Yes, I Remember

by HopelessRomantic1020

When an unknown enemy drags the Lycian army's tactician to the realm of Ylisse, Lyn gives chase in an effort to save the life of the man she adores. Now stranded in an unfamiliar land, the Lady of the Plains finds herself in caught up in yet another war, once again fighting alongside her precious Robin. A rewrite/expansion of "Do You Remember?" AU. Canon-divergent slow burn.

21. New Beginnings

Actual wordcount: 14,300~. Big thanks to Branded_King for being a great beta reader and friend. Lots of dialogue here, so... Yeah. Enjoy!

---

The northwest corner of Valm experienced heavy snowfall year-round. The imperial soldiers and servants inside Castle Valm were used to such an unforgiving climate, but when the Emperor announced his sudden plans to leave on his own, all were stunned. Even Farber, his most loyal general, begged him not to go.

But Walhart's mind was already made up. The faraway southern nation of Chon'sin had resisted him for far too long. Now that they'd spilled the blood of his soldiers, retribution was inevitable.

A single red carpet of impressive length laid unfurled down the middle of the main hall. Dozens upon dozens of imperial soldiers in red and silver armor stood on either side of it. Many held brass instruments and played a rousing march as their champion walked into the room. He strode down the carpet in his crimson greaves; his matching armor clanked with every step. A massive red axe, the Wolf Berg, was slung over his shoulder. Long white hair flowed down his back and over his dark cape.

Two figures stood near the castle's main entrance. The first, General Farber, had his hands clasped behind his back. He wore black and gray armor with red accents; a wide crimson collar flourished from his neck. He'd delivered the news regarding Chon'sin's resistance not even an hour ago. When Walhart refused his insistence to stay and deploy more soldiers in his stead, Farber was quick to ready his horse.

The second figure, on the other hand, still hadn't come to terms with the decision.

"B-b-but, Your Excellency!" a short, rotund man screeched. He was dressed in luxurious red robes; makeup adorned his face. "Surely it would be wiser to—"

"No."

"B-but…"

Walhart stopped in his tracks and gave him a fierce glare. Many across Valm were unnerved by his lack of pupils; his underling was no exception. He gulped and ran a hand through his short purple hair, giggling nervously.

"Er, th-that is to say—"

"Silence, Excellus! Your attempts to subdue Chon'sin via persuasion still have yet to bear fruit after all this time," he criticized. "If they shall not willingly join us on our noble quest, they shall do so by force."

"Y-yes, of course! I agree wholeheartedly, Your Excellency." He quickly nodded. "I merely have concerns regarding your plans to travel to Chon'sin on your lonesome. Would it not be wiser to rally the whole of our army against them?"

"Excellus, we have thousands of soldiers scattered across the continent. If I travel south of here and rendezvous with those stationed in Fort Steiger to the east, we should have no trouble dealing with them," Walhart asserted. "Mobilizing everyone here would take far too long. We must strike hard and fast."

Excellus sighed. He had been appointed tactician of the Empire years ago, but even in spite of that…

"Do you not trust me, Your Excellency?"

"On the contrary, Excellus. I trust you about as far as I can throw you." Walhart leaned in close, towering over him. "Would you like a demonstration?"

"Eep! N-n-no, Your Excellency!"

"Good. Now get out of my way."

He did so with haste. The Emperor walked past him as his soldiers continued playing their march behind them. Farber briefly shot Excellus a glare before following him outside. Excellus glared back, grinding his teeth in silent fury.

Such impudence! Have they no idea who they speak to?!

A wicked grin made its way across his face. Of course they didn't; not if they still kept him around after all this time. His infiltration of the Valmese continent would serve the Grimleal well in the coming years. For now though, he'd have to do Aversa's bidding in the hopes that she might offer him high prestige amongst their brethren one day.

Or, better yet… Offer him her place entirely.

"Nwehehehe… One day…"

---

The frigid air nipped at Walhart's face as he approached the castle stables. Farber walked close to him; the small flame he conjured in his hand gave them some warmth. In truth, the Emperor felt better knowing that his soldiers and servants would stay and guard the castle. He was more than confident in his own strength, as well as that of those he would gather along the way.

It was Excellus he was concerned about.

Five years ago, the man had approached Castle Valm in tattered rags, tearfully looking for a place to call home. His skill with strategy earned him a place in his army as his chief tactician. His surprising knowledge of politics eventually earned him the rank of Chancellor, with him originally overseeing Walhart's tiny home country of Valm. As the Empire grew in size and seized lands east and south of the castle, Excellus grew in wealth and influence. He had proven his worth and dedication to the Empire time and time again, but one could never be too careful.

A painful lesson Walhart was all too familiar with.

Never again…

In the stables, he mounted his horse. The beast was the strongest of its kind, able to travel far and fast even with its massive red armor and emperor weighing it down. Its black coat underneath was shiny and scarless—a testament to both it and its rider's skill. Walhart patted his horse on the head before Farber handed him a sack of provisions.

"You have my thanks, General. If there is nothing more to be said, I shall be off."

Farber cleared his throat. "Actually, Your Excellency… I have a humble request."

"A request? From you?" Walhart raised an eyebrow. "This is a novelty. Speak."

"I wish to travel to Chon'sin with you," he said, standing tall. "I have seen your strength firsthand a thousand times. While I have no doubt you can handle the journey on your own, I still believe you should consider bringing me along—at least until we reach Fort Steiger. My horse is already fed and stocked with supplies for the trip."

"Hmph." Walhart almost smiled. "Diligent as always. Very well, Farber. You may come along. A word of warning, however: this journey will take a couple of months at the very least. Likely longer as more of our soldiers join us."

"I am well aware," Farber said with a neutral expression; truthfully, he was overjoyed. "We can rest and restock at our strongholds along the way."

"Indeed... Mount your horse, general. We leave at once."

---

The morning sun rose valiantly over Ylisse. Its radiant warmth ushered in an era of peace. Birds sang, flowers bloomed, and neighbors greeted each other more warmly than ever before. Emmeryn's death had been a great blow to commonfolk and nobility alike, but the Mad King's own demise and Plegia's subsequent silence set them at ease. The return of Chrom and his Shepherds was met with much applause and celebration. His insistence upon letting commoners attend last night's ball only strengthened their favorable opinions of their future exalt.

For the first time in ages, the country was beneath a new light.

In one of Castle Ylisstol's many chambers, the Shepherds' esteemed tactician slept soundly in his bed. Robin didn't even stir as sunlight permeated his curtains and landed his face; slumber had long since claimed him. The previous night's events left him exhausted.

Exhausted… but content.

Nestled up against him on his left, meanwhile, was Lyn. Despite having woken up some time ago, she was in no hurry to get up. Her eyes were closed as she laid her head against his bare chest, smiling at the sound of his heartbeat. Last night had been like a dream come true for her. To dance and celebrate with her beloved, knowing that they'd both helped their new friends restore peace to the land… Lyn hadn't felt this elated since they defeated Nergal and the Fire Dragon.

Only now she had Robin.

Her face grew hot as more of last night's memories filled her head. Then and now she enjoyed the feeling of his touch. The warmth of his skin against her own. It was all so new to her… but welcome all the same. Even as Robin's heartbeat remained the way it was, Lyn felt her own speed up.

She shifted to get a better look at his face. His snowy locks were messier than usual, splayed out against his pillow, but she didn't care. If anything she only thought it made him look cuter. With a quiet giggle, Lyn leaned over and pressed her lips to his cheek.

"Mm… Good morning, darling," Robin said, yawning. He rubbed his eyes for a moment before grinning at her. "Heh. Or should I say dar-Lyn?"

"Ughhh..." She rolled her eyes, but her smile only grew as her face reddened. "If you were anyone else, I swear… Did you sleep well at least?"

"Better than I have in a long time. How are you holding up?"

"Mm…" Lyn sat up and stretched. The sheets bunched up in her lap. "Still a little sore… And my feet are killing me too."

"Oh… Want a massage? I don't claim to have the strongest or most skilled hands, but…"

She laughed and shook her head. "I couldn't ask that of you, Robin. You must be pretty tired yourself after last night!"

"I suppose so. Tired, but… happy." Robin smiled at her.

"I'm glad." Lyn smiled back. She laid back down to peck him on the lips; he was all too glad to return the favor as he wrapped his arms around her. " Hehe... I can't believe we're really a couple now…"

"Me neither. I've never really, uh, done research on this sort of thing though… All I really know is that couples like calling each other pet names."

"Oh, I see." She nodded. For some reason, a wave of bashfulness washed over her. "W-well, uh… How about… Sugar Pie?"

"... Honey Bunch?"

The two looked at each other for a moment. Then they broke out into wild laughter, rolling away from each other.

"This… hahaha! This is ridiculous, isn't it?" Lyn wiped a tear from her eye.

Robin snickered, equally amused. "A bit."

His grin relaxed as he stared at her. Before last night, he'd never seen Lyn with her hair down before; not that he could remember anyway. Given its length and volume, he could certainly see why she'd tie it up for practicality. But now that they were alone like this…and with the sun's golden glow enveloping her, no less...

"You look beautiful with your hair down," he said without thinking. "A-ah! No, I mean, you always look beautiful to me, Lyn, but—Mmph!"

Lyn lunged and silenced him with a kiss. She smirked when she heard a muffled squeak escape his throat. Then she pulled back and stared into his deep brown eyes. "Thank you, Robin. You're not so bad yourself, you know? I kinda miss your brown hair, but if anyone can make white look good it's you…"

"Oh…" He flushed. "W-well, I think you're the prettiest girl with green hair I've ever met…"

Lyn pouted. "Because you've met so many, right?"

"Ah! I mean—"

"Relax, I'm kidding…" She chuckled. "Goodness… Have a little more confidence in yourself, yeah?"

"Confidence," Robin repeated with a nod. "Right... Sorry."

She laid back down, snuggling up to him. "No worries, Robin. I'm just glad we're together like this. I think part of me has been wanting this for a long time now…"

"Me too, Lyn," he admitted as he held her. "But… how long, exactly?"

By now her face was practically aflame. She hid it in the crook of his neck and mumbled, "Don't make me say it…"

Robin couldn't help but grin at both her words and the contact. "Say what?"

Lyn felt as though her heart would explode. She loved him as early as meeting him again in that arena; before then, even. When she found him on the plains of her homeland, they became fast friends. Lyn protected him with her blade and Robin protected her with his tactical advice. They were practically inseparable, but it wasn't until Lundgren died that she realized just how much he meant to her.

When he left her.

---

The day was theirs.

Though Castle Caelin had suffered some damage, Lyn and her legion of friends and comrades-in-arms had succeeded. Kent, Sain, Florina, Wil, Dorcas, Erk, Serra, Rath, Matthew, Nils, Lucius, Wallace… and Robin. They'd all played a part in today's victory, but it was ultimately Lyn herself—Lundgren's own flesh and blood—who'd ended his life with the Mani Katti. Afterwards, she hurried to Lord Hausen's bedside and tearfully embraced the grandfather she never knew she had.

She hugged her friends and allies afterwards, overjoyed at their victory and her grandfather's newfound resolve to keep living. Her smile disappeared when she noticed that Robin wasn't among them. Kent and Sain informed her that they saw him wander off on his own towards a nearby hill. When Lyn rode with them to a grassy hill overlooking Castle Caelin, she found Robin there. He sat under a tree with a pensive frown on his face. The sun was setting behind him. His hair was shoulder-length and brown; the emerald cloak he wore hid most of his body from view.

Kent was quick to drag Sain away, giving them some privacy as Lyn approached him.

"Robin! There you are." She placed her hands on her hips and frowned. "Where were you? We were worried sick!"

He glanced at her in surprise. "Oh, Lyn! I'm sorry. I just… came up here to think, I suppose. How's your grandfather?"

"Much better now that Lundgren is gone." Lyn grinned with confidence. A pleasant breeze swept over them both, making her ponytail sway. "Robin... I just wanted to say thanks. You've stood by my side all this time… Your companionship and tactical knowledge have saved us—saved ME—more times than I can count…"

"Oh, stop..." He looked off to the side, smiling just a little. "You'll make me blush… Besides, there's no need to thank me, Lyn. I helped you because I wanted to."

"Still…" She wrung her hands together, her cheeks heating up. "Um… Robin? I have a proposal to make."

"H-huh?!" Robin's heart thumped in his chest.

"Will you stay at Castle Caelin? Will you be my… OUR tactician?"

"Oh…"

He calmed down, but his heart sank as he did. Part of him wanted her to ask something else, but the rest of him knew exactly why that wouldn't work. Why it wouldn't be fair to her even if she wanted it just as much as he did...

"Lyn, I…" Robin sighed. His gaze fell on the grass in front of him. "I'm leaving soon."

Lyn gasped at once, a hand flying to her mouth. "You… What?! You're leaving?!"

"Yes," he answered with a frown. He couldn't even look her in the eye. "Lyn, it's not you, I promise. I just… want to see more of the world. I want to hone my tactical skills and become a master tactician."

"I…" Lyn nodded, but she didn't look at him either. Her arms fell to her sides. The air felt colder somehow. "I understand. I won't ask you to stay if that's the case. It's just… I'll miss you. When I found you unconscious on the plains… I had no idea we would be together for so long. You've helped us all so much, and… and I'm sure you've learned all you can from us too."

"Lyn…"

He finally gathered the courage to look up. Tears were streaming down her cheeks, but she smiled all the same. "You'll do just fine on your own, Robin. I have the utmost faith that you'll become a master tactician someday… That's from someone who's seen you at work!"

Lyn held her smile, but she wiped at her eyes with a gloved hand. "W-well then... Take care… I… I h-hope I'll see you again, Robin! I'm sure that I will someday…!"

Robin reached a hand out to her, but she had already run off. With a heavy heart and blurred vision, he brought his knees to his chest.

"Lyn… Goodbye…"

---

"Lyn?"

She gasped as she found herself back in the present, still lying next to Robin. Lyn's eyes instinctively landed on his face. He'd changed so much since that day in Caelin without even knowing. How much time had truly passed since they first met? She found Robin on the plains six months after her parents died, Lundgren was dead within another six, and then she didn't see him again for an entire year after he left. And then Eliwood felled Nergal within a year of their reunion… And she had no idea how much time had passed since she first arrived in Regna Ferox. More than a few months… Perhaps another year?

Has it really been four whole years?

"Lyn?" Robin asked again, frowning. Concern pooled in his eyes as he waved a hand in front of her face. "You've been quiet for a little while now..."

"Ah! I'm sorry, Robin." Lyn shook her head and sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I was lost in the past… What were we talking about again?"

"I asked you when you started to realize your feelings for me…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Was that weird? I'm sorry..."

"No, no! Goodness no," came her frantic response. "It feels like I've known you for a lifetime, Robin, but… I realized how I felt about you when we beat Lundgren. When… When you left me."

Lyn explained the events of that evening in painstaking detail. Robin didn't remember any of it, but it felt as though a stake was being driven through his heart all the same. He abandoned her. They'd grown so close in such a short amount of time… and he abandoned her. All for reasons that seemed flimsy at best. Robin recognized the importance of exploring new sights and learning new things, but what good were these experiences if he had no one to share them with?

"Robin," she whispered, leaning in close. She touched his face. "Are you alright?"

"I… I should be asking you that!" Robin moved away from her and sat up, his legs falling over the side of the bed. "... Sorry. I just… Lyn, I am so sorry I did that to you. I don't know what could have compelled me to leave your side, but whatever it was… it couldn't have been worth it. Not if it hurt you like that."

He hid his face in his hands. Lyn's heart ached at the sight. She hadn't brought it up to hurt him; she only wanted him to know how deep her emotions ran. How long she had wanted to be with him. Crawling over to him, she wrapped her arms around Robin from behind and rested her chin on his shoulder.

"Shh… Hey," she gently whispered in his ear. "It's okay. I know you had your reasons…You probably wanted to broaden your horizons, and you couldn't have done that if you stayed in Caelin all your life. It'd be like keeping a bird in a cage…"

He almost smiled. The fitting comparison in relation to his name was not lost on him regardless of whether it was intentional. Lyn's words and touch warmed his heart more than words could express… but he hardly felt as though he deserved it.

"Lyn… Thank you," he said after what felt like forever. He didn't want her to let go. "I still have no idea why I ever thought about leaving in the first place though. Nothing out there could have made me happier than you do…"

"Silver tongue much?" she joked. They both chuckled as she continued to hold him. "Like I said, I'm sure you had your reasons. Maybe you had other friends out there to return to. Or..."

Lyn paused as a sobering thought crossed her mind. The Robin she met on the plains never spoke about his life prior to meeting her; he said he couldn't remember anything then either. The idea of someone losing their memories twice in one lifetime was horrible enough, but... did he have a family of his own back in Elibe? Parents?

A lover, maybe…?

"Robin," Lyn said, her voice decidedly less jovial than before. She let go of him and moved over, sitting on his right. "... Have you remembered anything new lately? Anything at all?"

"Beyond what you've told me today? No," he admitted. Robin looked over at her; he grew worried when he saw her stare at the floor and bite her lip. "Hey… Are you alright?"

"You don't remember anything about your parents?" She cut through his question with her own. Lyn knew what the answer would most likely be, but she had to know for sure. "Anything at all?"

Robin shook his head. "I don't, Lyn. I can't remember ever even having a family. I must have at some point, but almost everything before meeting Chrom in that field is just… buried. I don't even remember how we reunited in Elibe."

Lyn perked up at the memory. "Oh, that's an easy one! Castle Caelin was under assault and you showed up with Eliwood and Hector. Imagine my surprise at seeing you and Eliwood again after all that time... Oh, and Dorcas too!"

"Dorcas?" He scratched his chin as he racked his brain. "Dorcas… Was he the one with brown hair?"

She giggled. "No, silly! That must've been Bartre; Dorcas's hair was red. Dorcas's wife had brown hair, though. Her name is Natalie."

"I see…"

"Hmm…" Lyn folded her arms and tilted her head, thinking. "Well… What do you remember about Elibe? Maybe if we start from there it'll jog your memory."

Robin thought long and hard. Lyn could provide all the details in the world about their escapades—and she surely had at some point or another—but hearing about those things secondhand was a far cry from being able to remember them.

"I definitely remember the first time we met," he said with confidence. "We were in a tent."

"A ger," she corrected, trying not to laugh.

"Right, a ger. And…Oh!" Robin gave a toothy grin. "I remember Lyndis's Legion."

Lyn couldn't help herself at that; she covered her mouth as she chuckled. "Of all the names for Wil to come up with…"

"Wil! He was the archer of the group, right? Brown hair?"

"Right!" Lyn cheered. She grasped his hands in her own, just as eager to hear this as the first time he recounted this memory. "Do you remember anyone else?"

He squeezed her hands. "I do. It was us, Wil, two cavaliers in green and red… Sain and Kent?"

"Yes! And…?" She gave him an expectant look.

"Florina!" Robin finished with a bright grin. "She was a pegasus knight!"

"That's right! She's my closest friend. I met her a few years before you and the rest of our allies." Lyn grinned nostalgically as the younger girl crossed her mind. "Heh… She was always a little afraid of you. You and the rest of the men, actually…"

"What? Why?"

She shook her head. "She's always been a bit meek around men. No idea why though… That's just how she is."

"Heh… I don't imagine she and Lon'qu would get along…"

"Not at all!" She couldn't help but chuckle some more. Lyn's amusement subsided soon after, but she kept holding Robin's hands. She clutched them as if he'd vanish into thin air if she didn't. "So that's it then? You really don't remember anything else?"

"I don't... " Robin sighed and hung his head. "Honestly, I don't even remember how I ended up in Ylisse in the first place… Or how I wound up in the clothes that I did."

Lyn bit her lip. The strange, ominous cloak he wore everywhere was still a mystery to her—a far cry from the familiar green cloak he used to wear—but she remembered their last night in Caelin all too well. What was supposed to be a normal evening had quickly spiraled out of control when she saw a man standing over Robin.

A man who looked just like he did now.

"Robin… We were in Castle Caelin," she explained. "We made plans to go back home to Sacae after Hector said he'd take Caelin under Ostia's protection. When you left me to pack your things… You were attacked. By a man who looks just like you."

"You're kidding!" he exclaimed in disbelief. He'd been so caught up in assisting Chrom and the others in the present that he'd given little thought as to how he ended up near Southtown. Even so, he hadn't been expecting that. Seeing Lyn's serious, unchanging expression made him calm down. "You're not kidding, are you?"

"Do you really think I'd lie to you, Robin? Especially about something like this?"

He stared her in the eye. "... No. I know you better than that. I just can't believe it… Do you remember anything else about him?"

"He was tough," Lyn told him, glaring. "I couldn't even scratch him. He used magic, and then he opened some sort of… doorway. Like the Dragon's Gate."

"The Dragon's Gate…" His eyes widened. He recalled hearing her briefly mention something like that long ago, shortly after they reunited in Regna Ferox. "You mean like a portal? To another world?"

"Yes. This world." She nodded. Lyn ran a hand through his hair, taking in its softness and color. "I'm not sure what he was after, but whatever he did to you… It turned your hair white."

"Well that explains that change at least…"

Robin frowned. He knew she was telling the truth, and yet… It all sounded so hard to believe. Like something out of a child's imagination or one of Sumia's novels. Then again, with all the strangeness they'd encountered across both worlds…

"I'm sorry, Lyn."

"What? Why are you apologizing?" Lyn's heart sank. She stared at the floor as the memories of that night flooded her mind. "I was the one who couldn't stop him from taking you. I couldn't protect you…"

He stroked her face with a gentle grin. "But you came for me. You gave up a comfortable life back home and risked your life just to make sure I was okay…"

She giggled a little. "Silly Robin…"

"Huh?"

Her hand traveled upwards until it rested against the one on her face. She gazed into his eyes, smiling softly all the while. "It wouldn't have been a life worth living if you weren't in it..."

"Lyn…" Robin couldn't believe his ears. Even so, his heart filled with joy and adoration. He leaned forward and kissed her. "Thank you. Truly. Those words… Your kindness… It's more than I deserve."

"It isn't." She kissed him in return. "Not now and not ever."

"If you say so… I'm sorry, Lyn."

"Don't be," she whispered, mimicking him and stroking his cheek with her free hand. Lyn leaned in close and softly pressed her lips against his a few more times. When she pulled back, she was beaming; her eyes sparkled with hope and adoration. "None of what happened is your fault. We'll find the person responsible, and we have all the time in the world to help you get your memories back. And in the meantime… We can make new memories too. Together. What do you say?"

Robin couldn't help but admire her beauty. Not just her outer beauty, but her inner beauty as well. Someone who was so strong and formidable, yet also kind and patient… It touched him more than words could express. He answered her question in the form of a tender kiss.

And another.

And another.

---

Thirty minutes passed before Robin received a knock at the door courtesy of Frederick. He groaned as he remembered that Chrom wanted to meet with the High Council while they were all still in the capital. Before getting out of bed, Robin took the opportunity to kiss Lyn one last time. With a dreamy sigh, she rolled out of bed herself.

Once the two were finished getting ready, Lyn made her way to the door. She turned to him and asked, "Robin?"

"Yes?"

She gave him a warm smile. "... I love you."

Robin's cheeks went red, but he returned the smile tenfold. "I love you too, Lyn. Now and always."

An involuntary giggle escaped her lips. "Good. See you in a bit!"

Lyn left with a spring in her step. Robin watched her leave before approaching his dresser and examining himself in the mirror. After putting on his gloves and primping his hair a bit, he gave himself a toothy smirk. Aside from the cloak that was still draped over his chair, he looked the same. He would have called himself passably attractive on a good day, but now that he knew that she loved him…

He felt like a god.

---

As Lyn strolled through the castle gardens, her heart soared. This new world seemed so much brighter now. Various flowers in shades of red, white and pink filled her vision, bursting with life. They swayed among neatly cut green hedges as a light breeze swept through the gardens. She savored the sweet aroma; in a way, it almost reminded her of home.

She hummed a little tune to herself as she reentered the castle. She and Robin would surely return to the plains of Sacae soon enough, but not until making sure Chrom and Lissa didn't need them anymore.

I can't wait to see everyone again…

---

With peace restored to the land, Lissa and Maribelle felt comfortable returning to their usual morning pastimes: breakfast in the dining hall, tea and elderberry crumpets in the gardens, and the age-old art of gossiping.

"Did you hear?" Maribelle asked Lissa as they rounded a corner in the castle. "Apparently our dear tactician and his lovely swordswoman left the ball together last night!"

"Yeah, so?" Lissa raised an eyebrow. A couple of seconds passed before the implication set in. "Oh. Oh! You mean… together-together?"

"Yes, darling! I hear they even shared a room!"

"You're kidding! I mean, I knew they loved each other, but…"

"They're not even married yet!" Maribelle excitedly whispered. "Why, to do such a thing before then is simply…"

"Simply…"

"Scandalous~!" they sang in unison.

The girls giggled to themselves. As they did, a third entity watched from the shadows. Their merriment came to an end as they felt a chill run down their spines. When they looked all around, whatever was watching them had disappeared.

"Yeesh…" Lissa shivered and rubbed her shoulders. "Did it get cold in here or is it just me?"

Maribelle narrowed her eyes at a pillar on her right. "I felt it too, darling. Something—or perhaps someone—is clearly displeased with this rumor… which is simply a rumor, might I add! Nothing more!"

Silence greeted her. She gave an indignant "Hmph!" before turning back to Lissa. The two continued to talk about various topics as they walked past royal guards and servants. Maribelle giggled when Lissa told a joke at Vaike's expense. She was in the midst of telling her own joke when she abruptly trailed off. Her eyes grew large and her jaw dropped as she spotted something behind Lissa.

"Maribelle, what's wrong?" Lissa furrowed her brow. "… Maribelle?"

"Oh. My. Gods."

She grabbed her by the shoulders and whirled her around. Lissa gasped. Strutting down the hall was none other than Robin himself. He wasn't wearing his usual cloak. His normal, unassuming walk was replaced by a confident stride as he snapped his fingers. He nodded as he passed some of the castle staff. Then he formed L-shapes with his fingers and pointed at them. Once in a while he'd pause to clap his hands and spin them before holding them above his head, shaking his hips to nonexistent music. At one point, he even slid past a baffled Cordelia with his arms outstretched. Then he greeted her with a thumbs-up and a grin.

When he finally reached Lissa and Maribelle, he strode past them without so much as a hello before suddenly spinning on his heel and pointing at them.

"Good morning, ladies!" Robin crooned. "And what a beautiful morning it is. Stay charming!"

He walked away, still snapping his fingers. Lissa and Maribelle turned to each other, completely dumbstruck, before breaking out into a raucous fit of laughter.

"Wha—" Lissa snorted. "Wha… What was tha-ha-haaat?! Ahahaha!"

Maribelle clutched her side with one hand and covered her mouth with the other. "Eee hee hee hee! Ohohoho!"

"Hey! What's so funny?"

They straightened up the moment they saw Lyn. She wore an amicable expression and the Sacaean clothes she loved so much. She must not have seen Robin's antics if her question was any indication.

"Ah… Ahem." Maribelle cleared her throat a little loudly, still red in the face from laughter. "Pay it no mind, dearest Lyndis. Lissa and I here were merely reminiscing about the good old days. Nothing more, nothing less!"

Lyn rolled her eyes. No matter how many times she tried to tell the more "proper" individuals that "Lyn" was just fine, they insisted on the formality all the same. She had a feeling the younger girl was lying to her, but she was willing to leave it alone for now.

Or, at least, she would have been willing to were it not for Lissa's failed attempts at keeping a straight face.

"What? What is it?" Lyn asked, almost chuckling herself.

"N-nothing…" Lissa cleared her throat just as Maribelle had, only with less poise. She struggled to think of another conversation topic. "Um… So… Uuuugh! I can't take it anymore! How are you and Robin doing lately?"

"Lissa!" she and Maribelle cried.

"C'mooon, spill the details! You two are together now, right?"

Lyn's face went beet red. She knew Lissa was hardly what one would call a prim and proper princess—a similarity they shared, come to think about it—but she had no idea she would just come out and say it like that! And in front of Maribelle no less!

Still… Sacaeans don't lie. And if it'll get her off my back…

"We're together now, yes," she answered with a straight face.

"Oh, how splendid!" Maribelle's eyes lit up as a smile graced her face. "Pardon my vocabulary, darling, but it's about darn time! Do you have any idea how long Lissa and I were waiting for you two to confess? And we were not the only ones, I can tell you that much!"

"I..." Lyn coughed, feeling her face heat up. "Well, now you know!"

"Did he kiss you? Was he good at it?"

"Maribelle!"

Maribelle giggled. She fanned her rapidly reddening face. "Oh, my. A thousand apologies, Lyndis. It seems I've forgotten myself in all the excitement."

Lissa laughed and folded her arms. "Oh, they kissed alright!"

"Lissa, please," Lyn groaned. "I'm not ashamed of my feelings for Robin in the slightest, but do you have to blab it to everybody?"

With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes and smiled. "... But yes. I enjoyed it very much."

"Cuuuute!" the two younger girls cried.

As they continued to gush about it, Lyn shook her head in embarrassment and walked away. It seemed even Little Miss Maribelle couldn't resist the temptation of gossip. She only hoped the two would find something more interesting to talk about before everyone in the castle found out.

Or everyone in the country… Good grief.

---

At Chrom's insistence, the High Council of Ylisse assembled in one of the castle's war rooms. The room had a high ceiling and colorful stained glass windows. Almost everyone who had been present at the last meeting months prior took their seat at the roundtable.

In the chair closest to the back of the room, Chrom sat with Robin on his right and Frederick standing at his left. Under normal circumstances he might have asked why the former wasn't wearing his cloak, but there were more important matters to discuss at the moment. Besides, some of the nobles likely would have commented on its… interesting design.

Maybe it's better this way. The last thing I need is someone doubting his allegiance after all he's done for us…

As the last chairman sat down, a sobering realization hit Chrom. This would be his first political meeting without Emmeryn. He'd made peace with her death long ago, but she was always the more diplomatic of the two. Lissa was educated enough, but still a bit young for meetings like this; neither he nor Emmeryn had wanted to push her before she was ready.

Without his older sister to rely on, Chrom would have to be a strong diplomat on his own merits. Strong… but reasonable.

"Chairmen of Ylisse," he addressed them, "I want to thank you all for meeting me here today. Last night's ball was a great success, and I am sincerely grateful that you all played a role in making it happen."

There were many nods and grunts of approval. Chrom's gaze fixated on the pair of empty chairs on his left. "... That said, there is clearly much we must discuss. Despite our victory against Plegia, the Exalt is still dead. Furthermore, neither Hierarch Joseph nor Chairman Daniels seem to be present. Has anyone seen or heard from them since our last meeting?"

"The Hierarch has not been seen since the Exalt's kidnapping," one nobleman said. "As he was the only person with her at the time outside of the fallen pegasus knights, I believe it prudent to assume he too is deceased."

"Were that not the case," another chairman added, "he surely would have returned to Ylisstol while you were away, Your Highness."

"... I see." Chrom frowned. He stared down at the table before him; his leg bounced underneath it. "I'll have to seek out his next of kin and express my condolences to them personally. He served the royal family his entire life and never once faltered."

Despite his own words, a seed of doubt sprouted in the back of his mind.

That still doesn't explain why he was so dead set on going with Emmeryn though…

"Chairman Daniels vanished near the Plegian-Themis border some time ago," a red-haired noble told him. Chrom saw much of Ricken in his face. "I think it's safe to assume the Grimleal may have taken advantage of the chaos and abducted him."

"Damn!" Chrom swore. Some of the chairmen gasped; he recomposed himself shortly afterwards. "... My apologies. It seems we've lost some of our most prominent members. They will be missed."

While many of the council members hung their heads quietly, a pale hand found its way into the air. It belonged to an aging gentleman in lavish green robes. Many of his once-blonde hairs were gray. Chrom recognized him right away as Theodore, Duke of Themis and Maribelle's father.

"Your Highness, if I may be so bold as to interject," Theodore said, "I truly hope Mister Lowenthal is not insinuating that my men would fail in their innate duty to protect an Ylissean, especially one of the High Council."

"Chairman Lowenthal. And I am merely stating the facts." The other nobleman glared at him. "Themis is the closest Ylissean territory to Plegia. It's been ravaged by bandits and Grimleal cultists time and time again. This would not be the first time your soldiers failed a Ylissean of high prestige."

Chrom felt a flash of anger. He knew all too well that the chairman was referring to the death of his mother, Queen Gaia. For years, he'd been led to assume that her abduction and murder was what spurred his father to act. To wage bloody war and genocide against Plegia. But if what Gangrel said was true…

He shot a pointed look at the chairman. The older man scrambled to correct himself. "Er… My sincerest apologies, Your Highness. I hadn't meant to dredge up old wounds. I merely meant to—"

"It's fine," Chrom said. It wasn't, not really, but he had to be better. To control himself in the name of diplomacy. "While we're on the topic… the former King of Plegia told me something during our final battle. Something about the Crusade."

At this, many of the nobles grew tense. Their eyes were wide and uneasy as they looked all around the room. Several made eye contact with each other, but none with Chrom. He and Robin shared a suspicious glance. Frederick remained outwardly stoic as always, but his heart was filled with dread and shame.

"Gangrel told me the slaughter had gone on for far longer than I thought," Chrom confessed. Under the table, he clenched a fist. "Ever since I was a child, I was told that my father acted in retribution… But was that truly the case?"

The nobles continued to avoid his gaze. It was just as he'd suspected; someone had to have known something, but not one of them said a word. No one was willing to talk.

He wanted to scream. To jump up from his chair and demand that they just tell the truth. His father's actions were completely unjustifiable regardless of the circumstances, but the idea that they may have been entirely unprovoked drove him mad.

And yet... he did not scream. He did not cry out. He kept his composure… just as she would have.

Chrom felt a hand on his right shoulder. When he turned his head, Robin was looking at him with an unmistakable look of empathy.

"... I have a theory."

Chrom looked over at Duke Themis again. The aging man wrung his hands together, no longer as confident as he once was. "I cannot claim to understand what your father was thinking at the time, Your Highness, but… I have a theory. I believe that, however horrid his actions were, his true target was the Grimleal, not Plegians as a whole."

There were some murmurs among the council; some of agreement, some of ridicule. Chrom cleared his throat, silencing them, and continued to stare at Maribelle's father with a frown. "... Go on."

Duke Themis nodded. "The Grimleal's rampant disregard for human life is appalling enough, but if the rumors are to be believed… They may have been trying to resurrect their dark god."

This caught Chrom and Robin's attention. Unconsciously, the latter clutched his right hand under the table, thankful for the gloves he wore. He had no recollection of what the Brand meant or when he got it—Lyn had never made any mention of it either—but whatever its origins were, it couldn't have been good. Robin only hoped it was unrelated to the conversation at hand.

"Grima?" Chrom asked. He was no stranger to the tale of Grima and the First Exalt—Ylissean children heard it all the time—but the tale typically ended with the idea that the First Exalt sealed him away forever with Naga's aid. "So all those sacrifices… All those people senselessly killed…"

"It is… a reasonable theory," Chairman Lowenthal conceded, giving the duke a nod. "It certainly does not justify all the innocent Plegian lives lost to the conflict, but it does provide a sliver of logic as to Exalt Chronos's actions. Grima would have torn the world asunder had it not been for Naga and the First Exalt."

"'Innocent Plegian lives,'" a much stockier noble repeated mockingly. His hair was curly and red; even his thick mustache and beard couldn't hide his sneer. "Impossible. Not when their entire country is run by a death cult. Do you see Naga worshippers running around killing people? No!"

Chrom grit his teeth. Chairman Scotts had raised a reliable comrade and friend in Sully, but it was no mystery where she'd inherited her brashness from. The former knight had fought alongside Chrom's own father back in the day. It was a small wonder he felt the way he did even now.

"That hardly seems fair. Many of the Plegians we encountered on our journey wanted nothing to do with Gangrel or the Grimleal," Chrom argued. "A few even made it their mission to help us combat them."

Robin smiled at that. Chairman Scotts did not, but he sat back in his chair and looked away with little else to say. "... Hmph."

"So how shall we proceed from here, Your Highness?" Duke Themis inquired. There was a gleam in his pink eyes. "We clearly must get to the bottom of this matter, but what of our subjects? Many are still feeling the effects of the war even if they did not fight in it themselves."

"My first and foremost priority will be to tend to the country's wounds," Chrom declared, sitting up in his chair. "I will personally visit each and every Ylissean village and city just as my sister would have."

There were several gasps in the chamber. Robin and Frederick both stared at Chrom in surprise, but neither said a word.

"After Ylisse is back on its feet," he continued, "I shall look into rebuilding the Ylissean Army."

There were many cries of approval and much applause.

"However," Chrom interjected, raising a finger; the applause came to a crawl. "Our army must only be used for self-defense or the defense of others. We must not abuse our power. We must not repeat my father's mistakes. Is that clear?"

No one objected.

"... Thank you. We'll seek out soldiers both new and old when the time is right. Until then, we should reestablish our trade routes between both Ylissean territories and our allies up north."

"Are you referring to those Feroxi barbarians?" Duke Themis gaped. "Surely you jest!"

"Like it or not, the people of Regna Ferox have helped us time and time again; we couldn't have defeated Plegia without their strength. I consider them friends and allies and, as such, will not tolerate such sentiment towards them in my presence."

"Er… Y-yes, Your Highness. Of course."

"If there's nothing else," Chrom said, "then you are all dismi—"

"I have a question."

He fought the urge to sigh. "Yes, Duke Themis?"

"I understand that you've not formally claimed the rank of Exalt as your own," he said tentatively. "I personally think it is quite noble that you've abstained out of respect for Exalt Emmeryn, but… the people are eager for you to ascend, Your Highness. To become their next leader. To take a wife and produce an heir."

Chrom groaned inwardly as he rubbed the bridge of his now-pink nose. Of course this would come up today. Emmeryn had never married, much less had children, so with everyone looking to him as their future Exalt, talk of an heir was inevitable. Perhaps he was naive to hope that this was the one thing that wouldn't be brought up…

"All in due time, Duke Themis…" He couldn't look anyone in the eye. "All in due time."

"You know, my darling Maribelle has plenty of marriage proposals waiting for her back home, but—"

"Priorities, Duke Themis," Chrom said, feeling more and more awkward by the second. "My first priority is my country and countrymen. I must put their needs before my own—now and always."

"Ah…" The overly opportunistic duke shrank in his seat. "Y-yes, of course… My apologies, Your Highness."

"We will meet again in a few months to discuss progress on Reconstruction. I shall send for you when it is time." Chrom signalled for Frederick to approach the table; the knight held a sizable scroll in one hand and a yardstick in another. "For now... "

Frederick unfurled the paper over the table, revealing a map of the country. Chrom accepted the yardstick from him and used it to point at the northernmost Ylissean territory: Vaike's hometown of Dreadnaught, just south of the Ylissean-Feroxi border. As he spoke their names aloud, he pointed southwest of there to the Dukedom of Themis, then at Ylisstol and the Eastern Palace in the nearby forest before stopping on Southtown. Robin watched with great interest, as did many of the chairmen.

"We shall reestablish trade routes with all of these territories," Chrom reiterated, "and I will personally visit them myself. I also would like to visit any and all smaller villages between them."

He looked at the small island southeast of Ylisse itself; the same he'd met Donnel on. "And Farfort Isle. The people there are largely self-sufficient, but I think they'd appreciate knowing that the war is over as well. I will make plans to visit these areas as soon as possible. Until then, if there are no more questions… You are all cordially dismissed. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your time."

The chairmen applauded. Chrom smiled as Robin placed a gloved hand on his shoulder; he felt as though he could breathe a little easier now. Even if not every single noble was on board with his plans… Even if he still had yet to uncover the truth of the Crusade… He'd taken the first step. He only hoped that he'd be able to live up to his promises and be the leader Ylisse needed in this post-war period.

"That was excellent, Chrom," Robin said as the chairmen took their leave, patting him on the back. "Truly."

"You think so?"

"I know it."

"I agree with Robin," Frederick said, getting their attention. He smiled. "This meeting has given me much to think about, and I shall do anything and everything within my power to make your dreams a reality, milord."

"Thank you… Both of you." Chrom stood from his chair. He looked up at the ceiling with a small grin. "Did you get all that, Gaius?"

"Huh?!"

"What?!"

Their heads snapped upwards in shock. Sure enough, Gaius sat perched on one of the rafters in the shadows, mostly concealed from view. He jumped from his hiding place and landed on the floor near them, rolling to his feet with catlike grace.

"Oh hey," he greeted, smirking at Robin and Frederick. "What's up?"

"You were, apparently," Robin answered, still gawking at him. "... Were you up there this whole time?"

"Unfortunately." He sighed and folded his arms, frowning at Chrom. "Seriously though, Blue. Next time I have to sit through such a long snoozefest, I want snacks."

Chrom chuckled. "I'm surprised you didn't bring any yourself…"

"Yeah, yeah…" Gaius's sharp eyes landed firmly on Robin. "Say… What happened to Bubbles's cloak?"

"Oh…" Robin blushed and rubbed his arm as he remembered the morning's events. "I just… forgot it, I suppose…"

"... Bubbles?" Chrom raised an eyebrow.

"Don't ask," came their unified response.

"Yes, yes, this is all very amusing," Frederick deadpanned, "but I hardly think it wise to allow such sensitive information to fall into the hands of a shameless vagabond, milord."

Gaius held a hand out. "Tin Man, don't call me a vagabond, alright? I don't know what that means."

"... Tin Man?"

"Frederick, I trust Gaius," Chrom told him. "If he had any intention of double-crossing us, I would think he'd have done it during the war."

"True enough! Red and I've decided to throw our lot in with you guys permanently," he said with a bright grin. "Er… Red being Anna, obviously."

"Truly?" Chrom and Frederick asked, the latter more disdainfully.

"Yup! And as Blue here already knows, my talents don't extend to just lockpicking. I can be one hell of an intel gatherer too!"

"So a spy then. Fantastic."

"He may have a point, Frederick," Robin said, shrugging. "These talents could prove useful in sniffing out a potential turncoat among us."

Frederick avoided eye contact with him, again overcome with shame. "... Indeed."

"So what's next for us then?" Gaius asked, ending an awkward silence before it began. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I'd love to just sit around and do nothing all day, but… Somehow I get the feeling that's not on the table."

"I think we should check in on the others for now," Chrom suggested. "With the war officially over, I'm sure several of them are going to want to return home or otherwise leave."

He felt a twinge of sadness deep down. Of course he'd never force anyone to stay, but that hardly meant he wanted to say goodbye. Still, the very least he could do after they fought alongside him would be to see them off with a smile.

"Very well," Frederick said with a nod. "I fear I have some business to attend to as well. I shall rejoin you all as soon as possible."

Despite the bulky armor he wore, he left the room swiftly. Chrom and Robin exchanged odd glances at his behavior.

Gaius, on the other hand, stared after him in silent intrigue.

Now this I gotta see...

---

The sun still shone high above Castle Ylisstol. In the stables, Cordelia sighed as she brushed her pegasus's mane. For as happy as she was that they'd won, she still mourned for Phila and the rest of her fallen sisters. Night after night, she heard their screams in her dreams. The pained neighs of their pegasi as they fell to the frozen earth. Even Phila's had died in such a horrible way… and since Phila herself was never found, she couldn't even receive a proper burial.

Cordelia kept it together at the funeral even as Sumia openly wept for them, but as soon as she was alone in the barracks… She sobbed. She sobbed and sobbed until she was out of tears to shed.

"Forgive me…"

"Cordelia?"

She leapt to her feet, ready to throw her brush, but she relaxed when she saw it was only Frederick. His hands were clasped behind his back as he stood in his usual polished armor. Aurora spotted him and gave a friendly neigh in response, flapping her wings a little.

"Forgive me for startling you, milady," he apologized with a bow. "I was just making the rounds and wanted to make sure you were alright."

"That's very thoughtful of you, Frederick." Cordelia smiled in spite of her sorrow. "... Thank you."

He smiled back more genuinely. "I could do no less."

Silence. Nothing but uncomfortable silence. Even though Ylisse was finally at peace, there was still much work to be done. Families would have to be consoled. Buildings would have to be rebuilt. And in the event of another armed conflict… New recruits would have to be found. New soldiers would have to be trained. New pegasus knights, even.

By her. She loved Sumia with all her heart, but she hadn't formally finished her training before the war with Plegia began. Before Phila and the others were taken from them. With Cordelia as the more experienced flier, all would be looking to her to fill Phila's shoes.

It terrified her.

"Um… Frederick…"

"Yes?"

She needed a distraction. Anything to keep those thoughts at bay for now. "Is that all you came to say?"

Frederick blinked, clearly taken aback by her question. It seems she'd read him like a novel. "Er… Well, I suppose not…"

"Go ahead," Cordelia told him. "I'm all ears."

"I… feel I must apologize," he admitted stiffly, forcing himself to look her in the eye. "It was wrong of me to ask you to spy on some of our allies during the war."

She blinked in confusion. Cordelia certainly hadn't expected him to say that. In truth, she'd been so preoccupied with the war effort that she'd forgotten about it entirely... Not that she liked the idea in the first place. Robin, and Lyn… and Virion too. All three had proven themselves trustworthy in the war against Gangrel.

"That's very kind of you, Frederick… but I'm not the one who deserves an apology."

Frederick gave a slow nod as the realization dawned on him. "I… I see. I should right this wrong at once. Still, it was improper for me to burden you with such a task in the first place. For that, I must apologize to you as well."

"... Very well. I forgive you, Frederick. But their forgiveness is ultimately more important here."

"Yes, you're right. I should apologize to them immediately."

"You should." Cordelia gave a heartfelt smile. "I'll even come along with you if it helps."

There was a funny feeling in his chest. He shoved it aside with a stiff upper lip. "Very well. Let us be off."

The two knights left the stables, but not before Cordelia rubbed Aurora's head and fed her some hay. Once they were well out of earshot, Gaius peeked his head out from behind the outside of the stable.

"Well, well." He smirked. "Looks like Tin Man has a heart after all…"

---

"Nonono, your legs! Swing with your legs!"

"Vaike, what the heck does that even—Woah!"

Lissa grunted as she landed on her rear for what felt like the eighth time that day. She'd been serious when she told her friends that she wanted to get stronger all that time ago. Even so, she never imagined that swinging an axe around would be so much work. It wasn't even made of metal!

Fortunately for her, Vaike was a more patient teacher than one might have expected. Even as he folded his arms and shook his head, it was more out of disappointment in himself than her.

"You're alright, Liz," he told her, walking across the training room and helping her. "Let's take five, yeah?"

"B-but I've barely done anything!" she whined. Despite her feelings, the exhaustion in her arms was in full agreement with Vaike's words. She let the wooden training axe fall to the floor with a clunk. "Ugh. This stinks… I have no idea how you do it, Vaike."

He laughed and flexed his arms with pride. "Years o' trainin', kiddo! The Vaike didn't get muscles like these overnight!"

"Hey! Don't call me a kid. I'm not that much younger than you and Chrom, y'know." Lissa's cheeks puffed up as she pouted. She folded her arms and turned away from him. "Honestly, never mind… I'm beginning to think I spoke too soon with the whole training thing."

"Woah now! You can't just quit after one or two falls!"

"Eight, Vaike! It was eight!"

"Ah, that's not so bad! I fell lots of times before I got good," he said, shrugging. Vaike pointed his thumb at a large scar that ran diagonally down his chest. "Ya see this? Old Man Gangrel did that, and that was after years of me bein' a bona fide warrior!"

Lissa rolled her eyes. "Vaike, you probably don't even know what 'bona fide' means!"

"Wha? 'Course I do! It means ya got bones of steel!"

She giggled. "Okay, now I know you're just messing with me."

"Heh…" Vaike grinned and folded his arms. "Well, maybe a little. But the point is that you shouldn't throw in the towel if ya really want something."

"Oh yeah? And why's that?"

Vaike closed his eyes as he thought back upon the man he used to be. The streets of his village up north had raised him well enough—he knew right from wrong, after all—but he had no purpose in life then. He had a gang, sure, and genuine friends to boot… but he had no purpose. Nothing to do with all his strength… until he met Emmeryn.

"Vaike?"

"Hmm?" He opened his eyes. "Oh, sorry. I was thinkin' about the first time I met your siblings."

"Huh?" Lissa stared at him. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Liz, they gave me somethin' to want. Somethin' to fight for." Vaike stood tall, smiling. "And that somethin' is protectin' people. Helpin' people! Because they helped me..."

"Vaike…"

"So don't give up on your dreams!" He clenched his fist between them. "If ya follow your dreams, you'll be sure to succeed!"

"Heheh." Lissa grinned; she couldn't deny his contagious enthusiasm. "You really think I could be a great fighter someday?"

"'Course I do! And until that day comes, Teach'll be your own personal trainer!" Vaike grinned and gave her a thumbs up. "Believe it!"

"Yeah! I gotta believe!"

She leapt up and gave Vaike a high five. It was just like him to be in high spirits even after a rough time… and to his credit, that confidence was contagious too. Lissa was once again confident that, with enough time and effort, she'd be a formidable fighter in her own right. As long as she had her friends to guide her, she'd make it happen.

"You two!"

They turned their heads at the voice. Cordelia stood in the doorway with an uncharacteristically guilty-looking Frederick beside her.

"Heeeey, Cordy!" Vaike waved. "Wassup?"

"Everyone is saying their goodbyes in the main hall," she told them. "You should come too. There's no telling when we might see them again."

Lissa couldn't contain her gasp. "Huh?! You mean… Everyone's leaving?"

"Well, not everyone, but a few people at the very least."

"Damn." Vaike sighed. "If there's one thing Teach hates, it's sayin' goodbye. Still… It'd be worse not to. Let's move, team!"

---

Most of the Shepherds had already converged in the middle of Castle Ylisstol's main hall. The Khans' belongings were already packed up as they said goodbye to everyone. On Chrom's orders, everyone was given a sizable sack of gold for their service. Some tried to refuse, but the castle staff made it clear that he'd insisted upon it. Basilio and Gregor shared a great hug as Flavia and Sully tried to see who could give the stronger handshake. Lyn laughed a little at the scene before wrapping her arms around Olivia.

"Take care, Lyn," Olivia said, returning the embrace with a warm smile. "Come visit sometime, okay?"

"Of course!"

Lon'qu cracked a rare smile at the scene himself. He kept a safe distance from every woman not named Olivia or Flavia—an impressive feat considering the size of the crowd. "I expect a fierce duel the next time we meet, Lyn."

"Count on it!" Her green eyes glinted as she grinned. "I'll come at you with everything I have!"

"... Heh."

Chrom and Robin joined the crowd from the northern section of the castle. At the same time, Cordelia and Frederick made their way to the party from the castle's front entrance. Lissa and Vaike were close behind them; Gaius crept in last.

"I suppose this is it, then?" Robin asked Virion as they shook hands.

"For now, mon ami. For as much as I love Ylisse, there is much of Regna Ferox I have yet to see. It was most gracious of the Khans to let me accompany them!"

Virion's eyes drifted towards Olivia. He waved at her with a grin; she blushed and looked away. Behind her, Lon'qu glared daggers at him. Virion cleared his throat and returned his attention to Robin. "Ah, but enough about me! I can see you are in good hands here yourself, Robin."

"No arguments there." Robin smiled. He gasped when Lyn wrapped her arms around him from behind. He blushed and let out a bashful laugh as she rested her chin on his shoulder. "Aha... "

"Ah, there you three are," they heard Frederick say. When they looked at him, he brought an armored fist to his mouth and cleared his throat. "Might I see you all for just a moment? I have something I wish to say."

The three nodded. They moved to a less populated corner of the room with him. Once they were far away enough from the others, Frederick spoke again. "Thank you all. Truly. You've all fought tooth and nail for milord and done us all a great service. Not just the royal family, but all of Ylisse as well."

Virion bowed. "It was our pleasure, Sir Frederick."

"Really, Frederick," Lyn added. "There's no need to thank us."

"We fought alongside Chrom because we wanted to," Robin said with a smile.

"Even so, you've all done us a debt that cannot be repaid. Yet, in spite of all of that… I distrusted you," he admitted. He made the effort to swallow his pride, speak earnestly, and look each of them in the eye. "I even asked one of our own to spy on you."

Lyn gasped; Robin and Virion were just as shocked. "Frederick! You didn't!"

He nodded in response. "I did. It was wrong of me, and I should never have behaved in such an undignified manner no matter how concerned I was for the royal family's safety. I… I'm a disgrace to the knighthood."

"Hey now," Lyn said, frowning. "That's not true at all. I mean, it was wrong of you, but… That doesn't necessarily make you a bad person, Frederick!"

"Or a bad knight either!" Robin argued. "I've never met a knight as devoted to their leader and country as you."

"But…"

"I must agree with them both," Virion said. "I can understand the desire for security, but I also value my privacy. I simply hope you have at least a little more faith in us now, monsieur."

"I do." Frederick nodded again in earnest. "Completely. There is much I do not know about you three, but having seen your devotion to Chrom firsthand… I was wrong to treat you the way I did. I fear there simply aren't enough words or actions in existence to convey my remorse."

Robin sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Frederick, really… As long as you promise not to spy on your friends anymore, I think we can put this mess behind us."

Frederick's mouth parted in confusion. "You… Friends… What?"

None of the trio were completely okay with what had transpired, but they knew why Frederick would be suspicious even if he took things too far. As Chrom and Lissa's sole retainer, he was often called "Frederick the Wary" for a reason. They looked at each other, smiled, and then looked back at him.

Lyn held her hand in the middle of the ground. "Friends?"

Robin's hand fell over hers, interlocking their fingers together. Virion placed his hand over theirs before glancing back at Frederick. "There is always room for more, you know."

"I… don't understand. How am I supposed to shake that?"

Lyn snickered. "Just get over here!"

Frederick's trembling, metal-covered hand made the others' look tiny in comparison. Despite everything that he'd said and done, they were still willing to accept him. The revelation stunned and confused him, but… he stepped forward. He placed his hand over theirs.

And, when the time came, the others threw their hands into the air with a little cheer.

"See? No harm, no foul!"

Frederick didn't know where to look anymore. His face growing hotter by the second, he rubbed his hand and stared at it. "... Indeed."

"Thanks, Frederick," Lyn told him with a smile. "We should say goodbye to the others, but… I appreciate your honesty."

"Me too!" Robin grinned.

Virion chuckled. "And I make trois! I hope to see you again soon, Sir Frederick. I know a subordinate or two who could learn a thing or two from you. Adieu!"

As they returned to the crowd, Frederick stared after them. Their kindness made the corners of his mouth curl up, but Virion's parting comment lingered in his mind.

"... Wait a minute. Subordinates?" He furrowed his brow. "No… He can't possibly be…!"

Unfortunately for Frederick, his newfound suspicions would have to wait. Virion had already joined Lon'qu and Olivia as they walked out of the castle. As he sighed and gently rubbed the bridge of his nose, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"That was very brave of you, Frederick."

"I could do no less, milady," he said as he turned around. Cordelia's vibrant red hair filled his vision; she was smiling. "I still do not believe I deserve their forgiveness. Or your praise, for that matter."

"It takes courage to apologize to someone when you know you've wronged them," she argued. Several of Cordelia's friends and comrades-in-arms came to mind, and she sighed. "I still haven't mastered that myself…"

Frederick raised an eyebrow, but he said nothing. He knew better than to pry into the private affairs of others—at least now he did. Even so, he followed Cordelia's gaze until it landed on Chrom. He, Basilio and Flavia were walking near the castle's main entrance.

"If you need anything—and I do mean anything," Flavia told Chrom, "you let us know."

"Thank you, Flavia." He beamed. When he offered his hand, she laughed and gave him a hearty embrace. He chuckled a bit and hugged her back. "Heh… Right. This… hardly seems proper, but—"

"Pfft!" She pulled back and ruffled his hair. "Since when have you cared about being prim and proper? Besides, you won the tournament for me all those months ago! And with all that's happened since, we're practically family as far as I'm concerned."

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't forget about me!" Basilio yelled. He pulled Chrom into an even stronger hug. "She's right though, boy. It's been a helluva run. You need something, you just send for us. Our boys up north have kept our trade routes well-secured."

"Leave it to Basilio to try and one-up the reigning Khan," Flavia snarked, rolling her eyes. When she looked at Chrom, she was smiling once more. "I'm proud of you, Chrom. Real proud. I know you'll make this country succeed."

"Thank you… Both of you." Something about her words nearly made him tear up. "You've done so much for us…"

"Well, uh… don't thank us just yet." Basilio scratched his chin. "Gregor mentioned something about wanting to stay here, serve as a royal bodyguard or some such. He's a great warrior, but he'll eat and drink you out of house and home!"

Chrom looked over at the grizzled mercenary. He, Nowi and Miriel waved at Lon'qu and Olivia as they stood outside with Virion. "Heh… I think we'll manage."

He glanced to his right. Some of the council members from earlier were greeting their children: Chairman Scotts hugged Sully and tousled her hair in front of Stahl and Kellam, Chairman Lowenthal held Ricken close, and Duke Theodore embraced Maribelle. Lowenthal and Theodore glared at each other momentarily before returning their attention to their children.

"Well, we'd best be off. Regna Ferox needs its khans," Basilio announced. "Take care, boy! Don't forget to write us sometime!"

"Be seeing you, Chrom!" Flavia grinned. She placed a hand on Basilio's shoulder as they walked away.

Chrom smiled after them somberly. His memories of his parents were faint at best, but with Emmeryn gone… The Khans were the closest he had to them in a sense. It was odd to think of how they'd been strangers less than a year ago. Then again, he'd forged many bonds in that short amount of time, particularly with Lyn and Robin. He remembered meeting Lyn during the Khans' tournament in Regna Ferox and finding Robin lying in a field not long before then. It seemed as though fate itself conspired to bring them together.

Heh. What a strange world we live in...

"Uh… Yer Highness?"

Donnel's chipper young voice got his attention. The boy stood in front of him with a sack on a stick resting on his shoulder. He wore his memorable tin pot on his head with pride.

"Oh, Donnel! Just Chrom is fine. Are you leaving too?"

"Yep." He nodded, frowning. "I wanna come back an' be a knight proper someday, but…"

Chrom smiled. "I understand. Your mother is probably worried sick!"

"Heh… Her an' the rest of the village, yeah." Donnel scratched his jaw. "It's been real fun though, Yer Hi… Er, Chrom. I know I'm not knight material yet, but… but I will be someday! I know I will!"

"I look forward to that day." Chrom hugged him. "Take care of yourself, Donny. Tell everyone we say hello!"

"Sir, yes sir!" He saluted.

"Oh! That reminds me… I know our fight against Plegia is done, but there might be Ylissean bandits or Risen roaming the countryside. We can escort you back if you'd like."

"Aha…" Donnel tugged at his collar nervously. "See, about that—"

"Hey guys!" Nowi greeted. She walked up to them in a hooded brown cloak. "When do we head out, Donny?"

"Hmm?" Chrom glanced between them. "You're going together?"

"Yep! I can fly him home faster than any dinky little boat can!" she bragged, hands on her hips.

His eyes fell on a bashful Donnel. "... And you're both on board with this?"

"W-well, I ain't never been up in the air before, but… I reckon we'll be fine. I hope…"

Nowi rolled her eyes. "We'll be fiiiine. I once flew with four people on my back, remember? One person'll be a breeze!"

"Heh. Well met." Chrom gave the odd pair a grin. "I hope to see you both safe and sound sometime soon."

"You betcha!"

"Yessir!"

While Donnel and Nowi's departure ended in bright smiles, Maribelle's began in somber tears. She knew her father had attended—and helped to fund—last night's ball. What she did not know was that he intended to depart for Themis immediately. Maribelle knew this wouldn't be the end of her friendship with Lissa, but she hadn't expected to say goodbye so soon. It wasn't as if they could see each other every day either: Themis was at least a week away from Ylisstol by carriage.

"Come now, Maribelle. No more tears," her father gently chided her. "Themis needs its current duke and future duchess, after all. We have a duty to our people."

"Y-yes, of course." She quickly nodded, dabbing her eyes with her handkerchief. Then she turned to Lissa and hugged her. "My apologies, darling. I know we'll see each other soon enough. I'll write a dozen letters every day!"

Lissa giggled. "Aw, Mari… I think one a day'll be enough."

"While we're here," Duke Theodore mused, "I don't suppose there are any especially talented mages among the Shepherds that could accompany us for the time being? I find our spellcasters rather… lacking as of late."

"Miriel and Robin are both pretty good with magic, but my brother needs them here right now," Lissa told him. She wrung her hands behind her back. "I wanna go with you guys, but… I can't even use a tome yet without getting dizzy. I'd only get in the way…"

"Lissa, perish the thought!" Maribelle admonished. "You could never!"

"Hmm…" Duke Theodore stroked his chin. "Well we always value your company, my dear, but I fear it would be most inconsiderate of me to separate you from His Highness so soon after your return. You are both each other's last living family member, after all."

Lissa's shoulders slumped. "Yeah…"

"Say, what about me?" a nearby Ricken asked. "I'm no expert, but I'm sure I could help out somehow!"

"What?!" His suggestion came as a shock to everyone, but especially his father. Chairman Lowenthal's jaw was practically on the floor as he gawked at him. "But you've hardly been home since you've returned! Lydia asks for you all the time!"

"I'll visit Mother before we leave! And I'll write you guys letters every day too!"

Duke Theodore's eyes shifted between the two as he thought about it for a few seconds. "Hmm… Well, you're certainly rather young, but I suppose you'll do for now. Are there any other friends of yours that would like to come along, Maribelle?"

Now it was her turn to mull it over. Miriel's knowledge was unparalleled, but she had already made plans to stay in Ylisstol and further her research for the good of the halidom. Conversely, Father Libra had announced his intention to roam the countryside and heal the wounds of war. Ricken was already accompanying them, much to her surprise, and trying to pull Robin away from Chrom and especially Lyn at this point would be nothing short of selfish.

Maribelle glanced at the trio in question. Chrom was talking to Sumia and some of the other Shepherds. Lyn and Robin, meanwhile, stood hand in hand next to him. She couldn't help but smile at them—they'd more than earned their happiness in her book—but a familiar chill ran down her spine. Hiding behind a marble pillar was none other than Tharja; her harsh glare seemed uncomfortably fixated on Lyn…

"I know someone who may be of help, Father," Maribelle said at once. She pointed at the pillar. "Tharja may be ornery, but she's as talented a spellcaster as they come. Besides..."

She smirked. There was a twinkle in her eye that made Lissa and Ricken shiver. "I believe it may be in her best interest to experience all that Themis has to offer. The poor dear hasn't seen much of Ylisse, after all. I'm certain even Prince Chrom would agree with me..."

Her father followed her gaze, frowning when he spotted Tharja. "... Indeed. In any case, make sure your friends gather their belongings at once; we leave this evening."

As Duke Theodore and Maribelle approached her to make her an offer she was certain to refuse, the rest of the Shepherds finally seemed to wrap up their goodbyes. All but one: the viridian-clad cavalier of Chrom's militia. Stahl was sad to see some of his new friends go—young Donnel most of all—but he grew concerned when he spotted Panne slinking away from the crowd. His eyes followed her as she slipped out of the main entrance.

Kellam and Sully picked up on his mood shift at once. When he turned to them with a pensive grimace, Sully grabbed his shoulder.

"Go on," she told him, tilting her head in Panne's direction. "We'll still be here when ya get back."

"Yeah," Kellam agreed, smiling. "Go talk to her, bud. She probably trusts you more than anyone else here."

Stahl rubbed the back of his head with a nervous chuckle. He wouldn't say they were that close, but it was true that Panne had softened up to him since their first meeting.

He just hoped it would be enough to make her stay.

---

Castle Ylisstol's stables were wide and well-maintained. The smell of hay, horses and pegasi filled Panne's nostrils as she walked in. She didn't mind; it was a familiar, welcome change after spending much of the day around humans. She didn't find their scent repugnant—not anymore, at least—but she felt more at ease among her fellow beasts.

Panne looked at the numerous pegasi lining the stables. They looked well-fed and groomed, but… lonely. Lacking both freedom and purpose. Not at all like Sumia and Cordelia's mounts—they greeted her with cheerful neighs and heads held high. Belfire and Aurora were both in prime condition, the former's wounds having healed completely since the final confrontation with Gangrel.

She looked at some of the other animals. She recognized the big brown horses that belonged to Frederick, Sully and Stahl, but there were many more horses she'd never seen or smelled before. Did they have names? Riders?

Numerous questions crossed her mind as she passed stable after stable. She stopped at the very end upon seeing Stahl's horse. Panne approached it and ran a careful hand through its dark mane. This horse had served Stahl well… but it wasn't his first. Back when the castle was under attack from Plegian assassins, Stahl's original partner had been killed by Risen. It pained Panne deeply whenever animal life was lost to human warfare. In the past, she would've released them all then and there.

And yet… she didn't. All for reasons she couldn't place.

"Panne! There you are."

She didn't even have to turn to see who it was; his voice and smell made it all too clear. She did so anyway out of what the humans called "courtesy." Panne's sharp eyes locked with Stahl's more easygoing ones.

"Hello, Stahl. Here I am."

"Er… Yeah." Stahl chuckled nervously. He leaned against a nearby post. "Are you alright? I saw you wandering off a little while ago."

"I merely needed some fresh air," she explained. Panne turned her attention back to his riding partner. "... I am fond of your horse."

"Heh. He's great, isn't he? Abel II's been with me for months now."

Panne glanced back at Stahl with an unreadable expression. "... Abel II? Then your first horse…"

"Was Abel, yeah," Stahl finished. He stared at the dirt in front of him, his smile long gone. "He, uh… died when assassins came for the Exalt."

"I remember that night well. That vile sorcerer and his putrid undead minions… Revolting."

"Agreed." He clenched his fists, now glaring in a rare sight to her. "He may be dead, but I'll never forgive him or the Risen for what they've done. Not just to Abel, but to other people and animals too."

Panne shut her eyes; her heart felt heavier. "Indeed… I only wish I could have done more for you. You, Abel, the Exalt…"

"Panne, don't say that! You've already done more for us than most ever could!"

"You flatter me."

"I'm serious!" Stahl argued. He took a step forward. "You could've avoided that battle entirely, but… You didn't. You chose to stick your neck out for a group of people you'd never even met before. And then you fought alongside us until we seized victory. That… That's amazing! You're amazing, I mean—"

"E-enough!" Panne blurted, her face growing warm. There was a strange feeling in her chest she hadn't felt in years. She looked away. "I… I only joined you because I felt indebted to Emmeryn."

"Maybe that was true originally, but… I dunno. I think we've grown on you," Stahl said with a chuckle. "And you've grown on a lot of us too."

"... Grown on? We are not plants, man-spawn."

He sighed and shook his head. "We really have to work on this whole metaphor thing with you, don't we? All I meant to say was that you have a place here now. I like you, the others like you, and you surely must like us too if you stuck with us even after Emmeryn died."

"I… That is not…"

Panne folded her arms and looked away. She stared at his horse once more. "... Hmph. Believe what you will."

"Well? Am I right or am I right?"

"Begone!"

Stahl laughed heartily. The funny feeling in Panne's chest grew when he stopped, earnest olive eyes peering right into her soul. "Alright, alright, I'm going. But… Are you gonna stay here in Ylisstol? There's plenty of rooms in the castle, or you could just sleep in here if you want. I don't think Chrom would mind either way…"

Panne thought it over. Even though she could go back to her old warren… Why would she? There was nothing left there except those she'd buried. Wandering the lands aimlessly didn't appeal to her anymore either. She still loved to hunt, but what greater purpose would that serve without someone to share the spoils with?

There was no replacing her family and people, but these new friends she'd made on her journey… Stahl, and Lyn, and the others… The taguel would respect their bravery and kindness. They would want her to want her to be happy. To stand by them and use her strength to defend the weak.

"... Very well, Stahl." Panne fought a smile. She ran a hand through his horse's mane again. "I suppose I could stay… for now."

Stahl couldn't contain his excitement. He jumped and threw a fist in the air. "Yahoo! Alright!"

"Heh… Heheh…" She covered her mouth to muffle the rest of her laughter. "Heh… Ahem. Very amusing indeed."

"Woah! I don't think I've ever heard you laugh before, Panne." Stahl's mouth parted in astonishment; his cheeks were bright red. "It's… actually pretty cute…"

"E-enough already!" she snapped, blushing just as hard. "If you've no more business here, then leave!"

"Okay, okay… I'm going this time. Seriously. But…"

Panne closed her eyes and exhaled through her nose. "Yes, Stahl?"

"Is it true that taguel can tell what animals are thinking?"

"In a sense, yes." She gave him an odd look. "... Why?"

"Can you tell me what Abel II is thinking right about now?"

"... Very well." Panne looked over at the horse in question. When she rubbed its forehead, it gave a cheerful neigh in response. She smiled. "Heh. He is happy."

"... Oh." He almost seemed disappointed. "Well that's good and all, but… Is that it?"

She closed her eyes, still smiling. "... He also says you are very kind."

Stahl perked up at that. "Aww, Panne—"

"Th-those were his words!" she sputtered. "Not mine!"

"Heh. If you say so…"

With that, Stahl left to rejoin the others. It wouldn't be long before Panne followed him back into the castle. Even without those who'd already departed, the main hall was still abuzz with excitement. Sumia seemed adamant on helping Chrom unwind in the form of a picnic, Robin and Lyn smiled at the scene, Miriel spoke passionately about the intricacies of magic to a somewhat confused Gregor, and Anna tried to sell Libra some kind of skin cream. The rest of the Shepherds either stuck around to converse or split off to do their own thing.

Panne flashed a serene smile. To think that humans were capable of such horrid things such as war… yet were also capable of putting a stop to those things. Capable of companionship and peace, just as Emmeryn was. Just as her own people were.

She hoped it would last.

---

Okay, so... Hi! It's been awhile. ^^; I don't really have much to say regarding this chapter; all I can really say for certain right now is that the next chapter should be no longer than this one (and would preferably be much shorter). It should also be a little more action-y as well, so we'll see how that goes!

Onto some guest feedback. :)

Toyosatomimi: Now that is an interesting twist! Only time will tell if it happens.

Chicosai: Thank you! I really enjoyed throwing those referencees in there. I'm also really glad Robin and Lyn are officially together (finally indeed!) I would think that, were it possible in Awakening, Lyn!Morgan would be very fast but also very squishy. I also think that one of Lyn's reclassing options would be Pegasus Knight due to her friendship with Florina, meaning Morgan would be able to get it right from her. :) Very interesting question!

Guest: Haha, indeed!

Guest 2: Oh dear... I'm afraid that is far beyond my skill level, aha.

Guest 3: Very true! FFN definitely was on the fritz not too long ago; I recently had an issue logging in but all seems good for the time being. :)

Guest 4: I may or may not have been thinking of Thanos when I wrote that scene last chapter... ^^;

JP I'm Italian: Hello! Thanks for the birthday wishes. Glad you liked the references and sorry that I didn't make some things clear in the last chapter; the hooded figure was indeed Gaius (more on how he and Anna escaped later) and Chrom's possession of the Lightsphere (in the Fire Emblem) is what weakened Gangrel's Darksphere-influenced invulnerability.

I could totally picture Henry as a yandere... Can't wait to see if that'll happen! Incidentally, Lyn may or may not be on the receiving end of a curse someday... but we'll see.

I like to think that Gangrel was already dying and his last attack being reflected back at him and his subsequent fall cemented his death. And I can totally see the Hardin parallels! Good catch.

I don't really think Sumia and Cordelia would fight over Chrom since they're such good friends, but we'll see which way the wind blows regarding Cordelia's feelings. The circumstances regarding both Tanya and the bounty hunter from Rosanne will be touched upon later. Gharnef's not really part of the Grimleal at the moment, but the hierarchy you mentioned seems pretty spot on for now.

That's a very good point regarding Lyn's weapons and Campari's armor. I didn't want to make her too strong, but now it seems I swung too far in the opposite direction and didn't make her strong enough. It's been months and I still haven't forgiven myself for this.

Things in both Ylisse and Plegia are certainly going to be interesting now that the war's over. Henry will definitely appear at least once or twice in the near future, so that'll be fun! I do think I should mention that Robin still doesn't really remember most of his life in Elibe firsthand (and remembers none of it prior to meeting Lyn), so we'll just have to see if he gets all of them back at some point or another. Lyn is definitely going to want to return home at some point, so that'll also be a fun discussion to write!

As for the confession... Yeah, that's fair. I was pretty proud of it at the time, but... I dunno. Maybe it was missing something. On the bright side, there's plenty of other confessions I get to write later, so that's kinda neat!

Thank you very much for your feedback, JP! I always look forward to your reviews.

Anon-Man: I could see why someone might come to that conclusion, but I really don't think I could pull off something like that. Tharja... definitely isn't happy; we'll catch up with her next time.

A big thanks to all of you and everyone else who read/reviewed! I really struggled with this chapter so I strongly encourage and appreciate any and all feedback. I can't give Chapter 22 a set date; I can only try to make it as good as I can. Thanks to everyone who's read along to this point, I hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy in these trying times, and I'll see you next time!

- Hopeless