CONVERGENCE:

C Support: Early Birds

CORDELIA

When Chrom introduced a young woman as his future daughter to the Shepherds, nearly everyone thought he was joking. Not Cordelia. It took her only a moment to note the exact shade of blue shared between their hair and eyes, and the Falchion at the girl's side. It only surprised her that it took Chrom's announcement for her to realize— even though, she supposed, she did only just meet the girl, and her gaze as usual and of its own accord was drawn to Chrom first.

Her chest ached. Lucina. Princess Lucina was introducing herself to the group but Cordelia could hardly hear her. She was Chrom and Sumia's daughter, Cordelia heard her say— but everyone already knew that. Everyone went to the baby shower of the Lucina in the capital, including Cordelia. She could not refuse Sumia, her childhood friend and remaining Yllisean Pegasus knight, but she tried her best to keep distance from the baby at the shower. She managed to pass the celebration without once looking at the royal scion.

But now there she was, standing full grown and magnificent in front of them all. The fates were unkind. There, resplendent, was the token of love between Chrom and Sumia.

Lucina smiled and looked around the camp as she finished her brief introduction. Even her gaze was straightforward and bright like Chrom… Cordelia could not help but flinch and look away as their gaze met momentarily.

'Gods be good, why am I thus?' Cordelia thought. She tried so hard to stem her love for the prince, especially since his marriage to Sumia, whom she loved and tried hard not to be envious of. Naga was cruel to personally send their daughter, to force Cordelia to face her… No, now she was being silly, Naga was trying to save the world, not caring about her petty feelings.

Petty feelings that were swelling in her throat and prickling her eyes. She silently thanked the gods when Frederick came back from his watch of the camp and told her to take the watch until the end of twilight. She would not let her comrades see her weakness. She would have no weakness. They were at war— Chr… the captain's war— and she needed to be strong to contribute to it. I will be strong.

She took to the sky with Edgar, her pegasus, flew in a circle around the camp to make sure the grounds were clear, before landing near the edge of a lake. It was good there, Edgar could rest before patrolling in the skies again.

When they landed, Edgar neighed and nuzzled Cordelia lightly. Almost at once, the wall she just built for herself shattered. She held her face against Edgar's beautiful neck.

"Oh Edgar, why…" Tears leaked despite her will.

Why what? Why was she so in love with Chrom? Why could she not get over him? There were several gentle and bold men at camp who, Cordelia knew, would love her. She could never despise Sumia, yet her love for her could never be as free as it was before, as it were when they spoke of fortune-telling nonsense or their training, growing up together. Dear, sweet Sumia had no clue, only concern for Cordelia's growing distance… a distance which for Cordelia was not yet far enough. Nor did she have the freedom to fly as far away as she wished, bound by friendship and duty, snared to a cherished rose by its thorned stem.

Freedom. Gods, if that could be within reach. Freedom from this emotional madness, from all of this… Cordelia exhaled, 'Stop feeling sorry for yourself!' it could be within reach...

"After this war, Edgar, we shall resign from Ylisse's service and fly far away from all of this. By the gods, we'll start somewhere new entirely and protect each other, and perhaps one day you and I will find our companions, what do you say?"

Edgar neighed and threw his head proudly and excitedly in the air. Cordelia smiled at her true companion and wiped her eyes. She would not be called coward and turn from this war now, for the memory of the Royal Yllisean Pegasus Knights who chose her if for nothing else, but she will-

The sound of twigs and leaves underfoot snapped her out of her thoughts. Cordelia was mounted in a moment with her lance on hand.

LUCINA

"S-Salutations," Lucina said, "I am sorry if I startled you, I did not mean to- I only meant to-"

The pegasus knight was mounted, tall on her majestic steed, blocking the moon behind her. The wind tossed her red hair into the air for a moment, reflecting the cool moonshine. Lucina had to marvel at her speed. She appeared to be speaking with her pegasus at one moment, and was mounted with her lance ready the next.

"Princess Lucina, forgive me." The pegasus knight's expression relaxed and she lowered her lance.

"There is nothing to forgive, save you have me at a disadvantage: I do not know your name."

The pegasus knight looked surprised, "Am I not in the future? Forgive me princess- my name is Cordelia."

Cordelia? Lucina frowned in thought for a moment, then at last, "Ah, I think I have heard mother mention you! You were mother's dearest friend, and fondly remembered by father. But I believe mother said you took off one day and never returned, so we assumed you- Ah-! Sorry, of course we hoped you were safe, but my world in the future is a dark one and…" Lucina trailed off. She had met some of the Shepherds at camp, and have heard of most from the future. She meant to reintroduce herself to all. Mentioning the death which all of these soldiers would meet in the future was not the best way to do so.

To her surprise though, when she looked back to the pegasus knight, there was nothing but a gentle, mysterious smile which graced her lips. Lucina felt herself relax, an unfamiliar feeling.

"I am sorry if I have said anything unsavoury."

"No, it's quite alright princess," Cordelia shook her head. Edgar snorted, and Cordelia laughed, "No, Edgar, I don't think she heard us."

"What?" Lucina asked, intrigued at the closeness which Cordelia obviously shared with her steed.

"Sorry- it's only just now, I was speaking with my pegasus about leaving all of this for a new start… when this war is over, of course. Perhaps that is why we never met."

Lucina grew somber, "It is an onerous task, I wish I could have alleviated this burden from everyone earlier." Her fists clenched and she turned her head to the side, remembering how she was too late to save the Exalt. And nearly too late to even save father, a thought which still took her breath away. A familiar wave of doubt doused her, can I change the fate of this world? After all, she had already failed once… Grima's red eyes and gigantic formed… and she balked. It was all her fault. She was the last, she was the last…

"Princess, if I may,"

Lucina turned her head to the knight, and found her dismounted at the side of her pegasus. Lucina imagined that she did so to approach and console her, but she did no such thing. She was tall, Lucina noted, even dismounted. It took a moment for her to realize she had to respond, "Excuse me, I have not heard that address for a long time. Please, call me Lucina and speak your mind."

A flash of pain across the pegasus knight's face…? "No… I could not, princess. Perhaps in the future. In any case, the task is not yours alone. We bear equal responsibility to change the fate of our world. In truth, this world is more our responsibility than yours. You are Naga's blessing to us, and we are grateful for you."

The sincerity in her voice and face calmed Lucina. She was not the last here, in this world. There was hope, in this world.

She smiled, "Thank you. You have no idea what a gift you, and this world, is to me."

CORDELIA:

Her smile, gods, no, her entire being… was like Chrom incarnate. Cordelia felt her face grew hot. 'Ridiculous! Cordelia!' But regardless of how she chastised herself, calling herself a stalker no better than Tharja, she could not help but note the similarities in every detail. Even the unease which pressed against Cordelia by her presence was similar to her father's.

"Y-you are welcome, princess." Stuttering! Really?! Pathetic!

The princess looked confused, as she should be by this stuttering fool.

"In any case, I believe my shift is up. It shall soon be twilight, I believe. I should return to camp. Would you want a ride back?"

Cordelia dreaded the thought as soon as the words left her mouth. The offer came automatically, the girl seemed so small and confused atop of Edgar's back… Yet to be so close to Sumia and Chrom's child… her chest constricted at the thought of it.

Lucina must have noticed her hesitation, for she said, "If it would trouble you or your pegasus. I can make my way back to camp alone, running in the night air could be good for me."

"No," Cordelia found herself saying, "the only thing you'll run into in this night air are the Risen." She mounted Edgar and nudged him forward to the princess, she offered the princess her hand, "If you don't mind, princess."

Lucina took her hand and swooped in front of her smoothly.

"Impressive, your foot didn't catch on Edgar's wing. Have you rode on a pegasus before?"

Lucina turned back with a small smile, "Yes, when I was young, mother would teach us to ride."

The proximity of the princess's face, so like her father's (but, in such a close distance, Cordelia thought she saw Sumia's nose) dazed Cordelia for a moment, so much so she did not even hear the princess's words. The princess must not have noticed, for she turned back to the front and missed the tinge of pink which blossomed on Cordelia's face.

Hoping the princess would not notice the gingerness which seemed to suddenly infect her limbs, the pegasus knight crouched nearer to the princess's night blue hair and slid her arms pass the sides of the princess to Edgar's reins, "Well, if you're ready, princess."

"I'm ready," Her voice was filled with determination, like Chrom… but also like Sumia when the clumsy pegasus knight was focused.

A slight ache to her pounding heart, a small bitter smile, both which Lucina did not notice, Cordelia nudged her lovely companion to the air.

Author Notes: This chapter has been edited thanks to some constructive criticism from Gunlord500. I am open to them, so please feel free to write in any suggestions for improvement.

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