I was intimidated to be in Ylisstol. I never did well with large groups of people, and Ylisstol was jam packed. The sounds and smells overwhelmed me as people milled about, carrying on their lives as if nothing was wrong.

'But something is wrong, isn't it? I'm here.'

"There's so many people..."

I've been to New York, one of the busiest places on Earth, but not even the Big Apple compared to Ylisstol. Or maybe it did. I was only in the city for a few hours and I didn't even visit Times Square.

'Hm... If I'm Robin... I'm looking forward to spending some time in Ylisstol.'

I wanted to walk among all the shops and people and just... Bwah! Do something, but right now I couldn't. Right now I had to walk with Chrom to the castle.

'But one day soon yeah?'

I saw Emmeryn walking through the streets and I must say, I was stunned.

'Woah... And all this time I thought I wanted to tap Milla Jovovich...'

Emmeryn truly was the image of beauty. Everything about her from her kind eyes, styled hair, elegant walk caused my heart to skip a beat.

'Oh gosh, this is not the time to be fangirling.'

Lissas' voice snapped me from my thoughts.

"She's also the best big sister anyone could ever ask for."

Humouring my role, I feigned shock.

"Emmeryn is your sister? Then that would make you and Chrom..."

Frederick finished my sentence.

"The prince and princess of Ylissee, yes."

The inside of the castle was certainly more impressive than the game depicts. Intricate banners adorned the walls and ceiling bearing the royal seal. Decorative pillars were placed leading up to a grand throne, before which stood Emmeryn. She greeted us and I exchanged my brief words with her before Lissa dragged me off to the Shepherds Garrison.

"Sane, how did you know I'd be able to use a tome? Not everyone can y'know."

I had a feeling this conversation may come up, so thankfully I had some sort of response planned.

"Sometimes I can see things about people. What they can be if they focus and push themselves, or what they can be should they choose to pursue a different role."

Lissa nodded, but I don't think she fully understood what I meant.

"So, if you gave me that tome, dies that mean you see me as a mage?"

I nodded.

"What else do you see me as?"

I nibbled my tongue in thought.

'If I tell her, what will that change?'

"Well, I imagine you as a Troubadour, or maybe even a Pegasus Knight."

Lissa laughed at that.

"Pegasus Knight, me? Ha! Although I do know a Pegasus Knight and a Troubadour."

I was excited to meet the rest of the Shepherds. Particularly Kellam. I was so interested in fact that I didn't realize Lissa was trying to get my attention.

"Beg pardon, what was that?"

She sighed. "Geez Sane, your listening skills rival mine. I said, 'What did you think of Emmeryn?'"

'I think Emmeryn was one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen.'

"It must be hard on her, being the exalt and all."

Lissa nodded.

"Yeah, most people don't understand what she goes through. Heck, even I don't most days."

'But Chrom will know pretty soon, won't he?'

"Sometimes life just sucks..."

Lissa made no response to my comment. When we reached the Garrison, Lissa had me wait outside for a moment before introducing me.

'I see where Owain gets his theatrics from.'

I looked around at everyone. I must say, I'm constantly surprised meeting people.

'The game never really did them justice.'

Seeing everyone in the Garrison and how attractive they were made me self conscious.

'Geez, I'm probably the ugliest girl they've ever seen.'

And suddenly Vaike burped. I know Robin always laughs it off, but I couldn't. I wrinkle my nose and frown.

"Ew, that's nasty."

The other Shepherds laugh at my reaction, or maybe they were laughing at Vaike being chided like a small child?

"Vaike, that was abhorrent! At least Sane has some manners."

I looked around the Garrison in hopes of finding Kellam. Even while Chrom came in and was talking about the dangerous volunteer mission, I still searched.

'Maybe he's not here? Stahl wasn't here yet he managed to go, as did Miriel.'

I couldn't search for Kellam long however, as we had to leave for Regina Ferox. I wasn't eager to go. I don't like the cold you see, so trekking through snow and ice wasn't high on my to-do list. But before we made it to Regena Ferox, we'd first have to traverse the Northroad and fight more Risen. Most of us had been awake since very early, and though I was able to get an hour or so rest at the Garrison I had to fight off yawns the entire time we were walking.

"You seem awfully tired Sane."

Sully rode up beside me on her horse.

"Fighting undead things will do that." She chuckled. "Need a lift?"

I shook my head. "A little walk would do me good."

Sully smirked. "Y'know, for a tiny little thing you've got balls. I like that."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

'Sully's praising me?'

"Really? But, it's not like I'm strong or anything."

"Not right now maybe, but once I'm through with you,"

She gave me a wicked grin.

"You'll be almost a good as me."

I chuckled. "And do I have any say on whether I become your protégé?"

Vaike came bounding up beside us.

"Let ol' Teach take care of raising you into a fighter."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"No offense Vaike, but I'd rather learn from someone who can keep a hold of his own weapon."

Vaike frowned. "Hey, I can keep track of my weapon, it's right..."

He trailed off and walked away.

'Don't worry Teach, Miriel will bring it to you soon.'

"Honestly, I don't know how that idiot became a Shepherd."

I hardly ever use Vaike, so maybe I can't appreciate him as much as someone else could. Maybe it's because Vaike simply had no appeal?

'He's no Dorcas, that's for sure.'

"Vaike seems like he could handle himself in a fight. Or he could defend someone. I'd trust him to defend me."

Sully raised her eyebrows. "Really? You hardly know him."

I shrugged. "It's funny, some of the Shepherds I feel like I've known them for years."

'Or 160 hours at least.'

"Weird. But I suppose trust is key in times like this."

I chuckle.

"Yeah."

Bidding Sully goodbye I jogged ahead to find Vaike. Just because I hardly ever use him doesn't mean I can't get to know him.

'Who knows, he might be like Dorcas after all.'

I found Vaike searching among the weaponry for his axe.

'This is almost sad...'

"Vaike! Got a minute?"

He turned to me with a cocky grin.

"Looking for a lesson after all eh? I gotta warn you though, I'm a tough guy to learn from."

I rolled my eyes dismissively.

"Sorry, not here for lessons. I was just wondering if you've got a moment to talk?"

Vaike shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't see why not. What do you wanna talk about?"

"Tell me about yourself. Where you grew up, why you became a Shepherd and stuff."

"Well, the town I grew up in wasn't all that special. Kind of poor, kind of rough. I ran with a group of troublemakers who terrorized other kids. One day Chrom dropped by the village and I picked a

fight with him, not knowing he was the prince of Ylisse. Well we fought, I won mind you,"

He gave me a flirtatious smile before continuing.

"And then he told me who he was and I thought I was about to be put in the stockade. Then he told me he liked who I was and asked me to become a Shepherd."

He stretched and ruffled his hair.

"So what about you Sane? I hear your memory's gone, but you gotta know something about yourself."

I shuffled my feet for a moment, thinking about how to best answer.

"I um, like to read?"

Vaike chuckled.

"You don't sound so sure. What kind of books do you read?"

"Fiction mostly, sometimes an informational book. I tried to teach myself another language once. That didn't work."

"I was never a book reader myself. They take too long."

"I don't think so, I could read a three or four hundred book in a day if I put my mind to it."

"You're kidding, in one day?"

I smiled. "Yeah, I have nothing else to do."

I talked to Vaike for maybe half an hour before leaving to be off by myself.

'When are we gonna fight these Risen? I'm almost getting bored.'

"Well, isn't this a sight? Such a beautiful and intelligent woman by herself? You my dear, must be treated as the rarest porcelain: Admired and held by most gentle hands and eyes."

I rolled my eyes.

'Aaand this is why I occasionally let you get surrounded by Berserkers.'

"Oh Virion? And do you know of one who possesses such qualities?"

He frowned and his eyes fell in a hurt expression.

'Ha, I can tease people so easily. If I don't stop people are gonna think I'm sadistic.'

"Ah, who knew that words from a most magnificent beauty could sting so. But, I shall endure many thousand stings if it means I may stand by you milady."

It took a massive amount of self restraint to not take a deep breath, facepalm, and make a face like I just found Rule 34 of the Butt Ugly Martians.

'If I have to listen to this puffball talk any longer, I'm going to go punch a wyvern.'

Deciding against torturing Virion further, I told him in Sane speak to buggar right off.

"Virion, your reputation with the maidens far precedes you. Even with my missing memory I know of your charms, and they won't work on me."

His face fell even further, but perked up.

"Ho milady, obviously you have not heard all there is to hear about me. I once spent one hundred days earning the heart of Lady Alexandria, a high noble of Valm."

He smiled at me.

"I would gladly spend even longer to win your heart."

'Gods be praised this man is a player! At least Gregor doesn't pretend to be a gentleman.'

"Well Virion, I'll leave you to your heart winning then."

I left Virion before he could embarrass himself further and wandered around. The convoy stopped for lunch at a nearby stream.

'Mm... More bear!'

As lunch was concluding I noticed Frederick wasn't eating anything and walked over to sit with him.

"Shouldn't you be eating? Were not going to stop again till it's time to make camp for the night."

Frederick had a serious expression, more serious than usual.

"Yes well, I'll get something light later."

I giggled, something Frederick unfortunately noticed.

"Is there a problem?"

I should've been intimidated, Frederick in full armour is a scary sight. But the seriousness with which he was speaking made me unable to be serious myself.

"It's just... Amusing you're so averse to eating bear meat."

He frowned. "I'm not averse to eating bear. I'm simply not hungry."

'Oh Frederick, I'm going to mess with you so hard.'

"If you're... Intimidated by the thought of eating bear, there's nothing wrong with that. A knight has to have his flaws."

Frederick scowled.

"I heard from Virion that you've quite the sharp wit. Kindly do not turn it towards me."

I shrugged.

"Sorry, my wit is all I have."

'Wit and weight that is.'

"Surely you have other qualities you boast about?"

I sank my teeth into the bear.

'Ha ha, you're funny.'

"Hardly, unless 'most likely to be beaten up' is boast worthy."

"I assume you're speaking of your luck with a blade?"

"How did you guess?"

"You seem terrified every time you go against an enemy."

"Well, don't you?"

"Of course. But I push those feelings of terror aside to protect Chrom and Lissa. It's much more daunting a task to protect just yourself."

I took another bite of my bear and thought about what he said.

"So I'd be better off protecting someone else before me?"

"In my experience, the urge to protect others is often a stronger urge than the one to protect ourselves."

I sighed. "I have no idea how to protect myself."

"If you're going to be our Tactician, you'll have to be able to protect yourself. Would you like to train with me later tonight?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Why Frederick the Wary, willing to train someone who just a few short hours ago you accused of being a Plegian spy? What if I learn your moves and use them against you?"

Frederick frowned.

"If I for one moment think you are planning on harming anyone in this company, I shall run you down on horseback and ensure you are brought to justice."

I swallowed hard and looked at him.

'That was scarier than my dad threatening to bust me.'

"I'll keep that in mind."

After that conversation, I politely excused myself and finished my bear elsewhere. My next conversation was with Sumia, who I found reading a book.

"Hi Sumia, what are you reading?"

She looked up from the book with a smile.

"It's a book about another world."

I raised my eyebrows.

"Another world, huh?" She nodded.

'Wow, that sounds... Modern?'

"This one has a secret society of dragons that live in an underground city made of steel."

I sat next to her and looked at the book. It certainly sounded interesting.

"Underground cities of steel... Is that even possible?"

Sumia shrugged. "I don't know, but it sounds cool!"

I nodded eagerly. "You know what would be just as cool?" I asked.

"What?"

"A floating castle."

"Woah, that IS cool! You think they exist? Like, they're there but we can't see them?"

I smiled. Whenever I meet someone with an imagination like mine I can't help but feel giddy.

"You think there could be people living in the sky right now, and they can't see US because they're so high up, and they're wondering if there's a ground with people living on it?"

Sumia squealed in delight.

'Hm... If possible she's actually less annoying than she seems in the game.'

"Ooh, this is exciting! Whenever I talk to someone else about stuff like this, they think I'm crazy."

"Why? What's wrong with believing in fantasy?"

Sumia frowned and shrugged.

"Nothing I guess, but I have a hard enough time keeping two feet on the ground, and everyone expects me to keep my head there."

"I know that feeling."

Sumia looked up hopefully. "You do?"

I realized that if we continued this conversation I might blow my cover as an amnesiac.

'So... About that ice at Thorntons?'

"It sounds like something I'd have experienced anyway. I think of magic and such often enough that's for sure."

Sumia smiled.

"Sounds like you have fun."

When I left Sumia it was with a new book to read. It didn't sound as interesting as an underground city filled with dragons, but it did promise magic and talking pegasi. After putting my book with my other stuff in the convoy I set off in search of Kellam.

'Certainly he can't be that hard to find, he wears a big freaking suit of armour after all.'

I searched everywhere for him, I even talked to Virion again in hopes that two sets of eyes would work better than one. But even with Virions' help, I still couldn't find Kellam. I ended up having a conversation with Stahl instead, not that I was complaining. Stahl was an interesting person, despite his alleged averageness.

"The trick to making a good pie isn't the ingredients, or how the crust is baked, no. Wanna know how to make a good pie Sane?"

Stahl really did enjoy his food. I felt my inner fat kid crying out in glee with every word from Stahls' mouth.

"Tell me your secrets, oh Sage of the Pies."

He laughed. "Okay, okay. The secret is..."

He leaned forward as if it were some big secret.

"How you cut the pie."

I cocked my head to the side.

"How you cut it? Really?"

He nodded.

"Almost everyone makes the same mistake when cutting pie. Sane, how would you cut a pie?"

I bit my tongue in thought.

"Um... Take a knife, cut the pie with it..?"

"Yeah, but the actual act of cutting it."

"Um... Start in the middle, cut to the outter edge?"

Stahl gave me an almost sad smile.

"Therein lies the problem. See," He made an invisible pie with his hands. "Huh... I need more hands, can I borrow yours?"

I was a little confused by his request but saw no reason to say no. He moved my hands to form the invisible pie and continued his lecture.

"You start at the outter edge of the pie, cut that about halfway,"

As he spoke he touched my thumbs and moved his finger to the center of the pie created by my hands.

'My Gods, he sounds just like Gaius.'

"Stahl, I'm assuming you have a sweet tooth?"

Stahl paused briefly.

"No, when I eat something sugary I get sick and jittery. Why?"

I chuckled. "Nothing... You remind me of someone."

He smiled. "Really? That's good, right?"

We finished the pie discussion, then moved on to one about stew beef.

"I've never understood people who can use unseasoned meat for stew beef. It's like... Making a salad without beets."

I wrinkled my nose. "I don't put beets in my salad."

"Really? Are you Sane or Crazy?"

I laughed, a real laugh that brought a flush to my cheeks. I bit the tip of my thumb and lifted my left shoulder, like I always do when I'm trying to stop laughing.

"Hey, it's not that great of a joke."

He shifted, as if my laughing made him uncomfortable.

"Sane?"

I waved a hand, unable to speak.

'Oh Gods, I'm going to squeak any moment.'

Stahl started to laugh as well.

"Hey, st-stop laughing! It's contagious!"

Suddenly, I squeaked. Instantly Stahl stopped laughing and looked at me funny.

"Sane? Was that you?"

I was still trying to stop laughing and squeaked again.

'Bwah! Raep squeal!'

I managed to stop laughing by biting my hand and Stahl looked at me strangely.

"I didn't realize people could make that noise."

I frowned. "Bwah, you should hear the one I make when I'm startled."

Suddenly, Chrom came running up to us.

"Sane, Stahl, ore the two of you alright? I heard this horrid screeching and thought more of those things had shown up."

I looked at Stahl, concerned he was about to throw me under the bus. Instead he shrugged his shoulders.

"Maybe Vaike sat down on something pointy?"

Chrom chuckled. "That sounds like it would certainly catch someone off guard."

He pulled a map out of his pocket and looked at it.

"We should be coming up on a bridge soon. Once we cross the bridge we'll be about a days walk from Regena Ferox. Sane, mind walking with me for a bit? I want you to look at some maps and discuss strategy."

I nodded. "Sure, what plans did you have?"

We talked about strategy for a while and about what route we were going to take to Regena Ferox. I know nothing of maps and traveling, so I felt extremely uncomfortable in advising our movement plan. But I tried to slip into the role of Robin, after all it had worked for me so far hadn't it?

'But Robin didn't manage to get him slash her self killed nearly every battle, did they? They didn't have this horrid anxiety. They weren't scared that they'd have to watch people die...'

Milla Jovovich is hot. No denying it. Dorcas is one of my favourite characters from Fire Emblem: Rekka no Ken (the first Fire Emblem game released in north america) and when I first saw Vaike, and his class, I was expecting him to be as awesome as Dorcas... Sadly I don't think he is. Emmeryn is pretty great. I am going to play the game one of these games and marry her. I realized halfway through Stahls' pie rant he was sounding too much like Gaius so I made him hate sweets. And yes, I have an inner fat kid xD