Hi there! New chapter is here. It's a relatively short one, unfortunately. I meant for this more to be about checking up on the gang (and a certain notable someone who has been relatively deprived of screentime) and seeing what the state of the world is, rather than a very eventful and action-filled chapter. But the beginnings of some important plot threads are interspersed throughout, so…you know. This might be something to come back to later.

I'm also going to be doing a fairly meaty author's notes section for some of this stuff, especially near the end, which could be innately confusing despite my best efforts. So, take a look at my profile after a few minutes and take a look, if you're so inclined. And please review!

One thing Shione could say about his new career was that there was rarely a dull day. When he had offered help to the besieged Ylissean forces back in the war, he hadn't really considered that Anem had also come with a conscription into the Pegasus Knights. But once the fighting had ended, that reality had reared its head. Now, his daily routine was full of training exercises, patrols, and every other duty that was expected of a full member of the Ylissean Army. He was no longer just a part of Cainne's group or even the Shepherds. And since they were still no closer to finding Aiden or their way home, he wasn't going to be abandoning his post any time soon.

It wasn't all bad. The work was exciting enough, since they essentially had to put together the pieces of a nation whose whole lifestyle had been shattered by war. And in exchange for their help, Cainne and the others did have the support of Chrom and Ylisse in their hunt, an agreement he had made sure he was part of. But for the moment, he was stuck in Ylisstol while the others had left on their search.

He was still a rookie by army standards, after all, and even though he had shown that he knew what he was doing in combat, he was still required to undergo basic training. At least he wasn't alone; Sumia was in the exact same position. Cordelia, on the other hand, had been elevated to the position of captain in light of her prior experience in the armed forces and her dutiful service. Captain Phila, though she had survived the battle that had wiped out most of their number, had been grievously wounded. Between the severe damage to her lower body and the spiritual blow of losing the Exalt, she had retired. Captain Thaneta had returned to her posting on the border mountains with what few soldiers she had left, aiming to repair the garrison.

With the situation of Ylisse's armed forces, it was understandable that they wanted to keep him around, even if it was annoying. What little military power they originally had was mostly wiped out in the fighting. The pegasus knights, for example, were crippled. What had been a squadron garrisoned at the capital was reduced to seven, including the new captain, himself, and two new recruits who had joined after the war.

Despite this, Shione was relatively certain that there were very few who would dare attack Ylisse. The nation's former enemy, Plegia, was far too immersed with its own internal conflict to bother its neighbors. The fighting had died down, mostly, though the country was still very much divided on what would become of its people. Though Shione had heard rumors that a high-ranking Grimleal was gathering support among all sections of the population, so it was possible that a new government would soon arise. More importantly, though, was that Ylisse had proven what it was capable of. Word of the amazing feats pulled by Chrom's Shepherds and their tactician had spread quickly after the war had officially ended. Most powers on the continent weren't too willing to fight the same handful of people who had almost single-handedly decided every major battle they were involved in and won the war.

The men and women who made up Chrom's elite had scattered once they were no longer needed, or at least as much as possible with most of the force being Ylissean. Shione had no doubt, however, that they would be ready if they were called on again, even free elements like Anna and the Plegian mage, Tharja. They all had reason enough to come back, after all. It was even possible that said dark mage was in the city even now, stalking poor Robin.

Shione supposed he, along with Cordelia and Sumia, were among those individuals who would be called back into that irregular force if the need arose. But until that time came, he was stuck with training exercises and patrol duty.

And every once in a while, something interesting. Like today: he was on parade duty. He was in full battle uniform, even if it was much cleaner currently than it ever would be in combat. His armor, which had been provided to him as a replacement and improvement over the equipment he had shown up in, gleamed a bright silver in the noon sunlight, complementing the freshly polished and sharpened polearm he carried at the ready. Anem was equally well-adorned in light but effective barding and a headpiece featuring an ornamental horn. With the exception of Shione's weapon, horse and rider matched the four others that trotted alongside them. The fifth, Cordelia, led the group in an outfit that was identical but for its golden sheen.

Normally, they would have been accompanied by Sumia, but they'd all figured it would have been cruel to make her work on her own wedding day.

He had as much cause to celebrate as any of the citizens who lined the streets of Ylisstol, waving banners and tossing colored tissue in the air. After all, today's royal wedding was proof that he'd live to see another day despite a truly monumental slip of the tongue. Who would have guessed that one off-handed comment would have caused Sumia to try and set her old friend up with the prince?

Fortunately, it turned out that idolizing someone behind their back without so much as speaking to them was a great way to foster unrealistic notions and expectations about them. Apparently, the casual meeting over tea that Sumia had helped arrange had remained a simple meeting between friends, while Cordelia quickly came to realize that her ideal man was, in fact, a human being that she had no romantic future with. Or at least, that was what it had looked like to Lyta as she spied on the proceedings. In any other situation, Shione would have considered the surveillance incredibly creepy, but he wasn't going to refuse any help in fixing the mess he'd caused. Desperate times, and all that.

In any case, Chrom and Sumia had eventually fallen for each other, and now here everyone was, almost a year after Ylisse's victory. True love had triumphed, good had defeated evil, etcetera. Now the prince and his bride were getting married in front of the whole city of Ylisstol. And Shione was going to have to stand outside for the whole ceremony and look stately. That, at least, he had experience with. Being a military man was something new, but he knew his way around a formal gathering.

Still, he was grateful that Anem was with him for the moment. He had no doubt that his feet would be aching by the end of the day.

There were benefits associated with being a member of the Shepherds that Cainne had come to enjoy. A steady source of income, the direct backing of a kingdom, and even a small degree of fame for what they had accomplished. But what Cainne appreciated most was something the others most likely didn't consider: the ability to walk through the city without having to hide her identity. The last time she had been in Ylisstol, she'd had to hide what she was, let alone who. Now, although she still received strange and curious glances, onlookers simply marveled at the strange company Chrom kept, rather than seeing a strange and potentially threatening foreigner. And although she still had secrets to keep, it was far easier to hide these things in plain sight.

The city was especially lively with the festivities going on, so she was happy that she could walk around and enjoy it all. Thousands crowded the streets, both from the city and beyond its walls. People from a dozen nations crossed paths every minute. Even someone as distinctly nonhuman as herself was easily lost in the crowd. The overall joyous atmosphere and the freely flowing alcohol didn't hurt matters either. For once, she could enjoy the day like anyone else.

And there was plenty to enjoy. As she strolled down Ylisstol's main street, she was able to admire the wedding procession as it passed. The parade was making progress towards the castle, but slowly. It was besieged on all sides by admirers and revelers, and the guards who had been stationed on the street were having a difficult time keeping some of the more foolhardy or drunk from charging the procession. The ceremony itself would be a much more private affair, one that not even the Shepherds would see unless they were family. However, they had all received invitations to the celebration afterwards. Cainne planned on attending, if just to make sure Martin and Shione didn't get into trouble.

Speaking of Shione, it appeared he had been pulled into the celebrations as well. Cainne was able to get a good look as he passed by. He looked good in uniform, Cainne had to admit. He seemed comfortable in this setting, more than any of the others in their group probably felt. Cainne watched the group of Ylissean knights go past without bothering to try and grab his attention. They would eventually have to discuss Shione's knack for finding trouble, though. The cavalryman was aware that his actions had changed events significantly, but he still seemed to stumble into conflict far more frequently than anyone else.

Or, at least more frequently than anyone she was aware of. Cainne didn't think the Plegian King's sudden change of heart and even more sudden disappearance had anything to do with Shione, and she was uncomfortably aware that that the man they were tracking would have no compunction about changing the timeline of this world. She hoped that, if Aiden was to blame, it was due to ignorance rather than willful action. But she just didn't know anymore.

Out of the four members of their group, Cainne had been the one who had been closest to Aiden before he had run off. She had thought that she understood him. The last time she had seen him…gods, it had been before their journey to this timeline. He had been acting oddly for a few weeks, and she knew that something had been troubling him for even longer than that. But when she had talked to him about it, he had brushed her off and tried to reassure her that he was fine. She had hoped that he would open up eventually. But then he had tried to run off, and she had been sent after him. Unlike the others, Cainne still hadn't made up her mind about the swordsmaster's guilt. He had committed a crime, certainly, and she hated what he had done. But until she knew why he had done it, Cainne didn't know if she hated the man himself.

Once, she had been able to tell what he was thinking. Now, she could only wish that she knew.

As Cainne glanced at her surroundings, someone passed by her, going in the opposite direction. This was to be expected on a crowded street, but the effort the other individual had made to stay out of Cainne's sight made them stand out. Cainne turned around to see if she could get a better view, and was able to pick them out of the crowd almost instantly. They had tried their best to remain inconspicuous, but Cainne would have recognized them anywhere.

It really wasn't her place to pry, but Cainne was curious. She followed.

The midday sunlight glinted off of the sword's blade as she examined it. She knew that, somewhere else in the city, an almost identical weapon was likely even now resting on the hip of the groom-to-be. The woman who was known here as Marth and elsewhere as Lucina watched the teardrop-shaped opening in Falchion's hilt intently. It remained vacant, as usual. The sword was exactly the same as the hundreds of times she had looked it over before, exactly the same as it had looked on the night of the assassination attempt until a strange blue glow had filled the opening. Try as she may, Lucina had been unable to determine what had caused the strange glow, and had later wondered if her eyes had been deceived, dazzled by the blow that cut her mask in two. But the same glow had appeared frequently near the end of the war with Plegia. It was when the appearance of the glow coincided with the announcement of a ceasefire with Plegia that she started to wonder if it signified that the future had been changed.

If that was the case, then that meant that she was on the right course. Fate could be altered. That Chrom had survived that night without so much as a scratch was, perhaps, evidence of this…but Emmeryn was dead, drawn to her doom just as surely as if Lucina hadn't stopped those assassins.

Was fate truly predetermined? No. She couldn't believe that. It would mean that everything she had done, every sacrifice that had been made to bring her here, was in vain. It would mean that they were all doomed. That was something she could not accept. She had to keep moving forward. She had to prevent Grima from awakening.

All she had to do was stop his avatar before they could become his vessel. If there was no avatar, there would be no Grima. But who were they? She had once been told that it was someone close to Chrom. But at this point in time, Chrom was close to quite a few people. Any one of the Shepherds could have qualified as "close".

That wasn't to say that she didn't have her suspicions. The Plegian members of the Shepherds were obvious suspects, though the dark mage was a relatively new addition to the group. Robin, on the other hand, seemed to be a very close friend of Chrom's, and she did not recall what had become of him in her time. Speaking of which, she had never even heard of the four individuals who had come to the Shepherds' aid during the assassination attempt. Their presence was suspicious, to say the least. However, all of them had done plenty to prove their loyalty. She couldn't imagine any of them being traitors. Then there was that strange swordsman who had appeared out of nowhere on the battlefield who had seemed incredibly determined to ensure that she was literally anywhere else, and had seemed almost too familiar with who she was. She didn't trust him in the slightest…but Chrom probably wasn't aware that he even existed.

Lucina noticed that she had been unconsciously rubbing Falchion's grip. The motion soothed her and helped her remember what her life had once been like. Sighing, she stood up and sheathed the sword. She had an excellent view of the city below from up here. This bell tower hadn't been used for at least a decade, if the cobwebs were anything to judge by. She had found this place in another time, when she had been very young and the world had seemed so bright. It had been the staging ground for many childhood fantasies. But, she reminded herself, that bell tower was gone. This one had never borne witness to the adventures of a young girl, and would not for a few more years. But the celebration below made it clear that its time would yet come. And if Lucina was able to stop Grima, that other little girl would grow up in a better world.

She had briefly considered joining the festivities below, but it had all seemed wrong to her. It was like Gerome had said when he gave her that mask: this wasn't their world. These people weren't their parents, as much as she had wished they were. Lucina understood this, but every time she came across Chrom, she realized that she hadn't accepted it. She wanted so much to tell him everything, to have someone to call father again, to be part of a family…but that would never happen.

The Chrom of this world had a family, and would soon have daughters of his own. Even if Lucina succeeded in her mission here, they would never know who she was. They might never even know just how close they had come to tragedy. At best, Lucina would be the mysterious figure who had saved Chrom's life on a night long ago. Then, when the families of this world were safe, she might finally be able to move on with her life and forget her own ghosts.

The sun was slowly beginning its descent towards the horizon, though there was still plenty of time left in the day. Lucina knew that she would have to leave the city soon, or be caught up in the city's revelry. She turned away from the window and shifted her gaze to the stairwell.

She hadn't expected someone to meet her gaze.

"Who-what are you doing here?" She stammered out.

"Forgive the intrusion," Cainne responded, "but the view is certainly worth the climb."

"How did you find me?"

"You aren't quite as inconspicuous as you'd like to think, Marth." Cainne told her. "I was wondering why you seemed so intent on getting away from all the fun everyone else is having."

"I'm fine. This event just isn't for me." Lucina answered. "Now, if you'll excuse me…" She tried to slip past Cainne down the stairwell, but the Taguel's expression saddened and she tried to stop Lucina.

"Listen, I…I think we've gotten off on the wrong foot." Cainne shook her head. "Would you mind if we just…sat, for a bit?" Warily, Lucina nodded, and returned to her perch. Cainne wandered next to her.

"I get the feeling you don't exactly trust me." Cainne said after a short pause. "I understand; I'm not sure exactly if you trust anyone in the Shepherds. You certainly don't seem like the type to go gallivanting around with the rest of us. But I saw what you did for the Exalt and the prince. You saved them that night. The rest of us just helped. So…I think we're on the same side."

"You do?" Lucina asked. She wasn't sure where this conversation was going. What did Cainne want from her? Was she just being friendly? "How can you be sure?"

"I think we both want the same thing." Cainne said. "To protect the people we care about. To help the Shepherds and Ylisse. I can't be sure, but I've seen what you've done for us all."

"You don't know the whole story." Lucina replied, at least in part out of anger towards this stranger who had intruded on her lamentations. How could Cainne possibly understand what she had been through?

"You're right, I don't." Cainne answered, unperturbed. "It's clear that the woman named after a legendary hero, who masqueraded around as a man and wields a blade that no one knew existed has her secrets. I respect that; I have my own. Everyone does. But no one is asking you to give up everything. I guess what I'm trying to say is…if you ever need a place to stay, or want help, I think I speak for most of the Shepherds when I say that we'll be there to lend a hand. Even if they won't, I will. Consider it my way of repaying the debt we owe you for everything that you've done."

"…Thank you." Lucina replied, caught off guard. She couldn't accept the offer, but the thought was surprisingly tempting. "I'll consider it." Cainne smiled, and for once, Lucina allowed herself to do the same.

"I don't know about you, but I'm planning on enjoying the festivities." Cainne spoke up. "You might seriously want to reconsider attending. After all, when are you ever going to get another chance to attend a party like this?" Lucina had to admit, it was tempting. She could smell the food from here, and the bright decorations were clearly visible.

"Cainne!" Someone called from behind them. "There you are!" An assassin in a black cloak ran up to the Taguel, taking a moment to nod in Lucina's direction.

"Lyta?" Cainne asked. "What do you want?" And how many more people were going to come barging into the belltower, Lucina wondered silently.

"Martin sent me to find you." Lyta replied. "Be quiet about it, we don't want to disturb the revelers. But it's pretty important you find him outside the main gate." For a moment, Lucina wondered if they were planning something. But then the assassin turned to her with a very serious expression. "You might want to come, too."

"They've got just absolutely fantastic timing, don't they?" Martin asked the guard standing next to him at the gate.

"Depends on what you mean by fantastic." The guard responded. "This just looks like more paperwork, to me. Damn, I wish I was stationed inside."

"Well, it's your lucky day." Martin told him. "We can handle this. You just take it easy."

"Oh, and who are you?" The guard asked skeptically.

"Why, I'm a Shepherd!" Martin responded. Seeing the others drawing close, he added. "And I'm not alone."

"Suit yourself." The guard sighed. "Less work for me." Having said his piece, he leaned back against the gatehouse wall and started to nurse a lukewarm drink.

"Martin, why'd you call us here?" Cainne asked.

"Take a look for yourself." He pointed out towards the fields beyond the walls, where a few revelers who seemed too drunk to stand properly had gathered….no, not revelers. Their gray skin and misshapen masks revealed them as Risen.

"Let's see here…two, three, four. That should be everybody." Martin remarked after a quick headcount. "No, wait, Shione's on duty, so who's…well, hiya, Marth." Marth briefly raised a hand in greeting.

"Why exactly are we here, then? Shouldn't we let the others know?" Lyta asked.

"Well, I figured that they'd appreciate some time off, what with everything going on. Plus, Chrom would inevitably find out, and there goes the whole wedding." Martin mimed a small explosion with his hands, for dramatic effect. The icy stares he got in return were not quite encouraging. "There's like twelve of them. How hard can it be?"

"Need I remind our tactician that, even with Marth's assistance, this equates to three-to-one odds?" Cainne asked.

"Look at 'em!" Martin replied, gesturing towards the Risen who prowled the field. They were currently ambling around aimlessly. "They barely have a thought between them. It's almost sad, really. We go out there, mop them up, everyone in Ylisstol is safe and happy, and we're back in time for the real party."

"You're bored, aren't you?" Lyta asked.

"Maybe…" Martin almost whispered in response. Well, it was true.

"Gods help us." Cainne shook her head. "Alright, we'll take care of them."

Sure enough, Shione's feet were starting to ache. The six pegasus knights were arrayed in front of the doors to the palace, mostly for decoration but also to deal with any unruly citizens. Luckily, as it was the middle of the day in one of the most peaceful cities on the continent, the revelers were well behaved. No one had tried to interrupt the ceremony going on in the castle's shrine, thankfully. No assassins or undead, either. A good day for a wedding. Even now, the happy couple were probably exchanging vows or having their marriage consecrated in Naga's name. Shione briefly wondered if Libra was officiating. The ceremony would also serve as a sort of coronation, as Ylisse was currently without an official ruler. Chrom, with Sumia at his side, would officially take over after today. He wouldn't take the title of Exalt out of respect for Emmeryn, but he would have power all the same.

And Shione got to stand outside while it all happened. Honestly, it was the most ordinary thing he'd done since this adventure had started. It was familiar. Although he would always love the feeling of flight, he was confident in his abilities to stand still and look intimidating.

"Hey, captain." Shione quietly called out the individual standing next to him. "What do you think of the wedding?"

"I'm sure it's a lovely affair." Cordelia replied. "They make a nice couple. I'm...happy for them"

"Good to hear you've gotten over Chrom."

"You knew?" Cordelia was slightly aghast.

"Yeah, me and everyone else. Except Chrom and Sumia."

"Everyo-"

"Yes, everyone." Shione replied. "Don't worry, no one's judging you for it. We're mostly just glad you've moved on. Maybe you two can finally have conversations like real human beings."

"Oh, gods." Cordelia sighed, or more accurately said the word. "I made a fool of myself, didn't I?"

"It could have been worse." Shione answered. You could've married him, he silently added. "And you at least walked away as friends."

"He's a good man, but I suppose I realized he wasn't who I imagined him to be." Cordelia stated flatly. "Now, I just have to redeem myself."

"Excuse me?" Shione's eyes widened.

"After making such a fool of myself, I have to show everyone I can still be of use on the battlefield. I just need to work even harder, train more often, and master myself. It shouldn't be too difficult."

"You know that everyone else already thinks very highly of you, right?" Shione responded. "You're going to make the rest of us look bad."

"Then I suggest you intensify your own training regime, recruit." Cordelia told him. This time, it was Shione who said the word "sigh".

"This was a terrible idea!" Lyta called out. She nocked another arrow and let it fly at the Risen knight, only to watch it bounce off of the creature's heavy plate. Martin's fireball connected shortly after, the magical flame melting through the metal. Lyta switched targets, firing off an arrow at a mercenary that was getting too close. A Risen lancer charged from behind as the mercenary fell to the ground. Lyta tried to dodge, but it had caught her unawares. Martin barreled into the thing, knocking it away from her. Lyta grabbed a knife from her waist and threw it at the thing, striking it in the head.

"Please, I'm a tactical genius." Martin scoffed. "See? Three Risen dead, already. Three-to-one odds… not anymore."

"Except that there's two of us, so we need to kill six to do our fair share." Lyta grumbled.

"I knew that." Martin sheepishly replied. "Speaking of which, here they come!" Lyta sighed and grabbed another arrow.

"How much longer is this ceremony supposed to last?" Shione asked.

"I don't think it'll be too long." Cordelia replied. Shione wondered where his friends were. He'd have expected Martin to have shown his face by now, at least. The tactician would have loved to taunt him…from a safe distance, naturally. Shione couldn't bite back if he was on duty. But the tactician wasn't here. Maybe Martin had matured a little.

"Watch out!" Cainne called. Lucina was already aware of the threat, bringing Falchion between herself and the Risen's blade, which skipped off. She struck at the creature's exposed chest, cutting it down easily. Cainne, too, seemed to have the situation under control, avoiding attacks she could and catching what she couldn't on the shaft of her lance. She swept the legs out from underneath one attacker, thrust her lance through an opening in another's armor, and just as quickly brought it back down against the now prone first attacker.

Lucina was surprised when the wooden shaft cracked in half, but Cainne took it in stride, almost instinctively using one end to batter the third attacker while she used the bladed end as a sort of impromptu sword. Eventually, she tossed the remains away and continued the fight in her beast form. Lucina had to admit, the Taguel was a skilled fighter, and had far more familiarity with human weapons than she would have suspected.

"Who taught you to fight?" Lucina asked her. Cainne just shrugged, and another attack cut off her answer.

"Well…this is pretty uneventful." Shione said.

"Would you prefer it to be busy?" Cordelia asked.

"Fair point."

"I think that's the last of them." Cainne said, running up to the rest of the group. Lucina followed close behind.

"What'd I tell you? Easy." Martin stated. Then he caught sight of Cainne's equipment. "You broke another lance?"

"I'm not too displeased. This one lasted almost a whole year." Cainne responded.

"Clearly something has to be done about that." Martin replied. "So, I was going to check out the festivities, but I think Cainne and I are going to go over basic weapon care first."

"Really?" Cainne asked. "We're going to do this now?"

"Damn right we are. This is starting to cut into our funding."

"Fine. I suppose I'll see all of you around the festival later tonight, then?"

Surprising even herself, Lucina nodded. Maybe things weren't as grim as she'd believed.

Lyta watched the others depart before heading off on her own.

Unlike the others, she wasn't nearly as pleased with their current situation. They'd spent almost a year after the war searching for Aiden and hadn't found a single sign of the swordsmaster. What if it took them another year, or even another war, to find him? What if they never did? What if he decided to leave them here and used the tome to get out of this dimension?

Lyta knew that she didn't belong here. This world wasn't her home, not that she really had a place that she called home anymore. The people here were just potential threats. Lon'qu didn't trust her, neither did Marth. How long until the others felt the same way?

To make things worse, they had already wrought havoc on this timeline. Just their presence had caused so much chaos. Emmeryn was dead, some of her countrymen were alive, Gangrel had disappeared, and now Plegia was tearing itself apart. Even when they had tried their best not to interfere, the simple fact that they were there had affected everyone around them. The longer they stayed here, the more they put the fate of this world at risk. It would be better for everyone involved if they could just go back to where they came from and forget this ever happened.

But the others- Cainne, Shione, Martin- They all at least had found friendships among the Shepherds. They were happy here. They had found a lifestyle that suited them. She…she hadn't. She couldn't make friends. They were a liability at best and a risk at worst. There were four people she had ever trusted enough to consider them friends. And of those four, one had already betrayed her and the others seemed to be growing more distant by the day. She didn't want to go back without Martin and the others, but if the opportunity came to go home with the stolen relics and they didn't go back with her…she didn't know what she would do.

Her first instinct would be to return. This timeline would never be for her. And their mission was to return those relics, first and foremost. But there was nothing tying her even to her own timeline. And if the people she cared most about drifted away…what would be left for her in this timeline, or any other?

They had to find Aiden before they inadvertently plunged the timeline into chaos. She had to find Aiden before she lost only people she had left.

"It's not exactly the same, sure, but the same techniques I use to keep my sword in good condition can still apply to your lance." Martin told Cainne. "Make sure the cutting edge is honed, take a whetstone to it on occasion when you can't just realign the edge, and make sure the wood is well-maintained. It'll help if you stop using it to block so many attacks, too. Avoid them, if possible. Or at least reinforce part of the shaft so you have something sturdier to block with."

"I appreciate the tips, Martin." Cainne balanced her new weapon in her hands. "But I get the feeling that you didn't want me in here just to talk about weapon maintenance." She looked around the room in the barracks, empty except for them. Martin had spent the last hour or so trying to make sure that this lance would remain useful for a long time yet. But something seemed to be troubling him.

"Was it that obvious?" Martin asked. "I guess I never was good at hiding my emotions."

"Is this about what happened earlier?" Cainne asked. "Because I understood what you meant when you said you were bored. I know that you were-"

"No, that's not it." Martin waved her off. "It's about us. All of us. And what we may have to do. It's been almost a year since we've seen any sign of Aiden. He said we'd meet again, but there's been nothing so far. What if this next year is just as unsuccessful as the last?"

"I have to believe that we'll find him, Martin." Cainne replied. "Or that he'll find us. The alternative is that we're stuck in this timeline for the foreseeable future."

"The more I think about it, the likelier it sounds. I don't know how we're going to find him as it is. He could be anywhere. We don't have the resources to search every nation across two continents- three, if he's decided to go to Jugdral. But I don't think he'll be able to hide forever. He won't want to. Whatever Aiden is doing, it's brought him to the heart of much of the conflict here. He was there when the war with Plegia started, and there when it ended."

"You think that the war with Valm is going to bring him out of hiding." Cainne realized. Martin nodded.

"It's just a hunch, and I'm not suggesting we stop searching. But we've found nothing by looking on our own. It's entirely possible that he's been doing what we are, and sticking with the people and the history we all know. If that's the case, Valm will be our chance to find him. And if not, then I'm almost certain what comes after will bring him out of hiding."

"What you suggest would mean that we get involved with yet another conflict, at the very least." Cainne told him. "Another war. More combat, more death, more tough decisions, a greater chance that we do something terrible. Is that what you want?"

"I'm not sure we have a choice anymore, Cainne." Martin said. "If I thought we could all go home tomorrow, you know I would take that course. But I don't know how we'd do that. And so I have to ask…If we're still here when Valm sets foot on Feroxi shores, what would you have us do?"

"If it comes to that, then I suppose we'll just have to keep doing what we always have." Cainne looked to Martin. "We'll stick with the Shepherds, and we'll keep trying to help people. If we change the future, then we'll deal with that too. But most importantly, we'll find Aiden. And we'll bring him back."

"Yeah, we will." Martin affirmed. "And you can count on me to keep giving sound tactical advice. I guess that's it, then."

"Not quite. If we do wind up in the Valm campaign, we won't be the only ones out of their own time. Marth isn't going to remain a solitary hero for much longer. And when her friends do finally show up…"

"We'll deal with that if and when we come to it. For now, we just keep the same cover we've been using. If something happens and we need to change our strategy, then that's something all four of us will need to handle. I'd rather not discuss it without Lyta and Shione."

"Fair enough." Cainne responded. "For the time being, there's a party that I sorely want to attend."

For the first time in far too long, he felt the evening breeze against his cheek. It had taken a significant investment of time and energy to get here, but it was worth it. To think, an entire year wasted, spent floating through the ether as little more than thoughts, unable to act out his own will…well, no more. Grima curled and uncurled the fingers on his hand, as if to confirm that they still worked.

It had taken considerable time and effort to summon this form. In fact, it surprised him that he had been able to do it at all. He was only a partial manifestation of the being who controlled this mortal host, after all. A fragment, sent to ensure that his supremacy remained unchallenged in this world as well as the original. Manifesting in a physical form like this was a great risk. This host was the very thing that had allowed his original self to manifest in the other timeline, and what anchored him to reality. If it was destroyed somehow, then he would not be the only being to fall. The greater being that he had been split off from would fall as well, doomed to the same fate. But there were precious few things in this or any other world that could effectively harm him.

And being able to once more walk around, to feel the breeze and see the world around him, was entirely worth it.

Grima pushed open the doorway that had been concealed in the face of the cliff and strode into the temple. The two heavily armored guardsmen that met him, brandishing lances in his direction, did not intimidate him in the least. He was weaker than he would have liked, yes. His original self still held onto most of his power. But he was more than capable of dealing with any mortal that might challenge him.

He waved his hand and tapped into a portion of his godly power. The ensuing blast shook the building to its rocky foundations and sent the guards hurtling backwards, nearly dead.

"Come now, what sort of greeting was that?" He asked. "Validar, I expected better from you."

"My-my lord!" The Grimleal hierarch stammered out, standing up from the planning table he had been overseeing. "You have my apologies! We did not know that you would be arriving…or that you would take a mortal form. Does this mean-"

"No, I cannot yet ascend." Grima cut him off. "Carry on with your plans, and see that they are seen to their conclusion. Then I will have the power to enact my will. I am here now to deal with those who have until this point avoided their fate. To act as an…advisor, of sorts." The truth was somewhat more complex. He did not have the power to take on his true form, it was true. Such strength was already in use in another time. But Validar's actions would not benefit him. Rather, if all went according to his plans, the Grima of this world would be allowed to rise and fulfill his destiny. He himself would return to his own world, having completed his task. But if the child refused their fate…

"Of course, my lord." Validar spoke, barely audible. "What would you have me do?"

"For now, nothing." Grima spoke. "But I foresee many great things to come, and I will need your service to bring them to fruition." More importantly, he had to deal with the mortals he had followed across time, the ones who wished so desperately to stop him. As if they weren't enough of a problem, he had to stop the meddlers who thought to interfere with matters that were not their own. But where others would have seen a challenge, he saw an opportunity.

To think, his age old enemy would provide him the tools to bring about his victory, and to undo the damage she had already caused across countless dimensions. All he needed was a book...

What no one here could tell you is that I finished up with finals, so who knows, maybe I can write this more often with a more open schedule. I do have a summer job, though, so we'll see what I can do. Also, I'm going to be leaving for a week sometime today, so if there isn't any author's notes an hour after this is posted, there probably won't be any for a long time (but do take a look. I added in something I completely forgot to write about last chapter.)

Incidentally, I've started a playthrough of Fates (Birthright) on lunatic. It's tough…but I think I'm having a much easier time of it than I did with Awakening, which I never got very far in.

Next chapter will either occur slightly before or concurrently with this one chronologically, but it involves the people introduced last chapter, so I didn't feel like writing about them so soon after devoting an entire large chapter to Aiden and Aiden alone. But there is something both share in common: parties.