I'm baaacckkk! After months of being away(lazy). It started with finals all coming up then writers block and I didn't know how to portray Ricken. Especially his age, it's never been identified so I'll just go with 16, and a late bloomer since he has a complex about his height. I also had some guy friends who were pretty short and baby-faced and shot up by the time they were 17 LOL I still don't think this chapter will do him justice but oh well, I have procrastinated long enough. Btw, I'll be at Anime Expo this Saturday, hopefully I can find some Fire Emblem characters. -DBSKLOVER

Ricken

"Could you guys please stop that," Ricken asked annoyed as the other students threw another paper ball at the back of his head.

"Aww, did we hurt the widdle wizard prodigies feelings," one of the students mocked. The other students roared with laughter. Ricken just huffed and turned back to his book, he couldn't cause trouble. Ricken was at the castle to further his mage studies in hopes to become a great mage to restore his families name. His family had been one of the oldest noble family, close enough to advise the king, but they were too trusting. They invested a large portion of their family wealth into a supporting a program that was to help the impoverished. It had turned out to be a big scam and all their money was lost. The king was not happy with their blunder and their family name suffered from the shame, as Ricken walked around the castle he could hear what the other students whispered about him. The son of former nobles that had lost favor with the king, it made him an easy target.

Ricken just wanted to go through his day peacefully but he had a talent for magic and a brilliant mind for his age that put him in more problems than it was worth sometimes. He was of course the youngest in his advanced magic class and his teachers were always praising his studious mind and urging the others to follow in his footsteps. Ricken often wondered, for such bright mages, how his masters never noticed that every praise was enlarging the target on his head. It was already bad that he was the youngest in the class but Ricken was small even for someone his age.

Ricken was running away from a group of kids when he first met Chrom. He was around seven and running as fast as his little legs could carry him but the other kids were older and much bigger than little Ricken. They had spotted him from across the halls around the castle and called out to him, instinctively he ran and so began the chase. Ricken ended up tripping when he entered the court garden, face first into the dirt. The older kids stood around him laughing as he coughed the dirt out of his lungs. The irritation from the pain and embarrassment he felt lead him to crack, he picked up a chunk of dirt and threw it at the kids around him. "Leave me alone," he screamed through his tears.

The kids didn't take kindly to the bit of dirt on their clothes. "So Little Ricken wants to fight," one of the kids teased but in his eyes was a cruel fury. The kids gathered around kicking him, throwing rocks, and kicking dirt into his face. They only laughed harder when Ricken cried for them to stop. He hated his life, no matter what he did there was a negative result. He resented his magic ability, his intelligence, and in that moment even his family for putting him in this horrible situation in the first place. He was starting to wish he had never been born when he heard a voice disrupt the laughter. He could still remember it to this day, even though it was young he voice was strong, "don't you guys think you should be picking on someone your own size." The group turned to see a young blue haired boy glaring at them, a wooden sword slung over his shoulder.

"Who is that," Ricken heard one of the bullies whisper as he laid on the ground.

"I don't know, probably one of the knight students, we are approaching the knight's side of the castle," another answered him. The one that answered, the one that also seemed to be the leader in the ring of bullies, turned to the new face . "Run along, this is a problem between mages," he tried to shoo the stranger away.

"Doesn't seem like your solving it in a fair way," the blue haired stranger nodded his head at the crumpled Ricken on the ground. He swung his sword around and smirked a mischievous glint in his eyes, "how about I fight all of you on his behalf?"

The group of bullies looked around at each other and scoffed, even though they only knew basic magic there was still five of them and only one of him. Without even warning him they all charged at the young knight. The young boy didn't look surprised he took them down with such precision that Ricken knew that had to be above the level of someone his age, a prodigy such as himself.

"Prince Chrom!" Ricken looked up to see that it was an older brunette that had called out. Ricken's eyes widened when he realized that the blue haired boy that had just saved him was the prince. "Prince Chrom, I advise that you stop doing things like this, it is quite dangerous for your health."

Chrom patted the young teen on the shoulder, "You worry too much Freddy, I can handle a group like them just fine, I know my strengths."

A group of knights jogged over to the scene. "Aww, couldn't you have saved at least one of them for us," a red headed girl groaned when she noticed the excitement was all over.

"Hey you missed one," a blond kid pointed out.

"Vaike no-" Chrom tried to explain to his friends but Ricken didn't hear it. He was too busy panicking, he had more skill in magic than his classmates but he doubted he could take on Prince Chrom or any of his friends if their skill was anywhere near Chrom's. He let out a burst of wind magic enough to put space between him and the knights and to blow enough dirt into the air to hopefully give him time to run away.

Ricken heard them calling out to him but he didn't risk taking time to listen to what they were saying. He dragged his injured body as fast as he could but he knew that the knights would soon catch up, that didn't stop him from trying. When he was far enough away and felt like he couldn't take another breath he realized the group of knights hadn't chased him. He figured they must have thought he was too pathetic to try chasing.

It was one of the worst bullying sessions Ricken ever experienced. He wanted to forget all about it but the memory of the young prince taking down his bullies in his place was a reoccurring memory. It was still unreal to him that Prince Chrom was the one to fight in his place. Even though he was studying in the castle he never thought he'd ever see the prince and doubted that he would ever meet the prince again. For the better he thought, the prince probably just picked a fight with the wizards to show off his swordsmanship, was best he stayed away from people like that Ricken told himself. Unfortunately he had another run in with the prince after another one of his worst bullying sessions.

When he was around ten Ricken was studying in one of the many courtyards in the castle and happened to run into Maribelle. They often spent time together when Ricken's family still had their standings and Maribelle wasted no time trying to catch up with him. He was having a good time recalling memories when he was spotted by his usual bullies.

"A lady such as yourself shouldn't waste your time with a kid like him," the crowd called out to Maribelle.

Maribelle instantly disliked the group the instant she heard how lowly the regarded Ricken. She stood tall and looked down her nose at the group, "I only extend my company to those who are worth my time." Before any of them could respond Maribelle was called off by one of the castle maids saying that Princess Lissa was calling her. "My darling is calling me but we must catch up sometime soon Ricken. I'm sure Lissa would love to meet you, too." Maribelle smiled at Ricken and turned to glare at the bullies before turning her nose up and walking away. Maribelle meant well when she tried to stand up for Ricken but it only served to worsen the situation. The group of bullies didn't take well to being ignored by a court lady in favor for a small wizard like Ricken.

"Let's have a nice chat, Ricken my boy," the leader of group smiled ominously at Ricken. Before he could turn and try to run they had grabbed his collar and were dragging him into the forest. They had covered his mouth when he tried to scream and tossed him onto the ground when they found a clearing. The leader of the group opened his mouth once again to say something when they heard a growl. They all turned around to see they had been surrounded by a pack of wolves. The noise they made dragging Ricken into the woods had attracted their attention. The group of wolves circled the group of boys as if in a hunt. One of the boys whimpered loudly and the wolves began growling. The group of boys began panicking and the wolves were picking up on the fear and circled them with more interest.

"Stop, don't panic, they can sense it," Ricken whispered, what he remembered reading in a book.

Too panicked to think straight, the leader of the bullies kicked Ricken, irritated. "Shut up this is your fault," he spat. Seeing that action the wolves got closer their growls getting louder. The group broke out in full panic, screaming and pushing each other trying to get away from the wolves. Ricken closed his eyes bracing himself from the inevitable attack that was to come. He heard some whimpering but it didn't sound like it came from any of the boys and looked up to see that someone was fighting the wolves off to get to their group.

"Any of you! Do any of you have a fire tome," Chrom called out to the group as the wolves lunged at him. He kept them at bay with a large stick but Ricken could see that he was getting tired, there were scratch marks all over his being. "Any of you!" Chrom's call snapped Ricken out of his trance. When he was dragged into the forest he hadn't been holding any tomes only his notes but he lost those as he struggled to away. Ricken looked around and noticed one of the boys had a thunder tome under his arm. Ricken wondered, irritated, as to why he didn't use it to ward of the wolves earlier but realized it was probably because none of them were really advanced enough to use it for battle. Ricken grabbed it out of the boys hand and prepared himself. He could only get a spark out but hoped it would be enough. Chrom had his arms raised for another swing when he heard thunder hit the end of the stick. The instant it caught fire the wolves scattered. Chrom looked back and saw it was Ricken who lit the stick and smiled. "Nice quick thinking," he praised Ricken. He tried to take a step towards Ricken but his legs gave out. Ricken ran to Chrom's side and draped one of his arms around his shoulder. "Sorry," Chrom apologized embarrassed, "who would have thought my legs would give out now."

Ricken shook his head vigorously, even though Chrom was older than him he was but thirteen. Any thirteen old had every right to act afraid especially after facing a pack of wolves. Ricken tried to support Chrom's weight but was obviously a lot smaller than the prince and called out to the older boys. "Guys, help him."

The bullies still remembered Chrom's face from the last time they saw him and now that they weren't surrounded by wolves their pride didn't let them see Chrom as the boy who saved him but as the boy who beat them all. "He could get himself this far, he should be able to get himself back," the leader said and the others nervously agreed with him. Ricken was angered and opened his mouth to voice his opinions when he was interrupted by another voice.

"Fine, abandon your prince and fellow student but rest assured I remember all your faces and will ensure your families of your decisions." Ricken recognized the older teen as Frederick. The bullies now flustered scrambled to help the prince stand but Frederick stopped them with a glare and proceeded to lift Chrom up by his other arm as they stood behind him awkwardly. "Milord, if you are going to try and get yourself killed I would rather you tell me in advanced," Frederick scolded Chrom as he lifted him up.

Chrom responded with a wince and a smile. "Maribelle wanted me to check up on her childhood friend, she said that she felt uneasy leaving him with that crowd." The boys that followed behind them lowered their heads in shame. "Your name is Ricken right," Chrom asked Ricken. Ricken nodded shyly. "That was some quick thinking back there, you really do have a talent for magic." Ricken blushed half at the compliment and half out of embarrassment, how could he of thought of Chrom as just a show off.

"Thank you, Prince Chrom."

"Just call me Chrom," he smiled at Ricken.

"Can I hang out with you!" Ricken had blurted out as he was caught up in his admiration for Chrom and instantly regretted it the moment the words came out of his mouth. The boys behind them snickered. Of course not, the prince wouldn't want to hang out with a pint sized mage in training.

"Sure."They all stopped to look Chrom.

"Really?"

Chrom chuckled. "Yes really." And that was how Ricken's friendship with Chrom started, or what he considered friendship. Ricken admired Chrom greatly, he represented everything Ricken wanted to be, he was heroic, bold, and benevolent. With a role model like Chrom he would surely find a way to restore his family's name. Ricken ended up following Chrom around like a little duckling it was almost cute, especially when Ricken himself was tailed by actual ducklings from time to time. Chrom didn't know how to do with the young boys admiration so he just allowed him to follow him around. The other students stopped bullying him after he began hanging around Chrom but they did tease him for his idolizing of the prince. But Ricken didn't care, as long as Chrom was fine with it and he could find a way to somehow grow up to be an upstanding person like Chrom he didn't care what anyone else said. Others like Vaike tried to convince him that there were better people to admire other than Chrom but in Ricken's eyes no one was as heroic as Chrom. Chrom always stood tall, a natural leader and people just followed. His eyes were always faced forward towards the future.

That was until Chrom brought an amnesiac tactician into their ranks. Ricken was wary of Robin at first, she brought out a side of Chrom that he'd never seen from the prince. The Chrom that Ricken knew was always confident with himself and assured with his decisions, even if they were hasty sometimes. But the Chrom in front of him kept looking back at the new tactician as he lead her around the castle, looking for her approval. It didn't help Ricken's opinion of her when Chrom took her along to save Maribelle but told him to stay at the castle. Ricken had dutifully stayed by Chrom's side for years but just because she was a couple years older than him Chrom found her more reliable. Of course Ricken couldn't just sit around when he knew he could be of help. He followed after the Shepherds shortly after they left. It happened to be the right choice because he managed to save Maribelle's life. He was mildly annoyed when they were grateful for his help but still thought he should head back. He had the most potential out of all the mages in Ylisse but they always dismissed him for his age. Instead of ordering him to go back Chrom turned to Robin to get her opinion.

"Ricken seemed to have held his own pretty okay, I think we should let him come." Ricken was surprised at her decision and slightly nervous as she studied him head to toe, probably trying to consider how to fit him in future strategies. Chrom accepted her decision and Ricken was torn between disliking her because Chrom trusted her decisions so quickly compared to his and being grateful to her for convincing Chrom to let him stay. When he saw her and Chrom in action he grew to admire her a little, the way she and Chrom fought together was so fluid, almost as if they were two halves of a whole being. His opinion of her also grew when she didn't just put him in the back, she didn't put him in the front line either but she still trusted him enough to let him serve as backup for the front line. It gave him experience to develop his magic and demonstrate it to those who thought he was too fragile for war. He appreciated the opportunity but even though he tried not to show it he felt nervous on every time he stepped on the field. He didn't want to think about how he had to take another life in order to protect those of his fellow Shepherds.

As he sat down to write to his family, he had trouble coming up with what to tell them while keeping away from the topic of battle. He was stuck on what to write them, it had been years since he'd actually seen them. Ever since he started his mage training, he told himself he would only return home when he managed to restore his families name. He began wondering if he was actually making any progress, he thought joining the Shepherds would help him become more noble but he still got that sickening feeling in his gut before every battle. He thought he would get used to it over time but the thought of putting his life on the line and taking lives still left him in a cold sweat. Robin had popped in as he was lost in thought.

She was curious as to why he hadn't written anything. "You've been staring at a blank page for an hour." Ricken blushed, embarrassed that Robin had noticed. He explained to her how he couldn't decide what to write his family. She began throwing out ideas trying to help him, "Tell them about how you dodged one brush with death after the next! Impress them!"

Ricken knew she was trying to joke with him but recalling the memory made him feel sick all over again. He was sure he visibly paled because Robin's smile seemed to falter a little. "Are you insane?! The object is to make them worry about me LESS!" Robin nodded and began moving the jokes towards Risen. He appreciated the topic change, since Risen weren't real people he felt less guilty taking them down. After talking with Robin for a little longer he decided he would hold off on writing home. Even though he didn't manage to write anything home he felt a little better after getting to know Robin a little more, one-on-one. Robin was a very considerate person and focused her attention on a person in such a way that made it easier for a person to open themselves up to her.

He tried to write a letter several times before Robin caught him in the act again, he was a little on edge from the past couple battles and struggling with his writers block. He had killed actual men in the last battle instead of Risen. When Robin came to talk this time, he opened up a little about him and his family and realized it made him feel a little better. Ricken appreciated that Robin the words of comfort but even though she meant well the teasing about dismembering Risen put him back on edge. He tried to let it pass and began writing his letter with Robin still standing there.

"Dear Mom and Dad, I hope you're well," he began his letter.

"Today I saved the life of my beloved, and the field ran red with the blood of my foes!"

"'Today I saved the...' ARRGH! Will you NOT do that?!" Ricken snapped.

"I'm helping," Robin smiled not realizing that Ricken was upset.

"YOU ARE NOT!" By then Robin realized that Ricken wasn't joking around anymore.

But before she could say anything Chrom entered the tent. "What's going on," he had heard the yelling from outside. "Ricken, I don't know what's going on but I don't think yelling at Robin is going to help you solve anything," Chrom defended Robin and giving him a look like an adult scolding a child. Ricken HATED that look and just glared at his feet biting his lip.

"Chrom, could I speak to Ricken alone," he heard Robin ask Chrom softly. He didn't look up but he knew Chrom was giving him a look before he nodded to Robin and left the tent. When Chrom left they stayed quite for a little while before Robin spoke again. "I apologize for teasing you like that I didn't mean to bother you." Ricken began feeling guilty for lashing out at Robin. "But I feel like there's something more going on than just my teasing."

Ricken stayed quiet trying to stop the tears from falling. He didn't want to be seen as a child more than he already was but he was so frustrated with everything. The moment the first tear fell the emotions he felt seemed too much to bear. "I can't do it," he sobbed, "I want to be able to stand nobly on the field like you and Chrom but I can't do it. I am terrified every time I step on the battlefield, I try but I can't!" He was still looking down his vision completely blurred by tears, "I thought I would get used to it over time but I just can't..." It was silent again before he felt arms circling him. Robin had him in a hug but it wasn't a hug of pity a person gave a crying child it was a comrade trying to comfort another.

"I didn't know you were holding these thoughts, I'm sorry." Ricken didn't want an apology but just heaved another sob and cried into her coat. "Ricken, you may not realize this but this shows how much you've grown." Ricken stopped, momentarily confused. "Every one of us is still terrified of going onto the field, even Chrom and I, I guess we were just good at hiding it. Well, you were pretty good at hiding it too. The difference is you were able to accept that fear, a lot of us are too afraid to admit to that fear. Thank you for telling me, and I want to assure you, you aren't alone in all of this. We are all scared but we aren't going in this alone, we Shepherds are not only here to support each other on the battlefield but also mentally as comrades." Ricken cried into Robin's coat a little longer and didn't mention anything after he stopped, she gave him some time alone after that. He had trouble looking Robin in the eye for a little while after that but he began noticing that Robin had began setting up tactics so that the most Ricken had to face was Risen. Ricken didn't assume that she had kept him away from actual soldiers because she felt he was too fragile and young to face "the war" but because she genuinely knew that he didn't want to face another human and was grateful for that. He realized that just going into war wasn't going to help him restore his families name, the number of people he killed wouldn't do anything for his family. Ricken looked at Maribelle and Lissa who spent time in the war healing people and he saw that they were no less noble than any of the other Shepherds. He had an epiphany, what he found noble about the Shepherds and Chrom wasn't in the number of enemies they could take down but in how much they dedicated their individual ability into the mutual cause they believed in.

Ricken was also reminded that Chrom was human too when they had to take separate paths from Exalt Emmeryn. Chrom had lost his spirit to fight and walked around in a daze and required a punch from Sumia to wake him up. It was almost comical to see his idol in such a state of shock after the punch. He received another, darker, reminder that Chrom was only human after the death of Emmeryn. Chrom had an air around him that was similar to when Ricken broke down and it seemed as he gave up fighting all together. Even Robin's plea didn't seem to reach him. Only when they were on the battlefield and his and Robin's lives were on the line before he snapped out of it. Ricken tried to show his support in the only way he could at the time, by putting his all in the fight. Chrom seemed to be spurred on by their support and the Emmeryn's sacrifice and lead them in the fight against Gangrel and to lead them to victory.

Their victory gave him the inspiration to finally write his family. He wrote about what he learned from being part of the Shepherds and that even though he couldn't restore their family name at that moment, he would still continue trying. He told Robin about the letter when he was done, though he left out the fact that he had mentioned her by name when talking about those who helped him mature through the war. He told her it wasn't much when she asked what he wrote about.

"But it IS great news! I'm sure it'll put their minds at ease."

"By telling them how weak I still am?" He chuckled.

"No, by telling them you know your limits and you're working to overcome them. That's a very mature way of thinking," Robin smiled gently at him, "I'm sure they'll be proud."

Ricken blushed at the compliment and rubbed the back of his neck shyly, "Heh hey! You really think so?"

Robin proceeded to reassure him while putting him in a headlock. He admired her smile as she began pinching his cheeks and calling him cute. Though he still hated how she teased him as if he was a kid but appreciated how she could still see his potential as a soldier on the field. Ricken was grateful that Chrom found Robin in that field and took her in. He was in the middle of realizing his admiration for Chrom and Robin were a little different when he heard someone clear their throat.

He turned around to see Chrom staring at them, more like glaring at him. Ricken wouldn't actually go so far as to say that Chrom was glaring at him but did seem to get more distant around Ricken whenever he spotted Robin teasing him. "May I speak to Robin alone for a moment," Chrom asked Ricken all of a sudden a little more bashful.

Robin bid Ricken goodbye and followed Chrom and Ricken went to pack his things. A couple minutes later he heard the camp in an uproar. He rushed out to see what the problem was but Lissa assured him nothing was wrong. "Chrom finally proposed to Robin!"

Ricken's eyes found the new couple in the center of a crowd. They were staring around the crowd smiling shyly and sneaking peaks and sharing smiles with one another every once in a while. Ricken felt weird, he should have been elated that the two people he admired the most were getting married. But there was something in him that didn't want them to get married but he couldn't explain why, they were a good pair. But the more he saw how happy they made each other he couldn't help catch their cheer. Though a little part of him didn't want to see them together he did support them together, no one could be better for the other than Robin and Chrom. He joined the crowd in congratulating the couple.

A couple weeks later when they were on the road home he received an answer letter from his family. The first person he went to show was Robin. They wrote about how proud he already made them with all he's done. Before he could hide the letter Robin noticed what his family had said about her. His family had read his admiration differently and asked when he was going to introduce his lady friend to the family.

"Oh, you're family thinks you fancy me," Robin teased lightly as she held the letter out of Ricken's reach as she continued to read. Oh if only she knew how close to the truth they were. Ricken didn't fully understand it but he felt embarrassed having Robin read about his families assumptions.

"Who fancies who?" Ricken froze at the voice. He turned around to see Chrom standing arms crossed and not looking all that happy. Ricken didn't know why but he felt uncomfortable under Chrom's gaze. "Ricken, could I have a word with you." He gave Robin a confused look and she shrugged, confused herself.

When they were alone he was less cold but still seemed uneasy. "Ricken... listen. I know you...admire...Robin a lot but don't you think you've been spending a lot of time with her..." Chrom looked into Ricken's eyes hoping he'd understand the message and save him the embarrassment of saying it out loud.

All of a sudden it made sense to Ricken. Why Chrom kept staring at them whenever he went to her for advice, why he got cold whenever he caught them laughing together. Ricken blushed, embarrassed by the revelation. "I'm sorry Chrom, I didn't realize how left out I made you feel! But don't worry you'll always be the person I admire the most!"

Ugh, I turned all Ricken's support all depressing. Though I have to say the story turned out better than I thought since I began typing without much in mind except the supports and the ending LOL Not a lot of Chrom that much in this chapter though... Ricken is so hard to write for LOL I do find him adorable with all the animals and stuff and I love his supports with Henry, they're so funny LOL ... Well that's it... Hope you still enjoyed the read and thanks for supporting this story and my spontaneous and rusty writing abilities.-DBSKLOVER