Chapter 28
Lost Time Memory
"Alright. I'll let you be. I will be in the room across from yours, so if you need me, just call out." Lucina said as she began to head out.
"I don't think that will be necessary, but thanks." Morgan smiled.
"Have a goodnight, Morgan." Lucina said, giving Morgan a kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight mom." Morgan smiled.
As Lucina exited the room, a sharp pain then quickly Morgan's head. "Agh, Gods. What's up with my head today?" She said, laying down. Memories maybe? I wonder why though. I'm sure that I know what happened. We all entered the portal, and I was the only one that ended up here. There shouldn't be much else to it than that.
She closed her eyes. "Eh, I might just be over thinking right now. Some sleep should do me good." She said, going to sleep, but as she did, the memory would continue once more.
One Week Later
The peace one week ago was quickly changing. Risen began to overpower some of the guards, and the sky became darker than what it usually was. Morgan often stayed on the roof and threw fire and thunder towards the enemy whenever possible. She wasn't allowed to fight due to her mother's orders, but Morgan insisted on doing so anyways.
As the day progressed however, her life would end up becoming forever changed.
"Morgan! Are you in here?!" Lucina said as she quickly opened the doors.
"Mother?! It's good to see you!" Morgan said excitedly. She dropped her fire tome and went to her mother for an embrace. "I wasn't using that by the way." She said with a laugh.
"Morgan, it's not the time to be joking. We have to go. Take an elthunder tome, and let's leave quickly." She said, in a hurry. Her usual tunic was dirty and something was clearly wrong.
"Wait, why? What's going on?" Morgan said in confusion.
"We met with Lady Tiki and Naga. We were told that it was possible to go back in time to stop this hell from ever happening." She said as she grabbed some elixers from a shelf.
"We can!? Does that mean that we... We can see father again?" Morgan said quietly.
"It does, but it also means a better future for the people there. For the three of us again."
"Okay. Give me some time." Morgan said, quickly gathering some belongings.
"Please hurry. We need to move quickly. Enemies are quickly moving in." Lucina said as she looked outside, scouting for enemies.
Morgan grabbed ahold of her tactician robes and a book that belonged to her father. She then got ahold of a Elthunder tome from her shelf. "Alright, I'm ready. Let's get on moving."
"Let's go then." Lucina said as she led the way. The two ran outside as they quickly took a stairway downwards. With every floor downwards, the sounds of risen were getting louder. As they reached the first floor, some Risen were slowly wandering around the area. Damnit. Where are the guards... She shook her head.
"Morgan. Stay back. They're not too dangerous, but they can cause harm." She said as she unsheathed the Falchion.
"Right." Morgan said, following behind her.
The two continued to march forward with Lucina defeating each risen that approached the two.
"Mom, how far is this place?" Morgan asked as she followed behind.
"It's relatively far. We should be there in about two days worth of traveling." Lucina responded.
"Hmm, that is pretty far. Severa and the others are outside waiting for us?"
Lucina slowed down some. "Yes, but some of them... Did not make it."
"You... You can't be serious. Y-you're joking right?"
Lucina continued to walk as they saw the entrance. "There. Just run."
"There you two are. Hurry up, we need to move quickly." Severa said, at the castle entrance.
The two continued to sprint as they avoided the risen around the area. However, after a few difficulties, they quickly regrouped along with Inigo's team as well.
"Lucina. Morgan. Glad to see that nothing went wrong." Inigo said in a glad tone.
"Same. This was rather successful, huh?" Severa smiled.
"No. It wasn't. We lost many good men out there. Although I did not know many of them, I wish that their deaths were avoided." Lucina said in disappointment.
"It is a shame. But we'll make sure that their deaths aren't in vein. Right?" Inigo said.
"It's the least we can do now." Lucina said quietly. She then took out some elixirs, and handed them to Brady. "Hold on to these. We may need them."
He nodded. "Got it."
"On the bright side, we can at least stop their deaths from even occurring once we get to the past." Kjelle said.
Inigo sighed. "You know, it's going to take lots of work to be able to save their lives, let alone fix the past."
"Hey, don't be so glum! I'm sure we will succeed with no problems at all." Cynthia said optimistically.
"And when we succeed, the people will all know of our deed to humanity!" Owain said, excited.
Morgan showed a weak smile. Although the fight was heavily one sided towards Grima, the group was still as lively as ever. "Yeah. We'll do that. We will succeed."
Two Days Later
The group of fighters were drawing near to their destination without any issues. The Outrealm gate was a mysterious place that nobody knew much about besides its existence. Two days have passed, and the group was reaching near their goal. Two days of traveling with no distraction or dangers...
"We're finally here." Morgan said, glad.
"This time, we're going to make sure that the world remains safe, no matter what." Lucina said in determination.
"Right. And the people there will be happy and live normal lives." Morgan smiled.
The group continued to travel to the Outrealm gate as they made good time. Everything was going smoothly, and it seemed that the future children were to go on an help the past become a bright one.
A loud roar boomed across the sky.
The group stood in silence.
"Everyone, pick up the pace! We've been spotted!" Inigo said as he began to run.
"YOU PESTS WILL NOT PASS!" A loud voice screamed out.
The group ran as quickly as they could've. "M-mom, what is that?" Morgan said in fear.
"It's him. Grima." Lucina said. "Just continue running. We're almost there."
"B-but mother-" Morgan stuttered in fear.
"Just do so. Please." Lucina said, trying to avoid the topic, although it was impossible.
Morgan looked at her mother. "R-right."
"There's a light quickly heading towards us." Cynthia said, unsure of what the light was.
Morgan looked in front of her, and saw it coming slowly, but quicker, and quicker. "Everyone get down!" Morgan yelled out. From the way it looked, a bolt of lightning was being shot from far.
The group quickly scattered as the bolt of lightning passed by. "Wh- what was that?!" Yarne said in shock.
"Father! I've found the group!" A hooded figure yelled out.
"THEN DISPOSE OF THEM AT ONCE!"
"Roger that." The person said, preparing for a second blast.
"We'll see about that." Laurent said as he moved forward to challenge the person. "Everybody. Complete the objective. I shall stall for time." He said, pulling out a arcfire tome.
"I- I'll stay with Laurent!" Noire said, standing beside the mage with a steel bow.
"Alright. We will wait at the gate." Lucina said, beginning to run again. "Stay safe."
"It's likely that we won't make it back, so just go on ahead. Please go on and make sure you succeed." He said as he prepared for combat.
"You can do this." Noire said with a weak smile.
"We... We will." Lucina said, hesitating at her response. "Everybody else, let's continue moving. It's not too far from here."
"Dad, the others are escaping. Should I move after them?" The cloaked figure asked.
Grima looked at the hooded man.
"I'll take that as a no." The hooded figure said, preparing his Thoron tome to strike at Laurent. "Goodnight."
The group continued to run. The plan was going wrong, with Grima appearing, and a new opponent trying to stop them as well. They ran, but saw the dark dragon move quickly to them. "NONE WILL PASS!" Grima boomed out, appearing right in front of the group.
"No. No no no no no." Kjelle said, gritting her teeth.
"It's him." Owain said, preparing his sword.
"Lucina. The options we have right now are slim." Inigo said, bringing himself to a stance.
"Then we fight!" Lucina said, readying to fight the beast.
"No. This won't do." Severa said, stopping the princess.
"Then what do you suggest!?" Lucina said, angered. "We're lacking options."
She stared at her. "Lucy. Thank you. For being my friend. It was a hell of an adventure." She said, showing a weak smile. "Continue on with Morgan and Cynthia. You guys are capable of using the Falchion. If you die, then so does future and the past."
"What are you talking about?! I won't leave you and the others to die!" Lucina said, quickly rejecting her idea.
"What she said! I won't leave you guys!" Cynthia said.
"If you don't leave, then we'll all die, and the future will remain as is!" Owain said, ready to fight.
"There has to be another way." Lucina said, wanting to avoid the only option left. This couldn't be the only option available. "There has to be..."
"If there were, then we would have done it by now. Just go!" Brady said, wanting the objective to be completed.
Lucina looked at her friends. "I... I won't let this chance go to waste!" She said, giving a farewell. "Cynthia, Morgan. Let's go."
"I'm sorry Lucy. But I won't go. I need to make sure you guys make it." Cynthia said as she didn't move.
"What are you doing!" Severa said.
"Cynthia what are you doing. Just come with us. Please." Lucina said, not wanting her sister to stay.
"I would, but... I can't leave Inigo and the others alone. I'm... I'm sorry Lucy. I've made up my mind." She responded.
"Cynthia..." Lucina said weakly.
"Just go, okay? We'll make sure that you get there. Then when you arrive, we might meet again, so just go."
"Right. I will. Stay safe Cynthia." Lucina said, running.
"You too, big sis." She smiled.
"Stay safe, everyone." Morgan said, running with her mother. "We'll do everything possible to stop this from happening."
"Hmph. You'll succeed in doing it. I'm sure of it." Severa said as she readied her blade.
The two continued to run as they quickly approached the gate. Everything went wrong. The only people still heading towards the gate were Lucina, and Morgan. "Hey mom? Once we're there, do we just enter?"
"That's what Naga told me. Her instructions were surprisingly simple." Lucina said as she continued to run. "The only instruction she explicitly stated, was to make sure everybody entering would grab ahold of one another, or they may be stuck."
"She may want to seal the gate in case of risen or other threats." Morgan assumed.
"It's very likely. Naga went a long way to help us do this."
"Yeah. But thanks to her, we could change the past, and stop this horrible future from ever happening." Morgan said, trying to speak in an optimistic tone.
"And we'll succeed. Together. One way, or another." Lucina said, showing a weak smile.
"You two are surprisingly confident." A voice said from behind. "Thoron!"
"Move!" Lucina said, bringing Morgan to the floor.
The thunder hit a tree in front of the two, causing a fire. The fire slowly began to spread along the other small trees.
"Jeez, you're pretty quick." The voice said, impressed.
"Who are you?" The princess questioned.
"Me? I honestly don't know. I simply know that my name is Marc. However, I also know, is that you two will not get past this gate." The person responded. The fire that had started was spreading among bigger trees, and from the looks of it, everything was going to be lit up.
"We shall see then." Lucina said, charging towards the hooded figure. "Morgan, stay back."
"O-okay." Morgan said nervously.
"Thoron!" He said, shooting another ray of lightning.
Lucina moved past the ray of lightning. "Take this!" She said, aiming the Falchion to the man's shoulder.
Marc quickly tried to move to avoid it, but barely managed to avoid a fatal blow. "Agh! Damnit!" He said, grabbing his wound. His hood dropped down.
The figure revealed his face. He was just a kid. However, he looked familiar to the young tactician. They shared the same tactician robes, and had a similar hair type. They boy's hair, however, was black, instead of Morgan's cerulean colored hair. "Why... Why do you look like me?" Morgan said, shocked.
"Like I said. I don't know. But what I do know, is that I will make father proud. I will eliminate the two of you!" He said as he readied to strike once more.
"You will not!" Morgan said, preparing to fight as well.
"No. Morgan. Continue moving. I'll handle this." Lucina said, preparing to fight once more.
"Mother please." Morgan said, wanting to fight alongside her.
"I will meet you there. Just go through, alright?" Lucina said reassuringly.
She sighed. "I will." Morgan said, dashing to the gate.
"There goes another one." The cloaked boy said, looking at the tactician run off. "Sorry father."
"STAY BACK THEN! I WILL HANDLE HER!"
"You will not! You will face me first!" Lucina said as she called out for the dragon.
"Is that so?" The dragon said, decreasing in size. He then took the form of the fallen tactician. "Lucina..."
"N-no. That isn't him. It can't be him." Lucina said, in surprise.
"Lucina. It's been a long time." He said warmly.
"It isn't him!" She said, striking at the doppelgänger.
"Agh!" He said, moving back from the pain. His expression quickly changed to a soulless anger. "It figures that you would have the will to still strike. Unfortunately for you, I'm not the merciful kind."
Morgan continued to run towards the gate. Nothing was making sense. Why were they suddenly spotted? Why was there an impersonator of her? It didn't make sense. "Please let everyone be safe."
"And where do you think you are going?"
"Who... Where are you?!" Morgan yelled out, looking around her.
"Me? I'm just the being that made sure everybody you knew died." He said, showing himself to the tactician.
"D-dad? No. it can't be." Morgan said, surprised by Grima's appearance.
"I'm not your father. He was just a simple weakling that believed his so called 'bonds' would help end my existence." He taunted.
"Don't you speak about him like that!"
"He failed to stop me, even with his help from the future children. He was a failure."
"Shut up! He wasn't a failure. Stop making up senseless garbage!" Morgan said, enraged.
"Am I?" He said, grinning. He turned around and tossed a defeated Lucina across the room.
"Mother!"
"Morgan..." She said, coughing. "I'm sorry... For falling like this." She was covered in bruises, cuts and other injuries she had just endured.
"The bonds forged with others, means absolutely nothing." Grima said, walking slowly towards the two. "It was just some philosophical nonsense that meant nothing."
"Morgan... Run to the gate." Lucina said, attempting to get up. "You're almost there."
"No! I won't leave you to die! You're all I have left! I can't just leave you here!" Morgan said.
"If you stay, we'll both die. Just go. Please. For the future of mankind. For the happiness that they deserve. That we deserved." She said, slowly beginning to stand up once more and fight.
"Hmph. After taking a few lightning blasts and a strike from me, and you continue to fight." Grima said in amusement. "Such a pain. Marc, finish them off."
"As you command." The blue haired boy said as he appeared from behind Grima. He prepared for one last strike.
"I'm sorry mom. But I won't leave you like this." She said, preparing a elthunder tome.
"Hmph. I was hoping to eliminate you separately, but this will do then." He said, walking to a nearby tree. At this point, the forest behind them was burning up. Even with the darkness that was caused by Grima, everything was visible.
"You won't kill me. You will not kill anybody else!" Morgan said, opening her tome.
He opened the tome. "I will not disappoint!"
"Elthunder!"
"Thoron!"
The two electric blasts collided, resulting in a an explosion.
Smoke covered the area around them. "Gods. I can't see a thing."
"For a weak tome like Elthunder, I'm surprised that it even collided with a Thoron blast. You're pretty good. It's a shame this fight won't last long though." Marc said, grabbing ahold of a dagger, and sprinting towards her.
Where is he? Morgan looked around her for any indication, but there was nothing.
"It's all over." He said, appearing from behind.
"Damn." She said, turning around, not being able to move. It all ends here. All of our work. Our sacrifices. For nothing. She thought as Marc approached with the dagger.
Morgan closed her eyes.
The knife struck.
There was a pause, then more silence. Morgan opened her eyes. Lucina was in front of her, along with Marc as well. The Falchion cut through Marc's stomach. The two stood as they were for a while, before breaking off, and both slowly collapsing to the ground.
"Agh. Father... It hurts..." Marc said weakly. "I'm… sorry, dad."
Lucina slowly began to collapse. "Mom!" Morgan said, moving to her mother. "I've got you." She said, helping her.
"Morgan." Lucina said, coughing up blood. "I'm sorry. You'll have to live on... For all of us."
"N-no! You're going to be alright." Morgan said, trying to tend to her wound. The dagger had impaled the princess's abdominal area, and it didn't look good. Blood was coming out, fast. "We just need an elixir and you'll be good as new, right?"
"Even if we had the elixir… It wouldn't do me any good..."
"No! No! There has to be a way that I can help you!"
"It's alright, dear." She said weakly. "But you're our only hope now. The gate isn't too far from here. You can do this, Morgan."
"I... I will." Morgan said, trying to hold back her tears. Morgan held her mother's hand. She felt the warm heat of her hands slowly disappear with every second that passed.
Lucina weakly smiled. "Good. I... I hope that we meet again once you enter the gate. I love you, Morgan." She said, softly closing her eyes.
"I love you too." Morgan said weakly, tearing up. "Mom... Don't leave me..."
The warmness of her mother's hand was now gone. Morgan stood up quietly. The stories she told of her adventures. The times she would help comfort the young tactician. All of her memories arose to her mind. Her parents were both gone. Her friends were all gone. Everything disappeared in a matter of days.
Lucina stopped breathing. "Mother… Mother!"
She continued to cry. "What did I do to deserve this. What the hell did any of us do to deserve this! Mom and dad… they just wanted to be happy together. I wanted to grow up happily with them. Why did this happen! Why!"
"Insolent fool. It was planned from the beginning. They were never meant to find love. They brought this upon themselves."
"You…" Morgan said, slowly beginning to stand up."You feed on the grief of others. It gives you purpose. No, it's simply just a game to you, isn't it." She said, speaking to the dragon. "I'm going to make sure this hell never occurs to those in the past." She said, wiping away her tears, as they continued to flow. "This will be the last time you succeed."
She moved forward, and grabbed ahold her mother's sword, the Falchion. "I will not fail!"
"Still willing to fight, even after everything that's just occurred. I'm impressed, really." Grima said, looking at her. He then looked at Marc. "You know, that boy. He was actually your brother from another timeline."
"How would that be possible. I don't have a brother." She said, doubting him.
"The Outrealm gate leads to many places. I knew of this place before your group of friends ever did. It was just a matter of waiting until you tried to save this damned world by walking through the gate. It's a shame though. He was pretty good for a kid." He said, looking at Marc's body. "It must hurt that Naga gave her own life to power the gate to the past. Hmph. It all goes to waste here."
Morgan slowly moved towards the gate.
"Ah. You won't make it to the gate. Just accept your fate."
Morgan stood silent. She prepared a stance, looking at the dragon. She trembled in fear. "I-I will fight on."
"Fool." Grima said, returning to his true form. "YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!"
There was a loud roar. Morgan aimed her sword, and closed her eyes.
A silence suddenly filled the air.
"What? What happened?"
"M-Morgan..." A weak sounding voice said.
"What is... Happening?" Morgan said in confusion.
"Run... Run to the gate. Please. Hurry."
She looked at Grima. He took the same form as a dragon, but spoke and looked differently. "You're not Grima. Are you?"
"It doesn't matter here. You need to move... Quickly." He replied.
"E-explain who you are then!" She said, confused as to what was going on.
"My name is Robin. Your father." He said. "I heard you and Lucina... I didn't want to see you die as well." He said, weakly.
"I-if you're my father, then why didn't you stop him?! If you could take control, then why didn't you!?" Morgan said, infuriated. "My mother... She... She died because of him!"
"I'm sorry. I didn't know." He said guiltily. "Grima. He makes me watch everything that he does. Destroying lands, killing innocent civilians. Everything. He made me watch it all. Severa, Cynthia. My own wife..."
His voice broke off with a pained yell.
"YOU WON'T TAKE OVER!" The dragon suddenly roared out.
"W-what's happening?" Morgan said in surprise.
"I can't hold him off for much longer... J-JUST HURRY UP!" He roared out.
"R-right." She said, running to the gate. "Once I'm there, the dragon isn't going to cause this. He isn't going to do any of this. You and mother wont have to worry about anything. We will get the happy ending we deserve. I will succeed!" She yelled out as she ran towards the gate. "This monster won't do this. I'll make sure that mother never dies. That you don't become this. We will become a happy family. We will."
"Good... Thank you... Morgan..."
Morgan continued to run. The gate was in close reach. Just a few seconds away.
"YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE!"
She took a look behind and noticed the Dragon quickly approach. Morgan reached the gate, and turned around. I won't let your sacrifices go to vein. I'll keep the past clean. Thank you, everybody.
She entered the portal. An odd sensation surrounded her body as she began to get dizzy. Everything went black.
"Mother… Mother!"
"Morgan? Are you alright?" Lucina said as she quickly entered the room.
The tactician looked at her mother, and noticed that it seemed that she hadn't been sleeping.
Morgan breathed heavily. There was sweat around her pillow, and she noticed her eyes were teary.
"Mom…"
"What is it Morgan?"
The flashbacks returned. The friends she lost. Her mother, gone.
"Mom!" She said, giving her an embrace.
"Morgan?" Lucina said in surprise, however, she quickly realized the current situation. "It's alright. I'm here now. Everything will be alright." Lucina said, trying to comfort her.
"Mother. I won't ever leave you. I won't!"
"Calm down. You're here now. Whatever happened in your flashback, it's gone now. I'm here now, and I won't let the negative things in our past consume us."
"R-right." She said, trying to wipe away her tears.
"Everything will be alright in the end. It will." Lucina said with a smile.
"Th-thank you." Morgan said, beginning to calm down.
Lucina stood by Morgan's side as she began to slowly calm down. "Sorry for that mom."
"Don't be. I know how it may feel, but even with dreaded memories with us, we should continue moving on. No matter what."
"I will." Morgan said with a weak smile.
Lucina smiled back.
"Hey, M-mom? Can you sleep here tonight?" Morgan said still a bit glum.
"I will. Just don't worry about what happened in your dream. Everything is alright now, and everything will be alright later on, okay?" Lucina said.
"R-right."
"Just close your eyes and don't cry. I'll be right here, by your side."
"Thank you mother." Morgan said as she smiled once more, and snuggled closely with her.
Don't you worry anymore Morgan. Nothing bad will ever happen. I'll will stay here for however long you need me.
I'm not sure if I succeeded or not. Mom is still alive, but my father... No. He's alive. I just need to wait longer. Once father is back with mother, I'll make sure nothing wrong ever happens, no matter what. Regardless, I succeeded. Mother. Severa, Cynthia. Everybody. I hope you can see me from out there. We stopped him. Mother, All that's left, is to wait a while longer for father, and the happiness you deserved, will be yours. Ours.
Thank you again, mom and thanks for watching over me.
A/N: I tried to interpret what I thought may have happened to Morgan when Lucina ends up failing in one of the timelines, and marries Robin. I tried to make this emotional, with Morgan and her past in her own timeline. I'm not sure if anything else was needed, so review or PM me. Couldn't hurt to say what I missed or hit.
Almost kept my word this time too. This chapter was about 2-3k words, but ideas kept on popping up in my head, and then this chapter happened. It took some time to do, but it's done at last (probably).
With vacation finally here, I'm hoping to write as much as possible. Then again, a few minutes in Xenoblade Chronicles X wouldn't hurt... That game is fun.
Oh, and I'll get back on to finishing up the final few chapters with Robin. The next chapter will be the last to be in the perspective of Lucina and Morgan for some time as I abruptly left off Robin's story (Sorry about that).
Hint: The next two chapters will likely have fluff, and one will feature one of Awakening's DLC maps.
Anyways, I'm off once more. Follow, favorite, blah blah blah. Next chapter may be up next week, possibly during the weekday. Anyways, have a good one!
