Outtake Thirteen: Cooling Off

Game: Awakening
Spoilers: After the Valmese war.
Summary: Family fluff involving our favorite exalted family!
Note: I'm rather behind on posting chapters...but this was inspired by a roasting hot week we had a couple weeks ago. So I thought about that and well, this happened. Enjoy!

It was a hot and humid day in the continent of Valm. The Shepherds were marching back toward the Valm Harbor after battling and winning against the Conqueror, Walhart. They were tired, and decided that this forest clearing was the best to make camp, especially with the stream of cool water flowing by it.

The warriors and soldiers lay low in the shade of their tents and the surrounding trees, but still there was no respite. The heat was heavy. Only two people had opted to move about more than necessary – and wanted, in most Shepherds' cases. In a shaded clearing, the exalted twins practiced their sword craft.

They had shed their cloaks and capes, opting for a cooler practice session. Morgan's bangs stuck to his forehead, and Lucina had actually pulled her own hair into a ponytail, high up off her neck and out of her face, much like she had worn it long before her time fell into despair.

"Sword point up, Morgan," the princess reminded, twirling her wooden practice sword in her hand with ease. Her twin obliged, panting. He parried a strike from Lucina, stumbling backwards a bit.

"Urg, can we take a break?"

Lucina took a step back as well. "You're that worn out?"

Morgan shook his head. "It's just so hot! I normally last longer than this."

His sister nodded. It was pretty hot. She lowered her sword and moved over to where they had dropped their cloaks and real swords, picking up the waterskin there. She tossed it to her brother, who drank gratefully from it after muttering a word of thanks. He then passed it back to Lucina, allowing her to take a drink as well.

Off in the distance in the direction of camp, they heard their mother's distressed voice shout their father's name. Both siblings exchanged a worried glance, and without second thought, snatched up their real swords and dashed off in the direction of the shout.

Was it a Risen attack? Had some of the Valmese come and exacted revenge for the defeat of their campaign to conquer the world? Perhaps Chrom had been wounded or killed by the one who betrayed him in the future.

What they came upon was a different sight entirely. Their mother, Silver, stood waist-deep in the stream they had camped by, soaking wet and scowling at her husband, who stood on the bank, clutching at his sides with laughter.

As the twins watched, Silver yanked Chrom into the water, and his laughter was cut off when he was submerged. Morgan and Lucina arrived at the bank just as Chrom surfaced, brushing his scruffy blue hair out of his eyes. "We heard a shout," Lucina explained.

"It was only your father being childish," Silver said, shooting a glare at Chrom. The exalt laughed again, looking absolutely ridiculous in his soaked clothes.

Lucina sighed, a small smile on her face. She sheathed Falchion, and Morgan copied the movement with his own sword. The young man got a glint in his eye, and Silver noticed it a second too late. He moved behind his sister, who was still at the edge of the bank, and shoved. Caught by surprise, Lucina splashed into the water with a surprised yelp.

Both Chrom and Morgan burst into laughter, while Lucina seethed at being dumped in the rather cold water. She had to admit, it felt really good after the sword practice session, but she wasn't going to let her obnoxious twin know that. She stomped out of the water, watching Morgan skitter away, and promptly ignored him. She undid her sword belt, laying Falchion and the attached scabbard and belt in the grass.

"I thought you'd be mad," Morgan said coming closer to her, just as planned. Lucina whipped around, grabbing her brother by the waist. "Agh, no! Lucina! Stop! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so-"

His words were cut off as he was bodily chucked into the water. Lucina smirked and waded back in.

"Revenge is sweet, isn't it?" Silver asked as Morgan surfaced, spluttering.

"Sometimes," Lucina agreed. "Though this was one of those times." She gasped as Morgan splashed her. She retaliated, though missed, and hit her father. Chrom raised his eyebrows and soon an all-out splash war was one, women vs. men.

By the time the sun was setting, all four of the royal family of Ylisse were significantly soaked, hungry, and rather chilled. They were glad to hear the dinner bell ringing, so they tromped, soaked, back to the man part of camp, spreading the word about the new way to cool off, and squabbling among themselves about who had really won the splash war.

Published 8/11/2013