Robin pulls out her bronze sword when Sumia came swooping down to drop off Chrom by Robin's side. They were standing back to back while watching the enemy soldiers surround them and the rest of the Shepherds.

"I assume you have a plan, Robin?" Chrom questioned. It took a second for Robin to analyze the battlefield and come up with

"With our limited numbers, we can't battle on both fronts. One team will act as a decoy while the rest of us will break through the one side of the enemy lines. Should we go to the left or the right?" A soldier came charging towards Chrom from the left. The prince dodge the incoming attack and slash down on the soldier with Robin dealing the final blow.

"Left!" Chrom stated. Robin send Sumia and Frederick along, Sully and Virion to the right side while the rest of the Shepherds follow behind Chrom and Robin. As Chrom continued fighting, he felt an unusual presence constantly gazing at him.

"What's this strange presence I am feeling?" he thought until he bumped into something hard. He back away in a daze to see that there was nothing he could possibly bump into, he felt that same gaze again.

"Who's there? Show yourself!" Chrom demanded.

"I'm right here, sir." Out of nowhere, a giant of man in oversized armor appeared before Chrom.

"Gahhh... it's just you, Kellam." he said, recognizing the knight.

"I'm sorry...it just that you are so quiet."

"I get that a lot, but I am still part of the Shepherds, right?" Kellam asked with uncertainty.

"Yes, of course." Chrom said.

"I am counting on you to defend the rear from the enemies."

"Okay, I will do my best." Kellam soon took to the battlefield, startling both friends and enemies alike with attacks that seems to come out of nowhere. Miriel was busy chanting another spell from her Fire tome, unaware of a knight approaching her and pointing a spear, aiming at her. Kellam intervenes and stuck down the knight with his own iron lance, effectively knock out his opponent.

"What was that strange anomaly I just witness?" she thought to herself, not even noticing Kellam's presence. Thanks to Sumia's arrival and Kellam's sneak attacks, the Shepherds manages to make their way towards Raimi, who was wielding a dual headed javelin.

"Let our battle sound out the truth of your word!" she exclaimed. Tossing her javelin, she nearly skewered Vaike, if Lissa had knock him out of the way and jump back, letting the javelin impacted the ground instead. Despite the heavy armor, she was quite agile on her feet, picking up the discarded javelin. Robin quickly analyze the opponent and devise a plan in her mind, directing the actions of the Shepherds. After calculating the best course of action, Robin was waiting for a precise moment in the general's moment. Reimei once again threw her javelin at Chrom who couldn't dodge in time as the javelin's sharp edge shallowly cut across his chest.

"Vaike, Sully, now!" Robin shouted. Vaike swings his iron axe downward to prevent Raimi from retrieving her javelin. Then Sully trusts her spear at the general who effectively dodged the attack on the spot and recollected her weapon. Quickly, Robin and Mirel rush on opposite sides of Raimi, Robin release the power of Thunder from one side and Miriel throw a Fireball from the other. Both of the attacks hit their target, dealing damage to Raimi. At this point, the general was feeling exhausted, the barrages of attacks were slowing sapping out all her strength. Nevertheless, the general inflicted some wounds on Robin and Miriel who were unable to defend. Lissa heals Chrom with her staff and he rejoins the battle. Soon after, Raimei fell to her knees in exhaustion by another wave of relentless attacks. She watches as Chrom rushes towards her with his Falchion. She rise up her javelin as a last attempt to defend, only to have it knock away from her grasp by a powerful strike from Chrom. He rise his sword again, she shut her eyes, waiting for the final blow. But nothing happen, as soon as she open her eyes again to see the edge of the Falchion hovering, inches from her face. Chrom pull back and sheath his sword, into the scabbard. Robin steps in and help Remei back to her feet.

"Do you believe us now?" Chrom asked.

"Yes, my apologies, Prince Chrom. I really mistook you lot for a band of brigands, but frauds cannot wage battle like you can. I will send word to the khan of your arrival, but excuse me while I alert the rest of the guards to allow you and your Shepherds passage into Ferox." she stated.

"Thank you, Remei." With a low bow, Remei departed back into the fort, in order to summon a messager.

"My apologies, milord. I should have known better than overvalue the diplomacy here."

"It don't worry about it, Frederick. Besides, it was thanks to Robin's quick thinking that manages to win the battle."

"Yes...well, I will admit there were some merits to her strategy, but there were also many opening in the general's movement. Why not attack from behind?"

"No, that wouldn't do at all." Robin said.

"What do you mean?"

"This was a test of strength. If we use a cowardly tactic, Reimei won't have back down like she did."

"That is true...Here in Regna Ferox, strength means more than normal diplomacy. I am surprised that you were aware that fact, Robin." Frederick commented.

"Well, I have been studying a bit on the way here. I just wanted to be a bit useful." Needless to said, Frederick look surprised and Chrom just smiles.

"If you guys are finished talking, can we head inside? It is become a blizzard out here." Lissa stated. True enough, snow begin descending in flurries with the cold winds emphasize the coming storm.

"Yes, let's head inside." said Chrom. The group head inside the fortress for warmth before the Shepherds were escorted to the palace of the East-Khan. Chrom, Robin, Lissa and Frederick were lead to the throne room of the castle by Remei. Robin notice some similarities between the castles of Ylisse and Ferox, expect the green and indigo color scheme and tattered banner bearing the emblem of Ferox.

"Please wait here while I summon the khan." said the general. She bow her head and left to get the khan.

"Huh, I wonder why the khan is not here?" asked Robin.

"The khan is probably away training. Battling is their policy after all." Chrom answered.

"Hmmm...I wonder what the khan looks like. I imagine a giant of man, very muscular and strong...probably a person who like to take charge and never backs down."

"Am I now?" A voice ring in as everyone turn to see a woman with tan skin and blonde hair, tied up into a ponytail. She donned red and white armor and gear of the Hero class and carry a steel sword in hand.

"Are you the khan?" asked Chrom, puzzled as if he was expecting Robin's version of the khan.

"Yes, I am one of the khans. My name is Flavia, the west khan." she answered. Robin, red from embarrassment, begin to apologize profusely to Flavia.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I don't meant to foolishly remark on your appearance when we haven't meet."

"Most of what you said was true, except for the "giant of a man" part." she commented.

"But allow me to apologize for what happened at the border."

"Then it is true that Plegians have been invading Regna Ferox by posing as Ylisseans."

"Yes, unfortunately, a search of a dead Plegian soldier revealed forged documents and there were also hostages mixed in with a group of Plegian thugs."

"Damn them. Ah...sorry for the language." Chrom said.

"Hahaha, if it is one thing we Feroxeans appreciate, it is plain speech." Flavia said.

"Then you need a talk with your damn border guards!"

"Hahaha, I like your spirit, young prince." Frederick cleared his throat.

"Ah, Milord. I think you forgotten what we came here for." Frederick started, joining in the conversation.

"Alright, Khan Flavia, my kingdom is in great need of your country's aid." said Chrom.

"Yes, I was already informed about the invasions of Plegians as well as this new threat. You call them Risens, I believe?" answered Flavia.

"Unfortunately, I lack the authority to provide any troops to Ylisse."

"I don't understand. Aren't you the khan?"

"Like I said before, I am only one of the khans. But right now, I don't have the power to make alliance with any kingdoms, but maybe we can help each other."

"What do you mean?"

"There is a tournament being held in a week's time over the title of reigning khan. As of now, I am in need of champion to participate. From what I heard, it seems that your group seems very capable on the battlefield. If you and your Shepherds manages to win, I will agree to an alliance as the reigning khan. So what do you said, will you fight under my name in the tournament?" Chrom begin to contemplate as he turns to his new tactician.

"What do you think, Robin?" he asked.

"If it helps provide Ylisse with the necessary aid in the end, I think we should take up on her offer." Robin said, already reflecting on her own thoughts of the matter.

"Alright then." Chrom said as he return his attention back to Flavia.

"You can depend on us to win this tournament."

"Excellent, then you guys are more than welcome to stay here in the castle. I will provide sleeping quarters for your troops."

"Thank you." With the meeting over, Chrom was talking to Frederick and Lissa when Robin approached Flavia with a request.

"So you're Robin, the new tactician? From Remei's report, not only did you and your troops overpowered her, but did so in a manner that won't be considered cowardly and you even manages to spare the lives of the guards. You must have many battles under your belt to perform such feats." Flavia praised.

"Ah, the truth is, I lost all my memories so I don't know where I learn my tactics from. It was by sheer luck that we manage to win." Robin confessed. For a moment, Flavia appear somewhat shocked by the young tactician's confession, but lets out another hearty laugh.

"Then you must some sort of prodigy. I look forth to see your progress in future battles. Now, it looks like you have a request for me."

"Yes, I wish to have access to this castle's library, in order to prepare for the upcoming tournament."

"Of course, I will summon one of the servants to show you the way and Robin, loose up a little, will you?"

"Yes-s, whatever you said, Khan Flavia." Robin replied with uncertainty.

Training began for the Shepherds once it was announced that they were going to be in a tournament. While watching everyone training, Lissa lets out a big sigh. As a healer, she didn't have any fighting capabilities, expecting defending allies. During the meeting with Flavia, she couldn't understand what they were talking about. For her, she felt like she failed in her duties as a princess and a Shepherd. Her brother, Chrom notice Lissa sigh a second time and went over to her.

"That was a pretty big sigh. Is something wrong, Lissa?" Chrom asked.

"Chrom...it's nothing..." Lissa answered back.

"You can't fool me. I can tell that something is weighing on your mind. Are you should don't want to talk about it?" Lissa seem a bit hesitant, but she knew that keeping her worries and concerns bottled up won't do her any good.

"Do I seen like princess to you?"

"If you won't a princess, then you own us some rent for your room at the castle." Chrom joked, teasing his little sister.

"Hey, I was being serious! As a healer, I am not very strong or understand politics or stargeries as a princess. I seem more like-"

"That's enough, Lissa. You cannot keep doubting yourself like this. Believe or not, you are very important to the Shepherds and the people of Ylisse in your own way."

"What do you mean?" Lissa was puzzled by her brother's words.

"I leave that for you to figure out." he said before going back to training.

"Hey, come back here!" Lissa demanded. When Chrom was not listening to her, a bit of anger boiled inside of her and vent it out in a childish manner.

"I hope you trip and break your nose, you jerkface! Ugg, that last part didn't sound princess-like at all..." Unbeknownst to her, people were grinning or softly snickering at her little outburst, soon refocusing their efforts into more of their training, thanks to it. Robin who happened to eavesdrop on the conversation, knew how Lissa felt and soon gives way into a number of new plans in her mind.

"This could actually work, but I need to speak to Chrom about it once." Robin walks away and back into the library to draw up the plan.

Sorry, I still cannot write battle scenes, but please review anyways. As for updates for my other stories, it will probably be indefinite as to when I can write and upload the next chapters, but please be patience.