(23) Support Conversation-Iniabi and Lucina

[Submitted by Squidbagger]

Rank C

In a rustic field, the royal Princess sat facing the red sunset and prayed for the safety of her aunts, mother, father and brother. Lucina was a tall young lady with an innate noble bearing. Her handsome face, brilliant blue eyes with the brand of Naga discoloring her left iris, and navy blue hair cascaded over her shoulders. A golden diadem with dragon engravings served as a tiara of sorts. Her outfit consisted of a dark blue tunic outlined in gold over black pants and dark boots. A navy blue cape with a scarlet lining hung off her shoulders. Her father's blade, the holy sword of Naga hung in a scabbard slung over her shoulder.

A young Mage crept up behind her on soft footfalls. Iniabi sported a broad grin as he snuck up on his beloved aunt. His green eyes glittered with mischief and his normally dark blue hair was nominally dyed black to obscure his identity as a royal to the other Scouts and Shepards. He wore dark grey Mage robes dark boots and a jet black Tactician's cloak gifted to him by his grandmother Robin.

The next thing he knew, Falchion's bladetip was an inch from his throat. Lucina exhaled sharply and groused, "Don't ever do that again Iniabi."

"Darn, I was hoping to sneak up on you." The Mage seemed curiously unafraid. In truth he knew his stern and stoic aunt's façade was masking her true soft core. "I thought I had you too. Your instincts for danger are unmatched, Aunt Lucina."

She grimly sheathed Falchion and nodded. "When you grow up in the shadow of Grima and lose everyone you hold dear and admire, you acquire a sixth sense for trouble." She motioned for him to sit with her atop a nearby rock. "I'm glad you sought me out as I wished to speak with you."

After he sat dowm, Inby plucked up a white flower and traced his gloved finger across the feathery stamens. What would she want to know? His matchmaking? His history? His secret knowledge? His lost Cindy?

"We saved the Exalt yesterday in no small part due your intervention. I am most gratified. If you have knowledge of what is to be, now is the time to share it."

Iniabi shook his head sadly. Growing up in a peaceable alternate future did not give him precognition of what was to be any more than Lucina. "Whatever the stratagems that grandfather Chrom and grandmother Robin are hatching are yet unknown to me."

"I see." She gazed at the Mage with a reflective expression and then turned to face the beautiful sunset. She mused, "By the gods you do look so much like Morgan."

"I inherited my mother's nose and eyes, and my father's chin, eyebrows and hair, Aunt Lucy…I mean Lucina."

The Princess looked a little bashful over the affectionate nickname. "You must have loved her dearly."

"Hmm?" How on earth could she know about his dead wife? Inby was momentarily caught off guard. "Ummm, whom do you mean?"

Lucina flashed a slightly melancholic smile, "The other me. I hope she was always supportive of her favorite nephew."

Inby smiled sincerely at her little joke. Of course he was her only nephew. "She was the best aunt ever."

Lucina sighed as she hated to ruin the happy mood. "So what realm do you really hail from? Chrom said that you're Morgan's boy from the Ruined Future. However, Grima destroyed the world that I abandoned and extinguished all life. There was no way for Morgan to have had you after I departed to the past." Her steely gaze made Iniabi flinch. "You don't come from my future...do you?"

Iniabi solemnly nodded, "I...no, I don't."

"So you hail from an alternate timeline, yes?"

Inby had always jealously guarded his treasure hoard of intel, but he knew that being truthful with his aunt was his only option. Having Lucina fully on board was vital as she could destroy his carefully orchestrated pairings in a single stroke. He sighed as he rued slightly that Lucina had a little too much of Robin's sharp wits. He replied carefully, "I do. In my world, Chrom sealed the Fell dragon before he could destroy the world. Lady Mimika was pardoned by Chrom when he took the throne; however she never formed the Arrowhead Scouts. Alas, dear Emmeryn died during the war with Plegia. After peace was restablished Chrom and Robin had you and Morgan. I came from the union of your brother and the Wyvern Knight Amber. There were no children of the Ruined Future or Kasrin and his Irregulars." He squeezed her shoulder and urged her softly, "Please do not share these details with anyone else except Mimika."

"I remember Lady Mimika well, although doubtless she was vastly different from the warrior that I knew and respected."

"She ruled the Paraglaive domain fairly and generously. I was sad to hear from my father that she never saw fit to marry."

"In that manner she was of a like mind to my friend. Despite her disfigured face, she was a great noble who truly exemplified honor. She never could overlook her tainted blood, alas."

Iniabi chuckled softly, "And Mimika in the present was just as stubborn in matters of love. Too bad for her that lamias like Lilith do not take no for an answer."

Lucina nearly smiled, "Lily always hero-worshiped Mimika from the moment Kasrin first showed her his cameo portrait of her. That Mimi and Lily two have forged an unbreakable bond gives me great joy."

Inby could only hope that Cindy would love him even half as much as that hot-blooded beastkin could adore her lady.

Lucina nodded gravely, "I promise to keep your secret, Iniabi. After all I am still trying to defy fate as you are." She looked reflective, "I have to say that your world sounds lovely. If that was the world I saw instead of Grima's hellfire I would never wish to leave it behind."

"I'm sorry, Aunt Lucina. I just...had to come here."

Lucy blinked as suddenly it occurred to her why he seemed so fixated on her boisterous and loyal Pegasus Knight. Her eyes widened with a shock of insight, "Oh gods, you were in love with Cynthia in your home realm, weren't you?"

Ah, his clever aunt strikes again. He started to wipe at his eyes and sniffled, "Cindy w-was my late wife. I fell apart after she died in battle. All of my family including you sent me here to find her again."

The noble lady pulled her nephew into a tight embrace. "You speak the truth. I'm so sorry to bring up that loss. Call me Aunt Lucy if you would like."

He cried on Lucina's shoulder, "Inby, Aunt Lucy. I'm Inby." It was beyond bizarre to embrace a version of his aunt who was less than half the age of his 'other' aunt. Still her sincerity and warmth were just the same as he remembered.

"Inby. We'll save my father. Please help me atone for my failure."

The golden sun shining on the reunited kin made the scene a perfect memory for both.