Author's Note - Well! We did it. A second vote! Thank you to whoever it was, I can only say, your awesome, and it's looking, at least right now, that you will have a profound impact on that story. So, again, thank you. As you may have noticed, I kind of stopped updating daily. That's due to 2 things. School. And theatre. Both are starting to pick up, but I will update as often as I can. As always, enjoy the story. - 1%

Lon'qu was nervous. He was leading a rag tag, volunteer group. Who knew how that would look on Ylisse's record. The world was in peril, and all the Ylissean's could spare was half of the Shepherds. Not even half, Lon'qu realized. And not all of those with him were those he would have wanted with him. Nonetheless, he would do his duty. And hopefully save the world, or at least the tree, in the process. They had traveled a long ways, over an even longer period of time. They were deep into Regna Ferox now, and that showed on the morale of the group. The entry into Regna Ferox had been odd. Lon'qu had found the wall deserted, with not a single guard in sight. What would compel Flavia to do such a thing? Especially at a time such as this. Had the Shepherds been brigands, the nearest village would have been pillaged by now, and most likely completely sacked. He supposed Flavia had recalled all the troops to the capital. Still, it was a selfish thing to do, and Basilio, Naga rest his soul, would have never allowed it. Lon'qu looked somber as he led on.

"Are we there yet?" Nowi whined.

"No. Stop whining. It hurts my ears." Panne complained.

"This is stupid. Why can't I just fly there?"

"Have you a desire to die?"

"Ugh. I'm so bored, and my feet hurt, and I think I'm going to die."

"I'm sure, if you keep whining in this manner, I can make that a very real possibility."

"I'm bored, my feet are killing me, and a rabbit wants to kill me... Now I'm scared!"

"I warned you!" Panne transformed into her taguel form, and pounced towards Nowi.

"Eeeeek!" Nowi turned into a dragon, and flew away from Panne. She gained a bit of ground, but was still within catching distance. Which is what she wanted. It was no fun if there was no fear of being caught. And Panne angered SO easily. It was Nowi's primary form of entertainment the entire march.

Maribelle saw Nowi coming. However, she couldn't get off her horse in time. She landed face first in the snow, again. She waited for Panne to pass. When she didn't, Maribelle sat up, only to have Panne pounce on her, pushing her into the snow again. If she didn't know any better, she'd have thought the manakete and the taguel were doing it on purpose.

"Anna? Hello? Gregor is here!"

"Gregor! My favorite customer! Please, come in!"

Gregor went into Anna's carriage, which was somehow still working, even in the snow.

"Anna! Gregor has another question!"

"You know the price. Ask away."

"Ah, how does the carriage work in this most terrible of weather? Gregor is not comprehending."

"Oh, but books can shoot magic energy? Grow up Gregor. It's magic."

"Gregor think that is a lame answer."

"Yeah, well, it's the right answer. Let me see... My question for you is... Huh. I don't have one."

Gregor sighed in relief, quite obviously.

"I'll let you know as soon as a do, Gregor. No need to look so glum. Until then!"

Anna pushed him bodily from the carriage.

Grima flew towards the Mila Tree, his back crowded with Risen, with even more beneath them. He was on a path to victory, he knew. After this, he would attack the rest of Valm, followed by Ferox, saving Ylisse for last. So long as word didn't reach anywhere, and none of his smaller attacks meant to be distractions prove to be too powerful, it should be a cinch. He wasn't even worried about Robin anymore. The tactician was weaker now than he ever had been before, and hadn't made a thought since Grima had pushed him there. Still. He was a problem. After all, he did make him feel... Emotions. Grima wasn't a fan of that. He resolved to kill a few of the Shepherds while in Robin's form. He could get by the way things were now, but if he managed to break Robin completely, well, he wouldn't complain. He grinned. The Mila Tree was upon them.

Robin was not broken. He was far from it, in fact. Biding his time and his strength, he was fairly sure that he could regain control, if only for a moment. But a moment was all he just needed to end things. Once, and for all. If he could only end his life... Grima would be dead with him. After all, weren't they one and the same now? So, Robin waited. He waited for what would seem like an eternity. But when he saw his chance, he would strike with the fury of millions of Robins. And Grima would fall. At last.