This Isn't Romantic At All!; A Robin and Cynthia Story

Chapter 1

"Then it's settled!"

Frederick wrapped his tree trunk sized arms around the much smaller but certainly not frail shoulders of Chrom, reigning Exalt of Ylisse in a celebratory hug before quickly retreating to his normal reserved state.

"Will you help me plan the ceremony Maribelle? Your knowledge of Ylissen formalities far exceeds my own" Sumia added.

"You flatter me darling Majesty, but of course." Maribelle replied.

"Come now Maribelle, the wedding won't be for another week or so, in order to appease the court we should involve them." Frederick added in sheepishly.

"Surely then the silverware must be ordered blacksmithed now, regardless of the court. After all the lessons on polishing you gave me during our courtship, you would understand if I ordered it right away?" Maribelle countered to which her husband nodded contentedly before she continued.

"Our son may have the sense of a Brigand sometimes but his wedding to Princess Cynthia will be impeccably noble. The fact that it will solve many of the problems on the Noble Council is also desirable.."

The parents in the room were so enraptured by their talk of preparation they forgot that one of their children, albeit not one who was being betrothed, was in the room. In the corner Princess Lucina looked like Grima was staring her down, prepared to munch on her the same way she might do with Bear Jerky. Rather than make a scene however the Crown Princess wordlessly excused herself, nodding in the direction of Frederick so he could relay when appropriate. Freed from the site of discussion she sped towards her room as quickly as she could, offering the usual smiles and hellos to the maid staff but only because she knew if she didn't news would get to her father she was upset and none of the maids were doing anything wrong. Upset was an understatement, once she shut herself away in her room the angry tears flowed more freely than the wine on Emmeryn Day.

"She doesn't even tolerate Brady! He mocks her at every turn!" Lucina shouted to herself, punching her bedpost as she did so, grateful that Aunt Lissa had charmed them to be highly damage resistant.

"This wedding can't be allowed to happen." the wheels in Lucina's mind started to whir. Though she seldom admitted it she loved her younger sister dearly, despite her penchant for goofiness regarding heroism.

"If you were any louder storming around Lu, you'd wake somebody else up at this late hour" came a grumble from her door, which she had left open.

"Sev! It's-"

The myrmidon glowered, her expression of scorn telling Lucina everything she ever needed to know about Severa's opinion of fibbing.

"What's the matter Lu?"

"It's Cynthia."

"Did she borrow Falchion again?"

"I wish!"

Lucina had answered so forcefully and aggressively that Severa's eyes went wide as though the Princess had said something about visiting a whorehouse with Inigo. She hated when anybody other than Chrom so much as touched Falchion, let alone used it.

"Are you going to explain yourself to me or what?" Severa retorted shutting the door gently behind her before raising her voice as though she hadn't just been stunned out of her socks.

"You know how Father has had problems getting things done with the council of nobles regarding grain export and war debt relief for Plegia."

Severa nodded, knowing her sharp tongue should be sheathed at such a serious moment based on how Lucina was shaking.

"They said they won't move a finger on the proposals until he fulfills some of his kingly duties."

Severa raised an eyebrow, knowing that some of these nobles particularly Lord Natirup were the type of ham-headed bellends to demand things of this sort. But why was Lucina so upset? Severa knew neither princess particularly liked the formal events, but it was highly unusual for Lucina to bemoan her sister's participation before her own, not that the elder Princess was selfish. She waited for Lucina to specify what sort of kingly hogwash the nobles were demanding, noting that her usual grace had abandoned her for deep breaths.

"They want Cynthia to get married to a nobleman. Father agreed…"

Severa crossed the room and let Lucina wrap her arms around her neck and let out a particularly harsh sob.

"I don't know what to do. They're gonna tell her tomorrow that she's going to marry Brady. I was expressly told I can't say anything."

Severa was half-tempted to say that Lucina should tell her father to eat Pegasus dung but she knew this would go over as well as if Lucina told Severa to scold her own father.

"I don't know what to say or do Sevvy…this is such a bad idea"

"You need a strategy." Severa replied twisting her twin-tails before a lantern ignited in her brain.

"A Tactician!"

"What?"

"You need a tactician to talk some sense into your dad before he goes charging into something stupid! You need Robin."

Lucina beamed at Severa's suggestion. Of course! It was as obvious as the sun on an August day.

"I don't know how you didn't think of that." Severa mumbled slightly embarrassed now that Lucina was hugging her round the middle.

"Robin will know how to solve this, I'll go see him in his study right early tomorrow!"

"Glad I could help Lulu. If you need me for any other reason, I am staying in the bunk in my mom's office so I can get up early and help her with some paperworks"

Lucina nodded, her mood significantly lighter. Severa turned to leave.

"Sev."

Severa turned around, trying to hide a slight smirk."

"Yeah Lu?"

The Princess hugged Severa again and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks."

Lucina went to bed, feeling much better about stopping this preposterousness. She was so relieved to have an idea about how to solve the issue she didn't notice the soft singing outside of her door about a half hour after Severa left.

Cynthia was rocking infant Lucina gently in her arms, lulling her to sleep.

"And the Pegasus fly in your dreams, lapping from rivers of the sweetest cream."

It was a silly song. Real Pegasi didn't drink cream but Cynthia supposed the only other word that the author could think of rhyming with dream was scream and that certainly wouldn't get children to sleep. She settled Lucina into her crib, figuring Sumia would be out of her meeting soon. Still, she didn't leave the room in case it dragged on. She sat down in her mother's chair which had books stacked up to the armrest opposite the crib and began to shudder at the thought of rhyming cream with scream. The future she and the other adult children had left, and the images of ruin far removed from the lullaby drifted up into her conscious. Struggling for a happy thought she looked at infant Lucina. This Lu would never deal with such hardship, the premature death of her parents or the shock of her younger sister nearly committing treason with a brigand. She sighed at the memory of Ruger's deceit. Though her family had forgiven her very easily and accepted her into the Shepherds she still felt two emotionally charged memories from that day, burned into her conscious as clearly as the brand on her left hand, as strongly as if they had been from the past hour. The obvious one of this pair was that she'd been so easily duped and made to know it.

The second thought was far from negative and managed to color her face as she relived it. She had been made to see sense by her mother, only to watch as an arrow miss Sumia by virtue of a man with long purple hair, leaping through the air with the aid of wind magic, taking it himself in the billowing sleeve of a long purple coat, missing the flesh of his arm by an inch. That had been her introduction to Robin, who had been too occupied with helping her father track down Ruger to chat after his acrobatics. Cynthia thought the man's hood had fallen in slow motion, revealing shoulder length violet hair, that shone like a meadow of Anemone flowers in the moonlight. He had turned, looked to see Sumia was fine and gave her a thumbs up before running after Chrom.

"Mother?" Cynthia breathed.

"Yes?"

"Who was that man?"

"That is Robin, Master Tactician of Chrom er- your father's army."

Sumia would have had to restrain a giggle as Cynthia followed Robin with her eyes in ordinary circumstances, she was so starstruck. However, the Queen was too busy processing her own emotions about having found a second adult daughter from a ruined future, especially since Cynthia had only moments ago revealed that this future had seen Sumia die without much warning.

"Cynthia?"

Cynthia jerked her head as if coming out of a trace, back to the nursery.

"Are you alright?"

"Huh? Yeah, of course Mom. Just thinking about the first time I saw a hero."

"Oh! Well the meeting is over. I don't know where your sister, your adult sister I mean-Naga time travel is weird."

"It's okay I knew what you meant. Lu's probably gone to bed or to the library."

Sumia nodded, but Cynthia noted she still looked a little flustered.

"Was the meeting bad Mom?"

"Oh no, not at all. Very productive. I just can't believe."

Sumia bit her tongue with more force than she meant to and yelped. Fortunately, baby Lucina barely stirred.

"I hope I'm that cute as a baby in this world."

"I'm sure you will be Cynthia."

"It's kinda weird, not having been born yet but also old enough to have babies."

"Tell me about it, I'll be a grandmother with no grey hairs." Sumia replied adding a nervous giggle. Later Cynthia wondered what exactly her mother had meant, but also reasoned if she had her way then this statement would hold true but before that her immediate thoughts tumbled out of her mouth.

"Oh Mom, don't worry. You're still pretty and youthful, and I'm glad you'll be able to grow old now that the Fell Dragon is gone…" Cynthia's throat had tightened as she finished the sentence and Sumia hugged her, nearly tripping over the chair leg and toppling both over.

"I wouldn't have thought of it like that before. Thank you, Cynthia. Also, thank you for babysitting."

"You're welcome mom."

Cynthia left to go to her room, pondering how the day had progressed before her time alone babysitting Lucina, especially in regard to the violet-haired tactician now forefront on her mind at the mention of babies.

"Robin…" she whined to herself quietly. Cynthia wondered how many of the other Shepherds knew how close they were. Morgan probably had a clue and Cynthia reasoned she would need to talk to her about this too, though that would come after talking to her parents about it. She had wanted to talk to her mother about it tonight, but she had surprised her with the babysitting request and she quite enjoyed reading to baby Lucina, so she had let the opportunity slip.

"Not tomorrow though, once they award that Brave Lance, I'll tell mom I'm in love with Robin. We haven't hung out since Regna Ferox but I am sure of it now, We can talk to dad together."

Her conscious reassured, Cynthia decided to take a stroll before going to bed while singing that foolish song about Pegasi and cream. She knew Sumia would ask about how she knew she was in love and that there may be pushback, but this was how it was supposed to be. A dashing hero and a fiercely independent Princess.

…

"Damnit you beat me again." Morgan groaned as she realized she had put herself into checkmate position, even before her father said anything.

"You were too focused on getting rid of my bishop" her father replied.

"Your rook actually, but you are right. Frederick would work me to death if he saw how little credence I gave knights in this game."

Morgan smiled before putting her offending Pegasus shaped piece away which had cost her the game.

"Is something the matter Morgan?"

"You don't even really have to ask dad." Morgan's bitterness at the last word removing all doubts.

"You're still upset I haven't wed your mother yet?" Robin replied, restraining an aggravated sigh, as he put the chess pieces away.

"It's not just that, you haven't even looked for her hardly. I want to ensure I don't just disappear into ether."

"Miriel said that was a scientific impossibility."

The normally emotionally astute tactician had chosen the wrong time to be logical.

"Even still, you had me in a future where Grima wrecked the damn world and now you're the dragon conquering hero and suddenly you don't want to have kids?" Morgan looked hurt as she finished her sentence.

"Morgan…"

"I just worry that all the cute shepherds will be taken and, you'll settle for some nasty noblewoman instead and then I will really have no happy memories of a mother." She finished, letting her insecurities slip in. She knew one of the women her father worked countless hours and days with had to be her mother, and it was as much curiosity as it was crippling fear that motivated her this morning.

Before Robin could contest the point about 'cute shepherds' there was a loud rap on the door of his office.

"Robin, its Lucina and it's urgent, may I come in?"

Morgan mouthed the words cute shepherds again, and her father rolled his eyes and went to open the door.

"Of course, come in Lucina, what seems to be the trouble? Brigands on the border, Feroxi tariffs, Valmese agricultural policy, Owain or?"

"More important. It's my sister!"

"Did she fall off her mount again in training?" Morgan inquired.

"I wish it was that tame, she's getting married!"

Morgan splashed herself full in the face with the water she thankfully hadn't heated yet for tea and Robin raised an eyebrow, although Morgan could see his hands clench.

"She's a 20-year-old Princess of Ylisse, it's common for the second born to marry first according to my literature." Robin responded with an evenness of tone that put the hairs on the back of his daughter's neck on end. Something was up.

"No, you don't understand Robin."

"I'm pretty sure he knows more than both of us about this sort of stuff Lucy have you seen his library? Also, is elderberry tea fine?" Morgan quipped.

Lucina shot Morgan a wry smile acknowledging the joke and that the tea was fine before continuing "She's betrothed to Brady! They hate each other, all for the sake of allies on the royal council rather than whiners. Robin, you have to do something to convince my father that this is wrong!"

Robin briskly got up from his desk on that note, swearing audibly about the time before turning to Lucina and addressing her. "I understand your concerns for Cynthia Lucina, but I am a tactician, not a love counselor. Nor am I going to talk to your father about the bloated hellscape known as the royal council without being spoken to first. I'm afraid I am out of my depth with these matters." he said ignoring his daughter's fake cough concerning Pegasus shit.

"I apologize for being brusque, but I actually have to go see your sister's Pegasus knight brigade. I owe Cordelia some analytics about the performance of her knights." At that Robin departed the office, looking harassed.

Lucina felt her shoulders slump and her head turn towards the ground reflexively when a hot cup of tea was thrust into her view by Morgan.

"Don't be sad Lucy, we can work this out."

"Your father just said he wouldn't intervene."

"Who said anything about the old man? I think we can help each other here."

"How so Morgan?"

"You know your sister is actually really good friends with my dad right? He lets her hang in here all the time talking about tactics and indulging her ideas about heroism. I think the only thing stopping him from asking her out on a romantic night culminating in my conception that she is Chrom's daughter."

"M-morgan! That's audacious of you to say!" Lucina blushed at the vulgar imagery, running through her head.

"But it actually makes a bunch of sense, because I have a sneaking suspicion my father's crush is not unrequited" Morgan countered, unperturbed.

"Well, I have to talk to my sister first about that…especially before anything as lewd as what you said happens with anybody bet it Gerome, Inigo, or or...your father. Wait a minute why am I humoring this?!" Lucina finished, still blushing.

"Because you trust my father far more than you trust Brady to make your sister happy. You know your father would listen to mine, you're a dear friend and know how badly not remembering my mother eats away at me."

"It's farfetched, there's no way my sister would have a crush and not tell me!"

"Does she know she's getting married yet?"

"No!"

Morgan hadn't expected that answer, and she was about to open her mouth with a plan B when Lucina tumbled onward, annoyance rising in her voice.

"If you have any reasonable ideas tell them to me and I mean no offense to you or your father, but I was hoping for a real solution, Miss Tactician."

Morgan nodded and the Crown Princess huffed as she departed, off to try and find her sister so she could break the news before her parents, against their orders and instructions.

She was halfway to the training area for Pegasus Knights when a blur knocked her on her butt.

"Cynthia wait!" Sumia's concerned voice rang out.

"Mother?" Lucina asked as loud as she could manage while disoriented without sounding rude.

"Lucina, are you okay?" another familiar female voice entered her dizzied conscious, this one belonging to the Commander of the Pegasus Knights and her mother's long time best friend Cordelia who stuck out a hand to help the stunned Princess up.

"Lady Cordelia, thank you. I'm winded, what just knocked me over?"

"That would be your sister…your mother and I were having tea when Robin came in with analysis reports I requested. Since your sister placed top of the charts, we called her into my office to give her an award. At which point your mother informed her that she is to be married." Cordelia's words were polite and the tone casual the Princess noted but she could sense (and empathize with) the irritation sheathed in them.

"I thought she would like to know she was going to have a royal wedding…" Sumia thought aloud, motherly concern drenching her voice.

"I'll go see if she's okay mother, maybe it's just shock." Lucina offered, praying the façade fooled both her mother and Cordelia or that Cordelia would play along.

"Maybe I should come with you.." Sumia began walking in the direction of her younger daughter's bedroom, not waiting for her eldest.

"That's probably not a good idea Sumia, you just surprised her with matrimony. Perhaps a sister's touch is best." Cordelia then placed a hand on her clumsy friend's shoulder, both to stop her walking progress and ensure she didn't trip over the air hovering dangerously close to the queen's shins. When Lucina made eye contact with Cordelia she realized Severa must have told her something last night. Quietly grateful, Lucina turned towards where Cynthia had thundered.

"Will you do that for your mother please Lucina? Explain to her that this is really important and heroic" Sumia suddenly felt much more unsure about the arraignment, her fingers grasping the air for flower petals that were not there or forthcoming.

"I will see her." Lucina responded, not bothering to acknowledge the manipulation attempt.

"Maybe Robin could help you with that great strategic mind of his Sumia, let's not pile it all on Lucina. It isn't her wedding." Cordelia suggested before the Queen of Ylisse, Naga bless her soul, stuck her foot farther into her mouth.

"Morgan says Robin knows all about wedding planning, he has many books on it at their house." Lucina remarked, grinning at Morgan's foolish comment from that morning before departed for her Big Sister duties, far away from the Tactician or her mother.

"Why in the name of Naga would Robin have a collection of wedding planning books?" Cordelia inquired after Lucina had gotten out of earshot.

"Well he does read everything" Sumia reasoned.

"I suppose we'll have to ask him who the lucky woman is then eh?" Cordelia smirked, knowing silly gossip would get her friend's mind off her children if only for a little bit. While Sumia was distracted Cordelia reasoned she would also write a note to Severa to let her know that Lucina had been assisted in getting Cynthia's undivided attention.

…

Lucina knocked on Cynthia's door four times in rapid succession without getting so much as a whisper.

"Cynthia?"

"Go away!"

"It's Lulu. May I come in?"

"Fine."

Once Lucina had entered, she gasped audibly at the pitiful sight before her.

Cynthia's eyes were already quite red from crying which is what Lucina expected, but what really hurt her heart was that her younger sister's usual bubbliness and her infectious grin were instead replaced with a contorted sob.

"They hate me..."

"I'm sure there is a good reason for.." Lucina began to lie but Cynthia cut across.

"Pegasus shit!" Cynthia stood upright, with fury crackling off her before she started to wail.

"I'm sorry Lulu I didn't mean to yell at you!"

"It's okay, you're stressed."

"That doesn't mean I have to be Severa."

Lucina bit back a retort, figuring this wasn't the time to defend her girlfriend's temperament, not now when her sister was so fragile and scared.

"I just…this isn't romantic at all! Heroes are supposed to get married for love, Princesses don't marry some jackass because the king and queen have a friend who is a knight. They marry their savior! They get to know this person, they trust them, they get to go out in public and hold hands! They kiss each other's knuckles when they part and exchange come hither looks of longing when they can!"

With each passing descriptor Lucina felt herself getting more uncomfortable. This seemed way too well thought out. She knew Cynthia liked hero stories but this level of description and the shrill bitterness in her voice made it feel…personal. It also made her wonder whether she'd ever given Severa a come hither in public.

"Where did you read this story and decide it was the ideal Cynthia?"

"I didn't read it Lucy. I heard it." Cynthia retorted, her emotional exhaustion showing.

"Can you…tell me more about it?" Lucina inquired, feeling the discomfort replaced in small part by anticipation as to where this story would go.

"You're not making fun of me at a time like this are you Lucina?"

"No Cynthia, I want to know. It's like when we played as children…before mom and dad died in the future. It's your turn to be the Bard with a tale" Lucina offered another small smile before gently sitting down next to her sister on the plush royal bed.

Before continuing Cynthia hugged her sister close, nearly suffocating an unsuspecting Lucina in between her large breasts.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell."

…