Beginning Commentary: Commence revision! …Man, this has taken a while to get to…Sorry, I've been sick and well, I got to meet my idol Crispin Freeman! WOO-HOO! (Also, holidays, but y'know). I'm hoping to get to the third arc before I have to go back to college…


Excerpt Twenty-Seven: Believe It or Not


"You know, even though we're short on units, you'd think we'd have more security with the Voice and future princess of Ylisse," I pointed out when we were backtracking.

"You realize this now of all times?" Gregor asked.

I shrugged.

"You say that as if you think we can't handle ourselves," Lucina said with a sarcastic tone.

"I'm just saying."

"I am certain that whomever wished to join us is hard at work assuring victory as we speak," Lady Tiki smiled.

That, I can definitely look forward to. I can just imagine everyone running up to us saying that we obtained a huge victory which will give us a complete advantage in the upcoming battles. Heck, with Priam, I'd be surprised if they didn't already storm Valm's castle! They probably didn't even need to recruit Yen'fay; maybe he was only in it for as long as Walhart was alive.

…Oh, how I wish that were the case…


When we returned, nearly everyone had either bandages or very depressed looks.

"Oh, you're alive! Thank the Gods!" Chrom sighed, hugging all four of us.

"What happened?" I asked.

"We were ambushed," Henry groaned. "And not by a bunch of slouches, either."

"There's apparently a traitor amongst us," Tharja added, wrapping up a bandage that Henry had around his arm. "Someone informed the Imperial Army of our location."

"Fortunately, we didn't jump right to conclusions and blame it right on these two," Flavia explained. "We've learned from that."

Well, thank the Gods for that…

"Do we know who the culprit is?" Lucina asked.

"Sadly, there's no real confirmation. All we know is that they were a Valmese slave before we freed them."

"What? Why would they hinder their chance of freedom?"

"Because apparently, they held a grudge against Rosanne," the Pirate King said as he joined Flavia's side. "Saying that its Duke was a spineless coward for running away and that they wouldn't want to be part of a nation that allowed him access back to ruling."

Duke…of Rosanne…OH CRAP!

"Is Virion okay?!" I gasped. "Where is he?!"

Everyone avoided eye contact with me, and remained silent as well.

"…No…" I took a step back.

"He was the first one to go," Chrom managed to say.

"Who else?"

"Olivia and Miriel as far as the Shepherds go."

"Maribelle, Stahl, and Cherche were horribly injured, but they're still alive," Tharja added.

"The same goes for Noire and Brady," Henry gulped.

"And?" I continued.

"Five hundred of our liberated army and two hundred of Regna Ferox's," Flavia said.

"What about Priam's army?"

"Two or three, fortunately. He ain't dead, but he's still recovering" the Pirate King stated.

Whew…At least he's alive.

"Oh Gods no," Lucina choked up. "I…I thought that they had passed during Grima's resurrection…Don't tell me, please don't let this be the only true alteration of time's course!"

Chrom held his daughter closely as tears soon fell down her cheeks.

"I've failed Inigo and Laurent, Father…"

"No, you still have time," Chrom assured. "They're coping if you still want to talk with them."

"What if they can never forgive me? I promised them that they would have their parents alive and well!"

"That's a tall order, Lass," the Pirate King sighed as he placed a steady hand on Lucina's shoulder. "You can't do that all by yourself."

"And like your dad said, we still have time before Grima's supposed to be resurrected," I said. "With it, I'm sure we can get rid of Him once and for all."

Lucina sniffed and wiped the tears off her cheeks.

"Hearing you of all people say that," she chuckled slightly. "That definitely gives me hope."

She went off to see her grieving associates.


"MOM!" Morgan screamed, immediately running to conjure arms that would hug me.

"Morgan, you're okay!" I smiled, returning his eager hug.

"I'm okay!? You had me worried sick!"

"I feel like I should be saying that to you."

"Gods, I just imagined the worst of the worst case scenarios after the attack!" He nuzzled into my stomach as he said that.

"Wow, you sound just like me," I told him as I stroked his hair.

"Moooom! Be serious!"

Alright, I guess he deserves it. I knelt down so that I could talk to him at eye level. Despite him being fifteen-years-old, he was still a little shorty.

"I discovered that plenty of my memories turned out to be fake ones planted by your grandfather," I told him.

"What, really?!" Chrom exclaimed.

"Yeah, it also turns out that other memories were sealed away for whatever reason. Now I may be acting calm and a bit too happy, but that's because I'm trying to hide how really scared I am. I have no idea what's real and what isn't. I mean, what if turns out Henry and Tharja are only my friends so that they can check Grima's progress?"

"Henry would've given it away long ago if that were the case," Tharja told me. She then flicked my forehead. "And don't you dare accuse me of ever doing that. We've been friends for far too long for you to think that."

"Yeah, really!" Henry pouted.

"Sorry, guys," I sighed. "Still, I'm pretty freaked out. And to add the surprise attack onto all of this, hoo boy…"

"Well, one thing's for sure: You're the best damn Tactician I've ever met," Flavia assured. "Your plans may be reckless and outrageous, but they're just what we need."

"And even if you're no longer performing community service, I still see you as an honorary Shepherd," Chrom smiled.

"I'm still alive, so I know you and Dad had a fling together," Morgan sighed of relief.

Oh Gods…

"When we're able to catch our breath, Lass, I'll make sure we find out which of your memories are real," the Pirate King beamed.

"Aw, thanks," I grinned. "You don't have to."

"I feel like it."

"Even if you're against dark magic on yourself, I'll help, too," Tharja said. "Anything that makes you question our friendship needs to be terminated."

Well, her heart's in the right place.


"I'm going to see if Sumia needs any more help with finding Clerics and Monks," Chrom said. "Henry, you should start resting. Panne might never forgive you if you didn't."

"Oh, good thinking!" Henry exclaimed.

"We need as much motivation as we can get, so I'll be off, too," Flavia said.

"Say Morgan," Tharja began. "How about we do some magic training?"

"Oh, is that okay, Mom?" Morgan asked.

"I don't see why not," I shrugged.

Those two went off, leaving only me and the Pirate King.

"He's in his tent if you want to go see him," the Pirate King smirked.

"Huh? Who?"

"The guy I told you have to clean up after."

"Oh, Priam? I, uh, didn't know that. Thanks."

The Pirate King had a mischievous look on his face. I used this as a signal to take my leave.


Right, now which one is his tent…

"That one!" Beatrice screamed behind me. I jumped at the sudden response.

"Ya gotta stop that!" I groaned.

"Ah, sorry, I got excited. Anyway, Priam's in that tent over there." She pointed to the tent that was five feet away.

"Uh, thanks, Beatri-"

Aaaaaand she's gone. Ninon popped her head out of my bag.

"I swear, Ninon, these people are getting crazier by the minute," I said as I patted the Gryphon's head.

Ninon chirped in response.


"Hey Priam, it's me," I called out. "Anne. Can I come in?"

"Yeah, sure," Priam replied softly.

When I parted the tent flaps, I was greeted to the sight of Priam lying in bed. His hair was a complete mess, and he wasn't even wearing his bandana. …Eugh, it also smelled like the Farfort…

"You okay? It's only midday," I asked him.

"Eh, I got too careless," he grunted. He removed the blankets on top of him to reveal bandages wrapping around his…very nice figure. …Wait, what? "Got shot by a poison arrow."

"Aw, I'm sorry."

"What should you be sorry for? You were out helping Lady Tiki."

"Well, yeah, but I still feel bad…"

"If that's what being sorry means, then I think it would be your central emotion."

I pouted, and he chuckled weakly, coughing soon after.

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?" I sat down beside him to see if he had a fever, placing the bag that held Ninon carefully on the floor.

"Eugh, no, I'm good," Priam wheezed.

"Gods, you sound like you're dying. …OH GODS, YOU'RE NOT DYING, ARE YOU!?"

"If boredom's a natural cause of death, then yes."

"Ugh, don't joke about that!"

"Sorry." He slowly sat himself up and scooted over.

"Don't push yourself further, man…" I scoffed.

"You're talking to the man that wrestled a bear when he was twelve," Priam replied in a narcissistic tone. He then tugged on my arm to insist that I lay down beside him.

"Yet was easily defeated by a poison arrow."

"Yeesh, no need to hurt my pride any further."


I wrapped my fingers in his bird's nest that he called hair so that I could get a better look at his face. His eyes were gleaming for some strange reason.

"Aw, you poor baby…" I pouted.

"I'm six years older than you," Priam retorted.

"You know what I mean."

"Well, the poison was meant to kill me, but I'm still alive. It's more of an inconvenience if anything."

"Alright, I get it. I'm sorry for making you seem less badass than you are."

"Thank you." He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "So while we were busy getting our asses kicked, what happened with you?"

"Oh gosh. Lady Tiki not only got her powers restored, but I also learned that a lot of my memories are either sealed away or fake."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah, my dad wasn't a dick, my mom didn't die, and I'm not even sure if I was attacked when I was a kid…It's almost like my entire early childhood was a complete lie…"

"But if that were the case…Maybe your dad started acting like a dick after your mom left. I mean, if my spouse left me for jackshit, I'd be pretty upset myself."

"It'd make sense, but that would be really pathetic if that were the case."

Though it would also explain why Aversa dressed the way she did…Maybe to get back at Mom…

"But I wonder where did my mom run off to? And why she left me behind? Gods, I have so many questions that need answers…"

"You'll figure it out, you're smart enough."

"If I find enough time, maybe," I sighed. "So much will have to happen once the war's over. Answering these questions, reuniting with Yen'fay, reforming whatever's left of Valm and Chon'sin…"


Priam turned himself to his side so that he could face me. I decided to turn as well. Don't look down, don't look down, don't look dow-oh my Gods he's fit.

"What are you going to do after this is over, Priam?" I asked, failing in my task to not look at his torso.

"Gods, I don't know…" He began. "I mean, I could head back to the Garden of Giants or maybe even be a part of the reformation process, but I'd feel like I was only used as a tool."

"Because we only saw you as an asset, right? Not an actual person?"

"Yep, right on the dot."

"Maybe I could arrange something with Yen'fay so that you could stay with us."

"And leave my men behind?"

"They could be a part of this, too. Like, not only for the reformation. They could be royal guards or whatever other staff is needed."

"And me?"

"You could go Say'ri's route and become a fellow diplomat. That way, you could negotiate an alliance between Valm, Chon'sin, and Tellius."

"I haven't been in Tellius for a good decade or so," Priam huffed, brushing a stray piece of my hair away with his free hand. The other was wrapped around my waist at this point. "So I don't think establishing ties with them now would be possible."

"Who knows? Anything can happen."

"Like you trying to grope me?"

"What?"

He gestured with his …Oh my Gods, my hand was right on his breast. I immediately pulled it back.

"Ahh, I'm sorry, ahhh…"

"Oh my Gods, you're blushing."

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

…Wait, what am I doing? I'm married, dammit! AND with a son who'd probably never forgive me if he found out I was cheating on his father!

…But this feels so nice…

"You okay?" Priam asked.

"Eh, I'm conflicted," I admitted. "I feel like I'm cheating on Yen'fay by doing this."

Priam remained silent for a moment, slowly sitting himself up again.

"Gods, how do I approach this without you wanting to kick my ass," he said as he bit the tips of his thumbs.

"You're not going to tell me I have to abandon him or that you're going to be childish and force me to make a decision between you or him, are you?" I chuckled.

"What am I, fourteen? If anything, I encourage you to stay with Yen'fay as long as he treats you right."

"Aha, yeah…When he's not caught up with Pheros, that is…"

"The first wife, right?"

I nodded.

"Honestly, this is why I hate marriages. They make up ridiculous rules like polygamy being acceptable, but then they go back and punish adultery like a bunch of hypocrites," Priam grunted.

"I think consent has something to do with it," I suggested.

"I can't believe you're defending this."

"Well, I'm being realistic about this. Chon'sin's customs are much more different than any other nation I've heard about, and we should respect them."

"So, he's allowed to have a second wife, but you're not allowed to have another relationship? Anne, you're getting the short end of the stick here."

"Look, when a man is with multiple women, he's seen as powerful. When a woman is with multiple men, she's seen as either a cold-hearted bitch or a low-life whore. That's just how society works, and I'd like to make sure my already terrible reputation doesn't get any worse."

"But if you challenge it within the respectable boundaries that society has to offer, you'll be recognized as a true innovator! It'll help future generations realize that they aren't stuck in an arranged marriage for the rest of their lives!"

"Now you're just sounding like a hopeless romantic."

"At least I'm willing to offer a solution without offering terrible clichés."


Here, Priam requested that I sit in front of him. When I did, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in for a backwards hug. His hands kept brushing over my stomach.

"You know, a lot of men think stretchmarks are gross," I remarked. "And that women with kids are terrible."

"That's another thing. Why is that scars on men are attractive, but are hideous on women?"

"I think it's because women are supposed to be delicate little flowers and having marks on them ruin that fantasy or whatever."

"Nuts to that, then."

Mmm, guilt still present…

"Priam, can we at least wait until Yen'fay's on our side? Then we can talk to him about this whole situation and see if he's okay with me being with you as well as him…" I mumbled.

"If he makes me be with any of his other wives aside from you, I swear…" Priam growled.

"I'll make sure he won't. Just…I can't do this when he doesn't even know what's going on."

"I admire your loyalty to him. Very well, I'll be patient." He released me from his grasp. "But if he says no, I'm calling him out right then and there. He'd be a bigger hypocrite than someone not listening to their own advice."

"Fair enough, I guess. So…speaking of scars, how'd you get so many?"

After finally getting over myself, I realized that there were little marks nearly everywhere on his torso, back, and arms.

"Well, like with the scar on my forehead, they all have a story to them," Priam grinned. "For example, this one on my arm is when I recruited Beatrice for the army…"