It was a sunny day out in the gardens of Castle Ylisse. Perfect weather for hunting down ne'er-do-wells Lucina determined early that morning. Using her beloved wooden sword, the young princess giggled and laughed the morning away as she valiantly fought off the hordes of imaginary miscreants. None of them stood a chance against the great Lucina Ylisse! For she was just the latest in a long line of heroic individuals. The greatest of which being her father of course.

The gardeners, however, were not as happy about the young princess' triumphs. She suspected that they were really conspiring against her with the bandits, but her parents insisted that they were just grumpy because she trampled their flowers. Could they not see the importance of her missions though? What were a few measly flowers on the path to vanquishing evil?

"Lucina!"

The princess halted her campaign and stuck her head up above some shrubbery, "Mother!" Lucina ran and leapt into her mother's arms.

"There you are," Sumia smiled at her little girl before putting on a stern face, "I've been looking all over for you. You're supposed to be studying right now."

"Aww," Lucina's arms fell with her sword touching the ground, "But that's so boring!"

"I know it is, dear," Sumia smiled at her daughter. How she had grown already. Her father had even given her a few basic sword lessons, "But it's important that a future Exalt be well educated."

"But I'd rather be a heroic fighter like you and father. I don't have to sit through boring lessons for that."

Sumia giggled, "What about Robin? He has to be really smart."

"Yeah, but he's no fun! Always studying and staying alone in his room or the library. He barely even smiles. That's weird!"

"He's just…a bit sad," Sumia knew he was lonely. He was down on himself because he had managed not to find love while so many of those around him did. He felt something was wrong with him. They kept trying to reassure him, but nothing seemed to work.

"Well, if lessons make me sad, why do them?"

"Robin isn't sad because he's smart. He's sad because he's lonely."

"Lonely?" Lucina tilted her head, "With so many people around?"

"It's…not that simple. Maybe you'll understand when you're older. In the meantime, you should go to your lessons like a good girl."

"Aww," Lucina whined as her mother led her across the courtyard. The princess then shifted tracks, "Mom, will Dad be home soon?"

"He should be back before too long," Sumia replied vaguely. Truth be told, she was quite concerned herself. He had led some of their best into Plegia to meet Validar to supposedly be gifted the remaining gemstone for the Fire Emblem. It was rather sudden and a bit suspicious that he would suddenly invite Chrom to receive it, but he went anyway. Sumia had been ill and unable to go which just made her worry that much more. Still, he had Robin with him which did help allay her fears. She had confidence that he would be able to spot a trap and get them out of it if need be.

"I hope so," Lucina looked up at the clear blue sky and pouted at the sight of clouds starting to roll in, "I miss him."

"So do I, honey. Once–"

"Open the gate!" A guard yelled, but something was not right. He sounded panicked.

"What's wrong?" Sumia felt as if her blood had turned to ice.

"We've spotted Sir Frederick riding toward the castle at a full gallop," One of the guards yelled back.

"Alone?'

"It would appear so, your Majesty."

Sumia's fears only got worse when Frederick charged past the open gate clutching his side with both he and his horse missing armor in various places.

"Lucina, go inside," Sumia told her daughter on the verge of panic before dashing off to the loyal knight. Lucina did not move, however. She was frozen in shock at the sight of the knight. He was usually so strong and big. Now he looked so weak and frail, and there was also a lot of red on his side.

"Frederick!" Sumia tried to help the knight from his horse, but he refused her aid.

"I'm sorry my queen," Breathing was a struggle for the knight. Sumia saw his side and the copious amounts of blood making her wonder how he had even survived the ride here. He then handed her something that he had been clutching in a death grip along with his horse's reigns, "I have failed. We were…betrayed…"

That was all Frederick managed to get out before losing consciousness. Sumia emptily stared at the sword in her hand for a moment as the guards hurried Frederick to the infirmary before turning around to see her daughter.

"Lucina!" Sumia quickly hid the blade behind her back, "Go to your room."

"W-what happened to Sir Frederick?" Lucina stared wide eyed at her mother.

"He's, um, he's been hurt."

"Will he be okay?"

"I…don't know." All her medic training was screaming that the knight was probably not going to make it, but she was not about to tell Lucina that, "Now, please, go to your room. I'll see you later, okay?"

"Okay," Lucina turned to leave, but her mother called out to her. Before she had even finished turning, Sumia wrapped her in a tight hug. Without an explanation, Sumia let go of her daughter and hurried off to the infirmary.

Falchion landed on Chrom's desk with a thud. Frederick did not recover, and he had just succumbed to his wounds. The queen now looked at the blade with watery eyes. The retainer to Falchion's wielder had one very important task that superseded almost any order. If the wielder of Falchion were to fall in battle, they were tasked with bringing the treasure back to Ylisstol no matter the cost or circumstance.

Chrom was dead. Their leader was dead. Her husband was dead.

A wet spot appeared on the desk followed quickly by another and Sumia slammed her palm against the table in anguish. How could he fall? He had beat back Walhart. He had defeated Gangrel after losing his sister. He was a titan of a man. How could he be gone?

Frederick's final words rang through her ears like a malicious echo. Betrayed. Who would betray them? She went over everyone on the mission, and she could not believe any of them would betray them. Besides, surely Robin would have noticed something was amiss even if he was feeling low lately. She just could not believe it, and yet, it seemed to be so.

"Mother?"

Sumia straightened up immediately and tried poorly to mask the fact she had been crying, "Lucina. Aren't you supposed to be in your room?"

"Why are you crying?"

"I, uh," Sumia wiped her cheeks hastily before pulling her daughter in for a hug, "I'm so sorry, Lucina. I'm so sorry."

"Mommy?" Lucina was definitely concerned now.

"I'm sorry, but…Mommy has to tell you something, okay?"

Lucina had not moved for what seemed like hours. She felt like she had been numb for days. Ever since her mother told her that her father was not coming home. She had only left her room for the small funeral they would be having. The state funeral would have to wait, but for now, Lucina stared numbly at the stone engraved with the mark in her eye. Lucina still could not believe it.

Her daddy was gone.

"Lucina?" Lucina did not turn to face her mother and remained transfixed on the stone.

"Lucina, it looks like it's about to rain soon."

"Why?" Lucina sniffled, "Why would someone want to kill him?"

Sumia sighed and knelt down and hugged her daughter, "Because he was a good man who wouldn't let evil people get what they wanted. We'll just have to try and continue where he left off. Can you do that for me? Can you be a strong girl?"

Lucina nodded into her mother's arms. As she stood there in her mother's embrace, she looked at another monument that had been quickly erected to honor the fallen Shepherds. She remembered what Sir Frederick had told her mother. Lucina thought that must have meant…that one of those heroes…was really a villain.

A villain Lucina wanted desperately to catch and bring to justice.

A/N: Here is a go at how Lucina could know there was a (presumably unwilling) traitor yet didn't know who it was. If there were survivors to say there was a traitor, one would think they would know who it was. If they knew it wasn't by choice and wanted to protect their friend, then that still seems likely information Lissa might have shared when they came up with their eventual plan. In fact, that might make an interesting idea for a story where Lucina knows that Robin turns against his will and seeks to help him. Perhaps even trying to placate his loneliness. Maybe trying to set him up with other women until falling for him herself.

Anyway, not sure how many chapters this will be, but hopefully you'll enjoy it. The first few chapters actually aren't that heavy on the Lucina focus though. I'm also thinking of naming this story "The Edge of History" and renaming the Chrom one to "The Verge of History" with the potential Robin one named "The Precipice of History."