Pre-Chapter Review Answer Corner GO!

pureshadow013 - Mags: Tori, what's the verdict on that?
Tori: Her tome rank's not high enough, I'll have to take a rain check on this and get back to you when we're closer to getting Forseti.

And now, ON WITH THE CHAPTER!

"HEEEEY! W-wait for me!"

The Shepherds stopped and turned towards the sound of the voice as they made their final preparations to march, a winded man in green armor scurrying towards the group.

"Stahl?" Chrom asked, looking more than passingly confused. "Why are you in rush?"

"The better question is why am I the last to hear about this expedition to Ferox!" retorted the brunet. "I had to skip out on half of my breakfast..."

Lissa frowned. "How didn't you know about it? Vaike was supposed..." Her hair swayed as her head span towards the blond axeman. "Vaike! Did you forget to tell Stahl about our mission?!"

"The Vaike never forgets!" he retorted, sounding offended. "I just thought you weren't gonna drag him along since he just got back!"

Fredrick's head bobbed lightly, as if to agree with Vaike. "I'd assumed much the same when he hadn't arrived with the others. Even Kellam was more punctual..."

"I told you about the march yesterday!" snapped Sully, approaching the other knight and lightly smacking him on the back of the head. "Or were you too caught up with your dinner to pay attention!?"

"Well, the day has certainly gotten off to a lively start." Solna quipped as she pulled on her coat. "Or is this normal?"

"A little of both, really." replied Kellam as he put on the last of his armor. "...Huh. That's odd..."

"What's odd?"

"I don't see Miriel anywhere." he said. "By now she'd be lecturing Vaike about keeping track of-"

"Perhaps the next time you misplace your axe, I'll use a spell to permanently fasten it to your hands!"

The loud voice drew Solna's attention, revealing a woman with red hair clad in black robes giving the muscular blond a very stern lecture that he clearly seemed to be dreading every second of. Her voice was a steady, if loud, tone, but she spoke so quickly it was hard to process.

"Nevermind." Kellam chuckled.

At another part of the soon to depart army, Felix sighed and stood up, offering a breastplate back to its owner.

"There you are, Sumia." He said, a pleasant smile on his face. "Good as new."

"Oh, thank you!" She said, inspecting the armor carefully. "You removed that entire gash...?! That's... that's amazing...!"

He chuckled softly, waving his hand dismissively. "Hardly. It came naturally, so I've clearly done that sort of thing before. Just make sure you grab a weapon before we march."

"I-I will!" replied Sumia, hurrying off to put the armor on a moment later.

"I should retrieve my own as well..." he said aloud, walking over to where he'd set the Levin sword and attaching the blade's sheath to his belt. "...A spare wouldn't hurt, though..."

With a hum, he checked amongst the various crates, withdrawing a bronze sword and a tome of fire from them.

-That should work.- He thought confidently, putting another scabbard on his belt before he headed off to meet up with Chrom.

A short while, and more yelling by Miriel, later, and the Shepherds set off from Yisstol, boots, hooves, and wagon wheels heading north towards the warrior realm of Ferox. The faint clanking of metal was the only sound among them for a time, till at last Stahl spoke up.

"So uh... who're the new faces?" he asked, looking over at Solna and Felix from atop his horse. "New recruits nobody mentioned?"

Sully let out a frustrated groan at that comment, and because of her shoving Virion away, and turned towards the cavalier in green. "Gods Stahl, I know you love Rosemary's cooking but would it kill you to actually LISTEN when someone's talking to you?!"

"Maybe it's a trait common among men?" Solna offered. "Felix tends to zone out while eating too..."

"That was last night and I was reading at the same time!" he retorted, elbowing his sister.

She simply elbowed him back. "Doesn't help your case."

Miriel adjusted her spectacles, her stride edging her closer to the conversation. "I am likewise unfamiliar with the two, though I would infer they are the tacticians that Sir Fredrick spoke of. I am Miriel, scholar and mage of the Shepherds."

"I'm Stahl." added the man himself, a friendly grin on his face. "Sorry for the poor first impression. I kinda just got back from my honeymoon..."

"Ah, so the 'Rosemary' Sully spoke of is your wife then?"

His smile widened. "Yep! Head chef at the castle, too." A wistful sigh escaped him. "She's an amazing woman..."

"Well, congratulations." said Solna, managing a bow as she walked backwards. "The name's Solna. The one with ice for hair and his nose in a book is my brother."

"Felix." he added, looking over his shoulder.

Stahl's expression shifted into something close to a confused frown. "...I'll be honest, I'd expect the name 'Solna' on someone with hair like Miriel or Maribelle's."

"I feel like I've had that said to me fairly often..." she turned towards Felix. "...Have I?"

"Most likely, sister."

A chuckle escaped Sully. "Sounds like whichever parent named you had odd taste in naming conventions... and maybe a good fascination with irony."

"Or a lot of love for their kid." Vaike commented. "Y'know, like sayin' your daughter is your ray of sunshine."

Sully, Stahl, and Miriel stared at the blond in silence for a few moments.

"...What?" he asked. "The Vaike calls it like he sees it."

"Heh, I like that interpretation better than the alternative." Solna laughed. "Especially when said alternative is a lot of sunlight puns."

Stahl cocked an eyebrow. "What'd you do to people who made puns?"

"Punch them." stated Felix, turning the page in his tome. "The worse the pun, the harder she hit them."

"...Is it common for you to speak for your sister?" asked Miriel.

"It is when I can remember more about my brother than I can about myself." Solna sighed. "Quite frustrating, to say the least..."

The redheaded mage adjusted her glasses again. "Most curious... though I suppose familial bonds would be more than capable of withstanding a bought of amnesia. Which of you is the older child?"

"Solna, by thirty minutes. We're twins."

"...Fascinating."

"Oh hells, I know that look..." said Sully. "She's got some experiments brewing in that head of hers now."

Miriel scoffed lightly. "Nothing barbaric, oh Crimson Mistress of War. Memory is an important part of one's life, and to lose it is to lose yourself. Is it wrong of me to humbly request an opportunity to aid our new allies?"

"Well spoken, my lady. Perhaps when you are- OOF!"

"...I was not aware we also attained a bard." quipped the mage as Virion staggered from Sully's kick. "Another admirer of yours?"

"You could say that..." answered the knight. "More useful than the others. Feel free to use him as a test subject if you need one for those concoctions you brew up... unless it's that blue one you were working on last time. I liked that one."

Solna let out a cackle as the blue-haired archer seemed to pale. "Oh good, so I'm not the only eccentric one around~"

"Maybe if she can help with our memories she can find out why you liked using that Thunder tome so much..." Felix deadpanned.

"I brought something else along this time, twerp." she griped, adjusting her coat enough to reveal the sword she had belted to her waist. "Sure I've still got that Thunder tome, but now I have another option if I need it."

"A sound plan... though I'm curious as to where Chrom attained his blade." said the blue haired twin, looking at the man in question as he spoke with Fredrick closer to the front of the group. "It's certainly unique..."

Solna hummed. "Yeah... though I wonder what it's made of. I saw him blocking more than a few attacks with it looking no more worse for ware..."

"That's Falchion, one of the treasures of House Ylisse."

The twins both turned towards the speaker, who turned out to be Sumia.

"It's been passed down the Exalted line for generations, even as far back as the Hero-King Marth." she continued. "Supposedly it has only ever been broken once, but was reforged to be stronger."

"...And here I was about to consider scolding him for such blatant mistreatment of a weapon." commented Felix.

"Only you would, Felix... though I'm more amazed you know so much about it, Sumia." said Solna. "Of course, I suppose it would be odd for someone from Ylisse to have never heard of such a thing..."

The brunette giggled nervously, a light blush coloring her face. "O-oh, well, I've read my fair share of books and a bit more... some friends among the Pegasus Knights helped, too..."

"Oh yeah, you're good friends with that one prodigy among them..." Stahl commented absently. "...Cordelia's her name, right?"

"Yes! She's a really nice person." Sumia beamed. "I think the praise bothers her a bit, though..."

"Sounds like an entertaining collection of people." said Solna. "I'd like to meet her given the chance, though I suppose that'd have to wait till after we're done with business in Ferox."

Felix bobbed his head in agreement. "Likewise."

"Sounds like you've both made some good first impressions."

"Ha, 'bout time you stopped yammering with Ol' Fred and spent time with Teach!" Vaike laughed as Chrom moved his pace more in line with the small, chattering group. "That stick in the mud wouldn't know a good time if it bit him."

"...Is that so, 'Teach'?"

The axeman's face lightened a shade as he noticed Frederick had also joined the conversation, standing on the opposite side of the group from Chrom.

"I-I mean that yer real diligent is all!" he said quickly. "I gotta be the counterpoint, y'know? All work and no play makes a dull life and such!"

The knight arched an eyebrow, a knowing smirk curling its way onto his lips. "Then perhaps you'd best work on your own diligence in the art of merry making instead of criticizing another man's lifestyle."

"Aww, Freddy-bear, do you have to be a killjoy so soon into the march?" Solna asked, a mock pouting tone to her voice.

Frederick's eye twitched, though he did not respond to the jab. The others present, however, seemed taken aback.

"...'Freddy-bear'?" inquired Stahl, trying his best to not burst into laughter. Sully was doing a better job than him at it, as was Miriel.

"She's convinced he doesn't like the taste of bear meat." stated Felix. "Though it's far from the worst nickname she could have concocted."

"I'll say, but damn... you got some nerve if you're makin' jabs at Frederick the Fearless!"

Solna merely smiled, a pleased hum escaping her. "I don't scare easy."

"...I'm not sure if I should be enamored or terrified." Virion said, inching slightly closer to Vaike. "Unless both is an acceptable compromise..."

"Ha! Teach likes her style already." laughed the blond. "Gotta wonder what else she'd cook up, though."

"I'd imagine Lissa would say something to the tune of 'nothing edible' in that case, Vaike, given Solna's reaction to having bear meat for a meal." Chrom chuckled. "Unless cooking is another hidden talent of yours..."

This time, both twins shrugged.

"Couldn't tell you if it was." they said in unison.

"...I won't lie, it's creepy seeing you two do that."

Felix and Solna blinked in confusion, looking at each other before turning their gazes back to Chrom.

"Do what?" they asked.

"Sire!" called out a soldier who was hurrying towards the front of the march from further down the path. "An enemy force has been spotted ahead. It appears to be comprised of the creatures we were instructed to be wary of."

The sapphire haired swordsman scowled. "Gods, the Risen have spread this far already?!"

"...Risen?"

"A name was needed to describe this new threat." Frederick stated evenly, hoisting his silvered lance. "The council gave them one fitting for their... uncanny similarity to tales of the walking dead."

Miriel adjusted her glasses as she withdrew a red-covered tome from the bag she carried. "They perish like all else as Sully attested to. A shame of the account on their demise... it would be a boon indeed to study one to find a swifter way to dispose of them."

"Well, maybe you can come up with one while we fight them." Stahl offered. "They might even have a weak point you could find."

A faint, sinister grin curled its way onto the mage's lips. "Fieldwork is not something I enjoy, but I have been known to make exceptions for extraneous circumstances. It seems now shall be one such instance, and in earnest."

"Then perhaps a more mobile perch would suit such an endeavor." offered Frederick, extending a hand to Miriel. "Gods know there is strength in numbers."

"Indeed." she replied, accepting his offer and climbing onto the back of his warhorse. "I shall see to keeping stray magics from causing undo harm in exchange for your assistance."

"Splendid."

Virion picked up his pace slightly, doing his best to strike a flamboyant pose as he strode along beside Sully's horse.

"If it would please my lady, I would be-"

"Hey, Solna. Hop on."

The archer's expression fell instantly as the lavender-haired woman was pulled onto the horse behind the redheaded knight.

"Ruffles, if you wanna help out, cover Vaike." stated Sully, pointing her thumb at the blond. "If ya both make it through this in one piece, you can hitch a ride if we find more of these things."

He glanced sadly at Vaike, a fire springing up in his eyes as he looked back at Sully. "I swear I shall not disappoint you!"

"Keep telling yourself that."

"...That's actually not a bad idea." Felix noted as Sully's horse trotted closer to the front of the formation. "Vaike doesn't have any throwing axes with him – but if he sticks close to you, then he can easily crush any enemies who get too close while you rain arrows on the others."

Virion hummed. "I see... and with my ample skills, I would be able to slay foes who attempted to slay him."

"Heh, Teach can work with that." chuckled Vaike. "Sounds like class is in session now!"

"Class indeed!" said the archer, his eyes lighting up once more. "The lesson shall be one of how to smite foes with both power and cunning!"

Stahl seemed more than a little concerned by his turn of events as he helped Lissa onto the back of his horse. "And here I thought I'd never see someone sound genuine while going along with Vaike's antics..."

"Hey, if it keeps them outta trouble, then whatever works!" said the princess. "And Felix, just gimme a shout if you need some help!"

"Is you riding along with Stahl a common practice?"

She nodded with a grin. "Yep! Kinda hard to kill a knight when he's got a healer right there with him, to say nothing of a little heal and run for the others!"

"Simple yet effective." chuckled the green-armored knight. "Hasn't failed us yet, after all."

"Then by all means, keep at it." said the blue haired man before he trotted over to Chrom. "It seems I'll get my wish to see your sword up close..."

Chrom chuckled. "Not as close as the Risen will, at least. Come, there's not sense in keeping them waiting."

Felix nodded, looking back at Kellam as Chrom picked up the pace.

"Just stick as close as you can." he said. "We're not exactly wearing full plate like you are, so I'll be relying in you to help intercept enemies."

A confident smile appeared on the orange knight's face. "Gladly."

"Frederick, can you see the enemy?"

"That I can." he responded. "At a distance, there appears to be not but martial foot soldiers, though a mage or archer could easily be hiding amongst the ranks."

Solna hummed as she repositioned herself on the back of Sully's horse. "In that case... Vaike, Stahl, your groups should come with me and Sully. If everyone else goes with Felix, we can strike from both flanks and crush survivors between us."

"It also means their only escape is to retreat, and the cavaliers can run them down if they try." added Felix.

"Sounds like we have our strategy then." said Chrom. "Move out! Don't leave a single Risen standing!"

Hearty laughter from Vaike and Sully was his response as they started towards the left side of the enemy formation, the others following Frederick to the right. The Risen's moaning growls filled the air as the abominations shambled forwards, swords, lances, and axes in hand.

"As ghastly as Sully described..." Miriel said, readying her tome. "I dare not dream what could have created them."

"Aye, 'tis better that way." stated Frederick, lance arm poised to strike at a moments notice.

A Risen soldier let loose a more aggressive growl before rushing at the knight, two others following him. The first was summarily trampled under the hooves of Frederick's warhorse, the second having a lance run through the small gap between his neck and left shoulder, and the third set ablaze by Miriel's magic. Two of the risen melted away in purple mist, while the one who'd been stabbed flailed his sword at the knight to little effect, earning another stab and dissolving for their troubles.

"Hold a moment."

Frederick looked over his shoulder as Miriel climbed off the horse, withdrawing a vial from a pouch on her belt and inspecting the ground where the Risen had fallen. A moment later, and she'd managed to fill the vial with what looked like a liquid version of the mist the creatures became when they died.

"A sufficient sample." she said, placing a stopper in the top of the container before returning it to the pouch and, with help from the knight, returning to her seat upon the horse. "Let us be off."

"Aye."

"RAAAGH!"

A sickening crack rang out as Falchion shattered part of a Risen's body along with the axe it held. It'd barely had time to begin melting away before it hit the ground.

"What manner of sword is that do that kind of damage?!" Felix exclaimed, yanking his blade out of a Risen's torso.

"That wasn't the sword." Chrom answered. "It's just how I fight."

The blue haired tactician stared at the prince with a look somewhere between confusion and abject horror.

"...What's wrong?"

"...I..." Felix shook his head. "Nevermind. There's more pressing concerns at the moment."

Chrom nodded sharply as the two turned towards the Risen. "Right."

"Heh, feels like the business end of my lance is ME!" Sully laughed as another Risen fell under her attacks.

"Certainly seems that way." Solna noted mirthfully as she surveyed the battlefield. "...And it seems felling Risen has another benefit to it."

"What's that?"

The lavender-haired woman pointed towards the ground. "Their weapons don't disappear with them."

"Heh, handy. Not like they're gonna need 'em now anyways, right?"

"Exactly."

Sully glanced around the fight for a moment, her gaze lingering on Vaike and Virion. "...And it looks like Ruffles, and Smoke Manmuscle are handling things alright."

"...'Smoke Manmuscle'?"

"I first met Vaike as he was staggering out of the smoke from one of Miriel's experiments gone awry." she said with a laugh. "I thought the gods had sent me a gift! Turns out it was just an idiot."

A short giggle escaped Solna before she sheathed her sword and took out her tome. "You'll have to tell me the whole story with that after this fight is over."

As the two women returned to maiming their enemy, a feral shout split the air before an iron axe split a Risen from head to toe, the axe's wielder standing up with a confident grin.

"Class dismissed." He scoffed, an arrow sailing past his head and puncturing the skull on a different creature. "Detention, though? That's just getting started."

"Indeed. Such poorly behaved students require discipline." agreed Virion as he knocked another arrow.

"And YOU look like you're bleeding, so hold still a second!"

The archer turned his head to see Lissa pointing her healing staff at him from the safety of Stahl's horse as the knight watched for approaching enemies.

"Ah, many thanks milady." he said, a small smile on his face as his wound was mended. "It seems I am more popular than I realized."

"Yeah yeah, just be more careful." scoffed the blonde. "Alright Stahl, let's go!"

With a nod, he spurred his horse forward, liberating a Risen's head from its shoulders as they rushed into the fray.

"RYARGH!"

"Looks like we found another 'chief'..." noted Felix, tome in hand as the large Risen strode towards them, axe in hand.

"This one might be trouble..." Chrom observed, oblivious to Kellam standing not five paces behind him. "But we should be able to conquer it together."

Arcane glyphs appeared in the air around the Tactician. "Most likely, but it seems our friend isn't as keen on waiting for us to come to him!"

A flying axe narrowly missed Chrom's head and was summarily smacked aside by Kellam, barely even scratching his shield. The Ylissian prince rushed towards the Risen with a battle cry, but found his foe to not be one easily dispatched.

"Kellam, hit that Risen from the side while it's distracted!" shouted Felix, trying to get a good line of sight to hit the Chieftain without risk of striking Chrom. "And see if you can get Chrom to stand aside long enough for me to cast a spell!"

The tactician swore he felt an electric charge in the air as the orange knight suddenly rushed past him, armor gleaming in the sunlight.

"This is my big moment...!" he exclaimed, letting loose a war cry as he entered the fray, catching the Risen's axe with his shield and ramming his lance through its chest. "Felix, now!"

Chrom staggered back out of the way, confused at the sudden appearance of the armored juggernaut before another voice drew his attention.

"Strike while the iron's hot!" Felix shouted, a blast of flame surging forward at his command and summarily burning away part of the Risen chief's upper body.

The abomination slumped to the ground and melted into nothing, the only traces being the few throwing axes it had now scattered about.

"The enemy has been routed, milord." reported Frederick as his horse came to a stop a short ways away. "Though it seems they do not take their weapons with them, so a few of the men have set about gathering them as a precaution."

"Very well, and good riddance to these monsters!" exclaimed the prince. "Though it concerns me that they've appeared this far up the Northroad..."

"Unfortunately, it means no path is safe. We'll need to stay wary."

Chrom nodded. "Right, but..." he turned towards Kellam. "When did you arrive, Kellam?!"

The knight's posture slumped slightly. "...I left with everyone else..."

"...You have?! But... I didn't see you until you struck that Risen...!"

Felix stared at the sapphire haired swordsman. "HOW?! He's wearing as much armor as Frederick and his horse combined!"

"That is a question I have oft wondered myself." said Miriel as she carefully slid off the horse. "Kellam has a peculiar talent for hiding in plain sight, even in defiance simple logic."

"...I AM still a Shepherd, right?" Kellam asked nervously. "It's quite an honor, and I'd hate to lose it..."

Chrom frantically waved his hands back and forth. "O-of course you are, Kellam! Forgive me, it's just... you're so quiet all the time I tend to lose track of you!"

"He sticks out like a sore thumb!" Solna protested as she arrived with the group that'd stuck closer to her. "Even if he's standing around doing nothing, he's wearing bright orange armor!"

"And yet I observed only a single Risen taking notice of him in the battle until he struck at their leader." stated Frederick. "I haven't the foggiest how he does it, but having someone capable of ambushing the enemy at potentially any time is quite helpful."

The orange knight laughed nervously. "I-I just try to remember what you taught me, Sir Frederick."

"Wait, you knew he was here, too?!"

"Of course." replied Frederick. "Even if there are times he escapes my watchful gaze, I take the chance to improve my skills."

"Chrom, over here!"

The call of his sister drew the Prince's attention away, and he briskly walked over to where she was shouting from.

"What is it, Lissa?"

"Look!" She said, indicating something a short ways away from her. "It's a pegasus!"

Chrom hummed curiously. "What's one doing here...? Although... it looks like it might be hurt. Let's have a look..."

Despite his cautious approach, the pegasus reared back and whinnied loudly, trying to get Chrom to stay away.

"Whoa! Down, girl! Easy there!"

"Captain, one moment!"

The instant Chrom turned his head to see who'd spoke to him was the same instant that Sumia tripped over nothing and faceplanted in the dirt.

"Sumia, are you alright?!" he asked, moving over to help her stand. "Those boots of yours again?"

"No!" she exclaimed. "I mean, yes! I mean..." She sighed and shook her head. "Nevermind..."

"Well, this time it was a blessing." said Chrom as he helped her up. "The beast is crazed, and I would have you go no closer."

Sumia shook her head. "It's okay, Captain. I can handle this." Stepping past Chrom, the brunette carefully approached the pegasus. "Shhh... easy now, girl. I won't hurt you..."

The small crowd watching the events transpire stared with silent awe as the pegasus calmed enough that Sumia was able to gently stroke the side of its neck.

"...I know that pegasus are calmer around women than men, but that as something else entirely..." said Lissa. "That's incredible, Sumia!"

"I've never seen anything like it..."

"Oh, um... it's nothing really." Sumia said, a small blush on her cheeks. "I just have a way with animals, I guess..."

"I should say so!"

The brunette carefully inspected the pegasus, frowning once she reached its side. "Oh dear... you were right, the poor thing is hurt. Not badly, but... there's no doubt she's in pain."

"Should we make time to wait while you dress the wounds?" asked Chrom.

Sumia shook her head. "No, I'd only need a few things to help her. Once I dress her wounds and let her rest, we should be able to catch up to you quickly."

"Do you mean to ride that pegasus?" asked Solna.

"I do. In truth, I was supposed to begin more formal training with the Ylissian Pegasus Knights today. At the very least, I know how to ride without injuring her or myself in the process."

"Alright, just lemme get what ya need!" said Sully. "That way you can get started before we start marching."

"Thank you, Sully."

"Right. Once you've started, we'll be underway again." said Chrom. "Be safe until you catch up again, Sumia."

The brunette bowed politely. "As you command, sir."

Mags – Given the amount of crazy fight scenes I've written for Reshuffled, you'd think I'd have no trouble with ones for this! TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG BECAUSE MY WRITING MUSE IS A FICKLE CREATURE. And yes, I am aware of the chaos that will result from Vaike and Virion interacting. That is precisely why I did it. Mwehehehe...

Tori – Hello here have a wrench or two thrown into things; it's so nice not being bound by the limitations of the games support system. Even if said support system is actually quite a good improvement on the one that was introduced in binding blade and stuck around through path of radiance.

Do not get me started on the ''support system'' of Radiant Dawn. We do not speak of that thing.

But yes, throwing a wrench in things, and we're only just getting started~