pass! Gods, couldn't you spear us an animal that normal people eat for once?"

"There was little other option, milady." reported the knight as he set about making a meal out of the bear. "T'was all we could find, so if it is not to your liking, you will have to grin and bear it."

"...Was the pun necessary, Fredrick?"

He chuckled. "No, but it is amusing."

"At least it was bearable- OW!" Solna turned towards her brother. "What?"

"Food first, then japes." He said, lowering his arm from where he'd struck her with his elbow.

A sigh was her response. "Fine..."

"It's been too long since I last had bear meat. Delicious!"

"...I suspect Solna shares your enthusiasm for it, milord." noted Fredrick as he watched the lavender haired woman devour her portion with gusto. A glance towards her brother revealed him eating at an only moderately slower pace. "I'd ask how long it had been since either of them had a meal, but I feel as though the answer is 'at least not since breakfast'."

"Try not for a few days!" exclaimed Lissa.

Solna chuckled as she finished the bite she'd been chewing. "No no, I just have a big appetite. Mother complained about it... often..."

"...Sister?"

"...Felix, do you..." she asked, her voice somewhat quiet. "...Do you feel like we've forgotten something... important?"

His response came after several moments of silence. "...I do."

Lissa and Chrom exchanged concerned glances as the twins went quiet. Fredrick arched an eyebrow, but refrained from making a comment.

"...Not even an inkling?" Felix asked, finally breaking the silence.

"None." sighed Solna. "...Just another riddle for us to solve, I suppose."

Lissa scooted closer to the twins. "Anything about your mom that you do remember?"

"Just that she was the village's healer where we lived, really..."

Chrom leaned towards Fredrick, speaking with a hushed tone. "The more they speak, the more I feel their tale rings true, Fredrick."

"...I cannot deny I am inclined towards the same, milord." replied the knight. "But belief and trust are separate matters."

"I'll take what I can get... which will include your serving if you don't eat."

Fredrick hesitated slightly. "...My hunger may have gotten the better of me before we left town, so I may have purchased something to tide me over for our travel back to the capital..."

The sapphire-haired man chuckled. "So even the strong will of Fredrick the Wary can falter in the face of a meal. Far be it for me to judge if it means I may indulge myself a bit more."

"By all means." said Fredrick, offering his portion of bear meat to Chrom.

"Geez Solna, where do you put it all?!" Lissa exclaimed as the lavender-haired woman ate a second helping of bear meat.

"My stomach, obviously." She replied simply. "It's delicious."

The blonde's jaw dropped in confusion. "Delicious?! It smells like old boots! Wait, no I take that back – BOOTS smell better!"

"Hey, you're the one who doesn't wanna eat it so why should I let it go to waste?"

"...Felix, your sister is weird."

"Everyone marches to the beat of their own drum." He remarked as he finished his portion of the meat. "Solna's just happens to have a different tempo than most."

"You're not much better."

He just smiled. "I never said I was."

The forest was quiet as the group rested, the starry sky and half-moon bathing the land in gentle light. Yet even in the still night, it seemed as though Chrom would not find peaceful slumber till dawn. A distant, faint rumbling noise carried its way to his ear, rousing him from his sleep.

"...Huh?"

As he got to his feet, Lissa stirred and sleepily stood as well.

"What's wrong, big brother?" she asked with a yawn, half bracing herself on her healing staff.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you." He apologized. "It's just... something seems amiss."

Lissa arched an eyebrow at her sibling. "Define 'something'."

"I'm not sure... I think I'll have a look around."

"Not alone, you won't!" she retorted, following Chrom as he started away from the small campsite. "I'm coming too."

A soft chuckle and a quick hug around the shoulders was his response. "Thanks, Lissa."

The siblings quietly strode off into the forest, the ambient sounds of the night surrounding them as they walked. It was not to last, however. Once they were a ways away from the camp, the forest became silent as the grave, and this odd change was not unnoticed.

"It sure is dark..." remarked the blonde as they entered a small clearing. "...Quiet, too. Where did the birds and bugs go...?"

"Something is wrong here..."

As if invoked by those words, a rumble resounded through the land itself, forcing the siblings to do their best to keep their balance.

"Aaah! Chrom!"

"Gods, what – Agh! What is this madness?!" shouted Chrom. "Lissa, stay close!"

Nodding, the blonde carefully stepped closer to her brother as he surveyed the area.

"...Lissa, run." He said, watching as trees in the distance fell over like twigs in a storm.

"Huh?"

"I mean it!" Chrom insisted, pushing his sister in the direction opposite of the falling trees. "Go!"

The two of them sprinted away as the place they'd once stood splintered and rose, fire pouring out from beneath the surface. Balls of flame rained down around the forest, turning it into a raging inferno. Chrom and Lissa sped through the blaze, finally coming to a stop in a clearing that had thus far escaped the fire. The blonde leaned forward, trying to catch her breath as her brother stared in awe at the flames, looking up in time to see something beginning to materialize in the air.

"Chrom, what IS that?!"

The blue-haired male whirled around to see what his sister was pointing at, and had no trouble spotting the massive, runed ring that had taken shape in the air. A crystalline structure appeared in the middle, opening like an eye and gleaming with brilliant light. Two dark shapes emerged from the 'eye' and gracelessly fell to the ground, rising to their feet within moments. Piercing red eyes cut through the shadows where they stood, unearthly moaning noises escaping the same area.

"Lissa, you'd better stand back." Chrom stated firmly, unsheathing his blade as his sister quickly stepped away.

The figures stepped forward with staggered steps, limply letting their arms flail back and forth as the axes they held dragged along the ground. One made a sort of groaning shout before it sprinted towards Chrom in a bid to cleave him in two, but the sapphire-haired swordsman was faster between them, keenly slashing the assailant across the back as he darted past to avoid the axe. However, the sound of unnaturally turning bones caused Chrom to spin around in time to catch the stranger's axe with his blade. They were not one lacking strength, much to Chrom's dismay, but with a flourish of steel and a quick shove, his attacker fell to the ground long enough to give him the chance to finish them by way of sword through their back. The figure let out a weak groan as its body melted into purple mist, Chrom pausing to catch his breath. His sister screaming in panic caused him to turn quickly, seeing the other figure bearing down on her as she tried in vain to potentially use her healing staff to protect herself.

Unseen by either of the siblings, however, was the appearance of another stranger from the same odd 'eye' the first two had fallen out of. They landed with far more grace, sprinting ahead of Chrom. In one swift motion, the new stranger caught the attacker's axe with their sword, the clash of steel ringing through the air as they shielded Lissa. The healer slowly opened her eyes, gasping in surprise when she saw her rescuer.

"Help!" called out the masked swordsman, turning their head in the direction of Chrom.

It took a moment for the words to actually register with him, before he responded with a nod. "...Right!"

Sprinting forward with sword drawn and a battle cry at his lips, he succeeded in getting the attacker's attention away from the masked man long enough for them to parry the axe and slash them across the stomach as Chrom's blade sliced through their back. The axeman melted into purple mist like the one before it had, and Lissa slumped against the stone she'd been backed up against with a heavy sigh.

"Quite an entrance." commented Chrom as he turned to face the stranger who protected his sister, watching them sheath their blade. "What's your name?"

"Milord! Milady!"

The siblings turned towards the new voice, the masked swordsman slipping away into the forest while they were distracted by the appearance of Fredrick, Solna, and Felix – the former two arriving on Fredrick's horse.

"Are you hurt?" inquired the knight, his question going unanswered as several creatures much like the two axemen Chrom had dealt with moments ago started shambling out of the forest with inhuman moans.

"What in the...? Are these creatures commonplace in these lands?"

Chrom shook his head. "They're not from Ylisse, I promise you that... but whatever they are, they can die like anything else."

"Huh? H-Hey, Chrom! He's gone!" Lissa exclaimed, prompting Solna to look at her.

"Who's gone?"

"The masked man who saved me! If it wasn't for him, I'd..."

Fredrick tugged at his horse's reigns as he withdrew his lance. "We can worry about him once these... things... have been put to the blade. Keep your wits about you – we know nothing of this enemy."

"I-I do!" Lissa stated. "Or at least, I saw a few things when Chrom and that masked man were fighting them!"

"Speak quickly, since these ones seem keen on giving us a demonstration..." remarked Felix, withdrawing the Levin Sword from its sheath.

"They can turn there heads like an owl and once they die, they melt into smokey purple stuff!"

Solna gave the healer and odd look as she slipped off of Fredrick's horse and moved towards Lissa. "Well if nothing else, we can be sure of when they're dead."

"Aye." agreed Fredrick. "Then we'd best speed them to their end!"

Two of the creatures made angry groans before rushing forward, one carrying a sword and the other hefting an axe, and lashing out at Chrom and Felix. The former was cut across his exposed arm, wincing in pain as he struck back at his attacker, while the latter sidestepped the axe and pierced the axeman's chest with his blade, prying it free with a kick to their chest. The axeman gave a weak moan as it melted into purple mist, soon joined by the swordsman that had attacked Chrom.

"Checkmate!"

A bolt of lightning struck down a different sword-wielding creature that'd decided Lissa and Solna looked like better targets than the three males with sharp objects in hand. Several of its allies thought similarly, among them a pair of archers. One kept his bow trained on Solna as it waited for an opportune moment to let loose an arrow – preferably to somewhere exposed so as to kill her more quickly, while the other was taking aim at Chrom. Unfortunately for the latter, the sound of a horse's hooves pounding the ground reached it mere moments before the lance of the person riding it punctured its torso.

"Captain Chrom!" called out the rider, a woman clad in red armor. "Captain, are you alright?"

"Sully?!" exclaimed the sapphire-haired swordsman in surprise as he cut down another of the creatures. "Ha! Better late than never, I suppose! We could certainly use another hand! Get to work!"

"Yes sir!" she replied, kicking a swordsman who tried to approach from the side before jabbing them in the neck. "Dunno what these ash-faced freaks are, but if they want a fight, I'll give 'em one to-"

"Hold, milady!"

Sully looked over her shoulder, finding a man with gray-blue hair approaching her, a bow and quiver on his back. He looked more like the type to be seen in the presence of nobility than a battlefield.

"Life may be long, but attraction is fleeting! Would you leave me in your sweet dust?" he asked, apparently heedless of the battle around him, even as Fredrick cut down several more of the creatures not ten feet behind him. "Leave the war to the warriors, dear bird! A beauty such as you need wage only love!"

The cavalier arched an eyebrow. "...I dunno what you're talking about OR who the hell you are, Ruffles, but in case you hadn't noticed-" Another would-be attacker was met with her lance, this time piercing their skull. "-There's a battle going on, so save the fancy talk for when it's over!"

A sigh escaped the odd man. "I suppose your words ring true, milady... Thus I shall offer my aid if you answer but one humble request; may I know your name?"

"Heh, your life to throw away pal." she replied. "But the name's Sully. Now put that bow of yours to work if you know how to use it!"

"At once, milady!" he replied, saluting crisply before withdrawing his bow and knocking an arrow. "I, Virion, am the archest of archers!"

"Oh great, Sully made a new friend again..." sighed Lissa as she healed Solna, the lavender-haired woman pulling an arrow out of her left shoulder. "At least he's more helpful than the last one."

Solna glanced towards the archer, who seemed to be having a bit of trouble with one of the creatures – mainly in that it wasn't letting him get the chance to shoot it. "So your friend attracting odd men to battlefields is a regular occurrence?"

"Guys in general, really. This seems to be a night for firsts..."

"Hey, blue!" Solna called out. "Duck!"

Virion turned in time to see arcane glyphs appear, doing as commanded so as to not be struck by lightning instead of the axeman that'd set its sights on him.

"Ah, many thanks, milady!" he called out. "Now, this shall be one for the bards!"

"What are-"

Three arrows sailed past Solna and Lissa, and soon after the sound of three bodies hitting the ground echoed behind them. The two women turned around to discover three of the creatures had tried to sneak up on them, and were met with an arrow between their eyes. Said arrows fell to the ground once the corpses melted away, leaving Solna and Lissa momentarily stunned.

"The favor is repaid!" said Virion, turning his attention back to the rest of the battle. "Now, to show these upstart monstrosities how a gentleman wages war!"

"...I think your friend found a keeper."

"Provided he can survive her..."

Solna rolled her eyes. "And that made me remember a conversation with Felix on almost the same subject."

"What, did he say the same thing about you?" Lissa asked.

On cue, another creature was smote by lightning.

"...I'll take that as a yes."

On another part of the battlefield, Felix cut down a mage among the creatures and turned to see how Fredrick fared. The answer turned out to be quite well... apart from one thing.

"Fredrick, behind you!"

Hearing the shout, the knight swung backwards with his lance, knocking aside a thrown axe with impeccable timing.

"You have my thanks, Felix!" He called out, turning back towards the foe before him and running them through. Within a moment, he'd turned his horse towards the source of the axe – a larger creature than others standing a ways away. "Hmph. So their strongest has taken the field..."

"I believe that one is the leader." stated Felix as he approached Fredrick. "And if it is, well... I'm sure it's obvious what will happen once it's slain."

Fredrick smirked, readying his lance. "Aye, that it is. Climb aboard – it may have friends nearby."

"Right." said the blue-haired male, climbing onto the back of the war horse with only a slight amount of difficulty. "Ready!"

"Then let us be off!" exclaimed the night, spurring his horse forward towards the leader.

"RYAAARGH!" it bellowed, hurling another axe at the two now charging at it. The weapon never hit its mark, as a burst of lightning from Felix's blade knocked it off course.

"PICK A GOD AND PRAY!"

With a swift motion as the warhorse thundered past, the creature's head was liberated from its shoulders by way of gleaming steel piercing through its throat. The head, and the body it was separated from, melted into purple mist before they could hit the ground. Fredrick tugged on the reigns, bringing his horse to a stop as so he might survey the battlefield.

"...Hmph. I expected more of a challenge." he remarked, spotting something off to one side. "...And I believe I have found the 'Masked Man' milady spoke of."

Looking in the direction the knight was facing, Felix likewise spotted someone sheathing a blade. "Most likely... it's the only other person here besides us, that cavalier in red armor, and the archer."

"I know not the archer, but I do know the other." said Fredrick as he made his horse start moving back towards the others. "Sully has always possessed impeccable timing along with formidable skill with a lance."

"Another of the Shepherds?"

He nodded. "Correct. A word of caution, however; I would advise against provoking her more than I would against provoking me. She has a temper as fiery as the red of her armor."

"...I'll keep that in mind."

Chrom sighed as he sheathed his blade, striding towards the masked swordsman as the others present converged on his location. Lissa was the first to catch up.

"Hey, um... thank you for saving me before." she said, smiling nervously at the masked man. "You were very brave."

"...I did as any in my position would do." replied the swordsman with a modest tone.

"Not many could face so many foes so readily." commented Fredrick, his horse stopping at the edge of the group. "But you have my thanks as well."

"And mine." Chrom added. "You saved my sister's life. My name is Chrom. Might I ask yours?"

The masked man remained quiet for a moment before answering. "You may call me Marth."

"Marth? After the heroic king of old?" asked the sapphire-haired swordsman. "You certainly fought like a hero from what I could see. Where did you learn your way with a sword?"

"I'm not here to talk about me." stated Marth with a stern tone. "This world teeters at the brink of a horrible calamity. What you saw tonight was but a prelude. You have been warned."

"Huh?" asked Lissa as Marth turned and began to leave. "What's teetering where now? Hey, wait!"

Solna hummed curiously. "Not much for conversation, are they?"

"Perhaps his skills lie elsewhere, though I wager we'll hear of him again." said Fredrick. "For now, I'm more concerned about the capital. We should make haste."

"Oh for... how's THIS for an answer?!"

"OOF!"

The group turned, finding Virion doubled over while Sully was righting herself in her saddle.

"G-goodness, but those shapely legs certainly can kick, can't they..." groaned the archer. "P-please, milady! Allow me to accompany you! Mine is a cold, empty world without you! I shall be your most willing servant, and you, in turn, will give my life purpose..."

"...Who's this?" asked Chrom.

"Some braggart who actually lives up to his boasts." replied the cavalier. "Never seen anybody that good with a bow before, but he's got another thing coming if he thinks his honeyed words will charm someone like me!"

A sigh escaped Chrom. "How long has he been following you?"

Sully shrugged. "I dunno. A few hours now?"

"I shall follow milady to the ends of the earth!" proclaimed Virion, posing dramatically.

"...Well, he's certainly not from around here." Solna remarked dryly. "The lady on the horse, though? HER I like."

"Oh ho, what have we here? Another fair-"

"Keep talking and we'll find out how good I am with this tome." said the lavender-haired woman with a pleasant tone and a wicked smile. "Hopefully I won't end up causing permanent harm..."

The archer's words died in his throat as he eyed the tome in Solna's hand, Felix and Sully chuckling.

"Dunno who you are, but the feelings mutual." said the cavalier. "And who's the other guy?"

"That's... got something of a story to it." admitted Chrom. "But we'll have ample time to go over it on the way to the capital. No use trying to sleep now..."

Mags: If you thought there wouldn't be an instance of 'Pick a god and pray' at the FIRST POSSIBLE MOMENT you clearly underestimate me. But this was fun to write, even if I WAS listening to 'Don't speak her name!' the entire time. Not sure why, really, but hey! It got results.

Tori: So yeah, pretty much cookie cutter from the game proper - we'll be able to do more fun stuff next chapter, since we'll be meeting up with the rest of the shepherds and getting into the plot proper. How fitting that that's when the 'supports' are unlocked - we can start delving into character interaction from there~!