((Sincerest apologies: I accidentally forgot the chapter title in the chapter list thingy, and I didn't know how to fix it. +facedesk))
((Edit: Just figured it out. Excuse me while I hate myself for the next hour or two TuT))

Author's Note:

On a random note, I rarely like anything having to do with chocolate ((Or anything sweets for that matter)). But, when I find something Chocolate ((or sweets)) that I like, I go overboard. ._. Just thought'd I say that. Please enjoy this chapter, one day later than I initially intended ^^"

Chapter 21 – Hot Chocolate - Chalysane

It is from this glass-less window overlooking the grounds that I can see Chrom pacing back and forth in his duel against unpleasant thoughts. Truth be told, I don't think I've ever gone and spoken to him during this time, and, at this current point of time, I have neither desire nor reason to beak from this pattern. I'd always believed it to be a moment for him and Robin alone, which was something I decided in the first timeline, after almost walking in on and overhearing their conversation. Besides, I already knew the story he had to tell. Resulting from these thoughts, after we arrived in Ylisse, I had almost always gone to my assigned sleeping quarters before the conversation. The march is far from easy, and we had taken no measure of ease in the pace of it, the same attitude as always. Not to mention the time at which the conversation occurs being relatively late, just as one might expect from the darkness originally surrounding the two.

Should someone pass me by at this hour and ask why I was awake, my answer to them would state my reasons to be precautionary measures against the mystery person named Joshua. While not the first reason why I got out of bed, it's a good one nonetheless. Prior to this timeline and after the first, my response to the question would be nightmares. And such was the truth. I have had nightmares, and I've woken up and walked the castle trying to forget them. Eventually, I grew used to them occurring almost constantly and I trained in calming myself after I woke up. As time passed, they eventually stopped occurring, though with their disappearance, I also stopped having good dreams. Perhaps I simply didn't remember them, but it sometimes seemed as if I never truly went to sleep, and time had simply increased its pace during the period in which my eyes were closed. That being said, the nightmare I had back in the garrison was the first I had in a long time.

Admittedly, I could also truthfully say that I got up to explore the place. I had never truly regarded the palace, though this is mainly due to that I never truly had an interest in the place, despite the events supposedly occurring tonight. During my first time here in the first timeline, directly after the first appearance of Marth saving Lissa (and, as I should admit, myself, as Risen are quite terrifying) I had only seen the palace for a few minutes before I went with Lissa and Robin to the garrison. Also to be noted is that I hadn't strayed from the path they drew to look around the entire place. That'd be rude. Well, at least I believe so. And so I've taken the chance to take a look around, get another feel for the place, and this time in a peaceful situation. If you worry too much about your upcoming performance, you're bound to make a mistake or two. Best to put confidence in your practice, right? And so I can truthfully say that I got up and explored the place out of sheer curiosity. Then again, this isn't the first reason I got out of bed either.

I turn my eyes away from Chrom for a moment to glance about the rest of the grounds. Considering the likely future, I wouldn't have been too surprised to see a rustling of the bushes, or perhaps the tree that Chrom has decided to lean against for the moment. Had I seen that, what would I do? Would I just wait here and give Marth the chance to prove himself to have seen the future, not to mention accidentally reveal himself to be a girl? Had I been a guard, I would have called out to Chrom to be on his guard, though I probably would have seen Marth first, which would have caused me to call out to Chrom about that. This probably would have reduced the chances that I would have seen the rustling bushes. Had I been a guard, I don't think I would have been of much use. Then again, an uninformed me… That's more so something to consider than a guard. I am, after all, asking myself what would I do if I saw the bushes rustling. I probably would have waited for Marth to show himself and claim that he has seen the future before calling about the rustling. Assuming I saw rustling.

But I haven't seen any rustling. On the matter of not seeing anything, In fact, I've yet to see anything of Robin. Then again, this doesn't worry me all too much. Should Marth appear, however, I think I'll begin to worry. Chrom straightens himself, ceasing to lean on the tree, and walks back towards his position in the general center of the open area of the grounds. I want hot chocolate… Actually, last I checked, the palace was also stocked with some. I remember that I recently asked Maribelle about hot chocolate, and she said it was a widely-enjoyed beverage. Y'know what, I'll have some hot chocolate. Hot chocolate for a restless night… Considering that hot chocolate makes me sleepy, actually, maybe it's not the best idea…. I think I'll have some anyway. And maybe give some to Chrom. And Robin. Hot chocolate party. Sounds delicious. Let's do it.

I straighten my posture, having been leaning for most of the time on a pillar nearby the glass-less window, and stretch my arms above my head. I search the grounds once for any sign of an appearing Robin, but I see only a continuously pacing, dueling with unpleasant thoughts Chrom, and I turn and walk away from the glass-less window. As I walk along the hallways toward where I believe I might be able to find perhaps some hot chocolate mix that might exist, as assuming from Maribelle's claim, the sounds of my footsteps echo sharply and loudly in the surrounding area, though mainly due to the absence of any other sound whatsoever. I still have no idea where it might be possible to find the fabled hot chocolate, though; I had only asked Maribelle whether she knew what it was.

Considering that I had only learned of its existence in Ylisse during the two years between the Plegian and Valmese war, I thought that it may have been uncommon. I had good reason for believing so as well: I had walked in on Maribelle having a cup and I instantly recognized the scent, though she would offer for me to join her before I could ask. Of course, I readily accepted and joined her for the night. The reason I believed hot chocolate to be uncommon, however, was due to the unique quality that Maribelle had imparted upon the drink: I remembered thinking that it was by far the most interesting version of the drink that I had ever tasted, spoken in the best, most positive and complimentary way possible. I believed that there was absolutely no way that the drink could have been mass-produced, and it was likely that Maribelle had her own style of preparing. However, if she claimed it to be common, there must be some mix of some kind. Well, if not a mix, then it was likely that the ingredients were commonly accessible, which wouldn't exactly bode well for my current plans of action, as I wouldn't know the correct way to mix them together.

Of course, this is all for the purpose of perhaps relieving my own stress, though it might be a bit too effective, and, as a result, not truly necessary. Hot chocolate for a restless night doesn't exactly help one to stay awake, something I learned sometime before my memory recalls. Perhaps it's best that I don't find the mix. Besides, I can just bother Maribelle about mixing some for my planned party, though I should probably only ask when she's awake. That would be best, actually, to have this event after the events of tonight pass by. Right afterwards would be best, I think. I take a moment and glance about my current room, noting that I've somehow strayed into the place where Robin met Emmeryn for the first time. Speaking of Robin, there she is, standing in the middle of the room, looking up into the space overhead. I can't decide whether she's been standing there for a moment, taken by a whim to look up at the emptiness, or if she was perhaps staring there in an attempt to find an answer for something… Perhaps it really is for the best that I don't find it tonight.

She probably already knows I'm here, so might as well just head right in and ask the question that anyone would ask. "Something on your mind?" She double-takes slowly towards me, and I realize that perhaps she didn't know that I was there. As she turns around to face me, I imagine her taking Chrom's line and responding with "just dueling with some unpleasant thoughts." Of course, she doesn't do this, but I'd find that quite amusing. "To say the least, your recklessness. It's been bothering me." She turns away from the room and begins walking in the general direction of the grounds where Chrom is, and I begin to follow her. She turns her head, possibly hoping that I was perchance following her. Not to worry, Robin, you're going in the right direction, I've no desire to stop you, and I want to listen in on your conversation for once. Our slowly-paced footsteps echo sharply and loudly in the silence of the hallways, but it doesn't feel as lonely anymore.

What would one think of the two with amnesia walking together at this time of the night, but would anyone even ask? I fasten my pace momentarily to put me at Robin's side, after such I slow to match hers. ". . . When we fought the Risen at the bridge, it wasn't the same." She maintains a seemingly motionless position in my peripheral vision as we walk side by side, and I remain silent as she continues to speak. "On that bridge, though I might have said to let you fight alone… If you had ever needed help, it would be there within moments. There was nothing between you and everyone else. Though it might not have been as difficult as it was at the bridge, this I can admit…" A moment's pause to take a breath, but the pause, for a few seconds, extends into something greater. "We don't have your strength, Chalys. If you had gotten hurt-"

"Actually, I beg to differ." I actually really do differ. I've been told this before, and I'll disagree with this point and correct anyone who says this as often as I need to… Though I've only been told this once before, and I'm not exactly sure when. This is something I've resolved to do. "I'm only one person, and that's what changes everything." If any one part of me fails, I'm useless. Well, much less useful than before at the very least, but in the case of a group of people… "In my opinion, I don't have your strength." Robin probably already knows where I'm coming from, but, just as I listened to her, she'll listen to me. I don't want to bring up the quote "United we are invincible", so instead I'll use something I made up: "The great thing about meteor showers is that they fall in groups. A shooting star is special, yes, but what's one wish compared to a dozen?"

This causes Robin to laugh away her melancholic state, though it was only a single laugh. "Where'd you get that one?" Good question, actually, and I shrug my shoulders. "Sometime before my memory. I'm under the impression that I made it up, but I'm not quite sure." And so the truth is told. We turn a corner and the grounds where Chrom paces back and forth in his yet un-won duel comes into view. Yes, it'll be a good night for hot chocolate when all this is over. It's been far too long since I last had some, and it's one of the few sweets I like. Now, do I let Robin lead this? Of course. The reason is obvious: this is supposed to be their moment and I'm not one to deign to step in on it. And so I announce my departure to bed with words stating that "I don't feel as restless anymore and I plan to take advantage of this," and I plan to head for the glass-less window.

However, Robin momentarily stalls my departure with a question that I can't exactly refuse to answer, considering I had essentially asked her the same question. "Wait, why are you up?" Chrom has halted his pacing to focus on me, and he stands side by side with Robin, a questioning expression upon his face. Considering that I had asked Robin already, not to mention that this is taking Chrom's mind off his worries, it wouldn't be the kindest thing to refuse them. "Just wanted to make sure someone doesn't do anything stupid. I've seen people in better situations come up with some really bad solutions." Definitely the main reason why I was still awake, and I can see that Chrom realizes that I'm referring to him. Truth be told, I'm lying when I say that I've seen anyone here come up with such a stupid solution. But it's still a serious concern of mine. Robin quickly asks me "Like what?" before I can turn and disappear. I should really get on the ball in re-learning how to do that instantly, disappearing… No matter, I'm making progress. And I'll get it down. I have to.

I consider her question. Has to be a reason serious enough to consider, but stupid enough for it to be a terrible idea to use a stupid solution. "Not being the best at something." Like the best in school, for example. Some people get really serious about things like that, not to mention some families, and the pressure can get to be unbelievably huge. "If I weren't the best at something, I 'd personally say "So what?" Too many things in life to stress about." I sincerely believe you don't need to be the best at anything, though it would be nice.

"But what if that something involved holding lives in your hands?" Silence completely overtakes the grounds except for the sounds of the insects. It's a serious question, spoken from Chrom's worries that he may have failed Ylisse by being too quick to draw his blade in his effort to defend his sister. Or he could have been speaking about his father's recklessness, as I remember hearing about it. I don't remember much about that conversation, truth be told. But, of course, unlikely as it is, he could have been speaking about my own failure. This is something at least Robin realizes according to her facial expression. Unbeknownst to her, however, this was the reason I decided to get out of bed in the first place. I still haven't been able to completely forgive myself when thinking of her, and neither have I stopped thinking about the name of her Pegasus… But then I can't completely forgive myself about all those other deaths. Chrom's question is something I have firsthand experience with. "The least you can do is take something away from the ordeal. Make sure you never make that same mistake again."

Time to switch this back to what it's supposed to be about. "Back at the Borderpass… Why did Gangrel say that? A realm of hypocrisy?" Chrom grimaces and glances down at the ground, clenching his fist. "It wasn't completely a lie. My father waged a brutal war on Plegia in the past, ending only with his death. Plegia rightfully remembers the suffering they endured, but Ylisse had begun to collapse itself during those times. With my father's death, Emmeryn became the new Exalt, and the target of blame from all sides. But she restored peace to the land: She healed the people when all they had to offer was mockery, hostility, and stones; she returned soldiers to their families; She ended the war… And she never resented the people for they did to her." He straightens his posture, his eyes shining with steel, tempered with the same forge as his determination. The kind of eyes that draw you in and force into you the same inspiration and will that power the person to whom those eyes belong. "Emmeryn represents everything that Ylisse has become today: She IS Peace… King Gangrel would take advantage of that, and, as you saw, he has. The only peace he could ever understand would be the peace that only death could provide… So perhaps I must be death's agent. Emmeryn would never order him killed, nor do I wish her to." To call it well spoken would be an understatement.

However, despite this belief of mine, Marth appears from within the darkness, having at some point slipped into the grounds, and speaks those same words. "Well spoken, sir." Stepping forth and into the light emanating from the hallways, there is no mention of his name, instead a greeting mentioned by Robin. "Good evening, Marth." He regards each of us in turn, beginning with Robin and ending with myself, leaving the middle person of the two to be obvious, and he questions Marth. "How did you…" Chrom fails to finish his sentence, though it would seem that Marth had understood regardless. On the other hand, I question what caused Chrom to hesitate. On a whim, I glance towards the bushes, looking for any signs of rustling, and I focus on it as Chrom and Marth continue their dialogue. The bush moves back and forth lazily, moved only by the wind.

Marth draws his blade, Parallel Falchion, and it gleams in the moonlight. He holds its edge towards Chrom, who prepares to draw his own iteration of Falchion in response. Robin doesn't react, but instead turns her head towards the castle, her attention whimsically drawn by something else that even she has trouble believing. And I stare at the bush as it moves lazily back and forth, moved only by the wind. "I'm about to save your life. From him." And Marth regards the bush, which is oblivious to the accusations being made against it, with a turn of his head. And in the ensuing silence, I can't help but think that it's quiet…

But not quiet enough.

...There isn't anyone in the bush, is there?

A moment passes. And then a second. And then five. The bush moves, but only lazily, caressed by the night winds. Neither party moves, both at a cold, unbending standstill. I look away from the bush and towards the tree. Just like the bush, the tree moves gently, its leaves creating gentle waves of sound that fall upon an otherwise quiet world. Quiet… But not quiet enough. Marth's knuckles are white on the grip of Parallel Falchion, and his mouth seems even more stern than usual. I turn my attention to Robin, who hasn't turned broken her stare towards the castle. I follow her gaze to a flickering light, it's shadow dancing happily on the opposite wall, following a steady pattern. The pattern breaks from its routine for a split second before returning to normal.

And then the Elwind I pushed into her hands when I first met her in Southtown appears once more in her grasp. "Wake everyone! Marth's right!" And without another moment's pause, she dashes inside. A glance towards Chrom, who glances back at me, who glances at Marth, who dashes inside, followed by Chrom, followed by Me. Chrom and I detour towards the sleeping quarters that the Shepherds had been assigned for the night, and Marth heads straight for the doorway separating Emmeryn from her assailants. As for Robin, I've no idea where she has gone. As I keep pace with Chrom, whose pace is far quicker than usual, I wonder what is currently going through his mind. During my first timeline, whenever I had been fighting by his side, I had felt that I could do anything. Considering how much I've grown since then, should he fight by my side, would he think the same thing…? I'm curious, but, sometimes, I wish that I wasn't the only one who remembers the past. Well, I'm not: Joshua remembers as well, but…

Author's Note :

In recent news, after a long time in consideration as to how everything could work out, I finally solved a problem I've been having in regards to the characters, and I tried to include the first piece of the puzzle in this chapter. As to the other two pieces, I think I might have trouble including them anywhere.

Other than this, did anything catch your attention about this chapter?