Chapter 25 – Departure
This was, in Robin's humble opinion, the most challenging strategy he had to create in his entire career. Everything had to be perfectly set up. There was no room for errors or all of his work would come crumbling down. He has his future staked on this plan.
The logistics were there the main problem he had to tackle. His mother and sister were being great help organizing the movement of the necessary supplies, while his nieces and nephew surveyed the area for the best place to execute his plan.
Robin frowned, tapping his quill against the weathered wood of his desk as he tried to figure out how to get the rest of the required materials. There were a few nobles amongst the Shepherds that could help him out, regardless of his bloodline, but it would require talking to them without some of his "watchers" catching wind of this and slowing things down further. The clock was ticking and he needed to act fast.
The grandmaster stood up and stretched his neck until a satisfying pop rang through the tent. After all this planning, he should focus back on the war campaign. That would be easier and less stressful.
The noise of the camp, now bustling with activity, was something Lucina still found new and strange. So many people alive and working together. In her future, only Ylisstol had still possessed a sizable garrison as Grima made its way across the world. The dragon chose to indulge its sadistic tendencies by spending years to crush resistance in Valm, Plegia, and Regna Ferox for no other reason than to extend their suffering. Such was its certainty on its victory.
But now she was in a time where the whole world was full of life. Even years after entering this timeline, it had a strange, but not unwelcome feeling.
There were moments such as this, however, when Lucina preferred the quiet solitude. The past few days had been quite stressful, but they had persevered. Her mother, her siblings, and her new uncle and even her grandmother were safe. Her friends were alive and with at least an iteration of their parents. This made her appreciate the changes her mother had brought about all the more. Aunt Emmeryn was alive along with most of the pegasus knights and Ylisse stood stronger than it ever had in her time.
Lucina's relationship with her friends stood as a mixed bag at the moment, but so far no incidents had happened. Some of them still had issues with the situation, such as Gerome, while others such as Cynthia and, surprisingly, Severa accepted their parentage.
Turning her attention downward, she looked at the holy blade laid across her lap. Falchion was the only thing remaining of the legacy of House Lowell from her timeline, alongside the blood of her family. The Fire Emblem and the Gemstones were lost to them, but they could carry the values of their predecessors.
This line of thought made the princess consider how destiny had granted her a lineage far grander than she had originally suspected.
House Lowell. The blood of Marth, blessed by Naga.
House Savill. The blood of Forneus, the creator and First Avatar of Grima.
House Sterling. The skill of Kris and Katarina, who had lent their tactical skills to Marth.
House Nordion. The legendary Black Knight of the Twelve Crusaders and wielder of the Demon Sword Mystletainn.
The blood of heroes and legends from across the known continents flowed through her veins. And the blessings of the three dragons were a part of it. Grima's might have been more of a curse, but that power was now under her mother's control. Their combined power was now something Lucina had to come to terms with.
"Copper for your thought, dear?"
Lucina was pulled from her introspection by the question. "Oh, hello grandmother," she greeted Morgana as the elder woman stopped next to her. She liked speaking with her newly found grandmother– something she lacked during her childhood. "My apologies, I did not see you coming."
"It's alright. I'm the one that came over uninvited," Morgana said, giving her a concerned glance. "Would you prefer if I left?"
"No, no! Please sit," the girl said hastily, scooting to the side to make room for her grandmother to sit.
"You were deep in thought. Anything an old woman such as I can do to ease your mind? I have some wisdom still in me before I kick the bucket."
"Grandmother! You're not that old!"
"I'm jesting, dear. I still have a few years before I even his fifty."
Lucina felt her ears turn red in embarrassment. "S-Sorry. I have been told that jokes tend to fly over my head."
She received a patient smile in response. "It's alright. But what are you thinking about? Anything troubling you?"
"Not really… I was just thinking about my ancestors," Lucina admitted, clenching her fist. "I thought that the legacy of the Exalted bloodline was a heavy burden to live up to, but to realize I have so many powerful bloodlines… Even if one of them is tied to Grima, it's still a lot to take in."
"Ah. I can see how that could be overwhelming," Morgana said, soothingly running a hand through the princess's blue locks. "I do have three of those bloodlines, after all, so I can understand what it means to have heavy expectations. Even if I was raised as a Grimleal instead of a follower of Naga."
That comment made her curious. She never knew much of her mother's family, so why not ask the best source on the topic? "How was it growing up as part of the ruling family of Plegia? I… I would like to know more about your family."
Morgana adopted a thoughtful frown as she thought. "House Savill… It was founded on delusions of godhood, but there were quite a few good heads in the family," she conceded. "Otherwise, Plegia would have collapsed long ago. My own parents and grandparents were such rulers. They kept a tight leash on the Grimleal and promoted peace between the three nations."
That picked the princess's curiosity. To know more about her maternal family. "If you don't mind, could you tell me about your parents?"
"Nymor and Aliandra Savill," Morgana said wistfully, losing herself in her memories for a moment. "My father was the king before the war, but he passed away shortly before Augustus' Crusade from a weakened heart. He was a hard man, not overly religious, but he did his duty to keep Plegia strong. My mother was a noble from Old Macedon, carrying herself with poise and grace befitting of a noble. She taught me a lot of the sorcery I know. She passed away from a fever that swept up during the war."
"Oh," was all Lucina could say. At least they didn't die due to the war.
Morgana's face twisted into a scowl as she continued, "Although, to this day I have my suspicions that Validar had something to do with their deaths."
Of course, they couldn't simply die of natural causes. That would be normal. "If I recall correctly, you were already betrothed. So with the king and queen dead, if Validar married you and produced an heir..."
"He would have not only had the heir but a vessel for Grima as well. Then he could've killed me and assumed the regency until Robin had been of age," Morgana said grimly, which made a horrible amount of sense. "I never had proof but it's something he would've done. Another reason for me to leave Plegia. After I escaped with your uncle–and mother in your timeline– he lost his claim and left the path open for Gangrel."
"The lesser of two evils..." Lucina muttered. Why did both her grandfathers had to be such zealots? "House Lowell has its black sheep too. Exalt Augustus most recently, but not everyone has had the same ideals as my aunt. Some Exalts had to be heavy-handed with their power to keep the Halidom from dissolving. Marques and Dukes that wanted more power or fought for territory required hard measures."
"Such are the burdens of rulers," the elder woman said, shrugging her shoulders. "I believe only House Sterling has an unstained past. House Nordion had its legacy of conquest too. Hezul wasn't called the Black Knight for nothing, and that passed to his descendants."
"We haven't heard anything from Jugdral in decades," Lucina commented. "I supposed that with Mystletainn here and the silence from that continent, it's possible we are the last of that lineage too," she mussed and sighed. "No pressure..."
"There, there. One day at a time," Morgana said, patting her back. "Hmmm, let's see what I can remember of House Nordion's bloodline… I know Hezul had a brand similar to the ones of Naga and Grima, granted to him by the Night Dragon, Kalameet. It increased his physical strength. Ignis was born out of the union of the Savill and Nordion bloodlines. I think the Brand of the Defile has parts of the Brand of Kalameet."
"The union of both bloodlines..." That gave Lucina an idea. Something crazy that would normally come from Morgan or Owain than herself. Must be her Sterling blood wanting to make itself known. "Grandmother, would it be possible to combine Aether and Ignis?"
Morgana looked at her, blinking in surprise at the question. "Now, that's an idea. You and your siblings are the first beings to have both the Fell and Exalted bloodlines, so I don't know if it's possible or not," she said, taking the tone of a teacher as she continued. "Tell me, what do you know of the nature of both techniques?"
Lucina pondered her response for a moment. "Aether focuses on weakening the enemy while strengthening the user. It's similar to the knightly magics of Sol and Luna. Ignis is more of a brute force ability."
"Well done," Morgana said with a hit on pride that made Lucina blush bashfully. "Lady Emmeryn has been training on her magic. After perusing through the royal library, we learned that the current iterations of the skill Sol and Luna are based on ancient Divine Dragon skills. So it's not surprising Aether is a stronger combination of the two. Tell me, have you mastered Ignis and Aether?"
The princess's shoulders slumped a little at the question. "Well… I can't use Ignis as well as Aether. We only had mother's notes to guide us. Marc and Morgan can use it well enough, though they have problems calling on Aether," she admitted.
"Ah. That's not surprising," Morgana said, making Lucina lookup, "When I was training with the prince and your uncle, we realized there are different ways to call that power. Quite the irony that the strategist has the brute force skill and the prince that tends to rush into battle has the more tactical skill."
"I've heard stories of father's blunders in training," Lucina said with a laugh as she blushed. "I think Morgan and I inherited that part of him. Marc is the least destructive of us."
"I will tell you later about your mother's flammable relationship with taverns," Morgana said with a snort. "But let's focus on this idea of yours for now." She then summoned Ignis with ease to envelop her fingertips. "Do not worry about mastering it. We have time to get the basics down and your mother and uncle will help you refine it. Now, what do you think would happen if you combined both?" she prodded.
Lucina understood that her grandmother was guiding her without giving her the answers, and she appreciated it. It was a nice challenge. To use this heavy burden of her legacies to create something new.
"With Aether I can weaken the target's armor, burning through it with the flames while they sap the energy. Ignis can use magic to boost physical strength or vice versa. If we can figure out a way for it to use the zapped energy to increase the striking power further and really take advantage of the weakened defenses," Lucina said, muttering to herself.
She wasn't aware that Morgana was looking at her with a proud smile as she thought of how similar she looked to her mother and sister at that moment.
"Are we interrupting something?"
Lucina stopped her brainstorming as she saw Marc walking towards them, followed by Morgan.
"Hey, Lucy. Hi Grandma!" Morgan greeted cheerfully with a wave. "What are you doing over here?"
The princess saw that their grandmother had gained a wider smile on her face. "Well, might as well make this a family activity."
Lucina didn't share her enthusiasm. She trusts Marc to be responsible –most of the time– but to give such a technique to Morgan? The mere idea sent shivers down her spine.
Well, as long they pointed her little sister toward the enemy, it should be fine…
"We will land our forces on Rosanne's port. From there we will contact the representatives of Zofia to ask for an audience," Robin said, moving pieces on the map which represented the latest intelligence on troop sizes and locations.
The war meeting had been going on for a couple of hours and multiple plans had been proposed now that they had full access to his sister's knowledge. The situation was not the same. The opposing forces were now more evenly matched to the warning that was sent to Chon'sin regarding Excellus and his assassination plot. And from there word had been sent north to Zofia. In this timeline, the central region would now have the support of the south instead of being subjugated by armies on all sides.
Another advantage was that they knew which nobles would be the most likely to sell them out, as the dynasts had done for Say'ri. That had certainly enraged the Chon'sinese, but they couldn't act as the betrayals had not been committed yet. And even then, with all of those changes, other nobles could still be the ones to betray them.
It was not a comforting thought that they would have to be looking for betrayal behind every word, but too much was at stake to fail thanks to political backstabbing.
Yen'fay moved the pieces that represented his troops, pushing them towards the center of the map. "I will take a part of the fleet south to rally our troops. My Lord Father will have a host ready to march at the northern border.
"We will lead the troops to Cilentia and then Zofia, while we send our fleet to harass the western seas," Say'ri added, moving the ship pieces accordingly.
"The Ylissean and Feroxi warships will keep an eye on the Archanea Sea, but it should be calm if our sabotage for the Valmese fleet and the raids on Nightsong were successful," Virion commented.
"We don't have nearly as many experienced sailors as the Valmese," Basilio cautioned.
"With the destruction of the harbor and the ships anchored there, they will have lost a lot of their experienced men. Not all, but most of those will be in charge of the fleets fighting the Chon'sinese fleets. They can't afford to dedicate more assets at the moment to try and blockade Rosanne," Robin pointed out, earning nods from Virion and Yen'fay. "And losing their first invading force will make them think twice about committing more forces. We still have time before word reaches them of the invasion's failure. It's a window we can't waste."
"We still don't know why he attacked," Chrom said, crossing his arms. "He doesn't have the continent united under a single banner. It makes no sense to start a war on two fronts."
"The only reason I can think of is that they assumed our forces were depleted after the war with Plegia and that we would make easy targets. More so now that Chon'sin and the southern dynasts are still independent," Rose said, offering more insight on the situation. "Walhart is not a fool to create more enemies unless he is sure of his victory."
"Could the Grimleal be pushing him to this? Feeding him false information?"
Rose frowned in thought. "It's possible, but I doubt it. His entire reason for uniting the kingdoms, in my world, was to oppose the Grimleal, stop Grima's resurrection, and liberate us from depending on gods."
That caught a lot of them flatfooted. "Truly?"
"Yes, but Excellus was an agent of the Grimleal. They are aware of his goals and that's why Plegia never commits troops for the war effort," Rose said.
"They let us bleed each other, while they retain their strength. And we will have to fight Walhart in his home turf where he has all the advantages. Clever bastards," Flavia spat, earning nods from those that hated Plegia the most.
Not wanting to let their anger fester, Robin pointed out the positive of this. "Only this time, they have a harsh civil war on their hands and suffered heavier losses during their attack on Ylisstol. We won't have to worry about them backstabbing us in Valm if they don't send troops with us."
Those assembled remained silent for a while, mulling over her words. Yen'fay was the one that broke the silence. "Knowing this, Walhart would've made a good ally against Grima, but his beliefs are too totalitarian. Destroy those that oppose him and leave no room for even minor dissent."
Say'ri nodded. "Aye. We need to eliminate him and install new, loyal rulers in his territories."
"It will fall to the Valmese territories to you figure out who the best candidates are for those roles," Emmeryn added from her side. "You are more familiar by far with the nobility of Valm than any of us and it will not do for us to install our own people there and create more tension."
"Fair enough. We shall arrange a meeting with the Zofian nobility and the rest of the free territories to discuss this, along with the military situation," Virion said with a nod.
"Good. We won't be able to plan much until we know the current situation and where Zofia and Estmond stand in respect to our alliance as they have a large pull in the middle of the continent," Robin said as he moved pieces towards the center of the map.
Lissa raised her hand to speak. "But why do we need to wait? Shouldn't they be happy that we offer them assistance?"
Yen'fay shook his head. "Zofia has lost a lot of power over the years. They now possess a bare fraction of the power they wielded in the age of Alm and Celica. Just like Ylisse is not the united continent it was during Marth's reign."
The duke of Rosanne nodded in agreement at the prince's explanation. "And Estmond has been silent lately. Nothing has come from across the desert. Both are neither stupid nor greedy, and they will most likely accept our help, but just because we have good relations between our territories doesn't mean they won't look to gain as much as they can from the situation."
Robin grimaced but he had to agree with their assessment. "Trade agreements, defense treaties, and ownership of conquered land are just some of the things they will look to gain from us before they fully commit their forces. And considering we have two princes that are of age and unmarried, even betrothals," he added, making both Chrom and Yen'fay flinch.
Robin's eyes flickered towards his family. His nieces and nephew did not look thrilled with the suggestion, but he needed them to be ready for the very real possibility. Morgan's scowl was adorable, if slightly fearsome, though. His sister was harder to measure. Her face was impassive to the suggestion, but he could see her crossed arms tense a bit.
Well, she might have moved on, but certain barbs would always have their impact.
"We do have the advantage on the negotiations," Rose said making the spirit of the room perked up. "We have fresh troops and key territories on our side, while they are suffering the brunt of Walhart's assaults. They can't sit idle while we fight since a large portion of that fighting will be inside their borders."
"Not much we can do until we hammer down the details with the Zofians," Lissa grumbled in disappointment.
"I'm afraid not," the grandmaster said, moving a piece from Rosanne towards the center of the map. "Our only clear path at the moment is to move from Rosanne towards the Wyvern Valley to rob them of a source of wyverns for their troops and then move towards the Mila Tree. But as we know nothing of Estmond that would leave us vulnerable to attacks from the eastern desert."
"Speaking of the desert, what are we going to do about Validar?" Flavia pointed out, making a lot of the most distrusting Shepherds tense. "He revealed himself with that stunt towards you."
"That could easily have made us attack Plegia and make us confront them about his spell," Chrom said, voicing his agreement.
Rose shrugged. "Arrogance? Confidence that it won't matter? I don't know. It didn't matter in my world. The war won't stop because we change targets. Walhart is the biggest threat at the moment. And even then, he could deny it and remove Plegia's support which is something we can't afford."
Robin ran a hand over his head. He was tired. The planning had taken a lot out of him in these stressful days and talking about his father was not something he wanted to do. "We need their gold and ships. We can either attack Plegia and deplete our forces further while Walhart remains a wild card, or we can deal with the Valmese without damaging our lands and we gain support."
"They will want us out of their hair while they deal with their civil war and recover their strength."
"But that still doesn't give us a good reason."
"The man is a religious zealot with delusions of godhood," Rose spat. "I can't begin to tell you how his mind works."
"Do not concern yourselves with Validar at the moment. Those of us that stay will handle the situation. So please, focus on the Valmese," Emmeryn said, ending the discussion with simple logic.
It was true. They needed to focus on one threat at the time. As no one denied
They spent a few more minutes throwing ideas around, but the lack of information on the other factions made their planning amount to little more than guesswork. Finally, there was nothing else they could discuss until they landed in Valm.
Emmeryn stood, looking at those assembled. "If there is nothing else, I believe we can dismiss this council," she said. By their silence, no one had anything to add. The Exalt nodded and left, quickly followed by Phila and the Chon'sin royals.
As the rest of the Shepherds started to disperse, Robin remembered something he needed to do. "Ah," Robin exclaimed and catching the attention of the remaining Shepherds. He was used to them looking at him during the meetings, but with the topic he had to discuss, he couldn't stop the blush that rushed to his ears. Still, the grandmaster powered through. "Before all of you leave. Chrom, Lissa, Maribelle, Ricken, Cordelia, and Sumia. Could you remain behind for a moment? I want to speak to you about something."
Those mentioned did so, while others left giving him suspicious looks, but nothing else.
They must be thinking that with so many staying, he could be put down if he tried anything, especially since Rose was already out of the tent. Joy.
"What's up, Robin? Everything alright?" Lissa asked with concern. "Anyone giving you trouble?"
"Everything is fine, Lissa," Robin reassured the youngest princess. "I… wanted to first thank you for your support these past few days. Your trust means a lot."
"Why, of course, darling," Maribelle said, twirling her parasol with grace. "With both the Exalt and Naga herself vouching for you, it would be foolish to be anything but courteous."
The others repeated their agreement and support, which he appreciated.
"Thank you, guys," he said with sincerity. "Well, I didn't ask you to stay only for that. I… I'm planning something and I require your help," he admitted.
Cordelia frowned in confusion. "Why not bring it up during the meeting? If it because of Fred–?"
"Oh. It's nothing related to the war," he added, earning more confused looks from his comrades. He scratched his head in embarrassment. "It's something personal. Nothing truly complicated, but I think all of you are the most qualified to help me make sure my... plan goes off without a hitch so to speak."
"Well, we need to know what you are planning first," Chrom said, raising an eyebrow in anticipation.
"Ah… Well, I'm planning on..." As he laid out his plans to them, trying to ignore the heat that was creeping on his face. But as the realization dawned on his comrades on what he was planning, their faces lit up with smiles and offered their support.
A weight lifted from Robin's shoulders. He was thankful that of all their comrades, this group still trusted him. It only strengthened his drive to succeed and keep them safe.
"Make sure these items are sent to me as quickly as possible. Tell Anna to put them on my tab if necessary."
"Right away, milady," the young page said, rushing out of the tent to fulfill his duty.
Letting herself relax into her chair, Rose took a moment to simply appreciate the tranquility of her surroundings. She just hoped her brother equally appreciated the work she was putting in for his idea.
"Ah, Miss Rose?" a voice called out from the entrance of her tent.
She turned to it and saw the resident farmer knight at the entrance. "Oh, hello Donnell. What can I do for you?"
The young man looked bashful for a brief second before speaking. "Ah, could I talk with ya? If ya had a moment?" he added hastily.
Rose gave him a small smile. She always had a soft spot for the farmer. "Sure. Please sit," she said, motioning towards a vacant chair. "What can I do for you?"
Donnel sat down and bashfully scratched his head. "Ah. Well. I wanted to thank ya."
Blinking at that, Rose asked, "What for?"
"For all that ya've done fer me," he started. "After watchin' yer memories... You saved me Pa and trained me. My family and town are safe because of ya. With how some of the others are treatin' ya I wanted to tell ya that I'm yer friend and I appreciate all you've done!" he finished with conviction strong on his voice.
It was a sincere declaration that Rose appreciated. Giving him a more sincere smile she replied, "Thank you, Donny. It truly means a lot to hear that from you."
"Yer welcome!" he replied with a grin.
Deciding to make some conversations she continued. "If you don't mind me asking, how are things with Nah and Nowi?"
Donnel grinned at that. "Nah is a sweet gal. She is serious, quite the opposite of Nowi, but I love both of them all the same," he said with pride. His happiness faltered as he frowned in thought. "But I feel bad fer her. It looks like I trusted the wrong friend in her future."
"What do you mean? I… despite having Grima's memories, I don't know everything about your children."
"I was talkin' with Nah and I heard how my life was in her future. They treated her badly, like a slave. I will never trust them Foltons ever again!" he growled, clenching his fists in anger.
"I'm sorry Donny…"
"Now, I ain't blaming ya for that!" the farmer interrupted. "Ya suffered too. So we just have to do better this time right?" he said, offering her his hand to shake.
Rose chuckled at his bravado ."I appreciate your optimism, Donny," she said warmly, shaking his hand. "Yes, let's do better this time."
'They certainly are talented,' Chrom thought as he watched Rose's children spar against each other.
Lucina was using a spear to hold against Morgan's own, while Marc used a sword and shield to cover the younger girl. The twins worked together like clockwork, just like their mother and uncle display when paired on the battlefield. It was signs of having fought together for a long time that they knew each others' moves by heart. Or it can be one of those weird twin "quirks".
But it was proof of the eldest princess's prowess that she was holding their combined attacks at bay, never letting one of them out of her sight and letting herself be blindsided. Spinning her weapon in deadly arcs she pushed one sibling, only for the other to block her long enough for them to recover. The dance had been going for a few minutes and Chrom was impressed by the display.
It was strange, but he felt… pride at seeing them in action. He could see the Ylissean style of swordsmanship and spearmanship on their moves, which were similar to his own, but they also incorporated other styles in the same way Rose did. Having comrades from all over the world had granted them a wealth of knowledge on combat arts to draw in, and they apparently had the talent and dedication to incorporate them into their personal styles.
It was not only their martial skills that made him emotional. Their personalities and family dynamics were so similar to Chrom's own with his sisters that it was eerie. Lucina was kind and responsible like Emmeryn, patient if a little less capable of keeping a peaceful mask. Marc reminded him of himself, trapped between two sisters that could lead to exasperation between the elder's mothering and the youngest alliance. Morgan was a prankster and ball of energy just like Lissa, but having a skill set like her mother which only served to make her more terrifying.
The trio finally broke away, deciding to leave the stalemate on a draw to rest. They were drenched in sweat, but they kept their breathing under control. The siblings smiled at each other, congratulating each other and commenting on their improvement.
Deciding to make himself known, Chrom moved into view. "Excellent work, you three," he greeted, startling the trio into attention. "Even if I already saw your performance in battle, however fleeting, I'm still impressed with your skills."
"Fathe– I mean to say, Prince Chrom," Lucina greeted awkwardly, as three gave him polite bows. "Apologies for not noticing your presence. It seems we have been lured into a sense of security while in camp. How… How can we help you?"
Chrom tried not to cringe at her formal tone and he mostly succeeded. He gave a glance to her siblings to gauge their reactions. Morgan had gone uncharacteristically quiet, switching between looking at her feet and stealing glances at him, while Marc fidgeted in place while trying to maintain eye contact.
"I wanted to speak with the three of you," Chrom said, deciding not to beat around the bush. "I believe it's time we clear the air between us or we will be trapped in this awkward situation."
The trio traded a look between them, sharing an entire conversation in an instant. Lucina was the first to speak, starting by having a pained sigh. "It's… not an easy thing to discuss," she admitted, looking at him with eyes filled with longing. "We tried to find a way to broach the topic with you ourselves but we had no idea where to start. I dare say our situation might be the first of its kind in the history of the world."
"We don't want to impose on you," Marc said, standing a little straighter. "It wouldn't be right to ask for you to take the role of our father. It would be false and forced."
"It hurts but we understand that you're not our father," Morgan added sadly. "He is gone. We're lucky enough to have our mother back."
"We have accepted that and thought it would be best to keep our relationship professional and to not force ourselves into your life," Lucina said, putting a comforting hand on her siblings' shoulders. "You are meant to marry someone else. To have your own children, different from us," she added, and Chrom caught the fleeting scowl that married her pretty face. It was obvious that she had a poor opinion of her counterpart for her treatment of Rose. Chrom had yet to give his stance on that version of the girl.
But that was not why he was here. "I don't believe that is how we should proceed," the prince said with determination, surprising the time travelers. He took a breath and looked at them with as much confidence as he could. "I'll be honest with you. I have no idea how to be a father or how to deal with this strange relationship with your mother. But at the very least we can start by getting to know each other."
Chrom honestly had no idea what he hoped to achieve by bonding with them. There was the obvious but beyond that? He had no idea.
Was it longing or jealousy of the families his comrades were building? Maybe a little, but he knew he would not, could not find the same here. Still...
"I might not be your father but if I have gathered anything from this mess about timelines, it is that he and I are not that different. But I'm sure there are plenty of things I could tell you that would help you know your own father better." He paused, looking at them with a rueful smile, "And I would be lying if I said I'm not curious about you too. I'm not sure what our relationship would qualify, but I think there is something we can all gain from it. What do you say?"
The three time-travelers once again shared a silent conversation. He had his own doubts about this and he knew it could be painful for them. It was a hard path to travel for them, possibly reopening old wounds. But it was the smiles they wore once Lucina responded that assured him he made the right choice.
"We would appreciate that."
"Where are we going?" Tiki asked as she let herself be dragged across the forest by her beloved. "And why do I have to wear a blindfold?"
"It's a surprise. Come on," Robin said with barely contained excitement. "And no peeking!"
The manakete giggled at his obvious excitement. He must have planned a romantic picnic by the river or something. She would let him surprise her - these were the things she had learned to love in her long life.
When Robin came to her earlier he brought a box with a simple but beautiful white dress. When she had asked for a reason, her beloved had just said he had a nice date planned for tonight. After the stress of the past few days, it would be nice to have a nice date to relax.
There were a few amongst the Shepherds that had not approved wholeheartedly of their relationship. The most antagonistic even suggested that Grima's influence could be behind their union, but those were quickly silenced by her mother, who remained present around camp. But even those who held no hostility for Robin had some reservations about a religious figure marrying a mortal man, and one of Plegian blood at that.
They were polite about it, concerned about her wellbeing and reputation, but it only infuriated her. She was older than all of them combined and could make her own decisions. A break away from everyone would allow her temper to cool off.
After a few minutes, they finally stopped. She could feel the heat of torches around her. It complemented the breezy temperature of the day, creating a cozy atmosphere.
"You can take the blindfold off."
Tiki did as told and her breath hitched in shock. They were in a clearing with a beautiful arch made of ice and covered in flowers at the center. A simple red carpet covered the floor and the path was flanked by the torches.
They were not alone either. Rose and her family stood at one side with the Exalted family in the other. Lady Phila stood at attention with both her and Lady Cordelia's squads as honor guards. Also present were Duke Virion, Duchess Cherche, Lord Ricken, Lady Maribelle, The Feroxi Khans, and the Chon'sin siblings. Exalt Emmeryn stood at the center, smiling gently at them. Friends and representatives of nobility.
Tiki's heartbeat quickened as she started to piece together what was happening. The presence of these specific people only lends credence to the reality of the situation.
"Robin…?" she asked softly. "What's all of this…?" She already knew, but she needed to hear it.
Robin let out a nervous chuckle and scratched his head before he looked at her. "I know this is not how things are normally done. It's not a gigantic chapel with a large party ready to start, but it's sincere. Lissa, Maribelle, and Sumia helped with the dress and flowers. My sister agreed to act as your bridesmaid if you have no objections."
It was happening. She had only jested when she hinted he could propose to her, but for him to go through the trouble of actually doing so.
'My silly, awkward, lovable man.'
"I know normally there would be a long, elegant proposal and months of planning but…" Robin took a deep breath and took her hands into his. "Our lives are about to enter a dangerous place and could be cut short at any moment. I don't want to have the regret of missing this chance hanging over me," he said, pouring all his passion and devotion into his words. "Tiki, would you marry me?"
The words moved her at her core. Regret was something she was deeply familiar with after her long life. Her responsibilities had led to many regrets and lost opportunities across the centuries. Chances that had passed her by and left her with nothing but 'what if?'s. She would not let this one go without a fight.
At her prolonged silence, Robin started to fidget nervously. "I hope doesn't look like I'm forcing you into anything? I mean, I would love it if you said yes because it would be extremely awkward otherwise… "
Tiki's response was a sound that fell somewhere between a sob and a laugh. It was so like him to worry like that. "If anything, I was the one that pushed you with my jesting, my love. Yes, of course, I will marry you. This… To have a family with you is what my heart yearns for the most."
"Then shall we proceed?"
Tiki's eyes widened as her mother's ethereal form materialized before them. Naga stood under the flower arch, flanked by both families. Her presence, when combined with the serene smile she wore meant a lot.
"Mother? You… approve?" She tentatively asked. So far, her mother hadn't protested their courting, but for her to go along with this was an entirely different thing.
Naga's expression softened as millennia of emotions showed in her eyes. "I know we have had our differences, my daughter, but all I have ever wanted was to ensure your happiness." The Divine Dragon closed her eyes and spoke more softly than many had ever heard her done before. "I am not a god, despite what some mortals believe. I am not infallible and I have made many mistakes in my long life, and I will make many more before I fade into the tides of time."
"Mother..." Tiki could understand the burdens her mother carried as she guided the races that looked at her for guidance. As the Voice of Naga, she shared those burdens.
Naga just smiled at the couple. "But I know that this is not one of them. Would you allow me the honor of giving you away, my daughter?"
Tears started pickling at the corners of the manakete's eyes. "Of course, mother."
The Divine Dragon's smile only grew brighter. "Exalt Emmeryn, if you would?"
The woman stepped forward with a smile, bowing before the demigod. "It would be my eternal honor, Lady Naga." Shen then turned to Tiki, giving her a reassuring smile. "As the Exalt and a trained cleric, I shall officiate this ceremony. Your lady mother has helped me shorten the rites to be more in line with the traditions of the Divine Dragon Tribe. The vows only change slightly. Robin is already familiar with it. Are you, milady?"
She nodded. "I am."
"Excellent. Then, let us begin," she said, stepping back to the center of the arch. Emmeryn steeled herself and took a more serious air as she proceeded with the ceremony. "Who comes before the Gods?"
The manakete stepped forward, her arm linked with her mother's. "Tiki, of the Divine Dragon Tribe, comes here to be wed. A woman grown and trueborn. I come to beg the blessing of the Gods."
"Who comes to claim her?"
Her love stepped forward, with his family looking at him with undisguised happiness. "Robin, Scion of Houses Savill, Nordion, and Sterling. Grandmaster of Ylisse," he said, his voice strong and absent the nervous energy it'd had before.
"Who gives her?" Emmeryn asked.
"Naga of the Divine Dragon Tribe," Naga said, as she gave her daughter a proud smile. "Her mother."
The Exalt nodded with a smile at the deity before addressing the groom. "Do you Robin Surana, take this woman as your wife, with all the responsibilities it entails?"
"I do," Robin said, looking at her with undisguised affection.
"Do you, Lady Tiki, take this man as your husband, with all the responsibilities it entails?"
"I do," she said softly.
"Does anyone here have a reason for why this union should not be? Speak now or keep your peace."
No one said anything. Tiki was glad it was a small ceremony, lest one of the Shepherds that held to their grudges ruined the moment.
"As there are no objections, we shall seal this union. The rings," Emmeryn said to their friends.
Chrom and Rose stepped forward. Chrom as Robin's best man and Rose as Tiki's bridesmaid. Both handed the couple their respective rings. Tiki took the ring from Rose's hand and saw that it was made of gold with a scale pattern engraved in silver. A gift of her mother, no doubt. Another proof of her support.
"With this ring, I place my faith and heart onto your hands, welcoming you into my family," Robin said.
Tiki's smile grew wider as she felt the ring slide over her finger. It was equally beautiful. The ring was similar to her own, but this one had a green emerald on it. It was beautifully crafted. "I accept that ring, and I give you my own as proof of my devotion and love."
"I accept it," Robin said, looking into her eyes and making Tiki's heart beat faster.
"Let your words bind you as well as your deeds."
The couple touched their foreheads together as they uttered the vows of Divine Dragon Tribe.
"I am hers, and she is mine, from this day, until the end of my days."
"I am his, and he is mine, from this day, until the end of my days."
"May the Gods know, with us as witnesses, that these two souls are now bound by love until the end of their journeys." Emmeryn then gave the newly married couple a smile. "You may now kiss."
They didn't need to be told twice. Tiki wrapped her arms across Robin's neck and their lips joined into a passionate kiss. The world faded around them.
Cheers and applause erupted from their small audience. Both Morgana and Naga were crying at the sight of their children's wedding. Morgan whistled at them while Marc pretended not to cry as his elder sister awkwardly patted his back. The royalty and nobility have them their congratulations. Rose, her new sister, just looked at her with happiness.
"Well, how does it feel to be Lady Tiki Surana?" Robin said, caressing her cheek.
Tiki laughed, happiness rushing through her entire body. She kissed him once more and whispered into his lips, "Wonderful."
In the depths of Walhart's castle, in an area no one was permitted to enter save for those handpicked by the Conqueror, a young manakete slept. Morrigan snuggled into her cloak, clinging to her mother's pink scarf.
The young manakete dreamed of a happy moment. Of her parent's wedding. Of her mother in a beautiful white dress and her father looking handsome. She smiled as her mother kissed her father.
It was the first restful night she had had in a long time.
The Fleet was ready to depart. It had taken weeks to organize everything, but that at least gave the Shepherds time to settle with their children and for some to come to terms with the situation. The tempers were less volatile, but maybe it was for the best that the Fellblood family would be on a ship separate from the most antagonistic Shepherds. Some people still refrained from interacting with the family, using the workload and preparations as an excuse, but Rose didn't mind. The more time they had to cool down, the better off they all would be in the long run.
Rose and Emmeryn stood on the pier as a wave of people moved the last of the cargo into the hold of the ship. Everything was ready and most of the Shepherds, Chrom included, were already in their own ships with their families or squadrons.
"Are you sure you want to part with this tome?" Emmeryn asked, looking at the holy Book of Naga in her hands.
Rose waved off her concern. "It's not like I can use it as more than a tool to communicate with Tiki, thanks to my magic. You have Exalted blood and a great proficiency for magic. You will be able to use it to its full capabilities as well as a way to keep in contact with us."
A soft whine caught their attention, making them turn to see a pouting princess leaning against the railing of the pier.
"Is everything okay, Lissa?"
"It's not fair…" Lissa whined, kicking a pebble into the water. "Chrom has the Falchion. You have the Book of Naga. When do I get a holy weapon?" she whined, earning a sigh from her elder sister.
The youngest princess might have been reassured of her legitimacy thanks to Owain's brand, but she still had her issues about her self-worth. At least Rose could help her with that.
"Maybe we can do something about that..." she began before the princess warped in front of her.
"You have another holy weapon?!" Lissa asked with glee, getting right into Rose's face.
"Eh, no…" the Plegian said before clarifying at the girl's falling expression. "But Zofia has some of the best spell-forgers in the known world. Their blacksmiths might not create divine weapons, but if we use Ignis, Aether, and Tiki's fire during the forging we might be able to produce enchanted weapons of the highest quality."
That gained Lissa's attention. "Really?"
Rose shrugged. It was new territory for her. "We won't know until we try. I do believe that we can at least restore some of Ragnell's power using that method." That had made Priam and Sun'fey quite excited. It wouldn't be the original blessing, but to restore even a fraction of those swords' powers would be a boon for their cause. "And weapons and armor forged with these will give us quite an advantage. We have brought a lot of weapon-grade steel and silver with us alongside the gold to pay for it. So you will get something, don't worry."
"I call dibs on something out of the first batch! Oh! And something for Owain too! I won't hear the end of it if he doesn't get his own special weapon."
Rose blinked at that but just nodded. They first needed to contact Zofia and establish an alliance. And she didn't want to rain on Lissa's parade by mentioning that Marc had already called dibs on the first proper weapon, much to Morgan's annoyance.
Her son could be as childish as his sister even when he didn't mean to.
After a few minutes spent talking, Lissa hugged her sister and shared one last goodbye before she mounted the pegasus that would take her to Chrom's ship.
Emmeryn turned back to the tactician with a smile. "At least her mood has improved," she said, earning a chuckle from the mercenary. "Ah, that reminds me. I have received word from Menedy. Talys, Samsooth, and Lefcandith have already begun sending their surplus harvest there for storage. Once a safe route as been established either through the Silent Sea or the Archanea Sea, we will start sending more food and other supplies for the army."
That pleased the tactician and she knew Robin would breathe easier with this news. Logistics were always an issue in war and she had first-hand experience with the hardships of keeping their supply lines flowing smoothly in Valm.
"Good. I don't want to depend on the locals to feed our soldiers and mounts." Even with the gold, they were bringing with them, putting the strain of feeding their army on the Valmese smallfolk would do little to endear them to their cause. Showing that they were there to fight for them and not to take their land and food would earn the Ylisseans a lot of goodwill.
"Worry not. We will do our part in this war," Emmeryn assured her. The Exalt turned to the side and blinked. "It seems the time has come."
Rose turned and saw her whole family coming towards them. "Looks like it," she said, before addressing her brother. "Everything ready in your end?"
"All our things are loaded," Robin said, stopping but never quite letting go of Tiki's had. They were disgustingly sweet together.
"Well then, it's time for us to leave," she said, waving at her kids to come closer. "Children, say your goodbyes."
Everyone began saying their farewells, with the children hugging their aunt and grandmother tightly as if it was the last time they would see them. It was a depressing thought on how real that might be.
"Take care of each other. You have the blood of legends and heroes in your veins. Amongst them is the blood of the Exalt. Never let anyone cast doubt on your worth," Emmeryn said, addressing her nephews, her voice filled with caring warmth.
The three became emotional at the display of care. "We will, A–Aunt Emmeryn," Lucina said with a voice full of emotion.
Morgana stepped forward and looked at those "Lucina, Marc, I'm trusting you to be the responsible ones and look after your sister," Morgana said gravely.
"Hey!" Morgan whined, while her siblings just nodded gravely at the responsibility.
Morgana merely raised an eyebrow at that. "And make sure your mother is not close to any more taverns."
"Hey!" Rose whined just like her daughter.
Morgana chuckled in response. "Do try to not burn down any more taverns."
"...No promises," Rose said with a pout, earning a laugh from the family.
Shaking her head, the elder woman, turned to her son. "Robin, Tiki," she stated with a soft smile. "I want more grandchildren."
If Rose could only get a painting of her brother's face at that moment, her life would be complete. Tiki only smiled, blush barely under control, and nodded as she squished her husband's bloodless hand.
"Mother said the same thing. I'm sure we'll manage," Tiki said, even as Robin's expression became something between thrilled and contemplating tying the anchor to his feet and jumping off the pier.
"Oh, that reminds. Lucina. Marc. Morgan," she said, earning the attention of the three youngest present once more. "No great-grandchildren… yet. Wait at least until your uncle and aunt start popping out your cousins."
From her children's expression, the time travelers would rather be fighting Grima with forks than continue this conversation. Even Morgan looked uncomfortable.
Satisfied with embarrassing and traumatizing her juniors, Morgana stepped back. In her place, Emmeryn moved forward to address the elder trio.
"May the Gods grant you strength in the battles to come," she said, looking at Rose, Robin, and Tiki.
Robin and Tiki bowed with smiled, while Rose shook the Exalt's hand. "Take care of yourself, Emmeryn. I want you to have more stories about Jon and Aedan once we come back."
With a graceful chuckle, the Exalt replied, "I shall strive to have only good stories to tell."
It only took a few minutes for the ships to leave the harbor. The family remained on the deck, watching as those that had survived the hands of fate grew smaller in the distance. Looking up, Rose saw Phila flying in her pegasus, saluting her with her spear. Rose smiled at her friend and offered her a cheeky salute.
"Mother? Do you think they will be alright?" Marc asked, not taking his gaze from the ever-shrinking dock.
She ran a hand through her son's mop of blue hair, smiling at him with confidence. "Your grandmother will be assisting your aunt. Emmeryn is level headed and not one to take risks, and despite her teasing, your grandmother is quite responsible. Together, they will be able to tackle any issue that arises," she said, getting a smile from Marc in response.
Rose was confident things would work out, at least on Ylisse's end. As long as nothing strange happened, things will be fine. Her concerns lied on those she would be fighting side by side. Only time would tell if her focus was in the right place.
But when were things simple for her family?
"You didn't tell them."
Emmeryn didn't take her gaze from the departing ships as she responded. "It would only serve to worry them. This way their focus shall remain in the Valmese while we deal with the domestic threats."
She could feel Morgana nodding in acceptance of her explanation. "Fair enough. How do you wish to proceed then?"
Closing her eyes, the Exalt felt the letter in her hands burning. She had read it multiple times in the last few days, not permitting the word of it to reach her siblings. The words were burned into her mind.
'To Her Exalted Grace, Emmeryn of House Lowell.
I am Mustafa Nader, former General of the Plegian Army and current leader of the Plegian Rebellion. I was the commander of the unit that secured you during the war. We spoke briefly but your words left an impact on me, that has only grown with time. It gladdens my heart to know that you survived.
It pains me to contact you under these trying times, but the situation is dire. It's not safe to discuss through letters, so I want to arrange a meeting with you. I will be in the area where we first met each other at the end of the next month.
It is my hope that you meet us so we can work together towards a brighter future for both our peoples.'
The implications were there. They could be asking for assistance on their civil war, or just giving them information on the Grimleal. Or it could be a trap. But if that was the case, Emmeryn wouldn't be caught unaware this time. She had had enough of being defenseless and had worked hard to improve herself to be able to fight alongside her guards should the situation arise.
Emmeryn would always strive for peace, but no longer would she allow that to leave her or her people vulnerable.
"We shall go to the meeting."
"Our scouts report that the fleet has departed. Good to know Validar's little stunt didn't fuck everything up," the Fell Dragon said out loud, scowling bitterly at the thought of the sorcerer. "House Lowell and Naga's blood are mine to extinguish. No one else's," he growled, crushing the letter in his hands.
The situation was getting annoying. There was something changing the events. Emmeryn, Morgana, and Chon'sin royal were still alive. Excellus was dead, and he had been forced to use the Validar from the future as the one from this time had vanished from his grasp. Whatever Naga had done to assist the brats had thrown his plans into disarray. Though something told him that there was more that he was still missing.
It mattered not. He would deal with the problem sooner or later. At least the changes made things more interesting.
A low growl escaped from a large, dark-green dragon at his side. Slitted eyes opened to look at him, with the purple tint of Divine and Fell magic radiating hate at the mere mention of the Exalted family.
He smiled, running a hand through hard scales of Naga's daughter. "Don't worry, my love. No one will deny us that which is rightfully ours. Soon, we will have our vengeance on this wretched world and it will be at our mercy once more. Ready to be remade in our image."
AN: Did you know that the plural for nephew and nieces is be niblings? I should use that but sounds so weird.
I started this story when I was 25 and I turn 30 next week... Must not let it set in...
So… Three Houses. Great game. The Demonic beasts are used in how I had planned to use the abominations and faceless later on once I brought them back into the story. Fun thing that the crests weak points are kind of like the core boxes I made years ago. Well, not like I was super original there, but fun to see those things in full. Watching full squads of Pegasus Knights and foot soldiers with your troops it's pretty cool.
Oh, and for future children pairing… I'm still undecided.
I think Owain/Cynthia fits perfectly for Ophelia, and Severa/Inigo having Soleil will give it a nice 3rd generation friendship. Or Severa/Marc for a way for her to get a prince when her mother couldn't. But I was also thinking Marc/Ke'ri as a placeholder for my other favorite ship, Robin/Olivia.
Morgan… Yarne? Would that be considered abuse? A war crime? Animal abuse?
Lucina/Gerome is the most obvious, I think, but some people consider it a bad ship. Opinions? It's not super important for the story, but I'm wondering.
Want some fun fics for 3H?
Like Cobalt by WitchDrug in Ao3. It's about a time-traveling F!Byleth that has done all routes going back to her birth and bullying her way into a golden ending.
Change for a New Dawn by LostCipher999 in FF. A time-traveling Bernie goes back in time with Sothis in toe.
Thanks to BattleshipFusou for their help with this chapter!
