-Castle Valm-

"Pheros, I need help…"

Pheros raised an eyebrow at Robin and turned back to her desk. "I didn't move my desk to Valm so you could pester me. I moved because I'm now Empress."

"It's about the coronation tomorrow."

"I'm not letting you cancel that, Robin." Pheros said. "You're just going to have to suffer like the rest of us. Or, and note that I'm just spitballing here, perhaps you could learn to like politics like the rest of us and enjoy the evening."

"No one enjoys politics."

"Good." Pheros fixed him with a glare. "You're learning. Now, what do you want from me?"

"A date." Robin blinked when he realized how that sounded and mentally facepalmed. "Not … look, there's going to be a dance at the ball following the coronation, and I need an official partner. I have a reputation to uphold."

"No you don't."

"Not that kind of reputation." Robin hissed. "I'm not a womanizer, it'd just be awkward if I didn't have a date, especially when you consider the number of foreign dignitaries coming."

"And you can't take your spymaster because that'd be too open?"

"No, I can't take her because she's my sister and that would be even more awkward." Robin corrected. Pheros blinked. "Adopted siblings. But still awkward."

"That explains a lot, actually." Pheros muttered. "You know, no one knows much about your history, except your sporadic claims that you have amnesia. Was that a lie too?"

"No, I still have it. Morgaine is the one with the memories." Robin said. "I did independently confirm what she told me. I know mine own past now – mostly."

"Huh. You'll have to tell me it sometime." Pheros sighed. "Now, I've got things to do so let's wrap this up. You want a date? Why are you asking me? Don't you get dozens of marriage proposals a week? Just pick one of them at random, go out for the evening, and then find some pretext to dump her. Or, horror of horrors, you may want to apply that genius tactician brain of yours and find a woman to ask that you actually might want to court."

"No to both." Robin said. "I'm not encouraging the gold-diggers, and I don't want romance it my life right now."

"Too distracting?" Pheros gave a wry smile. "Or is it that you can't find anyone suitable to your tastes?"

"…Not going to answer that." Robin shook his head. "Sorry, Empress. But I know an ambush when I see one. I am not answering that question. Look. All I need is-"

"A pretty girl on your arm for eye candy." Pheros said. "Qualifications, I suppose. At a guess, exceptionally competent, uniquely gifted, or well connected. I can do two of three in pinch. And you're asking me because I still have the Steiger garrison, which has the highest concentration of likely candidates."

"You're making it sound so mercenary." Robin winced. "I mean, this is for optics, so can we make it … sound better?"

"Well, you aren't paying money so I that's a point in your direction." Pheros said. "Anything I missed on the list, or do you want to defer to my judgement?"

"Just …" Robin sighed. "I need someone who knows what she's getting into. I know that half your garrison would jump at this chance-"

"High opinion of yourself."

"-half your garrison would jump at this chance." Robin repeated. "This is just for show. I need a date, someone qualified, but someone who also understands that it means nothing."

"…Fine." Pheros said. "You're coming to me because you're desperate, but not desperate enough to ask Argeni for help. I suppose I can help you, for the sake of the Empire so you don't get embarrassed publicly, however much I might enjoy it."

"I owe you one."

"Say that afterwards, Battlemaster."

"…You already have someone in mind." Robin sighed. "Someone you think I'm going to have reason to be frustrated."

"Yes."

"…It's you, isn't it?"

"Interesting theory." Pheros said. "I suppose it would be just deserts, wouldn't it? I admit, it'd be hilarious to have you stride in, expecting an anonymous waif to distract people and then instead turn into the gossip of the month for the young ladies of the Empire. But that won't happen, I'm not you."

"My ego…"

"Will still be considerably larger than everyone else's." Pheros said. "Unless…"

"Unless…" Robin said.

"You ask me, like a normal person."

"And why would I do that?" Robin was genuinely confused.

"See the aforementioned comment about selecting someone that you might want to court." Pheros said.

"Oh." Robin flinched. "I … uh…"

"Or you could say, alternatively, 'I have no romantic interest in you, Pheros'." Pheros said.

"You really like watching me squirm, don't you?"

"The phrase 'just deserts' come into mind again." Pheros said. "So, what will it be, Robin?

-Castle Valm (Two Nights Later)-

"Announcing the Lord and Lady di Cratez!" The crier said, leading the well-dressed pair into the ball. The coronation was done quickly and privately, only Zulas was allowed to attend as per his status on the Council. Robin said the reason for that was it was redundant to have it public given the announcement at the funeral and the massive ball, and that having a private affair would add to the prestige.

Argeni's theory was that all of Robin's excuses was a load of horse dung and he was just trying to keep things as small and fast as possible.

"I still think we should taken your name." Argeni muttered to her husband under her breath. "Don't misunderstand me, I like my last name, but I think it would be hysterical to have them announce me as Lady Alberts and see how the nobility would react."

"That is kind of why we didn't." Zulas said. "Besides, your family has the better title. I'm just a lord."

"Yes, but I won't get it until Daddy dearest deigns to dignify his daughter as a duchess." Argeni sighed. "So, we could just use Alberts now, and swap later."

"It's a thought." Zulas said. "Now, where are the rest of them?"

It was a festive night. The Empire had restabilized without the nobility or merchants losing large parts of their wealth and the status quo was being maintained. And stability was always viewed as a good thing. Added to that a few rumors that Pheros, while being iron-willed as an Empress, used to be a member of the Holy State of Mila's guard, and people were under the impression that good, easy times were ahead.

There were groups in the shadows even at the ball, of course, no doubt planning on how to get more power or the downfall of Pheros, or such other nonsense. But as Argeni and Zulas looked them over, one of them caught their eye and winked. Morgaine, Robin's spymaster. It seemed that she was enjoying the skullduggery.

And there were foreigners. Aside from the flagrant diplomats from conquered territories that were doing their best to stick out like sore thumbs, there were also honest foreign diplomats from across the sea. A few hard men were drinking and cracking jokes with elite Valm soldiers, and scholars were deep in a discussion in a far corner with what seemed to be Plegian dark mages.

"Plegia?" Argeni broke into Zulas's train of thought. "But I thought… hmm. Someone must have moved fast to get them here. No doubt they're looking for us to recognize their legitimacy."

"Seems foolish to do during a civil war."

"On the contrary, dear." Argeni smiled. "It's positively idiotic. True, having Valm aid will win the war for this side, but Robin will turn them to puppets within months."

"Yeah, but I don't think that's his plan."

"I'm sorry, do I – Dant!?" Argeni blinked. Robin's assassin was at the ball, wearing a low-cut dress and holding a chilled glass of wine. "Is that you?"

"Got a ride with them." Dant said, drinking her glass of wine as she gestured to the diplomats. "Ah, good Valmese wine. I've missed this. Anyway, things in Plegia are hectic enough to let me disappear without compromising my identity for a few weeks, so I decided to show up here publicly for an alibi."

"Will that work?"

"I've got a dozen witnesses who'll swear to Grima that I was there in Plegia." Dant emptied her glass and placed it on a passing servant's tray. "Luckily, they're only pretending to be Grimleal. Otherwise, that'd just be blasphemy. So, you two got married, eh?"

"Had any doubts on my abilities?" Argeni smiled.

"Nah, just on your taste." Dant smiled back. "Nothing personal but my type is-"

"Hey! It's Dant!"

"Definitely not him." Dant made an obvious motion of looking down. "You shrink on me, Vermil?"

"Ha ha." Vermil rolled his eyes. "You know, I'm not as easy to bait anymore."

"Let's test that, shall we?" Dant said. "So, did you come here with a girl or did you run out of them by now?"

"As a matter of fact…" Vermil scowled. "It's none of your business. How was Plegia?"

"Sandy. And I hate the stuff. Coarse. Rough. Irritating." Dant shuddered. "And it just gets everywhere. Ugh. Heard from the little prodigy that you made a really cool tome."

"Dant, you're not smart enough to cast Flare." Vermil replied.

"I'd be mad at you…" Dant sighed. "But you're probably right."

"Oh, Dant~" Argeni said. "Don't tell me your powers of observation have failed you this time."

"Hmm?" Dant looked up. A smile slowly made its way across her face. "Interesting. I was wondering why you were so quiet, but now I know, don't I?"

"Care to join them on the floor?" Zula held out his hand to Argeni, who took it gracefully and joined him.

"Care to follow 'em, Vermil?" Dant offered her hand. "Or do you actually have a date?"

"…I actually have one, thank you." Vermil glared at her. "And I'd rather dance with a poisonous snake."

-Ballroom Floor-

"Follow my footwork… step in time… careful, that was almost my foot." Pheros said. "We wouldn't want the Battlemaster of Valm to look clumsy, now would we?"

"Is there a reason you're antagonizing me tonight?" Robin asked, being as graceful as he could. It turned out that a month wasn't enough to make up for the loss of vision from his eye, and he was dancing like he was drunk, constantly listing to one side or the other as he tried to correct himself.

Pheros, like a talented performer, was making him look significantly better, which he was very grateful for. "I'm still annoyed at you, of course."

"For lying?" Robin said. "Or for another reason?"

"The lies I understand when they're necessary." Pheros said. "But you shut people out when you don't have to, and you seek to manipulate when it's not needed. Walhart didn't create his devout following with lies."

"I'm not Walhart, Pheros."

"No." Pheros said. "You're Robin. And you're right, we should talk about Robin, not Walhart. I see you as a genuinely good person, Robin, who's tried to help people. That's why I can't stand it when you do things that I think you don't need to do, but you think you do."

"But what if I do need to do them?"

"Can you talk to me about it?" Pheros asked. "I am your Empress, you know."

"I…" Robin bit his lip. Sure, this conversation would get off to a great start. So, I killed Walhart to claim the Empire because I thought he was a horrible person. Oh, and I flagrantly disregarded his dying wish for me to seize power because I thought that was a bad idea and gave it to her instead. Seems like a rock-solid foundation for a relationship. What could go wrong?

"That's a no, then." Pheros sighed. "What am I going to do with you, Robin?"

"Do you have to do something?" Robin asked. "Why not just leave it as it is?"

"Would you leave a problem that you saw needed fixing alone?"

"No." Robin admitted. "No, I wouldn't."

"Alright." Pheros said. "So I guess this is truly what you asked me for at the beginning."

"Sorry, Pheros." Robin said. "But I think I might need to walk alone on this one."

"If it's your desire to be lonely, I can't help you." Pheros said. Suddenly her stance shifted, pulling him closer as the dance came to close. "But you're the one who asked me to dance with you tonight. Reflect on that."

Then, as soon as it began, it was over and Pheros released him. Robin began to drift off the dance floor, only to be picked up by someone else.

"Had a nice night?"

Robin bit his cheek as he recognized the bubbly pink-haired dancer. "Queen Olivia?"

"Keep your pace steady." Olivia smiled as she led Robin. "I'm quite use to dancing with one-eyed men, but you'll have to at least keep pace with me."

Robin snuck a glance as best his one eye let him to see that Chrom had swapped in with him, so now the Ylissean Exalt was dancing with the Valmese Empress.

"Don't worry." Olivia smiled. "I don't think she's got eyes for anyone but you, and Chrom has no eyes for anyone but me."

"Do you have to?"

"Of course I do." Olivia snorted indignantly. "You're the only one of Chrom's friends that isn't married. Well, not the only one, but pretty much the exception rather than the rule. It's obvious she likes you."

"To you, perhaps." Robin sighed. "Also, we do things in Valm a bit … differently. It's not so open shut as two people liking each other."

"But it can be, can't it?" Olivia said.

"Maybe." Robin said. "But it's good that Chrom can dance with Pheros. I can't imagine him doing that with Walhart." At that, Olivia started laughing. Robin shook his head. "Aren't you supposed to be the timid one?"

"I got over stage fright a while back." Olivia said. "The Shepherds are very good for shock therapy. Now, back to you. Let's discuss you and that Empress, shall we?"

"Let's not, but say we did." Robin scanned the floor. Dant!? He made a quick gesture to her. Dant gave a pithy smile and was about to move in when she caught sight of his partner. Her eyes widened and she disappeared into the crowd.

Traitor. Robin scowled. It's totally worth the risk of her being recognized to get me out of this jam.

"Wait. Didn't you give birth recently?"

"Wet-nurse." Olivia smiled. "It's an old Ylissean tradition. And the healers got me well enough to travel here. Now…"

Eventually, the dance ended and with it, Robin separated himself and disappeared as best he could. He couldn't duck the ball entirely, much as he wished to, so he got himself a glass of wine and went touring the tables on the outskirts of the ballroom floor, talking to the visiting guests.

He made a point to avoid empty promises.

-Balcony-

"Dueling with unpleasant thoughts?"

"No." Robin looked out over the lit-up night life of the Vermillion City. "For once, they're quite pleasant. And hopefully they'll stay that way for a while."

"I'm impressed you know." Chrom said. "I thought you'd take control of all of Valm."

"No. I'm more comfortable where I am." Robin said. "Speaking of which, how'd you get up here?"

"I asked how to find you." Chrom said. "Your friend Zulas told me you'd slipped off to this balcony and had it sectioned off."

"Good friend." Robin said. "When did you get here?"

"I was actually here all week." Chrom laughed. "Your diplomacy kept me. I take it you were busy."

"Very."

"Did you mean everything you said?" Chrom asked. "About Walhart giving his life for Valm?"

"I think, at the end of the story, his life was indeed given for Valm as a result of the actions he chose." Robin measured his words carefully. "I do not know if he would be satisfied with the speech I gave. But I shall never know."

"And that doesn't bother you?" Chrom said.

"Thankfully. Walhart was no Emmeryn, that's for certain. But it makes me glad to know that he had a positive impact on the world he left behind." Robin nodded. "Like I said. My thoughts are quite pleasant. I will be honest, Chrom. I regret his passing, but now I'm ready to move on."

"That's good." Chrom stood next to him, looking over the city. "Not quite Ylissotol … but it's worth protecting just as much. You've changed a bit, old friend."

"Have I?"

"I'm used to seeing you with brown hair." Chrom coughed. "And, um, with both eyes. So how'd you lose the eye?"

"Sacrificed it." Robin said. "Took a blow so I could deal a greater one in exchange."

"You don't do things in half measure, do you?" Chrom whistled.

"…" Robin stared at Chrom with one eye. "Actually, I'd say I do thing in exactly half measures."

"…"

"Get it?" Robin said. "Because I have one eye from two."

"That was horrible!" Chrom laughed. "In every way. So what happened to your hair?"

"I stopped dying it." Robin had let his hair grow out so it was longer than usual. Combined with his eyepatch, and his dress armor, he was sure that he seemed a far cry from the purple-cloaked tactician he'd been years ago when this had started. "Chrom, we're friends?"

"Why not?"

"It's – I'll be honest with you, Chrom." Robin said. I think Pheros is right. I can't keep all this bottled up, and the only people who know the full extent aren't the ones whose approval I need. "I'm not the man you think I am. Every meeting we've had, every conversation – that wasn't with me. It's something of a necessity for me to hide my true intentions, but more than that, I've masked my true self to everyone around me. The 'me' you know isn't the real man you see standing here today."

"You idiot." Chrom sighed. "I may be thick, but I'm not that dumb. I knew you weren't being honest with me."

That I believe. Robin thought. But I will say that I've quite certain if you knew the extent, you might never be able to stomach my presence. Or perhaps that would make us better friends. Who knows? "Even so-"

"Wait. I haven't finished yet." Chrom said. "And even if I've never met you before, I'm talking to you now, aren't I? You can't fool me with that 'Evil Emperor' façade. I believe, when it comes down to it, you're on our side."

"That's … nice, actually." Robin said. "The world could use more optimists like you."

"And it doesn't really matter."

"What."

"You should know, being an amnesiac and all." Chrom laughed. "Look, it doesn't matter what you've done, does it? It only matters what you're going to do. That's the secret to forgiveness and redemption. Acknowledge that the past doesn't have to become the future, and the future is what you choose it to be. At any time, you can choose to be different."

"Just like that, huh?" Robin bitterly chuckled.

"What? No!" Chrom shook his head. "No, no, no. It's not the kind of thing that you can do on whim. Do in an instant, sure, but it takes the mental fortitude to uproot an entire mindset and replace it with something new. But even if you are as bad as you think you are, which isn't true by the way, you can do it. I've heard of what you've done to Valm. Just … do that to yourself."

The irony of that statement will be the death of me. Robin internally chuckled. In other words, just arraign it so the surface looks spotless and perfect but inside is a steaming cesspool of filth and lies? Well, that's not what he means, he means the opposite, but that kind of what he told me. It'd be funny if it wasn't so true.

"Thanks for the advice." Robin said. "I'll … I'll see what I can do about that."

"So, friends?" Chrom offered his hand.

"Friends." Robin took his hand. I suppose I can do worse things than making friends with an idealist.

"Thanks." Chrom said. "So, just a friendly warning – as I left, I saw someone else asking after you."

"Really?" Robin asked. "Who?"

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No, Empress." Chrom smiled at Pheros. "I was just leaving."

Pheros waited for Chrom to leave and joined him up on the balcony. They stood there for a while, Empress and Battlemaster, surveying their domain. Between the pair of them, any command could be ordered, and any whim would be acted upon. The power almost felt tangible to Robin.

"Sorry." Robin said.

"What for?" Pheros asked.

"You are right." Robin said. "I've … I have secrets that I need to keep from you. But because of those secrets, I've decided to wall you off entirely. I can't do that to you, as my Empress."

"Oh? What brought about the change?"

"Exalt Chrom." Robin said. "He said to let the past be buried in the past, but don't let it define the future. I have to do bury the past with you, but we're going to be working with each other for a while, aren't we? I have no obligation to be mysterious in the future. And no reason to do so."

"That is your plan." Pheros agreed. "So. Are you willing to let me in?"

"Into what?" Robin asked. "My plans? My squads? My secrets?"

"All in good time, I think." Pheros said, placing one of her hands on his as they stared out. "But for now, let's just enjoy each other's company. Tonight is a celebration. We can spare fifteen minutes, looking out over the city together, can't we?"

-Castle Valm, Shadows-

"Well, good for him." Dant smirked from her position. She'd been careless this evening. If Chrom and Olivia had seen her … there'd be problems. She did disguise herself when she went undercover, but it wasn't that thorough. Still, people saw what they expected to see, and they wouldn't expect to see her, so her identity wasn't compromised. She disappeared out back, shucked out of her dress to assassin's armor, and began to play with Valm security until she noticed Robin appearing on his favorite balcony.

He was there for a while, then was joined by Chrom for a bit. After that, Pheros joined him and the two had a quick discussion. She didn't catch the faces, but judging their proximity, it went a lot better than their conversation dancing together had. They'd shared each other's company for a while, which gave Dant an exercise in patience, and then Pheros left to go back inside. It looked like a flicker of romance had finally started to burn in Robin's heart, even if it was a slow burning one at that.

One thing left to do. Dant dove off the parapet she was on, assassin-style, and landing inside some grain wagons set by the kitchens. She easily snuck out of the palace (security was lax in that direction), and in short order, made her way to a mansion, scaling it and popping open one of the windows.

"About time." Ravena scowled. "What's happening?"

"Politics." Dant grinned. "And your adopted father seems have taken an interest in Pheros."

"Tell me more!"

Dant settled in to spend some time talking to her favorite member of Robin's team before she had to head back undercover.

-Great Mila Tree-

"Did we do it?" Owain asked. The Future Children were high up in the Great Mila Tree. Tiki was there as well, sleeping gracefully. "Did we succeed?"

"I'm afraid not." Laurent shook his head. "True, Robin's plan went off without a hitch, and Validar is dead. However…"

"They've corrected history before." Lucina finished grimly. "The Grimleal still live and the Gemstones are still scattered. This story … this story isn't over yet."

A/N here. I've now finished editing and posting to FFN. There's this thing called the Compedium that I keep on the Archive which has details of various characters, and stats. It has a few fun easter eggs, like if you look at Robin's stats, you'll notice his flaw is Luck. It's supposed to get a major overhaul before I start the next arc, so there's no point of reading it now. I don't know why I brought it up.

A good subject to bring up is reviews. Reviews are great, they're like lifeblood to fanfic writers. Feedback in reviews is even better, because not only do I get an encouragement boost, I also learn more ways to get encouragement boosts! So please leave reviews, with feedback. Tell me what you like and you didn't! The third arc is fully outlined, currently, but it still hasn't been fully fleshed out (or even written - sigh), so your feedback and suggestions for the next arc will have a good chance of happening! (And yes, there will be a fourth arc. Four arcs total, there WILL NOT BE MORE unless Nintendo release a sequel to FE:A.