Disclaimer: I don't own Fire Emblem Awakening, all rights to the owners.
Minor: Dark Flier, Immortal, Boxer (Pugilist), Exploitive, Swordmaster, Angry Cinnamon Roll, Tripping, Perpetual Cheer, Chef, Blacksmith, Pegasus Knight, Teacher, Librarian, Masochist, Literal-Minded, Authoritative, Middle Age, Wyvern Rider, Phobia, Thicc, Tsundere, Damsel in Distress, Gangrel's Child, Wyvern Rider, Child, Communist, Bomber, Bear Cavalry, Flying, ADHD, Super Strength, Patriotic, Martial Artist, Scottish, Sassy, One Liner, Seamstress, Shephard, Speedy, Cool, Shy, Bookworm, Mercenary, Sweet, Kung Fu, Buff, Lazy, Wingless Flight.
Standard: Elemental, Deaf, Foreign, Future sight, Nurse/Medic, Valmese Tactician, Medusa, Amazon, Genderfluid, Gift from Validar + evil to good, Mimic, Emotionless, Crippling Overspecialization (Idiot Savant), Coward, ESP, POW, PTSD, Magician, Mute, Handicapped, Secret Helper, Crazy, Morpher, Dreamwalker, Motherly, Twins, Regenerating, Animal Whisperer, Naga/Tiki Assistant, Deadly Touch, Mind Reader, Doppelganger, Arachne, D&D magic, Umbramancer, Horror Monster, Dominatrix, Songstress, Kinky, Matchmaker, Androphobic, Fashion Designer, Illusionist, Attraction Aura, Ring Maker, Therapist, Teleporting, Crippled, Puppet, Broken, Hallucination, Depressed, Bodyguard, Slave, Love Curse, Detective.
Unlikely: Chrom's child, Minotaur, Paladin, Werewolf, Assassin, Future Soldier, Bounty Hunter, Weather control, Kleptomaniac, Druid, Steampunk, Shadow Familiar, Magic Augmentation, Lucky, Exile, Piper (Charmer), Gladiator, Witch Doctor, Centaur, Drunk, Demon, Punk, Harpy, Revenant, Luck Manipulation, Demon Summoner, Megalomaniac, Kitsune, King of Plegia, Mood Ring, Reverse Aging, Hammerspace, Prostitute, Demon Hunter, Cyborg, Maid/Servant/Butler, Deadlord, Rebellion, Einherjar, Trap, Yandere, Living Weapon, Size Shifter, Queen of Plegia, Gluttonous, Stretchy, Ninja, Alchemist, Protoss, Spirit Manipulation, Invisible, Plegian Honor Guard, Mecha, Kryptonian, Creator, Orc, Memory Stealing Respawn, Racer, Khan, Misfortune, Vampire Hunter, Geokinetic, Imaginary Actualization, Death, Resurrection, Force, Merchant, Background Music, Variable, Civilian, Natural Disaster, Mental Noise Projection, Hidden OP, Summoner, Cyclops, Teleporter, Cryokinetic, Genie, Judge, Intangibility, Fortune Teller, Future Vision, Serial Killer, Pervert, Magic Fixit, Drakengard Restoration, Ying-Yang, Childhood Friend, Cyberpunk, Chrom's Mother, Obsessed, Berserker, Phase Shift, Gravity Manipulation, Hallucinating, Bladesoul, Zombie, Double Entendre, Shared Body/Two Souls, Cannibal, Singer, Violent, Insane, Waterbender, Casanova, Cupid, Undertaker, Master Thief, Guard, Faceless, Shadow, Age Control, Cradle Snatcher, Emo, Singer, Nun, Courier, Haunted Knight Armor, Egyptian, Sentient Object, Shit Lord, Court Wizard, Naga's sibling, Mad Queen, Artist, Predator, Cheshire Cat, Radio Host, Chimera, Wendigo, Witch, Symbiote, Hivemind, Hammerspace, Anna, Mother Nature, Psychopath, Stripper, Painting, Grima Parts, Knightmare, Super, Swimsuit, Bunny Outfit, One Punch, Idol, Chef, Rampage, Housewife, Determination, Vessel of Naga.
Other: Self-insert, Second Generation replacement, Dimensional Walker, Cycle, Fates.
Mind Control. Suggested by IsThisWorking, XenoEmblem4TW, and Invisible Prince on separate occasions. This was a hard one to start. It's also a bit of an experiment with tense, and non dialogue-heavy storytelling (as my usual style, as you're all probably aware, is completely dialogue focused).
Chrom remembers the day he lost control of himself. The day he, his sister, and Frederick became puppets.
It was a nice day. The sun was out, it was warm but not hot, the birds were chirping, and there was a slight breeze. Having heard rumors of bandits in the area the three of them were patrolling outside of Southtown. It was one of Lissa's first outings with the Shepherds, the first time she even had the chance of coming across danger.
Come across danger they did, though they didn't know it at the time. They found a lady lying in the grass. She wore Plegian garb, with eyes of Grima on the wrist, collar, and buttons of her cloak. She was tall, standing a few inches higher than Chrom, and had dark brown skin, brown-red hair, and (when she opened them) steel-colored irises. She also had a willowy frame and soft facial features.
Beyond the Plegian garb, there was nothing obviously dangerous about her.
"Chrom, we should do something." Lissa had whispered.
"Such as?" Chrom asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're the healer. Is there something wrong with her?"
"Not that I can see." The princess mumbled. "It's just weird that there'd be a Plegian woman taking a nap here."
"Milady speaks the truth." Frederick added. "It may be wise to heed her Milord."
"I am aware Frederick." Chrom had said. He wishes now that he hadn't. He wishes he's said "Good point you two." and had kept his distance.
At the time though, he hadn't known she could mind-control people with a touch. If he'd known that beforehand his approach would have been very different. Alas, the world was not so kind as to inform him, and his usual altruism (if he could be so prideful as to call himself altruistic) led him astray.
The prince had knelt down next to her, and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Pardon me." He'd whispered. He hadn't wanted to wake her too abruptly.
She'd woken slowly, as if from deep slumber. They'd locked eyes for a moment, and Chrom had given her a smile of reassurance to calm the sudden confusion he saw there. He'd offer his ungloved hand to her ungloved hand.
He hadn't known it at the time, but that was the moment when he became a puppet. There was no flash of magic, no tingling feeling, no sense of his mind being gripped and controlled. There was nothing, and Chrom had had no reason to suspect he was under her control.
"Wh-Who are you?" The girl had asked cautiously.
"She plays the fool, hmm?" Frederick muttered. Chrom shot him a scolding look.
"My name is Chrom." The prince said. "Do pardon Frederick, he's very untrusting."
"Naga forbid someone show an appropriate level of caution." The knight scoffed. "My pardon stranger, but it is my duty to be critical."
"That's understandable I suppose…" The lady murmured. She holds out her hand to him for a shake. "I'm Robin by the way."
Cautiously, Frederick had shaken her hand. He'd been wearing his gauntlets, so he'd been protected. It would be later as they rode into battle to aid Southtown that Robin would touch the back of his neck to get his attention, and Frederick would slip under her control.
Lissa may have had her gloves on, but it hardly mattered. She's skipped right up and brought them literally nose to nose as she excitedly greeted Robin.
Within the span of less than a minute, both prince and princess were under the sway of this stranger. Within an hour Frederick would be as well, and all of them were none the wiser.
###
The instance Chrom noticed of his will not being all his own was abrupt and came out of nowhere. He'd been talking with Vaike after a round of sparring, and the man had commented "Ya know, we don't get to do this so much anymore yeah? Yer always hangin' 'round Robin nowadays."
"Well, she is new." Chrom had said with a shrug. "Someone needs to be around to help her. Also, she's a tactician. A good flow of information between the two of us is necessary."
Vaike snorted. "Listen to yerself. A good flow o' information? Yer talkin' all formal, ya only do that when yer tryn'a cover somethin' up." He pointed a finger at the man. "I think ya have a crush."
Chrom was going to say "no, of course not" because, while he would admit the lady intrigued him, most of their time together had been business at that point. He didn't know her well enough to have a crush. His body had other ideas though, and he'd said "I mean… if you want to think that I won't argue."
Almost instantly Chrom had been surprised with himself. What was he been saying? He didn't have a crush at all! He should clarify so Vaike didn't get the wrong impression.
He opened his mouth to speak again and… nothing. He couldn't put out the words. He was physically incapable of it, and he didn't know why.
That had sparked a little bit of panic in him. He tried to tell Vaike that something was wrong, that he physically couldn't say something, that there must be some sort of spell on him… but he couldn't say that either.
"Hah! I knew it." Vaike said triumphantly. "Well, if you ever need ol' Teach's tips on how to handle ladies, he'll be happy to educate ya!"
"I'll keep that in mind." Chrom said with a hint of dryness in his tone. He was far too busy panicking to be sarcastic, but whatever force was making him say all these things had kept character and put in the sarcasm.
Chrom left the training area feeling terrified. His face refused to show it though. His face was calm, with a hint of a smile, totally masking whatever was going on in his mind against his wishes.
"Am I not in control of myself?" Chrom had wondered. He tried to raise his own hand to his head… and it worked. He threw a mock punch, and his body responded as normal. He drew and sheathed his blade, and both actions happened without interruption.
He then took a deep breath, and tried to shout "HELP!" but his voice stopped just short of it against his will, leaving him to breath out heavily instead.
"I need help." Chrom panicked. "Lissa, Miriel, someone who knows curses!"
He went to find his sister and thankfully his body didn't stop him. He went to where he knew she'd be: having tea with Maribelle. The prince knocked on the door, identified himself, and entered.
"Hey bro, what's up? Something important?" Lissa asked, and put down her tea. "Did you break Vaike's arm by accident again?"
"That happened once." He scoffed (which was not at all what he wanted to say). "I came here for a different reason."
"And what is that?" Maribelle asked in a huff. "I would hope you have a good reason for interrupting our ritual."
"I can't control my voice! I can't control my expressions!" Chrom tried to scream. Instead, his voice said "What? Am I not allowed to visit my sister?"
"Chrom, if you wanted to do that you wouldn't have come during tea time." Lissa snorted.
"Alright, alright…" He sighed. "I needed to be sure of something."
"What's that?" Lissa asked.
"If I can't say it out-right, maybe I can say it in a roundabout way?" Chrom hoped desperately. "I think there's something wrong with me."
"You're going to have to be more specific." Lissa quipped with a smirk.
"I think I'm cursed." He said bluntly. He was surprised he could actually say that, but his hopes were dashed a moment later. "I've been having some strange feelings…"
"Let me guess. Robin, right?" Lissa asked while grinning.
"NO!" Chrom thought. "Yes, how'd you know?" Is what he ended up saying.
"It's obvious." The girl laughed. "You've been attached at the hip."
If Chrom could have frowned, he would have. No they haven't. Why would Lissa say that? She's fairly perceptive…
"No. She wouldn't say that. Not unless she's being forced to say it."
That was when Chrom realized his sister was just as much a puppet as he.
###
Despite the traumatic first incident, Chrom found that whatever 'curse' (as at the time he did not realize the control came from Robin) was actually rather lenient. It wanted him to act a certain way, but allowed him broad choice of means in how to act that way. It was only when he tried to oppose the 'curse' that he fully loses control of himself.
Chrom discovered that the 'curse' made him conform to a certain personality. It was very similar to his actual personality, but more… stereotyped, and made him act as if he was acting out some weird romance with Robin.
At first Chrom wasn't sure if Robin was 'cursed' or not. He worried that she was forced to act out this romance as well (why someone would curse them to do this he wasn't sure, perhaps some perverted and nutty Grimleal is getting a kick out of it).
And then, one day, she said "Chrom… you like swords right?"
Chrom isn't actually partial to swords. It just so happens that Falchion is a sword, and it's because it's a legendary and indestructible weapon that Chrom uses it, not because it's a sword.
However, to his surprise, he finds himself saying "why yes, I do!"
That's when he started suspecting Robin was responsible. A few weeks of testing revealed sometimes new restrictions in his curse were brought about by what Robin, and only Robin, said.
That's where he finds himself now. It's been two months since he, Lissa, and presumably Frederick became puppets. Chrom is admittedly only guessing that touch is what causes Robin's control over people. It's hard to be sure that anyone else is actually under her control either, because it relies on him judging very precisely what someone should say in a certain circumstance.
For all he really knows, he's the only one under her control.
On a both hopeful and worrisome note, it seems Robin may be unaware of her ability. On one hand that means she might be genuinely friendly, and her story of amnesia truthful. On the other hand… it means she doesn't know she's controlling him (and possibly others), which mean if he can't find a way to alert her then he might be under her control for the rest of his life.
That's a mildly terrifying prospect. There's also the chance that, if he does fine a way to tell her, she might decide it's more fun to keep him under her control.
Chrom doesn't have much choice but to try and alert her though. If he's correct in his suspicions, than he's being controlled subconsciously to act as she thinks he would act, so he just has to engineer a situation where it would be appropriate in her mind for him to make a strange confession.
He just needs to figure out what that situation is, and how to engineer it without the mind control stopping him.
He doesn't anticipate it being very easy.
###
Apparently going to a bar and getting mildly drunk is in character for what Robin expects of him. That's good, because being drunk gives him a great excuse to talk about random things... like mind control.
First though, he needs to lead into that subject with something less absurd. He'll cater to her mind control in this case and play into the romance that's apparently expected of him.
"You're really beautiful you know." Chrom mumbles, intentionally slurring his words to seem more drunk than he actually is. "It's… entrancing."
"You flatter me." The girl says with an amused smirk. She's only had two drinks compared to Chrom's seven. She's a very calm and refined lady for the most part (which Chrom finds slightly amusing if her mind control is the manifestation of her subconscious, meaning she's actually a sappy romantic because that's how he's forced towards act to her).
It would be cute if she wasn't controlling him. Actually… no, it's still cute.
"It's true though!" He says with a wide, loopy smile. Again, he's playing this up as best he can. "It's like some sort of magic!"
"I'd like to think I don't need to resort to magic to be attractive, Chrom." She chuckles.
Oh, the irony. "But it has to be!" He says jokingly. On the inside he's dead serious, but he has to present it jokingly to avoid the mind control stopping him. "Why else would I change so much?"
"Change?"
"Oh yes." Chrom says. He's very thankful he can get away with saying this. "I never cared much for swords, or weapons in general before I met you."
"R-Really?" Robin says. She's visibly thrown off by this information. "That's… drastic."
"You make it…" Chrom slurs. "You make it sound like I have a choice!"
"You can't help liking what you like, when you like it, even if it's random?" Robin asks uncertainty.
"Yes." Chrom says. He didn't even have a choice to try to say something else. He's guessing that she didn't think there was an alternative to saying yes, so he was forced to say yes. That's annoying, but it shouldn't matter. He's already planted a seed of doubt in her mind, and hopefully with her sharp mind she'll find out about her own powers.
Not that he won't try to spur that along at every opportunity, but if this rather out-of-place conversation didn't alert her to something, he doubts any of his other efforts are going to bear fruit.
###
Not much changes for about a month. Chrom finds the control over him is generally lesser. Perhaps that conversation opened Robin up to the idea that he is not what is stereotypically expected of a 'noble prince', and therefore her subconscious control has slackened.
The forced romance doesn't stop. Chrom still finds himself forced to act the part of a gallant prince and suitor (though that's hardly unpleasant. Chrom doesn't hold any particular grudge against the girl, he's firmly of the opinion she's doing all of this unintentionally at this point, otherwise she probably would have taunted him when he dropped the hint).
During that month the Shepherds start to deal with increasingly large Risen outbreaks. Thankfully Robin's control doesn't impact his ability to fight, and she is a genuinely good tactician.
Chrom absently wonders how many Shepherds are under her sway, how many of them are aware they're under her sway, and how many are trying to fight it or find a way out.
Actually… Robin shook hands with Emmeryn at one point. Is the Exalt under her control? That's a worrisome thought.
The prince can't do anything about Robin's control, but he can still lead and do his usual duties without restriction (maybe Robin knows nothing about those duties, so she has no expectations and therefore imposes no restrictions).
"Maybe Miriel, if she's controlled, can do something about this. She's smart, she'll probably find a way to alert Robin or break the control on her own."
###
Suddenly, it's gone. Robin's control is lifted without any warning in the middle of the day when the Shepherds were recuperating in Ylisstol.
It feels to Chrom he just had several cups of coffee. He feels strangely alive. The feeling lasts for only a few minutes, but Chrom has very little doubt what it means.
"Robin, you mind controlled me." He says under his breath. The girl isn't there, he's just testing that he isn't stopped. He isn't, so… either Robin found a way to stop the control, or she's dead.
Chrom really hopes she's not dead. He drops what he was doing (training on his own) and makes a dash for where he knows Robin was supposed to be: the grand library.
To his surprise, he meet a few other Shepherds doing something similar. He runs into Frederick, Miriel, and Sully at the entrance. They all share a look of silent understanding, and move into the library to find Robin.
It doesn't take too long. It's not like she was hiding. They find her sitting at a large table, surrounded by numerous books, looking totally exhausted.
"That was fast." She says by way of greeting. She gives them a tired, unsure smile. "Hello Chrom, Frederick, Miriel, Sully. Umm… nice to meet you?"
Frederick's jaw clenches, as does his grip on his iron sword. He doesn't look like he knows what to say. Sully seems similarly torn between being angry and being confused. Miriel… she just looks curious.
"Hello Robin." Chrom says, deciding to take initiative. "Erm… Naga above, where to start?"
"Sorry about that." Robin says without further preamble. "I suppose you're here because of the mind control."
"Indeed." Miriel nods. "Quite a curious and unprecedented ability… and you can do this effortlessly?"
Chrom is silently thankful Miriel spoke before Frederick or Sully. He doubts they'll be as nice.
"I think so?" Robin frowns. "Honestly, I don't know how it works. Is it touch? Is it just people who stay around me for a long time? Is it a subconscious spell I'm casting? I don't know. I'm lucky I found out how to stop it."
"Which is…?" Frederick growls.
"Actually grasping the magic I'm using." Robin sighs. "It's like… riding a horse. It's not too hard once you grasp it, but you do have to grasp it, otherwise the horse does whatever it wants without any regard for your wishes."
"So what you're tryna say is, this ain't your fault?" Sully says in a low, suspicious tone.
"Exactly." Robin says. "Though I do apologize for the issues and stress my powers may have caused. I assure you, it was completely unintentional. I was not joking about my amnesia. The mind control was just as much a surprise to me when I found out than it must have been to you to experience it."
"You presume much." Frederick says coldly. He glances at Chrom. "Milord-"
"We're not throwing her in the dungeon Frederick, nor are we kicking her out of the Shepherds." He says immediately. "I trust that her control was not intentional. I will not punish someone for something they had little reason to suspect until they were alerted of it."
Frederick bites back whatever he was going to say.
"Oh thank Naga." Robin sighs. It's as if a weight is lifted from her shoulders, and she relaxes back into her chair. "Honestly, I was considering taking an extra day or two to prepare myself for the backlash I'd get from you all, but I felt I should release you as soon as I figured out how."
"Much appreciated." Miriel murmurs. "I hope you do not mind, I would like to run some tests on your ability to determine its exact functioning."
"I will gladly comply… after I sleep." She murmurs. "I haven't slept since we got here."
"Then do so." Chrom says firmly. "I'll deal with the Shepherds. You take a rest, alright? You can talk to everyone over dinner."
"Thank you." The lady doesn't even bother to go to her room or leave her spot. She curls up on the couch, pulls her hood down over her face, and promptly closes her eyes.
Chrom goes and pulls the curtains closed to give her a small measure of darkness, and then turns to the three other Shepherds. "I know you all have issues with her right now, but they can wait. This was not her fault." Chrom says firmly, and stares Frederick and Sully in the eyes. "No matter how much you may want it to be."
Frederick looks offended for a moment, pauses, then sighs in deep reluctance. He knows his lord is right. "Of course Milord. My pardon."
"Fuck no! Of course it's her fault! She did this!" Sully snaps.
"If I knock over something right behind a door that I had no way of knowing was there, would you blame me for that?"
"Well no…" The knight says reluctantly.
"This is the exact same thing." Chrom says firmly. "Just on a bigger scale."
Sully still looks furious, but she backs down. Chrom turns his gaze to Miriel, and pauses.
"I presume I don't have to explain anything to you?" He asks. He trusts Miriel's intelligence and general moral sensibilities, so he doesn't think he'll need to talk to her like the others.
"I understand the situation. You need not fear emotional action on my part." Miriel nods.
"Good." Chrom sighs. "Now, let's go find out who else was affected…"
Stopping here. This idea has potential methinks. You could do something a lot darker with this power, or even this setup of Robin not knowing she has this power. I honestly considered writing the story where Robin is never made aware of her ability, and ends up controlling everyone she comes in contact with over time.
bwburke94: Fixed.
Half-beastdragnsoul2013: Indeed. I thought of that halfway through. I can totally see Owain emulating this.
LoveGlutton: It was certainly something different to write Robin this way.
I figured it was fitting considering all those smut books I have her read. :P
ARSLOTHES: Never watched that movie. Never played that game. Sorry. If you can narrow down the idea to just the concept though I might be able to add it to the list.
Dragon Tag: Noted, changed.
bauers374: I'll add it to the list but… really I don't expect to ever do that. Hairy Roaring Robin isn't something I particularly care to write.
Darkness is complete: Sure. Minor quirk, so don't expect it to be the focus of a chapter.
LoveGlutton: It's a long one for sure, and a bit more coherent than my usual style I think.
I wanted to make Emmeryn not a moron for once, so I tried something new.
Cyberchao X: :D