Hello!

Sorry this chapter's a bit late, but it just took a while to write. Sorry again! Hope this one was worth the wait.

Special thanks to dragoon109 for following.

Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Stahl slumped down on a bench. It had been a trying day. Even after Sully had been healed, she still needed to be taken to the sick bay for rest and recovery. He'd hardly stopped worrying about her.

Next to him, he saw Libra sit down wearily.

"H-How's Sully doing?" The green knight asked apprehensively.

"She's fine." The cleric replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "As healthy as ever."

Already reassured, Stahl turned to the rest of the Shepherds entering the barracks. Miriel sat down, staring distractedly off into the distance. Just behind her as she entered, Vaike was unusually solemn. He, too, seemed eerily quiet. Only Gregor seemed the same. The mercenary was happily chatting to Vaike, oblivious to the warrior's unusually subdued attitude.

"Everyone okay?" Stahl asked, worried. "Did... Did someone..." He trailed off.

"N-No. None of the Shepherds." Vaike said flatly. "It's just... That was one hell of a battle. I need some time to get my head together after all that."

Miriel slowly nodded her agreement, still silent.

The green knight looked at their weary, beaten down expressions, sympathy written all over his face.

"I... I know what you mean. But... At least everyone's alive." Stahl said, hoping to raise everyone's mood. It didn't seem to do anything. Still fretting over his wife, he stood.

"I- I'm going to see Sully. I'll be back soon, guys."

Slowly, he left the almost silent tent.

Sumia sat down, holding her daughter in her arms. Marth sat opposite her, obviously uncomfortable. When she looked at the tiny child in the Queen's arms, her eyes widened and a strange expression crossed her face.

"So, Marth..." The pegasus knight began. "Like I asked earlier... Why did you call Chrom 'Father'?"

The mysterious swordswoman avoided her gaze.

"You... You wouldn't believe me. No-one would."

"I've seen some pretty fantastic things in my lifetime." Sumia reassured. "Whatever your story is, it can't be that unbelievable."

"...Where do I start...?" Marth gestured helplessly. "I... I don't... There's too much to tell."

"Start right at the beginning. Don't leave a single important thing out." The Queen ordered. "I read stories all the time, so I'm sure I can listen to all you have to say."

"Okay." Marth took a deep breath. "In the future, years from now, a Plegian deity named Grima takes over the world. He possesses the body of a tactician, a close friend of Chrom, and uses him to defeat the Shepherds' strongest warriors. He became the ultimate weapon. That, combined with the hordes of Risen, made Grima unstoppable. Quickly, the world descended into chaos, with that dragon ruling over it." She took a deep breath, the memory still painful. "The Divine Dragon Naga, in response to this threat, decided that the only way to save the world was to avert the tragedy before it could begin. She gathered the children of the Shepherds, scattered across Ylisse, and sent them back in time to save everyone- everything. The reason I call Chrom 'Father'..."

Sumia's eyes were wide. "Y-You're saying... You're actually... M-My daughter? Lucina?"

Lucina nodded.

"Look... I have the Brand in my eye." She leaned closer to show her mother the proof. "And Father's Falchion."

The pegasus knight sat back, shocked and surprised by the unexpected events.

"But that means..." She stared down at the tiny baby in her arms.

"Yes." Lucina nodded tearfully. "Th-That's me."

"Oh... Why are you crying?" Sumia asked, concerned.

"It's just... I've not seen you in so many years..." The princess sniffed. "Seeing you again... I..."

The Queen leaned forwards and wrapped one arm around her daughter from the future, her younger self cradled in the other arm. She held her for a long time, until the tears stopped.

"But Milord, you can't!" Frederick protested. "I've told you! You can't trust Plegia!"

"I know, Frederick." Chrom replied tersely. "But we have no other choice. Valm probably has more armoured soldiers, and we don't have enough mages at all."

The knight sighed in resignation, deferring to the Exalt. He continued to write letters- one requesting help from Ferox, the other from Plegia. After a long, awkward silence, the Exalt finally spoke again.

"Look... I know. I don't like the idea of working with Plegia any more than you do. But... I've got no choice. We've got no choice."

"I see, milord." Frederick nodded understandingly. "It just... Feels wrong to place our age-old enemies in such a position of trust."

"I know, old friend." Chrom sighed. "I know."

"Milord! Not interrupting, am I?" Virion strode in, a pigeon on one shoulder. "A message has arrived from Kit." He held out a rolled-up length of parchment. The Exalt unrolled it and read.

'Chrom,

I am happy to hear that none of the Shepherds were killed in the battle with Valm. With any luck, you shall not have to fend off the invaders much longer, though I would not bet against a second assault. We will move as swiftly as we are able in order to stop this threat.

-Kit

PS- Ask Marth about her past- specifically, where she got that Falchion...'

Chrom handed the letter to Frederick, who quickly scanned it.

"Take that to my quarters, would you? I'll write up a reply later." The Exalt requested.

"Certainly, milord." The knight headed off down a corridor. Sighing wearily, Chrom returned to asking everyone he could to aid Ylisse in its time of need.