Lucina was an early riser; it was just how she was even before Grima's return. So it was not much of a surprise when she awoke to a quiet and dark house. Putting on her boots, she walked over to a window to see that the sun had not yet appeared above the horizon. Stretching, she decided that she could use this alone time for some practice.

She made sure to be quiet as she snuck outside grabbing Falchion on her way. She did not like to be without it, but Robin had taken her so quickly yesterday that she had failed to pick it up. It was probably for the better anyway as the townspeople would probably be much more cautious of someone carrying a sword. Plus, she did not need to risk someone recognizing the blade. Robin's mother had already proven that she knew about the brand, and it was entirely possible that she or someone else would know about Falchion. She would just have to learn to live without it constantly at her side.

However, in the cover of early morning, she decided that few would see her. The house was on the outer edge of town in any case so there should be few onlookers. With that in mind, she began practicing her swings. She found that a skirt did not lend itself to full combat, but she managed with the more basic techniques for the time being. Time carried on as she became lost in the familiar motions, and before she realized it, the sun had fully risen.

"There you are," Robin commented to her surprise, "When you weren't there this morning I thought you might have left."

"My apologies," she sheathed the blade despite not actually wearing the scabbard for a change, "I decided to get in some practice. I hope I did not disturb you."

"No, you're fine. Where did you learn your swordplay though?" his curiosity reared its head once again, "I've never seen someone wield a blade quite like that."

"I learned much by experience; I am afraid that my formal training was cut short."

"Oh," he seemed to realize that it was another touchy subject and let it drop, "Well, breakfast is ready if you're done."

"Yes, that should suffice," she followed his lead and went back into the house where his mother was waiting.

As they were eating, Robin brought up Lucina's skill with a blade causing his mother to comment as she sipped her water, "So that's what you were doing at such an early hour."

"Yes, ma'am," she responded politely, "I am sorry if that is against your rules." Given the sword at the door policy, Lucina was not sure if her practice was frowned upon now that it was brought up.

"No, so long as you keep it outside and do not try to hurt either of us, I do not have a problem with it."

"I assure you that I had no intentions of harming anyone."

"Good, then we have no problem," she replied simply as she went back to her meal.

"Actually," Robin began, "I was wondering if you could teach me. If you don't mind."

Lucina thought it over. She supposed that helping him refine his swordplay would not be a bad change to the timeline. A change, most certainly, but having Ylisse's top tactician even better equipped to handle the dangers that faced them could prove useful. So long as the increased skill did not make him over confident.

"I would be willing to teach you," she agreed, "If it is okay with your mother."

"Yes, I suppose that would be okay," she consented as her son looked at her expectantly, "I have taught you what little I can about swordplay, but it would be better for you to know more than the basics." Robin smiled in excitement at getting to learn the new skill, but his mother was not finished, "But, you have to keep up your chores. Understood?"

"Yes, mother, thank you."

She sighed at her son's exuberance, "Please try not to hurt yourself." She quickly changed focus though, and addressed her guest, "So I take it this means that you have decided to stay with us."

"Yes, ma'am, for a time at least. If that is alright with you."

"You will have to carry your own weight," she cautioned.

"Of course," the princess responded graciously.

"Then you can stay. I will be going to town today, and I want you to shadow Robin for the day as he does his chores. Robin, make sure that she knows what to do."

"Yes, mother."

Robin's mother grabbed her coat soon after finishing her breakfast and exited the door with one last glance at the two. Waiting for a moment after she left, Robin addressed the princess, "So, what do you know about gardening?"

"Not much I am afraid."

"I guess that we'll just have to start from scratch then. I guess we can trade knowledge then," at first she thought that he was hoping to get more information about her past, but then she remembered her agreement to teach him swordplay.

He led her behind the house where a moderately sized garden stood fenced in, "It's not huge, but it provides most of what we eat. Anything else we need, we buy with money we get from odd jobs here and there."

She then became acutely aware of a potential problem, "I do not wish to overexert your food supplies."

He looked at her smiling, "Don't worry about it," he replied as he opened the gate and let her through before closing it back, "My mom loves to be prepared. She usually keeps a good three months of spare food in the house. Besides, with more hands, we should be able to produce a bit more if we need to."

So Robin began to show her his routine. However, his curiosity had apparently not been satiated, "So, is there anything you can tell me about yourself?" he asked almost desperate for something from this mysterious stranger, "Are you a soldier or something?"

In a way, she supposed that she was. She was hesitant, but she felt that he deserved something. However, this was Robin-albeit still young and inexperienced, but no doubt still very bright; she had to be careful what she told him lest she give him a clue to her identity. So she thought of something that she could tell him that would not reveal who she was. Something relatively vague.

"I am sixteen years of age," she responded somewhat lamely, and Robin did not look impressed.

"I guess it's a start," he relented as he pulled a weed, "Well, my life isn't all that interesting. I've lived here for as long as I can remember. From what I've gathered, my mom came her when I was a little over a year old. Some of the villagers took pity on her and took her in, but when the local well ran dry, she helped save the village by finding another one. She even planned an aqueduct to bring in water from the river. After that, the village showed its appreciation by giving her this plot and house. We've lived here ever since."

He moved to check a part of the fence which had been damaged, "My mom is smart too, so she has found a way to make a living all these years. For one, she's better at math than anyone else in town so she can really help with finances and trade. She could probably run a good shop if she wanted, but she just works for the Reardons a lot."

"I do odd jobs here and there," he continued as he inspected the crops for insects, "Mostly at Mr. Dillard's if he ever needs help. We've managed fairly well."

"I do not think it fair that you should tell me all this when I cannot speak of my own life," though she would be lying if she said that she was not curious. The Robin she knew never spoke of these years, at least not without some prying.

"Huh," he smiled slightly, "I guess you're right, but, be honest, would you have told me if I had bargained it?"

"I am afraid not," she answered apologetically.

"Didn't think so," he chuckled, "Don't worry, you must have your reasons, so don't let my curiosity make you uncomfortable."

"You are fine," she assured, "I wish that I did not have to be so secretive, but it is important that I be so."

"You're awfully serious," Robin observed.

"I…suppose I am," she had not really noticed. She did not have much choice in the matter; it was grow up quickly or die.

"You said that you're sixteen, right?"

"Yes…" she eyed him unsure of where he was going, but she could almost see an idea formulating behind those brown eyes.

"And what do you do for fun?"

"Fun? I–" she did not have fun. Fun was something that was scarce in her future; there was simply no time for it when every moment could determine life or death, "I do not really do anything for fun."

Robin looked genuinely surprised that she had answered with nothing, "Nothing?" he repeated.

"I never had time for such things," she answered suddenly self-conscious as she did not fully meet his gaze.

"Well then," he started, "We'll just have to do something about that, now won't we?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean," he patted himself down to get off any loose dirt, "That we need to find you a hobby."

"A…hobby?"

"Yeah, something that people do because they enjoy it. The question is, what? You have nothing that you enjoy?"

"Nothing that could relate to a 'hobby.'"

"At least we have a clean slate to work with here," he sighed, "Of course, I won't make you if you don't want to."

"No, it should be…interesting," it may have been a frivolous endeavor, but to refuse him seemed unnecessarily harsh. Truth be told, she was curious as well. She knew that she should remain focused on her objective and not fraternize too much with the people of this time, but she was also their guest. Besides, how much harm could such a thing cause?

A/N: I thought a bit about how to set up Robin and his mother in the village, and since she was knowledgeable and from the desert; it stood to reason that she knew a bit about finding water and getting it from point A to point B.

Also, I cut this one a bit short. That seemed like a decent enough stopping point, and when I tried to continue it just did not seem to mesh well.

I want to ask though: what kind of hobby would actually suit Lucina? By her backstory, she never really does much if anything for recreation so I pretty much have to come up with this on scratch.

And, yes, I will use Robin's perspective at some point, but introductions are probably best done from the view of the stranger.