Epilogue


"Do you… believe in second chances?" Robin was asked again. And again, he paused to think, but not of his answer: he's given it before already. Rather, he thought of the question itself. He's had a whole lifetime to ponder this question, and now it presented itself once more.

He scoffed, before answering it a second time, but this time only to himself.

"I guess I do."

Another opportunity, a second chance at the answer. And yet he answered it exactly the same.

That's just the type of man he was.

He blissfully remembered the fire which crackled softly, the kindled embers who danced into the night sky, illuminating the gently blown leaves that blanketed the forest. And the beautiful young woman, whose head lay resting on his shoulder, snoring softly. A great deal of trust must have been placed in him considering she could sleep so defenselessly on the crook of his neck.

It was likely at this day when his heart began to beat a different way. It would speed up at times, or slow down at others, as if it were beating to another one's tune.

And what he would give to do it all again! Not to change anything, no, he had no regrets. But to experience that youthful giddy feeling. That bounce in his step. That naïve smile he had the luxury of wearing.

Only a fool would want to change it.

But now, he could at least be content with reliving those cherished moments through his memories.


"Chrom, we have to do something!"

"Well, what do you propose we do?"

"I-I don't know!"

Robin's eyes peered open slowly. They gradually came into focus, and he recognized two familiar silhouettes that were staring down at him.

Finally, they realized he was awake. The girl let out a sigh of relief as they bent over to look at him. The man held a concerned smile.

"I see you're awake now." The man said.

"Hey there…" The girl gently greeted, chuckling softly.

"There are better places to take a nap then on the ground, you know." The man jokingly scolded. He couldn't hold back his smile, however.

"Give me your hand." He stuck out his hand, motioning him to grab it. Robin could only scoff silently.

'Second chances, huh?'

Robin hesitantly took it, and he pulled him upwards. Their eyes locked as they stared silently at each other.

Finally, it was Robin who broke their stare, putting his head down and shaking it, laughing softly.

'This must be—'

But his thoughts were interrupted by the man's soothing voice. A voice not of a stranger meeting another for the first time, but a voice of a friend whose excitement that could be contained no longer.

"Welcome back."

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.

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"Let's get you fixed up. You're going to be late." Chrom smiled. Frederick and Lissa stood behind him, smiling radiantly at the tactician.

A familiar scene.

Robin blinked twice in confusion. He furrowed his brow and shook his head.

"How long was I gone?" He asked finally. That familiar voice he had not heard in such a long time, was beginning to sound foreign to the three of them, even Robin himself. But it nonetheless made Chrom feel relieved. He shook his head and smiled.

"Now's not the time for that. C'mon, let's hurry now." Chrom grabbed Robin by the arm and still could not hide his excitement. His smile was beaming, and practically dragged Robin over the grassy hill where they had found him. Lissa followed shortly, wiping his face with a damp towel and attempting to comb his unruly white hair.

"Hold on, what are you-?"

"Quickly now! Take off your robe and tunic!" Lissa ordered. Chrom let go of Robin and she didn't wait for Robin to ask again. She removed his robe and tunic expertly, handing them to Frederick to hold them.

"Lissa, what's the meaning of this?" Robin tried again.

"Get those trousers off and change into this!" Lissa once again ordered. This time, she didn't remove his garments, and Robin simply did as he was told.

Frederick handed him a full set of white slacks, dress shoes, a laced tunic and a gold-adorned robe. Robin stared at the garments in confusion.

"Quickly, now." Frederick advised. Robin sighed and changed into them. It surprisingly fit him perfectly, but the luxurious style was something more accustomed to a noble than to a tactician.

When he was finished changing, Chrom grabbed him by the arm and continued to lead him until they were nearly up the grassy hill.

"Seriously, guys, what's with all this? Why do I need to wear this? Shouldn't we be heading to Ylisstol right now?"

"Just need to dress you for the occasion." Chrom smirked. "Now then, Lissa."

"Right!" Lissa wrapped a blindfold around Robin's eyes and tied them tightly.

"Okay, what does the blindfolds have to do with anything?"

"Just trust her. This was her idea, after all." Chrom chuckled. "Small steps now." Chrom lead Robin slowly now so he would not trip. When they made it to the top of the hill, Robin could hear murmuring. People shuffling around, attempting not to be heard. Then, there was a collective silence and Robin could only feel nervous. What exactly did Lissa have in store for him?

"There you go." Chrom finally spoke. "Stand right here, and don't remove the blindfolds until it starts. You'll know when..."

"Until what starts? Chrom. What's going on?" Robin asked, beginning to get irritated.

"Your special day." And with that, Robin could hear Chrom leaving quickly.

Robin sighed again and folded his arms. He was being watched. He could feel many eyes glued to him, their energies practically radiating off of them. Several minutes passed and the suspense was practically killing him. His heart beat became erratic, impatient, off beat.

And finally, then the music began.

Robin removed the blindfold and tucked it into his cloak's pocket. His eyes adjusted itself to the light, and he finally met eyes with those who stared at him.

The Shepherds.

All of them, they had looked so different. But each stood in front of him, beaming their smiles. But something else caught his attention. He finally saw Chrom, who had changed into formal attire as well. He slowly walked the veiled figure to Robin, whose mind stopped thinking. Whose body felt like collapsing. And whose heart completely stopped beating.

The brilliant Ylissian tactician. Oblivious as always. It was only then he realized what they pulled him into.

Robin held his breath and lifted the figure's veil. Lucina. Just as beautiful as the day he had left her.

"How long was I gone?" Robin asked again, holding his breath and dreading the answer.

"It's been a little bit over a year." Chrom answered. "You took a hell of a lot longer than any of us expected."

Robin quickly turned to face his wife. Tears were falling down her face and she cried silently, but couldn't help but smile at the husband she longed to see again. Robin lost his balance and fell to his knees.

"Lucina…" He began, his voice beginning to quiver. He felt his heart wrenched with guilt, a crushing feeling of disappointment in himself. A sense of unworthiness of the woman who stood in front of him now. Tears streamed down his face, and finally he found the courage to speak.

"I-I don't even know where to begin. I can't imagine what it was like for y-you to have… No… I've put you through too much, and I don't expect for you to—"

Lucina bent down and embraced him longingly, running her delicate hands through his hair and burying her face in his neck.

"Lucina, I—"

"I was never angry at you." Lucina cried. She took a few moments to catch her breath, and Robin brought them both up back onto their feet. "I was scared I lost you again…"

"…"

"…But you are standing here, right now… You kept your promise to me. That's all I ever wanted."

"Why…?" Robin whispered. "I've hurt you so much, how can you forgive me so easily?"

"Haven't I told you? I always believed in second chances."

The entire wedding procession was almost dreamlike. They exchanged their vows and their rings. Tiki had pronounced their marriage and finally, a long overdue kiss had cemented the bond that would last between lifetimes.

When it was all over, the Shepherds could no longer contain their excitement. After Robin and Lucina had walked down the aisle together, they swarmed him, congratulating him and giving them their praise. It lasted well into the recessional, the wedding party held at Ylisstol, and at the dinner they had held for them, each of the groomsmen gave their blessings and passed a few anecdotes.

It was a bit awkward, Robin would admit, that his best man was also his father-in-law, Chrom, who gave away his daughter to him. Chrom lead the toast and gave a rousing speech for his daughter and his best friend.

"…And as I said before, I could think of no man better for you than him, Lucina." Chrom finished.

The wedding party was held in the castle's grand hall. Robin was able to catch up with all of the Shepherds, who had each grown so much since he they had last seen each other. Most of them were already married, but Robin looked no different from the day he had disappeared.

"You expected that I would return?" Robin asked Stahl. He, himself, wasn't expecting a reappearance, yet his friends faithfully waited for him.

"Of course. Never took you for a deadbeat father." Stahl answered.

"Deadbeat…?" Robin began. "-?! Where's Morgan?"

A beaming young woman emerged from the crowd. She wore a robe similar to Robin's, but tied with a golden lace which crossed through the middle. Bright white tunic and trousers coupled with the proud brooch hanging from her belt symbolized her elite rank. And blue locks of hair fell past her shoulders, now tied into two tails and rested on her robe.

She held a baby, no more than a few months old who had soft blue locks that looked as if they were barely sprouting out of her head.

"Morgan?" Robin walked over to his daughter. She smiled.

"Which one?"

The party lasted well into the night, and Lucina was taken by her bridesmaids for a minute, leaving Robin to himself on the castle steps, getting some fresh air and digesting the life that he had returned to.

Second chances. He didn't need one. His first time was already perfect. That was his answer.

"Tired already?" Chrom asked. Robin turned around and saw Chrom who sat down next to him on the steps and stretched out.

"Just thinking to myself." Robin admitted. "Thank you, by the way... for everything. It's beautiful. All of it."

"Don't mention it. Just take care of my daughter, alright?"

"You don't have to tell me twice." Robin smiled. They stared blankly out into the city, which was bustling in celebration of the royal princess' marriage. Robin folded his arms.

"You know, something's been bothering me."

"What is it?" Chrom asked.

"Whatever happened to Cloud and the others? I kind of hoped that they would be here too…" Chrom let out a sigh.

"He left a few days after we defeated Grima." Chrom revealed. "It was bittersweet to see them go."

"Sounds just like him though, that Cloud." Robin chuckled.

"Sure does, buddy." Chrom laughed.

"We'll meet again someday. I just hope he got his happy ending."


That day…

"You gonna be alright buddy?" Cloud nodded his head.

"I'll manage." He responded. Zack patted him on the shoulder.

"Good." He smiled and ruffled his hair. "It was good to see you again."

"You too, Zack." Cloud smiled.

"I'll see you around, okay?" Zack chuckled and gave his best friend a thumbs up. "Remember to embrace your dreams…"

"…And, whatever happens, protect your honor… as SOLDIER." Cloud finished. Zack nodded his head reassuringly.

'You'll be my living legacy.'

Finally, Zack grabbed Cloud's hand and pulled him in for a hug. He patted his back affectionately, and after a confident grin, he turned around walked away. And with an outstretched fist, the first-class SOLDIER faded away back into dust.

Next, Cloud turned to Aerith. She remained her patient smile that would always warm his heart. She raised her hand to touch Cloud's face, splitting the lone tear that ran down his cheeks.

He could feel his breathing suddenly becoming sporadic. It was too early. No, not now. He wasn't ready to say goodbye again.

He remembered the time they spent racing around the fields on chocobos. The many nights he would wander around town to look for her who was restless and ready for adventure. The date they had on the gondola at the Golden Saucer. The awakening he had in her church. All back to the time they had made eye contact in Midgar, a lone flowergirl in the bustling streets of Midgar, where he made the greatest decision of his life: to buy a single flower.

What was it again?

"Aerith, I-I…"

"I-I know." Aerith smiled. Tears ran down her face as well. Her bright green iris met with Cloud's swirling blue.

"I knew... this was going to be the h-hardest part." Cloud choked out. His voice was shaking, but he held it together for her sake.

"Cloud, we will meet again. I promise." Aerith wept. Now it was Cloud's turn to wipe her eyes.

He could feel his knees buckling. His hands shaking. His eyes watering and his throat burning. But, this time, it was on his own accord. There was no more regret, fear, or disappointment etched into his heart. His heartbeat was slow and calm, as if he were simply awaking from a dream.

"I'm going to miss you, Aerith." He whispered.

Aerith leaned inward and kissed him longingly for the last time, and Cloud couldn't find himself to enjoy it as he secretly prayed that it would never end. And finally, it was time. She had to break away, but she brought her head to his chest, listening to the powerful drumming of his heart.

"This time, don't forget, okay?" She whispered to him, her forehead now resting on his chest.

"A-about what?" Cloud asked.

"That I love you." She finished with a smile. He couldn't help but smile too.

They had to let go, and Aerith walked off into the distance where the sun was beginning to rise. Cloud reached out his hand to her, but then clenched it to a fist, unsure of what was left to say. But something was bothering him.

What were those flowers?

As the first rays of light began to shine over the grassy horizon, Aerith began to fade back into dust. But before she had disappeared completely, she turned around to face Cloud, one last time.

"Say, Cloud, do you still like Easter lilies?"

Cloud nodded his head.

"They're my favorite."


Cloud never asked for any of the Shepherds to see him off. He seemed to leave just as suddenly as he arrived.

"So this is it, huh?" Chrom smiled. He extended his hand out to Cloud, who shook it with a somber smile. He had nothing but respect for the man, and on account didn't want to see him leave. "Any regrets?" Chrom asked out of curiosity, but Cloud shook his head.

"Nothing I can think of. I just wish I could have saw Robin again. But I'm sure you'll find him, eventually." Chrom nodded his head.

"Right. I just… I wished your friends didn't have to disappear. I thought that… through some miracle, perhaps… we'd all get to have our happy endings. The others… the Shepherds who died, they didn't disappear. But your friends, why did they-?"

"Aerith's not God." Cloud interrupted. "She's not God." He repeated softly, this time to himself. "We outrealm beings… we disrupted the natural flow of fate, and in the end, it was only natural that we would fix it as well."

She truly was too good for this world.

"I see."

Cloud turned to look at the Outrealm Portal. It was beginning to collapse without Grima's influence and was sure to close soon.

"You sure you can't stay? You have a life here, after all."

"Sorry, but I've got a church that needs some spring cleaning. And I'll be damned if I miss our reunion."

"Your reunion? With Aerith?"

"Yeah, I know that someday, we will meet again." Cloud affirmed. He stared out into the distance, taking one last good look of the world around him, before entering the portal. But his last words would forever resonate in the world that he was leaving behind.

"If there's one thing I've learned in my time here, it's that nobody dies forever. After all, one day, we'll all be…"

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Rising Again

FIN.