Lucina couldn't hide the surprise in her face. Before her was the very man she thought of. Her dear friend.

"Robin?"

"Yes." The man smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"You to." Little Lucina smiled.

"So what brings you out here Lucina?"

"Mommy and daddy are too busy to play with me." The girl frowned.

"Aww. That's a shame. I suppose being king and queen is hard work."

"I know but…"

"Well…Would it be alright if I were to spend some time with you?" Robin asked.

"Huh? But aren't you a tactician? Aren't you busy to?"

"Funny thing is your father just ordered me to take a couple days off working because he thinks I'm pushing myself too hard." The man said rolling his eyes. "So I don't have anything to do."

"Can we play hide and seek then?"

"Certainty."

"Is something wrong?"

Lucina snapped out of her trance and brought herself to the confused look on his face. "N-no it's nothing."

Robin smiled faintly. The two of them were in silence for a minute. "So…what now?" Lucina asked.

"Oh, you're soup!" Robin said picking up the bowl he put down. "I hope it didn't get cold."

"It's fine. I told you I'm not hungry."

"Your stomach would strongly disagree with you." Robin smirked.

Lucina blushed again. And it got worse when Robin placed a spoon at her mouth.

"You need something. Eat up."

"Can you at least free my hands so I can do it myself?"

"That's a bit risky. Suiglez doesn't have the authority to stop Aversa, the king or my father from coming in. It's quit outside so we can easily hear someone approach this room but even if we did I doubt we could restrain you in the contraption again in time. The blindfold on the other hand we can tie on quickly and even then I could probably think of an excuses for you having it off."

Lucina tried to object but couldn't think of a counter argument. "I suppose that means I'm not going to get my belongings back anytime soon either."

"…I'm afraid not…Sorry."

Lucina felt part of her break. Not over her armor. Not over her mask. But for her sword. Her only memento she had of her father.

"Well…never mind that. Here. Eat up."

Lucina was still reluctant but let Robin put the spoon in her mouth. The soup was warm and tasty. As soon as she swallowed she slightly opened her mouth again so Robin could put the spoon in the bowl and give her some more. They got a pattern down. Spoonful by spoonful until the last of the soup was swallowed.

"Feel better?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"So... well…What now?" Robin asked awkwardly.

"You won't be torturing me?" Lucina asked.

"Not if we're alone. But if Someone comes they'll be expecting me to do so…"

"What then?"

Robin regretfully brought out his thunder tome. "I'll have no choice. At least not until they leave. I pry it doesn't come to that. But if it does…I hope you understand…"

"…You said this was for your dream?"

"Yes. I want to be a great tactician. But the king says I can only do that by hurting people…But I can't. My mother was always against that."

"Your mother?"

"Yeah. She was a kind person to the very end."

"End? You mean she's…"

"She died long ago…"

Lucina was shocked. This was the first time she heard this. "I'm sorry…I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

"It's alright. But I want to make her dream of peace for our people come true. But I'm beginning to wonder if I'm fit to do so…If I am fit to be a tactician like her."

"I think you will."

Robin looked up to see Lucina smile for a change. A smile he thought was beautiful. "Wh-what makes you so sure?"

"Well…I can just tell that you're a caring person…I can see it in your eyes."

Robin chuckled. "Is that so?"

"If it's alright…Can we talk more about your mother?"

"Alright."

Robin went on explaining who his mother was and how he looked up to her as a child. His memories of her were faint but he still could recall what a caring person she was. Eventually Robin remembered the hourglass and checked it. "Whops. My time here is up." He said. "I'll have to put the blindfold on now."

"Alright."

Lucina said nothing else as her vision was once again blocked off.

"I'll be back in the evening. I'll bring you something else to eat. Anything in particular you want me to sneak in?"

"You don't need to do all that." Lucina smiled happy that her old friend was as kind as she remembered.

"Even if I don't need to I still want to." Robin replied. "I can't have you go hungry. Just tell me what you would like."

"Well…If you're that insistent…anything is fine I guess."

"Very well." With that he was gone and Lucina was left alone to wait. Eventually despite the uncomfortable position she managed to fall asleep.

Lucina giggled as she hid behind a bush.

"He'll never find me here."

"Is that so?"

Before she could turn around Lucina felt two hands on her sides and shrieked as she was lifted off the ground. Be the time she was over the shock she was riding on someone's shoulders.

"Checkmate." Robin smirked.

"How did you find me so fast?!"

"Not every day you come across a giggling bush."

"Awww. That's the fifth time you found me fast…"

"It's getting late. We best get you back to your parents." Robin smiled walking back inside with the young girl on his shoulders.

"Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we play again tomorrow?"

"Of course."

"Yay!"

"Lucina?" The princess was startled awake to see her blindfold was off and Robin was in front of her again. "Hey. I brought some food."

"T-thank you."

"Is everything alright? Your face is a bit red."

"It's nothing."

"If you say so." Robin said putting a fork into the piece of beef he had on a plate. "Here. Eat up."

After feeding her Robin talked a bit more about what his life was like growing up. He never cared for this father he mentioned saying that he just wants him to join the Grimleal. A decision he strongly rejected which Lucina insisted was what he should do. Robin smiled having the comfort that he wasn't the only one who didn't care for Grima at all. Or so he thought. But he then noticed that Lucina showed signs of actively hating the Fell Dragon personally. Eventually they moved on to happier topics like his mother.

When Robin noticed the hour, glass was empty he reached for the locks on Lucina's restraints and freed her. "It's time to put you back in your cell."

Lucina was relieved to rub her sore wrists. Robin let Lucina stretch her arms and legs for a bit. Before tying her blindfold back on. "Alright."

He then placed the manacles on her wrists and ankles. Lucina said nothing until she felt a hand under her legs and another on her back.

"W-what are you doing? I can walk on my own."

"That would make the guards suspicions since last time you were unconscious. Mustafa and Suiglez are in on this ploy but there are others around."

"But I-

Before she could reject further Robin lifted her off the ground prompting her to shriek.

"Just pretend to be asleep." Robin said as her carried her out of the room.

Lucina let her body go limp. She let her bond hands rest on her stomach but if what Robin said was true she feared that either her blush or her trembling might give her away. She remained silent trying to pretend this was like the time she spent with Robin in the future. But she was learning now that him giving her a piggy back ride as a child felt far different from being cradle carried by him when they were the same age.

After what felt like an eternity to her she heard one last door open and Robin sat her down on the bed before removing her blindfold.

"There. That wasn't so bad was it?" Robin smirked.

Lucina looked down in embarrassment prompting Robin to snicker.

"Look at it this way. I bet this is how a princess is brought to bed for the night. Just pretend you're a princess."

It was Lucina's turn to smirk. If he only knew.

"Anyway Suiglez will be here to bring you to the chamber every morning from now on and I'll meet you as soon as I can. Until then get some sleep."

"Thank you Robin. I don't know how I can ever repay you."

"Don't worry. Once I find a way, I'll set you free. Until then I will make it as easy for you as I can."

Lucina smiled as he left locking the door behind him. She let herself in the covers and letting her mind wander about Robin for a bit. He was as kind as she remembered. It was great to see him again. She felt bad about what she learned about his mother. It was a pain she could relate to. Losing him and her father at the same time and her mother shortly after was heart breaking. But now she could spend lots of time with him.

"Gods, what's gotten into me? I need to stay focused! If I'm stuck here how can I save the Exalt and my father?"

She then knew what she had to do. It was a stretch. She believed him but how could she expect him to believe her after hearing her story? She sighed knowing there was no other option. "Robin…Please believe me…because I believe you…"

Sorry that this chapter came out shorter than the others. My second semester has started and it requires a lot of my attention. And unfortunately while I'll try my best don't be suppressed if I start updating less frequently. But rest assured I will not be giving up on this. I know how it feels to be enjoying a story so much and then it just stops. I don't want to put you guys through that disappointment. Especially not after all your generous support. On a happier note another reason why this was delayed was because I was working on another story on the side and it's almost complete. I'll probably update it soon but to be honest...don't be surprised if you find the concept ridicules. This happened because I let my imagination run wild and out of control. Long story short triple crossover between Fire Emblem Awakening, Undertale and Sonic the Hedgehog. Don't ask. Hopefully some of you will like it. It's not going to be very long but it will foreshadow something that will be a plot point when I get to The Fates of S.T.E.A.M. Until next time.