This chapter was a tough one...sorry about the wait.

Paralogue 14: Ambivalence

"What's up Robin? What's got you up so late?" Zack asks as he walks up to the tactician, who was leaning over the railing of the ship. Zack's voice seemed to startle Robin, as he almost found himself falling over the edge, if not for Zack grabbing a hold of his coat. "Woah! Sorry about that." Zack says sheepishly.

"Don't worry about that." Robin replies. "It's my fault for not noticing you approaching me."

"About that." Zack says as he folds his arms. "What's eating at you? You're normally a lot more attentive than this? Is something on your mind?" Robin looks away as he gazes back into the ocean, stars reflected amongst the surface. He runs a hand through his hair before heaving a sigh.

"If I tell you, will you keep it quiet?" He says. Zack looks at him with wide eyes before nodding at him, motioning him to speak. "Recently, I have found myself thinking about Tiki. A lot." Zack raises an eyebrow as he folds his arms. "I'm not sure when, but for a while now she has always been at the front of my thoughts. That, and when I think about her…" He trails off as he continues to look at the ocean of stars. Zack, however, catches on.

"You've fallen for her, haven't you? And by the way you are talking, hard." He says, catching Robin off guard. "It's easy to see, anyone with a crush acts differently when they realise it. But the question now is, what are you going to do about it?"

"That's what I don't know." Robin replies with a huff. "Strategies, planning, formations, tactics, these I can solve with no problem. But telling someone about my feelings, who is the voice of Naga as well? I don't even know how or even what to say." He sighs in annoyance before a reflective look came about him. "How about you? What was it like for you when you realised your feelings for Aerith?" Zack furrows his brows before looking over the calm ocean.

"Well, just like you, a nervous wreck at first. Would Aerith accept, or would she reject? The fear of rejection can cause even the stoutest of hearts to turn away at the last moment. But I also realised that by going out daily to protect them, there was a chance that I wouldn't make it back and leave things unsaid. And that is more terrifying than not saying anything." He looks at Robin with a stern face before a small smile forms. "So, deciding that a sting of rejection was better than not saying anything at all, I took a chance. I tell you, the relief I felt when she returned the feelings was enormous. So I ask again Robin. What have you got to lose?"

Robin looks at Zack for a bit before returning his sight to the ocean. Zack takes his cue and leaves Robin alone with his thoughts, his words said. What have I got to lose? Robin repeats the words in his mind as he breathes the ocean's winds deep, a sense of calm forming in his mind. He knew what to do, but the only question he had now was when to tell. Looking out to the horizon and seeing the coming Island, where rumours of a bandit lord had arisen, Robin made his choice.

"Are you sure Tiki?" Aqua asks as she closes a book, the candle light flickering in the room. Across from her, Tiki sat with arms held on her lap, a thoughtful look on her face.

"Yes, I am sure." Tiki replies, while a light dusting appears on her face. Aqua smiles warmly at her as she puts her hands on the book she was reading. "I am sure that, I have fallen for Robin. His presence has been at the front of my mind for a while now. I would say, shortly after the battle at Fort Steiger."

"Well, I am happy for you." Aqua says, her smile never leaving. "How do you plan on telling him?" Seeing Tiki look away in uncertainty made her tilt her head, her smile fading as Tiki struggled to find words to say.

"I do not know. The last time I found myself falling for someone, was back during the war against Madeus. I was young then, and I didn't understand my feelings all that well. Not to mention that Marth was already spoken for." Tiki says, her eyes gazing away as memories of those days rise to the surface. "It has been so long since then, that I don't even know how to approach Robin. For all my years and knowledge, the question of the heart are still mysterious." Aqua only looks at her with a thoughtful look. She could understand Tiki's reluctance on some level, Hearts know she was like that with Terra until what Xehanort did to them.

"Tiki, on some level I know how you feel." Aqua says with an understanding smile. "I was like you as well once. All of us married women where. But if there is one thing I can say, is that keeping it locked away won't help. It will only make those feelings worse, a sense of longing and pining so great that it tares your mind from all else." She reaches over before grasping her hands. "That is why you should take the chance, and tell him how you feel." Giving Tiki a reassuring smile, Aqua takes her leave, leaving Tiki alone in the cabin.

"It's not just the telling part, Lady Aqua…" Tiki whispers before looking out of the porthole. "It's the fear of losing him while I live on…"

And have you not thought of how to avoid it? A motherly voice echoes in her mind. Gasping softly, Tiki places a hand on her chest as she closes her eyes.

"Lady Naga. It has been so long since we last spoke. Are you well?"

As well as a Divine Dragon can be. She replies, with what Tiki could think of as a smile on her face. But enough about me, my ability to talk with you is fleeting, for Grima's darkness is rising. I fear I have no new information to tell, however. Tiki could feel the frown on her face at Naga's news. They knew he was coming, and yet they still didn't know WHERE! All I can say, is that it will happen in Plegia. For I can sense a Darkness there, deep and malicious. Take care when you go there, Tiki.

"Of course, Lady Naga." Tiki replies. She could feel Naga's smile radiant with her mind, before becoming something else. It was only a moment later that she realised that Naga, the Divine Dragon, was smirking at her!

Now then, what is this about you falling for Robin? Naga asks. Tiki could feel the heat in her cheeks rising as Naga left of a faint chuckle. Who knew she had this sort of side to her! It is alright dear. Such a thing is proof of your life. So why do you hesitate? Tiki sighs sadly before answering.

"It is because if our lives. For I shall far outlive Robin, same with Nowi far outliving Ricken. For us to outlive our loves, it is painful…" Naga hums with understanding at Tiki's reply. It was a hard fact that the life expectance of a Manakete was far longer than a mortal mans. The fact that Nowi knows this yet still married Ricken was proof of her love for him, yet the pain of his death would be far longer as well.

If I were to tell you, that there was a way for Robin and Ricken to live as long as you and Nowi, would you take it? Naga asks cryptically. Tiki's eyes widen at her question, the implications not lost to her. But before she could ask, the connection between them grows faint. I fear we have reached our limit. If you want to know, head for a shrine in norther Ferox. There, you will find my tears. And with those last words, Naga's presence vanished like the morning mist, leaving Tiki with more questions than answers.

And yet, a part of her wanted to tell Robin and Ricken about her discovery, but would Robin want it? Noticing the candle's light was almost extinguished, Tiki decided to call it a night. She would ask Robin later, once their mission to the Island was complete.

It was not long until the ship made landfall and the Shepherds disembarked. Taking a small group of twelve with him once again, Chrom led the group towards a nearby village, hoping to learn something about these rumours. Yet from a distance, they could see the town was but a shadow of its former self. The villagers looked around with hopeless eyes while numerous others held their hands over growling stomachs.

"What happened here?" Naminé asks quietly. "These people look as though they have had nothing to eat."

"I would not be surprised if that was the case." Tiki replies with a frown. "Bandits and thieves will steal anything, even food. No one is safe from their hands…" The group frowns sadly at her comment as they continue to walk through the village. Cordelia, Sumia and Cynthia take to the sky, to spy around them as an elder approaches them cautiously.

"Ho are you people?" He asks warily, the sighs of stress evident along his face. Chrom walks up to the man, who steps back in fright, before bowing towards him.

"My name is Chrom." He says, surprising the elder and those around. "We have come here to investigate rumours of a bandit lord making his home here. Judging by how the village looks, I take it that they are true?" The elder sighs deeply before rubbing his head.

"Yes. It is true. They are lead by a former Valmese General. We have no choice but to adhere to his demands." He looks at the ground in frustration, before a gentle hand lands on his shoulder.

"You took the path that you believed would save your people in a situation beyond your control. But you need not fear him anymore." Chrom says before he straightens up. "Tell us where he hides and we will remove this threat." The elder look at Chrom with wide eyes, before nodding slowly. He turns around, before pointing at an old fort located near a sandy plateau north of the village.

"You will find him there. But please, be careful. It is not just the leader who is from Valmese. His men are also former soldiers as well." The elder warns. Chrom smiles in appreciation before walking back to the Shepherds, looks steeled.

"Alright, we have our location. Let's move Shepherds. We won't let these people suffer anymore than they already have."

To say the tension around the fort was dense would be underselling it. No sooner was the Shepherds ship spotted and identified than the Valmese men were in a flurry of activity, readying traps and blocking off passages as they prepared themselves for the oncoming storm. But while the Valmese were excited about a chance of revenge, two people amongst their ranks were not so ecstatic at the coming battle. While one of them, a male villager, gazed off with hopelessness at the situation, the other, a female mercenary with orange hair tied into two side pigtails, could look on in irritation and anger as the Valmese commander walked up to them, muttering under his breath.

"Damn Shepherds! Why did they come here?" He growls as he walks up to the window with a frown. "This was suppose to be the start of MY new empire! Now I'll have to go to ground again. Oh well, if they are so insistent at following me like dogs…" he turns to look at the two with a grin. "Then it's good that I have hounds of my own to welcome them with."

"I'm not your dog, scum!" The woman shouts back with fury, her hand itching to the steel sword across her back. The commander, Nelson, laughs at her before pulling out what looked to be a wedding ring on a string.

"Careful, Severa. You don't want to lose your precious now, do you?" Severa clenches her teeth as she backs away with irritation. "That's right, you know your place mongrel. A stray mutt that refuses to stop yapping, but one that knows it's place. And as for you, Holland." He turns to the man beside Severa, who looks at him with terrified eyes. "You understand your position as well, right?" Holland says nothing as he looks at the ground in shame, as Severa looks at him sympathetically.

"Hmph, as quiet as ever I see." Nelson says with indifference. "Now then, I want you, Severa, to be outside the castle to welcome our guests. Holland, you shall be in the east wing. If either of you see Chrom, kill him and bring me the Fire Emblem. It will make a nice souvenir to mark the reign of my new empire!" He laughs like a maniac as he drags Holland into the keep as Severa leans on the wall.

Damn him! If only he didn't have that I would gut him where he stands! Severa shouts internally before heaving a sigh. Well, not like I can do much here at the moment. Especially with Holland under his thumb. Casting a glance outside, she could see thirteen tiny dots form over the hill as a grin forms on her face. At least I'll have a big enough distraction to free Holland. And give them a second way into this place. With a plan in motion, Severa took off down the halls to her 'position', but not to defend.

"So, this is the fort." Roxas says as they near it. The fort itself was nothing special, apart from the very obvious opening that would be a death trap to any invading army. That and from the way it was built, it looked to be designed to house Pegasus knights and wyvern riders. "It doesn't look all that intimidating."

"Looks can be deceiving Roxas." Robin says as his eyes flow over the fort. "The main entrance will surely be a trap. And I have no doubt that they have archers hiding behind the walls ready to shoot at our flyers." His gaze moves around the walls before them, before spotting what looked to be a small entrance to the side, cleverly hidden by the rising sands around them. "Think I found a way in. Gaius. Think you can pick our way in?" He asks, turning to look at the candy eating assassin.

Gaius looks at the door, his eyes scrutinising it, before pulling a pick out of his pocket. "Give me a few moment and I'll have it opened." Using the sand dunes around as cover, the Shepherds make their way to the hidden side door, eyes watching the ramparts above. Thankfully, it would seem the Valmese were waiting for them to enter the main hall instead of finding an alternate route. With no threat of being riddled with arrows, Gaius moved to pick the lock, only to find something unexpected.

"What is the problem Gaius?" Libra asks as he and the others join him. Gaius was holding his lockpick in hand, yet he had not tried to pick the lock. The answer soon became apparent when he simple pushed the door open.

"Someone had left it open?" Lucina asks. This was setting of alarm bells in her head as images of Valmese swarming them fill her mind. Yet a glance inside showed numerous Valmese soldiers lying on the ground, signs of a scuffle evident.

"More like someone picked a fight and won." Sully reply's as the group enter through the door. Just as the outside hinted at, the interior was clearly made to support flyers, with gaps in the ceilings and expansive halls throughout.

"Finally you're here. I was starting to wonder if you would ever arrive." A voice sounds to their right, as Severa appears from behind a pillar. The Shepherds eye her cautiously, apart from Lucina and Cynthia, who Severa looks at with a slight smile. "Glad to see you two are still around."

"And we are glad you are still unharmed, Severa." Lucina replies, indicating to the Shepherds that she was an ally. Severa however frowns before folding her arms in irritation.

"I might be unharmed, but I'm not happy. The jerk of the place stole something very valuable to me, and is forcing one of the villagers to fight for him. Help me get him out of here." She says in an almost demanding tone, catching some of the Shepherds off guard. Chrom however was unphased as he walks up.

"It was our intention to save the people of the village. Rest assured that we will not stop until they are all freed." Chrom says. Severa looks at him with narrow eyes before shrugging her shoulders and grabbing her steel sword.

"Well, lets get going then. Holland is station at the vault further in. But we will need a distraction to keep the Valmese busy until he is safe."

"That can be done." Robin says before tuning around. "Sully, Kellam. Ride around the place and cause as much chaos as you can. Sumia, Cynthia, Cordelia. Fly between the levels and do the same. The rest of us will follow Severa to the vault and see to Holland. Once done, we shall head for the viper's head and cut it off." With quiet nods, the five split from the leading group before vanishing into the corridors as Severa leads the rest deeper into the fort, but not before she looks at Cordelia.

A Valmese trooper watches the main hall with a javelin. Next to him were several archers, bows at the ready with arrows waiting to fly. And yet they had no targets before them. Either the Shepherds were waiting for them to leave, or they left. And yet something still felt wrong.

"Hey boys!" A voice echoes behind them, grabbing their attention. Spinning around, they were shocked to see one of the Shepherds, a paladin, looking at them with a smug look. One that her horse was also giving to them. "Looking for little old me? Well come and get me!" She taunts before ridding deeper into the fort. With a cry, the Valmese abandoned their post and chase after her, intent on cutting her down. But the moment they turned the corner, they soon began running into what they fought was an invisible wall, with several of them knocking themselves out in the rush. Those that were only dazed and refocused their vision were shocked to suddenly see a great knight just seemingly materialise out of think air.

The great knight soon vanished once again before a sudden force began rushing through their lines and tremendous speeds, before it was joined by the paladin in a sudden pincer attack. Soon the last Valmese man was lying on the ground, as the two riders rode up to each other.

"Nice work Kellam. That was an excellent ambush." Sully praises, much to her husband's embarrassment.

"It was nothing. They latterly ran into me before I even did anything. Guess having a small presence has its benefits." Kellam replies, causing Sully to laugh loudly at him before the two venture back into the halls of the fort.

A similar situation was happening with the riders, with Cordelia using her tomes to eliminate any archers who dared to move from cover, while Sumia and Cynthia dived at them with Sonic Blade. Dashing like a bird dives into water to grab a fish.

With the Valmese distracted by the chaos caused by them, Severa and the group found their way to the vault almost unguarded. Save for a few would-be thieves. But they didn't last long. Soon they were approaching the doors to the vault, where Holland and two soldiers stood guard.

"There's Holland." Severa whispers to them, pointing him out. "Take out the guards that are with him, and I'll talk to him." Robin nods before looking at Roxas, who pulls out Oathkeeper and readies two arrows. Aiming at the guards, he calms his breathing before letting the arrows of light fly towards the soldiers. Soon, the guards were lying on the floor, with Holland holding his spear with a panicked expression as Severa appeared from the shadows. "Holland!"

"Severa?! What are you doing here? And with the Shepherds? If he knows that you've…." Holland begins, only for Severa to cut him off.

"I'm leaving Holland, and you are coming with me. Whether you like it or not." She says sternly. Holland looks at her with wide eyes before the grip on his spear lessons.

"I... I can't. You know I can't. I have a wife, Severa. If I don't earn Nelson's coin, she'll starve. I know it's blood money and that he's treating everyone in the village the same, but—"

"You're wife is PREGNANT, Holland! You know that, don't you!?" Severa shouts in irritation, silencing Holland who looks at the ground in shame. The Shepherds look on with sympathetic looks as the situation of Holland comes to light. "Do you love your child, Holland? Do you love your wife?"

"Of course I do! Why would you ask that! I'm doing this because I love them both!"

"Then stop making excuses!" Severa yells back as she walks up to him with anger in her eyes. "I know that parents will do anything for their children… But I also know how it feels when a child loses her parents. This world's got far too many kids who've gone through that. If you stay, you'll be killed, or worse. And your child deserves better!" At that Holland could not keep a hold of his spear as he soon drops it to the floor as he falls to his knees. Exhaustion and tears well up inside him as Severa's words echoed within his mind.

"I will take him back." Libra says as he walks over to Holland. "This soul has been convinced." Severa says nothing as Libra picks him up and begins to walk back. Roxas and Namié decide to follow him, saying that Libra would be at risk returning by himself. Now with only a few of them remaining, there was only one target left.

"All that is left is Nelson." Severa hisses as she walks to another hallway. "If any of you want to help, fine, but that slime is mine." She says to Chrom and the others, who shrug before following her deeper into the fort. Whatever he stole from here really has her mad.

"Useless! The whole lot of them!" Nelson screams in anger as he storms around in the upper hall, a makeshift throne placed at the far end. "How are they incapable of stopping five mounted lancers! Are they not soldiers of Valm!?" He asks one of the men in the room, who could only look back nervously. "I want everyone to stop those five now! Or I will have your heads for this!" The man bows sharply before turning to the door, only for it be blasted open by holy fire a moment later, startling all present. As Tiki, in dragon form, emerged from the hole she created, Chrom, Robin, Gaius, Lucina and Severa enter the room. When his eyes landed on Severa, his rage exploded. "You traitorous wench!" He shouts in anger as his remaining men form a wall before him.

"That rich, coming from you, sleazeball!" Severa shouts back. "And besides, you've got to be loyal before you can be a traitor, you idiot!" Not even waiting for an order to charge, Severa leaps over the wall before rushing towards Nelson. The latter, caught off guard by the sudden charge, began charging up a dark spell to launch at her. But he never got the chance as Severa soon unleashed an Ars Arcanum on him before finishing him off with a Lethality. While the men holding the wall look on as their commander falls like rice, Chrom and the others walk up to them with narrow eyes while Tiki flies above them.

It was not long before they had thrown their weapons to the ground and surrendered.

While Chrom and the others debated on what to do with their prisoners, Severa was busy looking over Nelson's body, eventually pulling a key from his tattered robes. "Gotcha." She says with a grin before walking out of the room, not before Gaius and Lucina follow her out. "I didn't ask for you to follow me." She says, but lacking any of the anger or irritation that she had before.

"Just curious as to what that key is for, is all." Gaius says coolly, although his eyes are glued to Severa's hair colour. It was the same shade as his, but he would wait. Severa seems to huff at his response but doesn't push for more. Soon, they arrive back at the vault with Cordelia and the others waiting nearby. "Finished causing enough mayhem already, sweetheart?" He says to her, making her chuckle softly as she dismounts.

"No, just waiting for you to inevitably open the door to the vault. It was only a matter of time until you did, dear." She replies with a grin. Severa looks away before walking to the vault door. Using the key she had retrieved, the door opened to reveal a room filled with junk, weapons and the stolen goods and foods from the village. But for Severa, what was more important was the ring on a necklace lying on one of the boxes. Walking up to it, a sad smile forms on her lips as she picks it up.

"I've got it back." She says softly before realising that Cordelia is watching her from the side, her eyes glued to the ring in her hand. "What are you looking at? It's my ring, and it's rightfully mine." Cordelia shook herself from the shock before glancing at the glove on her hand and the ring underneath before looking at Severa with sad eyes.

"You're my child. Isn't that right?" she asks knowingly. Severa looked back at the ring before clenching it in her hand as she shook.

"Why did you leave me?" She asks as anger laces her words. "You said you had to go off to fight for what really mattered, and you never came back! You picked something else over me!" She says as her eyes glisten over. Gaius looked between the two nervously while Cordelia walked up to her.

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage, Severa. I can't answer for my future self." She says slowly. "But, if what you said about 'fighting for what really mattered', then I would be talking about you. I'd want nothing more than to build a world where you could grow up happy and strong. At least, that's what I want right now." She was now standing before Severa, as the future girl was looking at the floor.

"You think I don't know that…?" She says quietly, her anger all but gone. "I mean, I DO know that, but…" her words fail as Cordelia embraces her in a hug, rubbing the back of her head gently.

"I'm sorry I wasn't a better mother to you." With that, Severa returns her mothers embrace, as tears stream down her cheeks while Gaius joins them in the hug. The others look at them with warm looks as Lucina smiles softly. Another friend has been found, yet more were still missing.

And the looming dread still hung over them.

Robin stood alone on a hill overlooking the village. The sun had just set not long ago as they returned with the plundered supplies and prisoners who had surrendered. In thanks for saving them, the town had opted to throw a party for them, and while they tried to refuse, they soon ended up joining anyway. Not that all of them could, with half of them staying on the ship to either watch the prisoners or did not want to partake in the festivities. As for him, he was on this hill for a different reason.

"You wanted to see me, Robin?" Tiki asks as she walks up to him, the night stars shining above.

"Yes, I did. Thank you for agreeing to meet me here." Robin replies. Tiki smiled before walking up to him as they turned their sight back to the village, thoughts racing. Nothing is spoken between them as the night air flows and the calm winds rustle the trees. "It is a quiet night, isn't it?" He asks, while his nerves flair.

"It is." Tiki replies. She sighs deeply before steeling herself. It was now or never. "Robin, there is something I must tell you." Robin looks at her with curious eyes. "For a while now, I have been conflicted with thoughts that I have long had trouble with. And they revolve around you."

"Around me?"

"Yes. At first, I did not know what to make of them. Until now." She turned to face him, feeling the heat rising in her cheeks. "Robin, you are a singular—and very special—man to me. You are the man with whom I've...fallen in love." Robin looks at her in surprise as his mouth hangs open. "When I resailed what it was, I was conflicted. The only other time I felt love was with Marth. But I was young then and did not know what it was. But now? Now I know. I love you, Robin, with all my heart." He stood there looking at Tiki as she looked at him with eyes filled with longing before he slowly closed his mouth and smiled.

"In truth, Tiki. The reason I asked you to come here was so that I could tell you the same." Tiki's eyes widen in surprise before morphing into one of happiness. "Like you, I honestly had no idea how to tell you. I may be a master of planning, but working up the courage to confess my feelings to the woman I love? A different battle entirely." He earns a chuckle from her before his face falls. "But will you be okay? I know that I will die long before you and that it will leave a hole in your heart that will never heal."

"Robin." Tiki replies as she places a hand on his cheek. "You need not worry. I once had that hole form when Marth and the others parted this world. But you need not fear. For there is a way we can be together forever."

"Really?"

"Yes." Tiki's smile was radiant as the two drew closer, Robin wrapping his arms around her waist. "I promise we will never be apart."

"And together, we will build a world of peace." With that, the two close the distance and seal the promise with a kiss. Unknown to them, the new couple were being watched by a couple of peekers.

"Ha. Called it. Pay up you guys." Vaike says with a smirk to Sora, Roxas, Stahl, Kellam and Gregor. The five grumble at losing the bet they placed before quietly leaving the scene. They did not want to risk the wrath of either the Grandmaster or Voice of Naga.

Grima looks at his captive before him, grinning wildly at his collection. Emmeryn, Aerith and Ariel slept in their pods as the fire behind rages. The remaining pods eager for their 'guests'.

"Walhart is no more." Validar speaks as he walks up to Grima. "And sooner than expected."

"It is the time travellers doing." Grima replies calmly. "Their presence and actions have forced time's flow. Events that should take years ended within months. They will not be in their wakened state as they should be."

"But even so, we still have all the cards. They have no idea of what is coming." Validar reassures as the sound of a portal opens behind them.

"Got Princess number four. Way easier than the last one." 'Luxu' says as he carries Rapunzel over his shoulder. While on his face was a glaring ball-shaped mark. "But still, those kids were tenacious. The spiky-haired one, in particular, was kicking a never-ending stream of balls at me along with his friend. Still, rooky Keybladers are rookie Keybladers." He says without bother before placing Rapunzel in a pod.

"And so three remain." Grima says, ignoring 'Luxu's' rant. "Once we have the final two, we can focus on our enemies here." He turns to Validar. "Have a messenger ready to head to Ylisstol as soon as Chrom returns. I am sure he will jump at the chance to obtain Sable from us."

"At once, my Lord." Validar replies as he leaves, while 'Luxu' goes through another portal, leaving Rima by himself in the darkness.

"Soon, all shall be as it should. The flow of time can not be stopped." He says as his mark glows on his hand, while a wedding ring can be seen on his left hand. Chipped and broken. While out of the corner of his eyes, a lone tear fell to the floor.

Writing the scene between Robin and Tiki was the hardest part. I didn't want it to be forced.