-Cherche's Room-
"Good news!" Ravena said. "Clean bill of health!"
"Are you really so excited?" Cherche asked.
"Well, yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Ravena asked.
"You're out of excuses to keep me here."
"Oh, right." Ravena rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm not even going to pretend that those exist. Robin told me to look after you until you were better. Now that you're better, I have no instructions, so … free to go. If you want."
"If I want." Cherche studied the small girl, determined not to underestimate her. "What conditions?"
"Three. None, none, and none." Ravena laughed. "I told you – you're safe and we just want you to get better. We're no longer at war with Rosanne, so it'll be simple to get you a Valmese citizenship, or should you prefer, a chartered boat across the seas."
"Simple?" Cherche narrowed her eyes. "Is this some trick? Some test of loyalty?"
"Nope." Ravena shook her head. "Promise on my heart, hope to cry. I mean, Father's going to be upset that he didn't get a chance to talk to you, but honestly, he shouldn't have stabbed you through the chest if he really wanted to talk to you that much. I think we can both agree he doesn't deserve any sympathy points."
"I don't trust you."
"Fair enough." Ravena sat on a stool. "So, what will make you trust me? This axe?" Ravena tossed a package that she had brought into the room to Cherche. "And, here, have some water."
Cherche caught the package and unwrapped it. It was a set of short throwing axes, something she'd used often as a wyvern rider. The water was a vial of pure water, set to boost her innate magic resistances. Cherche looked at the girl. "And what if I killed you now?"
"I'd be dead, then you'd be dead shortly after." Ravena said. "But that's depressing. Anyway, you now have some weapons. Do you want anything else? A wyvern, maybe?"
"You can get me a wyvern?" Cherche asked, unsure how to feel. On the one hand, she missed flying. On the other hand it was also about who she missed flying with.
"Yes." Ravena said. "I'll just request one from supply. I am acting as my Father's envoy while he's in Ylisse, you know. All his powers are now mine."
"Robin," Cherche's mind went blank. "made you his envoy. As in, he trusted you with literally all the power he wields."
"Well, he had to give it to someone, and, as he put it, 'I'd rather give it to someone who I know won't make stupid mistakes, just inexperienced ones'." Ravena sighed. "Zulas and Argeni got veto power though, so my private training arena stocked with every weapon ever made was thrown out the window. Killjoys."
"And you hand me these." Cherche held up the weapons. "Are you crazy?"
"No. I'm a tactician." Ravena said. "You wouldn't kill me. Your honor doesn't let you. And, in the event that you would kill me, that means you've finally acknowledged that the ends do justify the means, and you'd switch to our side of thinking. Any way you pick, I win. Among us tacticians, it's known as a Xanatos Gambit. Father prefers them."
Cherche's mind spun. It appeared she'd seriously underestimated this one. "So, you told me this, why? Why would you tell me that you're trying to play mind games with me? Doesn't it defeat the point?"
"No." Ravena started laughing. She looked up, giving Cherche a maniacal, all-knowing grin, something absolutely infuriating on the face of an eleven-year-old. "On the contrary. I'm baiting the hook. See, you want to disagree with me. You want to prove me wrong. It's so tempting, isn't it? To know I have all this power, and that you could end it in a heartbeat, but you just can't bring yourself to kill an innocent? Because it defies your honor. But maybe it doesn't. Maybe you can kill me, and still preserve your honor. Maybe you can kill me and not be one of us. Maybe…"
Something inside Cherche snapped. She'd been on edge, ever since she woke up, dealing with a strange mixture of truth and lies, her failure of a knight, and Minerva's death.
"REST IN PIECES!"
-Ylissotol, Abandoned Warehouse-
"Good evening." 'Marth' said. "You wished to speak with me, Valmese tactician?"
"Something like that." Robin was wearing his combat clothing now. The Sol blade rested by his left hip, and he had a cloth-wrapped lance against his back. His tome holsters had a Thoron in one, and a Rexcaliber in the other. 'Marth' wore only a single sword. A sign of arrogance, or surety. "You're quite gifted for a tactician, from the reports I've seen."
"You flatter me, sir." 'Marth' said. "I'm nowhere near as capable as I may seem. But I am glad that you sought me out, because it saves me the time of seeking you out."
"Oh?" Robin said. "Are we coming to blows? We're certainly dressed for it."
"Hmm." 'Marth' said. "As I recall, you didn't wear any blades in the Exalt's presence."
"Well, that's because he didn't guarantee my safety." Robin said. "So I forgot about it. But once you remind me my life is in danger – well, I happen to be a paranoid man. It's also why I brought Athena along."
"Aye." Say'ri stood back, twin sheathes by her side and Amatsu in a unique scabbard on her back. "But you brought a friend as well. Or does he think I cannot sense him?"
"He'll be staying in the room behind me, for now." 'Marth' said. "I'd hate to use up my insurance. But let's stop beating around the bush – who are you?"
"Count Obsidian." Robin said, smirking behind his mask. "Battlemaster of Valm. But you might have known that."
"You shouldn't exist." 'Marth' said.
"It's a relatively new position, to be fair," Robin said, scratching the back of his head. "I think I'm the first, but Walhart isn't one for tradition."
"I don't mean as Battlemaster. I mean, at all." 'Marth' frowned. "You aren't supposed be a person, at all!"
"Well, that's awfully blunt." Robin said. Something's wrong. That wasn't a personal attack, but something else. An observation of some kind? "You'll hurt my feelings."
"I meant it as no insult." 'Marth' said. "I have … gifted pieces of knowledge. I know how certain things happen or should happen. And none of them involve you. I have no knowledge of a brown-haired and masked tactician of Valm."
"Prophecy? I don't put much stock in that, and you shouldn't either."
"I will forgive your ignorance this time. But I know differently." 'Marth' said. Robin heard bitterness in her voice. She failed – and no prizes for guessing at what. From my reports, the biggest failure of the Ylissean tactician was the death of Exalt Emmeryn. "But you should know that the future is not one to be easily changed, not at all. Laurent told me that the 'Butterfly Effect' may be responsible for your existence as opposed to Excellus, but that doesn't sound right to me. And Morgan is finally with us now, so it can't be her. So, you exist. An enigma wrapped up by a mystery."
"Interesting." Robin said. "You're awfully loose with the names of your comrades. But are they even real?"
"I ask again – who are you?" 'Marth' said, ignoring him. "Because I have suspicions of my own, you see. The others call me crazy, but when a master tactician disappears from where he should be, and appears where he should not be, there's a very clear explanation."
She knows about my missing past. Robin blinked. I mean, alternatively, her friends are right and she's actually full-on bonkers. But, if she knew me as a BEFORE my amnesia, this all makes sense. Were we tacticians together? Co-conspirators in some grand scheme? It's very possible, and my amnesia isn't making it any better.
"You know, if what you're saying is correct, then it's quite possible you're right." Robin said.
"Huh." 'Marth's mask gave very few emotional clues, but it was quite clear she hadn't expected that as an answer. "I thought you would deny it completely. So, perhaps you aren't him."
"Aren't who?"
"It doesn't matter." 'Marth' waved her hand. "It only matters if you are him. But I can be sure if you take off that mask of yours."
"You first." Robin said. Crazy things are happening, and I need all the information I can get.
"Hmm." 'Marth' considered. "Very well. But I want you to swear upon it."
"You trust me?"
"No. But I do recognize a Chon'sin blademaster when I see one." 'Marth' said. "Athena is such a blademaster and will thus hold you to your word."
"Aye, if he swears upon it." Say'ri agreed. "What say you, my lord?"
"Very well." Robin said. For the sake of my own curiosity. And this can't be that dangerous. 'Marth' seems reasonable.
"I suppose I'll give you my real name alongside my face. It can't hurt, in any event." 'Marth' took off her mask, and tossed her hair back, somehow tripling its length until it was shoulder length. Robin studied her face for a second. It was beautiful, but it reminded Robin of someone he met recently. Someone at that wedding. "My name is Lucina."
"A traditional name from the word for Light." Robin recognized the name. "Another pseudonym?"
"No, I would not lie to you. My father gave me the name. He had high expectations, you could say." Lucina said. "Now, your turn. Who are you?"
"Count Robin Obsidian." Robin removed his mask and bowed. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance." On his way up, Robin caught a shocked looked in the blue-haired woman's eyes. She recognizes me! "Have we met before?"
"You are him. Your hair is the wrong color, but You. Are. Him." Lucina said. "I don't believe it. Something happened to you. Something did happen to you. I was right."
"Right." Robin said. "Look, I know it might be hard for you to believe, but I don't have any memory of you. It's because-"
"Of course you have no memory of me." Lucina said.
"I'm … sorry?" Robin blinked. "You seem to know me."
"I do." Lucina closed her eyes and inhaled slowly. "I'm very sorry for this, Robin. I didn't want to do this, but I have no choice right now. But you'd understand. Trust me."
"What are you talking about?" Robin blinked. "Look, I have no idea because I can't remember a thing about you! I've got-"
"Sorry, Robin." Lucina drew her blade and somersaulted forward. "You have to die!"
Robin drew the Sol blade with a single motion, using it to block Lucina's overhead slash. They held there for a second, then Robin shoved, forcing them apart. "What?"
"I can't talk to you anymore." Lucina blinked. There were tears, of all things, in her eyes. Why? "Don't make this harder than it has to be for either of us! But if I don't stop you here, there's no telling what could happen!"
"Sorry, but I'm not about to let you do that." Robin thrust his left hand forward, firing a bolt of lightning. Lucina slashed her blade through it to deflect the lightning, sending it into the side of warehouse in an electric explosion. Robin's eyes narrowed. That's possible?
"Lucina!" The back of the warehouse burst open. A man with identical blue hair entered the warehouse from the far end. He dressed like a mercenary, carried a sword, and looked like Lucina.
"Stay back, Inigo!" Lucina warned. "We don't know what he's capable of."
"Say'ri, I want you to stay out of this as well." Robin said. Whatever my relationship was to this woman can wait until I'm not fighting for my life. "This is the perfect trial-by-fire for me to test run my new abilities."
"Say'ri?" Lucina blinked. "You – how could you! You're allies with him?"
Tongue slip. Robin realized too late. And Lucina had to know her somehow!
"You seem to know me." Say'ri said. "I, unlike Robin, have not lost my memories. I have never met you before. Who are you to know of me, and who are you to judge me?"
"I am Lucina, Foreseer." Lucina held the blade before her. "I know all. And I know that you must die. Your corruption can't be allowed to spread any further. Say'ri, your time is not here and not now so I ask you to stay out of it, but I must end Robin's life."
"Bold words, Foreseer." Robin said. "But I'm not going to lay down my sword and die."
"HRAAAAAH!" Azure flames lit up around Lucina. Robin felt the energy radiating off of them as waves. What power is this? Something like my own Ignis? "AETHER!"
"Chon'sin-style blademanship: Niten Ichi – off-hand only." Robin passed the Sol blade to his left hand and reached for the purple flames deep within his soul. Fight fire with fire. "IGNIS!"
They clashed again, this time Robin's purple flames exploding with force against Lucina's azure ones. The blast sent them both spiraling backwards, Lucina was tossed like a ragdoll. Robin instinctively threw out his coat, stabilizing himself, and stabbed Sol in the ground to stabilize. Luckily, I'm heavier than her. He threw a low-level wind spell to clear the fog.
"HAAAAH!" The blue-haired mercenary, Inigo came charging out of the disappearing fog.
"Valmese-style spearcraft: Fangshu." Robin drew the wrapped polearm off his back, revealing it to be the Shockstick. He thrust it forward, sending an electrical discharge into Inigo, forcing the young man back. "Thunder!"
"Gah!" Inigo stumbled back, only for Lucina to appear beside him, catching him.
"We cannot allow him to escape, brother!" Lucina said, as they set their stances opposite each other, facing Robin. "As one!"
"Unique Battlemaster-style combat-" Robin channeled the energy through the magical spear in his right hand and the physical weapon in his left hand. The energy connected through both and channeled into each other. Robin caught Lucina's thrust with the Shockstick, and Inigo's slash with the Sol blade, then swapped the power within him. Inigo went stumbling backwards, electrocuted again while physical force drove Lucina back. Robin held the position for a moment, purple flames with red tips surrounding him. "Ignis Corona!"
"Impressive." Say'ri said. "Where'd you pick that one from?"
"Ignis allows me to channel my physical might into my magical might, and vice versa." Robin said. "But, by using a magical weapon and a physical one at the same time, I can overlap the abilities, and then channel them through each other."
"I might be crazy…" Inigo was getting up, groaning. "But he never used to be able to do that – did he?"
"No." Lucina was on her feet as well. "Fa- Ahem. I was never told about it, nor have I ever seen him use it. And Robin may be paranoid, but it's too much to think he was holding back the entire time we knew him. Certainly if he was, he wouldn't have used it now."
"One puzzle is solved. These people certainly know you to be able to deduce as much about your abilities and your paranoia." Say'ri commented. "That is for certain."
"Since when were you sarcastic?" Robin turned to her.
"It is sarcasm to point out the obvious?" Say'ri said. "Hmm. You have such odd rules of etiquette."
She's mocking me. Robin sighed. I'll have to deal with that later. He looked back to find the blue haired siblings set in combat stances, again. "Okay, are we doing this again? Sure, using the Corona ability drains me, but I've got enough to do it thrice more. And corpses leave an international incident."
"Don't insult us. You're strong, sure but that won't be enough to stop us." Inigo laughed. "We came from a doomed world – you've got to have something more than a little lightning to stop us."
"Likewise." Lucina said. "You shall have to kill us to stop us – and we won't make it easy. None of us will."
"None of us will? You know that can technically mean just two people, but I don't think the tone you used was the tone you'd use for just two people. And a doomed world? That'll take a while to unpack, but let's focus on the pressing issue." Robin said. "Say'ri, there's more of them. All thirteen must be out here, somewhere."
"Shit!"
"Nice mouth, Lucy!"
"Oh, stuff it, Inigo! You told him about the doomed world!"
Say'ri's blade was out in a heartbeat. "Fight or flee?"
"Enemy turf, and we have no reason to remain here." Robin sized up his options instantly. "We're fleeing, Say'ri."
"Stop him!" Lucina cried, charging forward, only to retreat when Say'ri appeared in front of her, slashing forward.
"Allow me to hold them off, Robin." Say'ri said. She stood before Robin, sheathing her main Amatsu blade. "I am more skilled at fleeing then you are, so I shall grant you a head start."
"There's still just the two of them."
"Not for long. Flare!" Lucina howled to the far end of the barracks. "Offensive flare!"
"Time grows short." Say'ri repeated herself. "Fight or flee."
"Aye." Robin borrowed her catchphrase. "Second exit point." That told her they were, in fact, using the main one. The stables where the pegasi where. He sheathed his red Sol blade and ran, kicking down the doors to the barracks. Behind him, an ice-blue flare shot up in the air over the barracks, exploding like a firecracker. Not good.
He managed it down the block, darting into the maze of side streets which formed the slums of Ylisstol. Then, after ducking through two randomly chosen intersections to throw off pursuers, he ran headlong into an armored knight.
"Why would someone be there?" Robin got to his feet and stared. Uh-oh.
"This is the crossroads of the slums. They say, sooner or later, everyone ends up here." The knight leveled her spear at him. "Of course, you'd need to live in Ylisstol to know that, scum."
"You don't want to fight me." Robin's hand inched towards the tome he had. "I'm not your enemy."
"Wrong. The flare is the emergency flare, which means you are. I am Kjelle." Kjelle lowered her spear at him. "I'll grace you with that much information before I kill you."
"THORON!"
A barrier rose around the knight, absorbing the electricity. Robin blinked as a sour-faced priest stepped out the shadows. "Nice try. But Brady ain't one to let his friends die." Brady exchanged his barrier stave for one Robin recognized as a ranged healing one. "Ready to face yer doom, Robin?"
"Armored front, and a rear too far away to hit." Robin sighed as he drew his Sol blade. "This is going to take a while. Hope Say'ri is faring better."
-Warehouse-
"This is definitely Say'ri, no question about it!" Inigo said as he dove out of the way of a sword slash. "Can you please use Aether already!?"
"I haven't fully mastered it! The time with Robin was just good luck!" Lucina scowled as she engaged the Chon'sin blademaster. Say'ri brought her twin blades to bear on Lucina, forcing the young lord back. Inigo came up behind Say'ri, forcing her to shift her attention. "Since when did she use two blades?"
"It's true I normally fight with just one blade." Say'ri stood before them, holding them off with each of her blades locked with them. "My Astra technique is a single blade form, heavily reliant on setting my stance. However, Lord Robin felt the need to incorporate Niten Ichi-ryu into his ultimate technique. While he is not insufficient in it, and I do not specialize, I feel he did not do 'Two Heavens As One' technique justice as it deserves. So I shall use it on you."
"Don't you, uh, want to run?" Inigo said.
"Yes. But I believe Robin could use as much as possible." Say'ri held a blade out. "Break my guard if you can."
"When did we get on the defensive?" Inigo sighed. "You know, I don't think I've ever fought a swordsmaster using Niten Ichi-ryu before. Would explain why we're getting thumped."
"Shut up and fight!" Lucina snapped. "We've taken her before – when she was much stronger! We'll just need to do it again! Now, remember what Mother taught us!"
"I don't think dancing is going to help us here." Inigo said. "Oh, wait you mean the combination move?
"Yes, that one!"
-Ylisse Crossroads-
"Gah." Robin panted. Kjelle was out for the count, and Brady was staring at him stunned. "Didn't you know, punk? The Sol blade absorbs the health of its victims. Every time you healed Kjelle, I just stole that strength."
"But – she's invincible!"
"Not to someone with the ability to add their magic to their normal attacks." And got lucky, but he doesn't need to know that. Robin gestured with his sword. "Surrender?"
"Rah!" Brady hurled himself at Robin. The Battlemaster dodged the staff swing and felled the priest with a single right hook.
"What is with these people?" Robin sighed. That's four – Lucina, Inigo, Brady, and Kjelle. Nine more. Assuming they keep it within the little corps of theirs. He sheathed Sol. This is really taking a beating. He drew the lance, spinning it. "Now, which direction…?"
He looked around, noting the castle in the distance. Direction, settled, he took off at a run. It was five minutes until he encountered his next pair. A pair of sword fighters, one with ginger hair and the other jet black stood in front of the market. Of course. It was a landmark, he should have predicted there'd be an ambush here.
"Halt, fiend." The black one held a sharp katana directed at him. "Prepare to face the wrath of Owain Dark, sworn vanquisher of evil."
"I'm not evil." Robin said. He gestured with his hand. "The evil went that way."
"Huh?" Owain blinked. "Okay, thanks. Sorry to bother you – wah!"
"I cannot believe Morgan told the two of us to pair up." The girl shoved him, sending him toppling over. She drew her own sword, a broad length of steel. "For crying out loud, Owain, how could you not recognize Robin in the flesh?"
"More people who know me that I don't know?" Robin sighed. "I mean, it makes sense it's just getting really old. Next time, I'm not removing the mask, no matter what." He set his feet and sent his magical energy into the Shockstick. "You're lucky that I have no intention of killing you."
"Out of curiosity, does Robin look a bit … off, to you?" Owain got up. "I mean, he was kind of dark before, but now's he got a spear and is radiating killer intent."
"This isn't your make-believe, Owain." The ginger rolled her eyes. "No one radiates evil intent. But yeah, I thought Robin used swords."
"Are we sure that it's him?" Owain said.
"Well, I do use swords from time to time, but this is a spear I'm using right now." Robin said. "See? Spear. I'm not the man you're looking for. Plus my hair is brown, not white."
"I think he's got a point. His hair is brown, not white."
"YOU IDIOT HOW WOULD HE KNOW ROBIN'S HAIR WAS WHITE IF HE WASN'T ROBIN!"
"Oh, yeah." Owain cringed. "You know, it's a mistake anyone could make."
"While this is amusing-" Robin darted forward. He spun the stick and fired its magic bolt at the ginger, then swept it for a strike at the black-haired swordsman. The magic caught the girl, but Owain leapt up, flipping over the sweep, landing behind Robin.
"Special move – Lunge of the Sixteen Tigers!"
"…" Robin deflected the thrust, blinking. "That wasn't even a lunge." He twirled the spear to give him breathing space, and back up two steps, setting his stance. He lunged forward, thrusting the spear at Owain. "THIS IS A LUNGE!"
"Move, you idiot!" The ginger tackled Owain out of the way.
"Special move - Dodgeroll of the Maiden!" Owain managed to get out, after getting sandwiched between the ground and the ginger's tackle.
"My saving your sorry rear isn't one of your special moves." The girl got up, swinging her sword at Robin. "Sorry about this!"
"You wouldn't have to apologize if you didn't try to kill me." Robin danced out the way of the girl's attacks. She was strong and fast, and wielding a heavy weapon. But he already had her weakness - magic. Robin faked a quick thrust, sending her back into a guard position. Impossible to land a blow with his spear, but he wasn't going to attack with his spear. "REXCALIBER!"
A full wave of wind crashed into the ginger. The girl was sent flying, only to be caught by Owain. "Severa!"
"Gawd. I'm fine." Severa blinked, then realize that Owain had caught her in a bridal carry. Her face went deep crimson. "LET GO OF ME!"
"Aw, this is cute." Robin chuckled. "You kids have fun."
"We're still going to kill you, no matter how much you make fun of us!" Severa said. "It doesn't have be this hard, you know! It's hard on us too."
"Nope." Robin shook his head. He held up his palm, crackling with lightning. "See, let's say the 'war' is decided by whether or not I survive. The 'battle' here is whether or not you can stop me. And I've gotten past you. I won the moment I made it past the pair of you."
Lightning flashed, blinding the pair of them for a second. When it faded, debris covered the square. Robin had collapsed the stands to buy him time, and they didn't know where he went.
"Oh." Owain sighed. "My fault."
"Of course it is." Severa said. "Who's else could it be, you stupid idiot?"
"We failed." Owain collapsed, falling to his knees.
"Stop blaming yourself, idiot!" Severa slapped him. "This is ROBIN, remember? Of course we weren't a match. Lucy just told us to slow him down."
"I thought he said he wasn't a strong fighter in his youth."
"Life in Valm toughened him up, I guess." Severa helped him up. "Well, now we'll be more prepared for next time. Now send up the flare."
-Warehouse-
"How's it looking?" Lucina said, stepping on to the roof of the barracks. She had a limp and her right side was red with blood.
"Two flares so far." Morgan said, using a pair of binoculars to view the city. "Both my ambushes were defeated. But I've got a good idea where he's headed."
"The east exit, right?"
"No." Morgan shook her head. "At a guess – either the south, or some other means. Do you know how he got into the city?"
"No, I look through the records." Lucina frowned. "Couldn't find him."
"Oh! Then he must have flown in! A pegasus escort." Morgan said. "Yes, that makes sense. Easy entrance, easy exit. He must intend to be flying out of here."
"The stables…!" Lucina winced as she tried moving fast. Morgan grabbed her before she could get somewhere.
"You're staying here, fearless leader." Morgan said. "Jeez, Say'ri did a number to you."
"She got lucky, and I got unlucky." Lucina winced. "Turns out we didn't practice that move enough, and she managed to land a blow on me before Inigo knocked the swords from her hands. Inigo went after her, but she's roof-jumping. He'll get lost."
"The flyers are already after her." Morgan said. "I saw some wind magic earlier, so I'm not sending them after this Crimson Tactician."
"They're not going to succeed."
"Yes, well, that's what the other two groups are for." Morgan said. "Tell the ranged squad to take up resident in the clock tower over the stables. And as for the last group – well, Yarne's nose needs no help."
"Good." Lucina sighed. "What are out odds of stopping him?"
"No greater than twenty percent." Morgan said, staring at her. "They COULD be higher, if you told me who it was. And let me fight."
Morgan's only memory is of Robin. Lucina internally cringed. I can't let them meet! "Nope." Lucina said. She grasped the Falchion in her hand. Energy flowed through it, restoring her vitality. "Ahhh. That feels much better."
"You're going to do something stupid." Morgan stated.
"I'm going after him, and you're not going to stop me."
"Now, that is a good tactical plan, but I have one little suggestion to make it even better." Morgan said in a lilting sing-song. "Ah, yes the part where I add "HELL NO"."
"This is a direct order!"
"I'm your adopted older sister, Lucina! I may not remember it, but I didn't follow you through time just to see you throw your life away!" Morgan said. "You WILL stay here."
"Fine. But I don't have to like it."
-Rooftops-
"Gah!" Cynthia dodged the slash. "Why does she have Amatsu!"
"That's Say'ri." Gerome was beside her. "It's her ancestral blade, after all."
"Are you sure?"
"My parents were her friend." Gerome frowned. "This may just be the mockery of her, like everything else, but her skills are to be feared. But why is she against us?"
"I don't know! Lucy just told us to chase people if the flair went up, and she went running from the warehouse."
"Fie!" The two aerial fighters were forced to dodge another slash as Say'ri sent the blade after them. She was standing on the edge of building overlooking an alleyway. Say'ri shook her head. "Why does Robin have these kinds of enemies?"
"We aren't enemies of him, you know!" Cynthia called out.
"We're trying kill him." Gerome reminded her. "That does make us enemies."
"At least one of you has sense." Say'ri said.
"It's complicated." Cynthia yelled. "But we're fighting for justice!"
"Indeed." Say'ri said. "But I'm in no position to fight. So I shall not." She stepped off the edge of the roof and dropped into the alleyway. The narrow alleyway. Too narrow for their wingtips.
Cynthia sighed. "Gerome, dive-bomb?"
"Minerva cannot pull out a dive with no room to stretch her wings." Gerome said. "If this were Robin I wouldn't hesitate."
"You shouldn't say things like that, you know."
"We are already dead. Shadows in a land of shadows."
"Oh, you big jerk! I know you don't mean that. Think about how bad Minerva would feel if you died." Cynthia sighed. "Anyway, fire the flare, and then let's go back to the others."
-Ylisse Backroads-
"Another flare." Robin looked up in the sky, from where he was running through the alleys. "Judging from the ones sent off after I won – that's another team down. That brings the count up to eight. We've got five left."
"He's here!" A dark figure dropped in front of him, blocking his exit. "Nah!"
"What?" Robin blinked. A noise came from the other end, so Robin spun around. A small blond-haired girl had dropped from the roof as well. "Trapped. But you should know that trapped prey is the most dangerous kind."
"You bully! Making fun of me!" Robin looked back at the dark figure, who dropped to his hands. "I'll show you what happens when you MESS WITH A BUNNY!"
Earth shot up around him, then suddenly slammed back down. There was now a massive rabbit where he stood.
"Am I seeing things." Robin blinked. "There's a giant bunny blocking my way. I mean dragons are one thing, but that's a GIANT BUNNY. Am I going mad?"
A flash of light interrupted his monologue. Robin looked around. "Oh, good. An actual dragon this time. So I'm not going mad. Or, if I am, at least I'm going mad enough for it to make sense."
Robin ran down the mental inventory of his weapons. Okay, Robin. You're trapped in an alleyway, between a giant bunny and a shapeshifting dragon-girl. You're running low on wind spells. Your life-stealing blade is almost out of uses, and the magic spear has seen better days. It's time like this which really makes me contemplate what kind of life decisions I've been making which has led me to circumstances like this one.
"Die!" The bunny charged at him. Robin ran for the wall, making it two steps up it, and jumping off, landing on the bunny. He sat on its back, closing his feet around the bunny's neck and grabbing the over large pair of ears. "AH!"
Let's attempt to ride the giant bunny. At the very least, it can't get weirder than this.
"Okay, this isn't so difference from horseback riding." Robin pulled back, forcing the bunny up, and directed him out of the alleyway. A blue orb shot past him. Robin turned around to see the dragon going after him, firing blue spheres. "Except that I'm being chased by a dragon. Who's shooting some kind of dragonbreath at me."
"My ears are very sensitive! Bulllllllllly!"
"And the bunny talks. So not like horseback riding at all. Or, actually, this would probably also happen to me even if I was on horseback." Robin sighed. "Shut up! You're trying to kill me! All's fair in love and war!"
"Yarne, turn back to human!" The dragon roared.
Robin blinked and the bunny beneath him turned back to a normal human shape. He promptly went flying, turning it into a roll, giving him only a few scrapes. He got to his feet, panting, to see the pair back in human form. "So, the bunny is Yarne? Who are you then?"
"Nah." The blonde girl answered.
"I mean, it's fine if you don't want to tell me."
"No, my NAME is Nah." The girl sighed. Then turned into a dragon.
"THORON!" Robin blasted her his lightning. Nah-dragon took the blow, snarling as she did so. Robin blinked. It was a novel experience not seeing someone go flying from his tome. "Welp."
"I'll kill you!" Yarne was back in bunny-mode. Robin dove to the side, dodging a swipe from wicked-sharp bunny claws. I'm going to have nightmares from this. Horrible bunny-filled nightmares. What did I do to deserve bunny-filled nightmares?
"Eat lightning, too." Robin blasted him with lightning, aiming for the ears. It worked. Yarne went back to human form, rolling over.
"HAH!" The dragon shot a blue orb at him again.
Robin caught the blast right the in middle of his chest. He went flying, slamming into the wooden walls of the stable, and slid to the floor. Right place, too late. The yellow tome he'd used for lightning spells went flying from his hands.
"Ow." Robin tried to get his body to move. It wouldn't listen to him. And, as it was he didn't think he'd survive another blast. Not again. And Dant isn't even here to pull some cheap stunt to save me. Robin braced himself. Fine. Come at me.
But nothing came.
Robin blinked. He got to his feet, looking down at his chest. The dragonfire – projectile – whatever it was, had managed to dissolve a good chunk of his enchanted cloak, and given him some mild burns.
Nah was standing before him in human form. "Robin?"
"That's what they call me." Robin got to his feet, using the wall behind him. "Aren't you going to kill me?"
"I couldn't." Nah shook her head. "Maybe the others are right about me, and I'm just a child. But I'm a daughter of a divine dragon, and the daughter of a priest. I can't kill someone for something they haven't done."
"For – what?"
"Robin!" Say'ri dropped in front of him, holding her sword. "Stay back!"
"It's all right, Say'ri." Robin said. "Get the pegasus."
"But…"
"That's an order." Robin said. "She's a priestess. She's not going to hurt me. Any more, at least. Ow. Ribs."
"Sorry about that."
"Aye." Say'ri sheathed her blade and disappeared. Robin wasn't sure that her disappearing act was absolutely necessary but didn't have the strength to question it when he had more pressing concerns.
"So, you're a manakete? Makes sense." Robin said, fishing into his robes for something to heal himself with. He found an old brown concoction bottle. "Why does Lucina want to kill me? For that matter, why do you all want to kill me?"
"Lucina … is conflicted." Nah inhaled. "Most of the problems she's dealt with involve direct solutions, so she sees them as the correct ones, even when they aren't. She's gone through a lot in the past ten years to even stand on her own two feet."
"Ten years. That predates the current Ylisse-Plegian war, but it's after the last one." Robin blinked. "She was involved with something I don't know about, right? And the blade she wields – that Chrom's sword, Falchion. She must have royal blood to wield that and be fairly close to him to borrow it at a moment's notice. So, what did I do that makes her want to kill me?"
"You're very smart, but you're thinking in the wrong direction." Nah said. "It's not something you did. It's going to do. We want to stop you."
"Oh." Robin blinked. "Yeah, that makes a lot more sense. But why me specifically? Lucina didn't go after me because I'm the Valme Battlemaster, she went after me because I'm Robin."
"I… can't answer that." Nah said. She looked pain. "We swore not too. But if anyone can help you, the Voice can. Find Tiki. I'll see if I can talk Lucina out of killing you."
"Wait." Robin said. "There should be more of you." Robin briefly described his opponents. "Who else is there, and what can you do?"
"Cynthia and Gerome are flyers, Noire is an archer, and Laurent is a wind mage. There's Morgan too, but Lucina banned her from interfering." Nah said. "Lucina was kind of worried she'd do what I just did."
"Robin." Say'ri was on her pegasus. "Are we ready to leave?"
"Change of plans." Robin swung on the pegasus behind her. "Just ride us north. On the roads. They've got archers and flyers. Thank you, Nah."
"No problem." Nah said. "Looks like I've got a lot of explaining to do."
-Barracks of the Future Children-
"You did WHAT?" Lucina fumed. "You let him get away!"
"I-" Nah looked like she was on the verge of tears. "I couldn't, Lucina! I can't kill an innocent man! He's done nothing wrong."
"Done nothing wrong?!" Lucina sputtered. "He's not even an ally at this point in the timeline, when he should be!"
"Easy, sister." Inigo was by Nah, offering her a handkerchief. "It's not nice to make a lady cry. And she does have a point."
"A point? My sword has a point. Nah has a-"
"Stop." Inigo said. "You don't want to finish that sentence."
"I don't want to finish that sentence?"
"You want to calm down," Inigo made a gesture with his hand, "and rethink your life."
Lucina considered Inigo's advice for an entire quarter of a second. "No, I want to slap you in the face, and then chew Nah out for what she deserves! What's wrong with you, Inigo? Why are you taking her side in all this? Do you want our parents to die?"
"It's not black and white, Lucy."
"It most certainly is." Lucina said. "Fine Robin. Kill Robin. Stop the bad future. That's all there is."
"Okay, sis. I didn't want to this." Inigo sighed. "Hands up, people! If you know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you could've killed him if you were in Nah's shoes, raise your hand!"
Gerome and Kjelle both raised their hands. Severa wavered, then kept it down. Inigo gestured. "My point?"
"You've proven nothing!" Lucina said. "All you've shown is the rest of you are also too weak to do the job!"
"Yeah?"
"Yeah!"
"Then why wasn't your hand up?"
Lucina froze. She felt blood rush to her face, and grabbed her mask, putting it on her face. She spun suddenly and walked up the stairs. She heard a set of footsteps falling after her.
"Stop, Severa." Inigo said. "Your hot head isn't going to help."
"Let go of me, Inigo." There was the sound of a fist hitting someone's face, but no one followed her.
Lucina walked up the stairs, opening the door to the roof and walking through, slamming it shut.
-Warehouse, Thirty Seconds Later-
"So, do I have to ask why Severa has Inigo in a chokehold, or can I just assume that it was his usual antics?" Morgan asked. "And where's Lucina?"
Inigo would have given a sigh of relief that Morgan stepped out while that exchange happened, if he could breath. But Severa was in no mood to let go. "Tap." Inigo wheezed.
"It's your fault Lucina got angry!"
"Easy." Morgan pulled Severa off Inigo. "Now, tell me what happened."
"It's, ah, complicated." Nah sighed. "It's my fault."
"Okay, I'm overriding Lucina." Inigo said. "Morgan, we've got something to tell you about Robin."
"The man we were chasing tonight." Morgan said. "Robin has something to do with him, doesn't he?"
"...Yeah." Inigo sighed. Of course she figures it out. "I guess you could say that..."
-Rooftop-
"I'm a terrible leader."
"If that were true, we wouldn't follow you."
"Gerome!" Lucina turned to see the black-masked wyvern rider sitting next to her. "Why are you here?"
"You needed the company." Gerome said.
"If that were true, I wouldn't be out here."
"Not with them." Gerome said. "You need someone who agreed with you. And that meant either myself or Kjelle."
"Didn't you see? My hand wasn't raised."
"That just means you're conflicted." Gerome said. "You know, I've worn my mask for a while, to hide behind it. But something happens when you wear a mask all day. You gain a perspective as an outsider might, as someone staring just over your shoulder, but not behind your eyes. That gave me perspective I wanted to share with you. The reason Kjelle and I raised our hand is because of the order you gave. Not because of the order, but because you gave it."
"You agreed with the order?"
"No." Gerome shook his head. "None of us agreed with that order. Least of all you. But you still gave it. You're our leader, Lucina. I'll follow you through the flames of hell itself, if you lead me through it."
"Don't tell me that. I don't deserve your respect."
"…" Gerome didn't respond. "What do you want me to say? You do deserve my respects. You just made a mistake."
"I can't make mistakes!" Lucina said. Her mask covered her emotions, but it couldn't hide the tears. "I can't! Not another one!"
"You made no mistakes by Emmeryn." Gerome said. "We did the best we could. We underestimated how strong history was."
"But don't you see?" Lucina said. "If that were true, Robin wouldn't be were he is right now. His very existence in Valm is sending our history and his future in a spiral! That proves the future can be changed, and we're just not strong enough to do it."
"I see." Gerome nodded. "That's what you're scared of. That you could have done something, but you weren't strong enough."
"Killing Robin is the surest way to fix the timeline!" Lucina said, screaming grabbing Gerome's shoulders. "I don't know if anything else will fix it. I can't know. I had to make the call. Damned if I did, and damned if I didn't."
"Not yet. Not damned yet, Lucina." Gerome said. He gently put one hand on her arm. "We haven't failed yet. We've just made mistakes. But even your Father isn't immune to it. Even Robin isn't. Even Grima isn't. And all we need to do is succeed once. So gather your resolve, leader. You've always had the most out of any of us."
"Not 'fearless leader'?"
"I'd never follow a leader who's truly fearless." Gerome said. "That trait only belongs in someone who's perfect or foolish. And no one is perfect. It's alright to be afraid. But don't let your fears control you."
"Was I wrong, then?" Lucina asked.
"That's the question Emmeryn asked. But it's not what you should." Gerome said. "Were you right?"
"I see." Lucina said. She let go of Gerome's shoulders. "Please, leave me, Gerome. I'll be fine."
"Very well." Gerome said. "Good night, leader."
-?-
"Interesting." The dark, cloaked figure read the report, exercising the care over the paper that would shame even the most dedicated of caretakers. "A night-time disturbance in Ylisse on the day of the Exalt's wedding. What a turn of events."
"My lord." Validar said. "Shouldn't we be focused on the matter at hand, rather than on some drunken nobles in Ylisse?"
"Kneel." The dark figure gestured. "I could use a footrest."
"My lord?"
"I'm joking, of course." The figure stood up, crumpling the paper. "Who would trust you to be a footrest, much less a King?"
Validar looked at him, unsure of how to respond.
"Oh, right!" The figure snapped his fingers. "I would. The King, that is. It's unimportant enough to my plans that I suppose you could have it."
"I don't understand."
"You never do. Honestly, it's a wonder you won the first time around." The figure rolled his eyes. "It's only because you knew what the others didn't it. Information is power. Anyway, if you weren't paying attention, Valm's mysterious new tactician was seen at the ball. And, after that, a fracas erupts, with reports linking members to that mysterious group which is no doubt the future children."
"I fail to see-"
"Keep quite or I'll replace you with a coatrack." The figure considered. "Hmm. I may do that anyways. It's clear that, despite Aversa's initial response to the contrary, Robin is the Valmese tactician. I should have guessed, but it seems I misremembered my time running around the world. Dratted time gaps in the bloody gate to the past. Trust Naga to not even manage to do that right."
"So, we'll simply capture him." Validar said. "It seems trivial enough to do, with your power. If he's already missing from his destiny, we'll bring it to him."
The cloaked figure considered. Then he snapped his fingers. Pain exploded within Validar, and the dark mage was forced to his knees. He snapped again, and the pain subsided. "Stand up. Good. Now put your arm out. Yes, like that. Now – just hold there."
The figure took off his cloak, revealing purple clothes, white hair, and the mark of the Grimleal on the back of his left hand. "No, I'll take a leaf from little Lucina's book. If she's going to screw with time, I suppose the only appropriate thing is that I do the same."
"But Fate!"
"Hold my coat." Grima placed it on Validar's hand. "And stay there. Eating the entirety of Plegia at the Dragon's Feast to regain my power would certainly be a treat. But eating the entirety of the world – now that sounds like a meal fit for a dragon. And Fate can be my dessert. But to do that... Yes, I think the board needs a few more pawns. And perhaps just one more turncoat."
A/N:Niten Ichi Ryu is a real fighting style, used by Miyamoto Musashi, author of Go Rin No Sho. (Have you read it? No? Well, go ahead, I'll wait.) Ignis Corona is overpowered, but you should think of it like Alm and Celica's ultimate arts from Echoes - powerful, but it used too much or at the wrong time, you'll regret it.
