Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this. It's just to fill the void left by the game.
Chapter 1
A/N: Yay! It's done! At least, the first version of it!
This is my first fic to upload and I'm figuring out how and where what goes.
Also, I'll be posting the pairings for all the characters down below.
So I hope you enjoy the fic! Criticism is welcome!
Oh, and I hope you don't mind, but I'll insert music here and there. Just search it and listen as you read.
ACK! I'm having trouble inserting the dialogue of why they changed the baby's name so as to not confuse everyone!
So I'm just going to put it here as I can't think of where to place it without having to create a whole other scene for it JUST to clarify that they changed the name of the kids from their older counterparts.
Rated M for later chapters.
Music: Mistaken Love (Final Fantasy IX)
I swear to you!
I swear by all that is holy!
I swear I'll wait for you!
So you better come back! I'll wait an eternity if I have to!
He heard his beloved say. Over the wind that threatened to swept them away. Over the the threat of Grima. Over the magic in his hand that would cease his existence along with the evil that had plagued her all her future life.
Swear to me!
Swear to me you'll come back!
He looked back. His resolved weakened. Tears flowed from his beloved. Her eyes filled with longing and concern but also understanding at his decision. Foolish and reckless as it is. She grit her teeth. She knew of his decision. He had told her. Just her.
Please! Promise me!
He gave her one last sad smile as tears flowed down. And nodded. He found his resolve and steeled it. Let his heart ache. Let the tears flow. But let his voice sound strong and confident, overpowering even the wind and challenging fate itself. She needs this. Just these words.
I swear. I'll come back.
He turned to face Grima again. His resolve flowing into his magic.
NO! YOU FOOL! YOU'LL DIE AS WELL!
No.
He raised his hand and aimed at his other self
I'll come back.
Bolts of lightning leaped from his fingertips striking Grima down. The dragon gave a final screech as his essence started to fade into oblivion
NOOOOO!
He could feel his existence following the dragon. His resolve was fading as was his strength. He fought against the tide. Let it be the last to leave him. Let that be the one thing that he left behind for her. He turned one last time to his beloved and gave a smile filled with his love.
Music: Your choice. I'm listening to Baccano while typing this.
The castle burst with activity no thanks to Cynthia, Owain, Morgan, and the mastermind of it all, the little blue-haired princess of the land, Lucia.
In an attempt to escape the dreaded "afternoon nap" the Justice Cabal have decided to help the princess in their grand escape. A rope of bed sheets lead down from a bed room window, a dinning room filled with soldiers covered in flour were left behind to clean the room, The castle kitchen littered with round nuts making for a hazardous chase that threatened to slip all the chefs that tread, and the library buried in flower petals that one could literally swim in it.
Sumia, Lucina, Gerome, and Kjelle were at wit's end with the sheer amount of energy Lucia had, Owain's crazy heroic influence, and the ridiculous amounts of traps and flower petals made by Morgan and Cynthia.
"Gods! Was I always this much of a handful as a child?" Lucina panted. She and the others had spent the better part of the afternoon chasing down Justice Cabal and, as they put it, a "daring escape plan". They were now in a solitary hallway with windows to their left. The afternoon sky lit the hallway but the sun was still far from setting.
"I don't know dear... But facing risen was easier than this. And now I understand why your father didn't very well like the idea of being buried in flower petals." Sumia said, exhausted from Cynthia latest in "heroic entrances".
"Lady Sumia, please. Let us handle this. You're pregnant!" Gerome said, tired as well but hid it behind his mask.
"Oh, well, I guess YOU would be the one most worried about me and little Cyndie, wouldn't you Gerome?" Sumia teased as Gerome blush reached outside his mask.
"Lady Sumia, please!"
"Oh alright! I'll leave them in your hands. Do catch them before they set the palace on fire." With that, the queen turned and headed back to her room as the trio watch her go.
"Wasn't there a nurse maid following us?" Lucia asked.
"She's probably still buried under the flower petals. But I think the queen would be fine by herself." Gerome assured.
"So, do we have a plan?" Kjelle asked.
Her companions shook their heads in reply. "I would have left that to Morgan, but seeing as she joined their cause-"
"Long live the Justice Cabal!" Yelled Lucia from down the hall with her party.
"Hey Gerome! You're on the wrong side! You're supposed to be with us remember?" Cynthia yelled.
"You were part of this madness?" Asked Kjelle, not beliving the ever serious Gerome would ever join in on Owain and Cynthia's antics even as a child.
"We were children alrig- No! Wait! Cynthia's right." Gerome excalimed, earning him odd looks from his companions. "... I'm part of the cabal."
"What?!" Kjelle and Lucina couldn't believe it.
"Hooray! I told you Gerome was still a part of us!"
"Hehe! Then the chosen scion of warrior of darkness has returned to the light! Come, Gerome and fulfill your destiny!" Owain excalimed.
Gerome nodded and started walking in their direction.
"Gerome! You traitor!" Kjelle yelled and was about to tackle her former companion from his sudden turncoat, but Lucina made a grab for her.
"No! Wait!" Lucina said in a hush voice.
"Let go of me Lucina! Don't tell me you've turned too!"
"Really mother? You're joining us?" Morgan asked joyfully.
"What?! No I'm just..." Lucina paused then whispered to Kjelle. "Look, just trust Gerome, alright."
"Hey sis, what are you two whispering over there? You better not be- ah!"
Gerome had finally reached them and dove for Cynthia and the couple landed with Gerome on top as he held Cynthia down.
"Ah! Run! Gerome got Sis Cynthia!" Lucia exclaimed and bolted.
"Noooo! Cynthia! I will avenge you!" Owain yelled as he ran.
"This isn't over mother! You'll join the side of Justice soon enough!"
"No! Wait! Don't leave me!"
"Oh, no you don't! You're coming with me!" Gerome said to the struggling Cynthia.
"Gerome! You idiot! You were suppose to get Lucia!" Lucina said giving chase.
"Love lorn fool! You better make sure you get her to Lady Sumia!" Kjelle said right behind Lucina.
"Aw... Well, I guess you caught me now Gerome. Want to practice your heroic victory with a pose?" Cynthia said happily.
"We are doing no such thing!" Gerome exclaimed.
"Ahem!" a deep cough came from behind them as both turned to look at the new comer.
"Father!" Gerome said, quickly getting up at the sight of Fredrick in full armor with his arms folded in front of his chest and with an impassable stare.
"Busted~" Cynthia stood as well, right behind Gerome.
"Gerome. I realize you and your relationship with Cynthia have escalated ever since the war, but-"
"No! Wait! This isn't what you think! I was chasing down Cynthia and -"
"Oh, so Cynthia has made it very clear that she did not desire such affection?"
"No! That's not what I-" Gerome stuttered in panic at his very dire situation. He took a deep breath with as much conviction he could must and said "I Would never!"
"Oh?"
"What? Gerome, does that mean you hate me?" Cynthia said with sad look.
"What?! No! I lov- Cynthia! You're not helping!"
"Morgan! Lucia! When I catch both of you, you two are in big trouble!" Lucina yelled chasing after her daughter and herself. Owain had split up with the blue haired girls and Kjelle gave him pursuit.
The trio had exited the castle interior and were now heading to the training grounds filled with young recruits on break. They watch in wonder as the three princesses chased each other down the hallways until Lucina noticed them and started barking orders to help her.
"Don't just stand there you fools! Catch them!" Lucina ordered and the trainees dropped whatever they were doing and gave chase.
The nearest trainee to the two blocked their path but Lucia was too small and ducked underneath him while Morgan took out her tome and cast a wind spell to propel her over the awe struck trainee.
"Move it!" Lucina pushed the trainee away as he crashed in a heap among training swords. "Next time, be more alert! You!" Lucina pointed to a group of trainees heading her way. "Block the exits! Don't let them escape!"
At once, the trainees scattered and started blocking doors and hallways around the grounds. Only a matter of time now. Lucina thought triumphantly.
The duo noticed the lack of exits and headed for the open space in the field as trainees followed them and dove trying to catch them but miss entirely with Lucia's small frame or caught a face full of air with Morgan's tome.
"Lucia, this way!" Morgan pulled Lucia as the grounds were filled with more and more soldiers and Lucina cutting her way through them like a mad bull. They dove into the bushes as trainees surrounded them.
"Where are they- NO!" Lucina yelled as the two entered a hole in the wall Lucina caused herself by accident. The duo exited the training grounds and made it into the castle gardens with Lucina pushing away trainees to give her way as she dove into the hole. Some of the trainees tried following the princesses but ultimately the hole was too small for full grown men and got themselves stuck.
Music: Stolen Eyes (Final Fantasy IX)
Morgan and Lucia made their way to an old tree at the very end of the garden and tucked away from sight.
"I... I think we lost her..." Morgan said panting.
"Don't under estimate me!" Came a voice from above and Morgan and Lucia looked up to a fast descending Lucina and tried to make a run for it but ended up bumping into each other and crumpling to the ground with an angry Lucina over them.
Arms folded, Lucina was going to give them the scolding of the life time.
"Hey *pant* big sis *pant* Lucina" said a tired Lucia
"It's *pant* good to see *pant* you enjoyed yourself." Morgan said.
"What?" Lucina said, dumbfounded.
"Well... Lucia said *pant* that you were always busy *pant* with all sorts of things."
"Yea, big Sis *pant* and I haven't seen you smile. *pant* So I asked big sis Morgan if I could do something for you."
"And after talking about it *pant* and convincing Cynthia and Owain *pant* we did this!"
"Did you have fun?" Asked Lucia with a smile full of hope and concern.
"How could I have possibly enjoyed chasing both of you all throughout the castle, which by the way, YOU are cleaning up?!"
"Well for one, you didn't ground us on the spot." Morgan smiled with a confident look. One that looked all too much like her husbands, Anon, when he came up and succeeded in an all but ridiculous plan of his. It made her miss him. Made her remember he wasn't here, right beside her. Memories flooded into for the briefest second of the time they spent together as newlyweds.
"Mother? Are you alright?" Morgan asked.
"Huh? Oh yes... I'm fine Morgan." Lucina said. All trace of anger left her voice. There was just the cold pain now.
Morgan and Lucia looked at each other and back to Lucina "Um... Big sis... you're crying."
Lucina immediately reached for her cheeks and traced a tear line. Sure enough. She was crying. "Oh... I uh.. sorry. I can't seem to *sniff* make it stop."
"..." *sniff* "..."
"... We're sorry we made you run big sis." Lucia said, filled with concern.
"Yeah... I didn't know that it would make you cry mother. I'm sorry. We thought you'd have fun."
"No." Lucina said, shaking her head, still wiping the endless stream of tears. "You were right. I did have fun. I'm just... tired of running away I guess."
"Mother... why don't you sit down. We won't run anymore."
"Yeah. Okay. Thank you Morgan."
Lucina sat down with her legs stretch outwards and leaned against the tree, still rubbing her eyes as the tears won't stop and something heavy weighing on her chest.
No.
It wasn't heavy at all. It was nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
Morgan moved and sat beside her mother while Lucia contended herself on crawling to rest her head on Lucina's lap.
"Does it hurt big sis? Are you hurt somewhere?" Lucia asked.
"... Yes. I think it does. Around here, Lucia." Lucina motioned her hand over her heart. The one she's been running away from. On the very spot the
empty vacuum had occupied her heart for months.
"... Did I... make you think about father, mother?" Morgan asked as she hugged Lucina's other hand.
"... No. I *sniff* I think I always keep thinking about him. I'm sorry. *sniff* I'm such a lousy mother."
"No! You've been a great mother! I should be apologizing for not realizing how much you miss him. I mean, I miss him too! But I was never there to help you cope with his absence while you helped in mine!" Morgan started tearing up now too.
Lucia stood up and hugged her older self around the neck and gently patted her head.
"It's okay big sis." She said. "You know, Daddy did this to me when I was scared and it made me feel all better. It'll make you feel better too! I'm sure of it!"
Lucina held her daughter and younger self in a tight embrace and gave each of them a kiss on their hair as more tears came to her.
"Thank you, both of you. Thank you."
Lucia pulled away from her patting and smiled warmly at her 'big sis'. It gave Lucina some strength and affirmation no words could have brought her.
Lucia sat next to Lucina then and rested against her body and closed her eyes. She was asleep in no time.
Morgan faced her mother then and kissed her on the cheek. "I love you mother. I'm here for you. We'll wait for father. Together." And those words gave Lucina comfort and reassurance no action ever could.
Morgan returned to her position, embracing her mother and closed her eyes. She was asleep in no time.
Lucina looked up to see light breaching through the tree's leaves. The empty pain was still there but a smoldering lump of something nested itself right at center of her heart. She whispered then.
"Come home...
We miss you so much...
Please. Just come home."
Lucina closed her eyes as a final tear escaped her. And for the first time in months, she was asleep in no time at all.
"Come on! The maid said she saw them go this way." Kjelle said, dragging a poor Owain with his 'sword hand' behind his back.
"Ow! Ow! Ow! Okay! Just let me go now!"
"Owain, I swear, when we get to Lucina I hope she-" Kjelle stopped as she saw the three blue haired girls sleeping against three with a look of serene peace on Lucina's face.
"Uhh... I don't think it's a good time." Owain said with a hint of joy at the prospect of delayed punishment.
"Oh you are so not off the hook! I'll do it myself! " Kjelle said as they turned around,
"Okay! Okay! But be gentle!"
"Wh- Owain!"
The couple left with their arguing fading away and the trio were left in peace.
Author's Note: Okay! That's done!
Well, no. Not really. I'm still figuring out what I can do to make the fic longer. I've already written down Donnel and Olivia and have Lon'qu and his family in my head. If worse comes to worse, I may take this down and rewrite it just to make it longer. Also, I do hope the name changing doesn't confuse everyone. I'll keep it as small as possible like Lucina = Lucia and Cynthia = Cyndie. I could go and dabble on the etymology of it but for such a minor change? Nah.
Regular updates? Hmm... I dunno. I don't plan to just write this when I'm in the mood, and I often get the whole chapter down in one day. It's just adding the details that take amount of time. I'll try by months but I'll be graduating soon I should REALLY be working on my thesis but I just don't have the drive to do that as of now.
As for pairings, I'll burst your bubbles now. I'm not sure if mine are popular, I hope they are, but I won't hold my breathe. I'll give my reasoning why I paired this with that on each end of the chapter. So without further adieu, the pairings of my gameplay.
Male - Female
Dante(Avatar. Anon in this story) - Lucina
Chrom - Sumia
Lissa - Gaius(Okay, in my gameplay, i accidentally killed Gaius so I have to replay my game now and he'll probably be at the very end of this)
Fredrick - Cherche
Virion - Miriel
Vaike - Sully
Stahl - Maribelle
Lon'qu - Cordelia
Ricken - Tharja
Henry - Panne
Libra - Nowi
Donnel - Olivia
Yen'fay - Say'ri (It's not what you think! I'm just giving them a life as siblings!)
Priam - Emmeryn (You can thank Gone2GroundEX for this idea.)
Child pairings
Inigo - Morgan
Gerome - Cynthia
Yarne - Nah
Brady - Severa
Laurent - Noire (Oh, blood and thunder! I want to write this one soon! But I'll have to get through family life first.)
Owain - Kjelle
There. That's the list. I'll touch Aversa and Gangrel. Not sure about Walhart... What? I'm missing someone? Who? I'm pretty sure I got everyone...
*Somewhere, at the back of the authors mind*
Kellam: Hello? Anyone there? Excuse me!