Just an idea I had while listening to one of my favorite songs from Disney, "One of Us" from Lion King 2: Simba's Pride. What if Emmeryn and the Shepherds weren't able to protect Sekai after the attempted assassination, and Sekai had to flee back to his self imposed exile. Will use the lyrics of the song to help tell the story with some slight adjustment. Do please go and listen to the song, it is one of the best Disney has done I feel.
...
Deception!
Disgrace!
Evil as plain as the land from he came
...
Sekai breathed deeply, resisting the urge to groan in pain. He had to stay quiet so as not to wake up anyone else. Silently he put his possessions inside of his bag, moving purposefully. It had been foolish of him to hope that his connections to the Grimleal could stay quiet after the attempted assassination. Barely even three days after the attack and already all of Ylisstol knew of it.
And all were demanding his head.
Emmeryn and Chrom had tried calming the people down, but prejudice had won this battle. The Shepherds were barely even able to keep the mobs out, but Sekai knew things wouldn't be able to hold out much longer. It's not that Sekai had a fear of dying, and with his father dead there wasn't much more of a reason to prolong his suffering of an existence. This was more of an issue of pride.
Ever since he had arrived the noble houses of Ylisse had been chomping at the bits to get at the Plegian who had suddenly appeared out of no where, and with his past revealed they were foaming at the mouth to have him executed.
Sekai would not give them that pleasure.
But he couldn't stay anymore, especially with the questions being thrown his way. Questions that were getting dangerously close to his most closely guarded secret. He knew that if it was discovered he was to become Grima, none would be able to protect him.
Putting the last of his things in his bag, Sekai took one last look at the room, a strange feeling of sadness settling in his heart.
Leaving a letter on his desk explaining his disappearance, Sekai quietly closed the door behind him.
...
Deception! (An outrage!)
Disgrace! (For shame!)
He asked for trouble the moment he came.
...
Quietly slinking around the hallways, Sekai made his way towards the courtyard where they'd met Marth. After some exploration, Sekai had found the spot she'd mentioned. A hidden cleft, difficult to find even when looking for it. He couldn't leave the normal way lest he fall into the hands of the mob, but this hidden way could provide him an exit.
Silently gliding through the halls, Sekai looked around the palace, taking in it's sights for the last time. It was strange, he wasn't one to get melancholy about places. He was a nomad. Leaving was who he was. Shaking his head, he hurried his steps. Once it was discovered he was gone, search parties would be on his heels so he had to move quickly.
Entering the courtyard, Sekai was shocked to see Lissa standing in the courtyard. The young princess was staring up at the moon, a conflicted expression on her face. Sekai tried to remain quiet, wanting to wait for her to leave so he could leave without a ruckus. Unfortunately, he didn't notice some leaves underneath his feet, eliciting a crunching sound.
"Huh!" Lissa exclaimed, looking in his direction. "W-Who's there!?" She called.
Sekai cursed silently to himself before he stepped out of the shadows. He couldn't have Lissa calling the guards on him.
"Sekai? What are you doing up?" She asked, walking up. Her eyes widened when she noticed his bag. "W-Why do you have your bag?"
Sekai pursed his lips, remaining silent.
"W-Why do you have it?" Lissa said, her voice cracking. "Y-You're not thinking of leaving, are you?" She asked.
"You know what your people are saying." Sekai answered.
...
Deception! (An outrage!)
Disgrace! (For shame!)
(You know these Plegians)
Evil as plain as the land from he came
(Get out of here, agitator!)
Deception! (An outrage!)
Disgrace! (For shame!)
He asked for trouble the moment he came.
...
"You don't have to leave!" Lissa said. "Emm, Chrom, they'll get this sorted out!"
Sekai shook his head. "No, they won't. Despite everyone's best efforts to keep it from me, I know what is being said. Being demanded. Being...threatened."
Lissa began breathing erratically. "It doesn't matter! You can't go out there alone!"
Sekai gave a sad smile. "But I can and will. It is in everyone's best interests if I just...disappear."
Lissa ran up, grabbing Sekai's arms. "No, you can't! I...I won't let you!"
Sekai chocked back a sob. Who knew it would be this hard? "Thank you for everything Lissa. Tell...tell the others I will miss them."
Lissa began to cry. "No! No, I'll...I'll scream!"
Sekai sighed, gently placing a hand on Lissa's cheek. "Lissa..."
Lissa looked at him with pleading eyes. Inside she was experiencing a realization of her feelings towards the man in front of her, just as he was about to leave her forever.
'Please, Sekai. Don't. I...I...lo-" Lissa began.
"Ale dòmi." Sekai said, the princess immediately falling asleep in his arms. He gently picked her up and laid her down near a tree. "I'm sorry Lissa. I...I couldn't let you say that. I...I need to go."
...
Born in grief, raised in hate.
Helpless to defy his fate.
Let him run, let him flee.
But never forget what we cannot FORGIVE!
...
"I wish I could stay. I...I wish I could be one of you." Sekai said, tears falling as he talked to the sleeping princess. "I only just realized I did indeed consider you all...friends. I wish I didn't. I wish I was still distant from all of you."
Then maybe this wouldn't hurt as much.
In his mind's eye, he watched as he stayed with the Shepherds. The people accepted him, and he helped guide Ylisse to victory against Plegia. Emmeryn ruled in peace, and he enjoyed traveling with the Shepherds. He even allowed himself the dream that they found out about his mark and accepted him for that to.
Than his dream took a different turn. He stood at an altar, looking down upon the princess Lissa as she stood in a white gown. A man proclaimed them man and wife, and the two shared a kiss. Chrom, Emmeryn, the Shepherds...his friends...they were all there, clapping in congratulations. Lissa and him enjoyed a happy life, had children. They lived in peace, in happiness. In this fantasy world Sekai was...was happy.
He looked away as bitter tears ran down his cheek. "Of course." He muttered.
How very much like his life to rip something away from him the moment it became precious.
He looked down upon Lissa and knelt down, staring at her sleeping face. "I'm sorry Lissa. I only now realize that I love you." Standing up, he looked down at his coat. Pursing his lips, he took it off and laid it on top of Lissa. As much as leaving behind his precious coat tore the last fragments of his hear left, he knew he would be readily recognized by it.
And he wanted to leave it with Lissa so she could remember him by.
"Goodbye my love." He whispered, walking away. "May we meet again, in a better life."
...
He is not...ONE of us!
He has never been one of us!
He is not part of us!
Not our kind!
...
Lissa slowly opened her eyes, the early sun lighting up the courtyard around her.
She looked around in confusion. "Why am I-" She began, only to notice the heavy coat on top of her.
The very familiar coat.
Suddenly she remembered the events of the previous night, and she looked around in panic as she realized with horror hours had passed.
Her scream woke up most of the palace.
...
Plegians will...lie to us!
But we are not so blind!
We knew he would do what he did!
And we know that he will never be one of us!
...
Chrom closed his eyes, failing to hold back the tears as he sat on Sekai's bed. He had just finished the letter Sekai left, detailing about how he felt it the best decision to leave. He told Chrom not to search for him, to focus resources on the upcoming war with Plegia. The worst part was that as much as Chrom wanted to ignore Sekai and look for him, he knew they didn't have the resources to look for him. Even their newest member Panne had quickly lost his scent.
Sekai was gone.
Lissa was inconsolable, and had spent the entire day crying into Sekai's coat as Emmeryn held her.
...
He is not...one of us...
...
Plegia did indeed declare war, catching Ylisse off guard. The sudden invasion was barely held back, and Ylisse found itself fighting off a full army with barely organized militias. Despite his best efforts, Chrom wasnt able to build up an army quickly enough to prevent Plegia from capturing several territories. If it wasn't for Regna Ferox and their soldiers, Ylisse would have fallen to Plegia entirely. The war still went badly however, and defeat loomed on the horizon.
...
Deception...
...
Just as all hope was lost, word reached Ylisse of Gangrel's assassination. Several other key leaders both politically and in the military further threw Plegia's armies into disarray. With the resulting confusion, Plegia's army splintered into several smaller groups as Plegians scrambled in a mad power grab, throwing Plegia into a sudden civil war. This allowed Chrom to lead Ylisse to victory and to push Plegia further out of their lands.
Even with rebuilding and guarding their boredrs, Chrom and the Shepherds still tried to track down Sekai, but the former tactician had covered his tracks well. No one had seen or heard from him since the night he disappeared. Despite that however, Chrom kept publicly asking if any had heard from him, a faint hope that maybe his lost friend would hear of it and have a change of heart.
That maybe he would come home.
...
Disgrace...
...
Lissa was never seen not wearing the former tactician's cloak, and became a very vocal and very public voice in building relations with Plegia. Working alongside Emmeryn and Chrom, the Royal Family was able to open channels into Plegia. Though communication and relations were less than hoped for at the beginning, eventually their attempts began to bear fruit.
Plegia and Ylisse soon entered a relatively peaceful and friendly relationship. Unbeknownst to the Royal Family, they had also cut the Grimleal off in a large way. Validar could not come to power since Gaius would recognize the man. And with the Exalt families influence, the new king of Plegia shook off Grimleal influence.
Soon the Grimleal began to fall out of power, and it was also discovered the cult had managed to brainwash most of Plegia for some unknown purpose. The Grimleal attempted a coup, but the people of Plegia were able to fight back the cult, forcing the Grimleal to return to the shadows. The people of Plegia however gave credit to an unknown group of fighters who would appear during battle and disappear after.
Strangely, one of the warriors was reported to use the Falchion. Despite Chrom's insistence he did not join in, the people of Plegia believed the Royal Family to be helping them from the shadows, further solidifying the relationship between the once enemies.
One question remained though. Where was Sekai?
...
Deception...
...
Searches continued for years until a sudden invasion from Valm drew away Ylisse's attention. The war went on for nearly two years, but with the combined might of Ylisse, Plegia, and Regna Ferox they were able to push the invading armies back to the seas. Just as the allied countries began to embark for valm however, the skies grew dark.
And a demonic roar was heard.
...
Disgrace...
...
And that one is done. Yeah, I was just listening to the song this morning and my mind imagined it happening to Sekai. So I took it and ran with it. Anyways, to answer the question, yes I plan on writing in this still as ideas come. Like todaay. Also, apparently people want more FemChrom. We will work on that.
Anyways, I enjoyed writing this, even if I did have to give it a bummer ending. But I guess it shows how choices can affect events. I'll update Retained Memories here in a day or two once I finish this current chapter. Almost done.
Alright, fave, follow, review and have a good day.