Day 2: Ghost


She was so small in her arms. Just a little pink blob. Yet, despite that, she found she was just as cute as a slumbering sand cat and just as hardy as any colocynth. Mavis didn't think she would feel this way, this fire and protectiveness that was so all emcompasing that sometimes she wondered if it would consume her. And then other times, such as now, laid against the first bed in months inside an inn she managed to scrape pay for, the warmth was more like a blanket that shrouded her, something that comforted her just as much as it comforted her daughter.

Even if tonight she was fussing, as all babies were wont to do. But that was easily remedied when she sang. It was a simple lullaby, one in her Plegian tongue, but one her daughter loved more than the others she tried, from Ylissean to Feroxi to even Valmese. Perhaps her daughter knew the lullaby was a part of her mother, even if she ran from her home country to keep her safe.

Still, sometimes, even with the warmth, or perhaps because of it, Mavis couldn't help but worry.

How long should she stay in each town or village or city she arrived? How should she blend in? What should she do to make sure word of her wouldn't reach the cult she had escaped from? Would her daugther grow up healthy? Would her daughter survive?

Would her daughter be happy?

So many questions and more would spiral and spiral like a dust devil in her mind.

But then, in the middle of such vortices, she would be startled by a sound and look down to see her daughter's eyes open as she cooed and wished to play with her silver hair, her smile as bright as the sun.

And all those questions would wash away like a river against sand as she returned the smile and coo, continuing to sing her serene melody.


She was so small in her arms, he could hardly believe she was theirs sometimes. A little life, born from the strong bond of love they shared. Yet, he knew it was true. He knew it was early, but he would swear he could already see his wife's eyes and smile whenever his daughter's expression brightened from joy and curiosity. It ignited the same strong protectiveness he had for his beloved other half.

It also made him feel so much more love than he thought possible, when he already felt fit to burst from loving Robin so much.

Yet it was the case as he watched his wife cradle their child, her gaze as soft as he'd ever seen, singing a lullaby they found out to be an old Plegian song through the Shepherd's dark mage.

The reverie was only broken when Lucina settled and his wife's brow furrowed in worry.

He held her close and whispered,

"Is something wrong, love?"

His wife was startled, but, being the tactician she was, kept herself steady enough to not jostle their little girl.

"...will I be a good mother?"

Ah. Their shared, old worry.

"Of course you will. And I'll remind you that again and again." Just as she had been reassuring him that he was doing just fine as a father.

However, unlike those other times, she wasn't calmed. Instead, her frown deepened as she admitted, whispering as if confessing a grave sin,

"But I don't remember my own mother... I can only imagine what she felt when she held me like this... What would she think if she knew that I have a daughter of my own yet I don't know anything about her?"

Oh.

Oh.

It wasn't just her worry about being a good mother... It was her struggle with her past, worried she left something behind or hurt someone without knowing. And that had worsened when she became a mother, realizing her own could be one of those people she could be inadvertedly hurting.

He held her tighter as he pressed his lips atop the crown of her head.

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

She gave him an incredulous look. "And how can you be so sure?"

He smiled. "Well, not exactly sure...but if your mother is anything like you, if she loves you just as much as you love our daughter, then I know she wouldn't mind. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

Now he gave her a kiss on her nose. "Because she would be happy to see you happy."

It was at that moment Lucina decided to chime in with a coo, calling attention to them and making him and, more importantly, his wife smile.

"See? Even our daughter agrees."

At that, Robin laughs, that sweet one she made when she felt disbelief and relief in equal parts. Then she gives their little one an affectionate kiss on her nose and then a kiss on his lips for him.

"Yes. You're right," she said, her smiling blinding and warm.


Mavis cursed.

Their trip to Jugdral was as fruitful as she dared to hope it would be, managing to acquire several texts about possession, the few remaining pieces of Loptyr Church's teachings, and historical records of the Holy Wars, along with any other piece even remotely related to Loptyr. Though she did have to steal or bribe for some of them. However, the ones on Loptyr were in a language she hadn't known and thus she had to spend time learning it, slowing her research down considerably. She knew that would've been the case. The older the text, the higher chance the language would be drastically different, but with each passage that she pieced together...

...there was still no hint on how she could combat the possession of Grima.

All so far were details on the ritual and process to summon Loptyr, something she was already quite familiar with.

What if she reached the end and found nothing? Not even a hint? Where would they go next? They had already went to Valm. All the texts on Duma and Mila weren't helpful to her, and the ones on Witches only reminded her of the cult she had ran from, their hollow states not much better than the undead Risen that Grima lorded over. Should she head for Port Ferox and comb through the mountains nearby once more? To find the remnants of the rumor that Grima had been created there, long ago? She hadn't been successful the first time, and that had nearly led to Robin starving and dying. Should she perhaps maybe look into the mysterious gate in Ylissean territory that was rumored to take them to other realms? Or maybe the rumored continent that the Taguel came from? A land with men that could turn into beasts called lagu—

"Ow!" Mavis startled and clutched her forehead.

"You did it again, Mom," her very unimpressed thirteen year old daughter said.

She glowered at her. "Did what?"

"Forget how much time passed."

Mavis frowned but looked around to realize that, yes, it was dawn now, already closing in on the morning.

And she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep.

"Oh."

"'Oh,' indeed," Robin said before pulling on her arm. "Now come on, eat and then go to sleep. I made some breakfast."

"It's—"

"Not fine and you should be in top shape to continue your research, Mom. Don't you remember what you always tell me?"

Mavis smiled even as she rolled her eyes. "A sharp mind comes from a rested mind."

"Exactly. Now come on. Let's go."

So Mavis let herself be dragged by her daughter to breakfast, furthering her resolve to save her from the fate she unwittingly befell on her as they talked on the progress Robin made on the tactics books she got.


Chrom heaved a sigh, glad to finally be done with today's paperwork. With that, he could return to his quarters and relax with his wife. Unfortunately, when he got there, she was nowhere to be found. Her books were still in the same place as he last saw them that early morning, and the bed was still pristine. His heart raced as worry gripped his mind and he rushed out, searching for her and asking if anyone else saw her. None but his daughter, the one who came from a bleak future, knew.

"Rob—er, Mother? Yes. I saw her still in the war room."

"The war room?"

Chrom had thought she had left after they settled their plans and the logistics on their travel to Valm with their Feroxi allies and their newly acquired Plegian ships. But just as Lucina had told him, tagging along upon seeing his doubt and worry, they found her buried in maps and figures and notes all over the table. Exactly as he'd left her that morning.

He sighed.

"Robin."

"Mother?"

His wife startled. "Oh? Chrom? Lucina?" She frowned. "Is something wrong?"

"Yes. You weren't in our tent so I worried something happened," he said as he wrapped an arm around her. "I should've known you just forgot again."

"Eh? Forgot? What do you mean—" Robin said, then actually noticed her surroundings. "Oh."

Despite her bad habit rearing up again, Chrom couldn't help but smile as he said, "Yes, 'oh'."

Thankfully, his wife had the mind to be sheepish over it. "Oh quiet you."

"What was keeping you, Mother?" Lucina said, eyeing the table and then her. "I had thought you forgot something and came here to get it. I was sure you and Father had finalized our trip."

"Well, yes, it is finalized, but..." Robin began.

"You were worried and wanted to be extra careful and have many contingencies in place when we're out at sea."

His wife flushed a bit in embarrassment as she coughed. "Er, yes. That's exactly it..."

"And I already told you that you've already accounted for practically everything."

"But not actually everything."

He sighed. He could just feel them about to go in circles. He was about to preemptively end it before it would turn out that way when their daughter said,

"But you should rest. And eat. Every chance to do either is important. As you would tell me, 'A sharp mind comes from a rested mind'."

Robin froze.

Chrom smirked.

"Oh quiet you."

He laughed. "I didn't say anything."

She glowered. "I know what you're thinking."

"I was thinking you truly taught our daughter well and you should come join us for dinner."

Aforementioned child smiled, if with a bit of shyness born from being unaccustomed to the expression, and came to hold her wife's hand.

"Yes, Mother. We can't have our army's tactician fainting on us."

Robin laughed, his favorite one that warmed his heart and filled it to burst, as she accepted their insistence and they talked about anything and everything on their way to the mess tent, including a suggestion from their daughter of a temple nearby that could hold an item that would asisst them.


"Aaargggh!"

Mavis raised a brow as she saw her daughter throw her tome down with a huff, before pouting with her arms crossed.

"Why can't I get this stupid spell?!"

That...

That was a first.

Robin had always excelled in whatever lesson Mavis taught her. It took only a few days to master the basic Fire, Wind and Thunder spells, particularly the last one. She understood basic tactics just as quick. She was far past Mavis's level in anything that wasn't magic, her daughter's proficiency with melee weapons needing a master to improve any more, not that they could afford such a thing, for both safety and money reasons. It was expected of the being that was supposed to be the "Perfect Vessel" for Grima.

But Mavis would admit, a part of her was glad she was having difficulty over something.

"What's the matter, little bird? What's the spell?"

"...Nosferatu..."

That surprised her even more.

"...Nosferatu...?"

That... That was dark magic. That... That was something that Grima was supposed to have power. In fact, she had already learned the basuc spell, Flux, some time ago.

And Robin, his Vessel, was having difficulty with it?

"Hmph. I know. It's stupid...this should be easy for me..."

In a sense, yes it was, but if anything...

"Of course not. Everyone has their talents. It just so happens you're good with magic that isn't dark."

...she was glad to find yet another thing human about her daughter. She loved her with all heart, of course, but she knew that with how Robin was, not everyone would view her as human.

"But why? It's still magic! And I already learned Flux!"

"Yes, but you remember what is the basis for dark magic?"

"...faith."

"And what does Nosferatu do?"

"Take the life of the opponent and give it to the caster's..."

"And do you remember what I said about the kinds of spells one can learn naturally without using tomes for assistance?"

"...that they are based on the nature of a person..."

"So that just means that you..." she said, sitting beside her. "...my little bird..." She kissed the crown of her head. "...my lovely daughter..." She kissed her forehead. "...have a hard time sacrificing someone else's life for your own." She hugged her close. "Which is perfectly fine. That's just who you are, and I wouldn't change that for anything."

She was always grateful to Naga and the other gods that her little girl was so kind and briliant and much, much more.

Including sulky.

"...but how am I supposed to learn this spell and higher spells...?"

Mavis chuckled. "All we need to do is change your perspective."

Robin gave her an incredulous look. "Change my perspective?"

"Yes. After all..." She smirked. "...did you know that the dark tome Nosferatu is actually based on a holy spell from ancient Valm?"

"Wait? Holy magic?"

Mavis laughed. "Yes, holy magic. From Mila's Faithful, to be specific."

"Really? Not Duma's?"

"No, not Duma's."

And so, after Mavis framed it instead as something Robin had already accepted, in this case the cycle of life and death and the consequences of being a tactician instead of selfishly stealing the life force of another, Robin was able to cast Nosferatu by the end of the day.

And Mavis couldn't be prouder.


He hadn't meant to eavesdrop. He had just finished sparring with his future son, Morgan, who had wanted another moment bonding with his father that didn't involve recovering his lost memories. It reminded him that he hadn't seen Lucina since they formed camp. So he went in search for her, eventually finding her with her mother in another clearing near the camp. He just happened to catch them when Lucina said,

"Ugh... I don't get it... How come I can't learn?"

And he realized she was trying out some tomes.

"There's no rush, dear, not everyone learns magic at the same pace, if they can learn at all," his wife said, reassuring.

"But I should be able to do something, right? Even something simple...but I can't! Not even a basic Wind spell..."

Lucina's posture slumped, the tome in her hand hanging off it listlessly. Meanwhile, Robin had hers closed in her hand, the other below her chin as she contemplted her daughter's words.

"...have you tried dark magic?"

His daughter tensed.

"Dark magic...?"

Robin seemed to realize what she said, her expression somewhat panicked as she scrambled to explain. "Yes, I know it is the magic that Grima has power over, but you know not all practitioners of dark magic are malicious, right?"

"...apologies, Mother, but as much as I trust Tharja and Henry, and I do, they aren't exactly the best examples of what you speak of..."

She chuckled and smiled. "I wasn't talking about them. I was talking about me."

Lucina gasped and stared.

"You?"

"Is that so strange?"

"Er, well...I'll admit, it is a bit strange. The dark mages I know of aren't...exactly like you. Even Tharja and Henry enjoy combat."

"True. The magic one is best at or learns proficiently depends on who they are as a person," she said, wrapping an arm around Lucina. "But there is also the fact that what is the basis of magic, or you could say its fuel, depends on its type. For example, the elemental magics like Wind and Fire are based in logic and numbers, which, while you are not stupid by any means..." She bopped her daughter's nose with an amused smile as she squeaked. "...are not your strong suit. Particularly when you reach the more advanced formulas and such."

"...okay, you have a point..."

"Meanwhile, dark and holy magic are based in faith."

"Faith?" Lucina said, incredulous.

Not that Chrom blamed her. It sounded absurd to him as well.

Robin chuckled. "I know, it sounds strange to you, if not downright dangerous. After all, all dark spells are destructive. But it's all a matter of perspective. While in the hand of Grima and his followers it is evil to you...dark magic, at its core, is simply the other half of holy magic."

"The other half."

"Yes. Holy uses light, dark uses shadow...and there is nothing inherently evil to either, remember? After all, I'm sure you've seen your fair share of corrupt priests and bishops among Naga's followers during your time as Exalt."

"...true...but that still doesn't explain why you suggested dark magic instead of holy."

"Because you, Lucina, like me, are very aware that everything could easily go wrong in any moment. One simple mistake could spell to everything you worked for in ruins."

"I'm sorry..." Lucina gazed away, downcast. "I know I should believe you and Father and everyone else but..."

"Hey, it's fine, my dear," Robin said. "I'm glad you realize you can improve in that aspect, but that doesn't mean you're wrong to think that. That's who you are..." She hugged her. "...and I wouldn't want to change that for anything."

Even from this distance, Chrom knew his daughter was close to tears at the embrace and her mother's words.

"But that's why I believe you could do dark magic. It is an inbetween of the kind of faith you need for holy magic, and the kind of logic you need for elemental."

"...okay. Let's try it."

It turned out that, yes, Robin had been right. His daughter was proficient in dark magic.

And he couldn't be happier and prouder, for both his daughter's joy and accomplishment, and his wife helping her get there.


It seemed today would be the day.

The day she got rid of Robin's connection with Grima.

With everything she learned of dark magic, blood magic, mind magic and soul magic from various continents across the realm, she and Robin settled within a secluded area in Ylisse, a good distance away from the capital but still close enough that it was the last place any Grimleal would dare to look. There, she had spent the last seven years crafting and perfecting a spell of her own, specifically made to combat Grima's possession of Robin. As tempted as she had been to outright get rid of the blood of Grima within her daughter, she wouldn't take the risk of accidentally shortening her lifespan or outright killing her in the process. So she had to settle for possession prevention.

She just hadn't expected to be so soon.

"Oh hello Mother, it's been far too long," Robin—no, Grima said, twisting her daughter's voice with venom and hatred.

"Let. Her. Go," she said.

Though she knew the dragon would guffaw and say,

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mother, but I'm going to have to decline. This is my body after all."

But that was fine. She just needed to keep Grima talking.

"That's not your body. It's my daughter's."

"Ha! You seem to misunderstand something, Mother..." Grima sneered. "I am your daughter, just as much as your daughter is me. And if you can't accept that, well...then you're just in denial." Now the Fell Dragon smirked. "But then again, you have been running away from that for...what? Twenty or so years? So you are, in fact, delusional."

"The only one delusional here...is you!"

She struck, firing her spell.

"Grk!"

Grima was unfazed, dashing before her in a blink of an eye and now held her throat in her daughter'a grip.

"Don't think I don't know what you're doing, Mother. You've done this before. I won't give you a chance in here either."

Before...?!

She didn't have time to question it. Grima was about to kill her. But when a second passed and Mavis could still breath, if with some difficulty, while Grima contorted her daughter's face into one of shock.

"What the?! You!"

Grima grimaced.

"Damn you! Why is it taking longer to assimilate?!"

She knew it was her only chance.

"O spirits, here my call..." she began.

"Gah!"

Grima still held her, but Mavis could already see the effects of her spell working.

"With my breath,"

The wind roared around them, a tornado barring them from the rest of the world.

"With my blood,"

Her flesh ripped apart, painting the storm crimson as it thundered.

"And with my soul,"

She screamed. Needles upon needles, hundreds and hundreds, pierced her again and again. From her eyes, to her heart, to her soles, to her skin, before pulling and pulling and pulling so much she almost passed out.

Almost.

"Heed my call,"

She had one more thing to do.

She had to reach out.

Reach out to her little bird struggling in the maw of the dragon that threatened to consume her.

Had to reach out otherwise all of this would be for naught.

Mom...?

Mavis smiled.

Robin...my little bird...you're all right...

Mom? What's going on? I was just getting you pick-me-ups when it suddenly hurt and then I got stuck in darkness—

I'm sorry, my little bird, but there's no time. I need you to hold on.

Hold on? Wait, Mom, what are you doing?

Please, I need you to trust me.

She could feel her daughter listen and hold on, but with their souls connected, she felt her panic.

Wait. This is the spell you've been working on?!

She smiled sadly.

Yes. Now, hold on.

Nonono please don't do this! Please don't do this!

Even in this void, Mavis knew her daughter was in tears.

I'm sorry.

No!

"Avalon."

And that was it.

It was over.

Grima, as she expected, threw expletives and promised retribution for her interference until, at least, her daughter fainted, bringing them both to the ground.

Not that Mavis had long. If she was honest, she was surprised she was still in one piece for a few moments.

But only a few moments.

As Mavis drew herself to her knees with what little strength she had, she could see herself turning into dust, bit by bit, scattering into the wind.

But that was fine. Robin was fine. She was free. Maybe forever, not even she was arrogant enough to assume one spell powered by one soul, one that had already lived nearly fifty years, would be enough to completely free Robin from a dragon god, even if she maximized her chances of getting that result. There was something off about Grima's words before she got her chance. The dragon already knew of her spell before she even casted it. But now Robin had more time to find a more permanent solution if it wasn't as permanent as she hoped. Just as she planned.

Her only regret was that she would leave her daughter.

"I'm sorry, Robin. I wish I could have lived longer," she said, taking off her tactician coat and covered her unconscious daughter with it. "So please, live happily. Keep fighting for your freedom. I know you'll find a way. I mean, I already found a solution that reaches halfway, at least. I'm sure you can reach the finish line."

And then she laid down and held her close.

"I love you, my little bird. May we meet again, in a better life."


"Promise me, Robin. Promise me you won't do this!"

That had been what he said when his wife, the love of his life, the mother of their children, and the wind behind his back, suggested she slay Grima to permanantly end him...

...at the cost of her life.

And the woman who had been so resolute to sacrifice crumbled before him, promising him she wouldn't enact her plan.

He had been relieved then.

He didn't want to lose her. He didn't want her to sacrifice herself for the sake of everyone else. He wanted her to be selfish for once. He has already lost someone to such selflessness.

But then as they prepared their attack on Grima, he noticed it.

Her constantly looking for chances to work.

Her mumbling to herself.

Her distant look when her mind went around and around in circles.

The mask she put in front of everyone else so that they wouldn't worry for her welfare.

A mask that did nothing to hide anything from him.

It was then he realized what he was truly asking of Robin.

So, as they turned in for the night, he took her hands in his and asked, gentle but grave,

"Will you be able to rest?"

"What? Of course. You're here."

"No Robin. Will you be able to rest?" he said, his gaze meeting hers and imploring.

She flinched. "I..."

"Wll you be able to rest, with the knowledge you could have ended Grim there and then?"

"... Chrom...please don't do this to me... I... It was hard enough to promise you. If you ask me this I—"

"Will you be able to rest?" he asked one more time, still gentle.

Stillness.

And then,

"No..."

Chrom sighed.

Of course.

And he had been dumb enough to ignore it.

He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against hers, still holding onto her hands.

"Then...it's okay."

A gasp. "Chrom...?"

He opened his eyes and stared into hers so that she would know he meant it. "You can slay Grima with your own hands."

"But...your promise..."

"Then let me make a new one, for being an ignorant husband," he said. "I will find you. No matter how long it takes, no matter is in my way, I will find you. So go and slay Grima with your head held high and know you will always have us with you."

"Chrom..." She smiled. That teary one that couldn't quite believe he was hers, just as much as she was his. "Thank you."

And so, when the time came, and as Robin faded away after landing the final blow on the Fell Dragon, and she said,

"May we meet again, in a better life."

He said,

"I'll see you again soon."


Death was a funny thing.

Or perhaps becoming a spirit would be more appropriate. Mavis certainly couldn't tell.

What she did know for sure was that it was a strange straddling between a place that was everything and nothing all at once, a place beyond any human tongue, and sensing the living world, just as people said that those who passed away could do.

Until now.

Mavis stared. First at herself, for having a form, her body just before she died. How long has it been? Years? Yes, years. Yet, it felt both longer and shorter than that. She could still remember the day when her daughter was nearly taken over by Grima only to be found by the scions of Naga. She had been so terrified for her daughter, especially when she had forgotten so much of herself. But that had been for naught. The prince was kind and compassionate even when everything about her daughter should've left him wary.

She could still remember when her daughter and prince faced off against Marth—Lucina—to gain Ferox's favor and allegiance. She had been so confused at the girl's existence, clearly having both the blood of the prince...and her daughter, for there was no other way a child with Naga and Grima's blood could be born from any other people.

She could still remember when she got part of an answer when her little bird fell in love and married the prince-turned-Exalt. She had been so happy for her daughter, as well as worry for her. It was clear the "Marth" was from the future and that Grima was as well.

She also remembered seeing her own daughter becoming a mother herself, sharing the all-emcompsing and all-consuming feelings Mavis felt upon holding her newborn when Robin held her own. The kind of feelings that would let someone sacrifice everything for their child.

That was why, when she was done being surprised at her own body, Mavis had expected to see her daughter stand before her, her soul teetering on the threshold between life and death, saying, cautious yet open to her,

"Who... Who are you?"

And Mavis couldn't help but smile with tears in her eyes despite the circumstances. "Hello, my little bird."

"Huh?" she said, confused...at first. She examined her, and even if she had no memories, her keen mind made the connection. "No...are you...my mother?"

Her smile grew wider. "Sharp as ever, I see."

"...apparently not sharp enough to think of something appropriate to say though."

Mavis laughed. "And still as witty as ever," she said, lighter than she had been for a long time.

At least until her daughter cut through it to say,

"...I'm sorry for forgetting you."

Not that she hadn't expected that either.

Mavis smiled softly as she walked forward. "It's fine, my little bird."

She would admit, a part of her was saddened she forgot all they went through, but...

Mavis kissed her beloved daughter's forehead. "As long as you're happy, even if you don't remember me, I'm happy for you."

Robin was stunned for a moment then she giggled.

Her heart swelled at hearing that free and nostalgic sound again. "What's so funny?" she said, curious and amused.

"Nothing. It's just that it seems my husband was right all along about you."

Mavis wondered what she meant by that, but she put that on hold as her daughter's expression fell.

"I wish you could meet him. And our children. They would've loved you."

She smiled. She knew. They took after their parents so much. But...

"Like I said, it's fine. More importantly..." She nudged her daughter forward. "You should get going."

"Huh? Going?"

Mavis chuckled. "Yes. Going."

"But...I'm dead, aren't I? Just like you. I... I can't exactly go back..."

"No, you're not dead... Not yet."

"Huh?"

"You're in the threshold between life and death, little bird. I have a feeling the reason you're here with me instead of getting dragged closer and closer to death is because my spell is still working."

"Spell?"

"We can talk about it when your time has truly come, my little bird. Now go. Fly. Fly back to the wonderful nest and family you've made." She gave a challenging smile. "You have a promise to keep with your Chrom, don't you?"

For a moment, her daughter met her gaze, her cedar eyes matching her own in both its shade and depth. Then she breathed and said,

"Okay."

And hugged her.

Mavis was startled for a moment but then smiled and reciprocated.

"Thank you, Mother. For everything."

"Thank you, Robin. For everything."

With that, she finally let go and watched as she raced towards the bonds that would lead her back to the land of the living.


"There are better places to take a nap than on the ground, you know. Give me your hand."

"Chrom...?"

"Welcome back. It's over now."


Author's Note: Yeah yeah I know that it ain't that very Chrobin but GOSH DANG IT I'VE BEEN IN A MOOD TO WRITE THE PARENTS OF FE CHARACTERS.

Okay but more seriously, I had several ideas, but as I was doing ideas for the Day of Devotion one, this inevitably spawned and I just had to write it out. Hopefully it still has enough Chrobin to count for Chrobin Week. XD Because I really loved writing this.

Yeah it's only vaguely ghost related...but that's how it is. XP

Mavis, just like Robin, is named after a bird. It's another name for a bird called the song thrush, which I went for because Mavis sounded nice and a reference to introducing Mavis with a lullaby. She's a lot like Robin, if that wasn't obvious at this point, but I like to think she's a lot more quiet, and usually doesn't really fight "fate", hence why she was in the Grimleal and had Robin with Validar in the first place, except when it involves her loved ones. Which is why she only started fighting back once she had Robin.

Why yes I am already imagining what she was like in the doomed timeline Lucina comes from and how she lasted longer. But no I am NOT writing that anytime soon, if at all. XD

Speaking of deaths though...yes. I changed how Chrom reacts to Robin's sacrifice differently. Why? Well some of you might've already figured it out if you're an MCU fan, but I was inspired by a scene in Endgame as well as about how I've seen most people write the sacrifice scene by having Robin lie about sacrificing herself. I just thought, hey, if they really do love each other, they'd communicate. But like...what would be a way that I could do the sacrifice scene and make the sacrifice a decision both agreed on? That's how the Endgame scene inspiration came in and that's why I wrote it that way. Honestly pretty happy about that.

I'm also pretty happy about the whole "dark and holy magic are faith based" thing. Yeah yeah I know dark magic is reason magic in Three Houses...but I was more basing it on how Druids are a dark mage class in thr GBA games. Plus I thought it'd be neat to make them "two sides of the same coin".