PART I
Chapter 1: The South Field and Beyond
Chrom looked over the map that lay on the table before him. Lissa and Frederick were at his side as well.
"Where could he be?" Chrom said out loud.
It had been three months since the defeat of Grima and Ace was nowhere to be found. Naga had said that it would be possible for him to still be alive, but after two whole months and with the entire kingdom searching Chrom was about ready to give up.
"Perhaps we should search the southern areas of the kingdom again, my Lord," said Frederick. "We searched that area early on, so perhaps Ace turned up their on a later date?"
"Yes, that could be possible," said Chrom. It was the first place they had gone, but that had been days after Grima's death. Maybe, just maybe, Ace was there now.
"LET'S GO!" yelled Lissa, running towards the door. Chrom nodded to Frederick and the knight followed his wife out the door.
"Two more people to go see," the Exalt thought to himself as he left the room.
After telling the stable boy to get his horse and armor ready, the Chrom headed toward the east tower of the castle. He knocked once and entered the room.
Sumia and Cordelia sat together on the windowsill, the later crying into one of the Queen's handkerchiefs. Sumia looked at her husband and motioned for him to leave, but Chrom stepped forward and spoke.
"We may find him toady."
Cordelia looked up at him, her eyes burning red.
"We're going back to the south field where we first looked."
"You checked there on the first day. Why waste time going back?"
"It's where I first met him. Ace would go back to that spot if he were lost."
Cordelia turned back to the window, looking out over the capital. Sumia rose and walked towards Chrom.
"You know how much he means to her," she said to the Exalt.
"And you know how much he means to me," Chrom replied.
Sumia nodded. "How long will you be gone?"
"Two days at the most."
The Queen kissed him and headed for the door. Chrom turned to follow her.
"If you find him…..."
He turned to look back at Cordelia.
"Tell him he's going to have hell to pay for making me wait this long."
Chrom smiled and left his grieving friend to find his best friend.
On the South Road
"Frederick, stop riding so fast. You're hurting me and the horse!"
"Sorry Lissa."
Chrom looked back at his two companions. Amazingly, the journey had started smoothly, but now huge rain clouds were looming over-head. They would have to hurry if they wanted to find Ace before the rain came.
"Only a few more miles," Chrom yelled. He dug his heals into the horse and raced along the path.
The Flower Field
Chrom jumped off his horse, which collapsed onto the grass from the long journy. He ran into the field, looking left and right for his friend.
"ACE!"
Lissa and Frederick got off their horse and began to spread out.
"ACE!"
He ran deeper into the field, looking for that familiar cloak their tactician had always worn.
"CHROM!"
Lissa was calling him. He ran toward her, Frederick close behind.
Lissa was pointing at something lying on the ground.
"Chrom, we have to do something."
"Well, what do you propose we do?" he replied, chuckling to himself.
"Uh, I don't know!" Lissa said.
And with that, his eyes opened.
Lissa gasped. Chrom and his sister kneeled down to get a closer look at their lost friend.
"I see you're awake now," Chrom said with a smile.
"Hey there," Lissa said with a laugh.
"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground you know," said the Exalt. "Give me your hand."
He pulled his friend to his feet, the friend that have selflessly killed himself to end Grima once and for all. The same friend that had a wife and friends at home waiting for him.
"Welcome back," said Chrom to Ace.
"It's over now."
Near Ylisstol
"Was it really necessary to repeat word for word that first conversation we had?" said Ace.
"You really remember that?" said Chrom.
The tactician nodded.
"I guess Lissa and I thought it would be funny to great you again with those words."
Ace looked over the hills, spotting Ylisse's capital a few miles away.
"She's going to kill me, isn't she?"
The Exalt laughed. "You married her, not me!"
He groaned and sprinted toward the city. They hadn't brought an extra horse, so he had elected to walk the whole way.
"Run Ace! RUN!" yelled Lissa, laughing. Even Frederick managed a smile.
Castle Ylisse
After asking the surprised stable boy where she was, Ace ran up the uncountable number of stairs to the west tower. He ran into Stahl, whom he gave a quick huge, and sprinted down the corridor to her room. He knocked quickly and opened the door.
"Cordelia….."
She slammed him into the door, pinning him up against it with one of her lances.
"WERE IN HELL'S NAME HAVE YOU BEEN!"
"Um…..sleeping in a field?"
"IN A FIELD!?WHY IN GOD'S NAME?"
"Dreaming about you?"
"OH VERY FUNNY!" she yelled, pulling the lance away. His wife slumped on the window sill and stayed silent.
"Have Severa and Morgan left?" he asked, sitting down on the bed.
"About two weeks after you disappeared. They left in tears, Ace."
He stayed silent.
"But…"
He looked up at her.
"You may be seeing them soon."
"What…..what do you mean?"
"Duh, you're the tactician. Figure it out!"
"Can Naga bring them back through the Outrealm Gate?"
"NO YOU IDIOT! THEY'RE HERE!" she said pointing fiercely to her belly.
Ace started to choke. Cordelia rushed forward to help him, but he waved her away.
"You mean…" he said.
"Yes Ace, I'm pregnant. It may be twins, or just one of them."
He smiled and kissed his wife. They stayed embraced, looking out over the city.
"That would explain the mood swings your having," he said.
"SHUT UP! OH I AM SOOO GOING TO KILL YOU!"