The frigid wind filled the air around the Shepherds. Lissa was freezing, hugging herself for warmth. Chrom and his Shepherds were walking up the path to Regna Ferox, in order to ask the Khans for assistance.

However, they wouldn't be able to get to Ferox without crossing through the Longfort. The Longfort is a large structure, and a wall, that separates the country of Ylisse and Ferox. Y/N kept his hood up, glancing upwards, the fortress was just up ahead. He figured with him being with the Shepherds, he should be able to get them easy access.

Lissa: Brrr! F-F-Fredrick! I'm f-f-freebing!

Fredrick: Stand by my horse, milady. She'll shelter you from the wind.

Robin: So this is the fortress?

Y/N: Yes...this is the Longfort. 

Chrom: Yes. It stretches along the border of Ylisse and Regna Ferox.

Fredrick: The khans that rule Ferox have grown quite wary of foreigners. Still, don't mistake a lack of hospitality for open hostility. This simply calls for a bit of diplomacy.

Chrom: (sigh) Negotiation's not my strong suit, but I'll do my best. Remember everyone: your actions here reflect back upon Ylisse.

The Shepherds began to draw near the Longfort, Y/N looking upwards. His eyes widen in surprise. The Feroxians on the top of the wall began to ready their weapons.

Fredrick: Trouble in the wind, milord: The Feroxi guard are mobilizing.

Chrom: What!? Why? Y/N, is this supposed to happen?

Y/N: No...I don't remember this happening to me when I first came here.

Fredrick: Who can say? But they look ready to let fly at a moment's notice. We'd best prepare for combat, just to be safe.

Y/N: I agree. The Feroxians are...quite powerful and are worthy opponents. You should not be so careless when going against them.

Fredrick: Perhaps we ought pool our supplies and select which Shepherds to deploy? Loath as I am to trust her, Robin might offer some valuable insight in this...

Chrom: Indeed, she IS our tactician, after all.

Atop the Longfort and peaking over the wall was the person in charge, Raimi.

Raimi: Halt! Who goes there!?

Chrom: In the name of House Ylisse, I seek audience with the khans! 

Raimi: Not another step, my bold lad! I've lancers at the ready!

Fredrick: Hold, milady! We are not your enemy! Exalt Emmeryn herself sent us to discuss matters of mutual interest. 

Raimi: My only interest is keeping you out of Regna Ferox, brigand!

Fredrick: (surprised) B-Brigand? Now see here--

Raimi: You think you are the first "Ylisseans" to try and cross our border? I have the authority to fell such impostors where they stand. 

Fredrick: How dare you! You are in the presence of Prince Chrom, the exalt's own blood! 

Raimi: Ha! Yes, indeed--and I'm the queen of Valm! You do realize impersonating royalty is a capital offense, yes? Mmm... Then perhaps we should settle this the Feroxi way. You claim to be the prince of Ylisse? Then prove it on the battlefield!

Chrom: (grunt) Emmeryn won't like this at all... Please, good lady! If you'd just listen--

Raimi: I've heard quite enough! Attack!

Y/N: Milord Chrom, I suggest you prepare yourselves for battle. In order to prove oneself to the Feroxi, you must best them in battle.

Chrom: I-I see...

Just as he was about to draw his blade, Falchion, Chrom had looked up. Some Feroxian warriors had thrown spears at him, Y/N preparing to push Chrom out of the way and to use his shield. But in a flash, something picked him up, Y/N and the others only seeing white feathers falling from the sky.

Chrom himself had his eyes closed. He had expected the blows of the spears to strike him, but he felt nothing. He opened his eyes and looked down, seeing he was high in the sky. He then faced in front of him.

Chrom: (surprised) Sumia?

Sumia: Better hold on tight, Captain. It could get bumpy.

Chrom: Uh, right.

Sumia: (giggle) You'll be fine.

Sumia turned her head around and put on a smile, causing Chrom to blush slightly. Shaking those thoughts currently in his head, he looks back to the Feroxians down at the Longfort. The armored knights were preparing more throwing spears, Chrom drawing Falchion.

Chrom: Sumia!

Sumia: Right!

The new pegasus knight of the Shepherds dodges the throwing spears thrown at them, safely descending down onto the ground, now regrouping with the rest of the Shepherds.

Sumia: (sigh of relief) Oh, Captain, I'm so relieved I made it in time.

Chrom: That goes double for me, Sumia! And this--is this the same ornery pegasus we met on the road!? 

Sumia: (giggle) Oh, she's a sweetheart, isn't she? ...Once you really get to know her...

Chrom: Well, many thanks to you both. 

Lissa: (chuckle) I think the pegasus is blushing! 

Fredrick: (sigh) And I think we should all best focus on the situation at hand!

Robin: Chrom, they're coming!

Chrom: (grunt) All right. The Feroxi way it is!

With a battle underway, Y/N figured it would be best to take down Raimi. He ran up to the walls and began to climb it. He only got halfway up the wall and looked to his left, armored knights running down the steps and preparing to use their lances to thrust up at him. Y/N sighed as he kicked himself off the wall, quickly drawing his bow and taking an arrow out from his quiver.

As he began to focus, time seemed to slow down. At least, that's what it felt like it to him. He had intense concentration, his aim focused on the first armored person. Drawing the bow string back, he lets it go, letting the arrow fly as it soared through the air. The arrow made a whizzing sound as it struck the chest of the first armored person. The Feroxian guard let out a small grunt of pain, but either way, it didn't really do anything. So Y/N drew two arrows from his quiver, pulling them back before he let them go once again. The two arrows flew through the air and hit it's respective target. Again, they didn't do much damage, but it was enough to chip away at their armor to make them a bit more vulnerable.

Once he landed on the ground, he drew his broadsword off his back and raised his shield up for defense. The first soldier thrusts his lance forward, Y/N simply stepping to the side and swinging his sword down, cutting the weapon in half as the soldier was left holding a stick essentially. Y/N then back flipped, him dropping a remote bomb onto the ground. The bomb wouldn't kill the armored knights, but it had a large blast radius and would send them flying. Clicking the button on his Sheikah Slate, the bomb explodes and a brief blue light fills the area. Screams from the soldiers could be heard, them being sent flying. However, more knights kept running down the steps, making Y/N grit his teeth. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to get to the top and take down Raimi. Taking her down would end this whole debacle. 

The first soldier had swung his sword from the side, Y/N back flipping to dodge. He then retaliates quickly, Y/N doing a jumping attack as he jumped and slams his sword onto the ground, quickly getting back up and thrusting his shield forward, parrying the lance attack from the next soldier. He then struck back quickly, doing four consecutive strikes before he brought his sword behind him. As soon as the Feroxians had drew near, Y/N let his blade free, spinning in a circle as he did a spin attack, pushing them away once more as they were slammed against the wall. With this chance of an openning, Y/N puts his sword and shield away and began running up the steps to meet Raimi up top. By the time Y/N arrived at the top, Chrom was already battling Raimi with Lissa at the back, assisting him with her staff as he healed his wounds.

He was about to go assist them until he stopped in his tracks, raising his shield for defense as he took it off his back. Arrows struck Y/N's shield, archers from the far end of the wall going to their quivers on their back, drawing more arrows and preparing to fire them at the Hylian warrior. But Y/N pushed onward, keeping his shield up as he kept blocking the attacks from the Feroxian archers. Like he did with the previous Feroxian soldiers, Y/N shouldn't kill them. It would reflect poorly on Chrom and the rest of Ylisse, but Y/N wasn't also one to kill recklessly. It's not to say he hasn't taken a life before, but it's similar to taking the lives of the Bokoblins and the other monsters. Albeit, the Bokoblins aren't humans, but they are still living creatures nonetheless.

Getting close enough to the archers, Y/N shield bashed them, knocking them out as they dropped to the floor, unconscious. Taking their bows, Y/N tosses them to the side so when they did wake up, they would have to scramble for them instead of recovering easily with their weapons right next to them. He then ran off towards Chrom, assisting him. The blue-haired swordsman was left vulnerable, Raimi had blocked his sword strike, his blade being knocked upwards. Raimi went to thrust her javelin forward, but her eyes widened as she saw Y/N getting in the way of her strike, the tip of her javelin striking against his shield.

Raimi: So you must be the famous Y/N I heard about. That mercenary that went around collecting any job he sees.

Y/N didn't respond, only keeping a glare. Raimi grinned.

Raimi: Not much of a talker, eh? And you don't seem to be much either. Well, the only way to find out is to prove yourself in battle, right? Then have at you!

Y/N pushes Chrom back as he took a step back, Raimi thrusting her javelin downwards as the tip struck the ground, small amount of stone being kicked up. Y/N then countered by rushing back in and doing a few slashes, dodging to the left as Raimi swung her javelin from the side. But Y/N was too quick for her movements, her heavy armor slowing her down. She charged forward, Y/N jumping up as he stepped on her back, kicking off of it as he quickly turns himself around. Raimi also turned around, but she was soon met with an arrow to her chestplate, the arrowhead going through her armor, making her grunt in pain. But before she could counterattack, Y/N had already landed on the ground and rushed forward, using the pommel of his sword to attack her hand.

Raimi then drops her javelin, leaving her vulnerable as Chrom went for the finishing blow. He shoulder bashed her and then slashed her from the side, knocking her down onto her back. Chrom then points Falchion towards her neck, Raimi looking at Chrom with a bit of fear. It was at this moment, she knew. She had been bested.

Raimi: Then your claims were...true...

Timeskip

Shortly after the battle, having tended the injured wounds, Raimi met the Shepherds at the base of the Longfort. She then bowed in an apologetic form.

Raimi: A thousand apologies, Prince Chrom. I truly took you for brigand impostors. But no frauds could ever wage a battle as you just have! I will send word of your arrival to the capital and escort you there personally.

Chrom: That would be most appreciated, thank you.

The Feroxian head guard nodded as she went back up the stairs of the Longfort, heading back into her office in order to send word back to Ferox's capital. Now, the Shepherds were left waiting in the cold at the base of the Longfort.

Robin: Amazing! Her whole demeanor changed. 

Y/N: Here in Ferox, your skill and strength speak much louder then words. It's how people earn each other's respect.

Fredrick: You are correct, Y/N. You are well informed.

Y/N: I spent quite some time here in Ferox before coming down to Ylisse.

Fredrick: Although, I should have known better than to overestimate the value of diplomacy here...

Lissa: So can we get going, Chrom?

Chrom: Yes, it's not getting any warmer.

Gaining passage into the Longfort, the Shepherds enter inside to warm themselves up before they set off for the capital. They merely a ways away from getting an audience with the khans. However, getting an audience with them would be much harder to gain than what Chrom initially thought.