Edited 8/30/2016

Dear Lucina,

If you are reading this, then I am most likely dead. I want you to know that I am sorry, but this was necessary. I have been keeping many secrets from you, secrets that are mine alone to bear. My journal contains more details on my plans and thoughts, so if you wish to understand more, look through it. Judge me as you will, but please hear me out. You have always asked about Grima, and why the world is dead. As I have taught you, Grima was sealed many years ago by the first Exalt, your ancestor. However, as you remember from your lessons, a cult remained, the Grimleal. Their goal was to bring back their god, and they succeeded. They bred their members for countless generations, they bred a line to become the avatar of the Fell Dragon, the container of his soul. And I am that container. I became the dragon of your dreams. I am the reason why your family is dead and the world ruined.

My father lured your father and I to Plegia where he used a ritual to awaken Grima. As I awoke, I killed your father. He trusted me, took me in, and made me what I am and in return, I killed him, everyone he cared about, and brought ruin to the people and lands he swore to protect. But whether the ritual was imperfect or some other reason, Grima was on borrowed time. His power was slowly decreasing, and he knew that. He waged a terrible war on humanity and nearly succeeded in wiping them out. Perhaps my feelings reached him or he wanted to save you for last, but my wife and you were left until humanity was near its end. But so was he, and when I saw the blood of my wife on my hands, I regained control. I wanted nothing more then to end my own life at that moment. But then I found you. I resolved to live my life raising you to be the woman your father wanted you to be and restore your kingdom to glory.

But I could feel it. Grima was merely slumbering, but his power was slowly growing. I knew that it was only a matter of time until he regained control. His first act would undoubtedly be to kill you. I could not allow that to happen. That is why we searched for the gems and performed the awakening. That is why I had to die. In the best case scenario, Lady Naga would have sealed Grima away for good but if you are reading this, then that likely never happened.

I know how you feel Lucina. Chrom is a ghost to you, a mere legend, and I am the one who raised you. But I am not worthy of your feelings, I am the reason you will never know and understand the love of a true family. You could have lived a much happier life and been so much more. But I have grown fond of you. I have grown to love you, but I cannot help but feel guilty whenever I think that. I am technically not the fell dragon, but the what-ifs haunt me. What if I was strong enough to stop my father and resist Grima? What if I looked deeper into my past? I am a tactician and should have accounted for the possibility. If I had looked deeper into what my mother told me, if only I had known, could this all have been averted? The regrets haunt me to this day.

I have thought of many possible outcomes, and hope that Naga can save you and yours will be a happy future. If she can send you to an outrealm, that would be the ideal. She would likely send you to a place that you can call home and live in peace. If not that, a safe place in this world, perhaps a hidden village we missed or a civilization across the sea far from Grima's touch. Even if Naga fails and you remain here on this continent… never lose hope. Live Lucina, live and survive, for someday you may find salvation.

I know how my death will affect you, and it truly pains me. If Naga cannot end me, I know how I must die, and if it happens, do not blame yourself. It kills me inside when I think of leaving you alone, especially if I must die by your hand. Chrom always said I was his other half and I am afraid I may be even more than that to you. Disregarding our pasts and ancestry, we share a bond Lucina. Past the guilt, past the regrets, I have raised you and we have known no other since you were not even four. I know that when I am gone, it will hurt. I know you will feel anguish. But please, do not give into despair. We are tied together by invisible strings of fate, and I will always be with you in your heart.

I write this now not due to obligations or guilt. I write this as a guilty pleasure. I write this as someone who wishes to be a father. I pray that you find a place where you won't have to live this kind of life any longer. I pray that you meet kind people and find friends you can laugh with. I pray that you find a warm, small share of happiness. I love you and happy birthday.

Robin

Authors Note: I planned to end this as a one-shot but I had a couple more ideas floating around in my head. This is the letter Robin left Lucina. I actually intended to put a lot of references and touching lines from many other franchises but I think the only major one is the last paragraph. I plan to write a chapter or two detailing the possible futures Lucina could have experienced, whether they be in an outrealm or her world. And maybe even past that, I could write small scenes ranging from angst to fluff about this Robin and Lucina's lives.