Title: Birthdays and Anniversaries
Description: Seven years after the end of Fire Emblem: Awakening, Lucina celebrates her 25th birthday with her family.
Notes: Takes place five years after the events of A Future Disowned, so minor spoiler warning of you have no read that.
Lucina murmured contently, her eyelids fluttering as she drifted in and out of the gentle embrace of sleep. She basked in the warmth of the morning sun that shone upon her and Robin's shared bed. A cool spring breeze drifted in through the same open window as the golden rays of light, carrying with it the scent of blooming flowers and fresh green leaves. Birds chirped their sweet music. Everything was perfect, another peaceful morning amongst the countless she'd been blessed with since returning to this timeline.
Pulling her covers tighter around her. she rolled back over to her side, dozing back off into a pleasant sleep that-
"Happy birthday Mommy!"
The shrill cries of laughter shattered the still, awaking Lucina as sure as a bucket of icy water. The bed shook and rattleed, bouncing her up and down like a storm-tossed sea. Clinging to the bedpost before she could be thrown free, Lucina scrambled around, searching for the two demons responsible for the sudden end of her rest.
"Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday!" screeched the two small children doing their damnedest to throw her off of the bed, leaping up and down with increasing fervor.
"Morgan! Marc! Stop jumping on the bed this instant!"
"Awwwww," complained the twins, their bouncing slowly ceasing. "Fun burg-el-ar," Morgan added, crossing her arms with a humph.
A smile spread across Lucina's lips as she finally let go of her handhold. Dealing with Morgan's and Marc's older selves certainly hadn't prepared her for the beings of chaos and untold destruction who were their three year old, soon to be four in a month, counterparts.
Stretching her arms, Lucina looked around the bedroom of the home she and Robin had lived in for the past several years. Books and papers scattered the floor, centered around the side of the room her husband liked to keep his things. They'd been married for years and she still couldn't see how he could be so keen on keeping his things to themselves yet be so disorganized at the same time. Robin's side of the bed was empty, which was indeed fortunate given the twins' antics. Apparently he had gotten up some time ago.
"Did your father send you to wake me up?" Lucina asked, turning her attention back to the little ones.
"Yep!" Marc beamed, bobbing his head up and down. "Daddy said he was gonna be done soon, so you needed to wake up."
Done soon? Lucina wondered, contemplating what her husband could be working on this early and-
Oh gods.
"Son of a- Oh come on, why in gods name would that even happen!" Robin's shouted as if on cue, his voice carrying up from the kitchen downstairs. At that very instant she heard the crystalline sound of glass shattering, renewing her husbands ranting in full force. "Thrice damned, bloody, horse dung coated son of an-" The rest of whatever he'd been going to say was lost as more crashes, their thankfully metallic ringing indicating nothing else fragile had been broken.
It was then that Lucina detected the faint smell of smoke and burnt food, confirming without a shadow of doubt what the so-called master tactician was attempting to do.
"Your father is trying to cook breakfast for me, again, isn't he?" she asked, staring flatly towards the sounds of unknown chaos unleashed within her kitchen.
"Yep!" Morgan replied, grinning from ear to ear as she began to hop up and down on the bed again. "We wanted to help, but daddy said he didn't need it. That's why he put us on mission 'wake up Mommy'!"
Gods, that man… I told him that he didn't have to… we barely managed to put out the fire last year. Lucina groaned inwardly, covering her face with a hand in disbelief. I should have known he'd take that as a challenge. She sighed, resigned to her fate. There's nothing to do now but let the inevitable play out.
A few minutes later there was a knock on the wall outside the door, Robin stepping inside with a tray of food. Unlike the previous year, his face and hands were free of burns, so that was an improvement to say to least. "Happy twenty-fifth birthday! Sorry for taking so long, I had to clean up the- er, I mean, I made you breakfast." Robin greeted, grinning as he handed her the tray.
"So, I made toast and eggs, though I think I might of put too much salt in the later," he explained, pointing out the blackened slice bread and eggs at the center of her place. " I tried to make pancakes, but those burned. Oh, and the bacon burned too, but I used them to write this message, see!" He gestured to the top of the tray, where the words 'Happy B-day Lucina' was written out in charred crisps that Lucina would have never been able to even identify as bacon.
Despite her annoyance and the food that could be described as… well, unappetizing at best, Lucina's heart nearly skipped a beat at the thought her husband had put into the meal. Dubious the execution may be, the amount of genuine effort he put in it could not be denied.
Robin must have noticed her staring at the food, as his smile fading at once. "Gods, Lucina, I'm sorry. I tried my best, I really did but… you know I'm a lousy cook and- I wanted to make up for last year and-"
"It's alright, I wasn't upset," Lucina interrupted. She smiled, blinking at the moistness in her eyes. Gods, he was actually worried she'd be upset with him. "The food looks… well, not very pleasant, but what matters is you did try. That's the only thing that I care about." She set the tray aside, leaning up to kiss him upon the lips in thanks.
"Ewww, gross!" Morgan stuck out her tongue at their open display of affection, Marc meanwhile covering his eyes with his off hands. the two ducked out of sight. Of course, everyone knew that hiding under a bed was the only defense from the cooties.
"Ignoring them, Lucina wrapped her arms around Robin, squeezing him tightly for a moment before pulling away. "Come on, we need to get ready to visit my Father and Mother, remember?"
"How could I forgot," Robin replied. "But first…" Holding up a finger for her to wait, he hurried back to the door, reaching around the corner, retrieving a box wrapped in blue paper. "... why don't you open the present we picked out for you!" Robin grinned from ear to ear as he handed the parcel to her, pleased by her sudden look of surprise. "I know you're thinking that we should wait until the party this evening, but… well… I still need to make up for the whole breakfast thing."
Smiling Lucina unwrapped the box, her expression only brightening as she beheld its contents. Inside was a bright pink and lime green scarf, with yellow stars lining either end. "Its wonderful, Robin, it'll match the orange dresses I purchased for Morgan and myself on our last shopping trip," She hugged him again.
"Don't thank me, Morgan picked it out. She was adamant that you'd love it, so who were we to argue," Robin correct, turning his head to grin at where Morgan and Marc stood at the bedside, having withdrawn from their hiding once the present was brought out.
"Yep, I knew you'd love it mommy!" Morgan giggled.
"And I came up with getting you a scarf!" Marc added.
Holding out her arms, Lucina caught the twins as they leapt into her arms, their high-pitched laughter filling the air. "Truly, I sweetest family ever," she murmured, squeezing them tighter. "Thank you for the wonderful present, it means so much to Mommy. Now, you two go get dressed and meet Mommy and Daddy downstairs, okay?" Lucina told them, releasing them from her hug.
"Okay!" the two answered in unison, pushing and shoving eachother as they raced to be the first to their room.
Climbing out of bed, Lucina got dressed as well, picking out the simple azure toned dress Robin had given her as a gift two years previous. While a bit too formal and plain even by her tasteful and understated preferences when it came to clothing, it would be fitting for the occasion. Pausing for a moment to check her reflection in a mirror, she made her way downstairs, Robin staying in their bedroom to finish packing for the trip to Ylisstol.
Descending the stairs Lucina found the little ones already waiting for her… well, waiting was perhaps too strong a word. The two ricocheted around the room, knocking over chairs as they chased after one another. In their credit, they had gotten dressed like she'd told them, if not all too successfully: namely Marc's inside-out tunic and Morgan's lack of boots.
With a triumphant shout Morgan tackled Marc to the floor, sending them both tumbling into the last chair that as of yet remained standing. Tipping back onto its hind legs, the chair wobbled one, twice, then toppled over with clatter thunk.
"Honestly, you two, perhaps you could just attempt to stay still for a single moment," Lucina scolded. Pulling them apart, she directed them to stand to either side of her, and hopefully away from each other long enough to fix their apparel.
Raising Marc's arms up over his head, Lucina tugged off his tunic, turning it right side out, before pulling it back down over his head. Seeing no other issues, Lucina turned her attention to Morgan. Boots, where are the- ah, there. Her daughter's boots sat undisturbed next to the door. Clearly she hadn't even attempted to put them on. Retrieving them, Lucina returned to where Morgan stood. Righting a nearby chair, she plopped her daughter down onto it. "Stop squirming, dear," Lucina instructed, working the boots onto Morgan's feet. Once finished doing up the laces, Lucina stepped back, examining her handiwork.
"There, now you both appear presentable for visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Now we just need to wait for your father and-"
"Mommy, I'm hungry," Morgan interrupted, tugging on her arm.
"There should be food in the kitchen, dear," Lucina told her.
Nodding, Morgan scurried off into the kitchen. Watching until she disappeared from view, Lucina turned, glancing back up the stairs to call out to her still absent husband. "Robin, are you ready to go?"
"Almost. One minute," Robin shouted back. Loud thumps and bangs accompanied his reply, increasing in alarming frequency with each passing second.
"Uhmm… is everything alright?" Lucina asked after a moment, almost afraid to ask just what in gods' names what her husband had gotten himself into.
"Nothing! It's fine, I'm just-"
Lucina winced as the the entire house shook with a deafening crash, Robin's voice lost in a roar of a large many things clattering against the floor.
"I'm alright, no need to panic!" A door slammed shut and hurried footsteps echoed out from down the hall moments before a very flustered looking Robin came into sight. Lucina caught a glimpse of some paper-wrapped object being stuffed into a bad as he scrambled down the stairs.
"Robin… what was that noise?" Lucina asked, staring flatly as her panting and winded husband.
"Oh, that. The book shelf fell over… I'll clean it up when we get back," Robin replied. He seeming to shrink in stature under her continued dumbfounded look.
Sighing, Lucina shook her head. They really didn't have time for this if they wanted to avoid being later than they already were. "Its alright. I take it you are ready to go?"
"Yeah, I have everything packed. I just need my coat… now where did that thing get off too…"
Lucina glanced around, scanning the room for her husband's plegian coat. Knowing him there was no way he'd agree to leave without it and-
"Look at me! I'm daddy! Do what I say!" Morgan shrieked with laughter as she ran out of the kitchen clad, her face completely covered by hood of the comically oversized tactician's coat. She managed to make it only halfway over to where they stood before her foot caught on the coattails dragging behind her, landing face first with a dull thump.
"I'm okay!" She exclaimed, scrambling her feet and… falling face first a second time after a single step. Marc giggled from where he stood at Lucina's side, seeming to take almost too much glee at seeing his sister trip.
"I think you need to leave the coat-wearing to daddy," Robin laughed, helping his daughter up. "Hold up your hands."
Morgan pouted at this request, but did as she was told, allowing her father to remove the too-large coat before slipping it on himself.
"Right then, let's go, shall we?" Robin said, digging a tome out of a coat pocket.
"How many tries will you need to teleport us to the right place this time? Lucina teased, a smirk curling at the edges of her lips.
"In my defense, that was a year ago and I did get us there… eventually…" Robin replied. He shrugged, giving a nervous chuckle. "Besides, I have been practicing since then."
"That you have," Lucina conceded. The laughed. "I still do not understand how you have needed to practice as much as you have been. Morgan seemed to pick up the teleport spell easily enough."
"I can teleport?!" Morgan squealed, throwing her hands up into the air.
"The older Morgan," Lucina correctly, gently pushing Morgan's arms back down.
"Morgan has more motivation to get it right. I still don't see how she finds teleporting fun and-" Before Robin could finish the thought the four of them were interrupted by a crackling pop and a flash of azure light.
"Yoink!"
Lucina let out a startled yelp, catching a glimpse of a tactician's coat and blue hair before their home vanishing in another dazzling burst of brilliance. Her stomach lurched as for an instant she plummeted through empty void. Then as quickly as it had vanished reality snapped back into focus, Lucina staggering as her feet were suddenly on solid ground once more.
She blinked, adjusting to the sudden shift in lighting. Looking around she watched as Robin scrambled to keep his footing, nearly running headfirst into the trunk of a tree. It took Lucina but a moment to realize they were in the palace's main courtyard, , the light of the noonday done beating down from overhead. Morgan and Marc both were on the ground, giggling profusely and overall seemed unbothered with having fallen over. However, it was the laughter of the third voice that joined her youngests that had Lucina's attention at that moment.
"You could have given us some a warning, Morgan."
"I did warn you! I shouted 'yoink' loudly enough," Lucina's oldest daughter laughed. "You guys were taking too long, anyways, so you needed my help!"
Before anything more could be said the younger Morgan and Marc scrambled to the feet, leaping into the older Morgan's arms. "Sissy!" both exclaimed, throwing their arms around their 'big sister'.
Laughing, Morgan scooped up the two little blue-haired devils, holding each of them in one arm as she stood. "Wow, you two have gotten so big. I bet you two tried to get Mommy and Daddy awake on time."
"We did! We jumped on their bed!" Marc insisted, bobbing his head up and down.
"Good job. Remind me to teach you my super ultra, top-secret, get Mother and Father out of bed strategy, the Morgan addition." Morgan laughed again, seeming completely at ease with the younger versions of herself and her brother. For not the first time Lucina marveled just how much Morgan had grown in the past few years. After her last growth spurt she now stood just as tall as Lucina was, and her features had matured from an excitable child to a those of a fine young woman. Well, grown in the physical sense at least, as adulthood had not seemed to lessen their daughter's bombastic exuberance.
"So says the one we had to drag out of bed every morning. Literally in fact, sometimes." Robin interrupted, crossing his arms in what would have been an adequate attempt at mock anger if not for the big stupid grin that perfectly matched the one worn by their daughter.
"Hey, I woke up early today and everything. You're the ones being fun suckers and keeping everyone waiting," Morgan countered.
"You arrived this morning with Inigo then?" Lucina asked.
"Yep. Though I'm having him unpack for us. We brought a lot with us, being here for the next month and all. Sure beats having to leave then come all the way back for my birthday."
"Hey!" the younger two shouted in unison.
"Sorry, our birthday," Morgan corrected. Stepping forward toward Robin, she offered the two squirming little ones to him. "Here, take these two. Then we can go tell Grandpa you've arrived."
Robin excepted the two children, who groaned in disappointment as being relinquished by their sister. At once Morgan turned, her coat flapping as she spun around in a full cycle before setting off into the castle grounds, leading them through the winding hallways.
"So, has Marc arrived too?" Robin asked. Lucina glanced back to where he lagged at the rear of the procession, in no small part to Morgan and Marc's attempts to break free from his grasp.
"I'm right here, daddy," Marc interrupted, a positively perplexed look on his face.
"The older Marc," Robin correctly quickly, sighing.
"I think so. He and Nah didn't leave much behind us. They were almost ready when Inigo and I set out," Morgan answered, shrugging.
"I take it the two of you have been adjusting to leading the Shepherds well enough?" Lucina asked.
"Yep, its great to finally be in charge. I get to act all import and people actually listen to me. We even have an awesome system worked out, I handle the tactics while Marc gives the orders during fights. He's a bit better at the leadershipness thing. Like you and grandpa are," Morgan replied. She practically bounced with each step now, her grin so large it looked as though it might soon consume the rest of her expression.
"I'm happy things are working out." Lucina smiled, nodding her head. "And that the others are in good hands. I think some were worried ever since your father stepped down as royal tactician, you know. Him included."
"Hey, I'm standing right here," her husband cut in, pouting his face indignantly. "I had no doubt the grasshopper was ready for it: the others adjusting to the change was my only concern. I can't say I can complain though, retirement is great. Not having to fight for my life every other day is a plus."
"How's the book writing business going?" Morgan asked, glancing back over her shoulder. They had just passed into the throne room, which sat empty but for the ever present guards that stood besides each entrance.
Perhaps father is in a meeting with his advisers, Lucina thought to herself.
"Great, I'm just wrapping up the first volume. Its mostly detailing my own tactics and-"
"Father! Mother! There you are!"
Turning her head, Lucina smiles as she spied Marc running towards them.
These days he rarely wore his tactician's coat, instead favoring garments closer to those Lucina had once worn. The vest of padded leather he wore was a deep azure blue, with matching gloves, bracer, and shoulder guards on his arms and a shirt of a matching hue underneath. Over this he wore a midnight blue cloak, its clasp identical to the one that fastened her own. His Falchion jiggled at his side with each step, its bronze hilt glinting in the shifting light.
"Nah flew me here, she'll be catching up in a bit," Marc explained as he caught up with them, hunching over with hands braced against his knees while he caught his breath. If Marc had resembled his father and grandfather when he was younger, it was only more so true as an adult. If not for the color of his hair, one might have mistaken him for Robin at a distance, so similar their build and general features. However, close up one would find many similarities in his face to his grandfather, as well being a bit more muscular than his father as consequence of preference to swordsmanship over his magical capabilities. It looked like he'd grown a few inches since she'd last seen him too, standing as tall as his father now.
"Big brudder!" the twins' younger selves cried out, squirming in Robin's arms as they stretched their arms out to Marc.
Marc grinned at this, standing straight to retrieve the two from their father's arms.
"At last, freedom," Robin deadpanned, wincing as he rubbed his shoulders. "Either the devils have gotten heavier, or I'm really out of shape… maybe both."
"I can attest to the first one, gods you two have gotten so big," said Mark. Laughing, he turned to Lucina, his smile still undiminished. "Happy birthday, Mother. I would give you a hug, but, well… you know," he hefted the two children in explanation.
"I understand. Things are going well for you?" Lucina asked. Not that she needed an answer: laughter and smiles seemed to come much more easily for Marc than in the past, even if he tended to be more withdrawn in comparison to his sister or even his younger self. Still, the past few years had done him well, her son appearing far happier and at ease than when they'd first met in his own timeline.
"Well enough, but I'm sure Morgan already covered most of it," Marc replied. "I've missed you both lately, oh, and these two as well," he added quickly at the younger children's indignant looks.
"No doubt. Its been too long since the whole family has been together," Robin agreed, taking Lucina's hand after stepped up next to her. "Yet now everyone is here and-"
"Ahem," coughed a voice somewhere behind them, interrupting her husband.
The momentary look of surprise on his Robin's face quickly turned to a mischievous smirk that Lucina knew all too well. "Now everyone important is here," Robin corrected, keeping his gaze fixed on the same stop he had before.
"Ahem," the voice repeated louder.
"Everyone important," Robin said again, matching the newcomer's volume
"Robin, you dastard, just turn around already!"
Through a hallway to their left had entered Lucina's father and mother, the Exalt approaching with arms spread wide in greeting.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't see you there, 'Dad''," Robin teased his best-friend slash father-in-law.
Chrom faltered a step, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the tactician. Then he sighed, his expression relaxing. "I suppose it wouldn't be a reunion if I didn't want to smack you at least once."
"I know, right? Its part of my charm," Robin grinned, "Though its not like a old man like you could actually hurt me and-"
Lucina elbowed her husband hard, the rest of what he'd been going to say lost as he yelped in pain. "Honey, stop antagonizing my father. You are aware he will hit you, right?"
"I'm just giving him a hard time. Don't take this away from me, he's the only one I can get away with doing this."
"Grandpa! Grandma!" Morgan and Marc screamed happily. Kneeling, the older Marc set them down, allowing them to run over to their grandparents.
"See, he's a grandfather. Totally an old man," Robin said.
"Robin," Lucina warned in unison with her father, eyes narrowing as they stared his way.
"I'll be good." Robin sighed.
"Now that's a lie if I've ever heard one," Chrom interjected, grinning as he crossed the distance between them. Behind him Sumia led Morgan and Marc by the hand, the twin chatting excitedly as they told their grandparents everything that had happened. Or at least, everything that involved the two of them, since of course that was the very most important things to have ever happened.
"Lucina," her father extended his arms, gripping her forearm as he pulled her into a hug which she gladly returns. "Happy birthday. I hope the idiot hasn't been causing too much trouble, has he?"
"Sometimes I wonder who's really the children of the house, him or the little ones, but no more than the normal 'Robin amount'." Lucina laughed, breaking away from her father. Turning to her mother she hugged her just as she had her father.
"I ask myself the same thing, only your father's kind of trouble involved breaking things… not that I'm much better," her mother interjected.
"She's got me there," Lucina's father admitted, a deep chuckle falling from his lips. He turns to Robin then. "Robin, its good to see you, brother." The exalt extended a hand to the tactician.
"Its good to see you too Chrom, its been far too long… wait, you're not going to hit me are you?" Robin asked, freezing with his hand half extended.
"Just shut up and get over here," her father sighed. Gripped Robin's forearm, her pulled the tactician into a back-slapping hug. Robin winced in surprise at first, clearly having still fearing retribution for his earlier remarks, before relaxing and returning the gesture.
"Also, what do you mean about it being "too long?" Lucina's father asked, stepping back to regard her husband at arm's length. "Weren't you here only-"
"Ahaha, yeah, um… I have no idea what youre…. Chrom, please, shush," Robin interrupted, his voice wavering as he spoke. He tugged at the collar of his shirt, beats of sweat glistening on his face.
Lucina frowned, eyes narrowing as she looked on her husband. She'd known him long enough to tell when he was hiding something, or rather when he'd been found out. Among many things, a terrible liar was one of the many things she could use to describe him. "Robin… is there something you should be telling me?" Lucina crossed her arms, tapping a foot expectantly.
"Ah...see… well... " Robin gulped audibly, his mouth working without forming words. "I was hoping you wouldn't find out until later today, so please, wait until then? I need you to trust me on this… I don't want this ruined…"
Her expression softened at this, nodding her head. "I trust you, Robin. You could do with acting less suspicious, though. It mayhaps give the wrong impression and-"
"Mommy, I'm bored," Marc whined, tugging at her pants legs.
"Me too! But I'm more bored!" Morgan added, latching onto the opposite leg.
"Why don't you two go play Justice Cabal with Cynthia, Owain, and Gerome," Lucina told the twins, smiling down at time.
"And later I can get future, time traveling Justice Cabal together. We can totes have a team up adventure!" the older Morgan interjected, grinning widely at her own idea. "Ooooh, or maybe a fight between the two. Every team crossover needs a big fight between the two."
"Awesome!" the two shouted in unison, bouncing up and down with what Lucina could only guess was barely contained excitement at this suggestion. Without another word they sprinted off down the hall in search for their cousin and aunt… the later of which was the same age as them… gods, their family was confusing.
"Older Gerome might need some convincing to join us," her twin added. The elder of the two Marcs frowned, watching as his younger self and his sister's scurried out of sight before elaborating."Its still hard to see him as an 'cabaler', and I still remember when we were kids. The one from my timeline, that is. Its really with him clinging to the whole 'darkness' and 'no parents', angsty loner that is really cool and…. I'm not jealous… okay a little, but Owain is too!"
"Not everyone can pull off the masked vigilante look, little brother," Morgan replied. She smirked, adding, "well, I mean, I totally could pull it off if I wanted to. Behind this cheerful and airheaded exterior is a brooding loner hell bend on bringing justice to a dark and grim world." As she spoke Morgan pulled the collar of her coat up over her face dramatically.
"But we have a family, a big one!" Marc countered. "Doesn't that disqualify you?"
"Morgan froze, her eyes widening as if hit by an earth shattering revelation. "You're right. There is only one way." Her hand shot to the hilt of her sword as she slowly turned her head to regard the rest of her extended family.
Before this could go any further, however, Lucinna reached out, smacking her daughter on the back of the head. "No. Bad Morgan, no murdering your family to justify becoming an character out of Owain's inane stories."
"Ow! Fine, fine, I'm be good. Totally could have killed you all too," Morgan muttered, rubbing the back of her head,
"So, before Morgan decides that , lets go find little Lucina, and then we can catch up," Lucina's father offered, motioning for them to follow.
"Sounds good to me," Robin shrugged. He took a single step before freezing suddenly, his eyes falling onto Lucina. "However… Lucina… you aren't going to spent the day glaring at other you, are you?" he asked hesitantly.
"Only if she doesn't try to steal you from me," Lucina replied, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "She may be me, but you're mine. She can get her own."
"So no promises?" Robin arched an eyebrow.
"No promises," Lucina affirmed.
Robin leaned down, kissing her. "Works for me." He laughed.
. . . . .
"... by the time I'd flown the two of them from the tree you would have thought they were going to die of embarrassment. Robin's face was so red that we could have left him up there and you would have thought it was an apple tree." The table erupted into laughter as Lucina's mother finished her story.
Lucina lowered herself back into her chair. Next to her Robin was likewise doing his best to appear unassuming.
The past few hours had been of activity, filled with lots of reunions and catching up as more members of the royal family had arrived. The dinner that had followed turned into a time to recount stories of their past adventures, as well as for the second generation of Shepherds to regale them with tales of their more recent adventures, which in the case of her cousin were likely of dubious factuality.
Lucina took another bite of birthday cake, glanced between those around the table. Her parents were seated directly across from her and Robin, and to her father's right were her aunt and uncle. To the left of her parents was seated Morgan and her now fiance Inigo, who had proposed to her only a month before. Across from them sat Marc and Nah. Both Cynthia and Owain had likewise come as well, bringing their respective partners of Gerome and Severa with them to the party. The others members of the future Shepherds were not able to make it, in no small part to their own obligations.
"In their defense, by that point half of the Shepherds had gathered around the base of the tree," Chrom interjected, talking through a mouthful of cake. "After being called up into a search party once we realised you two were missing, having a laugh of your expense was the the least they could get."
"You know, we can play this game too," Robin countered, pointing his fork across the table at Lucina's parents "We're not the only ones with embarrassing stories.
"It may not be as bad, but I know your pain," Marc interjected. "I got thrown into a lake in front of everyone. Well, I fell off of Nah's back. It was the first time she left me ride on her back and-"
"-I thought it would be funny to do a loop without tell him," Nah finished for him, an evil grin spreading across her face. "I'd expected him to hold on, but made sure we were over the lake the others had camped by first, just in case."
"Oooh, I remember hearing about this. I was on a scouting mission at the time, wasn't there to see it in person," Morgan cut in, her words nearly incomprehensible though the cake stuffed into her mouth. "How was it?"
"Besides the embarrassment, it was awesome!" Marc answered, grinning. "Nah even left me jump off her back into the take a couple times afterwards. It was like she was my private, flying, diving board."
"Gods, now I want to do that. That sounds so much fun!" In a sudden flurry of motion, Morgan spun around to face Inigo, knocking over her cup as she went."Why can't you turn into a dragon?"
For his part, Inigo stared blankly at her for a long moment, his expression one of comical bewilderment. "Because I'm not an Manakete?" Inigo replied hesitantly, as if unsure that he'd given the right answer.
"That's no excuse. I want to ride a dragon!" Morgan slammed a fist against the table.
Inigo sat silently for another moment, then his expression changed. He raised a finger up before him, his lips curled into a mischievous smirk. From her own interaction with him over the years, it was an expression that Lucina was all too familiar with.
Oh gods, this won't end well."
"Well, Morgan, if you want to start calling it that I'd be happy to oblige and-"
A bolt of lightning struck the wall behind Inigo with a fizzling pop, missing his head by a hair's breath.
"Morgan…" Robin said, sparks dancing from the tip of his still outstretched finger. "Well your fiance to shut up, or there isn't going to be a wedding this year. Or any at all." Without lowering his arms, Robin calmly resumed eating his slice of cake as if nothing was amiss.
"See, honey, I told you I wasn't going to be the first one to thread a son in law with brutal death," Lucina's father noted, turning to his wife with a wry smile. "I can have self control when I want to."
"I never doubted you would, I only wanted to make sure to avoid causing another scene," Sumia smiled knowingly.
"Perhaps now would be a good time to open presents," Lucina offered, pushing her husband's arm back down to his side. "Honestly Robin, could you try to act your age for once?"
"I think that's a wonderful idea," Lucina's mother exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Why don't your father and I go first, does that sound fine?" She asked.
Nodding, Lucina waited as her father reached under the table, retrieving two wrapped gifts, handing one to each of Lucina and her younger self. Opening the present, Lucina found a silver necklace, a pendant of lapis lazuli. Glancing over the younger her, she saw that she too had been given an identical gift.
Thanking her parents, Lucina next moved onto the gift she and Robin had brought with them, offering it to the seven year version of herself. She watched as the blue haired girl excitedly tore into the package, gasping in shock as she found an exact replica of cloak and mask Lucina had worn in her Marth disguise.
"We picked it out when we visited for Cynthia's birthday. Gerome knows a good mask maker in the city, who we commissioned it from," Lucina explained, smiling to her younger her.
"I love it, thank you so much," the younger Lucina exclaimed. Hopping out of her chair, she threw her arms around her 'big sister', squeezing her in thanks.
"Oooh, ooooh, us next, open our present next," Morgan waved her arms over her head, desperate to get everyone's attention. Reaching under her chair, she pulled out a soft, roughly square shaped parcel wrapped in green paper and tied with a blue bow. Reaching across the table, Lucina accepted the gift, returning to her seat.
Spying a hard dangling from the bow, Lucina turned her head to better look at it. The small sheet of paper had been signed by many names, including all of her friends that had traveled from her own timeline.
"It was my and Marc's idea mostly, but we got all of the others to pitch in for it," Morgan explained
Nodding, Lucina untied the ribbon, the paper falling away to reveal a large, dark gray coat a size too big to fit her snuggly. Even before unfolding it, she recognised the gold and purple patterning: it was an exact replica of the coat worn by Robin and her two oldests, down to the every detail. Only this one was brand new, showing no sign of the wear and tear that adorned those worn by the other three.
"Morgan and I were discussing gift ideas when we realised that you were the only one who didn't have a coat like us," Marc explained, smiling as Lucina looked between the two.
"Now we all match!" Morgan agreed.
"Thank you both. And all you too," Lucina added, smiling to Cynthia, Gerome, Owain, Severa, Inigo, and Nah each in turn. "It means a lot to-"
"When do I get a coat like daddy?" the younger Morgan interrupted. She'd bolted upright, standing up on her chair, the indignant expression she wore screaming the girl's thoughts at that moment must be: 'how dare they forget about her. She was her after all, forgetting her was unthinkable'.
"When you're older," Robin replied firmly, leaning out of her chair to sit his daughter down in his chair. "Your older brother and sister didn't get theirs until they were bigger."
This answer did not seem to accept the pouting Morgan, who merely crossed her arms and continued to glare at everyone around the table.
Standing, Lucina slipped on the coat, twirling halfway in place to let it billow around her before returning to her seat. It was almost the exact same weight as Robin's coat too, the only changes made to it being to better fit her size.
"Is it my turn? Did you get a present for your best aunt in whole world?" the younger Lucina asked, looking between the two who in reality would be as much her children as they were the older Lucina herself.
"Yep, Morgan came up with the idea for it," Marc replied, searching around his chair. "I think its somewhere around here…"
. . . . .
It was late by the time Lucina and her younger counterpart had finished unwrapping their presents, with everyone soon retiring to their rooms for the night. For herself and Robin the next half hour was spent getting their youngests ready for bed, only once the twins had fallen asleep did they return to their room for the night.
Stepping into the darkened room, Lucina blinked, squinting to make out the dark silhouettes of furniture that adorned the room. Behind her Robin murmured something she couldn't make out, fire bursting to life in the fireplace as he finished his spell.
"Brings, make memories, huh?" her husband asked, gazing out onto their old bedroom. Her father and mother had kept the room maintained over the past several years, so that the two of them could have a place to themselves during their visits.
"Do you ever regret moving away?" Lucina asked, taking a seat on the bed.
"A little bit, sometimes," Robin replied. He shrugged his shoulders, sitting down next to her. "These visits do remind me out much I miss everyone, but I think the past few years have proven we enjoy the peace of quiet away from the capita. Not to mention it has solved issue regarding the potential complications fall out of there being two of you living in the same place."
"I suppose you're right," Lucina murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Shall we retire to bed then?"
"Actually…" Robin replied, shifting in his seat. Lucina sat up straight as Robin bent down, fishing through his bag. After several moments he withdrew a square shaped object wrapped in brown paper, the same one she'd glimpsed him pack earlier that day. "...I have one more present to give you. Its not much, and… well… I wanted this to be a complete surprise, as this was what I was referring to when I asked for you to wait until this evening."
Lucina smiled, taking the offered present. "Its okay, I don't mind it not being wholly unexpected. Its not like I know what it is you are giving me, after all."
Undoing the knot, Lucina unwrapped the brown paper covering the present. She gasped, beholding the preset her husband had gotten her. Inside was perhaps the most beautiful times she had ever seen, with a dark sapphire blue cover inlaid with hand carved silver engravings that formed a flowing border around the edge. At its center was set the book's title, its script matching her husband's handwriting so perfectly that there was no mistaking that he had decorated the book by hand. Her vision blurring with tears, it took a moment for her to piece out the ruby-red lettering. It read Shadow Dragon and the Blade of Light.
"What is this?" Lucina asked, carefully flipping through the pages. The script was in Robin's hand as well. He must have penned the whole book himself.
"Its a full account of the Hero-King Marth's adventures and deeds. I know how much you of an inspiration his story was for you, so I thought you'd like it. " Robin answered. Looking up, Lucina saw that Robin was smiling too, no double pleased that she liked his gift. "I've been working on it for the past two years. I hunted down every reliable source I could get my hands on and even collaborated with Tiki to make sure all the details were are accurate as possible. As far as I know, this is the most accurate version, as includes all the things to historians left out."
"Lady Tiki helped with this? How? When did you…" Lucina trailed off, the pieces falling into place. "That's why you keep vanishing for hours on end, 'practicing'!" She exclaimed.
Robin nodded. "I wanted it to be a surprise, so you'll have to forgive my lying to you," he confirmed, then with a smirk added. "Your father almost ruined it too, as whenever I wasn't working with Tiki I was in the palace's library. You have no idea how close I was to smacking him when he let it slip I'd been here recently. I really wanted it to be a surprise, to make the gift special."
Closing the book, Lucina ran her hand over the cover, her vision blurring with gathering moistness. He'd put so much work into this, all to make this day perfect for her. "Robin… you didn't need to go through all that just to give me something special. No matter what, it would have already been special to me, when it comes from you."
Robin shook his head, smiling gently. "No, I did need to do this. You deserve no less. Considering it thanks for being there for me every day for the past five years, and for all the days to come. Because you are the one who will always be at my side… and me by yours…"
Blinking back tears. Lucina wrapped her arms around him, their lips meeting in a long passionate kiss. For how long they remained locked in each other's embrace, she could not tell, only resurfacing when she was forced to heed her burning lungs' call for air.
Gasping for air, the two of them began to laugh. So sudden had been the sudden makeout session.
"So, I guess reading the book will have to wait till tomorrow th-"
Before Robin could finish Lucina grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, pulling him down onto the bed next to her. Oh yes, it would definitely have to wait until tomorrow.
Author's Note: And so ends my little Lucina's Birthday/Fire Emblem 25th Anniversary celebration piece. I apologies if it is a bit on the rough side, I only just finished it this morning and wanted to make sure I got it out today. I do plan on going back over the next few days and cleaning it up a bit.
I have to say, I enjoyed getting a chance to write about how everyone is doing years later, even if I needed way more time than I had to cover every single little change that has happened. I do plan to eventually explore some of the elements I introduced in this chapter, as many of them have the potential for their own stories.
Those wondering about the gift Robin gave Lucina, yes he did basically just write a novelization of the first Fire Emblem game. I felt it was the most fitting way for me to also nod to it being the 25th anniversary of the series, which also played into the decision to make it Lucina's 25th birthday.
Since its also coming up, I predict my next story will be about Morgan/Marc's birthday, though I intend for that one to be much shorter than the 7+k words oneshot this one is.