A time to grieve and move on.

A couple of days has passed since Lucina's horrible trip to Quel'Thalas, the realm of the high elves, fell to the undead. Even Silvermoon, the crown jewel of the elves, could not survive. Once the beauty of the spires and thoroughfares of Silvermoon could make just about anyone stop to marvel at the amazing design. Now, a dead scar, the tainted path that Arthas tore through the city in his quest for power, has left the city as little more than a dead shadow of it's former glory. Lucina was there when her mother's homeland fell to the undead's relentless attack. And all of it was caused by the man she once called her childhood friend. First Arthas butchered an entire city of innocent people to prevent an undead outbreak... but now he leads the very monsters he wanted to destroy... what happened to him?

When Lucina got back home, she was tired and hungry. But she still managed to tell her father about everything she saw. Chrom did not take the news well. The woman he loved, and the mother of his child... had been slain by a man he once respected. But death and chaos was not everything Lucina discovered in Quel'Thalas. She also found a young orphaned elf named Valeera Sanguinar. Despite their age difference not being to big, Lucina still ended up adopting Valeera as her own daughter. Something Chrom supported without hesitation, as he hoped having a child of her own, could help Lucina heal from the traumatizing events she had to experience.

But, of course, losing her mother cut Lucina deeper than any blade could ever hope to do. She had just started to get to know her mother better and was finally on good terms with her after years of feeling neglected by her. She learned her mother always loved her and even got to see the place she was born in, where she fully restored her bond with her mother... only for Arthas, a man she once trusted and cared for like a brother... to show up and destroy everything Lucina worked so hard to build. She lost everything. And the fact it was because of an old friend, it made her loss even worse.

Right now, she was doing some sword training. She steps forward with the sword, cutting at the air and making a fighting cry. She moves forward with her left foot, again slashing the air and releasing a cry. She then spins in a circle, putting a lot of feeling and effort into her next cry and slash. It has cost her a bit, and she pants. She's been at it for over an hour, she was hoping to blow of some of her anger. But wasn't working. She was still felt great anger and an immense feeling of betrayal. And part of her wanted justice... by removing Arthas' head from his shoulders. She just couldn't bare the idea of ever forgiving him for taking so much away from her.

"Mother?" Came the small and still innocent voice of the young elf. Lucina was still getting used to be called mother. It was a new feeling to her as a whole. But it helped ease the pain, if only a little.

Lucina turned around to look at her adopted daughter "Did you need something, Valeera?".

"Well... it's almost past my bath time" Valeera said shyly.

Lucina wanted to kick herself, she was a mother now and she was already forgetting to spend more time with her daughter. Her sorrow is no excuse for neglecting her child "Sorry, I forgot. Come one, I need a bath myself now anyway".

Valeera smiled as she allowed Lucina to pick her up and carry her to their privet bath. Once there, Lucina stripped herself and Valeera before putting her in the warm water and then got in herself. She helped Valeera wash up. But her daughter had been very silent ever since they left the training grounds. Lucina was worried about Valeera. She knew her daughter must have been effected by the fall of her home land, but she was not saying anything about it. Then again, Lucina was in no position to judge as she didn't want to talk about it either.

"Are you alright, Valeera? You have barely said a word" Lucina said.

Valeera turned and looked at her "I am scared, mother".

"Oh. Well I promise you that you are safe here and-" Lucina began but Valeera shook her head.

"No, I am scared of what is happening with you. You took me in, made me your daughter, gave me a home... and a new family. But you are in so much pain, but refuse to talk to me about it. You have done so much for me. You were there when I needed someone after what happened to my home. And I want to be there for you too. But you are always so sad, and I can help to feel that I am useless" Valeera explained, looking ready to cry "I don't want to lose another mother".

Her words hit Lucina right in the heart. How could she have been so stupid? How could she not have noticed Valeera's attempts to comfort her after the horrible ordeal that both of them had to go through. She had only been a mother for a few days, and she was already failing at it. What kind of mother fails to notice her child's attempts to help them?

Tears ran down Lucina's face as she pulled Valeera in to a strong hug "I am so sorry Valeera. I can't believe I was so blind to you love and worry. I am your mother now. I should be the one to comfort you and help you through your own lose. But I was so lost in my own grief that I failed to notice that my child was suffering right next to me. I failed to keep my promise to you... and I failed as a mother".

Valeera began to cry as she hugged Lucina back "No, you didn't! Having you in my life already helped much with my grief. I just want to help you too".

"I'm sorry, Valeera. I should have seen it. I promise you, I will not neglect you like that again. From here on out, I will give you all the attention you need and more. I will not fail you again" Lucina said while holding her daughter close.

Valeera snuggled in to Lucina's chest... then began sucking on one of Lucina's nipples, making Lucina blush as her chest was not every... well, lady like, and she didn't have any milk. But it helped Valeera keep calm, so Lucina allowed her to suck on her breasts as much as she wanted. It was the least she could do after failing to give Valeera the attention she needed.


Some time later, Jaina arrives at Ylisse. She had heard about the fall of Quel'Thalas and wanted to check up on her friends. She had already tried to console Prince Kael'Thas, who was saddened by his father's death. Yet Kael angrily rejected her consolation and rebuked her for favoring the monster Arthas over him. Jaina and Kael used to be close back when she was studying in Dalaran, but their friendship became very strained when Jaina made it clear her feelings for Arthas was stronger. And now, Kael'Thas wanted little to nothing to do with her, for standing by and doing nothing as Arthas destroyed her home land.

Jaina sighed as she was looking for Lucina, fearing she wouldn't be much more open than Kael was. To Jaina's surprise, she found Lucina sitting with a child on her lap, while reading a story to her. An old childhood story that Lucina and Jaina used to read together when they were kids. It was a story about a brave warrior who fought for his home and family. All though he was not of royal birth, and was just a simple farm boy, he had a dream of becoming a knight, and defend everything he loved from the darkness of the world.

Jaina couldn't help but to smile, relived that Lucina was already recovering from the horrible events "Lucina...".

Lucina looked up "Jaina?" She looked at Valeera "Sorry sweetie, but this is important, we will have to finish the story later. Go tell your grandfather that Jaina Proudmoore is here".

"Alright mother" Valeera said before jumping of Lucina's lap and ran of to find Chrom.

Jaina was surprised that the child called Lucina mother. But before she could ask anything, Lucina walked up to her and hugged her. Jaina was surprised at first, but soon she hugged Lucina back, happy that she was indeed more open hearted than Kael was.

"It's so good to see you again Lucina. I am sorry for not visiting sooner. A lot has happened" Jaina said.

"I know, Jaina. We both had a lot to think about" Lucina said.

"I see you have a kid now. When did that happen?" Jaina asked.

Lucina sighs "She is an orphan from Quel'Thalas. Her parents died before the undead arrived. But after the undead attacked, she was left with nothing. I could't just leave her there and she grew attached to me. So I agreed to be her mother".

"That's very kind of you... Lucina, I am so sorry about what happened. If only I could've convinced Arthas not to go down such a dark path" Jaina said.

Lucina looked down for a moment before looking back at her childhood friend "The blame does not fall on you alone, Jaina. I too should've tired harder to stop Arthas from doing what he did. But instead, I just turned my back on him when he needed me the most. I should have forced him to stop. Yes, he would have been angry, but that would be a small price to pay if it meant saving his soul... that being said, I can never forgive him for what he did. He took so much from me, and wounded me in a way that will never heal. He is no longer the Arthas we used to know".

"I fear you might be right..." Jaina said. As much as she didn't want to believe it, there was no denying that Arthas had changed in to an completely different person. Almost nothing of the Arthas she used to love remained in him.

Lucina looked at Jaina for a moment before speaking "I am going to kill him, Jaina. If I ever see that traitor again, his blood will be on my blade".

Jaina looked shocked "Lucina. I know you are hurting from your loss, but don't go down dark path as well. I don't want to lose you to the darkness as well".

"You will not. Unlike Arthas, I haven't forgotten everything the light has granted me. I will not throw away everything I am just for revenge. But I can not let Arthas get away with what he did. The blood of my people, the blood of my mother, demands justice" Lucina said.

"Just don't let that justice corrupt you, Lucina" The two women looked to see Chrom walking towards them "Jaina Proudmoore. You are a sight for sore eyes".

"It's good to see you too, Lord Chrom" Jaina said with a smile.

"I see you are here to offer comfort. It is most welcomed, Jaina. But I also sense there is more to your visit" Chrom said.

"I'm afraid you are right about that, Lord Chrom. I think your people are in grave danger. It is time to consider leaving Ylisse and lead your people to Kalimdor" Jaina explained.

Lucina and and Chrom gained surprised looks. Lucina brought that up before, and now Jaina mentions it as well. If she believes it is time to move to another land, then the Prophet may have been telling the truth the whole time.

"Please, come inside with us. It's clear now that it is time to have a talk we should've had a long time ago... if only I had listened sooner" Chrom said before heading inside.

It was clear Chrom was blaming himself for not listening to Lucina sooner. Feeling he could've prevented the tragedy that claimed his beloved Sylvanas if only he hadn't brushed of Lucina's warnings as nothing but the words of a mad Prophet.

It was a mistake he had no intentions of repeating. This time, he will take every single world seriously.

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