Author's Note: So, someone noticed and pointed out that a certain scene was skipped last chapter. That was not an accident. I always thought that scene was rather unnecessary, to be honest, plus, it would give away the surprise of the twist of this story. So, I nixed it. It's not like there really was anything important happening in that scene, anyway.
Sorry for the late chapter. It's… honestly a struggle to focus right now with the things going on IRL (more than just the obvious worldwide issue going on) with a few different situations going on.
Also, there's a certain scene that happens that doesn't happen in-game. This wasn't originally planned, but it came to me recently that this might add a bit of depth to the story as well as add to the mystery, without going overboard.
The scene at the end of the chapter between two specific characters was originally a simple one-page scene, but as I revised, I kept adding more and more and more, until it became the scene it is now.
Also, after this chapter, I will be putting this story on a slight hiatus. This is a natural stopping point before I get into the next story arc in-game. The reason being is partially because I have some issues in person to deal with, but also, because I wanted to work on the other story as well. I decided instead of making it "this day for this story and that day for that story", I would simply work on each one in arcs. Switching between the two stories and the massively different mentalities required to write them was actually draining. Having to shift gears between something as relatively light-hearted as this and the heavy doom and gloom of the other story's current arc was actually mentally exhausting. So, that's why I had this arc finished in here and worked on this exclusively.
I promise I won't be gone for long. I will just simply do it an arc at a time! Until then, sit tight. I promise, it won't take too long!
Chapter 26
Birthright
Original POV (Two Years after Kidnapping):
"I trust you understand the importance of this mission, Raven?" the Aviary asked. I nodded in reply.
"Sneak across the border into Plegia and find the bandits who are hiding there. We are to take care of them and ensure they stop bothering Ylissean citizens on the border. Is there a reason you're having me lead it instead of Leila?" I asked.
"If you happen to be caught by the Plegian guard, you probably would have an easier time convincing them to let you go. You are much better with your words," she replied.
"Understood," I replied.
"If you succeed in this mission, this would expand our cause greatly. Perhaps we could start recruiting some of the Plegian guard as well at this rate," the Aviary said.
"Is there an issue with recruitment?" I asked.
"The past two years, there has been a steady decline of new recruits. It brings me some joy to hear Prince Chrom is actively taking care of the issues at the border, but it's giving us less opportunity to conscript soldiers to our cause," she replied with a shrug.
"Would it not be better if eventually the royalty did what we've been trying to do?" I said as I stared at her bird mask, trying to make eye contact and glean more information, but she purposefully turned away.
"You still try to find weaknesses within me," she remarked off-handedly.
"I would not have survived as long as I have or advanced as far as I have if I didn't always keenly observe around me," I said.
"You do it with an uncanny regularity and a startling accuracy," she replied.
"Again, my success is attributed to my abilities," I replied.
"I look forward to your success on this mission."
"I will not disappoint you."
"Raven… I have a personal favor to ask as well."
I paused and looked at her and for the first time I saw some form of emotion crack through her face. It was a look of disgust and anger and it caught me off guard. As quickly as I noticed it, though, it disappeared.
"You aren't one for personal favors," I replied.
"I am trusting you with this."
"What is it?"
"If you happen to see any of the Grimleal, do the world a favor and eliminate each and every single one of them as soon as possible. They are not to be neither spared nor recruited. They are all to suffer a grim fate by either your hand or someone you command," she said sternly.
"Is there any particular reason why?"
"A personal favor has personal reasons."
"… mm, understood. I trust your judgment," I said quietly. That wasn't like her to give me a directive without a clear objective. Still, I remember the Grimleal attacking Nowi all those years ago…
Nowi…
"Someday, you will find out, Raven. Until then, you are dismissed," she said. I nodded and departed from the tent. I stepped out and saw Leila standing there with a few bandits.
"Look at you, leading your first mission! Hard to imagine the scared little Shepherd I recruited would be leading his own mission here someday," Leila commented.
"Leila, please," I replied firmly. She nodded in reply.
"Right, I should be serious here. We are leaving the nation. Who knows what kind of dangers we will encounter," she said.
"Exactly," I replied. "So, everyone, we are here to execute our first international mission. We are the best of the best here. Our goal is to investigate which Plegian bandits are attacking our border towns and to execute our usual actions against such perpetrators. Any questions?"
There were no questions, so we soon prepared for our journey to the border. As we journeyed there, my mind was racing with questions. Why did the Aviary ask me to eliminate the Grimleal? Did she have some kind of connection with them? Did she just hate them that much? They did worship a god of destruction, so it seems only fitting they should all just disappear, but she seemed to absolutely loathe them with a passion. There had to be a more personal reason for that…
As soon as we crossed over the border from Ylisse to Plegia, we began our search for a local town whose condition we could assess. We followed along the path we were on, but before we could reach the town, night began to fall. We settled for camp along the trail and resolved to find a town we could try to liberate when morning came.
"Say, Raven, you seem pretty calm for having crossed the border to another country. Have you been to Plegia before?" Leila inquired.
"You remember I was with the Shepherds, right?" I asked back.
"Oh, right, I forgot you all took down that crazy king they used to have. Although, I have to admit, I hear the new one isn't much better," she replied.
"How so?" I asked.
"I have no idea. I just hear rumors the Plegian citizens aren't exactly wholly united under their current king. Not like they were united under their last king, either."
"One of your cuties tell you this over a cup of tea?" I asked.
"Ha, you know me so well," she replied with a smirk and a playful punch on the shoulder. I looked to see one of the bandits under me approach.
"How goes the scouting?" I asked.
"All is clear," he replied. "We did not detect anyone nearby."
"Good. Let's prepare something to eat and then turn in for the night," I said. The group before me nodded and we set about eating dinner. Most of us still had some provisions in the convoy, although we were beginning to run light on proteins.
"We might have to hunt soon," Leila commented.
"Anyone here good at hunting?" I asked.
"I can track and hunt a bear pretty well, if there are any nearby," one said. I smirked to myself as I remembered a particular knight's aversion to bear meat…
"I can probably get us a deer or two," another offered.
"I'm pretty good at fishing," a third said. I thought to myself about those offers.
"Let's take a day off from travelling. We can try to acquire as much fish and game as we can get and prep those meats. Leila, I know you're good at curing those meats and turning them into jerky and other snacks. We can always use this to earn favor with the people of the town we're approaching," I said. The three who offered their services nodded and departed. I looked around to see Leila and two others with me.
"Seven of us on this mission. I wonder what the Aviary was thinking with this group?" I asked.
"Seven is a nice solid number of people. We're good enough to protect ourselves if we're attacked, but not large enough to raise much suspicion with the Plegian guard," Leila replied.
"I know, but… I'm not completely convinced the seven of us could hold our own against a guard if they turned hostile."
"That is why we have you. You are the diplomatic master. As the Aviary probably told you, you're leading this mission for a reason. I just like to hit things and I'd like to think I'm pretty good at it."
I nodded in reply. We were sitting in camp, waiting for our hunters to return, but as time wore on, we grew worried.
"They should have reported back by now, whether they got something or not," I said in a slightly apprehensive tone.
"Perhaps they got a big haul and are trying to bring it back?" one of the bandits suggested.
"That is quite possible, to be honest," I replied. I paused for a second. Something felt off. What was it? I felt a presence. There was someone watching us.
"Everyone, to the convoy. We might need to prepare for an escalation," I said quietly and calmly. The other three nodded and, as casually as possible, we all headed to the convoy to grab our weapons. No sooner had we grabbed our weapons that no fewer than fifteen cloaked figures ran toward our camp from various angles. I saw some of them holding the bodies of our three hunters. They must have been captured and possibly executed. We were surrounded and trapped!
This… this was the Grimleal! They cornered us. No…
"Fight, fight, fight! Fight for your lives! Fight for your survival," I said in an urging tone, but I could not shake the feeling we might fall here. Why? Why were the Grimleal here? Why were they attacking us? If the Aviary knew this was going to happen, why did she not send more? Was… was this a mission to dispose of me?
This… had to be a mission to dispose of Leila and I. There was no possible way she could have not known the Grimleal were here and willing to attack random travelers. Would the Aviary really have made such an oversight as to have only seven of us try to deal with such impossible odds on our mission?
All of a sudden, a portal opened nearby and a warrior dressed in the oddest assortment of armor stepped out from it. Both the Grimleal and I stopped for a second to observe this new intruder, encased in armor. He was wearing a black breastplate and black helmet, with silver everything else, almost as if he picked and chose from two different armor sets. Was this another time-traveler?
Marth… is this one of your friends?
The armored figure looked at me and at the Grimleal before pulling out a sword. Before any of us could react, he moved with a speed and agility that I did not even think possible with all that armor and started engaging the Grimleal. With renewed efforts, we managed to take down most of the ones before us. I turned to the mysterious armored figure and nodded in acknowledgement.
"Thank you for saving our lives," I said. "May I ask you for your name?"
There was no response. He simply stood there, staring at me for a few minutes. I shifted uncomfortably, not used to this kind of attention or attitude. I saw Leila approach me.
"Raven, everyone else is dead. We are the only survivors," Leila said quietly.
"This mission has been an unmitigated disaster. I think it's time we retreat back to base. I need to have some words with the Aviary about her mentality with this mission," I replied.
"Raven…" the armored figure said, although I could barely hear what he was saying. I turned to him.
"Yes. That is my name. Who are you?" I asked. He stared at me for a few more seconds before walking off. I flicked in front of him and pulled my lance out.
"I cannot have you leaving until I know you are not a threat," I said firmly. The armored figure got into a battle stance.
"You would dare raise your lance to the one who taught you how to fight?" he said.
What? No… this can't be! Was this someone from my past who… came from the future in a portal like Marth's?
"Who are you!" I said.
"You have forgotten?" he asked. I sighed slightly.
"… yes… I'm sorry," I said. "Were we friends? Acquaintances?"
"Amnesia. Hmph… our relationship was dynamic and complex. I was your instructor in the lance. If you have forgotten your past, it is for the best," he replied as he started to walk off.
"What was that portal you came from about?" I asked.
"It is nothing," he replied. "Merely a decision I thought I had wisely made. Do not follow me."
He walked off and I stared at the direction he went. I could follow, but based upon what I saw in that last battle, it would be a foolish move to try to stop him. His skill with a sword and his speed and agility was something I was not expecting. Yet, somehow, he taught me the lance? Did he wield both?
I looked back to Leila, the last surviving member of my raiding force. This whole mission has been a disaster. I looked up to the hill, wondering if the scouts were going to help us out if we were attacked again or simply not get involved and report our failure to the Aviary if we fell.
"Raven…" Leila said, her normally confident demeanor uncharacteristically quiet.
"Persevere, Leila," I said calmly, yet firmly. "We can get through this together. I'm going to need you and you're going to need me. Now, more than ever, we have to work together to get back safely."
"Raven, look," she said quietly. I looked at her to see her looking in a direction. I turned quickly to where she was looking to see a monstrosity I had not seen in a long time. It was one of the Risen. Why were they here?
I saw a few armed warriors start to head in our direction just as the Risen before us leaned its head back and unleashed an unearthly screeching roar, sending shivers down our spines.
"Protect the civilians," I heard a commanding voice say. Wait, that voice… it could not possibly be…
"Frederick?" I asked. He quickly stopped and looked at me.
"Raven?" he asked, looking at me as if he saw a ghost.
"Yes! It's me. What… you can't be here! The scouts will report what happens here if you interfere," I said in a slightly panicked tone.
"Do you mean the bandits at the top of that hill?" he asked, pointing to an area.
"If that's where they are hidden, then yes."
"They have already been taken care of. Chrom and a few others are seeing personally to dispatching them," Frederick said.
Wait… if the scouts are gone, then nobody can report to the Aviary what happened here.
"Raven, who are these people? No, more importantly, what is that creature? Those creatures?" Leila asked.
"Creatures?" I asked. I looked to see a whole horde of what looked like hundreds of Risen start making their way toward us. I got into a battle stance and readied myself.
"There is no need to participate, Raven. You have been through an ordeal," Frederick said.
"No, this is the Risen! Frederick, you know full well what they are capable of. You need every capable soldier on the battlefield," I said.
"… although I am wary of allying with a bandit, you do speak words of wisdom," he said.
"Frederick, you should know full well I had no choice in the matter when I joined them," I replied.
"You chose to sacrifice your morals for your life."
"There is no honor in death, Frederick."
He paused for a second as he stared at me with his piercing glare that I was accustomed to him having.
"This can be discussed another time. The Risen take priority."
"Raven! What are these things?" Leila asked again.
"The Risen. A horde of… I don't know what they are, to be honest, but they will kill anything and anyone in their way," I said firmly. "Stay strong, stand strong."
"Who are these people?" she asked.
"Leila!"
I saw Sophia start running over with Chrom, Vaike, and Robin.
"Sophia? Why are you here? Is this the Shepherds?" Leila asked.
"Interesting to think Plegian bandits know who we are," Chrom remarked.
"Chrom, we aren't Plegian bandits," I said. He looked at me and blinked.
"Raven, is that you?"
"For the second time in five minutes, yes it's me. Can we skip the pleasantries until after we deal with the Grimleal and the Risen?" I asked.
"Of course," he replied.
We readied our weapon to see a wave of the Risen coming toward us. I watched Cordelia and Sumia in the air, throwing javelins down at the ground along with a new wyvern rider I didn't know. The Risen either were weaker than I remember from that fateful night that Marth showed up… or I was much stronger and more technically sound than I was then.
Before we could push forward with the rest of the Shepherds, a flock of crows surrounded us. What the heck is going on here?
"Wh-what's that? A storm of crows?" he asked. "Gods, it's upon us!"
"Caw! Caw! Are you folks lost? Or perhaps a lost… caws? Heh ha!"
A voice spoke from within the storm of birds, causing those nearby to stare, despite the threat of the Risen around us.
"Who's there?! Show yourself! I can't see anything through all these damned birds! Shoo! Scat! Away with you!" Chrom shouted as he started swinging at the birds to scare them off. Standing in the middle of the group was a white haired dark mage with a huge grin on his face.
"What's wrong? Caw-strophobic? Nya ha ha! Oh, I slay me," he said.
"Not if these Risen do it first. This is no time for japes! Hide yourself, boy!" Chrom said firmly as he looked around. The rest of the Shepherds were fighting hard, but holding their own. Even Vaike departed to help the frontline, while Sophia and Leila stayed with Chrom, Robin, and I.
"You know, I thought you were all right. Now I can see you're all FREIGHT! Nya ha ha! I'd wish you luck killing these monsters, but… they're already dead!" he said while chuckling to himself.
"We are well aware!" Chrom said in a strained tone of voice, clearly growing irritated by the boy's nonchalant behavior.
"The ravens want to give you a message. They say, 'Caw caw caaw. C-Caw caaaaw!'. Oh, you probably can't speak raven! Roughly translated it means… what was the human word for it? Traipse? Tripe…? Oh, trapped! Right! They say you're trapped," he said.
"We know, dammit! Gods, where did they all come from?" I said in a frustrated tone.
"Well, see, when a mommy zombie and a daddy zombie love each other very much… nya ha ha!"
"Perhaps I should save the Risen trouble and silence you myself," Chrom snapped.
"Hey, wait, I want to join your caaaw-s! I mean, I can help you. I know magic! What do you say? Birds of a feather and all that," he said. Chrom looked at him like he was crazy, before pausing for a second. I rolled my eyes at the birds of a feather line and I noticed Robin did as well.
Old habits die hard, it seems.
"Those robes! You're a Plegian dark mage! Why would you help us?"
"Oh, don't let all the joking fool ya! I've kinda got a thing for killing! Most funny people seem to, you know. The two must be related to each other somehow. Ever talk to a jester when he's off duty? Those guys are some sick dastards," he said.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Henry," he replied with a huge smile. "The birds also tell me to watch out for the forts. If you're nearby when monsters emerge, it could… caw-s quite a stir!" he said with a big smile.
"I'll… keep that in mind," I replied. This guy's part of the Shepherds now? Thanks. I hate it.
We started to make our way forward as the thick waves of Risen started bearing down on us from many angles. We were surrounded, fighting to maintain the space we had, and trying not to get in the way of the others. I saw Donnel fighting with a small steel sword in one hand and a small hand axe in the other. What the heck, when did he learn how to do that? The tinpot sitting on his head was a breath of nostalgia, but that was the only thing familiar about him as his face took on a more serious tone and he was fighting in some pretty good armor. I think he grew a couple inches, too. He was only fifteen when I last saw him, after all.
"Chrom, no! Look out!" I heard Robin call out. I looked up and saw Chrom was slightly separated from the rest of the group, getting swarmed by the Risen. I heard a voice cry out something, but it was too far away to tell. Immediately, Marth burst from the trees, wearing her signature butterfly mask. She flicked out of sight and started fighting alongside Chrom to take down the Risen wielding a rapier. I watched as she struck with clean, technically sound precision and sharp, powerful thrusts. The power that she usually had behind her blows, combined with her technique and accuracy that she seems to have picked up, made her an extremely dangerous rapier wielder. As we fought, we heard a piercingly loud roar and looked to see one of the Risen leaders lumbering toward us.
"Kill… prince… kill… prince… kill… prince…" we heard it growl to itself. We quickly turned our attention as best we could into moving in the direction of the large Risen.
"Gee, I wonder who it could be talkin' about!" Vaike commented aloud.
"This is no time for your jokes, Vaike," Sully growled at him.
"If we kill it, maybe the others will hesitate," I said aloud.
"Your erroneous assumption falsely assumes that the Risen have intelligence of anywhere near our level," Miriel replied.
"Nice to see you too, Miriel," I replied.
"It is neither pleasant nor unpleasant to have your presence again, although it is a comfort of familiarity as well as another opportunity to observe your unique outfit again," she said.
"Temporary as it may be, I am here," I said with a smile.
"Focus!" Leila said to me firmly.
"Right, right, still, if we take out the big one, maybe the other ones will hesitate. If not, at least we take out a larger threat on this battlefield," I reasoned.
"Rational assumption. When we clear enough of the smaller ones, we can attack the larger one without much risk," Miriel said in a firm tone.
"Very well," Frederick said with a nod. When did Miriel get more tactical minded and assertive?
"We make our way to Chrom to save him and Marth and then we take out the leader," Robin said.
"Understood," the rest of the Shepherds said. As the battle raged on and hordes of Risen bodies plagued the battlefield, we made our way toward the area Chrom and Marth were clearing for themselves.
"Chrom!" Cordelia called out, swooping down and striking again and again to make dents in the sea of Risen surrounding us.
"Gods, there's no end to them!"
"That's a damn shame, Shady," Gaius said with a shrug. "Was lookin' forward to you telling us what was it like living with the Flying Bandits for two years."
"You seem to be in good spirits about this. Everyone else seems surprised. Did Marth not tell you all I was still alive?" I asked.
"She knew?" Gaius asked.
"She ran into me a year ago, but I was still under watch from the scouts, so I could not join back," I said.
"She disappeared from the group shortly after you were captured, going on her own personal missions through the countryside. Some say she was looking out for corruption while others said she went about to find the Flying Bandits to avenge you. About a year ago, we all lost contact with her," he said.
"I wonder why she never told any of you…" I mused to myself. I slashed the nearest Risen as I pondered. She was here, so perhaps it was time to confront her once and for all about why she withheld that information. Perhaps she was afraid Elise was going to do something about it?
Where was Elise, anyway?
"It might have something to do with the way Elise had acted after your disappearance. Giving her hope of you being alive could potentially distract her. It was honestly for the best. Knowing you were alive would have caused trouble since we had no way of knowing how to rescue you," Gaius replied.
"Fair enough. Where is Elise, anyway?"
"She's somewhere nearby. Surprised she hasn't tried talking to you yet," he observed. I shrugged in reply. Slowly but surely, the waves of the Risen were dying down and I saw the Shepherds start to push toward the large Risen in the middle of the group.
"Chrom!" Robin called out.
"I know," he replied. The two of them pushed through the Risen and made their way toward the leader type while the rest of us tried to form a wall to protect the two.
"Raven?" Donnel said, finally noticing I was here.
"Hey, Donnel… you going to chew me out, too?" I asked. "It seems fighting to survive by temporarily allying with the bandits isn't going over so well."
"Naw, Raven! I'm happier than a pig'n mud! Everyone's happy to be seein' ya! S'just gonna take time for them all to be adjustin' to you bein' alive and all."
"Somehow, I think it's a bit more complicated than that," I said quietly. "But… thank you, Donnel. You're an axe and sword wielder now?"
"Yessir! Miriel and Tharja both taught me some magic too! They was mentionin' about high battle potential or somethin'."
"Heh, well… glad to see you're growing. Not that scared boy from the village anymore, are you?"
"No, sir! Full-blown Shepherd, courtesy of Chrom himself."
The large Risen made a sound of agony as we saw Chrom, Marth, and Robin make skillful work of the creature in front. Chrom's powerful, yet technical blows were a sight to behold and were so much better than they were when I was captured. Marth… when did you pick up the rapier, and why are you so good with it? What is going on here?
As the large Risen fell, I saw the other Risen stop fighting and start melting into the ground. We all breathed a sigh of relief as the battle ended. Leila ran over to me and hugged me tightly, crying a few tears of joy and excitement.
"Raven, we did it! We did it!" she said. "We… somehow we survived."
"… we have each and every single one of these people to thank," I replied as I motioned to the Shepherds.
"Raven…" Chrom began, but paused.
"I know, Chrom. You're upset that I joined the bandits and I didn't return," I said.
"No. I'm… just glad to see you're alive," he said in reply.
"You forgive me…?" I asked.
"Those bandits on the hill that we fought. They were your spotters, weren't they?" he asked.
"Y-yes. They are designated to not interfere, but to only report what happens. If we had been in a grievous situation, we would perish without their help. They would merely leave after our deaths and report the details to our leader," I said in reply.
"They're gone. There is nobody to report what happened to you," Chrom said. "How do you feel about being a Shepherd again?"
"Truly?" I asked.
"Milord…" Frederick said in a warning tone.
"Frederick, I know what you are about to say and you know what I'm going to say in reply," Chrom said.
"Be as it may, prudence still should be exercised," Frederick said.
"Then… I guess I head back alone," Leila said. I stared at her.
"Wait, Leila," I said to her. Sophia walked up to her and grabbed her by her hand.
"Leila, you cannot go back! You alone know more than any of the others here of the bloodline of the Chosen Ones!"
"Heh, Sophia, you still talk about that?" Leila asked. Chrom looked at the both of them with a curious expression.
"Sophia, do you know this person?" Chrom asked.
"Yes! Leila here is my friend from… before I joined the Shepherds. We were separated after an incident occurred," she explained.
"How are the others?" Leila asked.
"I have not seen any of them since we were separated. Oh, Leila, please do not pursue a return trip to those bandits! Find another life to life," Sophia said.
"What would I do? Even if the spotters are gone, there is nowhere for me to go. I have no choice but to return," Leila said.
"How about with the Shepherds?" Chrom asked.
"Wait, what?" Leila asked, confusion etched across her face.
"Milord, might I suggest you reconsider. We do not know anything about her," Frederick said.
"Raven knows her and Sophia knows her. Raven, would you be willing to rejoin the Shepherds?"
"Me? I… I appreciate the offer, but… I might cause more trouble than it is worth," I replied.
"What kind of trouble?" Chrom asked.
"Nobody has ever left the bandits before. What if they come looking for me… for us?" I asked.
"Then we match them with whatever they bring to us. You were one of us, Raven. You can be again, if you so choose," Chrom said warmly, extending a hand of friendship. I took it and shook it.
"With pleasure and with renewed fervor," I replied. I looked to Leila. "There is nothing to be afraid of, Leila."
"I… yes! Yes, I would!" she said with a smile.
"With that out of the way, Marth… might I have a word? You said something that caught me by surprise," Chrom said.
"What… did I say?" she replied in confusion before taking her mask off.
"When I was attacked, you called me… something that is confusing," Chrom said. Did Marth slip where she came from?
"I… very well," she said. "Over there, if you please. I would prefer to discuss this with you alone first."
Chrom nodded and walked off with Marth.
"Raven…"
I turned to the voice to see Cordelia staring at me, as if she could not believe what she was seeing.
"Cordelia, how the tables have turned," I said to her with a half-hearted smile.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Once upon a time, when you were once dead to us, you came back. Now I have done likewise," I said. She sighed to herself before smiling a bit.
"I… I'm glad to see you alive again," she said. I looked over to where Marth and Chrom were talking.
"Are you fine with those two talking in private?" I asked.
"I trust Chrom," she said, although with some hesitation. I could see the serious looks on their faces. Whatever they were talking about was serious…
"Raven?"
I turned to the voice and saw Elise standing there and a shocked expression on her face.
"Elise, hello… I, um, I'm back."
She said nothing more as she ran toward me and grabbed me in a tight embrace. I hugged her back and the two of us began laughing together.
"You're back… you're back…" she said. Robin walked over as well and I let go of Elise to shake his hand.
"I missed you both. I missed you both quite terribly," I said with a sigh.
"It wasn't the same with you gone, Raven. The Bird Gang needed its Raven to complete the trio," Robin said with a smile.
"You're not upset with me?" I asked.
"Frederick is pretty much alone in his feelings, but we still value his prudence and wariness," Robin said. I nodded in reply. I looked to see Elise wiping her eyes.
"Elise, are you okay?" I asked her carefully.
"Of course I am! I just… am so happy that you are alive and you are back. I never… thought I would see you again," she said.
"Neither did I!" Lissa said, with a smile on her face.
"Hello, Lissa," I said to her. She frowned at me in response.
"I guess the days of me being 'Frog' is over?" she asked.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" I asked. "You will always be Frog to me. Still, it has been two years. Give me a chance to get back in the rhythm of things."
"Ya gota take less time than that," Sully said. "Nice to see ya got back, by the way. We need less meatheaded males in this company. Stinks of macho bravado sometimes."
"The Vaike does not stink of… whatever you said," Vaike said with a frown.
"Yeah, you reek of something else. When was your last bath?" Lissa asked.
"Bath?" Vaike asked. He paused as he scratched his head in thought. "Lemme see. When did we depart from Ferox?"
I saw the group collectively wrinkle their noses in disgust and take an involuntary step backward.
"Reprehensible. I am administering an order that you are not to be within six feet of anyone in this company, lest your offensive odor that you clearly have acquired sheds any negative light upon your personage to any newer recruits. I am also ordering this for the sake of your betrothed," Miriel said.
"Oh, trust me, I can form my own opinion of him without the stench. He is a man, after all," Leila commented with a frown.
"Sully, what did you mean by I need less time to get adjusted?" I asked.
"We're on the brink of war," she replied. I stared at her in surprise.
"War? What? What's going on?" I asked incredulously.
"The captain can fill you in when he returns," Sumia replied.
"Understood," I replied. All of a sudden, I saw a shocked look on Chrom's face as he looked her over. What was going on? Next thing we knew, I saw Marth start crying and he took her in his arms. Wait. Wait. Wait! Chrom! What are you doing? I know you had an interest in Marth before, but Cordelia. She's… right here! She's your wife. What's going on? What's going on!
I looked at Cordelia to see a shocked and slightly frustrated look on her face. Wait, Cordelia… Chrom… what's going on? What have I been missing!
"This must be addressed," Cordelia said sternly as she started walking over.
"Wait, hold on a second!" I said as I quickly started following her alarmingly quick pace.
"Let me help. This does not look like it will easily resolve peacefully," Robin said. I nodded in reply.
"We'll stay here. This seems… more of a personal issue," Gaius said, giving everyone else a look, as if to imply they should stay behind as well. Everyone else nodded in agreement. Robin, Cordelia, and I started walking over to the two. I could see the storm brewing on Cordelia's face.
"He… they…" I heard her say to herself.
"Shh, Cordelia, I'm sure… there is an explanation for this," I said to her reassuringly.
We approached the two and Chrom looked at us. Robin stepped forward tentatively.
"I'm sorry… Chrom?" Robin asked tentatively.
"Hmm? Oh, Robin, what is it?" Chrom asked as he let Marth go. She wiped her eyes before looking at us standing there.
"It's just that… you two are out here alone and Marth is crying. This… is how ill rumors are born," Robin said off-handedly.
"Oh… Chrom, I… I thought we would last," Cordelia said in an uncharacteristically cheerful tone, although I could feel the veiled danger hidden in her voice. Chrom gave her an utterly perplexed expression.
"Cordelia, why are you crying?" Chrom asked.
"It's quite all right! She's beautiful and your happiness should come first… I should just be calm and handle this like an honorable warrior. It's not like I worked so hard for so many years to try to get you to notice me or anything! I can handle this like a mature, young woman. Or I could punch you in your lying, cheating face..." Cordelia said firmly.
"Cheating? Wait…" Chrom said.
"Chrom, look, we all know about the history between you two, but to think that she reciprocated… Marth, you know better than that!" I stated.
"You really had to bring her around me?" Cordelia asked. Chrom's eyes widened as he realized what was being said.
"Oh, no, no! You have the wrong idea," Chrom said hastily. "We should tell them, Lucina."
"Lucina?" I asked. "Lucina! That's her actual name? You named your daughter after the woman you were after? Have you no shame, Chrom!"
Wait a second… the same name as Chrom's child, but from the future… no… no, it can't be.
No! It can't…
"Lucina? This woman you're so intimate with shares a name with our daughter?" Cordelia asked.
"She IS our daughter," Chrom replied. Cordelia took a menacing step forward and I quickly stood in between them and held up a hand.
"Cordelia, take a breath. Please," I said quickly.
"… do you think I'm an idiot?!" Cordelia angrily replied at Chrom, completely ignoring me. I looked at Chrom as the pieces of the puzzle began to come together.
"Wait… no, Chrom, please… that isn't true. That can't be her name…" I said quietly.
"Sir Raven," Marth said sympathetically.
"No, that's a damn lie, and you all know it! She… she couldn't be," I said. There's no way she could be who she claims.
"Raven. You of all people should know the truth. You of all people should know that is the truth," she said. Cordelia looked at me with a curious expression.
"What does she mean, Raven?" she asked.
"Actually, I'm curious as well," Chrom replied.
"Marth… Lucina… she's from the future," I said.
"That's what I figured," Chrom said. "Wait, how did you know? How long have you known?"
"The day you left me and her in the hallway two years ago, I figured it out," I said.
"You never told us. Why?" Chrom asked.
"I didn't want to alter the timeline and I didn't know who her parents were. Lucina, you… you said you grew up with the Shepherds! You said… you said you were my right-hand soldier. You said…"
"I never told you a lie, Sir Raven," she replied firmly. "I did grow up around the Shepherds. You did indeed train me as a child."
"That explains why her technique is so convoluted," Chrom said. "That explains so much. A lance user teaching her sword techniques and fundamentals of combat."
"I can't believe it," Cordelia said.
"Here… look at my left eye," Lucina said. We looked and I saw the Brand of the Exalt… the same symbol that Chrom had.
"That's the Brand," Cordelia said quietly. "The same brand in the same location… but, how?"
"Your baby is right where you left her and perfectly safe. I am her from another time… a time that is yet to be," Lucina said.
"How far into the future?" Chrom asked.
"We lost track of time, but somewhere between fifteen and twenty years," she replied. I rubbed my forehead in frustration with myself.
"Lucina… you're… his daughter. How you were raised… how things happened… I…"
I paused and bit my lip, unsure if I wanted to breach such a topic around Chrom and Cordelia. I felt an immense wave of guilt and hatred for myself in that moment.
"That's… a topic we can discuss later. I know how you feel, Raven, but… this is not something we should discuss in mixed company," she said quietly. Cordelia looked between the both of us.
"Is there something that happened?" she asked.
"That is between Raven and myself," Lucina replied firmly.
"Lucina, I…" Cordelia began. She paused for a second. "I'm sorry for how I treated you when you first arrived."
"Nonsense, mother. You are a soldier and it is your right and your duty to be wary. It's even more important being around someone as overly trusting as father here," she replied.
"Mother…" Cordelia mused aloud.
"Father?" Chrom asked. Lucina gave them both surprised looks.
"I apologize. Should… I call you something else?" she asked.
"No, it just sounds strange right now. I like it," Chrom replied.
"I could get used to that," Cordelia replied with a smile. I frowned slightly and turned to walk away.
"Raven?" Chrom asked.
"Let me talk to him. He's going to need it," I heard Lucina say. No, I don't want to talk to you. I don't want to talk to anyone right now. I walked out of the area to a nearby rock and sat down on it, staring at the ground. I heard her approach me and I threw my lance on the ground in frustration.
"Don't, Lucina. Don't come any closer. I have no right to talk to you. I am no soldier. I am no teacher. I am no friend…" I said in a frustrated tone.
"What's wrong, Raven? Please, talk to me," she replied. I looked up and saw the others were giving us a berth of privacy, thankfully.
"You're Chrom's daughter! The daughter of a man I respect and admire and owe my life to! How could I have raised you so cruelly? What kind of man am I? He trusted me to raise you and I treated you like dirt. I tormented you. I put you through the training of hell. What kind of man does that…? I have no honor or respect. I am the worst…" I said quietly.
"I wondered that about you many times," Lucina replied quietly. "May I?"
"Hm?" I asked. She motioned to the rock. I nodded in reply and she sat down next to me.
"Raven, remember what we talked about two years ago? How I wanted to make sure you didn't end up like him?" she asked.
"… I don't deserve your mercy. I… I understand why you hated me when you first came to this time. I would, too, if I was in your situation."
"Our pasts do not define us, Raven. It is what we do with what we know that shape our character," she replied reassuringly.
"What kind of monster would do that to you?" I asked.
"One who, ultimately, did have our best interests at heart, as twisted as his methods were," she replied. "Not to mention… one who gave his life so that I could live. I sit here with the chance to change you, because you alone stood up to the greatest threat humanity has ever faced. Alone. Without the Fire Emblem or Falchion. You knew you would die. You knew it would be one-sided. Yet, you still gave your life so that I may live. In the end, you redeemed yourself."
"Lucina… El… Marth… a woman of mystery for a reason. You no longer use Falchion?" I asked.
"I was trained in speed and agile movements by you, Raven. I am more comfortable wielding a weapon that reflects that. The style of House Ylisse was never properly taught to me," she replied quietly.
"Lucina, I… I'm sorry. For what it's worth, I know I'm not that man, but I'm still sorry," I said.
"I cannot accept your apology," she replied. I sighed to myself.
"I understand. What was done was reprehensible and unforgivable…" I said.
"You misunderstand, Raven. I cannot accept your apology, because you are not that person. You haven't done anything to me. You have not wronged me. If anything, you have been the complete opposite of the man I grew up knowing. You have shown me kindness when I originally had shown hatred. You showed me compassion and generosity when I gave you nothing but vile loathing. When I insulted and berated you and associated you with him, you replied in kind with equal parts optimism and encouragement. You are not that person, Raven. You… are not that person. You are someone I look up to… someone I respect… someone that I can trust. Someone that I… that I… someone that I admire," she finally said.
"… Lucina, thank you," I replied. "I don't know if I can forgive myself easily knowing what was done to you. It is tough to wrestle with the fact that there is some dark side of me that could have done that to you. I just—"
"Raven, stop. Stop being upset over it. I forgive you. It's time you forgive yourself for a sin you have not even committed. Maybe you have the potential and capacity to commit that sin. I am quite sure there are many here who also have that potential and capacity. What matters, here and now, is that I am here for you. You will not become that person, so stop worrying. I am here. I will help protect the light you have within your soul. Start worrying about the future that we are trying to avoid," she said firmly.
"You're right. You and I… we need to tackle this future and make it right," I said.
"Together, we can make a difference. Just as we did before, we can work together and move forward to a brighter future," she replied. I laughed slightly.
"Your charisma and charm really make you a natural leader," I said warmly. She gave me an odd expression before turning away.
"Th-there's no need to unnecessarily flatter me like that, Raven," she said. "A simple statement would have sufficed."
"Right, right… well, I'm going back to camp. Will you join me?" I asked. I saw her bite her lip, as if unsure of something.
"Actually, Raven… might I ask you for a favor?"
"What is it, Lucina?"
I looked at her as she stared at the ground and curled up on the rock, pulling her knees to her chin.
"Could you… can you stay out here just a little bit longer?" she asked quietly.
"Out here?" I asked back, not sure what she meant. She opened her mouth to say something, but closed it back. She was staring on the ground, fidgeting with her hands slightly.
"Just… stay here. Just for a little longer… with me… on this rock. I just want to talk," she finally said.
"Talk about what?" I asked, confused.
"It's been two years, Raven! Outside of that one time that we both were chasing the same mercenary company, I haven't talked to you in two years. I haven't seen you in two years. You know who I am. You know my past. You know who my parents are. You know everything there is to know about me now. I have no more secrets to hide. I just… I want… I would like to talk to you. As friends... as two people who trust each other. This would be the first time I can be fully open with you about anything and everything and… I want to embrace that moment and enjoy that feeling."
"That feeling?" I asked.
"That feeling of having complete trust in someone. I spent so much time closing myself off and being a leader. Being around you and talking to you, I feel myself loosening up and allowing myself to be a little more open. I… trust you. I want to talk to you. I feel safe around you, Raven. I want to keep that feeling going," she replied.
"I can do that," I replied with a smile. I leaned back on the rock and began staring at the star-covered sky.
"Tell me something, Raven," Lucina said.
"What is it?"
"What's your favorite color?"
"That's an odd question, Lucina."
"I just want to know you a bit better."
"Well, I suppose my favorite color is purple," I said.
… as we lay there, conversing and staring at the stars, I felt a sense of comfort and ease wash over me. In a sense, we were both outcasts to this camp. Although Chrom welcomed us both into the Shepherds, we knew for now we would still be the group's outcasts. The time-traveler and the former bandit, newly recruited members to the Shepherds, finding solace with each other's company for now.
While war looms over the horizon, the true test to rebuild our bonds with everyone in the company begins now…