((A/N: This is the third book of my new FEH AU series! You don't really have to have read the others, though, since you can pretty much assume Book II and III happened and everything else important is explained in-story. But feel free to PM me for a summary if you want it.
A few notes before I begin: Fauna = the Summoner (hailing from the World of Awakening), Lekra = a nightmare (shadow creature, basically) that only Sharena can see and hear, Iztali = Lekra's other half (a dream, looks like a normal kid) that everyone can see and hear, and Lucy = Marth: Enigmatic Blade (but the oldest Hero in the Order and close friends with Anna, Alfonse, and Sharena).
Without further ado, I hope you enjoy the story!))
{-Sharena-}
She stood between two people, both of whom she was pretty sure couldn't see her. On one side was Peony; the other, the Dream-King… or just Freyr, though Lekra wouldn't like knowing she used his real name over the title.
"Really? You're going to let me see her?!" Peony, were it not for the fact she was already floating, would probably be bouncing ecstatically.
Freyr sighed. "This is not a good thing."
"I know, but it's still exciting! Good things can always come from bad things, right? That is how all of us got here! Come on, you know you can't deny it! What's the chances she'll remember us? Do you think we'll have time to talk? I wonder what she's been—"
"You're not going to rekindle an old friendship," Freyr reminded her, trying to be as gentle as possible while still getting the point across firmly. "You're going because she will remember you and I'm sure she'll be more likely to understand if you're the one to tell her. Don't bring up any more than you have to, it's only going to make it harder for all of us."
"I thought you told Freyja that you won't be able to make her forget it all again. Why don't you want her to remember anything if it's going to happen anyway?"
"We don't know anything for certain. Remembering, the way she is now, is going to hurt her. We can only hope that we can make her forget it again… though it's more likely that we're going to need to do what they don't want us doing…" He trailed off, then shook his head to clear it. "That's all. Mirabilis is likely waiting outside for you when you're ready to leave. Please don't get hurt."
Peony gave him a bright, reassuring smile. "I promise I'll stay safe! You worry about talking to Freyja, I'll worry about getting her here so then you can talk to her." She bowed and was about to leave when he said one last thing.
"I'll see if Freyja will bring Triandra with her," Freyr said. "It's been a while since you've seen her."
Sharena abruptly woke up after that. It felt like she'd cried. "Isn't that the third night in a row..?"
"Oh, it was worse," Lekra remarked casually. "You were absolutely sobbing at one point."
"I feel like you've gone from being concerned about it to mocking me."
"I'm still incredibly concerned. I have a pretty good idea of what needs to happen. I just don't know if they're going to go through with it… if they even can go through with it."
"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me anything about it still?" She'd been having dreams of them for months, though up until a few weeks ago it had just been voices. When she did start to actually see them, it was like overhearing a conversation just like that one was; except it wasn't nearly as long. The past couple of nights had been different because they actually seemed to be planning something now. Not like she completely understood what, aside from the vague hints Lekra had given her and things they've mentioned.
"By now there's really no point in me saying it. Sounds like they're getting ready to come and find you. After that, probably all of your questions will be answered." Lekra shrugged. "At that point, even if they're not answered directly, there's not going to be anything left to be asked."
She sighed and started to get ready for the day. "I'm assuming Alfonse hasn't come back yet?"
"He told you he was busy. I'd be surprised if he came at all today."
"Is everyone else still here?"
"How am I supposed to know that when I haven't left this room? But as far as I know, yes. If you're trying to determine what to do, I think Iztali wants you. He poked his head in for a moment before slowly backing away again. He was smiling so I doubt it was a nightmare."
Sharena and Alfonse had found Iztali weeks ago—or, rather, the boy had found them. He still hadn't revealed much about himself to them, but she knew that he was Lekra's other half; the dream to go along with the nightmare to watch over the little dreamer, Sharena. She was certain she was actually remembering those faces in her dreams now because of Iztali, though what he did to do it seemed to be unknown even to himself.
"I'll see," she mumbled. "It's probably nothing bad…"
