Chapter 3: Some Introductions May Be In Order

There was something very wrong with the world. As the first light of dawn rose over the horizon and the Exalt's maidservants entered her chambers to prepare for the day, they found Lady Emmeryn seated at the balcony overlooking the grand capital of Ylisstol. She had told them that she had merely been stirred awake by a nightmare and unable to return to her rest, though this was only part of the truth.

Emmeryn found herself unable to determine what it was that troubled her, only that she could feel… something. A great darkness that seemed to lurk in the shadows just out of view. An oppressive weight bearing down upon her halidom. An overwhelming sense that her people's demise would soon be at hand.

"Is there something wrong, Your Eminence?"

Emmeryn jolted, too caught up in her thoughts to have noticed the stern-looking knight who had walked up beside where she was seated, the armored woman's light blue hair tied back in the usual tight bun.

"General Phila?" Emmeryn turned to her dutiful vassal, a small sense of relief forming as she saw the large stack of paperwork the other woman had brought with her. Normally, that wouldn't be something to celebrate but the troubled monarch was glad to have something to take her mind off of her troubled feelings. "No, all is well. I just feel… uneasy."

"That would likely be from the smoke," Phila replied sternly and placed the stack of reports and forms on Emmeryn's desk. "It would seem that a massive wildfire has broken out in the Westwoods. You can't see it from this side yet but a cloud of smoke and ash is quickly being spread on the winds."

"Oh, dear," Emmeryn gasped, though deep down she knew that it wasn't that. "Do we know what happened?"

"Not yet." The general shook her head. "I have already dispatched my Pegasus Knights with a group of mages specialized in putting out these kinds of fires but from the initial reports, it seems the flames have already spread so far that it will likely take several days before they are snuffed completely."

"I see…" Emmeryn took a moment to consider that. "At least we were able to respond quickly. Thank you, General."

"Our scouts have also indicated that the prince and princess shall be returning to the capital this morning, as well as their companions," Phila continued as Emmeryn moved to her desk to begin going through the day's reports. "I take it that you will wish to meet with them as soon as they arrive. Shall I set the time aside for you?"

"Yes, of course," Emmeryn replied absently as she signed a form requesting to send more guards to one of the southern farming villages, before setting her quill back down in a small inkpot and turning to the general. "Wait, companions? I was under the impression that Chrom and Lissa had set out with only Sir Frederick in their company."

"That is correct.' Phila nodded. "However, it seems that on the way back from their mission they were joined by Dame Sully returning from her own assignment, as well as two new recruits for their militia."

Emmeryn let out a quiet hum of approval as she returned to her work. She may have been skeptical of her brother's pet project at first but the reports showed that the 'Shepherds' had helped to greatly improve the safety and stability of the nation's border regions since she'd approved of their formation. However, they were just as understaffed as the rest of Yllise's armed forces and with her official armies spread so thin there was little she could do to offer her brother's group the support that they so desperately needed. If they were able to recruit outside help to expand their roster then that would be a relief for everyone involved.

Although, her brother also had a habit of surrounding himself with… rather colorful individuals. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of people these new recruits may be.

"Very well, then I shall meet with them as soon as they arrive at the palace," she said before picking up a report on a mine that had collapsed in the east, claiming three lives.

"Yes, Your Eminence." General Phila gave a curt bow, right arm crossed over her breastplate, before turning on her heel and marching towards the door.

Emmeryn spent the next hour whittling away at the morning's paperwork, growing more and more concerned as she went. Bandit attacks were on the rise, livestock were going missing, earthquakes were destroying homes and there were even reports of a strange miasma spreading from the region around the Outrealm Ruins in the south, infecting any who came into contact with it.

To say that her unease that morning had returned would be mistaken. It had never left. But now that sinking pit in her stomach only seemed to grow deeper.

Compared to the bustling metropolis of Hyrule's Castle Town in its prime, the ornate, cavernous labyrinth of Goron City or even the humble yet festive floating village of Skyloft, the holy capital of Ylisstol didn't particularly stand out to Link. Sure, it was likely an impressive city by this world's standards, with old stone and brick buildings packed tightly together nearly wall-to-wall in some places and bustling crowds lining the streets as citizens went about their daily lives blissfully unaware of the coming chaos that would soon besiege their lands, but it didn't seem like anything that he hadn't seen before hundreds of times.

"So, that's the castle?" he asked his new companions, looking up at the large structure overlooking the city from atop a nearby hill. From a distance, it looked relatively similar to the castles he knew from his own world, though seemed to lack much in the way of color and featured a highly asymmetrical style that would have made most Hylean architects balk at the sight.

"That's right!" Lissa cheered. "I bet you've never seen anything like it, have you?"

Link paused for a moment before replying. "No, I guess not."

"It appears that the capital was spared the chaos we encountered, thank the gods," Frederick said, looking around at the city around them. He and the knight Sumia had both dismounted their horses upon arriving at the city and were now guiding their steeds by the reigns along the narrow streets. "I see no evidence of the great quake. It must've been limited to the forest."

"Well, that's a relief," Lissa said. "I'm not sure what we would do if something like that had happened here."

"Which is all the more reason why we must hurry to meet with the Exalt," Chrom pointed out, quickening his pace.

"I must say, I do look forward to the chance to meet the great Exalt Emmeryn," Virion, the long-haired archer they had managed to pick up the night before, said. "I hear that her beauty is as radiant as her charm."

"That's right!" Lissa nodded. "She's also the best big sister anyone could ask for!"

"Why yes, I imagine that she would be…" Virion trailed off as his brain caught up with him. "Wait, are you to say that the Exalt is your elder sister? But that would make you and Chrom…"

"The prince and princess of the realm," Frederick confirmed.

"That's right but don't let that intimidate you," Sully added, slapping Chrom on the back hard enough to make the man wince. "Prince Chrom here isn't much for formalities."

"Right," the prince in question said. "Though perhaps we should save the roughhousing for after we finally get a chance for some proper rest. I'm still worn out from fighting those beasts last night."

Virion, for his part, seemed to ignore their antics and instead turned his sights to Lissa, bowing and taking her hand in his to brush his lips gently against the backs of her knuckles.

"Well, I must apologize for not showing you the proper respect earlier, my lady," he said as the girl let out a giggle. "I had no idea that I was traveling with such distinguished company, though I should have known that a beauty of such high caliber could only have come from royal stock."

"Haha, there's no need for that," Lissa blushed, pulling her hand back from the archer.

"Ah, contraire," Virion bowed his head. "A nobleman such as myself should always conduct himself with the proper etiquette, especially when accompanying such a lovely young flower as yourself."

"Oh, stop it," Lissa waved her hand dismissively. "You sound just like Maribelle."

"Would you kindly refrain from attempting to court her Highness?" Frederick said with a sigh. "I believe there's a line for that."

"Why, I would never be so bold," Virion looked offended by the notion but it was clear he was just putting on a show.

"Besides, Lady Maribelle beats all of the potential suitors off of my sister with a stick," Chrom chuckled. "You should be more afraid of her than any potential rivals."

"Duly noted," Virion said. "But what of you, your highness? Surely a prince such as yourself must have women practically throwing themselves at you. Perhaps you'd care to introduce me to some of them?"

"Oh, no, not me," Chrom said, seeming flustered. "I'm just a simple Shepherd, after all."

"You say that like every eligible bachelorette in Ylisse doesn't want a piece of that action," Sully laughed. "Present company included."

"Wait, what?" Chrom looked like the irreverent knight had just struck him again.

Link sighed. "Is this really the time to be discussing such things? Or have you already forgotten the monsters invading your country?"

"Right, of course!" Chrom snapped to attention. "We have other things to focus on!"

"Yes, sire," Frederick nodded. "But that being said, you should begin to consider such matters. As a member of the royal family and current heir to the throne, you will be expected to continue your line."

"Perhaps…" Chrom said uneasily, sparing a nervous glance at Link for some reason. "But now is not the time for that. Besides, if Emmeryn doesn't see it necessary to prioritize finding a consort and producing an heir, then I see no reason why I should."

Link could think of several reasons why but before he could voice any of them, a sudden commotion caught his attention. They had been passing along what appeared to be the main street running through the market district, a wide road lined with all forms of colorful stalls and shops run by merchants peddling their wares. One such merchant came running out from behind a counter, holding his fist up and shouting.

"Stop! Thief!"

A scrappy young man in rags was barreling through the crowds, clutching a large clay pot from which Link could hear a distinct metallic clatter. Unfortunately for the thief, he was headed straight for Link and the others, and the former hero of Hyrule didn't hesitate to act. He held his arm and braced himself just as the man passed by, causing the thief to crash neck-first into the raised appendage before falling flat on his back. Golden coins spilled out from the pot that was knocked free from his arms, which were quickly gathered up by the merchant who stuffed them all back into the cracked clay vessel.

"Huh, what's going on?" Chrom asked, his attention suddenly pulled from an argument about royal responsibilities.

"Oh, Your Highness!" the merchant said, suddenly realizing whose company he was in. "I'm so sorry to bother you but this lowlife scoundrel has just attempted to rob me."

"Is this true?" Chrom asked, addressing the young man who was pulling himself up from the brick paved road.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean any harm!" The would-be thief's teary eyes widened as he noticed Chrom, before he suddenly dropped to his knees and placed his hands firmly on the ground to either side of his face, which he held mere inches above the ground. "It's just… my wife has taken a fever while heavy with child, and I can't pay for the healer because I haven't been able to find work since the old mill burned down."

"A likely story," Frederick said sarcastically, looming over the man. "What shall we do with him, sire?"

"Hand him over to the guards," Chrom replied, then turned to the scared man with a gentle smile on his face. "Have them verify his story. If he's telling the truth, then have them fetch a priest of Naga to see to his wife."

"Th-thank you, sir," the man said even as Frederick pulled him to his feet and grabbed him firmly by the arm.

"You're just going to let him go?" the merchant said, clearly offended by the idea. "But this man has robbed me!"

"I didn't say that." Chrom shook his head. "It is true that he tried to steal from you, which means that you are fully in your rights to prosecute him for it regardless of his reasonings. But you'll have to take that up with the city guard. I have pressing business that I must attend to."

Frederick turned to lead the thief off, leaving his horse with Sully as Chrom and the others continued walking towards the castle. However, before Link could follow them, he was stopped by the merchant.

"Thank you for stopping that thief before he could run off with all of my earnings," he said. "As reward, I would give you any dress of your choosing from my shop, free of charge."

Link just stared at the portly, bearded merchant before attempting to step around him. "There's no need for that."

"Please, I insist!" the merchant shifted to block his path, making it clear that he would not let him leave without accepting the man's gratitude.

"Very well," Link said as the merchant guided him over to his shop. He had no interest in dresses but it seemed clear that the man wasn't going to take no for an answer.

The dress shop was full of opulent dresses made from fine silks, many adorned with glittering jewels and the like. The shopkeep seemed particularly interested in showing off a delicate-looking blue gown with white trim that failed to catch Link's eye. None of the opulent clothing set up on display caught his interest, of course. Instead, he found himself drawn to a set of shelves where simpler designs made of more rugged material had been stored.

"Oh, you don't want any of those," the shopkeeper said as if he had any idea what Link wanted. "Those are just cheap things, not suited for a beauty such as yours."

Link disregarded the comment, instead picking up a plain dress of coarse, durable green wool and holding it up. It was simplistic in design, with only a small amount of golden embroidery around the neckline, the ends of the short sleeves and the bottom of the skirt which would fall just above his knees. With just a bit of tailoring, it would almost be like one of his old tunics he'd been drawn to throughout most of his past lives. Even the cut and some of the styling in the stitching was similar.

"I'll take this one," Link said, turning to leave.

"What? Are you sure?" the shopkeeper questioned. "Wouldn't you rather have one like your friend's?"

Link looked over at where the man was gesturing to a green dress with a leather corset and large hoopskirt supported by a metal frame, similar in style to the yellow one that Lissa wore.

"No, thank you," Link flashed him a friendly smile and patted the dress slung over his arm. "This one will do quite nicely. Thank you."

Link then hurriedly rushed out of the store and caught up to where the others were waiting for him, stuffing his reward into one of the large pockets lining the inside of his coat. As soon as he got the chance, he'd be changing back to his standard look. Perhaps then, people would be less inclined to mistake him for a girl.

As much as Chrom enjoyed traveling the countryside, camping in the wilderness and helping those in need like a knight errant from the stories he read as a child, it was also nice to be back home after a long trip. He'd been expecting to get the chance to settle down and rest before finally being able to meet with his sister but it seemed that was not the case. Their arrival had been expected and almost as soon as they'd been greeted at the front gates, a messenger had come to escort Chrom and his companions directly to Emmeryn's office.

Despite the familiarity, as Chrom led the others into the spacious room he tried to compose himself as a knight in service of his Exalt. A prince he may be but he was also sworn sword of the crown.

"Emmy!"

Lissa, on the other hand, immediately threw all sense of decorum out the window by running over and tackling their elder sister into a hug. Of course, Emmeryn was just as used to her antics as Chrom was and laughed it off while returning the embrace.

"It is good to see you, too, dear sister," she said before finally pushing the princess off of her and turning to Chrom and the others. "You as well, Chrom! And you, Sir Frederick, Dame Sully. How fared you all?"

"Well…" Chrom spared a look at his companions before turning back to his sister, not sure how to respond. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to start from the beginning. "We've dealt with the bandit for now but who knows how long it will be before Plegia decides to send more brigands our way."

"Are you sure that they sent from Plegia?" Emmeryn asked him seriously, leaning forward over her desk once Lissa finally pulled away from her. "Those are serious accusations. While our countries do have a troubled history, we are nominally at peace for the time being and I would not jeopardize that evidence."

Chrom let out a sigh at that, already having expected that response from her.

"I am sure, though they've done a decent job of covering their tracks," he admitted. "If this happens again, I'll make sure to bring back evidence."

"Very well." Emmeryn nodded gracefully, then turned her gaze to those standing behind him with a soft smile. "Now, on to happier news. I see that you have brought home new companions. Would you care to introduce them, Chrom?"

"Oh, right, of course," Chrom replied awkwardly, realizing that he should probably have started with this part before turning and holding an arm out to their new friends. The two stepped forward, Robin dropping to one knee like a knight swearing fealty to their liege while Virion bowed with a flourish. "These are Robin and Virion, who fought bravely alongside us."

"It is truly a pleasure to stand before you, milady!" Virion said. "I am but a humble archer unfit to be in the presence of such beauty and grace as yours."

"It sounds as though Ylisse owes you both a debt of gratitude, Virion and Robin." Emmeryn rose from her seat and walked around her desk to get a better look at them, motioning with one hand for Robin to rise to her feet.

"Forgive me, Your Grace, but I must speak," Frederick spoke up and Chrom had to stop himself from groaning, already knowing what his oh-so-faithful companion was about to say. "Robin claims to have lost her memory but it is only that, a claim. We cannot rule out the possibility that she is a brigand herself or even a Plegian spy."

"Frederick!" Chrom snapped but quickly quieted as his sister raised her hand for silence.

"Yet you allowed her into the castle, Chrom," she said. "Does this woman have your trust?"

He spared the woman in question a nervous glance, finding reassurance in her cool, brown eyes, then nodded.

"Yes. She risked her life for our people. That's good enough for me."

"Well then, Robin," Emmeryn turned back to the white-haired young woman. "It seems that you've earned my brother's faith and as such, you have mine as well."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Robin nodded. "But we seem to be skirting around the true issue here. Bandits and spies are one thing but your kingdom is facing a far greater threat right now."

Chrom had been hoping to wait until he could speak to his elder sister in private or, better yet, call for a gathering of the war council before informing her of their discovery but it seemed that was not to be. To his surprise, though, Emmeryn merely nodded in acceptance as if she was already expecting what Robin was about to say.

"Yes, I feared as much," Emmeryn said, and Chrom could tell from her voice that she was speaking now as the Exalt, not just Chrom's sister. "This morning has been nothing but one strange report after another. I was told that you came here from the direction of the woods that caught fire late last night. I take it that you bring news of what happened there."

Well, it seemed there was no denying it now. Chrom still wished that he could have waited before breaking this news but he had no other choice but to step forward. So, Chrom began their tale, from the earthquakes and sea of fire to the monsters and the masked swordsman who helped them before running off, the others chipping in from time to time to help paint the full picture of what had happened. By the time he and the others had finished, Emmeryn had returned to her chair and was sitting down, stroking the sides of her head as she tried to take it all in.

"Goddess above, what is going on?" Emmeryn sighed after a long moment of thought. "We need to hold council. Chrom, will you join us?"

"Of course," Chrom nodded, then turned to Lissa. "Would you mind taking care of our new friends for now?"

"Sure," she said cheerily, then ran over and grabbed Robin's hand, pulling the young woman a bit too forcefully out of the room while the others followed. "C'mon! I know just the place to show you!"

Now alone with Emmeryn, Chrom turned to his elder sister who walked over to him looking as tired as he felt at the moment.

"What do you think is happening?" he found himself asking.

"I don't know," she replied. "But I have a feeling that we're about to face something the likes of which haven't been seen since the Age of Sacrifice, or even the War of Heroes. I can only pray that it doesn't come to that, however."

"Indeed," Chrom replied as they left her office. "I've spent my life reading tales of other worlds from the Outrealms and even I've never heard of monsters like these before."

General Phila had been standing alert by the door and saluted them as they walked by before Emmeryn motioned for her to follow them.

"General," she said. "Summon the council at once. It seems we have even more to discuss than I thought."

"Yes, Your Grace." Phila nodded before running off to do as instructed, leading the royal siblings to head for the council chambers on their own.

Chrom couldn't help but dread what the next few hours would bring. He could only hope that Lissa and the others would have a more enjoyable evening than what he had in front of him.

Link found himself dragged into an old fort behind the castle which looked like it had seen better days. The gray stone walls seemed to be solid enough but he could see cracks and other signs of wear throughout the building, to say nothing of the thick layer of dust that coated the various crates, racks and other items scattered around. If he had to guess, he would say that he was in an abandoned military structure that had only recently been reclaimed for use and was still undergoing repairs. The solidly built, tanned man with spiky blonde hair hailing lumber and the gray-haired young woman in a purple tabard dusting a table enforced that idea.

"Here we are!" Lissa said cheerily after finally letting go of his hand, giving Link the chance to stand up and straighten out his coat. "The Shepherds' garrison. Go on, make yourselves at home!"

Before Link had a chance to do anything of the sort, a girl in pink riding crops who appeared to be around Lissa's age ran over to them and grabbed Lissa's hand. Her long, curly blonde hair was pulled back into several braided tails and judging from the way she carried herself and the delicate frills on her outfit, Link took her to be of noble stock. He note that despite the elegance of her outfit, such as the white ascot and matching bows in her hair, her outfit did seem to be designed for practical use rather than being purely aesthetic.

"Lissa, my treasure! Are you all right?" the new girl asked. "I've been on pins and needles!"

"Oh, hey, Maribelle!" Lissa replied happily, identifying the new arrival as the girl that Chrom had mentioned earlier.

"Don't 'Oh, hey' me!" Maribelle's cheeks seemed to puff up in irritation. "I've sprouted fourteen gray hairs fretting over you!"

"Aw, you worry too much," Lissa giggled before letting go of her friend. "I can handle a battle or two, though I could do without the bugs and bear barbeque."

"Ah, you must be Lady Maribelle!" Virion gave the girl a bow before reaching his hand out to her. She accepted it and let him kiss the back of her hand before pulling away again. That must have been some kind of strange custom in this world that Link wasn't familiar with. "I must say, the stories do not do justice to the marvel of your beauty in person. Are those Themesian silks?"

"Indeed they are. My father is none other than the Duke of Themis himself," Maribelle cocked a smile before turning back to her friend. "Who is this gentleman and should I be worried?"

"Oh, this is Virion," Lissa replied. "He and Robin here helped us out on our mission and now Chrom's trying to recruit them, so I figured that I'd show them around and introduce them to the others. Speaking of, where is everyone?"

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Robin, Virion." Maribelle curtsied to each of them in turn, despite now wearing a dress at the moment. "The other Shepherds are either out for supplies or still getting back from their own missions. Dame Sumia, the meathead and I are the only ones here right now."

"I'm here, too," another man, who Link hadn't even realized was there despite his finely tuned senses and the fact that he was wearing a full suit of bulky armor, said from where he was filling in cracks in the wall with what seemed to be some kind of cement mixture.

"Hey, squirt!" As if on cue, the man that Link had seen earlier walked over to them and rustled his hand through Lissa's hair despite the girl's protests, having left the wooden planks he'd been carrying propped against a wall. Link wasn't sure if it was normal for people to treat royalty so casually in this world but he had a feeling that it was just that these 'Shepherds' were a particularly tight-knit group. Not that he could complain, being reminded of his friendships with more than a few princesses in his lifetimes. "Where's Chrom? I bet he had a rough time out there without ol' Teach and this trusty axe!"

"Oh, so you're 'Teach' now, are you?" Lissa asked teasingly once she'd finally gotten him off of her and started straightening out her bonnet. "And here I thought people were just born lacking wits. It can be taught?"

"Ha, never doubt the Vaike!" He jabbed a thumb to his chest proudly.

"You know she just called you stupid, right?" Sully pointed out, causing his shoulders to slump.

"Wait, what?"

During that exchange, the other woman there had set down her dust rag and hurried over, managing to trip over her own feet before getting up again and standing beside Maribelle and Vaike.

"Beg your pardon, princess, but when might we see the captain?" she asked.

"Prince Chrom is currently in a council meeting to discuss certain events which we are not at liberty to divulge until they return," Frederick explained. "There is no telling how long it will take but I presume that it will be at least several hours."

"O-oh," the woman grew flush as she stared down at the ground. "Alright."

"Poor, poor Sumia," Maribelle tutted. "She's simply been beside herself with concern. She may as well have been blindfolded during training this morning, with how distracted she's been."

"Aw, Sumia, that's so sweet of you to worry about Chrom," Lissa smiled.

"W-worry?" The woman, apparently named Sumia, stiffened up at that. "Well, I… He is our captain… and our prince, so… So of course I'd worry!"

For some reason, that unconvincing response seemed to send Sully into a coughing fit, through which Link could distinctly hear the phrase 'lovebirds'. If he hadn't already figured it out, that would be all Link needed to figure out why the young woman was acting the way she was.

"So, you two new recruits?" The man calling himself Teach asked, changing the subject. "What can you do?"

"Why, I'm glad you asked," Virion said with a smirk, drawing his bow. "I am an archer. I arch."

"And he's a massive skirt chaser," Sully supplied. "He's been following me since Whiteriver Village and has been flirting with every girl he sees."

"It is true that I have a soft spot for the ladies," Virion admitted.

"Hey, at least he realized you were a girl," Vaike laughed, prompting a death glare from the redheaded knight. "That's an improvement."

"You're the only one here dense enough to have mistaken me for a man," she replied coldly.

"And what of you, Miss Robin?" Maribelle asked politely. "You strike me of a woman of many talents?"

Link still wasn't used to being referred to as a woman but figured that it wasn't the time to bring it up and simply shrugged. "I'm decent with a sword."

"Decent with a sword?" Sumia repeated exasperatedly. "You're the best damn swordswoman I've ever seen!"

"Not to mention that she can cast magic without even using tomes!" Lissa joined in excitedly. As much as Link would prefer to keep his head low, it seemed that wasn't going to be an option in this crowd. "I saw her melt a bandit's face off with her bare hand!"

"Technically it wasn't my bare hand," Link pointed out, not seeing any other option but to join in. "I had gloves on."

"Magic without a tome?" Maribelle questioned. "Is that even possible?"

"Apparently." Link shrugged again. "I don't have any memories from before Lissa and the others found me, so I couldn't tell you why or how."

"Man, better not let Miriel find out about that," Vaike chuckled. "She might try to dissect you or something to figure it out."

"Not let me find out what?"

Everyone turned to see a tall woman with straight red hair and glasses walk in carrying several bags of what looked like groceries walk in, dressed in dark robes and a wide-brimmed, pointed hat. If Link could get his hands on a similarly styled one without the brim, then that would be another part of his usual attire acquired.

"It would seem that you are no longer the only spellcaster in our group," Maribelle replied. "Robin here was just telling us that she can use magic as well, without using tomes, even."

"Really?" The new arrival, Miriel, adjusted her glasses after setting her bags down on an empty table, the glass lenses seemingly growing opaque for a moment as she did so. "A rare gift, indeed, though not unheard of. I, myself, have only gotten the simplest of spells to work without the proper catalyst. Tell me, how do you do it?"

"I don't know," Link lied. He knew exactly how his magic worked, though it was clear that this world's magic functioned differently than that of Hyrule. "I just can."

To demonstrate, Link cast the weakest version of Din's Fire that he could, summoning a sphere of flames over his open palm that burned there for a few seconds before he dismissed it at easily as he'd conjured it.

"Interesting," Miriel pulled out a quill and a book, quickly writing down something before putting them away again. "This will need experimentation later, to figure out how it works. I take it that you and this bowman must be new members?"

"That is indeed correct, my lady," Virion said, stepping forward with a bow. "And who might this exquisite beauty be?"

Miriel simply stared down at him for a moment before turning back to Link.

"Actually, I haven't agreed to join," he pointed out. "As I told Chrom, I'd rather learn more about you and your organization before making any commitments."

"Hm, smart girl," Miriel nodded approvingly. "I like you."

"Well, I'm sure that you'll decide to join the Shepherds soon enough," Maribelle said before glaring at Vaike. "Present company excluded, most of us make for pleasant companions and the work we do is worthwhile."

"Hey," Vaike snapped. "Who you callin' company?"

After introductions had been made, arguments had been had and Vaike had tried, successfully, to rope Link into a belching competition that led to Maribelle storming out in disgust, Link finally found himself with a moment alone to collect himself before the Shepherds got ready for dinner. Since he hadn't actually joined them, they were letting him stay in an unused bedroom that would normally reserved for officers. Technically speaking, it should have been Chrom's room but since he preferred to stay in the men's barracks with the others, it was currently unoccupied. If he did end up joining, he was hoping that he could talk them into letting him keep that room on a more permanent basis as they would likely expect him to stay in the women's barracks due to his current body.

But that was a matter for later. For now, Link tossed the heavy coat he'd woken up in the day before on the empty bed and finally undid the long twin-tails hanging from the sides of his head. Brushing his long, white hair behind his back, Link took a seat on a wobbly old chair facing an unused desk and let out a sigh.

"Death?" he called out quietly, not wanting anyone outside to be able to hear him. "Death, can you hear me?"

There was no reply, but he hadn't expected one. He simply leaned forward onto the desk and assumed that the skull-faced trickster was listening. Death was everywhere, after all.

"When you told me about this vessel, you failed to mention that it would be a girl," he grumbled. "But that's not what's important right now. Why are monsters from my world invading this one? What's going on?"

He sat there in silence but there was still no reply, not even a whisper carried on the breeze. After a moment, he pulled a white sheet off of what he assumed to be a mirror sitting on the desk and was proven right, finally getting a good look at the body that he was now inhabiting. Robin had delicate features, one might even call her beautiful. No wonder that so many of the men she'd seen, Chrom especially, had been having trouble keeping their eyes off of 'her'. Even a few of his past incarnations would have done the same, with her deep brown eyes with just a hint of red, her pale face and flowing white hair that made him think of moonlight on a cloudless summer night.

"You said this body didn't have a soul, didn't you?" he asked. "But I didn't just wake up in the middle of nowhere, fully dressed, for nothing. Who is this? And was she really as hollow as you claimed?"

Link wasn't sure what he was expecting but the only answer he received was the creak of an old floorboard outside. With a sigh, he leaned back in his chair, which almost gave out under him from the unexpected shift in weight, and pulled out a dagger that he'd pulled off of one of the Shepherd's weapon racks on the way to his new room.

"Fine, then. I guess I'll have to find my own answers."

Author's Notes: I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out. I started this story right before hitting a big bought of writing burnout and this chapter in particular was just hard for me to get through. I think I ended up scrapping it and restarting from scratch at least three times because I just wasn't satisfied with what I was writing. It didn't help that not much actually happens in this chapter since I'm still mostly just setting things up at this point and we're mostly following the events of the game right now. I'm hoping my excitement for working on this story will return by the time we get to the tournament in Regna Ferox, since that's where things will start getting interesting.

But for now, I'd like to hear your thoughts and speculation so far. Why are the monsters from Hyrule invading Ylisse? How did 'Marth' end up with the Master Sword? And what's Link going to do with that knife? Nothing drastic, I hope.

Oh, and you know what? I feel like throwing in an out-of-context spoiler to help fuel your speculation. This is actually going to be a three-way crossover but I won't be revealing the third series involved until later.