A/N: Updates will hopefully be weekly. I can't promise to never miss a week, but my goal right now is to keep to that pace until we get to the end of the story, as in the entire fic.

-Robin's Nest-

Warp magic. A lot of people thought it was instantaneous, but it took time to cast and it took time to get from the starting point to the ending point. The difference between it and walking was that warp magic took the same amount of time, no matter how far apart the distances were whereas walking scaled with the distance. And the apart of time it took to warp was measured in seconds, if that. But that gap of time meant it took too long to use it combat, bouncing around his opponent for an unstoppable feint.

It had a much better application – sending messages on a massive battlefield. Currently they used pegasus knights for long missives and trained mages to rapidly flash in code, but this let for longer messages and when eye contact wasn't possible. Robin considered it but decided that he didn't need that edge for his battles.

He did need it for his personal schemes, so he let it be known that warp magic had a heinous blood price that he wasn't willing to pay to a few in the know and had the official statement that warping was impossible – Excellus's ability to do so wasn't well known, thankfully. So Robin used it for warping around Valm, using part of the time he was supposed to be traveling establishing the forces he had used for Walhart's demise.

He'd also set up his nest. Robin foresaw the need for a secret headquarters for some of his more challenging projects which would never see the light of day, and dubbed the hideout 'Robin's Nest'. Tacky, yes, but it didn't matter because Robin would be the only one who knew about it. Robin found a cave out of the way and sealed it off from the outside, then magically reinforced the interior. He used magic to provide air and light, and he was left with a bolt hole that was perfectly suited to his needs. Mostly. He had recently blown a hole clean through it with a concentrated burst of fire magic.

"Why?" Robin howled in frustration. He raised his right hand and lit it up, focusing fire on the tip, using it to carve into the rock wall. "Twenty more years. Twenty more years, and it all would have worked! I could have unified the two nations in that time under the banner of Valm!"

No plan survives first contact with the enemy. His mind answered the question for him.

"Analyze. What has happened? We've allied and fortified as Valm, upon the Conqueror's death." Robin said. "Consolidated. But in exchange, the shift of power scares Archeneia. Plegia has lost their king twice within five years, so the new king does the unthinkable – behave rational for a change and decides against war."

Robin drew a rough outline of Archaneia and marked off the nations as he spoke. "Playing on Chrom's insecurity about Emmeryn, King Mustafa can easily goad Chrom into accepting peace with his nation. Once that has settled, Ylisse's sworn allies, Regna Ferox, have no choice but to go along. And just like that, Plegia now has bite on the board once again."

"Valm doesn't react well to this, especially considering nerves are shot from the Conqueror's death. It's been handled but there's a hidden mentality that's just waiting for the other shoe to drop, one for the consequences of Walhart dying. But they accept that it's just a peace treaty." Robin closed his eye and turned off his glove. "Then, a few months later, Plegia calls a meeting at Carrion Isle, a historic island rife with betrayals. Like an idiot, Chrom accepts. But when they get there, it's just talks. King Mustafa wants protection and reassurance, so he decides to ask for a mutual defense treaty. To which Chrom essentially trips over himself to provide. Like an idiot. Because of course he does, not even considering the consequences."

A maelstrom of wind blew from Robin's glove, scattering papers and notes. Robin opened his one eye, and glared malevolently at the animated cyclone, as if it were his foe.

There are two things that be said to be infinite – the universe, and human capacity for stupidity. And I'm not so sure about the universe.

"Farber has a spy in Plegia who screw up." Robin said. "Or Farber screws up and misunderstands. Or the spy is a double-agent, working for Plegia. Frankly, it doesn't matter right now. The how is surpasses by the what. An unstoppable fleet is heading to Archaneia as we speak. They will take a beachhead for a few days at best, then without our reinforcements, will get driven back into the sea and die. At which point Plegia's mutual defense treaty with Ylisse and Regna Ferox takes effect."

"End result?" Robin lit his glove up against and incinerated the paper tornado, lighting it, and the room on fire. All the papers and notes he kept in here were for his plans to unite with Archeneia. All of which were worthless. He'd already prepared for plans towards war back when Walhart was in control of the continent. He just didn't expect that Walhart's death would change nothing. Robin scowled again as he prepared to warp out. "War."

-Castle Valm, Robin's Office-

"Robin!" There was pounding at his door when Robin warped back inside. "Let me in!"

"Thank goodness." Aversa let out a sigh of relief as Robin warped back into his office. "Pheros is at the door, and I didn't want to let her in. Done having your temper tantrum?"

"Do so now." Robin maintained as blank of a face as possible.

"Robin." Pheros walked in. "Where were you the last six hours? I called the meeting between the entire Council together, but you said you had more to tell me, didn't you?"

Robin had told her that, before he'd disappeared. Not in front of her, he'd just told her to call together the Council, and then excused himself to his office, claiming that he needed to look up his notes and plans on the subject. Once there, he barred the door. Thankfully, Aversa was there, so he had her hold down the fort, and warped off. He blew off some steam, then went to his lair, and blew off some more steam. Then he went around, collecting information. Still, six hours? He really must have lost his cool.

"Dueling with unpleasant thoughts." Robin replied. And dueling a few forests. I won. "I am … not in the greatest of states right now."

"War is inevitable, then." Pheros said. "Can we stop it?"

"No." Robin shook his head. I can't see a way to stop it, and neither can the Foreseer. I asked her myself. "Nothing short of – well, even I don't know – can stop it."

-Valm's Officer Barracks, Private Rooms, Earlier-

"Lucina!"

Lucina froze, halfway through lunch, her blood turning to ice. Robin's tone of voice wasn't a polite one, or even the one he'd use when he wanted to kill himself. It was pure, undiluted rage.

"Robin, what do you want?" Lucina turned to him. Around the table, the rest of the Future Children put down the various meals and not-so-subtly went for their weapons, Owain placing a hand on his katana, Severa copying him with her sword. Laurent opened a tome on the table, Cynthia sprang up, and Gerome put two fingers in his mouth, readying a summoning whistle for Minerva.

"The war between Valm and Ylisse." Robin said. "Can. It. Be. Stopped."

Ultimately, Lucina swallowed. Fate seems to enjoy keeping us thrown for the loop. Naga said I would have the chance to change the future, but she didn't warn me how hard it would be.

"…" Lucina slowly shook her head. "No."

"You're the damn Foreseer, aren't you? TELL ME HOW TO FIX THIS!"

"Chrom won't die." Lucina said. "Neither will Khan Flavia, but you will lose every major general you have – Ignatius, Farber. You would have lost Cervantes too, if we hadn't already changed history by killing him. In fact, that's part of why I agreed to help you kill him – I knew he'd be killed by Ylisseans anyway."

"That's… that's not how to stop the war."

"If I knew how to, trust me, I would tell you." Lucina said. "I can only warn you now."

"You didn't tell me about it!" Robin accused her.

"I can't just tell people things about the future with no good reason! That's not how it works. I wasn't chosen just so I could go around and muck with everything so it was exactly how I wanted it. I was sent to do one thing!" Lucina countered. "And, I assumed it wouldn't be a problem when we killed Walhart, because he chose to invade! Why the hell would you choose to do something like that!?"

"I didn't, Farber, that idiot did!" Robin said. "Although it wasn't helped by your precious Exalt swearing a mutual defense pact, now was it?"

"So it's Chrom's fault that your people declared war!?"

"If he hadn't agreed, we wouldn't be at war." Robin narrowed his eyes. "A leader's job is to ensure the safety of his people. And consolidating power in Archaneia fueled the Valmese war hawks."

"And he's still a better man than you are." Lucina stood up. "Take those words back. Now."

"No."

"I said. Take. Them. Back." Lucina said. Her tone indicated to Robin that she was one step away from drawing her sword and trying to kill him once more. "Your country has been doing nothing aside from look for an excuse to declare war, and I won't have you blame him because you think he didn't do something which fell perfectly into your plan."

"You know what? Fine. I don't care." Robin said. "Chrom's a better man than me. Far better! I But this isn't my fault. Now, I ask you again. Can. It. Be. Stopped."

"No." Lucina shook her head. "It's started, hasn't it? There's no knowledge I possess which would tell me how to stop it, and you're smarter than I am, so if a solution could be figured out, you'd do it."

"Fine. I can see that you won't be much help with this. Then I thank you for your assistance with Walhart. Take this, but do not open it until you're sure that no one can see you. And it took a lot for me to get those, so you'd better appreciate it." Robin said. He withdrew a small pouch and tossed it to her. "It's in your best interests to leave Valm and return to Ylisse. What you do after then is your business, and I can't guarantee that we won't meet up again as enemies. I'd ask you, but you won't give me the answer. That said, I will swear to you that I will not let the Grimleal have their way."

"Then I thank you as well." Lucina caught the pouch. "You'll understand if I don't wish you luck, correct?"

"Entirely." Robin said.

"Then, all the same." Lucina said. "Luck be to you, Robin. I pray the next time we meet won't be as enemies. Let's go."

"Just like that, Lucy?" Severa protested. "But we can-!"

"We can." Lucina said. "Remember our purpose. We'll leave within the hour."

-Castle Valm, Robin's Office-

"No, we can't stop it." Robin shook his head. "I've consulted with people who know things I don't. The war isn't going to be stopped. It's only going to be fought."

"Mercy upon us all." Pheros said. "The war with Archeneia. Walhart talked about it, but I can't believe we're doing it. Our first war with Walhart gone. And started by them, no less."

"So you came to the same conclusion I reached, then."

"Battlemaster, you of all people should know one does not draw up war plans without the intent to use them." Pheros said. "And this is Plegia we are discussing. I care not for the Ylissean Exalt's soft heart. Walhart's path is stronger than Emmeryn's. Plegia was always intending to exploit Chrom, and especially this treaty."

"Yes." Robin nodded. "Of course. They wanted to bait us into attacking. That was always their intent. Plegia did so with the intention to draw stronger powers into their conflict."

"I know you don't want this war because it brings us into conflict with your friend, the Exalt." Pheros said. "However…"

"I don't have a choice, do I?" Robin smiled grimly. "Their mistake. If there's only one solution, it's the one I'll have no choice but to take. Thank you, Empress. I realized it on my own, but I needed to hear it from you."

"So." Pheros inhaled. "What do we do now?"

-Robin's Nest, Earlier-

"It's not my fault." Robin repeated. "It's not my fault. It's not my fault! I couldn't have predicted the events would end up the way they did. And the only one who could have also thinks that nothing she ever does can ever stop something like that. It's not my fault. It can't be, I was trying to stop this from happening. It can't be!"

Robin clenched his fist. "I'm not even sure it's anyone's fault at this point. But I can't act like that matters. Actions have to have consequences. And the consequences of acting like out of line and without thinking of what will come is to die. Chrom just wants a unified Archaniea. And I can respect that. But once he agreed to the mutual defense of Plegia, he doomed his country to war the moment they were attacked. And I'm not saying that was wrong."

"But the same is true for me." Robin breathed in slowly. "I'm not wrong either. I'm the Battlemaster of Valm. I destroyed and rebuilt this country, and I'll be damned thrice if I can't keep it together. We might have been baited into this war by Plegia. It might have been just an honest mistake on their part. But it's an honest mistake they couldn't afford to make. I will win this war between us."

"It's my duty. My responsibility. I don't get to plan out an ideal world. I work with what I'm given. And I'm given a setback. As far as I'm concerned, Ylisse is declaring war on us in a month, and there's nothing I can do to stop it. So I don't." Robin suddenly chuckled. "What were Walhart's last instructions? He wanted me to lead Valm? Well, I'll give them a chance. The Council was created to lead by themselves, but I'll dangle them out like puppets before Pheros, and I'll use her to, if it comes to that. Ultimately, my sole goal as the Battlemaster is fight Valm's wars. No more. No less."

"Chrom, old friend." Robin smiled, all teeth. "I'll have to see you next on the battlefield. I don't blame you. You're just doing the best for your people. But I'm doing the best for mine. And it can't be helped. Our purposes cross. And that means that only one of us will survive."

-Castle Valm, Robin's Office-

"Conquer, of course." Robin said. "We go to war. A detachment of soldiers and the Icebergs will cover and enable Farber's retreat, if that's possible, and while Ylisse and Regna Ferox are being harried to the north, we attack Plegia. I'm sure you know the plan."

"That plan?"

"The one I made to invade Plegia. I went over it with you a few years ago." Robin cracked his fingers. "Morgaine and I could use a little payback. And that nation as a whole could use some sense getting beaten into it. They're the ones responsible, after all. Responsible for this war."

"Robin, are you sure about this?" Pheros said. "Walhart was insistent on attacking Regna Ferox."

"Walhart's grasp of military tactics and logistics was not his strong point. And he's not here." Robin replied. "Pheros, we have no choice. And we don't start by offering surrender, either. That won't be taken seriously."

"A war of conquest against Plegia." Pheros said. "How strong are we discussing?"

"They started the alliance and made the pact." Robin said. "As far as I'm concerned, once the war occurs, they should receive the brunt of the fighting. We leave their villages alone. But their army will face the might of Valm. The FULL might of Valm. This is going to be a war to end all wars. Everything we have, everything we can muster to arms. I want it done."

"Do you think that's necessary."

"Absolutely." Robin said, with no hesitation. "And there's something else."

"Something else?"

"I have a plan to eradicate the Grimleal once and for all." Robin said. "But first we take the country, which should be easier than you might think."

"Why's that?"

Robin offered a wry grin and removed his left glove, revealing his tattoo. Won't hurt to tell a few things about me. "Learned something interesting from my adopted sister. I'm Plegian royalty. Last in line for the throne. And, seeing as I'm the only one, I'm also the first."

"Morgaine isn't in line?"

"Adopted, remember?" Robin said. "Though, actually, I should see what I could about putting her in line for the throne. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have an army to raise and a homeland to conquer. They'll be overjoyed to have me back once they learn of the incompetence of the previous leader and the horrible corruption within."

"At which point, we take them into the Empire." Pheros said.

"Yes. They'll be the first." Robin nodded. "Ferox and Ylisse after that."

"Global unification." Pheros noted.

"Out of necessity." Robin said. "I wouldn't do it otherwise."

"Stop lying." Pheros frowned. "I don't like it when you do that."

"…Sorry. I meant it's necessary to do it now. And using war." Robin clarified. "I wanted to wait a few decades. And do it without coercion or violence. Actually, my initial plan was to slowly unite the warring tribes of Plegia into a republic within my control."

"But there are no warring tribes of Plegia." Pheros noted.

"There were supposed to be!" Robin said through gritted teeth. "Morgaine hates the Plegian king already, and I'm considering joining her. The assassination of Validar should have splintered the country!"

"Wait, were you behind that?"

"Pheros, do you honestly want me to answer that question?" Robin asked.

"I'd rather if you did." Pheros said. "It could be important - and you agreed not to lie."

"Yes, I was responsible for it. It was personal decision." Robin said, closing his eyes. "I won't go into the details, but it was retribution for his treatment of several people. Morgaine included. A stark raving lunatic like him deserved death. There were other reasons, but that was the main one." In actuality, it was to keep Plegia off-balance while we reformed the Empire. But if I tell her that, I'd have to explain I knew that Walhart would die – and I'm not ready to tell that secret to her.

"That sounds-"

"Pheros, we can discuss that later. We've got a war on our hands!" Robin cut her off. "You're going to want to call the council."

"Agreed." Pheros said. "I suppose this means that you're going to want to monologue to them about how we're at war now?"

"Something to that effect."

"Very well." Pheros winced. "But do understand that despite what Farber has done, we aren't technically at war until the council declares it. I understand you're not exactly feeling the best right now but see if you can save your ire for our enemies."

"I make no promises save this." Robin clenched his fist. "Someone wants war. And when I'm done, they'll sorely regret it."

-Robin's Study-

Now to convince the harder crowd. Robin said. "Thanks for coming on short notice."

"Not like we had much of a choice." Virion muttered. "How may we serve the Battlemaster? Or, perhaps I should state it plainer – what do you want the Council to order?"

"We are only three members." Say'ri pointed out. "The two of us and Lord Zulas make up only three of the council's seven seats. Robin does not possess one."

"Oh, please." Virion said. "If you think for a moment that Robin doesn't control the council, you have another thing coming. Five of the seats are his allies, Farber thinks he's the second coming of Walhart, and even Ignatius doesn't hate him."

"I would not have you accuse Robin so carelessly."

"I'm just wondering why you call me Lord, and don't call Robin by his title." Zulas mumbled. "I'm not exactly enamored with the title myself."

"Robin ordered me not to." Say'ri explained. "But you cannot, as I am not your sworn sword."

"Ahem." Robin cleared his throat. "We've got a problem, you three."

"Robin?" Say'ri took a look at the tactician and noticed that there was a certain rigidity and stiffness to him. He seemed to be seething under the surface and doing his best to keep it locked down. "What has happened?"

"A letter came for me this morning." Robin flourished it. "Farber, and by extension Valm, declared war of Archaeniea. His fleet is already halfway across the ocean and can't be stopped. In just over a week's time, he'll be in Port Ferox, and launching his troops."

"You cannot be serious." Virion stared at him.

"I am." Robin inhaled. "Unfortunately, Farber seems to be the victim of bad intelligence. Though the direct cause may be lost to us, as I suspect he will not survive his offensive. And Farber is a member of the council, thus his actions will likely be taken as the actions of Valm."

"They might not though…" Virion tried.

"Really?" Robin raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to claim that they'll take the invasion of their conquering overseas neighbor with a reputation for invading countries invasion as a rogue splinter group? Because I would love it if they would do that. You know them better than I do, Viscount."

"No." Virion admitted through gritted teeth. "They'll think it's an invasion."

"So we declare war, then." Zulas said. As Robin suspected, his most patriotic subordinate had come to a decision quickly. Zulas continued. "If they declare war on us, then we'll have to declare war on them. But we should be able to convince Regna Ferox to back off quickly."

"It's not that simple." Robin said. "The three countries have just agreed to a mutual defense pact. That means we're at war with all three of them now."

"How strict are these people in regards to their allegiances?" Say'ri asked. "The dynasts would not hesitate to abandon Regna Ferox if we made a sufficient show of force."

"I like the idea, but it's not going to work." Robin said. "Ylisse is headed by Chrom, who would never back down. And, from what Morgaine tells me, the king of Plegia is actually honorable for once, so we have reason to believe he'll keep his word as well."

"We are looking at a full-scale war between continents." Say'ri stated. "Robin, do you think there to be alternatives?"

"No." Robin shook his head.

"Surely you're joking!" Virion exclaimed. "Robin, I can think of half a dozen strategies that might be able to-"

"Might be able to what, Viscount?" Robin said sharply. "Avert war, but at a considerable risk to Valm? Enforce an armed standoff for the next several decades until it finally boils over then to all-out war? Surrender outright and cede land and resources such that our empire would no longer be capable of functioning, and leading to the entire country devolving into civil war? What plans do you have?"

"I…"

"Virion, your idea of winning at chess is to wind up with more pieces than your opponent does at the end of the game." Robin said. "I have no problem with you commanding small scale, but your particular brand of pyrrhic victory does not interest me right now. So unless you have an exceedingly clever solution, shut up and listen!"

Virion frowned but closed his mouth. Zulas listened at attention, but Say'ri had adopted a concerned look on her face. Likely, she had an inkling of what would come next.

"I recommended to Marth that she leave the council, which she did." Robin said. "I don't know where she intends to go, or if she intends to become a thorn in my side. With that, the council is down to five, as Farber is absent. Ignatius is being brought here as fast as possible, and while that is happening, I'm preparing for war. My armories are being emptied, my ships are being prepared, and my soldiers are being called into actions. Right now, it's all in the name of an exercise."

"Unfortunately, we don't have that much time. Morgaine is doing all she can, but news and rumors of Farber's army will reach the capitol sooner rather than later. So we will need to call a council meeting, and announce that we're declaring war." Robin said. "Officially, the story will be that Farber went rogue, and Archaneia is blaming us. I'd rather keep to the truth as much as possible, especially when the public will react well."

"And we'll be declaring war against all of them, right?" Zulas said.

"For now, I just need you to declare war." Robin said. "Once that happens, it'll all be under my jurisdiction."

"Pardon?" Virion said. "Was not the purpose of the council that you couldn't do things like this, or did I misunderstand something?"

"Viscount." Robin glared at him. Purple flames flickered to life behind him. "Do you wish to challenge me right now? Do you want your countrymen to die in a senseless bloodbath? Or, perhaps, you could leave the war to one who knows how to wage it. The council was created for day to day affairs. This is an emergency and will be treated as such."

"Noble Virion." Say'ri said gently. "Robin wishes for the end of war as much as you do. However, you must understand that the Battlemaster has issues that he must deal with and deals with knowledge that we do not. He does genuinely have the best attentions of both Valm and Archaneia in mind."

"Then perhaps he should act like it!" Virion shot back at her.

"Perhaps he does." Say'ri shrugged. "Or do you think you would handle this better than him?"

The Rosannean viscount was cut down by the Chon'sin's withering stare. Virion glanced down. "No…"

"Good." Zulas said. "Then what are your order, Robin?"

"We call together the council." Robin said. "And I need you to act normal, or at least as normal as possible during the meeting. I can't tell you what to do, because to do so would be using my power to usurp the system I put in place to stop me from doing that. I just needed to clear this with you all beforehand, to stop you from making the wrong decision. Let me be clear, and I'll repeat myself as many times as necessary. We've got a war on our hands - whether we like it, or not."

-Sea-

"Why did you not tell him he'd lose the war?" Laurent asked.

"I really don't think enraging him would have helped." Lucina shuddered. "That's not our Robin, Laurent. He's entirely different, just luckily happens to be on our side for the time being. If I told him he'd lose the war, he wouldn't listen to me, and just ignore everything."

"Open the bag yet?" Owain asked her.

"Ah, yes." Lucina removed it. It felt like precious stones to her. Payment or funds? Or maybe Robin had just concealed messages inside rocks. Or maybe they just were rocks. Cautiously, Lucina opened the bag. She stared voicelessly at its trio of contents, her mouth making an 'O' of shock.

"Sable. Vert. Azure." Owain stared, slack-jawed. "He entrusted us with the Gemstones he had!"

"I thought Azure to be in Lady Tiki's possession." Gerome said.

"She entrusted it to Robin on my advice." Lucina whispered, looking at them. "They're … beautiful."

"There's a note." Severa flicked it open. "I assume you somehow know this, but in the event you don't, Basilio has the fourth one. Chrom, obviously, has the fifth. Get them to Chrom and have him perform the Awakening as fast as you can, then seal away the Gemstones and the Fire Emblem as best you're able to. Don't tell me where you put it and replace it with a fake. Welcome to my first contingency."

"Huh." Severa said. "Seriously, what's his deal?"

"I'm not sure." Lucina said. "This … may be a cry for help. When we get back, assemble the rest of the Future Children. All of them."

"What's the plan?" Laurent asked.

"I know his second contingency. Robin's invading Plegia first. I had access to the plans, and Robin was very insistent that was going to be his first stop." Lucina said. "If ever there was a time for Fate to strike, it's then. We're going to steer as far away from him as possible, until we get the Gemstones to Father, at least."

"And then?" Sevara asked.

"Then … we make sure he can't perform the Awakening." Lucina said.

"I thought you said we weren't going to kill him." Owain said.

"We're not going to kill him for something he hasn't done." Lucina said. "But if he attempts… his life is forfeit."

A/N: A note to my FFN readers! This is a pretty new fic here, and I'm really glad for all the positive feedback! (Shoutout to MrDoctorGeoff, who's left the most detailed review. I live off those kinds of reviews and adjust my story to them. Please keep them coming!) Also, I'm looking for a Beta Reader, so if you can be a Beta Reader on this site, and want to help me, fire me off a message or a review, and I'll get in touch with you.