AN: Okay, here's Paralogue 1. Spoiler alert to those who don't have this game. You recruit Donnel in this one.

Disclaimer: I don't own any video games referenced in this fic, which belong to their own respective franchises/companies. If I did, I wouldn't have cruelly taken away Phila from Awakening. She was (probably) too young to die! Oops. Another spoiler alert.

Paralogue 1

Third person POV

As Chrom rode on Frederick's horse (behind Frederick, of course), Frederick foolishly questioned Chrom's Chrom-senses.

"Err, milord, are you absolutely certain that a Shepherd will be found at our destination? It would truly be a travesty if there was nothing to be found."

"Don't be silly, Frederick." Chrom chuckled. "My instincts are amazing! That's how we fould Kellam, isn't it?"

"Yes, if 'found' means walking directly into a suit of armor. But what if we merely find some random country bumpkin? It would surely be a wasted effort!"

"Next you're gonna say he has a pot on his head, Frederick! Tell you what, if we do find some random villager, I'll go along with that idea you had about making a poster of me. Boosting morale, or something like that, right?"

"Then we shall go posthaste!" Frederick boomed, making his horse go even faster than it was currently going, if it were possible.

"Well, this place looks promising!" Chrom announced to nobody in particular, surveying the beautiful farmland.

"Milord, this area appears to be a simple farm." Frederick replied. "Wait. Do you see that figure in the distance?"

As Chrom turned his head to look at where Frederick was pointing, he saw a figure running towards him, wearing a blue outfit and what seemed to be a very strange helmet.

"Halp! You gots to help us! I'm beggin' you, milords!" a young man clothed in the villager outfit implored.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me!" Chrom said as he face-palmed. "Is that actually a pot or am I just hallucinating? Maybe the cold in Ferox got to me?"

"Aye! There be the little kid! Like lambs to the slaughter, they be!" Random Brigand #1 grunted, running up to Donnel with his spear flashing in the sunlight. But it was night so it was probably moonlight.

"And we're the Shepherds that guide these lambs." Chrom replied, pulling out his Falchion from his sword hilt, which he should probably use more often other than constantly keeping his precious sword half stuck in the ground to uproot at any given moment, sword also glimmering in the moonlight.

"I-it's the Shepherds! I gotta tell the boss!" #1 yelped, stumbling away as fast as his nonexistent feet could carry him away from the battle.

Chrom's POV

"Alright, Donnel. I understand you're scared. But no man is born a warrior, Donny. And farm work makes for fine training—a sickle's not far from a sword, after all. Bandits may be tougher than wheat, but the principle's the same."

"Ngh… okay, your Lordliness. Ah'll fight for my people, and make ma proud!" Donnel replied. He's not a bad kid, even with a pot helmet. I mean, it must protect against some blows to the head! Just make sure he gets stronger Chrom. Since Robin isn't here, you've gotta use your own skills and bring us to victory! You can do it, after all, you were the one to lead the Shepherds before Robin.

"Okay, Frederick, kill everyone except for the leader and a brigand. You pair up with Donnel and I'll follow!" This plan was going to work, just like it always did. Always use Frederick to rush through everyone, and go wild with abandon!

Robin's POV

"My tactician's instinct is telling me that something is very, very wrong. I wish I could place what it was, though."

Back to Chrom-o-Vision

"Yes Donnel! Keep on stabbing that archer in the corner! He'll die eventually! And Frederick, keep on sweeping the fields with your SILVER LANCE OF DEATH!"

'ere's Robin's POV!

"Damn!" I cried, kneeling over. "Something is hurting me on the inside, and I just can't figure out what it is!"

And time for some Third person POV

"It's time for you to meet your end, brigand!" Chrom announced, once again grabbing his sword, which he inevitably had plunged into the ground mere seconds before.

"There a reason you keep your sword in the ground?" Roddick asked. "Seems ta me you jus' going crazy, an' even I think that!"

"Quiet brigand! You know nothing! Donnel! Frederick! Attack him at once!" Chrom announced with rage, dashing ahead at the questioning rogue. He honestly never stood a chance. Donnel got the last stab in, letting him level up during the battle. Of course, in-game, he didn't show any physical difference, but something inside Chrom's heart knew that Donnel would be the next Shepherd.

"Yeehaw!" Donnel yelled to nobody in particular. "Battlin' makes me feel alive your Majesticaliness! Even if ah'm a weakling, please lemme join your group! I promise ah'll help around camp and do all sortsa stuff like that.!"

"Well, if your mother allows it, it'll be fine." Chrom smiled, completely ignoring the fact that he was in the process of killing an enemy.

"Damn… i-if I'll die… then I'll take this village with me!" Roddick announced, lighting a torch that all three males didn't see beforehand. "G-goodbye cruel world!" was his final cry of pain as he threw the object, landing near a house.

"Urk! W-was that supposed to happen?" Chrom said as he went white with fear. "Does any of us have any experience in putting out fires?"
"No milord, I only set fires." Frederick admitted with a slight twinkle in his eye. "But I believe that the villagers are untied and are capable of running. Call it a "Frederick-sense", if you may."
"Is that right, Donnel?" Chrom turned to face the farmboy. "If they are tied, we'll have to go save them. The fire is spreading fairly quickly."

Just then, the least expected person ran up to the two Shepherds, and slapped Chrom clear across his face. Slapped with a closed fist that is. It was the mother.

"How could you do this?! I thought you Shepherds were righteous?!" Donnel's mother shouted. "All of our supplies are stored in our homes!"
"P-please calm down miss." Chrom stumbling on his own words, could only stand in shock in front of the deviant woman. "Err, the Ylissian halidom will send money to make up for the reparations. We'll just run now, if you'll let us."

"Ma! C-can I please join 'em?" Donnel, wide-eyed and eager, pleaded. "Ah'll be the goodest ah've ever been, and ah'll send any money I gots and-"
"Just come home safe, Donnel." her mother sighed in exasperation. "I'll make sure that the village is still standing when you get home. IF there's any village left!" She directed that last phrase at Chrom, daggers in her eyes, not even caring that he was the prince. "Now go! Before the village brings their pitchforks and torches! The fire for the torches will be especially easy to find!"

"And that's our cue! High ho, Frederick, away!" Chrom announced placing Donnel behind the horse as he jumped onto it. They sped off into the distance, Donnel grinning as he bounced on the seat.

"Just be safe, Donnel!" the mother cried, probably not seeing her son again for a very long time.

"Don't worry Ma! I will!" he replied, voice fading as he rode off into the sunset, or in this case, sunrise.

Robin's POV

"All of my tactician instincts. They burn with pain… but I oddly feel satisfied at the same time."

AN: And that's the Paralogue. The next one will talk about what Robin and crew did the two days that Chrom was gone.