Preparations

The sound of clashing wooden swords was heard. The swordman tried to hit his opponent, but the latter blocked it. He jumped backward before attacking again. The other one tried to defend himself. One hit after another. He blocked them, using his eyes and his reflexes, and at the same time, tried to learn his opponent's attacks patern. And finally, he saw an opening, and striked... but before he can even hit his opponent, he felt the wooden sword escaped his hands because of a great defensive move from the swordman. And so, his attack failed, and he lost.

"I can't understand how you succeed to read my strikes, Stahl." sighed the white-haired young man.

"It's your expression, Robin. You'd be amazed how much you can read from a face, if you know what to look for.

- Agh... So I betrayed myself ? I have so much to learn... And as expected from one of Chrom's finest swordman, or so he said. You're strong.

- Nah, I'm not that strong. I'm not as par as Lon'qu, for example.

- Ah ah, but he's from Regna Ferox. But I can understand your point. I asked him to teach me some moves, and eventually led to a sparring training, saying he's no teacher. In the morrow, I was so cramped that I had to ask Lissa some care.

- And my only gift is that I'm good to read people. That's all. Th rest was training. Hard training. But with Sully, she always pushed me to my limits.

- But it pays.

- Ah ah, you're right. Mainly because I found a goal to reach, I'm more motivated. At first, it was Sully who wanted us to surpass the Bull and the Panther...

- 'Panther' and 'Bull'... ? Oh, can it be the kinghts of the Hero-King Marth ?

- Yes, it is. Well, it's always her goal. And she know the words to force me to give everything. But personnaly, I have another goal, now..."

Stahl was looking at the Shepherds who were training. Robin saw him posing his eyes on someone, but didn't have time to try to follow and see who : the green swordman already looked back at him.

"And talking about goal and all... Lissa's idea was excellent. Chrom smiled again – for a moment, at least – et everyone seems more motivated.

- Yeah... And about that, I have to thank you again. Chrom seemed to love our gift.

- Not at all – I should be thanking you ! I doubt I could have afforded everything without your fat purse.

- Oh, come now. Don't think I'll fall for that old trick..." said the tactician while smiling. "You helped me and just made it seem like I was helping you. And now, I'm really grateful !

- Okay, in this case, be grateful to Lissa too. Without her and her idea, these gifts would have less impacts.

- ...Yeah... She's really a wonderful person." nodded Robin. "She always tried to cheer everyone up. The Shepherds are lucky to have someone like her.

- You know, I think your arrival helped too.

- What ? No way. I'm not that helpful. I'm just useful to planning and stuff.

- I don't think so. You're a good person too. And you know, our princess gave her all thanks to you. She really changed since she met you. There were some really difficult events and she went through them without almost any complaints... I think you helped her more than you think.

- ...I do ?"

Looking at Lissa, who was training with Vaike, he felt a slight warn in his chest. And at this moment, he saw her disarmed her opponent for the first time. Overjoyed, the looked randomly at him, and saw him looking at her. And so, she waved.

"Hey, Robin, did you see that ?" she said happily, making Robin smiled.

"I'll see if Sully can teach me one or two lance moves. That doesn't bother you ?" asked suddenly Stahl.

"Oh, er, no problem. Thanks for the sparring, Stahl."

The swordman left him alone, and Robin looked back at Lissa again. Stahl said that she gave her all thanks to him... And that tought make him feel strangely happy. Actually, he can saw she was giving all in her training, and progressed thanks to that. He wondered how she did to invest herself like that. And that make him wanting to do the same. He was training with the sword because the next battles might needed this kind of skill. He wanted to improve himself in this domain too, since's he's already quite good at magic. And Lissa was trying to do the same. Robin thinked then he understand some words Stahl was saying about motivation. Then, he returned in his room. *Time to prepare some plan* he thinked.

After Chrom's birthday, the Shepherds had their hands full, training and preparing themselves for their potentially biggest battle incoming. Robin visited Phila and the rest of her still alive unit at the infirmary, since they were badly injured – but not as much as their prides since they failed to protect the Exalt. The captain obviously accepted to help for the Exalt's rescue. So Robin take them in account for his plans.

One week later, the Khans came back. There were no news from the spies, but Basilio was optimistic. Robin asked them their strong points and their weakness to count them in his plan as well. Then, as the time passed, Robin progressed in the Shepherd's march plan and other battle tactics. During these days, war meetings were held too to informed them about the news from the front line.

And the 10th June, nine days before Emmeryn's execution supposed day, spies returned with their informations, about the execution place and about the Plegian's men supposed to be here this day. Robin took time to note all they said. Since Aversa was supposed to be here too, he asked Ricken and Maribelle, who were the ones who had he time to see her in action. But none of them did know something about her, except one little detail that the young noble saw :

"When Ricken rescued me, he used his wind magic... and I remember that this hag was shocked by the attack. Or rather, the element used."

Knowing that, Robin supposed she ride a flying mount. He doesn't know what kind, but it was good enough to him. And, the next day, after hours and hours of planning, Robin had his strategy, and explained it in a big meetting where Shepherds, Khans and Phila and her unit participated. All learned their role and what to do in specific situations.

The next morning, all their preparations were finished, and began to march towards Plegia. United as one man, the Shepherds were ready to save the Exalt, Regna Ferox at their side. What they did not expect was being encouraged by the villagers, who left their home sheer them. It was a big surprise, but a good one. And they promised that they will bring back their queen. They left the village, and just after, Chrom speaked to Gaius.

"I guess we need to thank you for these warms encouragements, Gaius.

- ...I don't know what you're talking about, blue blood." he answered, a lollipop in his mouth, but a smile at the corner of his lips.

From a distance, Marth was looking at the Shepherd's departure. She was heavily worrying about the Exalt, but know she cannot help them. Approaching them too much can reveal her real identity, and she knew that her parents wasn't close enough so she can reveal that. Revealing such a truth could lead to complication, or even a paradox. She cannot permit such things to happen. So, she followed them afar when she knew it was important to do so.

"...Lucina ? Is that really you ?"

She heared someone calling her by her true name, to her surprise. She turned around and looked at a young man holding a mage hat. She recognized his face, but something seemed off.

"Laurent ! Oh, I'm so glad you're here ! But tell me... Did you changed something ? ...No, it's like...

- I grew up, yes, it's that the point you were about to say. It's been three years since I came in this world. I was really worried to see no friend around. It's such a relief to finally found one of my friend.

- Did you say three years ? ...Oh gosh, so it did not turned as expected. I came here with the Risen, and had to save my aunt. Then I waited for my companions to showed up, but... You never have... I juts hope that our friends are not afar... nor they appeared too late.

- Where did you showed up ?

- Er... it was one of the forest to the south of Ylisstol. I had difficult time to find where I was and where to go. Many things have changed compared to our era...

- I see... So portals appears through differents places and times. If they found themselves in the Valm continent, that will be problematic. They can't get back to Ylisse actually. I hope they know that, if some of them are actually there.

- ...You're right...

- And I have another question, Lucina. Where is your mask ?

- ...He broked. I'll have to apologize to Gerome. It was a really beautiful mask, too. But don't worry, Father and the others don't know who I am, nor they saw my Brand. I'm just looking after them from afar, actually.

- A wise decision... Even I would not dare to venture in Ylisstol. My mother was part of the Shepherds, and my hat or my ring can betrayed me. Mother is quite the observer with raisoning skills. I cannot risk anything.

- Yes, I feel the same... Tell me, what did you do during all these years ?

- I have done some research. I wanted to confirm the era I was in. And about a legend I heared about a long time, from my mother. About a mysterious mirage village. And finally, I resolved it, and I got this staff."

Laurent showed the staff he was holding at the back if his waist to his friend.

"I've done some research about that, and learned it was the Goddess Staff, famous for its power to heal an entire army, or so it said. That can be a great help in a difficult time. But alas, people who can use this staff are limited. I learned the science of using staff, but obviously, I don't met the requirement.

- It needs requirements ? Like Falchion ?

- One can say that. But this staff doesn't ask for a lineage. I still have a lot of research to do to find these requirements. But if that can help to change the future, so be it. I'll do research for the rest of my life.

- I see... Can I help you ?

- You have other duties to do, Lucina. If history doesn't change too much, a peace era is approaching. During this time, if you still offer your help... I'll be grateful.

- You're right. You speak wisely like always, Laurent. I'm really happy to have found you.

- I feel the same, Lucina. It was a hard time to passed these years without any of my companions."

Author's note : It was almost a really light chapter - and still is, but less - until I had the idea with Lucina and Laurent. There will be no Paralogue fom the games that'll be used as chapter. But there will be Paralogues in my story, about the childrens.

I'll need some time for the next chapter, even if I know what to write for half of it. But it'll be quick enough. Well, see you soon !