Late again. Sorry about that. This chapter marks the end of act one of the story, and the first arc of the game itself. As we move into the beginnings of the Valm Arc and begin introducing more of the second gen Shepherds, we get into more of the stuff I've had planned in my notes for a long time, and a lot of the stuff I've been really looking forward to writing. Hope you guys enjoy it. This chapter has a lot of ideas I've been dying to include and have been trying to build up to for a few chapters now. As we move forward, you can expect to see a more diverse set of POVs from other characters.
Also, very sad to find out the VA of Ferdinand Von Aegir of FE: Three Houses, Billy Kametz, has lost his fight with Colon Cancer. RIP to a legend. He shall be missed.
Marth No MoreVirion's 'reveal' as the Duke of Roseanne hadn't been surprising, if Robin was being terribly honest. The way he spoke alone made it obvious he was noble born, and that was before accounting for the way he dressed.
No, in Robin's mind, the bigger mystery had been where he was from. Chrom had confirmed long ago that he wasn't Ylissean, but that was clear from his foreign accent, which didn't match any nation from the continent of Ylisse. So again, Robin was barely surprised by Virion's Roseannean heritage.
The thing that was actually surprising was finding out that in the two years that Virion had been gone, was that he'd gotten married and had a child during that time, which he had conveniently left out of his letters.
When Virion had left after the war two years prior, it had been without fanfare, which was unlike him and spoke volumes of how important his reasons were. He had explained in little detail that he had important business to attend to in his homeland, and that there may be more trouble on the horizon, but he would keep them as informed as he could.
All that his letters had mentioned were the growing conflicts a continent away as a Conqueror rose up in the tiny nation of Valm and began a struggle for power that soon engulfed the entire continent. Virion had helped his people to fortify the nation before fleeing with his wife and child to secure the aid of his allies.
Robin was pleased to find that Cherche was a wonderful woman, if not a little eccentric. But then, all the Shepherds had their quirks, so Robin was sure Cherche would fit right in.
The strangest thing of all though, was that Cherche had strapped their son to her wyvern in a baby carrier.
"Oh, Minerva is a wonderful babysitter," Cherche had said as she unstrapped her child. "and Gerome loves Minervykins too. There's nothing to worry about."
After Robin got over the shock, Cherche had explained that as the Conqueror grew in power, and Roseanne was pressured into a corner, Virion had made the decision to see his wife and newly born child to safety before returning with whatever help he could find. Robin understood Virion's thinking, she would do anything to keep Lucina safe, but it also seemed Cherche had much in common with Robin.
Chrom had immediately offered for Cherche to stay in Ylisstol with Panne, who was nearing the end of her own pregnancy, so that Gerome would be safe, and even have a friend in Lucina, as much as month old infants could be friends anyway, but Cherche insisted on accompanying her husband into battle, so in the end, it was decided that little Gerome would be left in the care of the castle staff with the five month old princess, while the Shepherds marched once again to war at Port Ferox.
Lucina had found out the Shepherds were moving out embarrassingly late. She knew that Chrom had sent out the request for them to gather and prepare for a fight, but they had all arrived much quicker than expected, and left ahead of schedule asa result, blindsiding Lucina and leaving her and her friends to struggle to catch up.
By the time she, Morgan and Laurent reached Port Ferox, the fight was already over, and it was immediately obvious that the Shepherds and soldiers were exhausted.
For the soldiers, this was the first time many of them had seen active combat. After the Ylisse-Plegia war two years ago, Chrom had rebuilt Ylisse's military, citing the need to defend her people and her allies, and created a happy medium between Emmeryn's admittedly overly pacifistic attitude and the dangerous warmongering of their Father. While these soldiers had been well trained and held their own against Valms dangerous cavalry, they had still been untested up until this point, and Lucina could see the toll taken on them as they passed through the soldiers camp on their way to the Shepherds section.
Unfortunately it was also plain to see that the Feroxi army hadn't fared as well as their Ylissean reinforcements. Having been blindsided by the advance troops of Valm, the Feroxi response had been sloppy at best, and had only managed to hold out until help arrived because of their experience and overall skill in combat. Objectively, they were the better army between them and Ylisse. If they had struggled so much, Lucina feared what that meant for the coming battles. At any rate, it would be impossible to beat Valm's armies in a conventional confrontation.
"No, absolutely not." Chrom's firm voice echoed from the command tent, breaking up Lucina's thoughts. They had arrived. "This is out of the question."
"They have gold, boy!" Basilio argued. "Countless ships! And more importantly, we have a fart's chance in the wind without them."
Lucina looked at her friends, who seemed to be equally as confused as she was. What were they talking about?
"The oaf is right," Flavia admitted. "...Crude, but right. There's only one path forward."
"Chrom, will you reconsider?" Robin asked her husband pleadingly.
Chrom was silent for a beat. Lucina could picture his face, grappling with what he thought was the right way forward and what was dictated by the necessity of the situation, though Lucina still was unsure of what exactly that situation was.
"…Very well," he finally said. "Send a messenger and request a summit immediately. Let us pray this new king is more reasonable than their last."
"New king?" Lucina muttered to herself. "Which country has a- Plegia?"
"Woah, back up a step," Morgan asked. "Do you think they're going to Plegia for help? That's a foolhardy plan if I've ever heard one."
Laurent coughed. "Morgan, do not allow your judgement to be clouded like your Fathers. This is necessary."
Morgan scowled, but Lucina interjected before she could argue. "Think tactically, Morgan. An alliance between Ylisse, Ferox and Plegia would help socially and militarily. A common enemy in Valm could help ease any resentment from the war. Not only that, we really do need all the help we can get."
Morgan frowned, but relented. "I know you're right, but I really don't like it," she said.
Laurent laughed dryly. "Like Father, like daughter," he quipped.
Morgan's scowl deepened, and Lucina idly wondered just what about being compared to their Father could make her sister so uncharacteristically frustrated. Morgan's distrust of Plegia wasn't unfounded though, and it did give Lucina an idea.
"Don't worry Morgan," Lucina soothed. "I don't trust the Plegians either, and I doubt that Mother and Father will. Besides, I have a plan. If the Plegians try any sneaky ambushes, we'll be there to ambush them instead," she finished determinedly.
"Oh, I get it," Morgan said. "We make sure we stay the wild card. If nobody knows we're around, then we can swoop in if things go wrong and use the element of surprise to our advantage!"
"A commendable plan, Lucina," Laurent agreed. "In that case, let us make ourselves scarce before we are discovered."
Lucina nodded. "Follow me," she told her companions, before striding away from her Fathers command tent in the harbour and towards the main road. They followed the road out of town and then set up a temporary camp to wait for the Shepherds to leave.
A few days later, the express messenger returned from Plegia with the news that the new king had accepted the offer to meet. Being Ylisse's most mobile unit aside from the rebuilt Pegasus Knights, the Shepherds were packed and ready to leave in just over an hour.
Leaving Basilio and Flavia in charge at Port Ferox, Chrom led the Shepherds south to the chosen meeting point of Carrion Island, with Lucina and her friends not far behind.
Carrion Island was near the border and only separated from the mainland by a thin channel of water, so the trip south did not take very long, lasting not even a week including the boat trip. The island itself was one of the few forested parts of Plegia, the only others being the coastal area in the southwest, which Lucina found herself grateful for.
After departing the vessel that carried them ashore, the Shepherds marched through the island interior, and set up camp near the high roads in a valley with good cover on all sides. Some time after the sun reached its zenith, Chrom, Robin and Frederick departed camp and made their way to the nearby keep, at which the meeting was being held.
Having done some research on the place at Lucina's request, Laurent had informed her that Plegian royalty always hosted its guests here, despite the foreboding name and semi precarious location.
For the sake of stealth, Lucina asked Laurent and Morgan to stay behind when she followed behind the negotiations party into the Plegian keep. She didn't think that the Plegians would be so bold as to try something, if they even were planning too, when the Shepherds would be aware and in guard. Any potential treachery would likely come later, but Lucina still wanted someone to watch over her parents in the meantime.
A guard gave Chrom and his entourage a surprisingly warm welcome and ushered them inside, while Lucina used their interaction as a distraction to quickly climb a tree and then vault over the low walls of the fort. Lucina could tell by the height of the walls that this keep wasn't meant for warfare, and truly was meant for housing foreign dignitaries as Laurent had told her.
The sun was beginning its descent as Lucina followed the negotiation party as stealthily as she could into the entry hall, keeping to the shadows. Thankfully, the Plegian architectural aesthetic left plenty of shadows to hide in.
A table was laid out in the middle of the hall, and the guard led the Shepherds straight to it and asked them to sit, citing that their hosts would be there shortly.
Before long, a familiar woman emerged and greeted the diplomatic party, and Lucina mentally swore. Aversa, the she-witch who had served Gangrel, was alive and well, and apparently now serving Plegia's new King. A few more sentences were exchanged before the king himself finally emerged.
Lucina continued to watch curiously, wondering who might have replaced Gangrel on the throne, but she did not recognize the man. Evidently, her parents did, because his appearance caused a flurry of whispers between them. Straining her ears, Lucina listened carefully as the king made his offer.
"Plegia can offer no soldiers," Aversa spoke for the king, "but will provide 800 warships and 200 transports. In addition, we would be pleased to fully fund the campaign against Valm."
Lucina was stunned at the incredibly generous offer. Had Aunt Emmeryn's hope for peace reached even Aversa?
"That is... surprisingly generous of you, milord," Frederick said, voicing what they all must've been feeling. "We could not ask for more, quite literally. You offer most all your assets…"
"I would give troops as well," the king lamented, "but our army remains in shambles from the last war. I trust the gold and ships will suffice as a sign of our commitment to the cause?"
"Of course it will," Chrom said amicably. "Thank you, King Validar."
The name Validar sounded familiar to Lucina, now that she was listening enough to have heard it, but she couldn't place where she'd heard it before. She must have been preoccupied with something at the time.
"The honor is ours, my prince," Validar continued. "I look forward to building a strong bond between our two nations. My sailors will have the ships prepared and delivered to Poet Ferox in approximately a month from now, giving everyone plenty of time to prepare. In the meantime, I was hoping I might ask a boon from you, Lord Chrom?"
"I don't see why not," Chrom replied, "If we are to be allies then we should endeavour to assist each other when we can. What do you require?"
"You have my thanks," Validar drawled. "Since, as I mentioned previously, our army has not yet recovered, I would request your aid in stamping out some deserters turned bandits from the war two years ago. They simply will not stop terrorizing our civilians in the southwest, and I fear that they may disrupt our harvests, which are relied upon to feed the whole nation."
Lucina could not see her Fathers face, but she could picture the concern on it. "I would be pleased to offer my assistance, King Validar." Chrom said. "I'll have a contingent of Shepherds and knights deal with the issues, as a gesture of friendship between our nations. Just give us the location, and we shall deal with the rest. Now then, if there's nothing else? My men and I must hurry back to Port Ferox."
"Oh, so soon?" Aversa interjected with a playful twist in her voice. "But I have one more introduction to make."
Lucina frowned. The negotiations had gone infinitely better than she could have ever hoped for, so what else could there be to discuss? As she watched, Aversa introduced a figure wearing familiar dark hooded robes that she referred to as the Grimleal faiths Hierophant. Robin attempted to start a conversation with the figure, but the only response she received was what sounded like a quotation from a religious text.
"Good hierophant," Frederick interjected. "I would ask you to lower your cowl. In Ylisse, it is a courtesy expected of one in the presence of royalty."
The hooded figure regarded him for a moment. "...You are a long way from Ylisse, sir. ...But very well…"
Reaching a hand up, the Hierophant lowered their hood, and Lucina covered her mouth to keep from gasping. Standing there was a woman who looked identical to her Mother, if perhaps slightly older. Stunned, it was all Lucina could do to watch and rapidly comb through all the possible meanings of this strange occurrence while Chrom, Robin and Frederick stammered and swore in confusion. And then things got even stranger.
"My name is Robin," the hierophant said jovially. "Oh, and that was your name as well, wasn't it? What a strange coincidence…"
Lucina's right shoulder itched furiously, a sensation she had felt several times before, always when there was danger around, centered on the strange brand she had inherited from her Mother. The Hierophant gazed around the room at each of its occupants, gauging their reactions. For a moment, Lucina was convinced that the woman looked her directly in the eye.
Validar clicked his tongue. "Why that IS rather curious, now that you mention it... What are the odds? In any case, I believe we are finished here. We will let you be on your w-"
"Hold just one moment!" Chrom interrupted.
"Milord?" Aversa asked in faux politeness.
"What is the meaning of this? Why do your hierophant and Robin-" Chrom tried to demand before Acersa cut him off.
"I'm afraid we've no time for such trivial matters now, Your Highness," she said almost lazily. "We have aid preparations to attend to, and you have a long, hard journey ahead. Oh, and do be careful on your way back to Port Ferox. This time of year the highroads of Plegia can be quite treacherous…"
When she finished speaking, the cheerful guard that had led them inside reappeared and offered to escort them outside, and Lucina, shoulder burning and throat feeling constricted, stealthily made her exit.
The Hierophant laughed as the guard herded the Shepherds out the doors, before turning to the worms that served her, and allowed her eyes to burn bright red once more.
"We have a slight change of plans," she announced, allowing her true voice to slip back into sync with her host's.
"This body's annoying progeny is here. The foolish girl I told you about who seeks to change fate. If we wish to proceed with the Risen ambush, then we must preoccupy her and whatever allies she has with her for the time being," she ordered calmly, savouring the anguished feelings stirring in her host's heart.
"Your worship," the female worm grovelled. "Please, allow me to send some puppets after her. I can keep the girl out of the way during the attack."
"Very well, " the fell avatar said. " You have my permission to do your worst."
Lucina arrived back at camp with an ashen face and her hand gripped tightly around Falchion, causing Morgan to fear the worst.
"What happened?" Morgan asked worriedly as Lucina sat down by the fire.
"I- she looked-" Lucina stammered before taking a deep breath to collect herself. "The negotiations went better than we could have hoped. They barely even took fifteen minutes to come to an agreement, but…" she trailed off, as if unsure of how to proceed.
"Go on," Morgan prompted, sharing a worried look with Laurent.
Lucina swallowed. "There was a woman, the Hierophant of the Grimleal… her face… Morgan, she looked practically identical to Mother!"
"What?" Morgan asked, shocked. "How is that possible?"
"I don't understand it myself," Lucina lamented. "But when I looked at her, it filled me with such a sense of dread, I… I do not know how to feel."
"I wish I could offer you solace in the form of a reasonable and scientific explanation Lucina," Laurent offered, "but unfortunately I cannot surmise any sensible reason. We know Robin did not have a twin, but you described her as 'practically identical' anyway, so that is not totally out of the question. Perplexing…"
Morgan frowned. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen Lucina thrown off like this. It unnerved her to see her usually stoic sister so out of it.
"Well, it's clearly troubling you. Do you want me to get you a drink of water? I can go and get my canteen? Oh! Maybe I have some of those fruit candies leftover in my pack! How does that sound?"
Lucina attempted a smile, but it ended up as more of a grimace. "I appreciate the thought, Morgan," she said, "but that's not necessary. I think I simply need a good night's sleep."
"If you're sure…" Morgan said, feeling the worry rising in her chest. "I-"
She had started to say more, but a low groan coming from the woods cut her off.
Immediately, all three of them were on their feet, weapons in hand, scanning the tree line for threats.
From the shadows, a Risen shambled into view, and it was not alone. Morgan counted at least a dozen of the monsters ambling towards them.
"Oh for Naga's sake!" Morgan griped. "We were having an important discussion! Can't we do this some other time!"
"I don't know that you noticed, Morgan," Laurent deadpanned, "but our foes are Risen. They cannot understand you."
"Well honestly, that's even ruder," Morgan complained. "They don't even have the decency to be able to feel ashamed for interrupting us!"
"You can whine later, Morgan," Lucina commanded. Almost all traces of her previous state were carefully masked behind the expression of the warrior princess who had fought against impossible odds. "I doubt these are the only Risen in the woods. It's possible our parents are in danger, and we must move quickly. To battle!"
Lucina charged, and Morgan followed right behind her, flipping open her tome and gathering the magic for a spell. A zombie lifted its weapon to strike at Lucina as they charged to meet them, but with a cry of "Elfire!" A fireball flew past them and impacted with the Risen's face, causing it to shriek and stumble, before Lucina finished it off with a quick sword stroke
Not even stopping, Lucina continued the motion and parried the blade of the next Risen while Laurent continued to lob fireballs at the coming monsters, giving Morgan the opportunity to fire a compressed blade of wind at the Risen Lucina had just intercepted.
Within minutes, the Risen had been reduced to piles of ash and foul smelling smoke. Even with only the three of them, it would take a force at least double that size to have given them any trouble. The Risen may have been strong, but they were typically slow and inaccurate beasts.
"Come," Lucina said as Morgan defeated the last of the zombies, "we must get to the Shepherds camp quickly and help!"
She turned to run in the direction of the valley, but froze.
"What's wrong?" Morgan asked, but as soon as she spoke, she sensed what Lucina must have. There was a presence just beyond the tree line. An enormous figure appeared from the darkness with an air of menace.
It looked and smelled like a Risen, but something about it was different. Just by its aura, Morgan could see that.
"…I am Tigris," it said, "a Deadlord. If you seek passage, you must defeat me."
Morgan's jaw dropped. Some of the more powerful Risen chiefs could speak, but only in low growls and choppy, repeated orders from Grimleal masters. Never had she heard one utter a complete sentence. Unfortunately it didn't give her much more time to think. The monster raised its axe and charged, letting out a frightening war cry. Morgan, Lucina and Laurent scattered, diving in all directions as Tigris barreled past.
"Face me!" It roared.
Morgan's instincts screamed this was a diversion of some kind, all but confirming Lucina's suspicions of an attack at the Shepherds camp. She wanted to tell Lucina to go ahead without them, but it would be foolish to cede their numbers advantage against a foe they already knew so little about.
"We'll beat him quickly!" She decided instead, and reached into her coat, replacing her Elwind tome with the Book of Naga. This proved to be a mistake. All Morgan could see past the warrior's mask was an evil looking red glow, but the glow blazed stronger for a moment when the warrior caught sight of the tome, and immediately moved to attack her.
"Morgan!" Lucina cried worriedly, and moved to intercept. She deflected the massive axe with Falchion, but the warrior grunted and backhanded her, sending her flying to the forest floor.
"Elfire!" Laurent growled, and lobbed a fireball directly at the monster. It staggered for a moment, but quickly rose again, this time eyeing both mages warily.
"Together!" Morgan shouted, and drew on the vast power of Naga stored in the magical artifact.
Tigris, deciding that Morgan was still the biggest threat, started to charge at her again, but didn't get far before Morgan and Laurent both shot a blast of flame, engulfing the zombified warrior in a pillar of magical fire.
Before they could celebrate, the warrior emerged from the fire, charred and badly injured, but still clearly moving.
Morgan couldn't believe her eyes. How could anything survive such a potent blast of Nagas power? She looked at the looming figure in fear, as it lumbered towards her, the words of her next spell dying on her lips. Laurent threw more fireballs, but the monster simply shrugged it off and kept moving.
"No!"
A blur of shining blue light shot into the monster's path, and Lucina went on the offensive, the azure flames of Aether burning around her, restoring her strength and empowering her strikes. She launched a flurry of blows and sword strokes that actually forced Tigris to take a step back as he tried to defend himself.
Morgan shook the fear off, and chanted another spell. Willing the magic into a single point, she cried "Naga!" And loosed a concentrated torrent of mystical flames over Lucina's head, impacting with the helm of the giant Risen before piercing straight through it and out the other side.
Tigris collapsed, falling backwards as Lucina stabbed one more time.
Morgan breathed heavily, struggling to catch her breath as she let the magic fade away. Just in front of her, Lucina's flames also died down.
"What in the blazes was that?" Laurent said after a moment.
"I- I think it called itself a Deadlord?" Morgan replied. "I'm not sure. It sounds sort of familiar, maybe something Owain told me about once, but-"
"We can talk about it later," Lucina interjected. "We have to hurry, the Shepherds might also be under attack!"
"Right," Morgan complied, and together, the three of them raced into the woods.
They reached the edge of the valley just as Virion shot the last of the Risen attacking their camp, and Lucina sighed in relief.
Her parents were standing nearby on a bridge connecting the two cliffs on either side of the valley, the other Shepherds spread out down around the camp or up on the cliffs themselves. It was clear all of them were tired, but there appeared to be no serious injuries.
A flash of light flared into existence between her parents, and the next thing she knew, they were both sprawled on the ground, a Risen assassin standing over her Father.
She screamed and moved without thinking, not even processing her own thoughts in her panic.
Lucina made it just in time, deflecting the assassin's blade and in one fluid motion, spun around and sliced clean through the monster's neck.
Nobody moved, eyes too busy scanning for more threats. All Lucina could hear was the sound of blood roaring in her ears. When no more threats appeared, Lucina allowed herself to relax.
"Thank the gods you're safe!" She exclaimed in relief as Morgan and Laurent jogged out of the woods behind them. Lucina hadn't even realized she had left them behind.
Chrom stared at her in confusion. "… You called me 'Father.'"
Silence. The only sound was Morgan's groan and the slap of her hand against her face. Lucina's words caught up to her as she realized her blunder.
"Did I?" She asked, thinking quickly on how she wanted to proceed. "I... ...Perhaps we might speak privately?"
Chrom regarded her carefully. "Perhaps we should, yes."
Chrom shared a look with Robin, who nodded at him while keeping equally guarded eyes on Lucina.
Lucina swallowed, feeling exactly as she had the time she had decided to try to cut her own hair as a child.
Lucina led Chrom several meters away from everyone else, next to the nearby river.
Lucina sighed, and looked helplessly at her Father. "I don't even know where to begin," she said miserably.
"I already know you're not "Marth," though I've nothing better to call you…" Chrom offered. "But I'll ask nothing of you that you don't wish to reveal. Whoever you are, Ylisse owes you a debt beyond repaying."
Lucina looked at him appreciatively and made her decision. "Thank you, but... I think I would prefer you to know the truth."
"As you wish," Chrom said gently.
Lucina took a deep breath. "Here. Look closely, and all will be made clear."
She closed the distance, and for the first time, brushed her hair from her face in the presence of her Father, determinedly staring into his eyes with a thousand emotions swirling in her chest.
Chrom examined her for only a second, then gasped in surprise.
"That's the Brand of the Exalt…" he whispered in amazement. "Lucina…"
Just hearing her name nearly caused her to lose her composure. Her hands trembled as he absorbed every detail. All of a sudden fearful of rejection, she shut her eyes and attempted to stop her shaking.
Chrom sighed. "You deserved better from me than one sword and a world of troubles. I'm sorry."
Lucina's eyes shot open, and her heart could take no more. Tears welled in her eyes, but she could do nothing to stop them. Instead, she stood there under her Fathers gaze and shook with grief as every single emotion she had carried with her for the last eight years crashed down around her all at once, and looked down as a sob escaped her lips.
A moment later, she felt a hand brush away a tear from her cheek, and she looked up again to see a tender and grief filled look in her Fathers eyes.
The dam broke completely.
"Oh, Father!" She cried as she collapsed into his arms, spilling tears onto his shoulder and sobbing loudly. "Father…" she said, desperately trying to tell him everything but simultaneously not knowing how to say it.
Lucina did not know how long they stood there, though she knew it couldn't have been more than a few minutes at most. Chrom held her the entire time without complaint, and she felt like a little girl again, safe in her Fathers arms. The sensation grounded her, and slowly, she managed to bring her unruly emotions back under control.
She managed to pull away, and neither of them said anything for a moment, until Chrom broke the awkward silence.
"… Better, Lucina?" He asked.
"Yes." Lucina choked out. "Father... I'm sorry. It just all rushed back at once."
"Father…" Chrom mused.
Lucina panicked. "Should I call you something else?" She asked worriedly.
"No," Chrom soothed, "it's just strange to my ear. … I like it."
Lucina couldn't help the smile those words brought to her face. "Father," She giggled.
Chrom barked out a laugh. "Yes, it will take some getting used to!"
"I'm sorry- Chrom?" Robin interrupted.
Lucina turned, and saw Robin standing nearby, her hands on Morgan's shoulders, which were covered by Robin's coat. Both of them had tear streaked faces.
"Hello… Mother," Lucina said shyly.
Morgan watched solemnly as Lucina led Chrom over to the river, before turning to look at Robin, who was staring at her expectantly.
"Well," Morgan said, putting on a brave face. "I guess it's up to me to explain everything to you then."
Robin blew a puff of air out her nose. "Yes, that would be appreciated," she said a little sarcastically.
Swallowing her nerves, Morgan took the plunge. "My real name is Morgan," she began. "My sisters true name is Lucina,"
"Hmm," Robin mused. "What a coincidence. My daughter's name is also Lucina."
"That's the thing…" Morgan said. "It's not a coincidence."
Robin looked at her in confusion, and Morgan pressed on.
"She is your daughter."
Robin's face shifted from confusion to panic.
"But she- if that's- what about my baby?"
"Don't worry!" Morgan said. "She's safe. Exactly where you left her. We're from the future!"
"But that doesn't make any sense!" Robin exclaimed.
Morgan didn't have her mask on, there'd been no time during the ambush, but there was no need for it anymore. Truth to be told, Morgan was more than happy to be rid of it. "Look at my eyes. That's proof enough of my lineage."
Robin's eyes narrowed, but she stepped closer and examined Morgan's face, and gasped.
"Those Brands, they- they're the same as mine and Chrom's!"
"Hello, Mother," Morgan said.
"You're my… daughter?" Robin said slowly, mind likely thinking a hundred thoughts a second. "You said… you were trying to change the future… what are you…" her eyes hardened. "What happened? Who hurt you?!"
Morgan wasn't sure what emotion she had been expecting, but righteous fury had not been it.
Morgan sniffled, and wiped at her eyes. "…the Grimleal and their stupid god," she muttered.
"Oh, sweetheart, come here," Robin said, and pulled Morgan into a hug.
Morgan felt tears on her cheeks as her Mother held her. "It's been so scary," she whispered. "I missed you ."
"I'm sorry," Robin replied soothingly. "I don't know what happened, but I'm so, so, sorry that it did."
Morgan let out a sob, and began to tremble. Robin took off her coat and put it around Morgan's shoulders, and she drank in the familiar warmth. She hadn't seen the coat she and her brother inherited in over two years now. She had almost forgotten what it felt like.
"Shhh," Robin soothed. "You're safe now, you made it home, and we're going to find a way to fix this."
Morgan looked up to see tear tracks on her Mothers face as well. The expression only made her cry harder, feelings of fear, relief, anger, love, guilt, and more warring in her heart.
"Why don't we go and join your Sister and Father by the river. You can tell us everything you need together, okay?"
Morgan nodded, and allowed her Mother to steer her in that direction. Almost as an afterthought, Morgan looked behind to check on Laurent. It was hard to make out due to the tears obscuring her vision, but she thought she saw him standing among the other Shepherds, and she decided to leave that explanation to him. She wanted a moment alone with her family. For now, she'd take comfort in her Mothers hands on her shoulders.
"I'm sorry- Chrom?" Robin asked cautiously as they approached. Morgan tried to blink the tears from her eyes, and saw Chrom gazing at Lucina with a mix of pride and guilt.
"Hello… Mother," Lucina said.
"This is your sister, correct Lucina?" Chrom asked.
"That's right," she confirmed. "Father, meet my little sister, Morgan."
Chrom smiled at her, and Morgan's gut stirred with strange emotions.
Chrom chuckled, clearly not picking up on Morgan's distress. "I must admit I'm surprised, but it's wonderful to meet you, Morgan."
Morgan laughed despite herself. Her Father had always been good at making her laugh.
"So," Robin asked. "The two of you are from the future? Or is it something else?"
"That's right," Lucina confirmed. "More than 10 years hence, after history takes a dark and most destructive turn."
Memories flashed through Morgan's mind as Lucina explained the future they'd escaped. The statue of Naga in the castle courtyard aflame, the soldiers fighting and dying, desperate to defend against the Risen Hordes. Lucina leading the fight despite her young age, trying so hard to save as many lives as she could.
"But why?" Robin asked, distraught. "What happens in the future?"
"The Fell dragon, Grima, is resurrected," Lucina explained. "His roar is a death knell for man, a scream that silences all hope... Death everywhere…"
Robin gasped. "Chrom? …Our whole company? All of us? Dead?!"
"Mhm," Morgan said quietly. "Most of us were still just little kids."
Chrom's nostrils flared, but otherwise kept his face neutral.
"It's a tale that beggars belief," he said. "And yet the truth of it stands before us. She carries Falchion, my same sword. And the same sword the first exalt used to defeat Grima long ago."
"Your blade and mine are one, Father," Lucina confirmed. "It was... It was all we had left of you. That and your cloak Mother, and your wedding rings."
"My cloak?" Robin asked.
Lucina flinched, and Morgan resisted the urge to cry again. It was clear to her that neither of them were ready to talk to their parents about Marc
"We had to leave it behind when we fled the future," Morgan said, settling for a half truth, considering Marc had been wearing it when they'd left. She pulled out the rings she kept on a leather cord around her neck. "Still have these, though," she finished.
"There is only one Falchion, Robin," Chrom insisted. "I believe them."
"Yeah, and so do I!" A voice said from behind them. Everyone turned to see Lissa standing nearby. "Heck, I saw them COME from the future!" She continued. "They fell right out of the sky! I've never seen anything like it… also, they told me the truth two years ago. After Em… you know."
"… Why would you tell Lissa and not us?" Chrom asked, sounding a little hurt.
Lucina flinched again. "To tell you the truth, it was an accident. The night we helped you fend off the assassins in Ylisstol, I accidentally called the Exalt 'Auntie' while she was listening, and we had to explain ourselves. She knew of the ritual Naga used to send us through time thanks to a scroll of legends passed down since the time of the first Exalt, and she had Aunt Lissa read it as well. Soon after, she figured it out for herself and confronted us about it. We never meant for you to find out in the first place," she lamented.
"Anyway," Morgan continued, "Naga helped us and our friends get to the past, but we got… separated."
"Don't worry, sweetie," Lissa said. "We'll find your friends."
Robin sniffled, and everyone's attention turned to her.
"My daughters," she murmured to herself. "The two of you have grown into such strong and beautiful women. Chrom and I are truly blessed."
"Thank you, Milady," Lucina said. Morgan resisted the urge to kick her in the shin.
"What have I told you about titles, young lady?" Robin said in mock seriousness. "Won't you call me Mother?"
Lucina looked at her feet bashfully. "I… thought you might mind," she admitted.
Morgan rolled her eyes. Leave it to Lucina to overthink things.
"Of course not! I love you both with all my heart!" Robin proclaimed, and pulled them into a hug.
"Oh, Mother…," Lucina said, voice thick with grief.
"C'mon, Lu," Morgan chastised weakly, her own eyes beginning to mist again. "You should know better than that."
Robin chuckled, and pressed her lips to each of their temples in turn. "You two are the finest daughters a Mother could hope for," she promised.
"Mother," Lucina repeated. "I've missed you more than you'll ever know…"
Morgan rested her head on her Mothers shoulder, and leaned into the embrace. Perhaps it was okay to indulge in spending this time in the past with their parents after all.
Chrom watched fondly as his wife embraced their daughters from the future. It was a strange feeling, to find himself a Father to two teenage girls in addition to the baby back home.
A surge of protectiveness came over him. Chrom knew that when he found the ones responsible for reviving the Fell Dragon and forcing his girls into this life of pain and suffering, that there would be no mercy for them.
Between the Grimleal, Valm, Validar, and the enemies yet wrapped in Shadows, more and more obstacles were appearing to block the road to the peaceful future Chrom desperately wanted for his family. He placed his hand on Falchion's hilt, and ran the other one through his hair. The emotional turmoil of the night had been exhausting.
Eventually, Robin broke the hug with the girls, and together, all five of them walked back to camp together, and were met by a gathering of most of the Shepherds.
"Hey! Chrom!" Vaike shouted. "Check this out! I've got a son!"
Chrom did a double take and saw a tall young man standing next to Vaike. He had introduced himself as Merric before, if Chrom remembered correctly, but given the fact that his girls had used fake names until now, it was likely he was doing the same. Now that Chrom was looking closely, the man looked a lot like Miriel, with a few of Vaike's features mixed in, such as his hair and the shape of his nose.
"Well met," Chrom said, offering a hand to shake. "I take it that you're friends with my girls here?"
"That's right sir," he replied. "My true name is Laurent. My apologies for utilizing a pseudonym, but we had aimed for secrecy until now. I took the liberty of explaining our situation to the other Shepherds, so my companions need not repeat themselves."
Chrom suppressed a snort. He talked like Miriel as well. "You have my thanks, Laurent. I appreciate everything you've done for us."
Laurent bowed modestly. "You are welcome, sir," he replied.
"Milord," Frederick said, "do you trust the claims they make?"
"Yes, Frederick. We trust them," Chrom confirmed. "Lucina, would you mind showing Frederick your eye and your sword?"
There was a ripple of shocked whispering amongst the crowd when Chrom said the princesses name, but Lucina stepped forward and unsheathed Falchion to show off, and allowed Frederick to examine her eye. For extra measure, she even rolled up her sleeve and exposed the mark on her shoulder that matched the one on her Mothers hand.
"Does this proof suffice?" She asked politely.
If Frederick was surprised, he didn't show it. Instead, he nodded, appearing to be satisfied.
Immediately, the Shepherds all started talking at once, trying to make their queries heard. "I know that you all have questions!" Chrom announced, not giving his friends the chance. "However, this has been an exhausting night for all of us, and we have to march tomorrow! I ask you to wait until we set off to ask whatever you may be curious about!"
The Shepherds, not entirely satisfied, grumbled their ascent, and reluctantly began to disperse, returning to their tents, with the exception of Frederick, who looked like he had something he wanted to say.
Chrom turned to Lucina once they were gone. "What would you like to do for sleeping arrangements tonight?" He asked her. "We don't have any spare tents, but I'm sure something can be arranged-"
"That's okay," Lucina interjected. "We have our own not far inside the forest. We can go and collect it to bring it here."
"Please, allow me," Frederick said. "As members of the royal family, it is my duty to provide for you as I do your parents."
"Oh, that's not necessary, Uncle Frederick," Lucina scrambled. "We can fend for ourselves!"
Frederick smiled, clearly pleased at being called 'uncle.' "Do not worry, princess. I wish to help you. It is no burden to me."
"In the meantime," Chrom added, "you two can stay with Robin and I. Naga knows you deserve a little comfort."
"I agree," Robin said. "Plus, I'd like to get to know you a little more."
Lucina blushed. "Well, if you insist…" she said.
"Yay!" Morgan cheered. "I haven't slept with you guys since I was like, six years old!"
Chrom chuckled at her energy, but frowned when he noticed the guarded look Morgan adopted at the sound. He had noticed it before when she and Robin had first joined him and Lucina by the river, but it hadn't seemed like the right time to ask about it.
"Actually, Morgan, I was wondering if I could speak with you briefly before we retire?" He asked.
Morgan shuffled from foot to foot, uncomfortable to be put on the spot. "Oh, well, alright. Sure thing, Father."
Chrom couldn't help the smile that crept onto his lips again at the sound of the word 'Father,' but he forced his expression back into a neutral one quickly.
"Chrom?" Robin asked.
"Not to worry, Robin. I just wanted to ask about something that I noticed earlier. Why don't you and Lucina go and prepare for bed. Morgan and I will be along briefly."
"Don't worry, Lu," Morgan agreed. "I'll be with Father, so nothing will go wrong."
Lucina appeared put at ease by Morgan's reassurances, and allowed Robin to guide her towards her tent.
Frederick nodded. "I shall return post haste," he promised, and jogged off into the woods to collect their belongings and bring them to camp.
Now that they were alone, Morgan's guarded expression grew stronger.
"So…" Chrom said after a moment. "Care to take a walk?"
"Umm, sure?" Morgan said with a shy smile.
Chrom smiled back as reassuring as he could, and together, they walked in the opposite direction Robin and Lucina had gone. As they walked, Chrom thought over what he wanted to say carefully. Something was clearly bothering Morgan, and Chrom didn't want to say the wrong thing by mistake.
"Have I… done something to offend you, Morgan?" He eventually settled on.
Morgan looked at him, surprised. For a moment, she looked to be thinking about her own response, and perhaps how much she was willing to share. Then she nodded resolutely.
"You were always Lucina's hero," she began, forming her words slowly as if still choosing them. "Don't get me wrong, I always loved you as well, but you and Lucina had a special connection. When you and Mother went off to fight the Grimleal, you told us that you were going to protect us."
Morgan shivered, and Chrom unclasped his cape and dropped it over her shoulders, since she had given Robin her coat back, and she gave him a quick thanks.
"But then you never came home," she continued, "and we were devastated. Uncle Frederick and the other survivors gave us Falchion and your other belongings. They said they couldn't find either of your body's." Morgan's eyes were far away, clearly lost in memories. "Lucina had to step up more and more as fewer Shepherds came home after each mission or battle. She had to grow up at the age of ten, and she was ruling the smoking husk of a kingdom by twelve…"
She paused, as if afraid to continue, but Chrom nodded at her. "It's alright, Morgan. Whatever you feel needs to be said, you can say it."
Morgan swallowed. "I don't think I realized it until pretty much just now, but I think I resent you for not coming home. Just like you were Lucina's hero, she was mine, and it was because of you that she had to bear so much hardship. I know it's awful, but I just can't help it!" She cried, a fresh wave of tears falling down her cheeks.
Chrom was stunned. Reflexively, he reached out to brush away Morgan's tears as he had done for Lucina earlier, but thought better of it. Her admission had sent his own thoughts racing, stirring up long buried memories of his own.
"It seems we're quite similar, you and I," he said.
Morgan looked at him oddly, and Chrom sighed. "I never told anyone this, but I resented my Father for pretty much the exact same reason," he told her solemnly. "He led that mad crusade through Plegia decades ago, and because of it, thousands of people suffered, including your Aunt Emmeryn." He laughed humourlessly. "I always hated that about myself. Do you think that makes me a bad person, Morgan?"
"No?" Morgan answered, even more confused than before. "Everything I know about grandpa suggests that he wasn't a very nice person, so-"
"That's not what I meant, kiddo," Chrom interrupted. "What I mean to say is, your feelings are valid. They make perfect sense, given what happened. I never wanted to repeat my Fathers mistakes, but it seems like at least one version of me did. I'm sorry for that, Morgan. Can you forgive me?"
Morgan's eyes shifted from confusion to understanding as he spoke. "I think I understand, Father. Thank you. I'm sorry too. You don't deserve it." She giggled a little. "Actually, this reminds me of when I was small. You did this for my sib- I mean, for Lucina and I often. Sharing secrets with us. Though usually they were inconsequential things like sneaking us extra cookies after dinner."
Chrom blushed. "Rob- er, that is, your Mother teases me for how I dote on Lucina already, not that she's any better mind you, but it seems that it won't change as I grow older."
"No," Morgan agreed. "My feelings aside, you were a wonderful Father to us, before everything went wrong. We had lots of fun together, and you shouldn't feel like you repeated your Fathers mistakes. "
Chrom smiled, feeling somewhat relieved. "Then you let's make a deal. Let's agree to forgive ourselves, and each other, alright?"
"Alright," Morgan agreed, and for the first time, she genuinely smiled at him, before wrapping her arms around his torso. "Thanks, dad," she whispered.
Chrom's smile widened, and he said, "Anytime."
Right then and there, Chrom promised to himself that no matter what, he would not allow his daughter's awful future to come to pass. He would give them a world free of the hardships they'd grown up with.
For the first time she could remember in years, Lucina had a nightmare.
She stood in the middle of ruins she didn't recognize, dark magic and the Fell breath of Grima permeating the air. She was unarmed, and her eyes were locked with the glowing irises of a Risen mage shambling towards her. A very familiar Risen mage.
"Lu… cina…" her zombified brother croaked. "Help… me…"
"Marc!" She sobbed, "oh Marc, what happened!"
"Help… me…" he repeated, still shambling towards her.
Reflexively, Lucina took a step back, fear and grief making thought impossible. She blinked, and when she opened her eyes again, Falchion was in her hand, buried in her brother's abdomen. Marc's eyes were back to their usual brown.
" Thank you ," he told her softly, and Lucina sat bolt upright in her bedroll, a soundless scream on her lips.
She breathed heavily, sweat dripping off her brow, and looked around wildly trying to gather her bearings.
She was in a tent. Morgan was sleeping next to her, and her parents were resting on a cot nearby. The events of the previous night rushed back to her all at once.
The walls of the tent felt like they were closing in around her. Seeking to escape the claustrophobic sensation, she quietly got up and snuck outside, being careful not to disturb the other occupants. Outside, in the early morning light, the early risers of the Shepherds were already going about their business. Frederick and Cordelia were beginning the process of breaking camp. Laurent and Miriel were having a hushed conversation by the mess tent.
The brisk morning wind caused her to shudder, and she decided to go find the impromptu training yard that had likely been set up somewhere nearby. Exercise would clear her head. After a few minutes of searching, she came across an open space between tents with a couple of targets and dummies set up.
Wordlessly, she pulled a training blade from a barrel and began drilling basic sword forms. Unfortunately, she didn't get far into them before someone called her name.
"Lucina?" Robin asked. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," she replied, looking at her Mother quizzically. "Why do you ask?"
Robin stared at her in thinly veiled disbelief. "Sweetheart, you're crying," she said.
Lucina reached up and touched her face. To her surprise, it was wet with tears.
"My apologies," Lucina said. "I didn't mean to cause concern, or to wake you."
"Please, it's no trouble at all," Robin insisted. "It's part of being a parent, in fact. You- that is, little you, has already taught me that."
Lucina attempted to smile, but found it difficult. "You must miss her," she said instead.
"Of course I do," Robin replied. "But she's also the reason why I'm here."
"I will do all I can to help you secure a bright future for her," Lucina told her.
"Lucina, I want you to know I'm not just fighting for little you," Robin said gently.
Lucina looked back up at her Mother quizzically. "Who else are you fighting for?" She wondered.
"You, of course," Robin said confidently. "Ever since you told me about what happened to you, I've been practically livid, imagining such a horrible fate befalling my little girl, and you. I won't allow it to happen again."
"Technically speaking, it was a different version of you-" Lucina attempted to reason.
"Not what I meant!" Robin interjected. "Naga, you must've inherited my sarcastic side. Lucina, I know we've only interacted sparsely so far, but I already care for you as if I was the one who gave birth to you."
"But Mother, you needn't- I- that won't be necessary. I've always planned to leave after the future was saved." She sighed. "Besides, I have failed too many times to warrant such concern. I couldn't protect my people in the future, I couldn't protect M- my friends. Aunt Emmeryn is dead because my warnings weren't sufficient, I-"
"Lucina," Robin interrupted gently, "you were a child. You still are a child. It's not your fault. Besides, your aunt's death is my failure, not yours."
"No it's not!" Lucina cried, affronted. "Nobody blames you for it!"
"It was my plan that failed, that didn't account for every possibility, so I think that is, actually," Robin shot back.
"You, I mean, future you once told me that no tactician can account for every possibility, even you. You can't hold yourself to that standard!"
Robin sighed. "Here," she began. "I'll agree to stop blaming myself if you agree to stop blaming yourself, deal?"
Lucina hesitated. "Alright," she relented. "Deal."
"Good," Robin said with finality. "Now, what's this about leaving? You must know that you have a place here with us."
"But Mother, it would be so needlessly complicated, and I don't belong in this time to begin with," Lucina lamented.
"Hogwash!" Robin said. "Lucina, the Shepherds are the biggest band of misfits this side of the Valmese sea. I'd argue that if there's anywhere you and your friends belong, it's with us. We've got your Father, who would sooner be a mercenary captain than a king, me, the amnesiac tactician with a mysterious past, your aunt, the princess who plays pranks with no regard for status, a pyromaniac knight, a woman who's balance is better in the sky than on a flat floor, a thief we bought with candy, a stalker dark mage, a performer with stage fright, a man in a giant suit of armour who is nigh invisible, and more. Time traveling children wouldn't fit in with any group other than this one, I'd wager."
Lucina couldn't help but crack a smile at that description. "Okay," she admitted. "You've made your point. I still don't want to cause trouble, but I will consider what you've said." Then, after a moment's consideration, "Thank you, Mother."
"Anything for you, Little Light," Robin said. "Now I believe we've gotten off topic. Tell me about why you're out here."
Lucina shifted uncomfortably, and Robin guided her over to a nearby crate to sit down on, before sitting next to her, and taking her hand in her own.
"I had a horrible dream," Lucina admitted. "About the ones we couldn't save… it's strange though, I don't think I've had a nightmare since before Ylisstol fell in my timeline. Why now?"
"Hmm," Robin hummed pensively. "I've heard of similar cases actually. The soldiers call it shell shock, when the horrors of battle catch up to a person. Sometimes, the effects of it don't hit a person until years later. That's probably what's happening to you. Now that you're with us, perhaps your subconscious finally feels safe enough to begin processing all your trauma.l
"Wow," Lucina said, a little surprised. "That makes a bit of sense, I suppose. Though I must be honest, this stinks."
Robin chuckled. "I want you to come and talk to me the next time you have a nightmare, okay? Or your Father for that matter. Even if you don't want to talk about what happened in it, you shouldn't have to deal with it alone. You're with us now, Lucina, and we want to make sure you're okay."
Every time Lucina thought she was out of tears, someone had to prove her wrong. She rubbed the moisture from her eyes, and embraced Robin.
"Thank you, Mother," she whispered, "I will."
"That's my girl," Robin said. "Now, why don't we go and get some breakfast? I'm hungry, and I'd like to put something in my belly before Stahl wakes up and eats everything."
Lucina giggled. "Alright. Let's go."
When the Shepherds returned to Port Ferox, Lucina was pleased to see the town fortified to much greater degree than before. Should another attack land in the town, they'd be more capable of defending themselves.
At their Mothers urging, Lucina and Morgan came to meet Basilio and Flavia with her and Chrom. They entered the town hall, the temporary base of operations for the alliance, and made their way to a conference room designated specifically for planning.
"Well, well, well!" Basilio boomed as they entered the room. "If it ain't Marth and Mo! How have you lasses been doing these last few years?"
"Very well thanks, Basilio, sir," Lucina said. "But it's not Marth. Not anymore. From now on you may call me by my true name, Lucina, and this is my sister, Mo."
Flavia frowned. "Isn't that the name of your kid, Chrom?"
"That's right," Morgan chimed in. "She's little baby Lucina from the future!"
Flavia said jaw dropped, aghast, while Basilio burst into hearty, full laughter.
"Please," Lucina stressed. "I know it is difficult to believe, but we have proof, and-"
"No, girlie, it's not that," Flavia said, shaking her head. "It's just, the oaf was actually right! I can't believe it!"
"When you've been around as long as I have,'' Basilio said, "you pick up on a thing or two. Besides, I've read all about that time ritual of Naga's."
"You can read?" Flavia bantered.
"I was just about to ask you the same, woman!" Basilio said merrily. "Seeing as you've yet to read any of the important secrets of the Khans."
Flavian's face took on a red hue, but she ignored the jab resolutely.
"In any case," she said, "it's time to get down to business. We've got a lot of work to do and not a lot of time. According to reports, the Valmese are amassing a new fleet. We have two months at best, one at the least, before they get here, so we've got to be ready for them by then. We've got preparations to make here, and problems to take care of elsewhere, can we do it?
"The Plegian ships will be here before the end of the month," Robin confirmed. "I trust that the express messenger we sent informed you?"
"Aye, he did," Basilio said. "But I've got some other reports that require our attention as well. My men have reported slavers and conmen running rampant in the northern wilds of Ferox, and according to your report, the Plegians have asked for help routing power mad deserters from the last war. We're going to be spread awfully thin. Do you have a plan in that big brain of yours, Rob?"
Robin nodded. "The Shepherds should be more than enough to handle the problems afar," she said confidently. "Leave it to us. Meanwhile, we can stay here and organize the defence and our counter invasion fleet with our soldiers. The Shepherds have not been idle these past two years. They can handle some slavers and ex soldiers turned bandits."
"Fine by me," Basilio said. "Good a plan as any. And what about you, kid? Can we count on you as a Shepherd as well?"
Lucina met his gaze like it was a challenge, and nodded sharply. "Yes sir. From now on, we will fight as ourselves, for the sake of the future."
Again, sorry I'm late. Still though, two chapters in one month is a good pace, so I'm not going to be overly hard on myself. I've decided to hold off on Outtakes from the Outrealms 4 for now. I don't want to delay this chapter any longer, so sorry if you were looking forward to more memes.
In any case, I've been looking forward to writing this chapter since I started tiring this fic. I've been planning almost every scene in this chapter since the very beginning and it was a blast to write. This is my favourite chapter so far, and I hope you guys like it too. Sorry if it feels like I'm reiterating all the stuff I said in the first AN. Next time, we'll see what some of the other kids have been up to during this time. Anyway, tell me what you think, please. I'd love the feedback. I'll aim for another release at the end of June, but if I'm late again, try not to hold it against me, lol. Thanks for reading, see you next time.