Hello everyone I'm here today with the start of my rewrite!

*Cheering*

I'd like to introduce my co-hosts on this adventure: the lovable Severa!

*More cheering*

Severa: *grumble* Yeah, yeah…

Squad 7: Yeesh, tough host … Moving on we have the equally lovable, Owain!

*Standing Ovation*

Owain: Hark my fellow adventurers, my great powers will guide us down this long and arduous journey through light and dark!

Severa: Ugh, did you have to bring the geek, 7?

7: Hey, you two are my favorite second-gen characters so play nice or I'll subject you both to Fredrick's Fanatical Fitness Hour!

Severa: *Turning toward me menacingly* You… wouldn't… dare!

7: *Holds up fog horn* Try me.

Severa: *grumble* Fine, let's just get started with the story already!

7: Alright but first the disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING HERE AT ALL OUTSIDE OF THE STORY SO LEAVE ME ALONE YOU BLOOD SUCKING PARASITES!

Owain: Wow, powerful and raging. Do you care to duel?

7: NO!

(Note: This chapter may resemble the original one quite closely. This is due to the short length. Chapters 2 and 3 will be posted shortly after this goes up. Also, these are the rewritten chapters that were originally replacing the old chapters in Of Casual Grunts, but are being republished here so that they may be read properly without having to worry about where the rewrite end and the old story begins.)

Chapter 1: A Dream

The first thing Robin remembered was a sorcerer launching a ball of dark energy at him. Dodging to the left, Robin fired a wolf shaped bolt, growling when it intercepted another sphere. The blast from the colliding energy was enough to send both the madman and himself flying. Dust obscured their vision.

Taking advantage of the cloud, another man charged past Robin. His sword burned as he ran. He ambushed the sorcerer with strikes fast enough to leave blurs in their wake. But the sorcerer was faster, blocking every blow until he tripped the swordsman. Smirking, the madman blasted the swordsman across the room. He crashed into a pillar which cracked against steel skin.

The sorcerer teleported in front of Chrom, who struggled to get his bearings. The madman began to cackle as a sphere of dark energy crackled in his palm.

"Chrom!" Robin sent a howling wolf frothing into the sphere, cutting off the mage's power. The explosion staggered the madman, bloody eyes spinning to glare at Robin in disdain.

"Why do you continue to resist you naïve fools!" The madmen bellowed. "You only prolong the inevitable!"

The sorcerer's ashen face and glowing, bleeding eyes gave him the look of a risen corpse. Robin shuddered at the sense of an unnatural malice leaking from the monster's skin.

"Come on Robin, we can win this if we work together!" Chrom called, "You're one of us. No fate, destiny, or god can change that!" He finished his challenge flourishing his sword, light from the burning blade glinting off his metal skin.

"You're right, Chrom," Robin nodded to the man next to him, "Let's finish this!" Robin ended his challenge by summoning another wolf, Mercurius belted to his side.

"Come then fools… and meet your death!" The madman bellowed at the two warriors before they charged into the fray once more.

The memory darkened for a moment. When clarity returned, the sorcerer was dissolving into a rancid mist. Defiant to the end, the monster garbled one last cry of rage before launching a pitch-black sphere at Chrom.

Robin felt his body move of its own accord, shoving Chrom out of the way and taking the blast himself. Blackness greeted him, every sensation voided, and for a moment he thought he was dead. Yet, sight slowly returned. Chrom's worried face swam into view.

Chrom sighed, relieved. "Thank Naga, you're ok. Now we can get back and Cordelia won't burn me alive."

Robin had a quip ready when an excruciating pain pierced his head. Somewhere deep inside his mind a voice swam into control and roared. It was a command, an instruction. And a fairly simple one at that.

Robin? Are you ok? What's-!" Chrom's voice choked in his throat when Robin's hand shot forward and buried a jagged blade of lightning into the prince's ruined armor.

Robin stared at his hand in horror, mind grinding to a halt. Chrom gurgled past the blood staining his chin. Robin looked up at him, the dark presence was dissipating in his head. He had just – he had –

"This… isn't your fault, Robin, promise me… promise me you'll keep everyone safe ..." Chrom's voice filled his head. Chrom's eyes gazed back at him, intent that he understand. Chrom's blue hair and shining skin and Chrom's blood was everywhere, "Please … go." Chrom's last words wheezed past his lips. His body slumped to the embrace of the earth while the madman cackled maniacally in Robin's head, overwhelming and painful.

The memory faded again, replaced by voices. Voices that were so … so familiar.

"Chrom, we can't just leave him here…"

Ch. End

WHOOOOOP!

Well, that was fun for a first chapter. It'll be fun to see where this goes from here, no?

Anyway, please read and review this story because it's the reason I write and please favorite and follow as well!

Thank you and see you next time!