A/N: Well here we are the next chapter that really is a while coming. I suppose though that it is to be expected. I was never great with deadlines but at least I get the task done with time. Even if said time takes a while. Sorry to those who were waiting for the next chapter.
Chrom stood rooted to the spot as he saw his sister, Emmeryn who everyone had thought dead. He was so close to crying in that one moment and yet he knew that he couldn't not yet. Chloey was standing next to him with shock on her face. She was just as surprised as he was; and that was not the only thing. There was a Valkyrie that claimed to be Chloey's mother. For Chrom it was the weirdest thing that had ever happened. He held his wife around her shoulders and felt her lean into his embrace, hesitant to approach the strange woman...a woman with startling resemblance to Ylisse's Tactician. Chrom realised that they were not alone as Lissa and Henry arrived. Henry's cry of delight and rush to embrace the woman made it clear that he knew her. His cries of "Mother" were even more of a clue and Chloey shyly moved towards the woman, Chrom unsure of what to say.
When Lissa saw Emmeryn she cried and held her sister who was very much uncertain of what to do. However Emmeryn knew that there was something about the young Princess that was familiar, and she felt a strong bond between them. She saw the blue haired young man look at her with an expression of determination.
Meanwhile Henry was too busy sobbing in his mother's arms to notice his sister's hesitation. Although none the less Chloey did approach the woman with wide, almost uncertain blue eyes the woman pulled her into an embrace, and Chloey realised that the Valkyrie was crying.
Lucina watched with slight tears in her eyes as family she didn't know she had came together. She was truly surprised to have found her grandmother having heard that she was murdered by the Grimleal, so to see both her Aunt Emm and her grandmother was something she never dreamed of. Of course she was about to get a further surprise.
Morgan had seen both Aunt Lissa and Uncle Henry go looking for his parents and seeing as how they'd not come back yet, he and Amelia snuck out from their Aunt Tharja's watchful eye. Morgan had decided that he would thank little Lucina later as he made his way up to where his parents were. He saw a strange woman holding his mother and crying while his father was talking to another woman who like Amelia had the mark of Naga on her forehead. So this must be Aunt Emm, the one Morgan had only ever heard about. He approached and saw a blue haired girl looking right at him with a suspicious eye, "Mum...Dad...what is going on?" Morgan asked carefully making everyone look at him. The Valkyrie that was hugging his mother let go to get a good look at him, and Lissa looked surprised that Morgan was there. Chrom looked at Morgan and spoke,
"We have a lot to tell you both it seems,"
As if to second what he was saying Chloey spoke, "And a lot to tell the other Shepherds as well,"
"Before we do..." the girl spoke, "there is something that I need to tell you,"
"What is it Lucina?" Chloey asked and Morgan frowned, how was this girl little Lucina? He'd only been with his younger sister but a few moments ago,
"There were others that came with me...to help stop Grima from coming back," The girl responded as Morgan looked at her sword. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. This girl could be Lucina, she carried the same sword as he did after all but that was in conclusive evidence, he would need to wait and see if what she was saying was actually true. A opportunity would present itself, that much Morgan knew.
"Alright do you have any clues for us to look for?" Morgan asked, "anything at all that might help us find your friends?"
"..." She looked at him and Morgan waited to see what she would say. It was as they looked at one another that Morgan tried to tell her with his eyes that they shared the same goal. He wanted to see Grima dead as well. It seemed to work as she spoke, "I don't have much, but I have a couple of possible leads,"
"That's good," Morgan said, "we should follow them up right away,"
Amelia looked between the two, "What about me?!" She cried,
"You can help us Amelia," Morgan said lightly patting his sister's shoulder. Chrom and Chloey watched the exchange and Chloey sighed,
"Well it seems we have work to do," She said, "I hope that everyone takes the news alright,"
As they arrived back at the Shepherds' camp it was clear that there was a lot of explaining to do. Tharja was surprised to meet Chloey and Henry's mother, the woman smiling at the thought that her son had found a nice Plegian woman. Chrom wasn't sure what to make of her. The Valkyrie used to be a tactician and yet seemed more at home as a healer than anything else. It was interesting to see the others deal with this new woman, who consequently decided that she too would join Chrom's Shepherds.
Chloey was resting over near the strategy tent, eyes closed as she was lost in thought. It was hard to believe that her actual mother was there. If anything she was certain that she was partially dreaming it. This strange woman was her mother? No it had to be a fluke, nothing more...although Henry had called the woman mother...Chloey's head ached uncomfortably, "Hmm, I've seen that face before," a feminine voice made Chloey's eyes snap open, as she turned to the source, "You're worried about something, aren't you?"
"Mother..." Chloey looked at the woman and then looked down. It was hard to even call the woman that. Yet she had to,
"I suppose it would be hard," the woman continued sadly, "losing all of your memories of the past. Perhaps it is for the best."
"Huh?" Chloey blinked in surprise,
"At least I think it is," The woman sighed, then she gently pat Chloey's head, a gesture that Chloey felt was familiar and somewhat...comforting, although why she didn't know,
"Mother..." Chloey looked at the woman and realised that she had many questions, but not so many answers,
"Don't worry we'll have all the time we need to catch up on everything, just know that if you need my help, I'll do what I can," the Valkyrie smiled tenderly before heading off to see if there were any injured from the skirmish.
"Mother..." Chloey frowned, "You don't have to pretend to accept things for my sake. I know how much this is hurting you. I just wish I could remember you like I did my battle tactics..."
Morgan was cleaning his sword when he heard the soft footfalls of someone arriving. He looked up and saw that it was the young woman that claimed to be Lucina. A close look at her revealed that she had the Mark of Naga and Morgan gave a polite nod to show that he saw her,
"Good eve, Morgan," Lucina said, "I hope that I might speak with you..."
"Of course, what would you like to talk about?" Morgan asked,
"Where did you get your sword?" She asked sitting beside him to get a closer look,
"Well from what I can tell it seems that you and I come from different futures," Morgan said calmly, "I was given this sword and must have asked Naga for help in my time. You must have done the same right?"
"Yes, I did," Lucina looked grieved, "We came back to..."
"To stop Girma, I know," Morgan nodded, "My sister and I did the same to, so we're in the same boat,"
Lucina looked at Morgan and saw that he was serious, "I see," she said at last, "Well then I suppose we share the same mission then,"
"Yeah," Morgan nodded, "we do,"
"So then what should we do?"
"Work together of course, between the others that came back with you, myself, Amelia and Mum we should be more than able to save this world from Grima."
"Right," Lucina nodded, "So how about we have a practice sparing match some time to hone our skills,"
"Count on it," Morgan said knowing that they would need to be at the top of their abilities to stop the Fell Dragon.
Amelia was brushing Ice when the familiar sound of footsteps was heard, "Mum!" Amelia said watching as Chloey made her way over to her daughter. Chloey smiled,
"Want some help?" Chloey offered,
"Yes please," Amelia grinned. Chloey came over and helped Amelia with her pegasus, as she did so, Amelia noticed that her mother was rather quiet, almost lost in thought a bit, "Hey Mum," Amelia spoke after a while of comfortable silence, "How did you and Dad meet?" Chloey looked at Amelia with a slightly surprised expression,
"Well now," Chloey looked thoughtful, then she blushed, "Th-that's a story for another time," Amelia looked at her mother wondering why she was blushing and then she spoke, "Anyway it looks like Ice is fully clean now, so why don't we go and get him some food,"
"Ok Mum," Amelia said slightly confused. Why did her mother blush?
The next day was a flurry of activity as the Shepherds moved onwards back to Regna Ferox. Chloey was bustling about the convoy making sure that weapons were fully stocked and checking to make sure that everyone had enough equipment to last them the trip. Broken weapons were set to be repaired and she was mostly done with the tasks at hand. Mostly. Lucina needed some new clothes (both of them) and Chloey had made a note of the elder Lucina needing some new amour plates. Chloey's coat was back in her and Chrom's travelling wagon with little Lucina, the child having fallen asleep and Chloey having placed her in a comfortable spot and using the coat as a blanket. Chloey's dark mage outfit was plenty to keep her cool for the time being anyway. She happened to turn and see the Lucina that she was looking for. What she saw had her mildly worried.
Lucina it seemed was limping slightly and Chloey decided to slow her pace. Eventually she caught up with her daughter and said rather calmly, "Is everything alright Lucina?" She had hoped that Lucina wouldn't mind but the girl started then realising it was only Chloey sighed,
"I'm fine," She said and Chloey shook her head,
"I know that isn't the case Lucina," She frowned with worry for her daughter. To Chloey it didn't matter that she didn't birth the girl she was walking along side. She truly felt that it was her daughter standing there, as much as the little one sleeping in the wagon tucked under her mother's coat.
Lucina looked at Chloey and realised that her mother was as sharp eyed as her future self. This was a troublesome development as Lucina didn't want to have her mother worry about her so much. She wasn't even entirely sure that she wanted to stay with them...and yet a part of her wanted to stay so badly it hurt. Lucina was surprised to see her mother pull out a healing staff and before she could protest her leg stopped hurting her. Chloey smiled and Lucina realised that her mother was just as observant as ever.
By the time the Shepherds had arrived in Regna Ferox there was a lot of activity; Chloey knowing that there would be a lot of work ahead for her. Chrom was busily organising with Frederick what needed to be done and Morgan was acting as his mother's understudy. Amelia was trotting about practicing her drills and for the most part helping Morgan as much as she could. For now while the Shepherds were waiting for the Plegians it was decided that they would use the time to search out the others that had come with Lucina to the present. Chloey took into account that there were several married couples and Lucina revealed that the children they were looking for were the children of said couples. Chloey knew what had to be done and spoke with the other married Shepherds.
As it turned out there were were a few married Shepherds, Chloey and Chrom, Lissa and Lon'qu, Henry and Tharja, Sumia and Frederick, Stahl and Sully and Miriel and Ricken. Those that were engaged included Olivia and Libra, Donnel and Nowi and lastly Maribelle and Vaike. Lucina had disclosed that there were eleven others that had come back in time with her and Chloey knew that meant that there were three that were unaccounted for. Of course this was without the recent events being taken into account. She sighed and tried to figure out what was the best thing to do. Then she decided that they would do their best to find all of the children.