Author's Note: Writing that scene last chapter with Lucina and Raven… I had the title screen for Skies of Arcadia on loop and, let me tell you… I was writing on auto-pilot. My fingers were flying across the keyboard and I fell into a weird state where I wasn't even fully conscious of what I was doing. It was like my brain and body were melded and I wasn't even thinking. My body was typing on its own… and when I finished the scene, I felt myself completely emotionally drained, like I was empty inside. I may or may not have choked up as well. I don't know what possessed me when I wrote that scene, but… if you get a chance to re-read that scene with that music in the background, you might understand where I'm coming from.
That was truly an experience that I could not put into words. I wasn't just interpreting how they felt and I wasn't just typing the images that was in my head... but it was like I was Raven himself and I felt what he felt and saw what he saw. When he started to tear up during his hug with Lucina, letting out that part of him inside he held on to for so long, I felt the same way and may have had a very similar reaction. Half of that self-depreciating talk he did about himself… that wasn't planned. I never thought he was that type of character. I never created him to be that kind of character. Yet, as always, when I write, I let my characters write my story for me. I let the conversation flow freely and I just merely write what I'm hearing the characters say. They are their own entities; I merely give them a mouthpiece by which to speak. I let them act, think, and plan as they would. I am not a god of the world as a writer, but am merely the one that translates the images that I see into word form so that everyone to experience what I see in my mind's eye.
Chapter 33
Rondo of Resistance
One more full day of marching lay before us. Chrom informed us that some time mid-day tomorrow, we would be arriving at the shrine of the Voice. I looked over at Lucina and smiled at her. She noticed and smiled back, glowing with the radiance of a ray of sunshine. Our conversation with Chrom and Cordelia last night was fruitful to say the least. It was only fair they knew about what was going on, even if Cordelia seems hesitant about it in the first place.
I hope with every fiber of my being that nothing happens to us in this war. This was not like the Plegian war. We lost Cordelia after just a few battles in there. Could all the Shepherds make it through this war alive? I hope and pray to Naga that they do. They all seemingly survived in Lucina's version of events, but who knows what kind of influence her and the other children are having on this timeline. Nobody is truly safe anymore. We cannot take our future for granted. What was the original course of events and what should we do now that it is forever altered? Could Lucina and the others forgive themselves if someone who didn't originally die ended up perishing in this war?
"Raven, the glimmer of life in your eyes have dimmed. What could be troubling you?" Sophia asked.
"Oh, Sophia, it's… hard to explain," I replied.
"If one but merely speaks the words that their heart yearns to express, another who has listened to the ails and aches of many souls can do her best to interpret the intention. You have supported me on numerous occasions, Raven. Allow this maiden to do what she can in return."
"You know about the origin of Lucina and certain other recruits, correct?"
"She, as well as Inigo and Owain and a few others, have travelled from the future in a bold quest to alter history and reverse the course of events that lead to numerous currently untold calamities. I can respect her initiative and determination, motivated by the pure desire to help humanity overcome its darkest hours."
"She mentioned that nobody in the Shepherds died in this war. What if one of them dies thanks to their very presence here altering the past?"
Sophia stared at me for a second before pausing and thinking to herself. It seemed that the longer she thought about it, the more worried her face became. I started to worry a little bit. It was almost as if she was assuming the worst.
"She did also mention they all died at the hands of the leader of the Risen or to one of his minions, correct?"
"Yes, that is true."
"Even if one of the Shepherds died in this war, if ultimately the rest of the Shepherds and the rest of humanity were spared of their grim fate, would that not be something to celebrate?"
"You are saying it's a sacrifice you're willing to make, Sophia?"
"Please do not misunderstand me, Raven. I would mourn the loss of that Shepherd as much as the rest of us would, but I feel that particular individual would have no regrets in losing their life if the presence of these children caused enough ripples through time to prevent the most terrible of fates from occurring."
"… that is true."
"If someone were to fall in this war, it is the responsibility of those who survived to honor the memory of the ones who gave themselves for this cause. True, it may not be a heroic sacrifice if they did not give their life in some heroic fashion but rather a byproduct of time alteration in a random battle. However, they deserve the honor all the same. The concept of changing time is fickle and foreign… after all, time is as temperamental as nature and equally as dangerous," Sophia said.
"Hm… Sophia, that's… that's…"
What do you even say to that? It's the right way of thinking, but… in the end, I still hope that nobody loses their life in this war.
I looked up to see Lucina making her way over to us. There was a look of confusion and concern in her face and I immediately started preparing for the worst case scenario.
"Greetings, fair maiden. Is there something you wish to discuss with us?" Sophia asked.
"Raven, Sophia, we are making a small detour," Lucina replied.
"Detour?" I asked.
"There are Valmese forces nearby. A large battalion are apparently making their way toward a nearby fort in an attempt to stamp out a pocket of resistance forces that have holed themselves up there. We are to defeat this battalion and assist the rebels," Lucina explained. I nodded in response.
"How long until we get there?" I asked.
"Two hours at most," she replied.
"Wow, that's actually… pretty close."
"Sophia, Chrom wishes to speak with you regarding your abilities and some battle tactics," Lucina said.
"Very well. I shall be there shortly. Raven, thank you for trusting me with that," she said before giving me a wave and departing. Lucina gave me a slightly perplexed expression.
"What did she mean by that?" Lucina asked.
"Oh, nothing. There was something bothering me and we talked it out," I replied.
"… did you feel I would be inadequate in helping you with your troubles?" Lucina asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"N-no, Lucina. I just… it was about you," I said.
"Me? What could you be asking her that had to do with me?"
"Nothing. It was just… I needed someone's perspective on something," I said.
"I… I trust you, Raven. I hope one day you can share with me such a discussion," she replied.
"How about after this battle? We can sit down and discuss what was talked about. Just promise me not to think too hard on it."
"When you put it that way, it seems rather ominous. Still… I trust you, Raven."
"Thank you, Lucina…"
I sighed to myself. How would she take such a topic? She already was having some self-doubt about her impact of coming back through time. How much worse could it be if she was plagued with the thought her presence could inadvertently kill someone who did not die before?
"You two look like you could use a little pick-me-up."
Lucina and I looked up to see Nicolette standing nearby. Were we so engaged in our conversation that we failed to notice the quirky dual-wielding bakery girl just come straight up to us?
"Oh, hello there," I said. She sighed to herself and held out what looked like two lumps wrapped in cloth.
"For the two of you," she said, although I noticed she was not looking directly into our eyes, almost as if nervous. Lucina and I took the gifts and unwrapped them. Inside both was a large chocolate turnover.
"O-oh, thank you," I said to her, smiling at her. She smiled back at me warmly and I felt a little uncomfortable. There was something familiar about her, but I just couldn't put my finger on it.
"Yes, thank you very much," Lucina said, scrutinizing the young lady before us. "May I ask you a question?"
"Sure thing!" she replied.
"Are you related to Raven here?" Lucina asked. She gave a shocked look.
"Me? Related to him?" she asked.
"You have many similar features," Lucina remarked. "Similar face, same hair color, even almost the same height."
"Actually, to be honest, the thought had occurred to me when I first met her in the bakery years ago. Still, she said she lived in Ylisstol all her life and I'm pretty sure I'm not from there," I said.
"Still, she looks like she could be a family member," Lucina replied.
"Oh, really? Y-you think I could be related to him?" Nicolette said. I thought about it for a second.
"I think she actually looks more like you," I remarked. The both of them looked at me.
"How so?" Lucina asked.
"She has your blue eyes, your long, thick hair… even has it styled similarly to you," I said.
"Still, she could be your sister and you would never know it," Lucina said.
"U-um, excuse me, I'm afraid you have it all wrong. I am not Raven's sister… nor am I Lucina's," Nicolette said quietly, fidgeting with her fingers anxiously.
"A cousin?" I asked.
"No, I am not," she quietly replied. Lucina sighed to herself.
"Perhaps we are making more of this than we should. It just seemed like it would have been a nice lead to finding Raven's identity prior to his memory loss," Lucina explained.
"Please don't misinterpret me! I understand! I truly do! It must be terrible to not know who you are! I wish I could be more help. Still, you have each other. Regardless of your pasts, you have your futures to look forward to. Make some new memories! You can start with looking forward to the next few minutes with your chocolate turnovers," she said with a smile. I laughed to myself slightly.
"Thank you, Nicolette. That really means a lot to me," I said.
"To me as well," Lucina added.
"Good! Now let's get ready to kick some Valmese tail and save these rebels," she said enthusiastically.
"… 'kick Valmese tail'? What an odd phrase. You sure have a unique way of putting that," Lucina remarked.
"A habit and mannerism I picked up from my father…" she replied, although I saw for a brief second a small cloud of darkness hanging over her. For some reason, she seemed very guarded and uncharacteristically moody when talking about or thinking about her parents. I wonder what could've happened there? She did mention they passed when she was young but that she honored both of their fighting styles through her own.
I took a bite into my own turnover. Oh my goodness, yes! What a delectable and sweet delicacy! I looked at Lucina to see her eating her turnover with a calm, peaceful look on her face.
"That's it! You two look much better now. I'll be on my way now! I'm sure there's someone else I can cheer up around here," Nicolette said.
"Wait, I have a question for you," I said.
"Yes?"
"You know Sophia and Leila, right?" I asked. She paused and looked back at me.
"Yes. Why?" she asked.
"Who else was in your little group?" I asked.
"I… can't say," she replied.
"Why are all of you so secretive? Sophia talks about everything so freely, except for her past and how you all know each other. She even let slip that Leila's name is just a cover," I said.
"Did she do that? That doesn't surprise me in the least bit," Nicolette replied.
"What's your name, then?" I asked.
"You know my name," she replied.
"What's your actual name?" I asked again, clarifying.
"… that is my actual name. I didn't bother with their silly plan of using nicknames. I'm proud of my name and who I am. This is the name my parents gave me. I wear my identity with pride. I am proud of who my parents were and what they did for me. I have no interest in engaging in such frivolities. They wanted me to take a name like 'Nino', but I firmly declined. I will carve this path my way," she said firmly. I took an unconscious step back. This personality change was a stark contrast to the somewhat innocent and cheerful bakery girl I had come to know. I wonder if Noire gave her that pendant.
"What were your parents like?" Lucina asked. Nicolette started staring at the ground.
"I wish I could tell you, but they died when I was a child. They started training me at a young age with the ideal that I should be a person that could defend myself and my friends if necessary. But… I was too young for them to really talk to me on a more personal level. They were my parents, but I only remember them as loving, doting figures who were always happy in the company of each other. I never got to know who they truly were as people," she replied quietly.
"I'm… sorry," I said with a sigh. She smiled at me in response.
"It's fine. They gave me a purpose in life and I plan to stick by that purpose," she replied.
"… so, that's your actual name. I assume you cannot tell me Sophia or Leila's actual names?" I asked.
"Absolutely not."
"Is there a reason why you three are so secretive?" I asked.
"If I told you the reason, it wouldn't be a secret anymore," she replied with a smirk.
"Fine, then. Keep your secrets," I replied with a laugh.
"Raven…" Lucina said to me.
"Sorry, sorry… I just wish I could help more," I replied.
"That's what I admire about you," Lucina said. "But, you have to understand some people want to work through their issues on their own. Sometimes, there comes a time where you have to step back and let people work through things through their own power."
"Exactly! I mean, I really appreciate it, Raven. In the end, though, this is an undertaking that the five of us took together and we plan on working together and seeing it through to the end," Nicolette said.
"Five of you? There's two more?" I asked. She paused for a second and sighed.
"I said too much," she merely replied.
"You should go to your friends. The three of you will have much to discuss as we head toward saving these rebels," Lucina said encouragingly. She smiled at Lucina, her seemingly cheerful side returning.
"Thank you. I will talk to you both soon!" she said cheerfully before heading out.
"She's a quirky one," I said.
"All three of them are," Lucina replied.
"Sophia's really got this head in a clouds feel, Leila is awkward around girls and extremely strong, and now we got a dual wielder who fights using several different styles of swordplay as she sees fit and seems obsessed with making everyone around her happy. I wonder what the other two are like?" I asked.
"So long as they do not pose a threat and help us out in our quest to stop Walhart, then I have no problem with them," Lucina replied.
"You don't know if they pose a threat?" I asked.
"No, why?"
"… are they not from the future you come from? Have you never heard of them before?"
Lucina paused for a second and thought to herself.
"I never gave it much thought. I just assumed they were random people helping father out as part of the Shepherds who either left for personal reasons or died. They were never mentioned in the stories of the Shepherds," Lucina replied.
"If they died, would they not be in the graveyard? You said it yourself that Gaius was one of the first Shepherds to die in your time," I said.
"Perhaps. My memory is slightly hazy. Why are you so concerned?" she asked.
"Their presence here is not what you remember. Do you not find that odd? Perhaps your presence in this group is the reason they are here? Perhaps they are here because you changed something in one of us and we inspired them to join? Every single anomaly within the flow of time has to be investigated and understood, Lucina. If we are to have a hand in altering the course of the future, we have to monitor the changes we make to what was established before," I said. She thought to herself.
"You would… have made a great person to come back in time with us with that sort of attitude and thought process," Lucina conceded. "I never knew you to be so analytical. If only you had not fallen in the battle with Grima…"
"Grima?" I asked. She paused and looked at me.
"The fell dragon? The leader of the Risen?"
"Oh, you've… never said the name before," I said. She sighed.
"I don't like thinking of that mythological abomination," Lucina said.
"Fair enough," I replied. "You have been through so much at their hands, after all."
"Yet, it is through all that trouble that I managed to come back in time and meet you," she said.
"Ever the optimist," I replied with a chuckle.
"With you by my side to give me strength, I feel I can accomplish so much more."
"Oh, Lucina, you flatter me."
"That was my intention, Raven."
"… heh, you spoil me. I'm glad I could inspire this within you," I said. She looked at me with a confused look.
"What do you mean?"
"We once talked… that you wanted to know what it was like to not just survive, but to live. You once also said you wanted to feel what it was like to be a girl, not just a leader. This is your chance and your opportunity, Lucina, and you choose to make the most of it. I couldn't be prouder of you. Most would wallow in misery, but you choose to look forward with a smile… a smile that I could never get tired of looking at, if I might say so myself," I said. She blushed slightly.
"Raven, please, I… don't know how to feel about such comments," she said awkwardly.
"Take them and accept them, Lucina. Embrace the good within you," I said. She nodded in reply.
"I understand, Raven."
We continued our conversation as we made our way to where we were told the Valm forces were. As we approached, we saw a fort ahead under siege by a decent sized mass of troops. They were attempting to siege what we assumed to be rebels in the fort ahead. Although it appeared the rebels were holding out, we could see a few of the Valmese troops managed to place ladders and start to scale the walls.
"Shepherds! Ylisseans! Feroxi! Move out!" Chrom called out. We all pulled out our weapons and led the charge forward with a roar. I could see the Valm troops turn to us in surprise, not expecting to be caught in a pincer between a fort and a mass of soldiers running toward them. I heard battle horns pierce the air from the Valmese troop in front of us as half of their frontline split off to form a front against our forces. With their attention divided, it made their frontline look relatively easy to go into. Our archers were soon poking their already weakened frontline at a distance, eliminating or injuring many of the enemy troops before our lines ever clashed.
I dashed forward as the chaotic battle ensued, moving with my usual graceful precision all over the battlefield, interrupting any duels with a well-placed blow from my lance to any unsuspecting Valmese soldier. I looked to see Donnel was dashing around the battlefield with almost as much speed, although with far less grace. I could see him slashing with his sword while casting fireballs at further away targets. I saw Elise on the frontlines with her spear in her hand, moving even more elegantly than I was, seemingly dodging all attacks coming toward her as if the enemy soldiers were trying to stab water.
I looked over to see Leila just basically swinging a large sword with both hands, cutting a bloody swath behind her as the sheer force of many of her blows were enough to either pierce the armor of the soldiers or violently throw them to the side for someone else to finish. Sophia was casting a string of spells over and over and I could only marvel at the speed and accuracy she had. Speaking of speed and accuracy, Noire was shooting enemies with absolute technical precision on each of her targets, wasting no arrows on non-critical shots. I could see her in her rather terrorizing persona, but I noticed the pendant was missing. Was she tapping into her inner strength without it?
Inigo and Owain were both flying around the frontline, doing so much damage on distracted enemies. Really, we were just completely dominating this battle. Lucina was flitting around the battlefield with her rapier, thrusting it clean into the weak spots of the armor of her opponents in an elegant dance of death. Her strength may not have diminished, but to apply and focus that strength with the absolute concentration necessary to pierce the vital weak points was morbidly fascinating.
I dodged a blow from an axe wielder and thrust right into his chestplate, piercing a dent in his armor from a previous blow and plunging straight into his chest. I kicked him hard, pulling my lance out and sending him backward. Using the momentum I had from pulling back, I spun around and thrust with all my might at the side of another soldier that was engaged with Nicolette. The soldier dropped his weapon and grabbed at his side before she thrust both blades into his visor. I saw a look of absolute determination and anger on her face and paused for a second. This was nothing like the girl from the bakery. Who was this person that could kill soldiers on the battlefield so easily? She definitely was no bakery girl, that's for sure…
Really, if the rest of the Valmese forces were as easily to deal with as these, then maybe there was hope after all. Numbers don't really mean much if the common soldier was only marginally better than the bandits we faced in Ylisse and Plegia. Were the Valmese soldiers really this woefully trained? Did they not believe in their leader? Were we simply out of practice on the ship ride up when we struggled or were they more of an elite force than this one was?
I saw a few more of the rebels in the fort start emerging from the buttresses and saw the archers and mages provide cover fire into the Valmese soldiers around us. This was over the moment the Valmese soldiers were pincered and everyone knew it. I heard a horn ring through the battlefield from what seemed to be the Valmese commander. At least, I assumed so since I saw the Valmese soldiers all stop, drop their weapons, and raise both hands. Was this their sign of surrender?
"Raven, that was… far too simple," Chrom said. I didn't even notice he was nearby. I saw a Feroxi soldier run up toward us.
"Sir, the leader of the opposing troops wishes to speak to you," the Feroxi troop said.
"Send him over," Chrom replied. I soon saw a Valmese soldier make his way over to Chrom.
"You are the leader of these troops?" he asked.
"I am," Chrom replied.
"Understood. I am here to negotiate a surrender. I do not wish to see my entire force killed in this conflict and I am not fool enough to believe this battle winnable," he said. Chrom nodded in reply.
"We will accept your surrender. I will defer to the details and negotiations to Khan Basilio and Khan Flavia," Chrom replied.
"Us?" Khan Flavia asked.
"You two have more experience in the art of negotiating strictly, yet fairly," Chrom replied. "I am not foolish enough to think that someone as young as myself has more experience and knowledge in a leadership role than you two combined."
"Understood. Well put, Chrom. Now, if you could come with us to the tent," Khan Basilio said as he led the enemy commander away. Chrom motioned for me to come over to him. I nodded in understanding and walked over to him.
"Raven, will you accompany me and a few others? I would like to talk to these rebels and their leader. It would be a huge boon to add them to the forces we already have. Perhaps they can give us some additional insight on how best to maneuver this nation," Chrom said. I nodded in reply.
"Who are you bringing?" I asked.
"Frederick, Robin, Lissa, Lucina, Cordelia, you… anyone else?" Chrom asked. I thought to myself.
"Let's bring Sophia as well. It would do us good to make a note of whether she can use her unique magic inside the castle, just in the off chance we pass through here again," I said.
"Good idea," Chrom replied. "I shall summon those members together to depart in ten minutes."
"I will be here, waiting for everyone," I replied.
"Very good."
Less than ten minutes later, our little group made our way toward the fort's entrance. Upon seeing that we were friendly, the rebels lowered the drawbridge over the moat and raised the portcullis.
"Impressive defenses for just a fort," Frederick remarked.
"No wonder the rebels took refuge here," Robin mused aloud. "This fort is a defensive dream and an offensive nightmare. A small force could easily hold a fort like this against a force like the one we defeated."
"Let's just hope they're friendly," Lissa remarked.
"I'm sure they are. Any enemy of Walhart's is a friend of ours," I said.
"An idealistic, black and white view of the world can only get you so far. It would do you well to have an open mind and not pre-assign qualities to a person that they did not yet deserve," Frederick said in a warning tone.
"Indeed. I would still stay wary of these rebels. We do not know why they are fighting Walhart. It would do us no good to invite a rival conqueror into our group," Cordelia said.
"The stars have aligned to tell us that this would not be the case," Sophia said aloud. We all consciously and collectively chose to not acknowledge that statement. It was just one of her many mysterious Sophia-isms, after all.
We saw one of the rebels greet us in the hallway.
"Greetings, sir! It brings me great honor to welcome you here. Thank you for protecting us from what could have been potentially a disastrous, drawn-out battle," the rebel said.
"It is our pleasure to assist any and all Valmese who wish to engage against Walhart," Chrom replied with a smile.
"Truly, that brings me great joy to hear. Would you like to speak to our commander?" he asked.
"I would, indeed," Chrom replied. The rebel paused for a second before turning to us.
"I wish to warn you ahead of time that our commander… is new to her position," the soldier said.
"How new is she?" Chrom asked.
"Our previous commander perished a few hours ago from an arrow shot by one of those Valmese soldiers. We will be holding a funeral for him, as well as all others who have fallen in this battle," he said.
"Oh… gods, I'm sorry," Chrom said in a sympathetic tone.
"It is fine. We all understood the risks we were undertaking, after all," he replied.
"I hope your commander will help us," Chrom said. The soldier looked at us and smiled.
"Sir, you are fighting to help save our land. I can see no reason why she wouldn't," he replied. "If you would follow me."
The soldier led us through the fort to a door on the first floor. He knocked on the door twice and paused.
"What is it?" I heard a voice snap from inside. It sounded strangely familiar, but I could not put my finger on it.
"The leader of the forces that assisted us are here to speak with you, commander," the soldier replied.
"… fine. After this, though, we need to elect a new commander."
Chrom and I exchanged a look. This might prove to be more difficult than we had anticipated. The soldier nodded to us and opened the door. We walked into the room and I couldn't help but let out a gasp.
"Selena?" I asked. Mass of red hair sitting in pigtails. A perpetual pout settled on her face. The aura of annoyance bearing down upon us. There could be no mistaking this was her.
"Oh, gods, it's you," she said to me in disgust.
"You're here?" Lucina asked.
"Oh, there you are! I was wondering when you and everyone else were going to show up! Holding against those Valmese soldiers wasn't easy, you know! Gods, I was beginning to think you forgot why we were here in the first place," she lectured.
"Wait, Selena… oh! You were helping us as far back as the night of the assassination attempt," Chrom said.
"Oh good, you remember that night. Guess I don't have to explain that I'm… acquainted to Marth here."
"Marth? Oh! You mean, Lucina?" Cordelia asked. I could see Selena frown at Lucina.
"You told them? You actually told them?" she said reproachfully.
"I couldn't help it anymore! I slipped to father who I was and…" Lucina said before trailing off. Selena started rubbing her forehead in frustration.
"Gods, Lucy, sometimes I wonder where your head is sometimes," she said.
"Um, if you know who Lucina is, then that means…" I began.
"Yeah, yeah, I know who she is, too. She told you who I was on that stupid quest for the Aum Staff, remember?" she asked. I paused as the lines of thought connected.
"Lucina told me that you were the daughter of… oh… wait… wait!" I said.
"What is it?" Cordelia asked.
"This is, uh… I forgot your actual name," I said. Lucina frowned at me.
"Raven, you're going to forget my sister's name?" Lucina asked.
"Sister?" Cordelia asked.
"Wait, you're Severa?" Chrom asked.
"Last I checked, that was the name you gave me," Severa curtly replied. I rolled my eyes. Two years later and still with the same attitude.
"What are you doing in Valm?" Lucina asked.
"Well, while someone was taking their sweet time having fun gallivanting around the Ylissean countryside chasing bandits and doing Naga knows what, I decided it would be far more productive to come to Valm and attempt to start softening up the Valmese forces for the upcoming war. I've been putting spies and informants in various parts of Walhart's forces," Severa said. Lucina hung her head guiltily.
"I'm sorry, Sev. You should've had my assistance there," Lucina said. I noticed Severa's face soften slightly.
"It's fine, Lucy. You're doing your best. You always have. I could never accuse you of not trying. It's more than I can say of some of the others who came with us. Accusing you of not being productive, on the other hand…"
"We're here now," Cordelia said hesitantly, unsure of how to speak. It must've been hard enough to talk to Lucina, but to talk to someone as abrasive and headstrong as Severa here? That would be a whole other problem to cope with and learn to deal with.
"Yes, I can see that. Ahead of schedule even," Severa replied.
"Ahead of schedule?" Lucina asked.
"… did you not pay attention in your historical studies? The first victory by the united Ylissean and Feroxi front against the Valmese forces was supposed to happen two days from now, not today. Things are already progressing faster and smoother than we once knew," Severa said.
"No, Sev, you know I wasn't there for history class," Lucina replied.
"Oh, of course, how could I ever forget? You were spending all your time with Sir Psychopath doing nothing but training with an obsessive compulsion," Severa chided. "You know, it wouldn't have hurt you to have studied a bit more. In fact, it would have hurt far less."
"Sir Psychopath?" Chrom asked. Lucina gave him a look and shook her head. Severa made a sound of annoyance upon seeing Lucina trying to head Chrom off.
"Oh, what, you're defending him even now? Go on, Lucina. Tell these two what kind of man raised us in the future. Tell the whole truth of the person who—"
"Enough, Severa! That was then and this is now," Lucina said forcefully. Severa stopped with a shocked expression on her face.
"What is wrong with you! You, more than any of us, were full of bitterness and resentment before we came back!" she half-shouted in frustration.
"What do you mean what is wrong with me? You have no right to spout out such irrelevant nonsense! What happened in our past stays there! We are here to change this world's future so that our past does not happen again. We have to be the light of hope that shines bright to eliminate the darkness that could come," Lucina said firmly.
"Hmph, fine," Severa said, conceding the point. The door opened and one of the rebels walked in. He… looked funny, wearing that large hat on his head.
"R-Report, commander," he said. I noticed a hand axe strapped to his back.
"How is it, Yarne?" she asked.
"Th-three casualties from the upper floor," the young man named Yarne said.
"Hm, could have been much worse. We were under heavy fire from their archers and mages before this group showed up," Severa mused aloud. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm f-fine," he said. "I s-stood my ground out there, braving the potential f-fate of extinction."
"That's all I needed from you. Thank you for staying your ground. Good job," she said with a small, encouraging smile. Before he could reply, another rebel walked into the room. She, too, was wearing a weird hat on her head. I saw she also was wearing a hand axe, but she also was carrying a javelin on her back as well.
"Report from the bottom floors. One casualty," she said.
"That's good. We will honor the fallen when we get a chance. Something that my so-called teacher earlier in life never seemed to do," Severa said pointedly, looking directly at me. Lucina sighed to herself.
"Who a-are these people?" Yarne asked.
"They are the Shepherds, representing the united forces of Ylisse and Regna Ferox. We will be joining them in the war against Walhart," Severa said. Chrom nodded in reply.
"It will be an honor working with you, Yarne," Chrom said.
"The p-pleasure is mine," Yarne replied. Chrom turned to the female working under Severa.
"I'm afraid I didn't have the honor of learning your name," he said.
"Nah," she replied. Cordelia frowned at the girl.
"We only wanted to know your name," Cordelia said. The girl sighed in frustration and annoyance.
"No, that's my name. Nah. N-A-H," she said. Cordelia made a sound that was a cross between surprise and confusion. Who names their kid that? Who has such a quirky sense of naming conventions that they tormented their poor child with such a confusing name?
"Er, okay…" Chrom replied, unsure how to react to that.
"It is fine. Everyone always gets confused at first," Nah replied.
A shorter girl with light hair wrapped in a huge bun walked into the room.
"Everyone injured has been healed, sir! Er, ma'am!" she declared brightly.
"Thank you," Severa replied. Sophia gasped audibly when she saw who walked into the room.
"Callie?" Sophia said.
"Oh, hi there, Ophelia! Fancy seeing you here! Told you we'd run into each other again!" Callie replied with a huge smile. Sophia made a sputtering sound to herself.
"Ophelia?" Cordelia inquired with a raised eyebrow.
"Your name's Ophelia?" I asked aloud as well. Sophia hung her head with an unreadable expression on her face.
"I'm Sophia. Sophia! Couldn't you have remembered that?" she said in a frustrated tone toward Callie. I felt a little nervous. This was the first time I've actually seen her display any sort of strong, negative emotion.
"Oh, right! We're using nicknames!"
"It's fine…" Sophia replied with a sigh. Chrom gave her a skeptical expression.
"Sophia isn't your actual name?" Chrom asked.
"No, sir, it is not," she replied. She was caught and she knew it.
"When we have a moment, might I have a word with you?" Chrom asked. Sophia sighed again and nodded in reply.
"I knew this would happen someday. I will talk with you about it, Chrom, but only to you," Sophia replied firmly.
"I would… feel better if Robin and Raven were there with me as well," Chrom said. Sophia paled slightly for some reason.
"No! Please, Chrom, not them. If you feel unsafe being alone with me, you can bring Cordelia along," Sophia said. What is going on? Why not Robin and I? What happened to her dreamy speech pattern? Is she that startled at having her name come out?
"Just Cordelia? I would feel comfortable with Lucina as well," Chrom replied. Sophia shook her head in reply.
"… how about Frederick?" Sophia said. Chrom raised an eyebrow.
"You're avoiding specific people for a reason, aren't you?" Chrom asked.
"Yes, I have reasons for that…"
"Very well," Chrom replied. "We will have this talk when we get back to camp. I would like you to bring Leila and Nicolette as well, since they seem to be involved."
"Wait, Nikki and Soleil are here too?" Callie asked.
"Callie! Her name is Leila! Oh, gods, nevermind," Sophia said with a sigh.
"Sorry! Anyway, can I come too? I'm with her!" Callie said.
"Yes, you can. It would help to have everyone involved… um… sorry, I forgot your name," Chrom replied.
"Kana!" she replied with a big smile.
"Your name is Cal—oh, forget about it…" Sophia said.
"Huh… Ophelia…" I mused aloud. She frowned at me.
"Raven, I would appreciate it if you didn't call me that in public," she said firmly.
"You prefer me to call you Sophia?" I asked.
"Yes. Although… I must admit… it feels relieving and warming to hear you use the name I was given. One day, I would like for us to speak freely with each other. Until then, though, I must ask you to use the names we gave you," she said.
"Why?" I asked.
"I… cannot tell you," she replied.
"… but you can tell Chrom?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"… I'm involved somehow, aren't I? Me and Robin and Lucina are somehow involved?" I asked.
"Raven, please… just trust me for now. Trust Chrom with whatever he chooses to tell you after him and I talk," Sophia said.
"Very well," I replied with a sigh. "I really want to know why I'm not allowed to know, but I suppose everything will be revealed in due time."
"For what little it may be worth in your eyes, Raven, I truly am sorry for this. A maiden should always be pure and honest… and I seem to be doing a terrible job doing that in an attempt to keep our secret safe," Sophia replied.
"Excuse me, if you all are finished, I would like to get this group organized and ready to assimilate into the Ylissean army. We should be ready tomorrow to depart with you," Severa said impatiently.
"Yes, yes, of course," Chrom replied. "By your leave, commander."
"I… you don't have to be so formal with me," Severa said quietly.
"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" Chrom asked.
"I said you don't have to be so formal with me! Gods, you aren't just Lucy's parents, you know! I'm your daughter too!" Severa half-shouted. Lucina sighed to herself.
"Sev, please, give it some time to sink in," Lucina said reassuringly.
"Sorry. It's just… you've been with father and mother all this time and I've been trying to get things organized. I wanted to spend time with them too, you know… I wanted to get to know them better…" Severa said.
"Tomorrow, when your group joins us, would you like to spend some time with Cordelia and I?" Chrom asked.
"I… yes," Severa merely replied. Chrom nodded in response.
"Very well. Tomorrow it is. I would be honored to get to know you better, Severa. For now, Sophia… Callie… I would like you to come with me back to the group. We will camp here tonight. I wish to have a word with you two, as well as Nicolette and Leila," Chrom said. Sophia nodded in understanding.
"I will fetch them when we return," Sophia replied.
"Lady Cordelia and I will accompany you, milord," Frederick said. Chrom nodded in reply.
"I will return with you as well. Allow me to oversee everything in camp being put up swiftly and smoothly," Robin said. I nodded to him.
"Then I will—"
"I would like a word with you, Sir Raven," Severa sternly said, cutting me off. Chrom gave me a look and nodded.
"Very well. Chrom, I will be catching up with you later," I said.
"Lucy, you too. I would like to talk to you as well," Severa added.
"Well, I guess I'll just go back with Robbey then! Four eyes are better than two in helping set up camp, after all!" Lissa remarked.
"Unless you're Miriel," Chrom remarked. We all paused and looked at him. Severa snorted to herself in what seemed to be an attempt to restrain laughter. Chrom looked back at us.
"Wow, Chrom, I would never have expected that out of you," I said.
"Raven, you weren't there the one time Miriel was assigned to oversee camp being put up. I would rather put you on kitchen duty before leaving that to her again," Chrom said.
"Oh, that—wait, what?" I replied. "What is wrong with my cooking? Can someone please finally explain what's wrong with my cooking?"
"Nothing… so long as you're making beef stew. Everything else… well… Raven, look, I am the leader here and I need to look out for the health and well-being of my troops. I mean, I know you're honestly trying and I appreciate that, but—"
"Father, please, stop. You're digging yourself a deeper hole with every word," Lucina remarked. "It is an unfortunate habit you seem to have."
"Ooh, Lucina comes to Raven's defense. What a twist… or is it?" Lissa said with a glint in her eye. I rolled my eyes.
"Lissa, go talk to Gaius about the betting pool or something," I replied.
"Wait, you know about that?" Robin asked. I gaped at him.
"You knew?" I asked.
"I had a significant portion of gold put into that," Robin replied.
"Betting pool?" Chrom asked.
"Nothing, Chrom. I'm sure Robin would love to explain this on the way back to camp," I said bitterly.
"On the contrary, I would prefer not to. There is no tactical way to explain that situation to Chrom in a positive way," Robin replied with a smirk.
"It would be much better if Chrom didn't know at all! Still, the fact our gold has been in limbo for this long…" Lissa remarked.
"I hate all of you… I hope you lost all your gold," I said.
"On the contrary… I have you to thank for my new gold supply. Perhaps I should buy you dinner when we return to Ylisstol. I feel like you deserve a steak and a bottle of wine. That is, if I could have Lucina's permission."
"Oh, ha, Robin, very funny," I replied sarcastically. Lucina started blushing furiously to herself while Chrom looked at everyone with a confused expression.
"In any case, we will see you back in camp. Robin, might we have a word on the way back about this betting pool," Chrom said as him and Robin left the room.
"Let Yarne and I start organizing the troops," Nah said.
"Very well. I trust you two to take care of everyone," Severa replied.
Everyone departed with the exception of Lucina and I. We stood there awkwardly quiet while the glaring gaze of Severa came over us.
"What is it you wanted to talk about?" Lucina asked quietly.
"You two. You two seem very friendly," Severa pointed out. "Last I saw you, Lucy, there was an unfathomable well of hatred and loathing for him, although it was beginning to disappear on our quest for the Aum Staff. What happened?"
"We got to know each other better," Lucina replied. Severa rolled her eyes.
"Lucy, you do that when you're trying to hide something."
"I… am hiding nothing," Lucina replied.
"What, next thing I know, you're going to say that you two are actually friends? Just the thought of that makes my skin crawl. Gods, even seeing you two stand so close to each other…"
"W-well, we are friends… and more," Lucina said. I sighed to myself. Read the room, Lucina. You just threw a torch on a barrel of oil right there.
"More? More?! Like best friends? What do you two do? Have dinner together at the same table while you swap stories of your horrible training sessions? Chat into the late hours of the night while you regale the heroic stories of him torching any village who resisted? Engage in long walks around a lake while you tell him every detail of him choosing to let father die? Sit and watch the sun rise together as you reminisce upon how he let Shepherd after Shepherd perish to the hands of the Risen?"
"He didn't let them die! Nobody is responsible for their deaths but the one who murdered them!"
"He came back from every mission alive, Lucy. He's just as responsible. If he tried harder, they might have survived. He only cared for his own self-interest. He didn't care about the Shepherds and he most certainly didn't care about their kids," Severa said.
"Mother would disagree!" Lucina said. "As do I…"
"You think he cares? He doesn't. When things get tough, he will turn his back on everyone once again. You can say I'm crazy, but we had more funeral services held and graves dug than I care to count! Making his grave as the final fallen Shepherd was poetic justice! No more sacrifices to keep himself alive. He had nobody to give their life for him anymore. He got what was coming to him and a good riddance to that world."
"… is that really what happened?" I asked.
"Search your feelings. You know it to be true," she replied. "You know that deep down, you are afraid. You are absolutely terrified of death. So afraid that you would give your friends' lives if it meant sparing yours. You're so afraid that you would hide behind a false sense of bravado and lead so many people to their slaughter. You led so many failed missions and sacrificed so many lives to take down the fell dragon, all so you could find a way to keep living. So many lives that didn't need to be lost fell before your selfish desire to live on…"
I bit my lip. Was I like that? Could I have the potential to be like that? I sighed to myself.
"Perhaps you're right. I don't think I am and I don't see how I could become that person, but I cannot simply ignore the fact you saw it with your own two eyes. Perhaps there is a part of me that even I'm not aware of…"
I let out a gasp as Lucina grabbed my hand in hers.
"Raven, don't you start going back like that! You've worked hard on trying to improve yourself, be more confident in yourself, and be a better person! You've been working tirelessly to be a different person. Don't give up on yourself," she said encouragingly.
"Lucy! What… why are you… wait…"
"I was serious when I said Raven and I are more than just friends," Lucina replied. Severa stared at the both of us. She opened her mouth and closed it several times, the words seemingly unable to come out.
"Mrgrgr! Unacceptable! I cannot allow this!" Severa firmly stated.
"You have no authority over me," Lucina replied.
"I am your older sister! I have looked out for you for as long as we lived! I know you well. This is not like you. This is not right for you. I cannot and will not accept this!"
"Sev, I…"
"Lucy, nothing. That's final. I will not accept him as your… your… relationship partner. I would have even been fine with that disgraceful flirt, Inigo! Gods only know he tried so hard to get your attention."
"Wait, Inigo tried?" Lucina asked. Severa stared at Lucina in disbelief.
"Did you never notice?"
"No…"
"Gods! Lucy, can you not read a person's intention? He spent hours keeping you company, trying to get you to laugh and smile! Everyone was worried about you, but he went above and beyond for you, Lucy! For you! Not for me! He chose you, Lucy…"
"I never knew, Sev! I just thought he was trying to be friendly," she replied. Seeing it from the outside, that whole self-depreciation to the point of not realizing someone liked you seems really frustrating. No wonder Cordelia seemed so displeased at the idea of Lucina and I being in a relationship.
"Lucy… we need to have a long talk. Sir Raven, your presence here is no longer needed," Severa said.
"You can't just kick him out of the room," Lucina said.
"I can and I will. This is my fort," Severa replied. Huh, so she can act childish once in a while.
"If he leaves, then I leave with him," Lucina replied stubbornly.
"Since when have you known better than me? I'm trying to look out for you!" Severa yelled back. I took an unconscious step back. This was definitely not my place to butt in.
"No, Lucina, this is fine. You two should talk this out," I said.
"Raven! This is our problem. We should solve this together," Lucina said.
"… Lucina. Severa isn't just a problem that you erase from a piece of paper or find a solution to. She's your sister. She's a person with an opinion and someone who's known you your whole life. I have no right to interfere with that. You two are family. I will… wait for you at camp," I said.
"Tch. Not like you had a choice in the matter," Severa remarked as I was leaving the room.
"Sev!" Lucina said in a frustrated tone. I closed the door behind me and began walking back to camp. Those two were going to have a long talk. I just know it.
I arrived back in camp to see dinner was being served. I grabbed my meal and ate it, but truthfully… the food didn't seem the same. Dinner felt strangely empty without having Lucina here. Even if we weren't always talking, it felt comforting having her there with me. There had to be something more to this antagonism. There has to be something else. There is something Severa isn't telling me and either Lucina is trying to ignore it or she doesn't know.
I finished my dinner and started heading back to my tent. I passed by Chrom's meeting tent and realized that he might still be in the meeting with those four girls. Sure enough, I saw the tent flap open and I saw Chrom walk out in a half-daze.
"Hoshido and Nohr are real…" he mumbled to himself.
"Er, Chrom, are you okay?" I asked. Chrom snapped back to attention and looked at me.
"Oh, hello, Raven. Fancy seeing you here. Did you see any of those four that just left?" he asked.
"No, I didn't. Why? What's going on?" I asked. Chrom paused and thought to himself for a second.
"Nothing, Raven," he replied with a nervous grin.
"Chrom, not you too! You can't share anything with me with what they talked about?" I asked. He thought to himself for a second.
"Well, I suppose I could… no, that'd give too much away. How about… no… I can't do that either. I could talk about… no, wait, that would make no sense without talking about… oh, I can't talk about that. Sorry, Raven, it looks like there really isn't anything I can tell you," he said hesitantly.
"So, I am involved," I said. Chrom hesitated and bit his lip.
"We are all involved, Raven. We are all friends here and we all look out for each other. That is what makes the Shepherds such a wonderful group," Chrom replied.
"… you're as bad as Lucina at dodging topics," I said with a laugh. Chrom frowned for a second and thought to himself.
"If you and Lucina were to marry and have a child, that would make me a grandfather, wouldn't it?" he asked. I flinched at that and felt my face started to burn up.
"Wait, Chrom! Stop! Oh gods, you're going way too far into the future with this. That's a Gaius line of thought. What has gotten into you?" I asked.
"If Owain had a child, Lissa would be a grandmother. If Inigo had a child, Olivia would be a grandmother. If Severa had a child, Cordelia would be a grandmother," Chrom mused loud, more to himself than to me.
"I mean, technically yes?" I replied, wondering where this was going. Chrom sighed to himself.
"Raven, promise me that no matter what, you will give everything you have. Be true and be honest… and above all, please keep Lucina safe," he said.
"I, um, yeah? Of course I would. For you. For Lucina. For everyone here. That's been my goal," I said.
"Good, good," Chrom replied.
"No, but seriously, Chrom. What's gotten into you?" I asked.
"I cannot talk about it, Raven. I apologize," he said. I sighed to myself.
"I understand. I just wanted to know… can we trust Ophelia and the rest of them?" I asked.
"Yes. Although, you should continue to use the names they gave us," Chrom replied.
"Oh, wait, really?" I asked.
"Yes, Raven. There is a reason for everything, after all. Nicolette is quite careless to be using her actual name, but considering her upbringing… I can hardly fault her for doing so."
"Very well… I trust you, Chrom."
"I think I will head to bed. My mind is spinning with all that I have heard," he said.
"How did Cordelia and Frederick take it?" I asked.
"Frederick was impassively analyzing everything and Cordelia was skeptical until that Callie girl proved what they were saying was true," Chrom said. I sighed to myself.
"Okay, then. I trust your judgment," I replied.
"One last thing," Chrom said.
"What is it?" I asked.
"… please be careful with Sophia," he said.
"Careful how?"
"Draw your lines purposefully and stand by them. She is going through an especially difficult situation, much to the surprise and worry of the other three. It seems she has even more hidden than the others do," Chrom said. I stared at him. What is he talking about?
"Very well. I… do not quite understand what you mean, but I assume it will make sense someday. I should be heading to bed now, so… goodnight, Chrom."
"Goodnight, Raven," he replied. With a nod of departure, we went our separate directions. I got to my tent and saw a green sleeping bag on the ground. I guess with Robin and Lissa overseeing camp being unpacked instead of Cordelia, details were not completely accurate. Weird to see that two people couldn't do the job of one person. Were Robin and Lissa that woefully inept or was Cordelia just that good at her job?
I unfolded my sleeping bag and laid down. I had just started to feel myself drift off when I heard what seemed like a rippling sound at my tent flap. Was someone trying to get my attention? I heard sounds and words of frustration from outside my tent.
"What is that? Who is that?" I asked aloud.
"Raven, are you awake?"
"No."
"Oh, sorry, well—wait, you are awake!"
"Your voice is muffled. Who is it?"
"It's Lucina."
"Oh, come in," I said. She entered the tent, holding a red sleeping bag.
"Robin and Lissa made a mistake," Lucina said.
"How so?" I asked.
"They… forgot to pull my tent out of the convoy and set it up. I have no tent to sleep under and there seems to be rain on its way here, so I would immensely prefer not to sleep outside," she said.
"… why don't you stay in here, then?" I asked. Lucina blushed slightly and stared at the ground.
"That's… what I wanted to ask you, but I was afraid of overstepping my bounds," she said.
"Why would you be overstepping your bounds?" I asked.
"I mean, it's only been a few days and…"
"You fell asleep on my shoulder in that port town, Lucina."
"I did not fall asleep. I was merely enjoying the atmosphere and environment."
"Very well. If you insist. Anyway, you can stay here for the night. I don't mind. We shared a room back in Ylisstol years ago, after all," I said. Lucina smiled and unrolled her sleeping bag on the opposite side of the tent.
"Is this far enough?" she asked.
"Far enough? What are you talking about? Sleep wherever you'd like."
"I am in your tent and I don't want to intrude upon your space…"
"Lucina, pick a spot and sleep there. You want to be there? Great. You want to sleep over here? Great. Do what makes you happy, okay?" I said encouragingly. She bit her lip for a second before putting her sleeping bag next to mine.
"Is this fine with you?" she asked.
"Is this where you want?" I asked.
"Yes," she replied.
"Then it's fine with me," I replied.
"How do you feel about it?" she asked.
"I don't mind either way. I just want to make sure you're comfortable and happy," I replied.
"Unacceptable," she replied. I frowned at her.
"Why?"
"We both should be comfortable and happy," she said. "You cannot keep giving up for me. You deserve happiness as well. I would feel completely guilty if I did something for myself and you were uncomfortable with it."
"I am happy when you are, Lucina. Just having you here eases my mind…" I said. She laid down in her sleeping bag next to me. She was right there, her blue eyes staring into mine. I felt slightly uncomfortable with the attention, but I refused to back down. Face my fears. Face that urge to run away. She did nothing wrong. She's just as scared as I am. She shouldn't be the only one trying to work through her fears and insecurities.
"What's on your mind?" she asked.
"The future," I replied, thinking about what Chrom asked me.
"Anything in particular?" she asked.
"Our future. Where do we go from here? What do we do next? I have no idea…"
"Neither do I, Raven. Neither do I. I feel like not much has changed between us. Were we always this close?" she asked. Looks like her talk with Severa has not swayed her in the slightest… thankfully.
"Gradually, we grew closer without realizing it… and I am glad we did," I said.
"As am I, Raven… as am I."
"You're repeating yourself, Lucina. Is everything okay?"
"Hm? Oh, yes, everything is fine," she replied.
"What's on your mind?" I asked.
"… I couldn't find a spot to change into my sleeping gown," she replied in a guilty tone. I sighed to myself.
"You could have mentioned that. I can leave the tent for a bit while you get changed," I said.
"… thank you, Raven."
"Just let me know when you're done."
"I will."
I left the tent and stood outside for a minute. For some reason, I could feel my heart beating faster than normal. I took a few deep breaths and attempted to regain control of myself. I couldn't help it. We spent a night together before plenty of times. We fell asleep together the night before we took down Gangrel. We shared a room in Ylisstol together. We almost shared a room in the port town during our trip to retrieve the Aum Staff, although my drunken escapade had me in Severa's room instead.
Why do I feel different now?
"Raven?"
I jumped slightly. Why was I jumpy? Why do I feel this way now? Hardly anything has changed between us. We are still as close as ever. We might have a different title, but we still have been acting mostly the same. Why am I feeling different now?
"Raven, are you okay?"
I looked to see Lucina peeking her head out of the tent.
"Y-yes, I am fine. Sorry, I was just startled," I replied quickly. She laughed a little to herself.
"Am I that scary?" she asked.
"N-no! Not in the slightest. A face like yours could never be scary to me," I said. She paused and, if the light were brighter, I bet I would have seen the blush I knew was crossing her face as it often did when I paid her a compliment.
"Raven, now is hardly the time. We should get to sleep," she said.
"You really love compliments don't you?" I asked nonchalantly.
"I choose not to answer that," she replied before pulling back into the tent. I followed suit and saw her in that light blue gown that she had before. The flicker of the lantern in the tent threw an unforgivingly unreliable light around the room. Shadows danced and frolicked in various places, never truly sitting in the same place for more than a few seconds. The last wisps of light were clinging to life in dying embers… and yet, despite all that, I could only stare in awe.
For some reason, I never saw her in this way before… the way her blue eyes glittered and shimmered with innocence behind the determination and strength… the way her hair always seemed to flow silkily smooth to her shoulders… the way you could tell that, despite her slight frame, she still had strength and power.
"Raven, you're… staring at me," she said before laying down on top of her sleeping bag.
"I, um, am I? I mean, I didn't realize it… I was just… staring into space in your general direction thinking to myself about something," I said.
"Oh? Really? For a moment there, I was beginning to think that perhaps you just had a revelation and were seeing me differently for the first time," she said.
"What? No, that's absolutely absurd," I replied.
"… and that is how I know I was right," she replied with a smile. "Is it finally sinking in that I am more than just Chrom's daughter? Are you truly beginning to see me as a woman and not as a child? I should feel upset that it took you this long to finally let that sink in, but truthfully, I had the same kind of moment once."
"Moment?" I asked.
"The moment I finally was able to separate the you I knew growing up from the you I know now," she replied. "It was as if something switched in my mind and I couldn't help but notice you for who you are now. That was the moment I realized… I felt something more than just merely wanting to be your friend."
"I feel guilty that it took me another two years before I had the same kind of moment," I replied guiltily.
"Do you now understand why it felt awkward asking if I could stay here tonight?" she asked.
"Oh… oh… well, you're right. I, um, if it makes you feel better, I will stay on the other side of the—"
"Raven, what did you just say to me a few minutes ago? Sometimes I feel like we are never on the same page with this kind of thing," she said with a small laugh.
"You're right. Sorry. I just… I just realized… you and I… in the same tent and now in a relationship. The dynamic is different. We're not just two friends anymore," I said.
"Now that you've finally caught up to where I am, perhaps we can work together to move forward as one," she said encouragingly.
"I… can do that," I replied.
"Good," she replied. I carefully laid down on my own sleeping bag and stared at the ceiling. A sudden thought crossed my mind and I felt myself feeling incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.
"Oh… oh gods," I blurted out.
"What?"
"I just thought about something Chrom said when I got back to camp."
"What could he have possibly said that has you this disturbed?"
"He asked if… um… if… well… if we had a child, would that make him a grandfather?"
There was absolute silence from her. Not even the sound of movement or an attempt at a response. I wonder what she was thinking right now? I turned to her to see her staring at me, her face as white as the moon itself.
"Th-that's not an easy question. I mean, that's thinking far into the future. Goodness, he skipped a lot of steps there, didn't he?" she asked. I nodded vigorously in response before turning away. I couldn't look her in the eye after that.
"I agree. Absolutely. There's a process. There's other steps. Why did he just automatically jump to children?"
"He seems to have forgotten all the steps he took with mother," Lucina replied, chuckling slightly. There was soon a silence between us, a feeling of awkwardness growing stronger and stronger with every passing moment.
"So, um, the weather today was nice, wasn't it?" I asked.
"Raven, just relax. Don't worry about it. We will take things one step at a time, okay?"
"I… okay. Thank you," I replied. I paused for a second. "Wait, no, I wasn't implying… tonight… us… and… oh gods, why Chrom. That… my… oh…"
I almost jumped in surprise when I felt her move up behind me and firmly pull me into her arms. I could feel the stress and anxiety I had been struggling to deal with start to melt away.
"Relax, Raven. This will be our first night together as a couple. Let us make it a good memory," she said soothingly.
"A good memory?" I asked.
"Not like th-that! Goodness, now I'm thinking about what father said…"
"Well, we can yell at him in the morning about this," I replied.
"Let us just relax. Listen to the sounds of nature. The chirping of the crickets. The soft rustling of the wind. Let us make this a night that we will never forget."
"It will be, I promise."
"When I was younger, I sometimes wondered what it would be like… to spend a night with someone I cared about and wanted to be with. I wondered how it would feel falling asleep next to the one whom I chose to devote my life to."
"Now you don't have to wonder anymore, Lucina. I am here. So long as you choose me to be the one for you, I will give everything I have to make sure you never regret that decision."
"Indeed. Thank you, Raven. Your words… they give me strength. But, more importantly… they give me happiness…"
"Good… you deserve that and so much more, Lucina. Goodnight…"
"Goodnight, Raven."
As we slowly relaxed and drifted from consciousness, I could feel everything that had been plaguing my mind melt away. All the fears that had consumed me were slowly being replaced with a feeling of hope and joy. The wistfulness of wanting to know who I was before was slowly changing into the desire to discover what the future held for us. The uncertainty of not knowing where I belonged slowly transitioned into a feeling of comfort knowing that there was always someone who I could turn to even in my darkest moments. The fear of feeling alone and being abandoned was being replaced with the joy of sharing my life with someone and knowing we both were planning a future together.
… and it was at that very moment I realized why my future self turned into who he did.