April 20th,
Lucina reached for the handle, eyes lowered to the ground where the rain splashed upon a stone-tiled floor. Lifting her eyes back up, she tightened her grip and twisted the handle, stepping out of the rain and into the hallway. Quiet sniffles reached her ears, coming from the girl sitting on the bench silently muttering to herself.
Turning to her right, Lucina saw Reflet as she rubbed both eyes with her hands, rubbing away the half-dried tears running on her cheeks. Muttering something so quiet she couldn't hear, her hands fell to her side, only for her to then bring back her elbow and rub it again with a tiny groan.
Lucina took a step forward, pulling the door towards her on instinct before remembering that Owain was right behind her. As she opened it back up for him, Owain slipping through the gap and turned towards them.
"Umm… Do you know her?" Speaking as silently as possible, he flicked his finger at her before flicking his thumb at first pointing at her before pointing to the empty hallway behind himself.
She wished to say yes, but only nodded her head in response.
"Okay I'll be over here then," he quickly said, waving his hand in the general direction as he started walking backwards.
Looking back at Reflet, the girl stopped wiping her face again, lowering her arm back down. With another, mew-like grumble, she slumped forwards, muttering something again as she rested her hands on her cheeks and sighed.
"Marth, where'd you go?" She sniffled, putting on a frown that was almost pout-like pressed against her hands as she turned her eyes to the floor.
Taking another step closer, Lucina's lips parted, trying to get any kind of word out.
"...Ah- um…"
"...Huh?" Reflet lifted her eyes up, looking to the right. "Who's…"
Seeing no one standing on the other side of the hallway, she brought her head back and looked to her left where Lucina stood, locking eyes with her.
"There…"
The two of them stood still, Reflet staring at the girl standing at the door and Lucina at the girl sitting on the bench. Neither said another word, leaving them in a single silence that felt like a one hundred.
"Marth?" Reflet asked.
Swallowing the air in her throat, she nodded her head affirmatively.
A second passed, when Reflet's eyes opened wide. She then shut them tight, her hands gripping the bench so strongly they shuddered.
"Marth!" she cried. Reflet immediately jumped from the bench to her side, tackling Lucina head-on and making her wheeze.
"Ah—!" Lucina said, the surprise and shock stealing wind from her as Reflet hugged her. The force of the blow nearly made her trip backwards had she not steadied her foot, but Reflet didn't even so much as notice as she held onto her as tight as she could.
"Marth! Marth!"
Reflet was practically chirping her name the way a bird would, calling and calling her name as she buried her head into her chest. A sob choked out of her, her hands digging into her shirt as she cried out again.
"Mar-Mar…"
Her snowy-white hair was soaked and damp from rushing through mud and rain, drooping over one of her eyes which hid underneath. Cuts and scorch marks and stabs left her clothes in complete tatters, her pale skin peeking out through the rips. In parts that got hit worse, they were nearly slashed apart or ripped away, including a good chunk which looked fried by a thunder blast, leaving her side completely exposed.
She was a dirty mess. But so was Lucina herself. Lucina's own hair was as soaked and her boots were as muddy as hers. The only difference was that Reflet was far worse off than she was. She must have been in the battle at Gangrel's palace.
Owain leaned on one foot and peeked his head out, giving Lucina a stare and a pair of pursed lips, only for her to respond with a shrug of her own as she furrowed her brow, pursed her own lips, and looked out towards the rainy, dark outside.
Reflet held her head and her eyes low, mumbling and whispering as she clutched at the blue fabric of her shirt. "I'm sorry, Mar-Mar… I… I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" she asked. "You're sorry for what?"
"I-I… I couldn't do it. I couldn't save her." Reflet's breathing grew heavy and quick, sobs still breaking through from her tears.
"Reflet…" Lucina put her hand gently on her head. "...It's, it's going to be alright."
"But I-I, I-I-I-I—"
"Breathe Reflet, breathe," Lucina pulled back, lifting her arm as she held her by the wrist. "You must breathe, okay?"
As Lucina took a slow, deep breath, so too did Reflet mimic her, gradually keeping the sobbing girl steady.
"I'm s-sorry, I couldn't save Emmeryn," she told Lucina between her breaths. "When you left, she got kidnapped, and I was supposed to make a plan to save her. And I tried to think of everything, but I couldn't! She- she…"
Reflet's eyes widened again. "She's gone," she said, when guilt rushed over them. "I was supposed to save her. I promised you! I promised her, but I couldn't, Mar-Mar!"
"Reflet…" Lucina said.
Clearly, there was much she missed, but there was still something she needed to say. Pulling away from her, she held onto her shoulders, looking her in the eyes.
"It's okay. Reflet," she told her, lifting up her head. "You thought of everything you could to save her, yes?"
"I did," Reflet panted out, sniffling for breath. "We… Plegia's army would've stopped us coming from the border, so we snuck in through that big lake. The one between the three countries, you know?" She reached for the bang on her forehead and started curling it in twirls, sniffling as she tried to continue. "The Lake of the Sage, that's the name. We went there, and then through the desert to the capital so Chrom could get arrested."
Lucina's eyes quickly narrowed. "You let Chrom get arrested?"
"Wait, seriously?" Owain said with a turn of his head.
Reflet nodded her head quickly. "Wayne said Gangrel 'liked to put on a show for an audience,' and we knew he hated seeing Chrom, so I thought we should trick him by getting Chrom captured. We couldn't just attack head on with how small our group is, but putting him there gave us just enough time to prepare a sneak attack while getting as close to Emmeryn as we could." She lifted her fingers up and curled them twice as she spoke, "And then Flavia took out the executioner, and we broke Chrom's chains so he could fight. It was Canas who did that, and he was with us when we were making the plan."
"Ah!" Owain said. "So by getting him captured, you made it seem like Gangrel could drop his guard! But it was just a cover for you to begin the assault!"
"Mmhm," Reflet affirmed with another small nod. "Um, who are you though?"
"Oh, uh, hi." Owain chuckled awkwardly, waving hello to her. "Lu—" He rapidly coughed into his sleeve, turning over to his cousin as he brought his hand to his chest.
"Ahem!" he said. "Marth, I uh, believe a pair of introductions are in order."
"Oh! Right, I should probably introduce you," Lucina said. She brought her hand out to Reflet, looking over to Owain.
"This is Reflet," she said, now bringing her hand back to Owain. "And you are, my cousin."
She turned herself back to Reflet and continued to speak, "He's a swordfighter like me. We found each other some time ago. He's one of my closest allies, so I'm sure you could trust him."
"High praise coming from you, don't you think?" Owain grinned and held his head again, only to pull his blade out of the sheath behind his back. "My comrade is right though! By our swords, we shall do everything in our power to vanquish evil plaguing the land!" Spinning his sword quickly in front of him, he pulled it behind him and beckoned Reflet with two fingers.
"Would you like a taste? Then come! Let metal clash metal, my sword hand craves blood!"
"Ehehehehe!" Reflet brought her hand to her lips, giggling and grinning warmly at the dramatic boy's antics. "Your sword hand?"
"Hey! Laughter means the act is a success!" Owain said, laughing himself with his hand on his head as he got back up. "But Marth. Who is she?"
"She's the Shepherd's…" Lucina stopped and looked at Reflet, then back at Owain. "She's a Shepherd."
"Well yeah, I can see that. But who is she?" Before she could respond, Owain grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the girl into the other hallway.
"We've never met her before in the future, so what gives?" he told her.
"I don't know?" Lucina said with a confused shrug and a whisper. "From what I can gather, Chrom must have met her moments before I arrived."
"So you mean there's a whole other Shepherd, and we have absolutely no idea who they are or what they did? Ugh…" Owain put his hand on his head in annoyance, when suddenly his eyes snapped back down. "Wait, you don't think she could be the one, right?"
"The one?" Lucina said. "Wait, you don't mean…"
When Lucina stopped herself, Owain gave her a deathly glare, nodding his head warily.
"It couldn't…" Lucina turned around, looking back at the girl standing away from them.
"You know it has to be one of them," Owain reaffirmed.
"I know," she reaffirmed herself, looking back at him. "Out of the Shepherds, none of who I've met so far seem like they were the one to do it. Just because that's true though…"
Lucina looked at the girl again, her hand reaching for her sword. Gripping down on her hilt, Owain followed her, hovering his hand just over his own.
Still staring down the girl, her grip on her blade tightened further. "But… no, no she couldn't. It wouldn't make sense, would it?" She shook her head ever so lightly, eyes locked ahead of her. "Reflet wants nothing else but to help Chrom, she even said so herself."
"But couldn't she have some kind of secret motive?" Owain argued against her. "Anyone could. We don't know enough to know why it happened."
"I doubt that. She lacks any sort of memories from her past," Lucina pointed out. "Apparently, she was recruited as soon as she met Chrom, so what would she have as reason for her actions?"
"...Well, if you believe it, then I believe it," Owain said. He brought his hand away from his sword, scanning his eyes over Reflet once more. "It doesn't look like she could do it, either."
After the two stared at her for so long, Reflet finally took notice of them, her eyes darting to and from Owain's before locking with Lucina's for one brief moment. In that moment, they lit up alongside a grin on her lips, before she turned herself away bashfully, hiding her mouth behind her tattered sleeves.
"...It couldn't make sense," Lucina defended. "She's far too kind to ever go through with it. She barely has the heart to fight."
She let go of her father's blade immediately, then clenched her fist as tight as it could. Shutting her eyes, she shook her head once again, turning back to Owain.
"With our plans no longer going as intended, it's more important than ever that we still keep an eye out for any signs of suspicion," she said. "If the one we're looking for becomes a threat, the only ones who could possibly stop them will be us."
"You got it, boss," Owain said. "Phew, I was not looking forward to having to, uh, ya-know... her. So I'm glad to know we won't have to." With a whistle-like sigh, he started rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand.
Lucina said nothing else, still staring at the girl in front of her.
"So, second question." Owain lifted his finger. "How exactly do you know her?"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Lucina said, confused by the question. "She was one of the Shepherds I met when I followed Chrom. Is that not normal?"
"And is it also normal that she rushes you and calls you Mar-Mar?" he pointed out as he pointed said finger.
"What do you mean, she—" Lucina cheeks began to flush red as she stopped and pulled her head back. "What do you mean by that?!"
"Really?" Owain flicked up his eyebrow. "You were in the Shepherds for only a week, and somehow this girl's already wrapping herself around you while crying your name out, and that's just a normal thing for you?"
"That's not true!" she argued. "I—!"
Suddenly, a pair of arms grabbed her by the arm, swiftly cutting her off. "What's wrong Mar-Mar?"
"Eep!" Lucina leaped into the air, looking down to the girl now clinging to her.
"You seem nervous? What's wrong?" Looking at her with a pair of eyes that reminded her of a small puppy, she wrapped her arms further, holding Lucina's arm closer.
Glaring down at the girl blinking and staring like a puppy, the heat on Lucina's face grew tenfold, her heart even failing to beat. "Ah, ahh…"
She brought her hand up, placing it on the hair of the littler girl between the two of them. "Nothing's wrong. Everything is fine, okay? Don't you worry about this." With the eyes of a cat, she patted her twice on the head, before gently scratching with her nails in between her soft, wet, and messy white hairs.
"Are you sure she's just a normal friend, Mar-Mar?" Owain said with a cheeky grin.
"S-she isn't!" she said as she snapped her head. "I-I mean, she is!" She rapidly shook her head, turning it inwards. "Ugh! Where are you even getting this from?"
"I'm getting it right in front of me, Mar-Mar." Owain spoke in a taunting tone as pressed his wrists against his cheeks. Smushing them back and forth, he started making weird and obnoxious sounds that only made Lucina even more embarrassed.
"Gods, stop it!" she yelled.
"Ahahahah!" Owain reeled himself back from laughter, the biggest smile on his face. Grumbling with a furiously red face, Lucina looked down at the girl at her arm before turning away completely as she looked out towards the window.
"Hmph," she said, crossing her arms and locking them down. "Reflet is one of the first people I've met since my time here, and has been a very helpful and valuable ally in the short time I've known her. As a result, I trust her." She looked back at Owain, pointing her finger right at his face. "I do not see what you are trying to imply! Hmph!"
"Ih-hihf you say so!" Owain laughed out, his laughter loud enough to echo through the hall.
"Well, that explains that predicament, then."
"Huh?!" Lucina said.
"Who said that?" As Owain cut his laughter short, the three of them all turned to the end of the hallway leading to the main hall. Mage boots clicking with every step, a young man dusted off his black hat as usual before flipping it upright onto his head.
"Seems like it's been far too long since I've last seen you two," Laurent said, pressing two fingers upon his glasses. "After all, how could I forget the voices of a dramatic swordsman and a shrieking swordswoman?"
Seeing her friend, Lucina let out a gasp, smiling. "Ah-!"
Owain eagerly stepped forwards and approached him. "Lau—!"
"Canas," Laurent swiftly interjected. "Just as she is Marth." Letting out a small breath, he dipped his head an inch. "Forgive me if that was too blunt, but you know the importance of our identities."
"Er… right," Owain said. "I forgot you were doing that too."
"Canas is right, though," Lucina said as she looked at Owain. "For however effective they might be, our aliases will help to keep our identities from the other Shepherds. It's better we hold on to them for now."
"Yeah, you're right…" Owain agreed. "Hey wait, what are you even doing here, err, Canas?"
"The same as you, I presume. Doing as best I can to keep this war from getting any worse." Laurent began to walk to their side. "I found myself within the ranks of Ylisse's court mages as an apprentice in the time leading up to it, in order to come to their aid when it was necessary."
"You joined the mages?"
"Well, joining the mages was a rather simple way of staying within arm's reach of the Shepherds without direct involvement. However, that's no longer an option now is it?" Laurent pointed out. "With Emmeryn kidnapped and no contact from any of you all, I was forced to take action."
Laurent turned his head to Lucina's right, looking straight at Reflet. "And that was when I met her, who claimed to know a woman named Marth."
He looked straight at Lucina this time, whose eyes widened ever so slightly.
"...Safe to say, my predictions were confirmed," he said. "So then you did join the Shepherd's ranks, only to leave on the day of the assassination attempt."
The smallest hint of a smile formed on Laurent's face, Lucina sighing in admission. "Yes, I did. I was in no condition to reach Basilio in time, and so I had agreed to work with the Shepherds for the time being."
"I see, so it was a temporary solution to fix a misstep in our goals. A Plan B, effectively," he said.
"Exactly," Lucina said. "And I had left as soon as those mistakes were corrected. Except when Emmeryn was kidnapped, we learned our actions weren't enough to save her…"
Lucina turned back to the window, eyes half lowered as rain hit upon the ground.
"What's going to happen now?" Owain said.
"...I don't know," Lucina said.
The hand upon Lucina held tighter around her wrist, pulling Lucina out of her mind. Head held low, Reflet gripped her silently, eyes hidden by the hair in her face.
"And what of her though, Marth?" Laurent asked.
"Huh?" Reflet said. Her head flicked up as her hair flapped, uncovering the pair of hiding eyes. "What about me?"
"Nothing bad in particular," Laurent clarified. "Well, I believe it's better to say that you haven't done anything wrong at all. But another question remains and must be asked for the sake of everything."
Eyes shifting away from Reflet and onto Lucina, Laurent looked her dead in the eye. "How much does she know?"
"Wh… what?" Lucina said.
"None of the Shepherds have even the slightest idea of who we truly are, so I can confirm our secrets are safe from them. I also presume you kept a fair distance from them, enough to keep them from getting close as you intended. And yet, her interactions with you and how she speaks of you are, to say the least… uncharacteristic."
He grabbed his glasses by the side, red eyes firm. "Have you told her anything?"
"I— I, uh…"
Lucina struggled to even get her words out, but before she could properly do so, it was Reflet who spoke before her.
Raising her hand up, her voice was tiny enough as if to be a whisper. "I, uh, know about what's going to happen."
Owain reeled a step back in surprise. "You know?!"
"Y-yeah." She nodded, her voice speaking ever so louder. "At least, a little bit." She looked over to Lucina. "When I met Marth—when he was being a guy or something—he passed out in the snow, and I had to go help him. She was burning herself out from all this training, and something bad could've happened to her if she kept going."
Slowly sighing out a breath, Owain slumped his shoulders, looking at Lucina. "That does seem like you."
Lucina let out a grunt. "But it was all to prepare for the battle against Lon'qu!" she defended. "I needed to get stronger."
"But you could've gotten sick!" Reflet's hands flapped up. "And what'd happen then? Would you just pass out in the middle of the fight and make me carry you inside again?" Putting her hands on her cheeks, a pout formed on her face as Reflet looked at Lucina with disapproval.
"Yeah, Mar-Mar! Listen to Reflet!" Owain said. "You wouldn't want to make this little lady carry you all the way home, would you? Look how tiny her hands are!"
He reached for a hand in question quickly and suddenly.
"Eep!" the small girl squeaked as he grabbed her wrist.
"See?" he said, wildly flapping them back and forth like a piece of paper. As Reflet's shoulders relaxed themselves, she looked at Lucina, quickly making small noddings.
"...You've proved your point," Lucina said, yielding.
"And you shouldn't be getting punted into walls," she quickly added.
"Ah— Hey!" Reflet's mouth went wide. "Th-that was to help you beat Lon'qu!"
"So you'd see my reasoning, then?" Lucina remarked.
"It doesn't mean you should do that anyways!" Arguing back, Reflet brought herself in front of Lucina's face.
"And neither should you!" Lucina said as she returned it and shot her head forwards, poking her in the chest. Girls blue and white glared at the other, each grumbling words behind their disgruntled stares and their pouts.
Watching the staring contest from the peanut gallery, Owain looked over to the mage. "You see this, Laurent?"
"I see that you all are getting off-track," he said. "Now, what was it that Marth told you, Reflet? We don't have all day."
"Sorry!" the girls both squealed as each jolted back, before they looked again at each other, muttering noises again.
"I suppose since I was the one who did tell her, it's only right that I continue from here," Lucina said. "She knows of what happens in the future, and of the dark time looming ever closer. With her help, we were able to secure victory against Lon'qu and the aid of the Khans. From there, she was beside me as the war began, and assisted somewhat in taking down the leader of Emmeryn's assailants."
"Yeah," Reflet agreed. "And that was the day you left, when you said…"
Reflet turned her head down, hiding her face from her once more.
"I know," Lucina said. Looking at the girl, she then turned to Owain and Laurent. "And to allies like you two, you each deserve to know the truth."
She took a moment and turned her head down, eyes held closed.
"She also knows we are from the future," Lucina said.
Owain's eyes grew wide in realization, as did Laurent's before he narrowed them back down.
"No way!" Owain said.
"So it is the case," Laurent said. "But why would you of all people reveal such a thing?"
"I had intended to leave the Shepherds right as I said so." Lucina's head turned away. "And Reflet is someone who's proven to be trustworthy… And so, I…"
Lucina sighed. "I said it, having believed our mission was over." She lifted her head back up. "But it's clear that's not the case. Emmeryn has fallen, and if we stick to shadows beyond this point, there'll be no chance to fix our future."
Her hands fell to her sword, and she grabbed it, staring at the familiar, shining-white blade. "Seems like everything we do, the world itself is fighting against us…"
As she stared at it, her grip on her blade became firm. "But we must press on, it's our only chance at saving our world. If we don't do it, who will? Will anyone else be able to fight against the tides of time?"
Lucina lifted her blade, eyes turning resolute as she said her words. "We have a second chance to protect life itself, and a goal in our sights. We may have failed here, but it's our job to see it through!"
"If there was anyone else who could fight against time, I'd like to meet them." Laurent smirked, clutching at his cloak as he held it tight. "Until then, the three of us will have to carry forth."
"And I'm on board too! You're not the only one fighting here, Marth!" Owain swung his fist up. "A scion of legend cannot fight all on their own! Who else to assist, but another scion of legend!"
"Y-yeah!" Reflet said, smiling at them, before swiftly tucking her hands to her chest sheepishly. "Um, I'd like to help you too, Mar-Mar," she added, turning to the others. "Ah—! And all of you!"
Staring at the blonde boy reaching down his blade, the mage boy nodding confidently, and the mage girl hiding her smile, Lucina smiled back.
"Thank you, my friends. You've done so much to help already," she said.
"And we'll keep helping," Owain said. "You're not the only one fighting to fix things, you know? We're all in this together."
"The world ending would be a task greater than any one person could handle alone, after all. So, it stands to reason that we all assist where necessary," Laurent added.
"We have to do it!" Reflet said. "The world is… the world! All of us need to do something if we don't want that dark road you said was gonna come to come!" Putting her hand on her head, she then nodded and brought both fists up. "If we're the only ones who could protect it, then we have to protect it!"
"Then it's settled then," Lucina said. "No matter what's happened so far, we must still bring this war to a swift end and keep our allies alive. We must find a way to, and we must do everything in our power to ensure the future changes for the better."
"Speaking of future changes…" Laurent turned to Reflet. "You're going to have to keep everything you've learned today a secret from the rest of the Shepherds. Not a single word can reach their ears."
"Huh?" Reflet said. "Me?"
"Yeah, having another person on board is, well, not the worst thing really, but we still shouldn't let anything slip," Owain said. "You already know we're from the future, but let's just say things might change if the others know, too."
"I've already told her the same," Lucina answered. "And she promised she would keep her word, right Reflet?"
"Ah—! Yeah!" Reflet said, bringing her hands up and down at her sides. "And it was a pinky promise, too! So I can't break it even if I wanted to!"
"Wait, you can't break i—" Owain stopped mid sentence and looked up, giving a loud snort right after. "Oh, that's what happened. So, what's next?"
"Well, it's rather late. And I did just get through blasting several axemen in the face with wind magic," Laurent added. "I say we use this time to freshen ourselves up and rest."
"Sounds like a plan," Owain said. "What about you, Lucina?"
"I suppose I should do so as well, in a moment at least…" Lucina grabbed her chin and tapped her index finger. "But first, Reflet, you need to go to the baths, and then to your room."
"Why me?" Reflet said, tilting her head in confusion.
"Well, look at yourself." Lucina brought her hand down. "Your clothes are all ruined, and you're the messiest of us here. Is that not reason enough?" Bringing her finger up, she wagged it in front of her face just like a scolding teacher or aunt, quickly poking her twice in the nose.
"Hyaa!" Reflet squealed, reactively letting out a cat-like hiss.
Lucina couldn't help but let out a tiny snicker at her reaction. "My cousin and I also lack a room to go to ourselves," she said, turning around with a smile. "And while it seems unlikely a servant would appear at this hour, it's better we don't draw attention to ourselves for now. So we'll need to hide, and that means you'll have to lead us."
Grumbling all in a big huff, Reflet gave her and a puffed up pout. "Okayyy… I guess you're right. See ya." Yielding rather quickly, she let out her puff and left, dashing to the end of the hallway. But when she reached the doorway, she stopped, looking back at Lucina once more.
"But you'll…"
Lucina blinked. "Huh? What is it, Reflet?"
Reflet didn't answer, tucking her head down. "Nothing, I'll just go shower now."
She hurriedly scampered off, heading up the stairs to the baths, with Lucina raising an eyebrow as she watched her take off.
"Strange girl…" Bracing her knuckles on her hips, Lucina shut her eyes and gave her head a shake, first to the right and then to the left.
When she opened her eyes though, there was Owain, putting on a wide grin.
"What?" she said.
"Nuthin'," Owain said, trying to hide his grin somewhat. "I'm just happy to see my little cousin make a friend."
Lucina brought her eyebrow all the way up. "Are you implying I haven't done so?" she remarked. "I've made friends before."
"Lucina, like everyone who wasn't named Nah or Noire had to go and say hi to you," Owain argued. "And we had to struggle to get you and them to talk as kids!"
"No they didn't!" She dropped her hands down, throwing one back up towards him. "Besides, didn't I go and say hi to you?"
"I don't count! We shared the same bedroom since we were kids!" he argued.
"But what about Severa, or Brady then?"
"Lucina, you just tried to prove you were right about making friends with someone besides your cousin, by bringing up a sister and another cousin."
"Given there is a record of you not befriending people your age, the evidence supports that he's correct," Laurent added. "Hence why I said before that it was uncharacteristic."
"Look Lucina, in the years we've known you, you've been great at leading us and an excellent fighter. But a friend-maker, you are not. But now's your time!" Owain quickly went up to her, wrapping his arm around her shoulder while stretching his hand out. "Now's your perfect chance to make a new friend! And she won't be someone you've known all your life!"
Lucina tilted her head down, giving a pout as she spoke in offense. "I can make friends…"
"Great! Then this next part should be easy, cause we're going to be Shepherds!" Owain slapped her twice on the back. "It'll be you and her fighting back-to-back through thick and thin! And the world's safety will be fought for through the heroes Canas, me, and the legendary Mar-Mar Cowell!"
"Oh, stop it!" Lucina shoved herself away, blushing red as she held onto her arm. "Gods. I wish you never found out about that embarrassing name!"
"Ah-hah!" Owain said. "But you don't think its embarrassing when Reflet calls you Mar-Mar!"
"Yes I do!" Lucina snapped at him. "Enough of this! Let's go to the baths already!" Storming off in a huff, she threw her hands over her head and grumbled incessantly as she went up the stairs.
"Bye-bye Mar-Mar!" Owain said with a giggle.
Lucina snapped her head back and slammed her hands on the railing. "That's annoying! You're annoying!" She threw her hands up again, feet stomping up the steps even faster.
"Tee-hee." Owain looked at Laurent with a grin. "Well, what are we waiting for? Come on!"
Laurent smiled with a soft laugh. "Yes, let's go follow our leader."
"And, I guess this is… my room! For here, at least."
She waved them all in over from the door of the closet, patting the towel draped over her head several times. "Come on, get in already!" she said before shutting the closet door completely.
Having freshened up from the baths, Lucina and the others headed into the room.
"Mrgrmr-definitely made friends before…" Lucina took the towel off her head and dumped it in the basket after she was done drying with it.
"This room seems out of the way enough to avoid any unwanted visitors for now," Laurent said, looking around the white walled room.
"Yeah, but we should probably do something tomorrow if we're going to try to get into the Shepherds," Owain said. Setting his bag down with a thump, he went over to the second bed he saw and fell back onto it. "Do you think they'd really let us in like that?"
"It was easy enough for me," Laurent said. "I was accepted once I told Sir Chrom of what had happened after Emmeryn's kidnapping."
"I've already met them once," Lucina added. "It may be a small shot, but maybe I can convince them to let me join once more with Owain."
"And on that note..." Laurent stopped and looked towards the boy splayed out over the bed. "Owain should not be wandering around using his name so freely. You did come up with an alias to use in case of this scenario, yes?"
"Oh, right I—" Owain shot his head back up before he gasped abruptly with a smile. "Oh! I know exactly what name I'll go with!"
Springing from the bed, he shot back onto his feet and dramatically threw his right hand forth.
"I am Odin Dark!" he cried. "The keeper of darkness! Chosen protector of the future!" Bringing his hand higher, he brought it in front of his face, covering part of it with a dark, grinning glare.
"No," Laurent said.
"Again with this, Owain?" Lucina said, eyebrow raised.
"What's wrong with Odin Dark?" Owain said. "It's cool! It's mysterious sounding and fitting! It's even got dark in it!"
"The Odin part is fine, but don't you think Dark is too… err, dark?"
"Exactly! Everyone knows the best heroes are the ones that are dark and mysterious! The rebellious prince on a path of vengeance! The genius strategist with sharp wit and sharper bite!"
"...I don't think that's right," Lucina said.
"From now on, you're Ares," Laurent said. "I suggest you decide on a name that won't draw attention to you."
"Ooh, just like the chosen one himself!" Owain grinned, only to lift his head back. "No wait! I must stand firm in my convictions! We're going with Odin Dark!"
"We're going with what now?" Reflet asked from behind the door. She peeked her head out, patting her towel again before sliding it into the basket beside her.
"Odin Dark!" Owain brought his hand back to his face. "That's my name, young magical maiden!"
Reflet giggled and smiled. "Sounds funny! I like it!"
"See?" He brought his hand out. "And do you not agree that it is dark and mysterious, fitting of a swordsman such as myself?"
Reflet stopped and looked up at the ceiling. "Hm, I guess so! Yeah!"
"Yes!" Owain cheered. "That's two against two! Since I get to pick, I'm going with it!"
"Ah–" Lucina stopped herself, giving a tiny sigh. "Dang it, Reflet."
"Heheheheh!" Owain sat down as he clenched his fist and pumped it, falling down onto the bed again.
"Oh, gods, I miss beds!" Owain flopped around and grabbed hold of the pillow. "Hello, bed!"
Crossing her arms, Lucina grumbled at Reflet with pettiness. Laurent then took out a book, Owain rolled his face into his pillow, and Lucina headed over to the other bed, Reflet following along.
As things began to quiet down, Lucina took her seat on the edge. Reflet then took hers, scooting herself beside Lucina.
Placing her hands on the bed, Reflet leaned forward. "So, you're back?"
Looking at the girl, with her looking at her, Lucina gave her a nod. "Yes."
A twinge of a smile creaked on the ends of Reflet's lips, before the girl shut her eyes tightly. Her hands gripping at the sheet beneath her, she lunged for Lucina one more time.
"Ah!" Lucina nearly fell back, having to steady herself unless she actually wanted to fall. "Again?" she asked, looking down at the girl she wrapped her hands around the back of.
"I missed you so much," Reflet said, hidden between Lucina's arms. "I-I, I missed you." Pulling her head away from Lucina's chest, Reflet looked teary-eyed, sniffling all over again as her grip tightened on Lucina's back. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
The way she hid her face and turned her head down, trying to keep her together. She looked defeated. Heartbroken.
Lifting her blue, fingerless-glove wearing hand, she brought her thumb to Reflet's cheek as a tear streamed down, a sob escaping her. "Dry your tears, Reflet."
"But I missed you," she said, bringing herself closer to Lucina. "And, it's my fault. I know you were supposed to rescue Emmeryn, and I was supposed to, too. It was my job, but I couldn't, and she died because of me."
"That's not…"
"Nonsense," Laurent answered before Lucina could finish. Grabbing their attention, he shut his book closed, walking over to the two girls.
"I ask you this, Reflet: Our plan brought us a near victory, but could anyone have prepared for the appearance of a single man no one has seen before, with enough power to shift the tide all on his own?"
Reflet sniffed. "N-no, but…"
"Then the blame cannot fall to a single person here," Laurent said. "For however unorthodox your plan was, it was sound. We reduced the number of casualties we would've taken had we attacked head on and nearly succeeded at the same time."
"And we were there too, you know?" Owain pointed out, having risen from his bed as he joined them. "We were this close to saving Emmeryn ourselves, but then this guy showed up, this weird guy with a knife and blue eyes. That guy stopped us before we could even touch him."
"The man in the mask," Lucina added. "He could've killed us had he wanted to, yet for some reason, he didn't. But he kept us away from saving her, and there was nothing we could do to stop him."
"And there was the other one, that dark mage who attacked Lady Lissa," Laurent added. "If not for him, we maybe could've stopped that sniper for good. The fact remains that three enemies appeared whom we had no idea what they were capable of." He held onto his glasses once more and sneered. "It's a failure, but we must press on, and make sure to defeat them the next time."
"But, b-but…"
"What's happened has happened," Lucina said, looking down at the sunken girl. "Emmeryn's death is a great loss, and it will prolong the war far longer than intended."
She lowered her own head, turning to the floor as she spoke, "...And, I wish we were able to save her. I never wished for her to die."
"...But, we must have hope as we look towards the future." Lucina brought her head up and looked at her. "Remember what I said?"
"Mhmm." Reflet nodded. "Just like Emmeryn."
Lucina leaned back as her eyes widened in the moment, before nodding her head. "Just like Emmeryn," she agreed. "And she would want to end this war quickly, too. So promise me, you'll help to finish this war alongside us?"
Bringing her hand, she wiped the rest of her face and looked up, staring her in the eyes as she brought out her finger and pouted. "Pinky promise."
Leaning back again as she looked down at the finger, Lucina sighed, putting on a smile. "Thank you," she said, locking Reflet's finger with hers. Bringing them down before lifting back up as if it were an actual lock, Lucina stared back at her, before Reflet hugged her all over again.
"Aww," Owain said. "Me too!"
"Huh—Oof!" Lucina said as Owain suddenly squeezed his arm down on her.
"Huh?!" Reflet said. The two girls staring at the spiky blonde smiling at them, he giggled back at them and held them even tighter.
"Hmph." Putting on a smirk, Laurent chuckled lightly. "Well then, that answers that, doesn't it?" He turned around, looking over to the doorway.
"Oh no! Don't think you can just leave like that!"
"What the—?!" Before Laurent could do anything, Owain dragged him back, his face squished under Owain's arm.
"Group hug!" he declared. "There's no way any of you are getting out of this one easily!"
"Owain, why are you—!" Laurent let out a big sigh, his arms dropping down. "Fine, have it your way." He brought his hands up and wrapped whatever he could get ahold of, turning away with an annoyed, but content smile.
When he pulled away, Laurent got back up and he fell onto Reflet's bed. But Reflet stayed close to Lucina, still staring at her with a smile.
"You know, your eyes look different," she said with a tilt of her head.
"Huh? They do?" Lucina said. "How?"
"Yeah! That one right there!" She pointed at Lucina's left eye. "It's lighter than the other! It's kind of like white, but blue! It's pal—!"
Owain shot his head up.
Lucina's eyes widened, and quickly, she turned away before Reflet could realize the reason for the difference.
"Oh gods!" she cried out, chuckling rather awkwardly. "Um, I'd rather you not look too hard into my eye, please!" Scratching her cheek with her index finger over and over, Lucina was smiling like an idiot as she realized how careless she'd been. "Umm, could you make a promise not to stare too hard at it again?"
"What? Why?" Reflet shot right up to her eyes. "What's wrong with it?"
"Stop it!" she yelped, grabbing Reflet's cheeks and pulling them back. "Gods, didn't I just tell you not to look into my eyes?"
"Sorry!" Reflet said, still smiling even as her cheeks were still being held.
With the way she looked and how happy Reflet was, Lucina couldn't help but chuckle in complete bewilderment. "Who is this strange girl…" Whispering under her breath, she covered her eyes and looked away.
"Let's just say that that eye reveals something important about me, that I would also like to keep a secret from the other Shepherds of this time." Taking her hand off her eyes, she looked at Owain. "Sounds good?"
"Yeah, that works." Owain gave a thumbs up, then flopped right back down.
"Fine," Reflet said. "But wait, what does it reveal?"
"I can't tell you," she said, tilting her head away. "...But, it pertains to my heritage," she admitted. "And… perhaps in the future, when peace is restored, I could be able to tell you?"
Looking at Owain for confirmation, he threw his thumb up half heartedly before letting it slump back down again. Looking to Laurent, he paused for a moment, then gave an indecisive shrug.
"By then, the things necessary will have already occurred, so telling her at that point would prevent them from changing," he pointed out. "At that point, it's your decision whether you would reveal it."
"Go for it!" Owain muttered out, rolling over so that his face was in the blanket now.
"Then it's settled," Lucina said, nodding at both of them. "When the time is right, and there is a chance, I will tell you, Reflet."
"Wait, if you can't tell me what's up with your eye, then what's your 'heritage?' Reflet brought up two fingers like they were a claw and gripped the air twice.
"...Reflet," she said in a scolding manner. Bringing her little finger up, she brought it right in front of her.
"I need you to swear on this," she said.
Reflet turned her eyes down to the finger in front of her. Then she pouted once again.
"You're using your magic against me," she said as she made the pinky promise.
"Heehee!" she giggled, bringing her fist before her lips as she leaned back. "You act like a child!"
"No I don't!" Reflet argued. "And I'm not a child either!" She threw her hands down, pouting even harder. "Hmph!"
"I'm fairly sure children act that way," Lucina teased.
"Well, how would you know?!" Reflet threw her finger at her. "You're only—!"
She stopped short, hand inching down. "...I don't know how old you are. But you can't be older than Chrom! Because Chrom's not even old enough to be a dad! Just like he said!"
Lucina snickered loudly, barely able to contain her laugh. "Well, you're not wrong!"
Taking a deep breath, she put her hand over her face, shaking her head once more. You are a strange girl, Reflet.
Taking it off her face, she looked Reflet in her eyes, smiling at the upset girl.
"You know, your eyes are different from what I remember, too," Lucina told her.
"What do you mean?" Reflet asked, dropping her arms and expression immediately.
"Well, when I first saw them, I thought they were purple, but they're… lighter than that," she told her. "They're like pink even, but still they are still indeed purple."
"Is that right?" Reflet answered. Bringing her finger underneath her eye, Lucina closed an eye and leaned closer.
"Yes, they're very light in color, so perhaps they could be taken either way?" she said. "They're like, somewhere in between purple or pink. Like lavender, but…?"
"Huh…" Reflet pulled herself away with a confused look. "Is that important?"
"Why would it?" Lucina said as she pulled back. "I-, just-, noticed it. Well, perhaps I saw it before, but only now did I really confirm it."
Grabbing at her hair, she began running her hands through it as if she were combing it. "Well, anyways," she said as she looked away from her, only to see that Owain had begun to snore, and Laurent had pulled his blanket over his head while he slept in the other bed.
"Oh, uh, looks like the others have gone to sleep," she said. "Had we really been speaking for long?"
"I guess so?" Reflet said. "Should we go to sleep too then?"
"I suppose we should," Lucina said. "After all, tomorrow will be a harsh day. Things won't be bright after our loss today."
"And that bed's all taken up," Reflet said, looking over at Laurent. "I guess there's only one bed left."
Lucina peeked her head to the left, eyeing Owain as he splayed his arms and legs out and started snoring even louder.
"Welp, half of one," she said with an annoyed raised eyebrow.
"Maybe we won't have much trouble either way?"
Moving over to the other side of the bed, Reflet sat down and grabbed her knees, holding them tight. She scooted over as far as she could to give Lucina space, falling onto her side like she were now a box.
"Does this work?" she asked, her head peeking at Lucina as she craned her neck around.
"I-, I'm not sure?" Lucina knitted her brows in confusion. "I'll try to see if I can get inside."
Bringing herself closer, Lucina pulled her legs into the bed and the blanket over her, continually moving her legs around until she was as comfortable as she could while sandwiched between Owain and Reflet.
"It's a tight fit," she said, letting out a grunt. "I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting I'd be able to fit in at all. It's surprising."
"Hey! Sometimes my stuff can be surprising!" Reflet said with a finger pointed up. Shuffling around, she relaxed her legs, adjusting herself as much as she could while letting Lucina get a hold of herself.
"How's that?" Reflet flipped over, looking at Lucina as she put her hands underneath her head.
"I think we're fine, so let's rest for now."
And with that, Lucina turned around, staring aimlessly in the room. Resting like this was… strange, but not exactly unpleasant? Well, she'd prefer if Owain didn't decide to steal most of the bed in his sleep, but there was nothing she could do about it.
With that though, the only thing left was to sleep for now, and wait for whatever would come tomorrow.
As Lucina prepared to go to sleep, Reflet shuffled ever so closer to her side, lifting her hand up. Poking her twice in the arm with her finger, she whispered.
"...Hey, Mar-Mar?"
"Ugh, yes?" Lucina clenched her teeth and tucked her head. There was that name again, Mar-Mar. Why did it make her so flustered and bothered? She buried her head into the blanket, pressing her hands against her face as she hoped to hide herself right now.
"Um… thank you," Reflet told her.
"Uh—Thank you?" Lucina let go of her face and rose from the bed, looking down at her. "For what?"
"For being here," she said, eyes turned to the blanket. "I-I missed you."
Lucina's eyes cast to the sheets underneath her. "It's alright," she said.
Letting out a sigh, she crawled back to her pillow and pulled the blanket back to her face. Hiding her face behind the blanket, Reflet stayed close to Lucina, shutting her eyes to sleep.
For once, Lucina slept without much issue.
Author: Damn me and my decision to go and polish the first arc of Pale. Then I got my hands on some Fates mod tools, a whole nother 5 chapters for another story I want to write, and school came back again, and that all split half the year up.
However! I would say it wasn't for nothing. It helped me especially here on Lucina's return because it got me back into writing (and loving!) Lucina's character! Which was important for this cute little reunion between some cute little womens.
I think, as much as I want to continue redoing the first arc, I want to also keep continuing the story. So hopefully, I can get down to making some chapters and doing them faster.
Reflet's eyes, Reflet's eyes. They're f***ing weird.
I kid. But honestly if anything, they're somewhere between the purple eyes used in Morgan's Heroes art, and the red-pinks of Grima's, only much lighter and giving them that purple-pink mix. Some kind of like anywhere from yogurt to lavender.
I hope to see you when the next chapter comes out! Please, leave comments if you enjoyed it! They help me with my confidence writing this story, which I actually fret about somewhat. A lot certainly happens, and will continue to happen in this story. But it's good to know your strengths and weaknesses.
Later-later!