First, I really want to apologize for the shortness of the last chapter. It wasn't because I was lazy or anything, it was just because there wasn't much I wanted to say in that chapter. We're going to have some more fighting in this chapter, whoop whoop! And I'm not going to try and skip over it either. I'm going to try to make it a really good one too :) Also, I apologize that it's been a bit since I've updated, school is really taking its toll on me so I haven't been working on fanfictions. Plus I have a design gig for a local church that I somehow have to do without a copy of Photoshop... Joy.

The weeks passed and I grew quite accustomed to life in Ylisse. Chrom's mood was steadily improving and there was never a dull moment. Virion was still around but he was starting to hint that it might be time for him to return home since things were getting quiet. He offered more than once to take me with him, but I promised Chrom they I would look after the Shepherds and I doubt I'd be able to do that from Valm. Virion was disappointed of course, but his smile would quickly return. The day soon came where Lon'qu informed Chrom that he was, in my words at least, missing home.

Chrom took this as an excuse for a trip to Regna Ferox and put together a small party consisting of himself, myself, Lissa, Frederick, Gregor and Libra. Tharja of course went as well upon learning that I was going. Lon'qu wasn't thrilled about having a party going with him, preferring of course to travel alone, but Chrom reassured him that he had been meaning to go to Regna Ferox as well.

'Which I'm willing to bet ten quid that's a lie.'

I was excited about the trip as well. The last couple times I was in Ferox I hadn't been able to fully enjoy all that it had to offer, and Chrom was planning on being there at least a week. I had my things packed three days before in a single neat chest. Lissa on the other hand was having problems picking out what she wanted to wear. And of course she felt the need to discuss this in my room while I was trying to meditate.

"I don't know Sane, this one looks so cute, but this one has really nice ruffles!"

"Why don't you pick something a little more... conservative?"

She made a face.

"Conservative? Really Sane?"

I wasn't thinking about what I was saying, I was just trying to get Lissa to get the message that I didn't want to be bothered. Or rather, I didn't want HER to bother me. As much as I enjoy a pretty girl, and Lissa was very pretty, I had heard rumors floating around about my relationship with Lissa. Now, these rumors ranged from friendly and harmless, to a little exaggerated and risqué, to downright perverse and untrue. Chrom had also heard these rumors and confronted me. It was a tense confrontation, after all he had managed to only hear the more... Raunchy, if you will of the rumors. But after me practically going hoarse explaining that Lissa was just my friend who happened to occasionally snuggle up in my bed and sometimes get a bath with me...

'Okay, maybe Chrom should be worried about his sister...'

But all rumors aside, Lissa hardly left my side, and that was fact.

'Although, she does keep Tharja away so maybe having Lissa isn't totally a bad thing.'

"What I'm getting at, is sometimes not seeing something is even more interesting than seeing everything. Leave more to imagination."

She huffed.

"No offense Sane, but you've got enough skin showing to convert a nun, and you're going to lecture me about being conservative?"

"Ah, yes my clothes may be revealing, but I'm usually wearing a long cloak remember. Besides, I don't innocently flaunt."

"I am not a flaunter!"

Many of our conversations go like that: Me being strangely mature and Lissa acting... Well, like I would if I was back home. In a way it was reassuring, it made me feel relaxed and at ease.

The day we left for Regna Ferox I was tired. I had been up late the night before packing Lissa's belongings she was going to take. It took the better part of the evening finding outfits that both Lissa and I could agree on. Chrom stopped by once or twice to see how it was going, and shared his amusement about how I was acting so mature and motherly.

"Someday, you'll make someone really happy you know?"

Little comments like that made me blush, something I noticed was happening to me more often as of late. Not that I was complaining or anything. Lon'qu's sour mood at having an escort seemed to have diminished, and a couple of times I actually caught him looking like he was tempted to smirk. The trip to Regna Ferox was going to take roughly three days, providing of course we didn't run into any trouble.

'But this is Ylisstol... There's never any trouble here.'

And I was right. At least for the first two nights. By the second night it got real cold. Lissa, Tharja and I made a woman burrito in some bed rolls, yours truly in the center of course. I tried to get Lissa in between Tharja and us, but Tharja wasn't having any of that.

Not that I was complaining.

On the dawn of the third day, we were passing by a crossroads leading to a little village. At the crossroads was a man with a caravan, desperately trying to nurse several wounded men to health.

"What's going wrong?" Chrom asked.

"Bandits sir!" The man responded.

'Oh... Are we going to fight some fabulous bandits?"

"There's something not right with those brothers!" The man was saying to Chrom.

'Oh yeah... Let's do this.'

It was the seven of us versus three Archers, two Barbarians, four Myrmidons, two Thieves, and of course a Berserker.

'Now... Was it Victor, or Vincent again?'

Lissa was eager for a fight, having been studying magic with me. She was making great progress and a couple of times while we were practicing she was even able to knock me over. Everyone was still worried about her actively being in battle, but even Chrom and Frederick had to admit that she was a force to be reckoned with. The two of us were going to be with Gregor, Chrom and Tharja were a team, and Frederick and Lon'qu.

'Poor Gregor... Lissa and I are gonna open up a can of the R-word on those guys before Gregor even gets a chance to lift his sword.'

Two Myrmidons and both Thieves were brave enough to face the three of us. Gregor was taking on both the Myrmidons himself, leaving a Thief for both Lissa and I. Gregor was doing fine holding his own against the Myrmidons, but he wasn't making much of a headway. Judging by how the Myrmidons would be quick one moment and slowing down the next however I could come to the conclusion that Gregor was wearing them down little by little on purpose. He was being reserved in his actions, not moving much and instead of blocking and taking the sword impacts he was blocking than deflecting the enemy blades. Sadly, Lissa and I were having trouble with our Thieves.

"Sane, they're moving too fast!"

"Alright, get close to me Lissa, I have a plan."

The Thieves knew that we weren't up close fighters, so they were staying clear away from us. But every now and then, the would both close in on one of us and try to slash at us with their sharp knives. I had gotten a couple nasty cuts, one that hurt almost enough to make me need to stop and shake in pain. Lissa, thankfully, wasn't hurt as bad. She had a couple cuts herself, but they were shallow and she was able to patch herself up with a Vulnerary. We grouped together and I took out my sword.

"Lissa, put your tome away."

"Excuse me?"

"Do it."

She put her fire tome away and gripped your staff. I pointed my sword at one of the Thieves and gave them my best scary face.

"Flee now, and I won't mess up your day."

One laughed.

"Finally deciding to go blade to blade? This'll be quick."

They both charged me. I saw Lissa tense beside me in anticipation of things going south. With both hands on my sword, it was very obvious that I couldn't grab my tome, but what everyone else didn't know was that I had a few tricks up my sleeve. Even without my Levin Sword that was lost during my brief time in Plegia, me with a sword was still a dangerous thing.

'Oh this is going to be pretty sweet.'

I swung my sword at one of the Thieves. My sword hit his dead on and a burst of sparks passed from my blade to his. The current traveled along the blade to the hilt, where it caused the Thief to yell in agony and drop the sword. The then fell to the ground and began twitching.

"What the..?"

My next move was definitely more for show than practicality, but the opportunity was way too good to pass up. I jabbed the blade of my sword into the ground, took a step back and balled my fist, like I would when I was holding my tome and about to launch a spell.

"Shoulda tapped out mate."

I stepped forward and threw an open hand at the Thief. A ball of fire practically exploded from the tips of my fingers and struck the Thief. He grunted from the impact and flew to the ground. I heard Lissa gasp in shock beside me.

"Sane! How did you do that? You weren't holding your tome!"

I turned to her and smiled.

"I'm not going to reveal all my secrets now."

'It's all about hallucinations.'

From over where Gregor was fighting his two Myrmidons, I suddenly heard a shout and the clanging of Mercenary armour. I turned in time to see Gregor barely move out of the way of one of the swords.

"Gregor!"

Lissa was running to his side in an instant, tome out and preparing a spell.

'Dammit, this is not good.'

I pulled out my tome. Scribbled on loose sheets of paper in the back of the book were notes I had taken. Some of the notes were from Miriel's impressive collection, some I had compiled with the help of Tharja, and others were taken by myself. The notes were all experimental spells that I had been practicing or were supposed to be only usable by master Mages.

'If you would like to work now, I will not complain.'

The thing about casting magic without a tome, is that the tomes themselves contain magic. Because of that, you have to use your own body as a conduit without the tomes. Some Mages or Sorcerers can do it without trouble, but it takes years to master, and can still leave you drained. Spoiler alert, I'm no master. I forced myself to focus on the notes I had taken and began to chant the ancient words that I had copied.

"Etell non et suei..."

Already I could feel the spell starting to drain me.

"Kadiss eneai... Yakoume!"

With a wave of my hand, the two Myrmidons that were hounding Gregor were launched about ten feet in the air. Lissa shouted in surprise and froze.

"Well go on then!" I shouted. "You're not going to help Gregor just standing there!"

Lissa nodded and quickly ran over to Gregor. I would've been running too, if that one spell I cast hadn't drained me to the point where a feather could knock me over.

'Maybe that wasn't such a great idea...'

Lissa was busily helping Gregor up and dragging him my way. I could tell by the fact that Lissa was mostly supporting his weight that he wasn't exactly in the best of shape.

"Lissa, what's wrong?"

"Gregor... He's..."

Gregor had a nasty gash on his side and his face was paler than I'd ever seen it.

"I'll need you to stabilize him while I heal him, okay?"

"Yeah, yeah..."

We slowly lowered Gregor onto the ground and I tried to simultaneously apply pressure to his wound and keep him calm.

"Sane, what was that you were doing? One minute Gregor is fighting the men with the swords, and the next they are thinking they are the Pegasus Knights and making with the flying off."

Gregor was absently waving his hands and trying to lift his head.

"Let me be seeing... How bad is it..?"

Lissa bopped Gregor on the forehead with her staff.

"No! Stay still so I can heal you!"

"My Gods, princess is crazy like Sane... Except at least Sane is sane..."

"I'm almost done..."

"Sane, when did you be learning the spell for making men the Pegasus Knights?"

I shrugged.

"Oh, you know... Places..."

As if things couldn't get any worse, one of the fabulous bandit brothers decided to pay us a visit.

"You miserable people! Making things difficult for dear Vincent and I! You're going to pay for this!"

He came at us with his axe. Me, in my infinite freaking wisdom, neglected to grab my sword before helping Lissa with Gregor.

'Bugger me...'

I pulled my tome from my cloak and conjured up a shield just in time to protect Lissa and Gregor.

"Oh, think you can hide behind some cheap magic wall huh? Well my nickname is the destroyer I'll have you know!"

He kept striking the shield. Each time he did I was knocked back. Gregor was still too weak to do any fighting, and Lissa was struggling to get out her tome and hold her staff.

"How long do you think you can hold me off little girl? You have no chance against me!"

'Dammit, he's almost right too. I don't know how many more impacts I can take.'

"Haven't you heard? Little things have a habit of turning into big problems Vincent!"

From seemingly nowhere, Lon'qu appeared and knocked away Vincent's weapon. He yelped and turned to Lon'qu.

"You think you can stand up to me? Oh, you are going to regret that!"

"Hey, Vincent!" I yelled.

He turned to me and snarled. The look on his face when he saw me with my hands folded in front of me was one of confusion.

"Oh, what are you going to do?" He sneered.

"Just this." I responded.

I stuck my hands out like I was going to push him away. Even though I never made contact, I had channeled magic through me again and launched him. He hit the ground with a sickening crunch and didn't get up. He coughed twice and a trickle of blood came from his mouth. He wasn't going to be getting up again. Lon'qu raised an eyebrow in intrigue.

"New trick?"

I smiled.

"Maybe."

I tried to speak to Anna after all the bandits had been dealt with, but she of course disappeared before I had the chance. It wasn't really that important, but I figured it would be nice to see what kind of wares she had with her. I was feeling a little woozy after all the advanced magic I had been using, and was letting Tharja support me. I saw Frederick look over my way every now and then and knit his brow, but he didn't say anything. The battle was putting us behind schedule, and we were going to have to spend another night camping out. I didn't really mind, somehow my tomes were keeping me warm, but Lissa wasn't taking the news well.

"Ugh, I can't believe this! It didn't take us nearly as long last time!"

"Milady, the snow is falling more heavily, and we've run into more bandit trouble. We'll reach Regna Ferox in the morning I promise."

"I hope you're right Frederick, because if I have to spend another night with Lissa hogging my tent I'm going to go crazy."

"Ha ha, aren't you already a bit crazy?"

"Yeah, yeah..."

Dinner was getting a little sparse, seeing as we hadn't planned to be on the road as long. Frederick was able to hunt some rabbits, which between Gregor and I we turned into an edible stew. I stayed up after dinner listening to the crackling of the fire and dozing. Gregor and Frederick were doing some light sparring before bed, and no doubt Tharja was busy nestling into my blankets. I knew it wasn't the brightest idea to sleep out in the open, but between the blanket I was wrapped in and the warmth from the fire it didn't feel like I was going to get hyperthermia any time soon. That didn't stop Frederick from trying to wake me up when he was don't sparing with Gregor however.

"Sane, you'd best get to bed before you freeze." He said, sitting on a log in the snow next to me.

"I'm not going to freeze." I said sleepily.

"Maybe not now," He said with a slight chuckle. "But once you fall asleep and that blanket falls off you'll get chilly pretty quick."

I shrugged, although it was so slight and the blanket around me was so thick I don't think Frederick really noticed.

"Okay, I'll pop off to bed."

I got up slowly and shook up some snow that had accumulated on the blanket.

"Goodnight Frederick."

"Goodnight Sane."

I trudged through the snow and to my tent. Both Tharja and Lissa were there, asleep by the looks of it. I sat on the edge of the bed and took of my boots. I then carefully crawled between them and under the blankets. No sooner than I had gotten comfortable, two sets of arms wrapped themselves around me and practically squeezed the life out of me.

'Good lord... At least I won't have to worry about rolling out of bed.'

Ah... Sane and her women... Anyway, we're almost to Regna Ferox! *yay!* I know I'm making Sane break some of the rules, (What, only some?) and I kind of realize I'm setting her up to be really OP, I do apologize for that. But Sane is my baby, it's almost impossible for me to not make her OP. Hope you guys are enjoying the chapters. I'm having fun just writing about Sane interacting, and not really having to worry about the plot progression and stuff.