I'm finally back! Sorry about the long hiatus - I had AP tests to study for and I wanted to finish my senior year of high school strong. Now that I'm officially a graduate, I finally can find the time again to write! This chapter is yet another long one (hopefully with enough fluff to satisfy your shipping thirst for now), so enjoy!
In which longstanding fears are addressed and the first day of a new future begins
Chapter 28 - Wounds Heal
"Are you coming, Father? I'm already out here!" Morgan yelled back at him, waving from outside the castle gates.
"Where's your mother?" Robin asked, adjusting his coat on his shoulders as he walked to meet up with his daughter. "She was just here a minute ago."
"Oh, Mother was so excited that she already went on ahead! She's wanted to go out on a little day trip like this as a family for such a long time!" the girl explained with a laugh.
"Really? That's unlike Lucina..." Robin replied.
"What do you mean, Father?" Morgan cocked her head a little ways to the right and gave him a funny look. "You mean it's unlike Mother to enjoy herself?"
"She isn't one to put her own personal enjoyment first, that's for sure. But that's not what I meant," he clarified with a frown. "I mean that it's not like your mother to leave us behind. If she's so excited to spend time as a family now that I'm back, I wouldn't think she would go on ahead by herself... Are you positive she already left?" Something was wrong. Robin was getting the strangest feeling that something all too similar had happened to him before. Recently, too. Was it just him, or was the sky getting darker? He paused mid-stride and glanced upwards, and sure enough there were some dark clouds festering in the morning sky.
"Yeah, definitely. She told me to stay here and wait for you," Morgan answered.
"Could you check and see if she's still in earshot?" Robin asked slowly, gaze still being captured by the swirling shadows above. "It looks like it's going to rain... Maybe we should wait the storm out inside."
"I'll look," she chirped, then fell quiet.
Robin was finding it abnormally hard to look away from the clouds. It was as if he was in some sort of trance. The amorphous masses now seemed to simmer angrily above them, threatening to release a downpour any moment.
Then Morgan screamed. Robin finally ripped his gaze away just in time to see a small horde of Risen clambering up the small hill the castle was perched on, emerging one by one on the ridge. Right in front of them, Morgan was frantically rummaging through her coat pockets, trying to find anything to protect herself. Robin instinctually did the same, but both came up with nothing. No tomes tucked away this time.
"Morgan!" Robin screamed, breaking into a sprint for the gate. "Run!"
The girl didn't need to be told twice, and immediately she turned on her heels and began rushing for the safety of the castle walls. The Risen however followed suit, gradually picking up speed until they had reached a running pace themselves, moaning and hissing and all the while belching that poison smoke from their mouths.
It couldn't be possible! Grima was dead, and all the remaining Risen had been destroyed with him! There was nothing left to control the corpses now!
There was a thunderous crash, both from the storm overhead as the rain began to fall and from the crank of the gate as it sprung to life and started to close. Morgan shouted something, but her words were lost in the uproar. The rain was pouring now. Morgan slipped on the grass, catching herself just before stumbling into the mud but losing precious seconds.
"Morgan! I'm coming!" Robin yelled, dropping his now soaking wet coat to ground once he realized it was only slowing him down. How was the gate so far away?
"Father!" Morgan reached her hand out in a desperate plea. The Risen had nearly caught up with her.
He was so close! The sounds of her footsteps sloshing against the mud were growing louder and louder as they neared each other, as did those of the girl's eldritch pursuers. Robin reached out his hand to meet hers, but just as their fingertips were about to touch, the gate closed. And the thunder boomed. And the Risen roared. And Morgan shrieked. And Robin woke up.
His eyes opened wide, and immediately he became aware of the thin film of cold sweat that coated his forehead. Robin wiped his forehead dry with the sleeve of his shirt and took a sharp breath in, refusing to release it until he had calmed himself.
Disturbed by his sudden movements, Lucina made a subconscious grunting sound but didn't fully wake. She squirmed a little under the covers beside him until she found a comfortable spot on his shoulder to rest her head, quietly drifting off to peaceful slumber once more.
Robin emptied his lungs, Lucina's presence assuring him that there was no threat to worry over. Grima and the Risen were no more, Ylisse was no longer at war with any neighboring nation, and he had woken up just yesterday morning to return to his loved ones and the world he had left behind. He remembered why exactly what he had seen in that nightmare seemed so familiar: Grima had showed him that very scene to torture him many times over while they both were descending into the abyss of death. Morgan was perfectly safe, sleeping soundly just down the hall. Everything was fine. It was only a nightmare.
But it bothered him all the same. Every sense he experienced was so vivid, so real. Grima was a master of the mind, a fact he was acquainted with more than anyone else. The monster knew exactly where all his weaknesses were; Grima could find every chink and flaw in his mental armor and wouldn't hesitate to stab daggers through each and every one to break him from the inside out. Even though he was truly gone, his horrors had not yet disappeared. His influence was the severed tail of the snake, still writhing around in his head even after being separated from body and soul.
"Morgan is fine," Robin mouthed silently into the darkness. "Morgan is safe. Nothing happened to her. Your daughter is safe." But what if... Three words of doubt overpowered any flimsy attempt to reassure himself. He knew nothing was wrong, but he needed to check on her. Just to be on the safe side. He had no chance of falling back asleep otherwise.
Though he hated to disturb her a second time, Robin knew he would have to slide out of Lucina's grasp if he was to ever check on his daughter. Lucina was an even lighter sleeper than he was, so he needed to be strategic if he didn't want to wake her. Little by little, he worked on inching his body closer to his side of the bed, saving moving his head and shoulders for last. Once he was finally at the point where he could swing his legs over the side of the bed, Robin grabbed his pillow with both hands and with one fluid motion slipped his shoulder out from underneath Lucina's head and exchanged it for the pillow. Even in sleep the princess wasn't completely fooled by the substitute, making a disgruntled sound and contorting her facial features ever so slightly at her new headrest's lack of comparative warmth.
Robin quickly rose to a sitting position and placed a hand on her forehead, gently stroking her skin underneath her bangs to soothe her. She made a slight frown and Robin fully expected her to wake for a moment, but instead of opening her eyes she released a small yawn and succumbed to his efforts, drifting off to sleep once again. Robin almost breathed a sigh of relief but caught himself at the last second, clamping his lips shut. Gingerly he withdrew his fingers and rose from the bedside after ensuring that doing so wouldn't cause the blankets to rustle, and then he put on his coat and boots. Finally he managed to slip out undetected, remaining on tiptoe until he was certain that Lucina would be unable to hear him.
Morgan's room was only a few doors down from theirs', and once he stepped inside he could finally place his nonsensical fears to rest. Sure enough Morgan was right there sleeping as she should have been. She was in a rather awkward position though: sprawled out on her bed with hair a mess of wispy blue tendrils across her pillow and one arm hanging limply off the bedside. For a fairly heavy sleeper, she was rather restless. It was actually pretty cute, especially with the little drop of drool hanging precariously from her bottom lip, but the father in him was taking over. Quietly he moved over to her bedside and began to work on readjusting her, placing her dangling arm at her side and pulling her blankets neatly back over her. Once he had finished, Robin released a small sigh and sat himself down lightly on the edge of Morgan's mattress, hand drifting to stroke the girl's forehead.
After a minute of silence, Robin felt Morgan stir a little. Her tired eyes cracked open, peering at her father's vague outline in the darkness. "Dad?" she asked sleepily.
"Yes, it's just me, kiddo," Robin whispered in response.
"What are you..." A yawn. "...Doing here so late?"
"I'm just checking on you, making sure my baby girl is okay," Robin smiled, bending down to kiss his daughter on the forehead as he swept some of her wild hair behind her head. "Go back to sleep, kiddo."
"Okay..." Morgan replied, all too eager to comply. "G'night, Dad..."
"Good night, Morgan." Robin ensured that her blankets were snug and secure before standing and walking back to the doorway. "You can sleep tight knowing that I'll be watching over you and keeping you safe from now on, okay? Just like your real father is right now. That I know for certain..." Robin was pretty positive that Morgan didn't hear any of that last part, but he felt better saying that to her out loud.
Robin stepped outside and gently shut the door; though he was now absolutely certain that Morgan was perfectly safe and that no harm had come to her, his anxious mind had not yet been quelled in activity. Sleep was certainly in his best interest, but it seemed his brain didn't have his best interest in mind. Something was nagging at him, a question whose answer was of utmost importance. What that question was exactly Robin couldn't be certain yet, but he did know that a peaceful sleep would be difficult to attain if he didn't address this bothering thought.
He decided to resort to a quick walk through the castle halls. A little pacing would always help in jogging his thought process back at camp if he was stumped on a battle strategy for that day. Hopefully it would also have the added bonus of tiring him out physically so he would be more inclined to go back to bed. Keeping his steps light as to not disturb anyone, Robin simply began to wander the corridors with no real destination in mind as he attempted to ascertain what was bothering him so.
It was more difficult than he had originally anticipated if a couple of minutes of pacing without any ideas were an indication, so Robin decided to get a change of scenery. Fresh air seemed quite attractive at the moment, as it was starting to get a little stuffy in the hallway. Guided only by a few candles that had barely managed to stay lit until this hour and the soft moonlight that poured in through the windows, Robin searched for the castle garden. He lost his way once and had to backtrack to find the right path, a little mistake that Robin could only blame for his relative inexperience with the castle's interior; he hadn't explored all the passages and rooms for a long time now, and he wasn't exactly the best with remembering where things were in the first place. Eventually he arrived at the heart of the castle and pushed through one of the doors that led to the outdoor garden. He stepped out into the open corridor that surrounded the courtyard on all four sides and took a deep breath in. The evening air was crisp and a little cold, but refreshing all the same.
Before he could step down into the garden however, Robin immediately realized that he wasn't the only person there. A figure stood in the shadows on the opposite end of the corridor, leaning on the guardrail for support and looking out into the garden. Robin couldn't tell who it was from afar, so he stepped forward cautiously, anticipating the worst. Who could have possibly gotten in so late at night? A thief? An assassin? Robin silently cursed for bringing nothing to defend himself with should the person be an actual threat. Even if he couldn't fight, he could at the very least follow the individual and warn the night guards as soon as he got the chance. Whoever it was hadn't noticed him yet, allowing him to get closer undetected until he could finally make out some features. Instead of seeing the ragged and dirty figure of some street urchin like he expected, Robin couldn't help but be a little surprised upon finding a much more youthful and all too familiar one with hair a royal blue.
"...Lucina?"
The girl whipped around in the direction of his voice, seemingly startled by it. She froze as soon as she saw him approaching, not responding back.
"Lucina?" Robin tried again. "I thought you were sleeping... Why are you up so late?" He cursed himself again, this time for what he could only assume was his lack of subtlety. He thought for sure that he had slipped out of the room unheard, but he must have woken her by accident.
"N...No..." she stammered, taking a step backward. She must have just gotten out of bed, for she wore only his shirt and the sweatpants she had fallen asleep in and lacked socks or shoes of any kind. Her voice quivered, and Robin had yet to determine whether its cause was just the cold or... fear. "D...Don't come any closer..."
"Wha?"
"I...I don't want to see you anymore!" Lucina cried. "Go away!"
"Lucina, what are saying?" Robin asked nervously, hesitating at her command but ultimately stepping closer anyway. "It's me! It's Robin!"
"You're not Robin!" the girl accused, expression now clearly terrified. "Stay away from me! Stop pretending to be him!" Her ankle pivoted in place and her bare toes fanned out to achieve a better footing on the stone floor.
"You're scaring me, Lucina..." The fear and hurt in her voice was making his stomach sick. "What's wrong? Please! I'm no illusion! I'm real!"
"I w...won't be fooled... I won't be fooled anymore!" she shouted defiantly, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. "Every night... Every. Single. Night you come! But I know you... I know you enough now to know that you're a liar!" The terror in her tone was still present but now masked by a snarling and accusatory one. "You are nothing but manipulative and shameful for impersonating him!"
The accusations stung, because unlike this morning, it sounded like Lucina really meant them. But Robin couldn't figure out who exactly they were meant for. Did she think he was someone else? This was so unlike her... "Lucina, I don't understand... You have every right to still be angry with me, but can you please just tell me who's impersonating who? Lucy?"
"D...Don't use that name on me!" The girl took a careful step backward as he neared, never taking her intense gaze off of him for a second. "I won't be tricked anymore... No matter how convincing you look or sound, you'll never be able to hurt me again!"
"Lucina, it's just me!" Robin insisted, continuing to approach her. "I would never try to deceive or hurt you intentionally... Please... We can sort this all out. Just take my hand." He held his right hand out with palm upturned, taking careful consideration to keep his movement calm and slow to appear more inviting.
Lucina hesitated for a moment, eyes rapidly darting from his face to his hand and back again. Her own hand flinched, as if she was considering putting it out to reach his; however, she stopped and shook her head, banishing the thought from her mind. "I won't... I won't do it!" she declared loudly, and then she immediately turned and began to sprint away.
"Lucina! No!" Robin cried. He reached out to grab her arm but barely missed. He had no choice but to pursue her.
"Go away!" Lucina begged, looking over her shoulder. "Leave me alone!" Instead of heading towards the doors leading back instead the castle, Lucina took a sudden right and bolted into the garden.
Unfortunately for Robin, the garden was not a traditional one meant for solely growing crops but rather a more decorative one, meant to simulate an ideal patch of landscape. As such, it was filled with small trees, shrubs, and copious types of flowers, and being relatively large in scale, it wouldn't be difficult for Lucina to lose him if he didn't keep up. Lucina knew the garden better than he did and likely had an escape route already planned, so he just needed to catch her before then. How in Naga's name was she running so fast barefoot?
Lucina broke away from the beaten path through the garden and began darting in between tree trunks and around bushes. Robin's already tired legs were beginning to weaken, and she was slipping out of his sight... Lucina's stamina and endurance were incredible; he wouldn't be able to catch her if she didn't slow down. Robin came to the center of the garden where the path diverged into numerous winding ones, and Lucina was nowhere to be seen. He stopped to catch his breath, keeping his ears open and alert to try and detect the sound of footsteps that would give her location away. Instead of footsteps, he heard a restrained shout, presumably one of pain.
"Lucina!" he called with concern as he broke into a run again towards where he had heard the sound. What had she done? He heard an uneven rhythm of footsteps as he neared, and from behind a row of bushes he spotted the girl running with a slight limp in her left leg. Crossing his arms in front of his face for protection, Robin ran through the bushes and emerged on the other side right in front of her, cutting off her path. She uttered another yelp in surprise and began to turn around, but with a burst of speed Robin reached out and wrapped his arms behind her back, interlocking his fingers so that she wouldn't be able to slip away again.
Lucina panicked in response to his touch, squirming around in his grip to try and free herself. "N...No! L...Let go! Let go of me!" she sobbed, tear-filled eyes wide with terror as Robin got a firm grip on her other wrist. "Let go! Go away! P...please! I just want my real Robin to c...come home..."
Robin tightened his grip ever so slightly, masking his own distress with the calmest tone he could manage. "Lucina..." he soothed in a slow voice. "Please calm down... I promise I won't hurt you... Please stop fighting me..."
Her resolve seem to crumble at his words. She closed her eyes, let out a weak sigh, hung her head, and whispered more to herself than to him, "I know... It's not worth fighting anymore... Robin died for me, and he's never coming back. I should be thankful that my memories of him are so vivid that these dreams seem so real. At least we can be together here..."
"Lucina..." Robin released her from his grip, finding it unnecessary to restrain her anymore, and placed his thumb underneath her chin to gently lift her head up. "Look at me," he smiled reassuringly as her watery eyes met his. With his other hand, he grasped her wrist and placed her hand over his chest. If his heartbeat convinced her that he was real this morning, it should hopefully work again. "It's me, Lucina. This is real. This entire day was real, and this isn't a dream. You're awake."
"I'm... awake..." Lucina blinked a few times, eyes going wide. "Robin?"
"In the flesh."
"Oh gods..." she whispered, finally convinced, and now it was her turn to embrace him tightly, nuzzling her face deep into the crook of his neck. She whispered a weak "Sorry", and though it seemed like she wanted to say more, she hesitated and clamped her mouth shut.
Robin was at a loss for an immediate response. One moment Lucina was running away from him, struggling and screaming for escape, and now she was absolutely calm and silent. He might have assumed that she was pretending like nothing had happened, but he knew her too well for that to be the case. She knew as well as he did that something was wrong, and her body language and the look in her eyes conveyed the secret fears she harbored. Ordinarily, he may have offered a hug and some soothing words to reassure her and tell her everything would be okay, but those weren't exactly working at the moment. Though he knew he was nowhere near perfect, Robin always tried his best to be the ideal man for her. He would be the kind of guy who could be witty and humorous yet passionate and caring, and the one who would always have the right words to ease all her worries and sorrows. No amount of wit or humor he could muster would work now, and he couldn't think of anything to say.
Robin tried shifting his weight around, turning at his waist slightly in a vain attempt to illicit some response, any response from her. His weak attempt received an equally weak response; Lucina didn't speak, nor did she even shift her position at all. She just clung to him limply, as if she needed him to hold her up else she fall. Robin glanced from side to side awkwardly. He needed to say something, so ultimately he chose what he assumed to be the most neutral, least emotion-invasive question he could ask.
"Umm... Lucina?" he began slowly. "I... I heard you cry out a second ago, and I thought I saw you limping a little. Did you hurt yourself?"
To his surprise, she actually did react to his question relatively quickly. "I'm fine," the girl said in the same quiet voice she had just used before. "I cut my foot."
"On what?"
"A rock in the path. It's my fault for not wearing shoes."
"May I see?"
Lucina didn't say anything right away. All she could manage was a little sniffle as she breathed in and a slight adjustment of her arm position around his back.
"Lucina?" Robin asked again.
"I'm fine..." she repeated. "It doesn't hurt."
Robin frowned. That wasn't the answer he had expected to hear. Now he was stuck right back where he started with nothing to talk about and awkward silence creeping back in between them. Though they were physically close, Robin could sense the distance between them. He hated this feeling, being emotionally separate from her. Though they may not have been together physically this past year, Robin always knew in the back of his mind that the emotional ties they had forged held them close. Yet in these short few seconds, he couldn't feel that connection, and he felt more distant from Lucina than he had in a long time. He hated this feeling.
"Lucina," he spoke a bit more assertively this time, though his voice couldn't hide his unstable emotions. "I... I want to see. I know you're hurt, and I want to see. I want to help."
Lucina held her breath. She lifted her head from his shoulder and loosened her grip on him. Her azure eyes were red and her cheeks were stained with fallen tears. She flattened her lips, continuing to restrain her speech.
Robin knew she wanted to say something. He couldn't bear to see her like this; he had to know that she knew that she didn't have to be afraid to tell him anything she wanted. But what upset him the most was that he was the cause of Lucina's state right now in one way or another. Why hadn't he listened to her? Why didn't he allow Chrom to land the final blow on Grima? Lucina's true emotions were so strong yet so fragile, and he had broken practically every promise he had made to her. He was such a stupid fool... He couldn't even fulfill his promise of being strong for her when she couldn't be right now.
"L...Lucina, I want to help," he repeated. "Show me where it hurts."
"Everywhere, Robin..." Lucina forced the words from her lips. "It h...hurts everywhere..."
Robin squeezed his eyes shut. He didn't want her to see him cry. If there was any better action he would have taken it, but some powerful urge within him commanded all thought and action. She needed to know that he was here for her now. She needed to know he loved her when "I love you" wouldn't suffice, and that he really, truly meant it. In one swift action, he placed firm hands behind her head and shoulders, clutching her close to him and burying his face in her hair. He needed to be close to her again, and he would hold her like this until that feeling returned. Robin could feel Lucina's body tremble with muffled sobs, and as soon as he knew that she still felt able to express her true feelings and expose the most vulnerable parts of herself to him, that connected feeling he longed for rushed back all at once. It felt as if today had never even happened and this moment was their true reunion.
"Lucina... I'm here now... I'm here for you..." Robin pressed his fingertips down a little harder on the back of her scalp, trying anything to bring her a little closer. Slowly he sank to his knees and sat on his feet, taking Lucina with him.
Lucina responded in turn by digging her fingernails into his back possessively, ensuring that he wouldn't be able to slip away from her again. "Don't leave, Robin... Don't go... I d...don't want to be alone again... Stay..."
"I'm not going anywhere, Lucina. You'll never feel alone again," Robin assured, attempting to control his emotions and lower his voice to a whisper.
"B...But... But I woke up, a...and you were gone! I thought... you were gone forever..." the princess sniffled, struggling to ascertain whether what she saw or what he was saying was the truth. "I thought you left me..."
"Lucina, my love..." Robin eased his grip on her head in the fear of being too forceful and instead began to trace little circles in her hair with his fingertips. "I'll never leave you as long as you need me. Not for anything or anybody else. No more running away and no more dying. I won't leave."
Lucina took a shallow gulp of air, speaking in a very small voice. "I don't know what to believe anymore, Robin... I want to believe you. I want to trust you more than anything, but... how will I know if it's just another empty promise? I know you mean them when you make them, but something always happens and you can't keep them... How do I know?"
The man was silent for a long time, debating the question. "Lucina, I..." he began in a seemingly certain voice, yet he cut himself off and rethought. Finally he settled on the most honest answer he could give. "Lucina... I... don't know how you'll know," he admitted. "I keep saying that trust is the foundation of our relationship. It makes us... well, us. You're the picture of unfaltering loyalty. You always have been. I would trust you with anything before I would even trust Chrom. But... I'm not giving you much of a reason to trust me, am I?"
"N...No!" Lucina responded hurriedly. "Robin, I don't mean that I don't trust you! Of course I believe you! I just... don't know if I can... Oh, this is coming out all wrong..."
"It's okay, Lucy. I know what you mean. I've broken too many promises to just be able to ask for your trust back right away. It's not fair to you for me to only take and you to always give. I know that much. So instead of asking for your trust now, I want to ask you for something else: the chance for me to earn it back. I'll do anything you want, anything you need me to do, to regain the privilege of your trust again."
"Stay," Lucina responded. "I know you, Robin. I know you're genuine. I know what a caring and thoughtful man you are. You don't have to prove those to me. All I need you to do is stay. Stay with me. As long as I'm with you... I'm home."
"Then stay I shall," Robin nodded, kissing her on the top of the head. "And if I even think about leaving, I give you full permission to track me down, bash my head in with Falchion's hilt, and then force me to sign up for every single training session that Frederick holds for the rest of my sorry life. How's that sound?"
"I would never do that," Lucina insisted, slight smile on her lips. "That wouldn't even be punishment. That would be torture."
"Well, I would deserve it if I tried to leave you, wouldn't I?"
"...Maybe."
Robin chuckled at her response. "I definitely would."
They were quiet for a little while afterwards, but it was no longer the awkward silence it had been before. With emotions released and no distance between them, both took pleasure in the peaceful night and reveled in each other's company. Calming as it may have been now, Robin found it impossible to pretend like Lucina's outburst hadn't happened. He had never seen her that way before, and it was rather obviously directed at him. He could tell that Lucina was desperately trying to avoid talking about it, but he couldn't shake his own curiosity and worries.
"Lucina..."
"I know," she responded, clearly embarrassed and subtly trying to hide her face from him. "I shouldn't try and keep what just happened from you. I must have worried you a whole lot, didn't I?"
"Worried is one way to describe it, I suppose..." Robin offered a warm smile in her direction, hoping that she would notice and be put at ease a little more. "If you really don't want to talk about it..."
"N...No, it's really not that big of a deal. I'll explain as best as I can," Lucina replied, taking a deep breath in and letting it out before beginning. "As you can probably guess, this all started after you disappeared. I was... devastated, but I don't think it really hit me with full force at first. It just didn't seem real. How could you be talking with me one minute and then gone the next? I didn't comprehend it. I couldn't understand. I'm no stranger to losing loved ones, nor am I even a stranger to losing you, but this time was different. I've shared familial and friendship bonds with people who passed in my lifetime, but never a romantic one. Even when you vanished after the Fire Emblem was stolen, at least I knew you were out there somewhere. This time... you were gone. Really gone. I could scour the entire continent and still never find you. But I wanted to believe I could. My logical mind told me to give up on you. My heart told me that we would meet again." She made a slight smile. "You can probably guess which one I chose to listen to, huh?"
Robin nodded but gave no verbal response, not wanting to interrupt her story or train of thought.
"The first few nights alone were bearable, I suppose," Lucina continued. "Maybe I still had myself convinced then that you would only be gone a few days and would be right back. But then I had this dream. And I dreamed of waking up normally in the very same bed I had fallen asleep in, but I saw you sitting on my bedside to greet me. You smiled and waved and told me that you had come home, and I can remember my dream-self becoming so excited, so happy! And then I actually woke up, and you... weren't there. It was short, but so realistic. And from that point on, when I did dream, I dreamt of your return. At first it was just me waking up and seeing you in my dream before I woke up for real, but soon my dreams progressed throughout an entire fantasy day."
"You would think that the more time that passed, the more I would forget about you. Little details at first that would make my memories of you hazy, like the way your nose looks or the way your hair falls. But it was the opposite for me: with each passing dream, the more vivid you became. You were just... so real! I could reach out and touch you! And you would smile like you always do and hold me and tell me that everything was alright because we were together again."
"But none of that was real..." Robin spoke, gradually realizing what had made her so upset tonight.
Lucina nodded and continued. "At first I thought I was finding relief in those dreams. They were so pleasant, so idealistic, so perfect... But the more real my dreams became, the more disappointed and upset I would get as soon as I would awake and return to reality. When I realized what was happening, the dreams became more and more like torture. They were nightmares unlike any I had ever experienced because they never frightened me. They were my desperate mind creating a false reality of everything I couldn't have, providing me with temporary relief but longing afterwards. You would be brought back to life to kill me every night... I tried to push the dream you away and not give myself more misplaced hope, but it was... so difficult... I would stare into your eyes and I was hypnotized, and then you offered me your open arms and I had no choice. I was so weak, Robin. So weak... I was a slave to the creations of my own mind."
"Lucina, that doesn't make you weak..."
"I was powerless! I couldn't do anything! I was a pawn in my own game! An actor in my own play! I knew deep down that it was fake and I still played along because I wanted it to be real! And today... I thought that today was the most realistic dream of all..."
Everything clicked for Robin at that one moment. It explained everything. "That... That's why you didn't believe that I was real when I woke you up, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Lucina replied. "It's just that... the way you were sitting on my bed, the way you woke me up, the way you looked at me... It was so similar to what I had imagined of that moment that I thought it was just another extended dream. We'd never done some of the things we did today like our little magic fight in my dreams before, so I was getting really excited that maybe it wasn't my imagination after all! And then night came... Did you notice how I was getting anxious?"
Robin immediately remembered the last thing she had asked him before they had fallen asleep: "If I close my eyes, y...you'll still be here in the morning... Right?" He finally understood the true meaning behind the question.
"You... you asked me if I would be there for you in the morning... because every other time this had happened to you in your dreams, I would be gone... You actually believed that I would disappear in the morning..." he clarified out loud. "And when you woke up just now, and I wasn't there, you thought everything that had happened today was just... another dream..."
"Pathetic, isn't it? I must be losing my mind if I can't even decipher reality from fiction."
"I only woke up to check on Morgan... I...If you had told me about this, I never would have left your side... I must have scared you so much... I'm so sorry..."
"I'm the one who probably scared you, Robin. I was running away from you and shouting and telling you to go away with no good reason. I should be sorry for that display... It's not your fault, Robin. You would never have known if I didn't tell you."
"But no matter which way you look at it, I'm the one ultimately to blame... You never would have even had those dreams in the first place if I had just stayed by your side during our final battle. You were right, Lucy. I should have just let Chrom put Grima back to sleep for another couple hundred years... You and Morgan would never have had to go through losing me, and we would all be long gone by the time Grima would have returned..."
"Robin, I already told you this morning: killing Grima wasn't a mistake. Never for one second doubt that decision. You went above and beyond in completing my mission for me. A future like mine can never happen again. Not to mention the fact that you saved the lives of practically everyone in the known world."
"But you mean more to me than anyone else..." Robin frowned. "Just knowing that my decision brought you preventable sorrow? It hurts more than anything Grima could ever do to me... I would rather anyone else have to suffer before you..."
"Robin, as Princess of Ylisse, it is my duty to ensure the wellbeing of my people. If one more year of sorrow was the price to pay for not only their safety but for many more future years of happiness with you, it was worth it," Lucina clarified.
The man looked at her intensely before heaving a deep sigh. "If only more people shared a heart as beautiful as yours, Lucina... The world would surely be a much better place. There are so many people out there who would be angry and resentful, ready to place blame for their suffering on anything so that they can turn their pain into hatred. I... don't understand how you can't be angry at me for all the mistakes I've made."
"Because they were mistakes, Robin. I know you never did anything with the slightest intention of hurting me in any way. You just got caught up right in the epicenter of everything that happened with Grima. You didn't ask for this happen," Lucina explained, placing a gentle hand on his cheek. "I've learned from my childhood and adolescent years that sometimes things are so much bigger than you or I. We can change their courses for better or for worse, but regardless of what we choose, that path will have consequences as well as benefits. When I took up the mission of changing the past, I knew that I wouldn't be able to hide from sorrow. I was placing myself in the middle of the conflict right alongside you. I knew what I was getting myself into, just like when I found out that you were destined to be the human vessel of the Fell Dragon. I could have given up on you right away; I could have refused to see you again or associate with you because of your position. But... I didn't want to leave you... because I love you, Robin. I've had a lot of time to reflect on it, and I've realized that love isn't perfect. Just like everything else, love will have its consequences sometimes."
She placed her other hand on his other cheek, nearing her face to his. "Just because of our positions, regardless of character, I knew that loving you would have its consequences. With you being Grima's avatar and the prince of Plegia and me being wielder of the Falchion and the princess of Ylisse, falling in love with you was a gamble. And... I understood that. Could I have had a less turbulent romantic life if I had chosen another? Perhaps. But I chose you, Robin. And no matter what sorrows may have awaited us when I made that decision during the war and no matter what sorrows may await us in the future, as long as it works out in the end... As long as we can find happiness together... Then I'll know that I made the right choice. That gamble will all pay off as long as you keep on being the kind, modest, funny, intelligent, caring, dorky, and handsome man that I love with all my heart." Lucina leaned up just a little to place a delicate kiss on his lips, holding it for a few seconds. "As long as you keep being the prince to my princess."
"Lucina..." The corners of Robin's lips turned upwards, and relief and happiness poured out from the expression in his eyes. "How did I get so lucky to be able to call you mine? We'll make our love work out, Lucy, and that I can promise you because I know it's one I'll never be able to break." He held her tightly to his chest and fell to his back, lying down in the grass. "As long as you keep on being the thoughtful, humble, courageous, loyal, compassionate, adorable, and most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes upon, we can make this all work out. We'll be happy together, love."
"It's a deal," Lucina giggled. "I can't wait for everything we'll do together."
"Me too," Robin laughed back. "That reminds me... What have you been looking forward to doing together this past year? The war is over now, so we can do anything we want. I guess what I'm trying to say is, what shall we do tomorrow? I want you to enjoy yourself."
Lucina pondered the question for a moment before admitting, "Honestly, I'm not really sure... I guess all this time I've only been thinking about you coming back, not what we would do once you got back."
"What if we go into town tomorrow, just you, me, and Morgan?" the man suggested. "Then we could look at all the vendors' carts, maybe do a little shopping, and then get something to eat. That might be fun."
"That sounds lovely," Lucina replied, perking up at the thought. "Just like we did that one day in Valm! That was like our first real date together, wasn't it?"
"I suppose it was," Robin agreed. "Why don't we do that then? And tell you what: I'll buy anything you want for you. I want to treat you tomorrow."
"You're too kind, Robin. I don't need anything. Spending a day as a family is more than a treat for me."
"Well, I'll still keep that offer open." Robin quieted for a minute or two. He was finally growing a little tired again, but he wanted to preserve the moment between them for as long as he could. A cool, evening wind blew through the garden, rustling the trees and sweeping up a few loose leaves into the air. "Hmm..." he sighed. "Chilly night, huh?"
As soon as he mentioned it, Lucina tucked her hands and arms underneath her, shielding them from any further gusts. "Yeah. Now that you bring it up..." She shivered a little and pressed herself down onto Robin's chest in hopes of capturing more of his body heat.
"Here," Robin offered. He propped himself up with his elbows for a second to take off his coat and drape it over her like a blanket. "This will keep you a little bit warmer."
"But then you'll be cold..."
"I'll be fine."
"Thank you..." She gave a grateful smile, slipping her arms through the sleeves and pulling the hood up over her head. Her expression changed to one more pensive, and she began to speak once Robin gave her a questioning look. "I used to do this often..."
"What do you mean?"
"Come out here in the garden when I was feeling lonely. While you were away of course. Then I would put on your coat and put up the hood just like this. It comforted me a little to know that I still had a piece of you with me. It feels so very familiar now," she explained. "On clear nights when I could see the stars, I would look up and wonder if you could still see the same ones from wherever you were." Lucina paused. "I would talk to you too sometimes. Just about life, what was happening here in Ylisse, what I had done that day, what I was feeling at that moment... It was my way to cope when I was feeling overwhelmed, I guess. I probably sound crazy, don't I?"
"Not at all," Robin insisted. "If that made you feel better, I don't think it sounds crazy. I just wish I could have been there to hear all your thoughts... If you don't mind me asking, what did you do while I was away?"
"Mostly look for you. As long as I stayed active and at least felt that I was playing some sort of a role in finding you and bringing you back home, I could hold off most of my depression. Searching at least gave me other things to think about so I could take my mind off of saddening thoughts."
"Where did you go?"
"Everywhere I could possibly think of," she answered. "I roamed around the countryside, stopping in little villages and towns along the way for food and a place to stay the night. It was quite the adventure now that I think about it. I trekked through almost all of Ylisse, parts of Ferox when the weather wasn't too hostile, and a little bit on the outskirts of Plegia. I even snuck off to Valm for a month without telling Mother and Father."
"And they didn't send out the entire army searching for you?"
Lucina shook her head. "I left them a note that they could find easily telling them where I had gone, when I would be back, and not to come searching for me. I knew they would try to stop me from travelling so far if I had told them face to face, but I was getting a little desperate. Needless to say, they weren't too happy with me when I returned, but they understood why I did what I did."
"But all that searching and you still found no clues or ideas what had happened to me or where I was... It was all in vain..."
"Not all in vain actually."
"Huh?"
"Something you said before you killed Grima resonated with me, Robin. It was when Grima had us trapped in his mental barrier, and you were explaining to me why you needed to kill him and not let him go back to sleep. You said that you wanted to give the people of the world a second chance. That mankind still had a chance to choose what path they wanted to follow, and you wanted to show them that peace and love and altruism were stronger than violence and hate. It's just... the way you phrased those thoughts... The emotions you put behind them... I realized that I was the only person who knew what you were trying to accomplish, and I couldn't let that happen. If you gave the whole world a second chance with your sacrifice because you had a vision for what the world could become, then I decided that I would make sure that the world knew who you were, what you did, and what that vision was!"
Robin was awed. "You mean... you told people what I said?"
"Everyone and anyone I met who would listen," Lucina replied. "If I overheard people talking about the massive dragon that had appeared in the sky or the strange weather that had generated when he was reborn or the Risen in general, I made sure to tell them what had happened and what could have happened if a single man didn't sacrifice everything he had. I told them all about the world of peace that you craved and begged them to act accordingly and spread the word. There were still some people who didn't want to listen to what I had to say, but there many others who I think were truly touched. Hopefully I got through to some of them, and if we're lucky, they may just change their ways in the future to come. Then we would be a little closer to the world you dreamed of."
"That's... That's amazing, Lucina... I didn't know you did all that..."
"I didn't do anything," the girl shook her head. "I was just the messenger. You were the one who gave me that message and did everything you could to make that message a possible achievement. I... I just had to make sure that you weren't forgotten, Robin. I don't want your name to be lost to history. The world you saved deserves to know their hero."
"Gods... Lucina, I... don't know what to say except... thank you... From the bottom of my heart. That means so much to me that you did that on your own accord. I wish that I could have been as productive this past year as you..."
"Oh! I still haven't asked you yet!" Lucina realized. "What was being... dead like?"
"All I remember is that it was pitch black, like the night sky with no stars, and I was drowning in it. Grima was there, and he tried to get me to offer up my body for him to possess so that we may be able to escape death. I refused of course, and he started to get desperate, practically begging me to save him like the pathetic creature he was. When I still refused, Grima gave up, but he said that if we were both to die, he wanted to make sure that I suffer for my choices beforehand."
"Did he hurt you?" Lucina asked in concern, scanning up and down his arms to check for any bruises or wounds she may have missed before. "Could he even touch you in that state?"
"He didn't do any lasting physical harm," the tactician assured her. "He didn't have enough strength left for that. But what he could do was show me nightmares, scenes of each and every one of my friends perishing in horrible, violent ways... It didn't take him long at all to recognize that the ones where you or Morgan or both died hurt me the most, so eventually those were all he would show me. Each death was more awful and gruesome than the last..." He shivered a little, not from the cold but from the visions that he still could recall so vividly. "You would think that eventually I would become callus to your deaths... That seeing them so much would dampen my emotional response to them. But that wasn't the case. The more I watched, the more it hurt. You're too precious for me to lose." Robin then admitted, "That's why I woke up and left our room tonight. I had a nightmare of losing Morgan exactly like one that Grima showed me, and I had to check on her to convince myself that she was okay."
"Oh, Robin..." Lucina sighed, recalling his past experiences with nightmares and how badly they could affect him. "I didn't know... Is there anything I can do to help?"
Robin shook his head. "No. I'm sure the nightmares will stop soon, because this time I refused to let Grima control me with them. As long as I knew that by sacrificing myself that the Fell Dragon could never harm you again, I also knew that none of those nightmares could ever come to fruition. I kept myself sane by telling myself that nothing I was seeing was real."
"We were both hurt while we were apart. We're at the point in our relationship together that the two of us are weaker separate, but stronger together," Lucina smiled. "Don't worry, Robin. Now that we have each other again, I'm sure both our wounds will heal."
"You couldn't be more right," Robin smiled back, uplifted by her comment. "Wounds will heal..." he repeated slowly, eyes suddenly going wide as he sat up. "O...Oh! Lucina! I completely forgot about your foot!"
"Huh?" The princess looked at him oddly, forgetting for just a moment that anything had even happened to her. "Oh. I told you, Robin. I'm okay. I've experienced far worse and lived. I hardly even notice it now."
"Well, unfortunately for you, Princess, I'm having none of that. If you don't do anything about it, it could get infected and you could get sick. You know that. I saw the way you were limping. It had to have hurt at least a little bit, and it's my job from here on out to make any hurt that I can go away. You don't have to pretend that you're okay to look strong around me."
"Robin..."
"Lucina."
"...Alright, you win," the girl submitted rather quickly, knowing that it was in her best interest. He was right: there was no point in wearing that mask around him of all people. She adjusted her sitting position so that she was sitting more cross-legged on his lap, making it easier to show him her injury.
"Lucina, how in Naga's name does this not hurt you at all?" Robin asked in shock once she exposed her foot. "You're bleeding!"
"It doesn't hurt much. Maybe just a little bit," she admitted.
"I know I have some emergency medical supplies in here somewhere..." Robin murmured half to himself as he began rummaging around in his coat she was wearing, checking all the little pockets concealed on the inside. "You wouldn't have taken anything out of it while you were holding on to it, would you have?"
"No, I left everything exactly how it was," Lucina assured. "But if it's emergency medical supplies you're looking for, you should save them for when you really need them. I would hardly call this an emergency. Only a little blood, that's all. I'll wash it off."
"Shush. It's an emergency for me," Robin scolded her. "...Ah! Here they are." He pulled out a thin pile of folded cloth bandages and a tiny pouch. "I snuck them out of the medical tent a long way back for situations just like this. I'm just going to clean up the cut first," he explained as he ripped a small square off of the bandage roll. He cradled Lucina's foot in one hand and started wiping all the specks of dirt and blades of grass that clung to the bloodied skin surrounding her wound. "Looks okay..." he spoke after a minute of working, then began carefully undoing the little knot in the string that kept the pouch tightly closed. He stuck the tip of his index finger in and scooped out a blob of a clear, gel-like substance. "This is a healing salve. I think it's infused with all sorts of medicinal plants. Whatever it is though, it's apparently really fast-acting."
"Where did you get it?" Lucina inquired curiously.
"From Lissa. She only let me have this little pouch of it though. Apparently some of the plants they use for it are rare in Ylisse, so we don't have that much of it."
"Then don't use it on me, Robin!" she insisted. "You may need it later!"
"Too late," the strategist grinned triumphantly. "Hold still while I put it on, okay?" He then smeared the salve on her foot, gently tracing over her cut with his finger to ensure he applied it properly.
Lucina winced in response to him touching her wound, but immediately afterwards she let out a small sigh. "It feels relieving..." she noted. "I can't feel the pain at all anymore!"
"Told you it was fast-acting," Robin smiled. "But it won't close up that cut right away. I'll just finish bandaging it up..." He retrieved the bandages from the ground beside him, rolled out a longer piece than before, and ripped it off with his teeth. Finally, he wrapped her foot a few times around and tied a bow on top to secure them. "All done! That should be all healed in the morning."
"You didn't have to do that for me, Robin."
"Hey, I missed out on a whole year of pampering you. I should be working overtime to make up for it! I'll be like your butler. Or a slightly less intense Frederick."
"I would rather you not be my butler, and I think one Frederick is just the right amount of Frederick. How about you just keep on being you?" Lucina suggested. "You're very sweet just the way you are." She paused for a second, and then darted in to give him a surprise kiss. "You work so hard to make sure I'm all taken care of. Thank you."
Robin laughed, not hiding the blush on his cheeks. "It's not work if I enjoy doing it, hmm?"
"I suppose not," Lucina responded with a laugh of her own.
"Well, now that all our issues at the moment have been solved, I think it's about time both of us get some much needed shut eye. The nice, warm bed is beckoning me." Robin yawned loudly, as if to prove his point.
"I couldn't agree more," the girl agreed. She began to stand, but before she could even make it to full height, Robin shot up and scooped her into his arms. Lucina didn't know what else she was expecting; she had pretty much figured that he would allow no less with her injury.
"No way, Lucy Lu! I won't risk you walking until that cut has made a complete recovery!" he insisted.
"Robin, of all things I can walk by myself." Lucina made the protest, but her upturned lips gave her away.
The strategist put on a stern face, brow slightly furrowed and mouth in a frown that conveyed nothing short of concern and disapproval. "Milady, I insist!" he declared in a deeper voice than his own. "For after all, there could be some very dangerous pebbles on the path ahead. With your feet bare, you could step on one, trip on one, or, Naga forbid, cut yourself on one! Please, allow me to carry you, Princess. I mustn't allow the same tragedy that befell you earlier to repeat itself, for I have already brought shame upon my profession of protecting you." Robin grinned and raised his eyebrows, hoping that she would catch on.
Lucina made an exaggerated sigh. "Very well, Sir Frederick. I suppose I'll allow you to escort me just this once."
Robin couldn't help himself and burst into giggles. "How was I?"
"I thought I told you that one Frederick is more than enough for one castle, you silly man."
"How was the voice?"
"Voice could have been better, admittedly. The actual content of your speech was spot on though."
"Aww, I thought I pulled it off this time..."
Lucina rolled her eyes and hugged her arms around his neck. "Just carry me to bed, Mister Knight."
"Your wish is my command, milady."
Lucina made a soft grunt and squirmed around a little as she awoke, freeing her limbs from wrinkles in the bed sheets. She opened her tired eyes to a squint and rolled her head to her side on the pillow. To her relief, Robin was right where he should have been, though he was already awake and sitting up. Lucina mustered up just enough strength to lift her head up for a second before falling to rest on the man's leg.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Robin greeted softly, placing one hand on the top of her head to stroke her hair.
"Mmm... Good morning..." Lucina murmured lazily in response, letting out a yawn before opening her eyes fully. "What are you reading?" she inquired, noticing the book perched in Robin's other hand.
"An etiquette book."
"Why an etiquette book?"
"I'm trying to learn how to court you."
"Court me?" she asked with a faint disbelief at what she was hearing. "Why do you feel like you need to court me?"
"Because, silly. In case you forgot, you're a princess. I realized that it would only be proper to start officially courting you," Robin replied distractedly, flipping a page of his book. "This suggests beginning to write romantic poems. Would you like that? I've never written a poem, or anything really romantic before, but I could certainly try."
Lucina wasn't positive whether he was joking or not. It seemed like a suggestion he would make just to have a little fun with her, but his tone of voice actually sounded serious. "If you really want to write me poems I won't stop you, but don't feel obligated to in the slightest. I think we're well past the courting phase, Robin," she sighed, and for a moment was tempted to fall back asleep on his leg.
"I know that... I just didn't know if it was a normal Ylissean custom. Don't want to be breaking any unspoken rules here... You took etiquette classes when you were little, didn't you? Would you know?"
"Yes, I did. It's been a long time since then, but if I remember correctly, I'm fairly certain it is the general custom for ordinary Ylissean princesses to be courted by suitors. But we aren't exactly the most ordinary couple. And by the way, couldn't all of our interactions together in the past be considered courting?"
"But that was technically in a time of war..." Robin reminded her. "I wasn't sure if now that we're in a time of peace that formal courting behavior would be expected by the royal family."
"In Maribelle's family, probably. In ours, I doubt it would matter to my father. He knows you and we know each other very well, so courting isn't even needed," Lucina clarified. "Just keep on doing what you're already doing, Robin. That's all I need."
"Alright..." Robin nodded slowly, still not sounding entirely sure. "That simplifies things quite a bit. On to my next few questions, when I greet you from now on, I need to bow, right? Must I put one arm behind my back or just bow at the waist with my hands at my sides? Do I kiss the back of your hand before or after the bow? Oh, and when we're holding hands, should I just do it normally or should I keep my arm held out for you to hold onto, like I'm escorting you? I'll probably learn these from the book, but I just wanted to check with an actual princess before..."
"Robin, what in Naga's name are you talking about?" Lucina looked up at him questioningly. "You've never been concerned about any of these kinds of things until now, and neither have I. What's really bothering you?"
"Well... I just thought that if we're going out in public today and if the townspeople of Ylisse will see us together romantically, I wanted to show them that I'm a fit and eligible suitor for their eldest princess. I don't know much at all about proper etiquette around royals, and if I didn't do everything just right, like when I should bow, I'm afraid that the people will think I'm being unintentionally rude to you... I don't want there to be any debate or protest of us being together."
"You're too sweet to be concerned over such things, Robin," Lucina smiled, now realizing his true troubles. "But you won't have to worry about it. I try to keep myself away from the public eye as much as I can in Ylisstol, so there haven't been very many questions regarding who I am. Because we're so close in age, Father has been able to pass older Cynthia, Morgan, and me as distant cousins from a very small and secluded kingdom in the countryside who are taking an extended visit in Ylisse to put rumors of our origins to rest. Time travel would simply be too difficult for many to understand; not everyone is as accepting as you and Father. The point is that nobody really knows who I am or considers me a member of the immediate Ylissean royal family, so they shouldn't pay me much attention or expect formalities from you around me. Their eyes are all on Lucy at the moment."
"Is that so?"
"They adore her. I swear Father brings her along sometimes when he walks into town just to hear people say things like, 'The princess is so cute!' and whatnot. He's a very proud father," Lucina giggled.
"He should be. After all, he does have three beautiful daughters and one very beautiful daughter," Robin laughed. "In any case, we should probably get going then. We don't want the merchants to sell out of all their daily stock before we get there."
"What do you mean? What time is it?"
Robin leaned over and reached just far enough to peer behind one of the curtains covering the tiny window near the bed. "Probably around noon, if I'm not mistaken."
"Noon?!" Lucina cried, rising to a sitting position immediately. "Why didn't you wake me?"
"I didn't really see a reason to," Robin replied nonchalantly, not sharing her same sense of urgency. "You looked so peaceful, and I figured you deserved some much needed rest."
"But then I already wasted so much of our day..."
"Hey, it's alright, Luce. No problem at all. You needed sleep. We still have tomorrow, and the next day, and all the days in the world after that to do things together. Remember? I'm not leaving for anything or anybody."
"That's true," Lucina perked up a little. "I just want to live every day we spend together from here on out to its utmost potential."
"So it's definitely time to go, huh?" Robin asked as he swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up. "I have an idea: what if I try to find some ordinary clothes that the townspeople use for us to wear? Then we would blend right in with everyone and no one would bother you for being royalty. We would be like a normal family on a casual stroll through the marketplace!"
The princess's eyes lit up at the thought. "That's a great idea! I would love something like that!" she exclaimed. "Where will we get the disguises?"
"I'll ask one of the maids to see if she could run out to the store and pick some up for us. I can give her some money to pay for them too," the man replied as he slipped on his boots. He opened the door to exit, paused, and turned around just to reassure her. "I'll be right back, Lucina. How about you wash up? I'll be here when you finish."
"Sounds like a plan to me." Lucina waved him off, and then slipped into the bathroom to take a brief shower. Sure enough, by the time she was drying off and combing her unruly hair into submission, she heard Robin enter their room from the other side of the door.
"Clothes are by the door, Lucina," she heard him call.
"You got the clothes already?!"
"I know, right? The maid was faster than I ever could have imagined! I asked her to grab us the clothes down at the marketplace as soon as she could, and she dropped everything and must have sprinted there. I woke Morgan up and gave her some to put on for today too. Has she always snoozed so late?"
"That girl has been a pretty good sleeper for as long as I've known her at least," she responded as she brushed down her last few loose strands of hair. "She's at that age when she can sleep half the day away every day, I suppose." Lucina cracked the door open and snatched the clothes Robin had left for her outside. The outfit was quite simple, merely a one-piece dress that came down just past her knees with a pair of boots, but made from quite comfortable materials. Unlike fancy dresses, this one allowed for a wide range of movement. All in all, it was quite the snug fit.
"Ooh, you look cute in that outfit!" Robin commented when she stepped out. He was in a short-sleeved tunic, loose-fitting pants, and boots, all with the same neutral color scheme as hers. "I mean, you can make pretty much any outfit look cute, but still."
"You really think so?" she asked, holding the dress out in both hands to get a better look for herself. "It's not really my usual style, but it's very comfortable to wear at least."
"Well, I think it looks good," Robin assured, knowing full well what Lucina's "tasteful and understated" style consisted of. "Oh! I almost forgot. I figured that you would leave your tiara here for the day if you wanted to blend in, so I asked the maid to pick up a matching headband to go with your outfit. I know you don't like it when all your hair gets in your face."
"You know me too well, Robin," Lucina smiled with gratitude, plucking the headband from Robin's fingers and fastening it into her still drying hair. "I'm all for cute accessories as long as this isn't a permanent replacement for my tiara. I've grown rather fond of it over the years."
"Of course not! You can't complete the princess look without the tiara," Robin laughed, then clapped his hands together and glanced over at the door. "Alright, we should leave then. We need to make the most of this day, don't we?"
"Yes, you're right! Let's go right away!" Lucina chirped eagerly. Right away she seized him by the wrist and dragged him out, heading to the door to Morgan's room. Fortunately, Morgan had already changed into her casual attire, a dress similar to Lucina's, as well. "All ready to go, sweetie?" Lucina asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be, Mother!" the girl declared, holding out her arms wide. "Can you wait?! This is like, one of the first normal family things we've ever done!"
"I know!" Lucina's expression paralleled that of her daughter's. "The first of many to come!"
"Oh boy! Come on, Father! Come!" Morgan urged as she grabbed his other wrist. "We mustn't dawdle any longer!"
Robin couldn't have protested otherwise even if he had wanted to, for Lucina and Morgan practically dragged him all the way out of the castle, down the hill, and into the heart of Ylisstol in a matter of minutes. The town was as lively and bright as ever; small crowds of townspeople flowed every possible way from shop to shop. Being the capital city, the marketplace was much larger than the one he and Lucina had visited in Valm. With so many different types of wares and services and without a plan of how to approach them, it was a little overwhelming even, a fact Morgan brought to her parents' attention.
"Gods, what shall we do first? I love shopping, but what to buy? Where do we start?"
"Wherever you want, kiddo," Robin responded. "Shopping's all on me today. As long as it doesn't have an obscene price tag attached, you're allowed to pick out whatever you've got your eyes on."
"Really?!" Morgan practically shouted, brown eyes glimmering with delight. "Oh, you're the best, Dad!"
"Anything for my two favorite girls in the whole world," Robin grinned, earning himself a bear hug from his daughter. "How about we look over at that stall first?" he offered, pointing to a merchant on the fringe of the town square. "She's selling all sorts of fun looking things."
Morgan tugged them over, and they got right to work looking through all of the wares. There were a few board games like chess here and there, but most of the items ended up to be children's toys, far too young for even Morgan. What interested Robin was not the store but rather Lucina's reaction to it. She would browse casually, but every so often something would catch her eye, maybe a little stuffed animal or wind-up gadget; she would pick it up with delicate fingers and hold it close to her eyes full of wonder, sometimes saying "I used to have a toy just like this!" to no one in particular. She then seemed to become self-conscious about it, and she would gently place the item back down where she had found it.
Just then, a young couple strolled into the store. The husband, who looked a little older than Robin, was pushing a little white carriage. Robin watched Lucina's gaze drift all the way across the store, completely captivated by the carriage. She weaved her way through the rows of merchandise until she was behind the couple, and without trying to draw too much attention peered inside the carriage with great interest. Unfortunately for her, the woman noticed her staring out of the corner of her eye.
"Um, hello," she greeted politely yet cautiously. "Can we help you?"
"Wha... Um... N...No! No... I'm sorry for staring... I didn't mean to be rude..." Lucina replied shyly, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I... I just wanted to see your baby. She's very cute."
The woman seemed to lighten up significantly after her comment, more than a little pride the likely factor. "She is, isn't she? My husband and I adore her very much."
"What's her name?" the princess asked, curiosity beating out embarrassment and leading her to near the carriage by a step or two to get a better look.
"Her name is Emily," the mother replied. "We were inspired to name her after the late exalt."
Lucina's blue eyes grew wide with excitement at the mention of Emmeryn. Hopefully the couple didn't notice the Brand in her left, else she be exposed as royalty. "That's such a beautiful name! I'm sure Aun... I mean, Exalt Emmeryn would find it beautiful too. How old is she?"
"She'll turn seven months old three days after the anniversary of the Fell Dragon's defeat." She turned to the baby with a happy, smiling face, adopting a higher pitched voice. "Isn't that right, Emmy? You're turning seven months!" She held up seven fingers, and the baby held out her own hands and began babbling. "You're getting so big!"
"We can hardly keep up," the father spoke with a tired smile. "It seems like she was just born the other day. Where did the time go?"
"Time only takes, I'm afraid," Lucina agreed somberly. "Gaining time... Getting a second chance is very rare indeed. That's why you must spend all the time with her that you can, just in case, Naga forbid, that time be taken away from you too early. Live every day with her like it was your last, and I'm sure that she'll hold the happy memories she spent with her family close to her heart forever."
"Wise words," the father nodded in agreement. "We'll be sure to live by them."
Lucina could only nod. "Well, thank you for letting me look at her. I hope you three have a nice day."
"And you as well, miss." The father began pushing the carriage forward and gave a small wave. "Goodbye."
Once the couple was out of earshot, Lucina turned on her heels and rushed over to Robin's side excitedly. "Robin! Did you hear that? They named their baby after Aunt Emmeryn! Isn't that sweet?"
"Very cute," he agreed. "But I'm more interested in what came over you, Lucina. I've never seen you go up to complete strangers quite like that."
The girl laughed a little nervously. "I guess I saw the carriage and just had the urge to see the baby. I think it's because it's one of the most striking things different from my world; that's why it still gets me today. In my future, seeing complete families, one that hadn't lost a single parent or child, was so rare. Raising children was so difficult without a safe home or food left for them to eat and grow. New babies almost always passed... So it makes me happy to see a family like theirs. Babies are hope for the future, don't you think?"
"Hmm..."
"Robin?"
"Nothing. I was just thinking," Robin replied. "But yes, I agree with you one hundred percent. I could imagine how uplifting a sight like that must be for you." He paused. "So seeing your newest little sister must make you happy, huh?"
"Little sister? Oh, you mean this world's Cynthia. Yes, it does indeed. I still remember when future Cynthia was that little. Us, Father, and Mother had many good memories to share before the war."
"You must know little Cynthia's exact likes and dislikes then. Have you tried playing any of her old favorite games with her before?"
Lucina hesitated, not sure how exactly she wanted to phrase her next sentence. "To be completely honest, I'm... not really that close to baby Cynthia."
"What? Why not?"
"I'm not too sure myself. I just haven't spent too much time with her, even when I'm home. I don't want to intrude..."
"How are you intruding?" Robin asked in confusion. "Lucina, no matter what timeline she's from, Cynthia is still your little sister and Sumia is your mother. Maybe she's a little younger than you remember her, but she's still the same Sumia. You aren't intruding in their lives at all, Lucina, no matter how much you think you are... They're your family, and your family loves you! Chrom and Sumia couldn't be happier with the woman you've become, and Lucy idolizes you! You can avoid the public eye if you wish, but that doesn't mean you don't need to avoid your own family too."
"Are you sure? It's just that... I'm not from this world, Robin. You know that. This isn't the exact Ylisse or family that I knew. I shouldn't exist here, but right now I live in the castle like I should exist here," Lucina explained. "The war is over, and Chrom doesn't need my foresight anymore because I have none left to offer. I don't know what comes next for this world. Without my most important contribution, I'm wasted space."
Robin suddenly took hold of her shoulders, determined and almost angry expression appearing on his lips. He looked Lucina straight in the eyes and told her, "Lucina. Look at me. Don't you dare call yourself a waste of space ever again. Anyone who knows the real you should consider themselves lucky. And you do belong here because if you didn't come back in time, I wouldn't exist. The man I am today would be long dead and Grima would have taken his place. Now you belong by my side, just like I belong besides yours, and I refuse to allow you to make yourself seem any less than you are. Your sisters love you! They look up to you for guidance! You belong with your family, Lucina! You've worked so hard all your life to have this opportunity again, and I won't let you squander it now."
"But... my duty..."
"Your duty is over, Lucina... It's done. You completed it." Robin's tone became more soft, like she was used to hearing. "It can't bind you anymore. Do what your heart wants, not what your head is telling you."
"There you go again, Robin... Saying the right thing at the right time. I... I really do want to be close to my family. It's just... very hard for me to express that..." Lucina frowned. "How do I show the little ones that I care about them without being too awkward?"
"I mean, we are in a store for children's games and toys. I'm sure it would mean the world to them to receive a little gift from their big sister," the strategist offered.
"Ooh, that's a good idea..." Lucina put her finger to her chin in thought. "But what to get them? I don't know what they would like..."
"Well, Cynthia is still a baby. I assume that as long as whatever you get her is safe for her to play with, she won't exactly care what it is you get her. The thought will be special enough."
"What about a comfort toy? Like a stuffed animal? She would like that, wouldn't she?"
"I don't see why she wouldn't."
"I think I saw some back where I was just browsing a second ago..." Lucina jogged back to the spot she had been in and returned with a tiny plush of a white pegasus. "It's a pegasus doll! Isn't it cute?"
"It is indeed," Robin laughed.
"I think I'll get her this then..." Lucina spoke with a twinge of newfound confidence. "That wasn't too hard..."
"And Lucy should be easy too. What would you have liked when you were her age?"
"I was driven by adventure when I was younger. I would always have my little wooden sword by my side," the girl mused.
"Then why not get her a toy sword?"
"No, I don't think that would be the best idea..."
"Why not?"
"Swords are weapons of violence. I don't want to give Lucy the message that violence is the answer," the girl elaborated. "Though she's still a child and this would be but a simple gift able to do no real harm, it could promote the ideal in the future. Naga showed us that Morgan was initially pulled into the war because of Walhart's conquest, and Walhart believed violence was the only option to solve disputes."
"I understand. But you had a toy sword in your youth and you didn't turn out nearly like Walhart. Lucy is quite the troublemaker already from what I've heard; she probably already runs around the courtyard with a toy sword. Why don't you get her a nicer one? Besides, she will need to learn to use the Falchion one day, will she not?" Robin advocated for the opposing side.
"That's a fair point. Sometimes it is necessary to resort to violence and fight against the evils of the world," Lucina conceded. "But I just want to show her that her big sister don't believe in senseless violence." She pondered hard on the thought, then looked up and suddenly began roaming the stalls with a goal in mind.
"Lucina?" Robin asked, hurrying to catch up to her. "What are you thinking of?"
The princess didn't respond at first, far too focused on seeking the item she imagined. After about a minute of searching, she found what she was looking for, snatched it off of the shelf, and held it up to Robin triumphantly.
"A shield?" Robin asked, a little confused as to her thought process, and took it from her to hold for himself when she offered. The shield she had picked was made of a lightweight wood, and with its small size, it was perfect to fit snuggly into a child's hand. Painted on the front was an image of the Brand.
"Yes! A shield to go with her sword!" Lucina beamed proudly. "Hopefully it will show her that while there are some things that you must attack, there are other things that you must defend. Fighting... means nothing if you don't have something worth fighting for. With her sword, she will not smite villains just for the sake of doing so, but to protect the people and the home she loves."
Robin's lips gradually upturned as he caught on. "That's absolutely perfect, Lucina. I wouldn't have been able to come up with something better."
"Do you think she'll like it though?"
"It's from her big sister! I promise she'll love it."
"Oh, good!" she sighed with relief. "That's both of them!"
"Why don't we go pay for them now?" Robin offered. "By the way, where did Morgan go by any chance?"
As if on cue, Morgan turned the corner holding a thin box. "Father! I found something!" she cried excitedly, showing Robin the cover. "It's a new strategy board game, kind of like chess. I thought we could have some fun playing it together! After all, you do owe me three hundred and sixty games now."
"How could I forget?" Robin ruffled her hair. "If you think it will be fun, then what are you waiting for? Let's buy it right now!"
"Sweet! This day is already great!" Morgan pumped her fist in the air. "Oh! What did Mother get?"
"Some little things to give to Lucy and baby Cynthia," Robin replied as they walked over to the counter.
"That's nice, Mother," the girl smiled. "They're gonna love them!"
"I sure hope so," Lucina responded, more sure of herself. "I'll buy these, Robin."
"No way," Robin raised his eyebrows and whisked the pegasus doll and shield from Lucina's hands. "Everything's on me today, remember?"
"Well if you insist..."
"Oh, I insist indeed," he nodded, handing over the required gold to the merchant and receiving all three items in a bag in return. "Alright, where to next? I don't know about you all, but I'm getting hungry."
"Now that you mention it, I don't think any of us have had breakfast yet. Or lunch for that matter. I suppose we all slept past both meals, didn't we?" Lucina noted.
"Yeah, I'm starving too..." Morgan moaned. "Where can we get food?"
Robin peered out into the marketplace, browsing through all potential places to eat. "Hmm..." he smirked with a glint in his eye. "I think I know just the place. Follow me." Lucina and Morgan each took one of his hands so that they wouldn't be separated in the crowd and allowed him to bring them to the place that he had in mind. "Here we are!" the man declared once they arrived at their destination. "The ice cream shop!"
"Ice cream?" Lucina asked incredulously. "But Robin, ice cream is a dessert, not exactly a healthy lunch."
"Oh, let's live a little!" he insisted. "How about we mix things up for today just this once and have ice cream for lunch?"
"No. Way. You're joking, right, Father?" Morgan asked, not believing her ears.
"No jokes! I'm being totally serious! How about it, Luce?"
"Please, Mother? Please please pleaseee?" The girl was almost on her knees already, begging Lucina to accept.
"...Alright, I don't see why not," Lucina shrugged. "I suppose it would be a nice treat on this special day."
"Yay!" Morgan cried. "C'mon, let's order!" Once they had gotten up to the counter and could browse all the available flavors, it didn't take Morgan long to begin. "I'll have one scoop of the chocolate, and one scoop of the blue with the little candy bits, and one scoop of the yellow with the swirls in it, and..."
"Woah, kiddo," Robin held his hands up. "Maybe... we should limit the scoops down to three..."
"But there are so many flavors that I want to try..."
"Then how about you try three of them today and save the rest for another day?" he suggested. "You're definitely going to be sick if you eat that much. Not to mention the sugar high you'll get right afterwards..."
"That's true, I guess..." Morgan frowned, pressing her hands up against the glass that separated her from the frozen treats and gazing inside longingly. "I'll have those first three then," she told the man running the stand. "Oh, on a cone, please!" Once she had her ice cream in hand, Morgan was happily quiet as she began to eat.
"You're up, Lucina," Robin offered, allowing her to pass in front of him to order.
"Oh, that's alright, Robin. I don't think I'll have anything," she replied, standing off to the side of the counter. "You go."
"What's the matter? Do you not like ice cream?"
"N...No, I do! I just don't think I'll be able to finish even one scoop. Do you... mind if we share ours?"
Robin laughed. "I don't mind. Any preference which flavor?"
"Gods... I haven't been to an ice cream stand since I was a little girl..." Lucina spoke quietly as she placed her hands on the glass just like Morgan had, seemingly in awe of all the options presented to her. "I don't have any one favorite, I don't think... Maybe just vanilla?"
"Just vanilla sounds great," Robin nodded in reassurance. "We'll have two scoops of vanilla, please," he told the cashier, and he paid for everything after. The three then found a small bench on the side of the road on which to sit. As he expected, Lucina's initial aversion to having ice cream for herself was merely her own fear of appearing too childish; she was in actuality enamored by the dessert, and even more so the fact that they were eating it for lunch.
After a minute, Lucina wiped her lips with the back of her hands and let out a previously repressed giggle. "Look at us, Robin," she grinned with an almost mischievous look in her eyes. "I've never had dessert for lunch before. We're so rebellious!" Robin wasn't definitively sure if she was exaggerating for fun or whether she truly saw herself as rebelling against what she was used to, but whichever the option, the simple prospect of being a rebel seemed to excite her.
"Uh oh," Robin smiled jokingly. "Where did my Lucina go?"
"Huh?" She gave him a strange look and swallowed the ice cream she had in her mouth before continuing. "What do you mean? I'm right here..."
"I'm just kidding around with you, Luce," Robin laughed, pulling her closer to him. "I never would have expected that you would enjoy going against the norm. It's... different."
"Is... that bad?"
"Why would it be bad?"
"I don't know... Would you... prefer me to only enjoy a traditional lunch? Does different make you mad?" she asked, tone one of innocent concern.
"Okay, that's crazy talk. Why would I ever get mad at you for doing things differently every now and again? Maybe getting a little thrill from doing something that's unconventional, like eating ice cream for lunch, isn't the typical reaction that I would expect from you, but doesn't mean it's bad. It's just a new facet of your personality that I haven't seen yet. Besides, ice cream for lunch was my idea anyway."
"That's good..." Lucina seemed relieved by his answer. "I got nervous for a moment there that you were actually upset with me."
"Morgan," Robin began to ask. "Give me one good reason why I would ever get upset with someone as adorable as your mother."
"Uh..." Morgan frowned in concentration, thinking hard about her father's question. "What if... Mother... ate all of your ice cream?"
"I would want her to have it," Robin shook his head. "And that's not really a good reason either."
"Right, right... What if... Ooh! Mother went berserk and killed your whole family?!" Morgan excitedly clenched her hands into fists, believing she had found a "proper" answer.
"Why would I ever do that, Morgan?" Lucina looked appalled. "Do I look like someone who'll snap at any moment?"
"Well, no..."
"Maybe I should make the question a teensy bit more clear," Robin added, a little disturbed by the girl's answer as well. "How about, give me a realistic reason. Like she already brought up to you, I don't think your mother's the... uh... berserk type. Also, should it just so happen that she did snap, I don't really have many blood relations left. I've got you, and that's pretty much it. The closest Lucina has ever come to that scenario would have probably been... with me."
Morgan's jaw dropped. "Wait... Mother tried to kill you, Father?!"
"Ugh, don't bring that up..." Lucina's cheeks reddened in embarrassment.
"That's a story for another day, kiddo," Robin spoke as he patted her on the head.
"No, I want to hear it! Tell me tell me tell me!"
"The more you ask, the more I won't want to tell you."
"Then can it be my bedtime story tonight? Please?"
"...Fine, I'll tell you tonight as long as you promise to not bring it up ever again as per your mother's wishes," Robin conceded. "You deserve to know why your mother felt like she had to do it, and her thoughts were justified, I must add."
"Okay! I promise!" Morgan grinned, quite satisfied that she was about to be trusted with some seemingly forbidden knowledge and that she had gotten her way.
"But let's forget about that for now. You still haven't answered my question, kiddo."
"Oh, right! One good and realistic reason why Father might get upset with Mother... This is hard..." Morgan whispered to herself. "What about if Mother left Father for another guy?"
"Never!" Lucina blurted out quite loudly, earning enough odd glances from passerby to make her hide her face in Robin's shoulder.
"That would certainly make me upset, at least," Robin replied. "Very upset, actually. Devastated. I'd actually rather go sit in whatever hell Grima ended up in with him. But fortunately for both of us, I don't think we're going to part that easily. So good try, kiddo, but hopefully not realistic. Concede defeat yet?"
"...Fine. I can't think of anything..." Morgan murmured.
"See, Luce? I could never stay mad at you. I'm more concerned about what stupid thing I'll do next that will make you mad at me," the man laughed, biting into the now empty ice cream cone to finish it off. "Now that lunch is out of the way, who's up for a little more shopping?"
"I am!" Morgan raised her hand, hurriedly devouring what was left of her ice cream to be as ready as her father.
"Not with such a sticky chin, you aren't," Robin remarked playfully, reaching out to wipe his daughter's messy, ice cream-coated chin with the back of his hand. "Still haven't learned to clean up your face after meals yet, huh?"
"I keep forgetting..." Morgan pouted. "Honest! There's no time to worry about appearances when there's still a day of family time waiting!"
"I'll give you that one, kiddo," Robin rolled his eyes. "Come on, Lucy."
"Robin, my cheeks are so red..." the princess protested. "I just embarrassed myself in front of everybody..."
"Let me see," Robin offered, lifting her head from his shoulder with a gentle hand. "It's not that bad. If anyone dared ask, just say that you're blushing because you're just so madly in love with me."
Lucina raised her eyebrows, making Robin snicker a little. "Are you sure you don't want to go?" he asked. "Not even for clothes shopping?"
"But I love clothes shopping..."
"Exactly. So come with us. Just stick close to me if you're still embarrassed, and if anyone actually asks, they'll get a few choice words from me. Sound good?" he asked, helping her to her feet.
Lucina couldn't help but giggle at his offer. "Alright, sounds good."
"There's a big stand selling clothing right across the square," Morgan pointed out. "Let's go there!"
"Lead the way, kiddo."
As they walked through the thick of the crowd, Robin noticed Lucina nearing him even closer than usual, and she would grow incredibly distressed when someone happened to pass between and separate them. She was eying his hand and reached out a few times to grab it but pulled back at the last moment; knowing Lucina, she probably was getting nervous that she was bothering him too much. Once he grew aware of the fact, Robin waited until she began to reach out again and then grasped her timid hand firmly once she did so, interlocking his fingers with hers.
"Better?" he asked in a type of unspoken understanding between them.
"Better," she replied, put at ease by his action.
Once they made it through the crowd, they arrived at the entrance of the stand to find Morgan gazing around in awe.
"I don't think I've ever been clothes shopping before..." she murmured excitedly.
"Never?" Robin asked in surprise. "Not even during this past year? What did you wear all this time?"
"My normal clothes seemed good enough for me, and I never really felt like going out to buy new ones. My usual clothes reminded me of you, Father..."
"I understand..." Robin quieted, knowing that the conversation was entering sensitive territory. "But we're here now, aren't we?"
"Yeah, you're right!" the girl perked up, ever filled with energy. "There's so much to try from! Where do I even start?"
"I'll go with you, Morgan," Lucina immediately volunteered. "We'll browse all the women's clothing together!"
"Really? Oh, this is so exciting! You and I will be like shopping buddies, Mother!"
"Right!" Lucina agreed wholeheartedly, sudden anxious need to be close to Robin vanishing and her childlike enthusiasm taking over her personality. "You know where to find us, Robin!" she called back as the two of them took off. "Look for some clothes for yourself too!"
"Will do! Have fun, you two!" Robin called back, smiling wide. It was nice to see Lucina and Morgan happily interacting again the way a mother daughter pair should. Though it still pained him to know that his absence inadvertently caused a separation between the two of them, at least he knew that bond was never truly broken and was still as strong as ever. Maybe Morgan would even keep Lucina's unique fashion choices in check.
With the two now contentedly browsing, Robin decided to heed Lucina's suggestion and pick out an outfit or two for himself. After all, he would need more clothes like the ones he had on now that he could wear on a daily basis. It didn't take long to find a few shirt and pants pairs that he liked, ones that were rather simple in both color and design but were comfortable to move around in. While he was walking up to pay, the girls ran up to him, quite excited about their findings. Lucina carried a whole array of outfits over her arm that they had picked out together, and Morgan held something behind her back.
"Robin!"
"Father! Look what we found!"
"Let's see them," Robin smiled nervously, silently hoping that whatever they were, they were at least wearable in public.
"Ta da!" Morgan cried, proudly whipping out a long sleeved shirt and pants to show him. "What do you think?" The outfit was mostly white and the pants were covered in little yellow polka dots, which would have been otherwise normal except for the fact that, confirming Robin's concern, Morgan somehow shared her mother's sense of style. Upon closer inspection, each polka dot contained a little, smiling pink octopus. The same image was also emblazoned much larger across the front of the shirt.
"Um... I like the... octopi?"
"I know, right?!" Morgan grinned. "Aren't they so adorable?"
"I'm immensely fond of the octopus motif as well, Robin!" Lucina noted. "We all like the same things! We're such a good match for each other, aren't we?" she sighed almost dreamily.
"I can agree on that, at least," the strategist nodded. "Who picked... these out?"
"I have to give Morgan credit for finding these hidden gems," Lucina replied. "They were behind all the others on the rack! Can you believe that?"
"I wonder why..."
"They were so cute that I had to get a pair for myself too!" Lucina rummaged through the pile of clothes on her arm until she found another set, identical to Morgan's except in size. The two held the outfits up in front of them so Robin could picture what they would look like with them on.
"When would these be worn exactly?" Robin asked, not positive if he wanted the answer.
"Only for bedtime, silly!" Lucina answered. "Can't you tell?"
"They're octopus jammies!" Morgan seconded.
"Ah, that's good..." Robin exhaled, fears quenched somewhat. If they were only pajamas, no one but he and Lucina's family would see them. Strange as the clothes may have been, the picture in his head of a sleepy Lucina and Morgan curled up in their beds with the smiling octopus pajamas on was admittedly a little cute. "As long as they aren't everyday clothes."
"Oh, we found a whole bunch of those, didn't we, Mother?"
"Indeed we did!" Lucina agreed, swapping her own pair of pajamas for a folded piece of... netting? She unfurled whatever it was and displayed it at full length. "How about this one, Robin? I figured this might be nice to wear on warmer days, don't you think?"
"Lucina? What exactly... is it?" he asked, truly unable to quite comprehend it.
"Huh? It's a white lace dress."
"A very elegant white lace dress, I might add!" Morgan noted, tracing over with her finger some of the intricate designs on what Lucina was calling a dress. "Notice... the floral patterns, Father!" she spoke dramatically, as if she was putting on her best Anna. "The gentle weaving of lace! Plus, the design allows for aeration and cooling of the skin when other garments would cause sweating in the heat!'
"It will certainly allow aeration, all right. You two, that dress is all lace... I can look at the front and see out the back," Robin pointed out. "Lucina, you would be walking around practically naked in that thing! There's no way I'd allow you to go out in that."
"Hmm, I didn't of that..." Lucina admitted as she took a second look.
"Neither did I..." Morgan frowned and thought for a few seconds. "Oh! Mother, what if you put another outfit on underneath and the lace dress on top? Then you could still wear the lace dress without having to worry about people seeing through it."
"I was just thinking the same thing!" Lucina pulled out another dress and held it behind the lace one. "How does this look?"
"Ooh, the shiny one. Have you ever seen a dress so radiant, Father?"
"Morgan, that dress is reflective..." Robin winced and shielded his face with his hand as the dress caught a ray of sunlight and bounced it right into his eyes. "What is it made of? Metal?"
"It's not armor, Father," the girl raised her eyebrows, as if the answer was obvious. "It's covered in a very thin layer of foil. ...I think."
"Wouldn't this look wonderful underneath the lace, Robin?" Lucina asked cheerfully. "The light would reflect off this shiny dress and would amplify the beauty of the lace dress! So if these two go together, then all that's left is for you to see this one." She revealed the last of the outfits on her arm, a dress with multicolored floral patterns. "I think the colors on this one are remarkably pretty as well. What do you think of them all, Robin? Give me your completely honest opinion."
"...Honest opinion?" Robin asked nervously. Oh Naga... "Um... I... don't think that most people would find those dresses... appealing... to the eye."
Lucina frowned. "You mean... you don't like them?"
He scrambled to find the least hurtful words he could. "I...It's not that I don't like them. It's that I like your other outfits... better?"
"So... you don't like them..."
"...Not really..."
"Aww..." Lucina and Morgan both groaned simultaneously.
"B...But that's just my opinion! You can still get them if you like them so much!"
"No, you're right..." Lucina sighed. "I guess these outfits are a little out of the ordinary. People wouldn't appreciate their beauty. I'll put them back..." She folded the clothes into a neat little pile and placed them down on a shelf, reluctantly leaving them behind.
"Wait, Lucina! At least keep the pajamas! I actually did think that they were pretty cute! Honest!" Robin insisted. "I'll come back here and buy them for you both later if you don't buy them now!"
"We can keep the octopus jammies?" Morgan asked innocently.
"You can most certainly keep the octopus jammies."
That seemed to uplift their fallen spirits at least, and Lucina happily plucked the pajamas from the pile. "You really think these are cute, Robin?"
"I swear to Naga."
"Then would you mind if I wear them tonight?" she asked eagerly. "I want to see how comfortable they really are."
"I would be disappointed if you didn't."
"Let's go buy them then!" Morgan insisted. "At least we got one out of four right, Mother."
"It's better than none out of four," Lucina smiled back, attempting to remain the optimist. Just as they were about to place their items on the counter, she suddenly froze in place, looking absolutely mesmerized by something. She couldn't rip her gaze away, and she was only able to grab Robin's chin with her thumb and forefinger to turn his head in the same direction she was facing. "Look. At. That," she managed before she had to make a beeline directly towards the clothes rack she was fixated on. Barely repressing a squeal, she seized a short-sleeved shirt from its hanger and held it up for the other two to see. "Oh my Naga, look! It's Aunt Emmeryn!"
Sure enough, a happy-looking portrait of Emmeryn looked back at them from the front of the shirt. The late exalt's name was written in big bubble letters underneath her chin, and a couple little pink hearts floated around her hair.
"I've never seen such a detailed portrayal of my great aunt!" Morgan exclaimed, running over to her mother's side to examine the shirt from a closer point of view. "There aren't many pictures of her anywhere, even in the castle!"
"Aunt Emmeryn was never really one who liked to decorate the castle with her own portraits, so she never had any official ones made. My father wanted to make sure she was remembered, so he ordered a tapestry of her after the war," Lucina clarified for Robin. "If it isn't complete by now, it should be very soon. He won't let us see them before they're finished."
"Ah, that makes sense," Robin replied. "But then why is her head... on this shirt exactly? What sort of designer would think that..."
"It looks amazing?" Lucina thought she was completing his thought for him. "I don't know who the mastermind behind this shirt is, but I absolutely must have it! You were right, Robin: I could never be seen in those outfits around town if I could be wearing this instead! It must be rare Emmeryn collector merchandise. Can you believe that this is on the discount rack?!"
Robin raised his eyebrows in a silent attempt to tell her that the shirt was certainly on the discount rack for a reason, but before Lucina could say anything else, Morgan cried out, "Mother! There's more!"
"More?"
"Yup! Look! Here's one in my size!" Morgan exclaimed, excitement levels reaching those of her mother's. "These are just t-shirts, so you can wear them too, Father! Would this one fit you?" she asked, holding up a shirt slightly larger than Lucina's.
"Uh... I don't know..." Robin attempted to separate himself from the conversation, but Lucina already had her imagination in full gear.
"Oh, that would be perfect, Robin! We all would have a matching shirt! Once we buy them, we could all wear them around town for the rest of the day! Then everyone would know that we're a package!" the princess daydreamed.
"Lucina... If it's alright with you... I... really don't think that shirt should be worn on a daily basis... Or ever..."
"You... don't like this one either?" Lucina looked even more crestfallen than she had been before. "I...Is it just my fashion sense again? Oh... It looks ugly to you, d...doesn't it?" She held up the shirt so that she could look at the front again, and then crumpled it up in her hands. "I'm sorry... For asking you to wear it, that is. I just thought... thought that it would be fun for us to wear together, but if you don't like it, then..."
Robin rethought immediately. He couldn't take her sad expression and tone for another second. He couldn't let her down after getting so excited two times in one day with these clothes. It didn't matter how ugly the shirt was. "W...Wait, Lucina! Can I... look at the shirt again? A little closer?"
"O...Okay..." Lucina murmured, unfolding the balled-up shirt just enough for him to see.
"Now that you mention it... I actually think I'm starting to see the beauty in it."
"Really?" she asked eagerly.
"I mean, who couldn't love a shirt with such a beautiful picture of Emmeryn on it, right?" Robin laughed the most convincing laugh he could manage. "I don't know what I was thinking before! In fact..." Robin snatched the pajamas and all three shirts that Morgan and Lucina were holding, declaring, "I'm buying all of these right now!" He marched straight up to the counter, and with an incredibly determined look placed the clothes down, including the ones he picked out for himself, and took out his wallet.
The clothier gave him a strange look, probably due to both his unnatural disposition and the items he was buying, but didn't question him any further and gave him the cost. Once Robin had paid and the clothes were all placed in a bag, he walked back to the girls and slipped his very own Emmeryn shirt on over his tunic. "What is everyone waiting for?" he asked after a moment's hesitation. "We're all wearing these, right?"
"Ah, thank you so much, love!" Lucina beamed, putting on her shirt over her dress similar to how Robin was wearing it. After a moment, she frowned, looking a little ashamed of her new apparel.
"What's the matter, Lucina?" Robin asked. "Do you not like the shirt now?"
"No, that isn't it... I adore it. It's just... I feel so bad for asking all this of you. You've paid for everything so far and I didn't bring a single coin with me..." the girl worried. "How much is this day trip as a whole going to cost you? A few weeks' salary? I mean, we still have more shops to visit... You worked so hard for this money, and I don't want you to waste it... I'm starting to regret refusing Father's offer to pay me for my service during the war..." She kept looking down at the shirt only to look away quickly, as if she didn't deserve such a wonderful gift.
"You really don't know how much Chrom pays me, do you?" the man smiled at his little secret. "Everything we've bought so far hasn't been expensive; unless you really want something with a high price tag attached later today, this trip won't even come close to a few weeks' salary. And besides, how could buying you and Morgan little gifts be a waste of money? Don't you worry one bit about it, Luce," he explained. "You also forget I've been working for Chrom for a few years now. Just because we had that two year respite after Gangrel's defeat doesn't mean my tactician duties were put on hold. I was working on improving national defense and such, as well as fortifying cities near the border. No breaks for me!"
"Has Father been running you ragged ever since he met you?" Lucina asked, looking embarrassed. "I can try and persuade him to give you a break!"
"I've already had a year's worth of break, Lucina," the man chuckled.
"I would hardly consider being dead a break. If he's working you too hard..."
"I ask him to give me more work. How else will I be able to support my family?" he asked, flashing an assuring smile.
"But I still feel bad..."
"Don't be. Think of this whole day as... a very belated birthday gift from me to you and Morgan," Robin suggested. "The ones I missed while I was... you know."
"Thank you for my birthday gift, Father!" Morgan blurted out. "It's the best!"
"Alright... I feel a little better then. But just this once, you hear? I want to contribute my fair share too."
"If you insist," Robin shrugged. "In any case, where to next?"
"What about the open air market?" Morgan suggested, also wearing her Emmeryn shirt proudly. "Maybe we could pick up some little treats to take back to the castle with us! Then I think I saw an accessory shop right next to it. I want to look for a cute hair clip for Grandmother!"
"Mother is fond of her hair clips," Lucina added.
"Sounds like a plan," Robin said as he clapped his hands together. "Let's go, then!"
Now that both Robin and Lucina's nightmares have been resolved, they should finally have some sweet dreams from this moment on! Let me tell you: it's so nice to have the whole family back together again and stronger than ever! Plus I can write some everyday scenarios for them now that the war is over, like clothes shopping (which Lucina makes very interesting). I figured that though Morgan seems so much like Robin, she would inherit a whole bunch of her likes, dislikes, and quirks from Lucina, one being her awful fashion sense (much to Robin's dismay). But the girls still got Robin in the Emmeryn shirt regardless!
Stay tuned for the next chapter!
