Hi all! It's been a little busy from the beginning of the school year, but I've finally managed to put some time aside to write another chapter! Enjoy!

AND ALSO, I've realized that the events happening in this fanfiction will go slightly off the original story. Some events will happen after other events, and some might not even happen. It will still go along the original plot idea of going to Chron'sin and defeating the Valmese and the Grimleal, but it won't be the exact story.

The day Chrom called us all back to head off on a mission, I knew that what I had dreaded and anticipated for had finally come. It was a gut feeling that stirred in the pit of my stomach when I heard Chrom approach.

"Hello, Chrom." I nod as I stopped my training.

"Hello, Ke'ri."

"How is Lucina doing?"

"She's as fine as ever and we also have another daughter, only a few days old. Her name is Cynthia." Chrom made a small smile.

I nearly squealed. "Well, congratulations!"

Chrom thanked me, but then the conversation headed on a different path. "I came to ask you to join the Shepherd's mission to Ferox. There's a few things going on now. I will explain more when I gather all of the Shepherds together."

"Oh. Well, I'll come right away. I'll just pack a few things. Did you tell Lon'qu?"

"No. But you can tell him for me, right?"

"Yeah. I'll be back soon." I made a short wave, then exited the tent, heading out to find the laconic swordsman. I found him rather quickly, as he was crouching on the ground and holding a caterpillar in his hands. Upon my arrival, he turned back and looked at me.

"Chrom came to get us. Something happened." I told him with a sigh. "I've known something bad would happen some time before. The war against Plegia wasn't the end of it."

"How do you know?"

"A spirit guides me. She foretold this." I responded, and he stood up, placing the green caterpillar back into the tree.

Without another word, we go to pack our stuff, and we meet Chrom, who is waiting at the front of the camp.

"Alright. Let's go." he says, marching away from the camp. We follow him, and after some walk and a ride in a simple wagon led by horses, we made it to the barracks. I already heard the many voices of the other Shepherds, all of them who I haven't seen in a few months.

"Hi Cordelia. Hello, Tharja." I nod. Cordelia gives a nod, while Tharja just stares at me. I join in the crowd, while Lon'qu stays a pace away from the crowd.

"Shepherds... I have gathered you today because Emperor Walhart from Valm has threatened our country. We need the supplies to head out to Valm and rid of this threat. So... we are heading to Plegia, because Ferox and Ylisse do not have enough resources for this."

Many look surprised, and a few only nod with the grave news.

"To Plegia, then." Chrom sighed, before listing off who would be going, and who would be staying. Everyone would be meeting again in the end after the trip to Plegia. Lon'qu and I were among one of the Shepherds going with Chrom to the said country.

"Things aren't going to turn out well after this," I grumble. Even Lon'qu, who marches along right next to me, doesn't seem to notice. He didn't hear, didn't react, or both. Sighing silently, my eyes focus on the ground and my black boots making slight footprints in the damp mud of the wilderness.

Days had passed, and after miles of mud and dirt, I stepped foot on dry, stinging sand. A change, but not a good one.

I hate the sand. Curse those eye-stinging bits.

"Plegia..." I murmur, taking a small sip out of the water bottle I carried with me.

"You look tired." The dark-haired swordsman turns towards me. "Don't you want a rest? You could have sat in the cart if you wanted to..."

"Lissa's there now. And I'm fine." I glace at the said blonde-haired princess lay down on the cart, rubbing her eyes from the dry, harsh sands.

Sand blows into my eyes, making my eyes sting with tears. I resist the urge to open my mouth to curse at the stupid sand, as sand would fly into my mouth. The sand blew on, merciless to any travelers. Lissa, Maribelle, and Miriel were so lucky to sit in the cart right now. I wanted nothing more than to get out of the annoying sandstorm.

"I'll give you a piggy-back ride." Lon'qu tells me reluctantly. I accept after a few seconds, and he crouches down. I wrap my arms around his shoulders and he walks on. Relieved, I close my eyes. No more sand...

I drift in and out of sleep, leaning against the swordmaster's head as he walks on.

"Thanks, Lon'qu..." I sigh after I see a castle in sight.

"It's nothing." he says shortly, and he lowers me to the ground. My feet touch and sink under the layer of thick sand. My legs, numb with the effort of trudging over sand beforehand, collapsed as I fell face-first into the sand. I got a mouthful of sand, and my eyes stung more than ever.

Curse. This. Sanddddd!

Lon'qu helps me stand back up as I cough, spitting out the bits of sand, grimacing as the rocky bits crunch between my teeth. My eyes squeeze shut from the pain of sand scratching them. I hear myself whimper in pain as the sand scratches at my eyes.

"Are you okay?" I hear Lon'qu ask.

"Hopefully." I grumble. "I hate the sand. Really, really hate it. I hope we're out of it soon."

I feel someone's hand wipe away the sand from my face and hair. My head is tilted back a little, and I feel cool, refreshing water wash out some of the sand from my eyes. A few seconds later, my vision is mostly clear, but it still hurts to see.

"Thanks again." I make a faint smile.

By this time, my legs had already woken up, and I take cautious steps through the uneven, sinking ground. I realize my hand holds Lon'qu's hand as I balance and trudge over this barren, arduous landscape. I glance up to see Lon'qu... he's blushing.

I wanted to ask, but the fear of getting sand in my mouth stopped me.

That's a question to ask for later.

It seemed as if it took another lifetime to reach Plegia's castle. I practically leaped in through the doors after the guards let us in.

Finally!

"Welcome, Shepherds." a voice says out of the darkness. My eyes immediately locate a man with a long neck and dark skin. He wears a grand, dark robe. Something about him makes me feel slightly intimidated.

Chrom bows and says hello to the man, before telling him of the problem.

"Ah... as Plegia's new king, I would be pleased to lend you our supplies for your need. We have many ships you can use to travel to Chron'sin."

I can't help but notice that Robin has a pained look on his face as he whispers to Chrom. Out of earshot, I could only wonder what they were saying to each other.

"What are you whispering, you two?" King Validar, the man I saw earlier, say with suspicion in his voice.

"We're sorry, milord." Robin said quickly.

"Anyway," King Validar sighed. "I would like you meet my new friend."

Something about those words made me shudder. I looked beyond the king to see a hooded figure walk up to everyone else.

"Hello." the person whispers, and I find myself clutching Lon'qu's arm in fear.

"Um... can you... take off the hood?" Chrom asks uneasily. "We'd like to see who you are."

"Very well..." the hooded man's voice whispers. Two pale hands reach up and uncover his face. Chrom's expression makes it look as if he regrets the request of seeing who the man really is, but the sight is unforgettable.

What? What is this?

Because there stands a clone of Robin. The same face, robe, expression... how could this even happen?

Ke'ri... there stands your real problem...

The Robin clone looks right at me.

"So we meet at last, Ke'ri."

AN: I guess this is where story derails from the original game's plot! Let's see where this goes!

Thanks for reading, and I promise I'm doing my best to get a new chapter up and ready! Please bear with me... I may be slow at times.