The Ylissean army marched for northern Ferox on the direction of the Khans, and, after stopping in a nearby village for directions and information, arrived at somewhat strange ruins with water features and walls and floors that seemed to glow with a soft blue light. Oddly, it reminded Pit of the City of Souls, and he shook his head as he told himself to focus on the task at hand. They entered this place, the Ruins of Time as they were called, Chrom stopped at the front of the group he'd selected to join him and Rufure came to his side.
"Is this the place?" the tactician wondered as she and several other soldiers, Pit and Lucina included, looked around with mixed feelings about their location. An ill feeling passed over the group as they found their undead enemies waiting within.
"Yeah, it's got to be," Chrom agreed. "The townsfolk spoke of ruins in these parts that carry the legacy of the divine dragon. Of course, they neglected to mention that the place is crawling with Risen… I suppose we're just gonna have to earn this treasure the old-fashioned way."
"Please, Father, be careful," Lucina pleaded, and he turned to her with a brief smile.
"Hey, don't forget who apparently taught you to fight! And I'd rather have everyone here than a hundred soldiers against these things." He lifted his voice to address the rest of the group. "And that also means I don't want any of you dying here! Be careful in battle. No treasure is worth a life."
"I wonder what this Naga's Tear does," Pit mumbled as he readied his bow. "Is this seriously what you humans go through to get a blessing from a divine being? You risk death and injury, even being burned alive, in hopes that this Naga will help you?"
"Pit, please!" Lucina protested. "Naga is our defender. Her blessings have protected us from Grima and the darkness and destruction he brings to the world. Legend says that Falchion was made from her fang and given to an ancestor of the first Exalt to save our world." Somehow, Pit's ears didn't hear her words as an explanation, and he felt like he'd been slapped across the face.
"Then what am I to you?" he hissed, trying to keep his voice down. "Skuttler dung? Thanks, Lucina." She stared at him, dumbfounded.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded, but he shook his head with is lips pursed.
"We've got a battle to fight so you can get another precious blessing from your oh-so-wonderful Naga."
"Enough of this," she said curtly. "I will not listen to you speak of Naga in such a blasphemous way. You know she's the reason why we have a fighting chance now! She's the one that sent us back to save the world from Grima!"
"'Blasphemous!'" he repeated with a harsh and brief laugh.
"Hey!" Chrom snapped at them. "I don't know what you're arguing about, but save it for after the battle. I don't care what the issue is, but it's not worth you two putting each other in danger. Now watch each others' backs!" Pit frowned, but said nothing else as he attempted to hide his hurt.
"He's right," Lucina said quietly. "I'll keep you safe, Pit, even if you are displaying a strong bout of stupidity." He snorted.
"If anyone needs protecting, it's you. All of you." Before she could say anything else, he hurried off, telling himself to take his anger out on the Risen.
"Chrom," Rufure beckoned as the battle waged around them. "There's a boy over to the right. It's strange… he's dressed like me. But he's certainly not a Risen, and he seems versed in magic." Chrom frowned before turning and blocking a Risen's axe, and Rufure dispatched it with a cast of Elfire.
"Don't worry, Rufure," he told her. "I'll take care of him. Strange that a Plegian would be fighting against the Risen…"
"Unless it's just a trick," Rufure pointed out. "Maybe I should go."
"No, let me," Chrom insisted. "Take over command while I'm busy. I don't want them trying to plant anything else in your head, especially with that hierophant and Validar. I trust that man as far as I can throw him."
"I understand," she nodded. "Be careful." Chrom nodded and made his way to the boy while his allies fought off the assailing Risen.
"Gods, where do these things keep coming from?" he wondered as he ran Falchion through an attacker. "It doesn't help that we have to fight the living AND the dead." He hurried over with his sword at the ready. "Hey, you!"
"Huh?!" the boy spun around to face his beckoner and blinked several times as Chrom stared at him. He certainly was dressed like Rufure, and he had dark blue hair and brown-green eyes. He was a young lad, much younger than Chrom would have expected to see fighting- especially on his own. "Who are you?" he wondered, his tone guarded but not unkind.
"I would ask you the same," Chrom replied. "More importantly, why are you here? This is hardly a safe place to be wandering alone." Even if the boy seemed skilled in swords and magic.
"I…" the boy hesitated. "I don't know, frankly. I woke up… sprawled in a field. I can't recall anything before that." Chrom stared at him.
"This sounds familiar," he grumbled, recalling how he'd met Rufure two years previous.
"I… I think I remember my name?" Chrom wasn't sure whether the boy was talking to him or himself. "…Morgan? Yes, that's it. My name is Morgan."
"I'm Chrom," the Ylissean ruler introduced. "And finding amnesiacs is apparently my special talent. I met someone very dear to me in the same way. Her name is Rufure."
"Rufure?!" Morgan repeated. "Is this friend of yours perchance a tactician?"
"She is," Chrom nodded. "Do you know her?"
"Yes, I know her! She's my mother!"
"'Mother?!'" This was news to Chrom. "Then you're our… You're my…" It seemed impossible. "Morgan, stay calm and listen to me. Rufure is my wife. Which means you're likely my son who came here from the future." Now it was Morgan's turn to stare at his father.
"…What?! But I… the future?! Is… Is that why I have no memory? But wait, I remember my mother. So why don't I remember you?"
"I don't know," Chrom admitted. "Do you recall a sister named Lucina?"
"No," Morgan shook his head. "Nothing like that." Chrom sighed heavily.
"I suppose it's a blessing you at least remember your mother. Maybe something will come back once you've met with her and Lucina. Until then, you'd best come with me. And stay close. I don't want you hurt."
"All right, thank you," Morgan smiled. "And don't worry- I can defend myself. You just lead the way."
"Right. Then- Morgan, behind you!" Morgan spun around again and cast a strike of Elfire before a Risen Swordmaster could hit him. And as he attacked, Chrom stared at the back of his hand as his sleeve was pulled up briefly. Though he only saw it for a split second, it was there without a doubt: The mark of the Exalt.
"This kid really is my son," he breathed, but shook his head. "Gotta regroup for now. I can talk to him later."
Meanwhile, Rufure led the charge against the Risen Chief with Lucina at her side. It appeared the Ylisseans were winning, but the reinforcements had made things more difficult for their tactician.
"I need to go back and help our allies," she said quickly to her daughter. "Do you think you can challenge their leader?" Lucina nodded.
"You can count on me, Mother. His death will be swift and unforgiving." Rufure dipped her head and turned back toward their comrades. Though their numbers were dwindling, the Risen still fought with everything they had and showed no signs of slowing down. Lucina turned her attention to the Risen Chief and readied Falchion.
"Must kill… future… child…" it moaned, confusing her.
"You mean me?" she wondered. "Or is someone else here?" her heart fluttered with the thought that they had finally found one of her other companions, but she told herself to refocus and struck quickly. The Risen groaned as her blade slashed against him, but it retaliated with its axe almost as quickly. It came down hard, and she dodged- barely. But she missed her second strike and bit her lip as its glowing eyes stared at her, filled only with malice.
An arrow flew by her head and struck the Risen in the chest, and it growled loudly before fading into dark smoke and wisps. Once she was sure her heart was still beating, she turned around to find Pit standing behind her as he lowered his bow. His gaze was level and his face serious, his brow still slightly furrowed.
"I came to protect you," he said flatly. "I'm not about to watch any of you fall to these things." It took her a moment to reply.
"Thank you," she finally said quietly. "For your help." He said nothing else, but only stood there as their companions finished off the remaining Risen. Once they were gone, Chrom, Rufure, and Lissa approached the part of the ruins that the Risen Chief had been guarding. The Ylissean ruler rummaged around for several moments before retrieving a tear-like object.
"This must be Naga's Tear," he realized. "I can feel the power coursing through it."
"Sweet!" Lissa grinned. "This baby should keep us safe in the battles to come."
"I hope you're right about that, Sis." Chrom turned to his wife and took a deep breath. "Will you come with me for a moment?"
"Sure," she nodded. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I think." He turned his attention to the pair from the future. "Are you two going to be okay?"
"Yes, Father," Lucina dipped her head. "I apologize for worrying you." Pit remained silent, even as Chrom watched him for a moment before giving up, and he, his wife, and his sister headed off for whatever business they had to attend. Once he was sure they were out of earshot, he sighed.
"I've risked my life more times than I can count to save you," he began, and Lucina turned to him. "Not just you, but everyone. Humans. For over a thousand years, I've fought, argued, stood up for all of you." He crossed his arms and refused to look at her. "Even when Medusa was burning your crops and turning you to stone, I fought. When Hades wanted to harvest your souls for his own agenda, I stopped him. When Nemo wanted to wipe you out and start over with a new world, I fought and saved you. When Viridi wanted to drop her Reset Bombs on you because she thought you weren't worth living, I kept you safe. For a millennium, I've watched over you from the heavens and given you light, protected your lives, defended you from all the things out there that would see you suffer." They were both silent for several moments.
"Pit…" Lucina finally spoke. "I'm not sure I understand. What are you trying to tell me?" Finally, he looked up and met her gaze.
"I'm the god of Light," he said softly, and her jaw fell open as she stared at him.
"Th-the… god of… Light?" she repeated in disbelief. He uncrossed his arms and clenched his fingers, and when he opened them, a small ball of light illuminated over his palm.
"I told you, I came to fight as one of you and oversee your progress in defeating Grima. I wanted to see if you could defend yourselves. But I would never abandon you, and even if you can't, then I'll stop him myself. That's why I'm here, Lucina." Stunned into silence, she simply watched him for a moment longer before falling to her knees and bowing to him.
"M-My sincerest and deepest apologies, milord. I never meant any insult against you… I am ready to accept any judgment you pass over me. Please, do with me as you see fit." He blinked.
"Lucina…" he shook his head. "Stand up." She complied hesitantly. "Hold out your hand, will you?" Confused, she did so, and he took hold of it, and she grunted in surprise when he pulled her into an embrace and held her gently against him. "Don't I have a heartbeat? I'm warm, aren't I?" He smiled. "Tell me how this is different from you hugging a friend or someone close to you."
"I…" she hesitated. "I don't know."
"Exactly," he said softly. "I'm not so different from you or your kind. I was a human myself once. Sure, I may have a bunch of abilities and skill you don't and can stand up to battle for a little longer, not to mention my real form has wings as you saw, but there're still plenty of ways that we're alike too. Don't view me as a divine being that deserves your fear and respect, Lucina. I want to be your friend and comrade that you can trust and rely on. Whether the rest of your kind knows that or not, it really doesn't matter to me as long as they still, in some way, trust me." After a moment longer, he felt her arms wrap gently around his back.
"Thank you, Pit," she replied. "You have my full and complete trust. I'm sorry I upset you."
"Me too," he agreed. "I didn't like that feeling. I don't like being mad at you. Or anyone, but especially you. Just… do me a favor and don't tell anyone about what I just said, okay? It's probably better that no one knows who I really am."
"Your secret's safe with me. I promise."
The sound of a clearing throat separated them, and they both turned to find Chrom and Rufure standing there.
"Hope we're not interrupting," Chrom said curtly. "But I think there's something you'd both be very interested in. Especially you, Lucina." He stepped to the side to reveal a boy standing behind them. At the sight of him, Lucina stopped breathing for a moment as her eyes watered, and she rushed over to him and pulled him into her arms.
"Morgan!" she cried, and released him after a moment as he watched her.
"Lu…cina?" He sounded confused. "Yeah, you're Lucina!" His expression suddenly illuminated with a bright grin. "I remember you! A little, anyway. Sort of. But it's something!"
"Remember?" Lucina frowned. "What do you mean?"
"He lost his memory," Chrom explained. "Apparently his memory of your mother is clear as day, but he says he doesn't recall anything about me. But I guess you two were probably decently close in this future of yours."
"Right," Lucina lied, deciding it was probably better if she didn't bring up Morgan's former allegiances. "I apologize that I didn't mention him before, but I was afraid of bringing up further confusion and false hope that we would find him."
"Huh," Rufure shrugged. "Well, at least one of you seems to have taken after me! But we can talk on the road. For now, we should probably be headed to the harbor."
"Right," Chrom agreed. "The sooner we get to Valm, the better. We'll camp outside tonight and head out in the morning." The group of five headed off for the entrance of the ruins, and Morgan ran up to join his mother with a grin on his face.
"I'm glad he's okay," Lucina said as she and Pit brought up the rear. "But I wonder why he lost his memory. Maybe it has something to do with what Grima said before we left…"
"What, commanding Morgan to join him again or whatever?" Pit asked, and she nodded. "I don't know. But he seems happy enough, and he's been reunited with your mother just as you have with your father. And that's what counts, right?"
"Right," she smiled. "Thank you, Pit. And now, maybe we'll get a chance to find the others as well. I can only imagine what trouble Owain has caused since he got here."
"I guess we'll see," he chuckled. "And you're welcome."
