When Severa left Ylisstol, she had no intention of traveling with anyone. Not anyone she was familiar with, anyway. Whether or not people began traveling with her later down the line didn't really bother her. Just as long as she was away from Ylisse, away from Archanea, away from Valm, all of it, she would be content.

Severa wouldn't be gone forever. She'd doubtless come back. Once she had finally sorted herself out elsewhere, maybe she would be able to enjoy the peace she'd spent her life fighting for, but until that time, she would walk. Maybe explore a new continent or two along the way. Something. Anything. She wasn't ready to settle down, yet. Not by a long shot.

"My good friend Severa, what troubles you? Perhaps you have been afflicted with a hideous condition! One that has stripped you of your ability to speak! Do not worry, my friend, if it does not leave your body within the next thirty seconds, Owain Dark shall purge the filth from you!"

Severa sighed as she face-palmed.

"Well, would you look at that! I guess your theatrics can't make everyone happy, Owain," Inigo chuckled, trying and failing to hide the smirk across his lips. "But please, do go on. I want to hear more of this."

As the group of four went down the road, among the rolling hills outside Ylisstol, Severa found herself glaring at the green grass. She turned to her right, away from the two fools next to her. "I want to know exactly how you were able to convince me that going with you was a good idea."

Lucina turned to her and smiled. "Only you can answer that question for yourself, Severa."

"No, yeah, I know. All that talk of friendship and hardship and all that bullshit. But I want to know how you were able to convince me, 'cause to be honest, I feel a bit taken advantage of."

"While it is true that we are perhaps the last people you would wish to travel with under the circumstances," Lucina began, "I do believe you want this, even if you don't know it. That may be a bit presumptuous of me, yes, but I suppose I did not want to travel alone, and you don't either."

"What the princess means to say is that you're both lonely, we're both lonely, and we can't stand to be here anymore," Inigo summarized, "Isn't that right, Owain Dark?"

Despite his previous outburst, Owain looked around sheepishly as his defiant pose dropped. He rubbed his shoulder as he looked away. "Ah, Inigo the Brave speaks the truth, I guess. I love my mother and father, but they are not the same ones that I lost. I… find it difficult to look at them at times. I do want to enjoy this peace, but I refuse to allow my adventures to stop here! Who knows how many other lands have crises that need to be averted? Shall we just let them to the wolves, or play a part in their saving? I know where my heart lies!"

"We don't belong here," Lucina said quietly, looking down at the ground as everyone stopped. Severa pursed her lips as the blue-haired princess continued. "Now that the war is over, and Grima is finally vanquished, I can see that. Perhaps we never did. But that does not mean that we cannot do as Owain suggested. Maybe there are other lands we can save, other people who require our aid. If that cannot be done here, then perhaps elsewhere."

"You guys are real pieces of work, you know that? I mean, look at us!" Severa gestured to both herself and the other three. "Hear what we're talking about! Acting like we're a bunch of heroes! We're not heroes. Not the ones back there. Our parents? The Shepherds? They're the real heroes. Sure, we helped them along, but really, how arrogant can we be?"

Lucina's brows furrowed. "I'm afraid I do not understand what you mean, Severa."

"C'mon, Lucy, who are we kidding?" Severa wiped at her forehead. "We're just a bunch of lost kids without a place in the world. I mean, sure, I was planning on coming back. Mom and dad did say I'd always be welcome and… whatever, that's not important. What is important is that, if we're all going to travel together, we shouldn't get it in our heads that we're these unstoppable heroes. Alright? Really, I'm looking out for you guys here. From the way you three are sounding, it's like you don't believe you can do any wrong. All I wanted to do was travel, y' know? Go on some sight-seeing. Explore uncharted lands for a little while. Yeah, I'm being a bit stupid too when I saw that, but gawd, at least I'm not delusional!"

"That's certainly debatable," Inigo quipped.

"I will stab you, Inigo," Severa growled.

"Comrades, please!" Owain begged. "It would not bode well to come to blows so soon after starting our journey together!"

"I agree, Owain. Look, Severa, perhaps I did not explain myself properly." Lucina placed a hand on the red-haired girl's shoulder. "If I came across the way you said I did, then I should reword what I said. You asked how I was able to convince you, and that was how. But what I truly believe? This peace is not ours, as you said. It is the product of the sacrifices of our parents. We merely helped them along. Even then, I would rather not all our efforts be in vain because we have developed a bout of wanderlust."

Severa blinked before looking away. "You just wanted us to stick together, is that it? To have each other's backs?"

"Yes." Lucina nodded. "I know it is incredibly crass of me to say this, but even if we do not perform any heroics as you said, I would rather we all be together. The others have already elected to stay behind; we're the only ones truly leaving."

That was actually really thoughtful, in Severa's opinion. She found herself unable to look at any of her new companions in the eye. Shame clawed away at her chest. Why did she think it would be better to be alone again? Just so she could get away from everything? It wasn't worth leaving everything behind, she decided, when there were good things that came out of the war, too. Her little speech about their 'heroics' wasn't her true feelings; the truth was, she wouldn't mind doing what Owain had suggested. To go out there and save people would be a welcome change from the carnage and bloodshed from the Valmese War and the war with Grima.

Severa shivered as she remembered the torching of Port Ferox and the charred bodies within. Of families torn apart because of somebody's foolishness. She remembered the broken remains of Ylisstol's citizenry, how they had been raised from the dead against their will. Had the final battle in the future gone the same? She shuddered at that thought.

But it didn't matter. Not really.

Severa sighed, "Alright, fine, I guess it's not so bad having you three around."

Inigo barked a laugh. "A complimentt from Severa! I never thought I'd see the day- Ow!"

Severa punched Inigo in the shoulder as she lightly glared at him. "Don't think you'll be getting away with insulting me like that, you daft idiot. One more comment like that and I'll throw you off this hill!"

"O-Okay! No need to get violent! Sheesh, I think it's going to bruise…" Inigo mumbled.

"Oh, boohoo, I'm so sorry!" Severa smirked sadistically. "Should we get a vulnerary for that owie?"

"Mmm. Perhaps noble Severa truly has been possessed by a demon…" Owain murmured, looking at her suspiciously. "Tell me, my friend, have you had any strange happenings? Sleepwalking? Sleep talking? Finding yourself above somebody within the middle of the night? Being unable to control your limbs? These are all signs of possession, and I must know if anything is happening! I don't want to lose another friend!"

"I'm not possessed, Owain. I just don't have any patience for Inigo," Severa snorted, "We need to get your mouth checked before it gets you into trouble."

"Not likely! How will I lovingly kiss the ladies without it?" Inigo whined dramatically, watching his friends with one eye cracked open as he twirled. "Truly, it would be a disservice to all womankind to be deprived of my fanciful words!"

"Gods, you speak almost exactly as Lord Virion," Lucina pointed out, crossing her arms. "Perhaps Severa is right. Owain, I do not think she is the one possessed by a demon. I believe it is Inigo instead. That would explain his attitude."

Owain struck a pose as he withdrew the sword at his hip, pointing it squarely at Inigo's neck. "Halt then, evil-doer! You will release my friend from your unholy trap this instant or suffer my wrath! I have exorcised many of your kind from the wood; a human body shall not be a challenge for me!"

"Okay, okay, I get it, no more joking around! Hehe. You guys got me good, you know. Maybe, uh, you could put that big, sharp sword down, Owain? I-I promise not to make fun of your journal anymore!"

Owain's eyes flashed with holy light as he sneered. "How dare you, demon! Using my friend's memories to persuade me! I will cut you out by force!"

Lucina and Severa nearly doubled over with laughter as Owain chased Inigo through the meadow, all the while uttering curses towards the demon that inhabited Inigo's body. Severa looked to Lucina once, to Owain and Inigo, and then towards the sky.

How could Severa have thought to leave this behind completely? She couldn't understand herself sometimes, really. It felt like she hadn't laughed this hard in ages. She knew it was all game; Owain was playing up his 'madness' and Inigo still likely thought that they were playing around. Or maybe it wasn't a game, and she would have to break it up soon, but she'd do so gladly. These were her idiots, she decided, and she wouldn't let anyone else take them.

Perhaps the road ahead wouldn't be so bad after all.

The four companions traveled down the road through Ylisse's slow recovering countryside. From a nearby hill, a figure stood, watching them walk. Their cloak almost seemed to enshroud their entire body, but if one looked into their hood, they'd see near-paper white skin, golden eyes the color of sunset, and curly blue hair left unruly by their hood.

The figure's journey to this world was not an easy one, especially without a suitable portal to use, but it had no choice. It could feel its soul begin to crumble, ever since the day those arrows pierced its body at Hoshido's capital. It could still hear the sounds of its child's screams on its pointed ears. The shouts and roars of its husband as he tore through soldier after soldier, trying unsuccessfully to save her.

The figure shook their head.

She had to remember her individualism. She had to keep a hold of her identity, for just a little longer. It took a lot of power to go to this world, and it would take a lot of power to go back to her home, but it would be enough. As long as others were able to take the fight farther, to ensure her sabotage was not in vain, then she would gladly go to the grave. Her existence would shatter, she knew. But her child would be safe.

Her child. Yes. Her child. The keystone. The final piece to the incomprehensible puzzle.

"Warriors of another world…" She said, mostly to herself. To keep herself from slipping into her mind again. "I have come seeking your aid."

Perhaps this was merely another stage of her madness, finally creeping up on her. So much for humanity.

"My name is Anankos," She intoned as she strode forward. "My home lies in ruins. Even I am nothing but a distant memory, beginning to fade. But should you accept my pleas, then perhaps not all is lost."

Perhaps her final hours would not be cold as she suspected.

Part 4. Sequel hook that may or may not be taken up. It'd be very different Fates. Head on over to the next chapter for a long, long AN.