The Force's Shepherds
Chapter 89
Of Sacred Blood
Yarne tugged on one of his long, furry ears. A nervous habit he built up during the course of his short, terror filled life. He still struggled to find his way around this strange place known as Alderaan. Or more specifically, the palace where the Prince of Alderaan resided. The young Taguel gulped. He lived with the Prince of an entire planet now. It was one thing to be around people like Lucina and Cynthia. They were royalty too, but he grew up with them. They did not cause anxiety to fill him.
Well… on second thought, Cynthia occasionally made him anxious. But not because she was a terrifying or malicious person. More so because he had no idea what was going on in that air filled head of hers. And Lucina could make him anxious with a single, hard stare. He gulped. Oh, she would glare at him once he found them. He could already hear the conversation in his head.
"How could you endanger yourself by winding up on another planet Yarne!? You are the last of your kind!"
Then there was that. Yarne swallowed hard as he paused in the impeccably clean hall. He was the last living Taguel. Or at least, he assumed he was. His mother could very well still be alive if the ritual Lucina performed worked properly. Which he doubted considering he now resided on a completely different planet than the one he knew.
Or, perhaps this was the same planet but in a different time? Yarne shook his head. No, if that were the case, he would have to be in the future. And there was no future in the hellscape Grima created.
Yarne uttered a heavy sigh. His dark eyes scanned the hallway. Sharp gaze catching on a silver vase filled with strange flowers sitting on a simple table. A small decoration that did much to soften the otherwise professional space. Yarne cocked an eyebrow.
Is it pure silver?
He crept towards it and sniffed the air. His eyes roved over the vase. He could see his reflection staring back at him. His finger prodded the vase.
Smells like it. He tapped the vase again and heard a light ping. Sounds like it. He reached out and lifted the vase. Water sloshed around inside of it. He paid the water and the flowers no mind as he weighed the object in his hands. Feels like it.
He set the vase back down on the table, careful not to accidentally knock it over. One hand rubbed his chin while one foot tapped against the floor.
What did dad used to say? If it smells like money, sounds like money, and feels like money, then it is a score? He furrowed his brow, Or something like that. Mother always hushed him up when he tried explaining that sort of stuff.
"Yarne?"
The hair all over his body stood on end. He spun around, accidentally bumping the table and knocking the vase over in the process. The flowers spilled out as the vase rolled along the floor and over to the small girl giving him a puzzled look.
"L-Leia!" Yarne put a hand to his chest and exhaled, "You snuck up on me."
Nearly gave me a heart attack.
The Alderaan princess beamed at him, "I know." She replied with a mischievous snicker.
Yarne frowned, "You know, if you give me a heart attack and I die, you will be responsible for the extinction of an entire species."
Liea skipped up to him and grabbed his hand with her own, tiny palm.
"But you won't." She grinned, "I won't let you."
Yarne let a small smile cross his lips. If there was one thing that calmed his terrified mind while he lived in this strange place, it was Prince Bail Organa's daughter, Leia. He met her during his first night on Alderaan. During a rather awkward, quiet dinner with the Alderaan prince and some of his closest advisers. Leia had been the only one to look at him without any sort of judgement or confusion. She just accepted him as a new friend. Even got mad at Captain Rex when the commander of security barraged him with questions.
He snickered a little bit at the memory. That was the only time he had ever seen Captain Rex flustered. When a four year decided to give the man a piece of her mind.
Yarne flicked his gaze up from Leia to the window at the end of the hall. He realized it was dark out.
He always lost track of time on this world. Everything was always so brightly lit. Strange torches and lights were lit at all times, both inside the palace, and outside in the various gardens and courtyards. It gave the entire space a feeling of constant daylight. So when night did come, Yarne only noticed when he looked up at a strange, starless sky.
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" He asked Leia.
Leia glared at him, "Shouldn't you?"
Yarne drew back. Captain Rex had a curfew on him. He could not wander the palace without some sort of escort. And he could not wander during the late evening hours or the wee hours in the morning. For security reasons. Rex still did not trust him. And Yarne understood the extreme levels of caution the man possessed. He did witness Yarne fall out of a strange portal with a bunch of Risen grunts chasing after him. That was not a normal occurrence in Ylisse. It certainly would not be a normal occurrence on Alderaan. Even Commander Frederick and Master Kenobi would be cautious when confronted with such a phenomenon.
And in thinking of those two, Yarne was reminded of the predicament he now had. He needed to reunite with his friends. Or, at the very least, find the Shepherds. Ask for their help. Explain the situation to them. Lucina warned him about revealing their true identities to their parents, but at this point Yarne did not care about those consequences. He just wanted some familiar faces to look at. Some friends to keep him from always being scared. People to rely on and be his strength.
Yarne shook his head and looked back down at the Princess, "Well, we both better get to bed then. Before grumpy old Rex gets mad at us."
Leia squirmed a little beside him. Normally, teasing Rex got Leia to laugh. But instead, she appeared anxious. Yarne recognized that look. He saw it in the mirror many times.
"I'm scared." Leia mumbled as she gripped his hand.
Yarne gulped.
She's going to ask me to help her not be scared. Some sweat beaded on his brow, I am woefully unprepared for this.
Leia tugged on his hand, "You're gonna help me fight off the monsters."
Yarne paled, "M-monsters?"
Leia nodded, "Uh huh. I'm not scared with you around."
He did not stop her as she pulled him along, down the hall, towards her cracked doorway.
They both paused at the door. Leia pointed at the dark shadows inside of her chambers.
"They're in there." She whispered.
Yarne gulped and peeked beyond the door. As a Taguel, he liked to think that he had better eyesight than normal humans. Then again, he was only half Taguel. So perhaps he inherited his father's eyes and not his mother's. In this instance, he believed that hypothesis to be true. He could not see a thing in the pitch black.
If I can't see anything in there, then maybe there really is something dangerous there. He gulped, This is a job for Captain Rex, not me.
"There are ghosts in there." Leia whispered as she peaked from behind Yarne's furry leg and gazed into her room.
Yarne sucked in a sharp breath. Ghosts were worse than monsters. He at least could see monsters. He could fight monsters. He could not fight an invisible being.
"What did it look like?" He asked.
Stupid question! Ghosts are invisible!
"Big." Leia gulped, "Big and shadowy." She cupped her hands over her mouth, "He had a mask like this."
Yarne arched an eyebrow, "You saw the ghost?"
Leia nodded, "In my dream."
Yarne blinked. She saw the ghost in her dream? He blinked again and looked into the room. There were no actual ghosts in the room then. They existed in the Princess's mind. Relief flooded his body.
"Oh… well…" He glanced down at Leia as she hid herself further behind his leg.
She believed the ghost was real. That he really stood in her room despite only existing in a nightmare. Yarne took a deep breath. The ghost wasn't real. But that didn't mean he could not fight it for the Princess.
"Where did you see him?" He asked, eyes narrowed, claws extended.
Leia pointed a trembling finger at the closed closet doors opposite of her little bed.
"In there?" Yarne asked.
Leia nodded, "I slammed the door shut once I saw him. But I could still hear him. He sounded like-" She cupped her mouth again and sucked in a loud breath of air before rasping it out, "Like that."
Yarne pretend to roll a sleeve up his arm, "Then I say, we give this uh… asthmatic ghost a fight he won't forget."
"Really!?" Leia asked, both surprised, scared, and a little excited.
"Really." Yarne nodded.
He crouched low so that he could see the room from Leia's height. A small smile crossed his lips. This felt like a game almost. Kind of like the ones he used to play with Cynthia, Morgan, and their diabolical Justice Cabal. Someone was always the bad guy in those games. And the heroes had to hunt down the bad guy and defeat them. He always enjoyed those games. Mostly because the others always stood by him and made sure to defend him in case he got scared. Their strength gave him courage. And it stayed that way even when their games turned into actual battles.
"Follow my lead." Yarne whispered to Leia.
Leia crouched, mimicking the Taguel's movements. Yarne hopped along the ground, creeping around the cracked door and into the dark room. He paused and sniffed the air. Acting as if he was searching for a real intruder. Leia stuck her nose in the air as well and sniffed.
"He's still in the closet." Yarne whispered to her, "I'm going to go get him. You stay here and be my backup. If he comes out-"
"Beat him within an inch of his life!"
Yarne blinked, "Y-yeah… sure."
"What? That's what Mister Rex tells me to do to bad guys."
Yarne uttered a nervous laugh.
Hopefully he won't do that to me if he finds out I've been wandering around past curfew.
Yarne crept towards the closed closet door. His eyes finally adjusted to the darkness. Allowing him to make out the faint outline of the white door painted with yellow and blue flowers. He paused, sniffed again, then reached for the door knob.
"Be careful, Yarne." Leia whispered, fear lacing her voice.
Yarne looked back at her, "I will be." He cleared his throat, "Alright, you dumb ghost! You will not harm the Princess any longer!"
Yarne threw the door open and dashed into the dark closet. His other hand closed it slightly behind him so the Princess would not see him thrashing about the darkness in a mock battle with a vile ghost. He uttered a growl, bumped against a cupboard, tossed a pair of small shoes against the wall, then uttered an exaggerated cry of defeat.
Tiny knuckles rapped against the closet door.
"Did you get him Yarne?"
Yarne let out one more triumphant cry. He stood tall and exited the closet. Leia stared up at him with big eyes.
"I don't think he'll be bothering you anymore." He crouched down to her level and bopped her nose with his finger. Just like how his father used to do with him, "And if he does, I'll take care of him again."
"You will?" Leia asked with wide eyes.
"As long as I have my trusty backup nearby to help me, of course." Yarne smiled, "Now then, how about you get some sleep?"
Leia smiled and slowly nodded her head. Yarne followed her as she skipped over to her bed. She clambered up onto the mattress and burrowed her way beneath layers of blankets and soft sheets.
"Yarne?" She yawned, "Are you always going to protect me?"
Yarne gave Leia a small smile. He tucked her blankets around her little body and knelt down by her bedside.
"S-sure." He said with a small hint of hesitation, "But only if you do the same for me."
Leia yawned again, "It's a deal."
And with that, her eyes closed and she drifted off to sleep. Yarne smiled and rose back to his full height. He quietly tiptoed out of her room and closed her door shut behind him.
That was… strangely fun. It reminded him of his childhood. Growing up with his friends in Ylisstol. Making mischief and fighting in great, pretend battles. A heavy sigh left his lips. Those pretend battles were so much better than the real ones.
Someone cleared their throat nearby. Yarne yelped and jumped back. Quickly hiding behind another small table with another silver vase on it. Only this vase had purple flowers in it instead of a red one.
He peaked out from behind the table. Captain Rex leaned against the wall on the other side of the Princess's doorway. He wore simple clothing. Light and airy. Good for tonight. It did feel a little humid. Although, Yarne did not put it past the captain to have some sort of weapon or armor on his person beneath the light clothing.
"Very brave of you, Yarne of the Taguel." Rex said with a slightly amused smirk.
Yarne gulped then slowly emerged from behind the table.
"I uh… lost track of time." He admitted, "I-I apologize and I-I will g-g-"
Rex uttered a weary sigh, "Quit your stammering boy. I'm not mad at you this time." He folded his arms, "Hard to be mad after witnessing something that adorable."
Yarne blinked, "Y-you saw all of that?"
"I did." Rex nodded, "Seems like the Princess likes you. Trusts you even."
Yarne swallowed hard as Rex marched up to him. The Captain was shorter than the Taguel by about a full head. But he still dominated whatever room Yarne stood in. There was a confidence, a strength, in Rex's demeanor. In the way he carried himself and interacted with others. A no nonsense attitude that screamed soldier to Yarne. In a lot of ways, he reminded Yarne of Sir Frederick. Absurdly dedicated to his job. Placed duty ahead of his own personal needs. Extremely loyal to those he served. If he was not so unsettling, Yarne might have felt comfortable around him.
Rex narrowed his eyes at Yarne.
"Don't disappoint her." He warned.
A rough hand patted Yarne on the shoulder. Rex strode by him. As he walked by, Yarne caught sight of twin blaster pistols strapped to the Captain's belt. Old, beaten up weapons. They had seen many years of service. Doing what? Yarne did not know. The Captain did not talk much about his life. He seemed more focused on the present day and his duties as captain of the guard rather than reliving his past.
Rex turned a corner and disappeared from Yarne's sight. Yarne's shoulders sagged as all of the fear, anxiety, and tension in his body ebbed away. The Captain was not mad at him. He would not be beaten within an inch of his life tonight.
Although, Yarne did not want to take his chances. Without a second thought, he retreated towards his own personal quarters. Resigned to not emerging from them until daylight. There was no telling if Captain Rex would be as forgiving if he caught him wandering a second time.
Gentles waves lapped against the rocky, coral covered shores near Port Ferox. The salty sea spray had a calming effect on Marth's mind. A healing effect that soothed the many aches, bruises, and cuts on her body. The constant rhythm of the waves settled her mind. Gave her something to focus on. Something other than her failure in Plegia. Something other than the Deadlord's attempted assassination of Chrom.
She shook her head and uttered a heavy sigh. A soft breeze flowed in from the west, carrying salty air and a slight chill from sea. Marth readjusted her red cape. Using the majority of the fabric to cover what remained of her right arm. Her left hand reached up and felt the stump. If she had both arms still, would she have beaten the Deadlord? If she was whole, would she have been capable of saving Ricken?
Marth glanced away from the ocean. Turning her gaze towards Port Ferox's main gates in the distance. The city's residents were slowly filtering back into the city. A great caravan stretched out for miles to the east. Guarded by hundreds of Khan Flavia and Khan Basilio's soldiers. As the civilians returned, they came to the stark realization that their beloved trading hub had been turned into a war camp. Thousands of soldiers had poured in from across Regna Ferox. Ylissean banners hung alongside Feroxi banners within buildings claimed as army headquarters. Thousands of tents were pitched outside of the city walls, along the eastern road that led to Arena Ferox.
The camp was normally very loud. But today, it had been silent. The Ylisseans among the two nations mourned the loss of one of the Shepherds today. Marth hung her head as a larger wave hit the rocky shore, sending some sea spray into the wind.
Ricken's funeral had many attendees. Hundreds of mages were there from the Academy, both current and former students. Instructors too. Anna, Miriel, Vaike, and Laurent managed to arrive in time with the main Ylissean army as well as the Themis cavalry. They attended the funeral as well. Even baby Laurent managed to remain quiet for the solemn affair.
Marth pursed her lips. She only managed to stay there for so long before leaving. She mourned two people today. Two friends. Ricken died, and with him Nah died as well. Not the Nah she knew. But the one that was meant to be. Marth felt a tear drip down from her left eye.
Chrom said it wasn't her fault. But damn it, she felt like it was.
I should have been stronger. Smarter. I should have… should have made sure they all were prepared for something like a Deadlord. Marth swallowed hard, I'm no better than Ben in that regard, am I?
"Hey."
Marth sucked in a sharp breath as heavy footsteps clacked against the rocky shore. She glanced over her shoulder to see a young, red haired woman approaching her. Two, long pigtails swayed in the wind as she strode up to Marth. A perpetual frown rested on her face. Along with a look that bordered on the edge of both extremely annoyed and extremely bored. But both attitudes appeared toned down today.
Marth sighed, "What is it, Severa?"
Severa let out small, relieved breath, "Thank Naga you didn't call me Venator. Honestly, every time I hear someone call me that, I just want to stab them."
Marth snorted, "I'm glad you are behaving yourself."
Severa rolled her eyes as she drew up alongside Marth. The red head folded her arms, "Yeah well, we will see how long that lasts Luci." She huffed, "I can only handle so much crap at a time. And Owain likes to pour it on sometimes. Even if he is pretty much oblivious to it all."
Marth chuckled, "I see he hasn't changed a bit."
Severa arched an eyebrow, puzzled, "Why would he? It's only been a few weeks since we arrived."
Marth blinked, "A few weeks?"
"Yeah." Severa faced Marth. Another small wave hammered the rocky coast, sending more cold spray into the air. In the distance, both girls heard the sound of wagon wheels rolling along the cobblestone roads near the city, "Why does that surprise you?"
Marth shook her head. Severa's frown deepened.
"What went wrong?"
"Why do you always assume something went wrong?" Marth countered.
"Because I am a realist."
"You are a pessimist."
"Semantics." Severa shot back with a wave of her hand. She stared hard at Marth, "Huh… you look a few years older. And… and…" Severa's eyes widened as the wind caught Marth's cape and uncovered her right arm, "And your arm!"
Marth snatched her cape and tugged it over the long healed wound.
"Don't worry about it."
Severa uttered a flabbergasted sound, "D-don't worry about-" She grabbed Marth by the shirt and twirled the other girl around to face her, "Explain now!"
Marth uttered a weary sigh, "A lot has happened."
"Obviously." Severa said, "And I demand an explanation right now." She folded her arms tight over her chest and stood waiting. Marth did not say anything at first, "Any day, Lucina."
Marth bristled, "Keep your voice down."
Severa rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, whatever. You still haven't explained what the hell is going on. Or what went wrong."
"What went wrong?" Marth uttered a heavy, exasperated breath. She raked her hand through her hair. Her fingers massaged her scalp for a second as she tried to calm her nervous mind, "What didn't go wrong would be a better question." She glanced over at Severa, "For starters, something went awry with the ritual. I'm only just starting to figure out the aftereffects of whatever happened. But it appears that not only were we all separated from each other, some of us were sent to a different point in the timeline than we originally intended. You and Owain only arrived a couple weeks ago. I've been here for about three years."
Severa's eyes widened, "Three years?"
Marth nodded.
Severa let out a sound of disbelief, "Wow um… okay." She scratched an itch along her jaw, "That is… bad. That is very bad. Not only do we have no idea where the others are, we don't even know if they are arriving at the right point in time. Hell, for all we know, they arrived at the point when the Hero King was actually alive."
"It is a possibility." Marth admitted, "But… I do know where three others are. You and Owain should run into Laurent at some point today. He arrived about two years ago. Wound up in Ylisse's southeastern desert."
"Oh I bet he was thrilled about that." Severa said with a slight laugh.
"If Ben, Robin, and the others did not find him, he would have died of thirst." Marth breathed, "So fate was on our side there."
Severa nodded, "As weird as he is, it is a good thing Laurent made it in one piece. We need some brains on the team besides you and I."
Marth snorted, "Yeah, sure. My brains have done a wonderful job up to this point."
Severa furrowed her brow. She did not miss the heavy sarcasm in Marth's voice.
"Who else did you run into?" Severa asked as she decided to take a seat on the shore, "You said you've run into three, besides me and the idiot."
Marth shook her head, "Owain is not an idiot."
"Sure." Severa shrugged, "And cows don't moo. The sun doesn't rise in the east. And Rega Ferox isn't always frozen."
Marth chuckled a little bit. A dry, tired laugh. But one she needed.
"He's like Cynthia. Very… spacey."
"Birds of a feather…" Severa nodded, "Is Cynthia one of the three?"
Marth nodded, "She has been here about the same amount of time as me."
Severa slowly nodded her head, "Well?"
"What?"
"Where is her air-headedness?"
Marth hesitated, "Valm."
Severa let out a low groan before letting her head fall into her curled up legs, "You've gotta be kidding me."
Marth shook her head.
"How the hell did she end up there?"
"That is where the portal dropped her." Marth answered, "I ran into her while tracking down-"
Marth stopped short. Catching herself before she said his name. But not before Severa noticed. Severa eyed her old friend.
"Tracking down who?" Severa's eyes widened, "Wait a minute! That bastard is here too!"
"Sev-"
"Don't Sev me!" Severa growled as she shot up to her feet, "Kage is here isn't he?"
Marth did not meet Severa's furious gaze.
"And you didn't bury Falchion into his cold, black heart?"
"Severa!"
"Why not!?" Severa demanded.
"I-I-" Marth let her shoulders fall, "For one, I could not kill him in front of Princess Say'ri. Especially considering she knows everything thanks to him and Cynthia."
Severa threw her hands in the air, "Oh! Great! So not only is the bastard alive, but he has successfully unveiled who we are to one of the parents. Oh when I see him again, he is going to wish he was never born." Severa paused, "And Cynthia had a hand in that too? Gawds, why am I not surprised!? That air-headed twit is going to get someone killed." Severa took a deep breath. Doing her best to calm the rage that started building up in her, "Well? Why else did you not bury Kage in the ground?"
"He's stronger than me." Marth admitted. Severa gave her a doubtful look, "Sev, he has been here three years longer than me. He had three years alone with Maul." Marth saw a very uncomfortable look flash across her friend's face at the mention of Maul, "They did nothing but train for the day that they would face Master Kenobi. And during that time Kage…" Marth gulped, "He is beyond me now. I don't think I will ever catch up."
Severa slowly nodded her head, "Alright, I sort of get it, I guess. Didn't want to throw your life away in an unwinnable fight. Understandable I suppose." Severa frowned, "But… you mentioned Maul. Where is that monster?"
"Dead." Marth replied plainly.
Severa blinked in surprise, "Really? Did Old Ben finally do him in?"
Marth shook her head, "No… Kage killed him."
That surprised Severa. The fiery redhead stared stunned at Marth for a few seconds as she tried to wrap her mind around that revelation.
"Kage killed Maul?"
"He used a surprise attack, but yes. Kage slew Maul."
Severa audibly gulped, "Well crap, he really is strong now." Her stern gaze fell on Marth's hidden right arm once again, "I'm guessing one of those two did that to you? I doubt a Risen could have gotten the better of you."
"You'd be surprised. That Deadlord last night gave me quite the fight. If Dooku hadn't come along, I would be dead." Marth sighed, "And yes, Maul took my arm." Severa noticed a glaze come over Marth's eyes, "He-" Marth swallowed hard, "He nearly killed me."
Severa scowled, "Bastard is lucky he is already dead then. If I saw him, I'd enjoy the act of slashing his guts to bloody ribbons." Severa uttered a long sigh, "So, after Maul's death and the end of the Plegian war, then what?"
"Then… then not much. I went to Valm as I tracked down Kage. Ran into Ben, Robin, Gaius, Panne, Donnel, Anna, and Laurent over there as well. Met up with Cynthia and Say'ri. Cynthia decided to stay in Chon'sin with Say'ri and Kage."
"Hold up!" Severa cried, "Cynthia is with Kage? Are you out of your damn mind!?"
Marth frowned, "Shouldn't you be asking if Cynthia is out of her mind?"
"I already know she is insane." Severa drawled, "I didn't expect that trait to be in your blood too."
"It is not its-" Marth pinched the bridge of her nose. Doing her best to maintain her own composure, "I cannot live Cynthia's life for her. She is an adult. She made her decision. And she will have to live with the consequences. Kage won't do anything to her. He… he did everything in his power to protect her before I finally met up with her again."
"I doubt that."
Marth glared at Severa. The young warrior shrugged.
"What? Forgive me for seeing an evil bastard as an evil bastard." Severa huffed, "It is a good thing we are crossing the sea soon. Maybe we can rescue Cynthia from him and make him face justice for everything he has done."
"Our priority will be defeating Emperor Walhart and the Valm Empire." Marth reminded Severa, "We are members of the Shepherds. And we need to make sure this war is as short as possible. Because you and I both know what comes next."
Severa paled a little bit, "You um… don't need to remind me on that." She cleared her throat as she kicked at a pair of loose rocks near her feet. Another chilly wind whipped along the rocky shore. Severa shivered and shoved her hands into her pant's pockets, "Do the others know?"
Marth arched an eyebrow, "Know what?"
Severa bobbed her head side to side, "You know. Do they know? Or do any suspect that you are-"
Marth pursed her lips, "Two people have figured it out other than Say'ri. I'm sure you can guess who."
Severa thought for a moment, "Old Ben figured it out didn't he? And by extension, Mrs. Tharja too?"
Marth nodded.
"Have they kept it all a secret?"
"So far." Marth breathed, "But-"
"But? What but? There shouldn't be a but."
"I might have had a Cynthia moment near my father last night."
Severa stayed quiet for a moment. Her silence said more words to Marth than any yelling of hers could.
"Well," Severa said quietly. As if resigned to the mistake Marth committed, "You know what they say, a secret is only a secret if two people know. Any more than two and well, it's not a secret anymore." Severa let out a heavy sigh, "I guess after being around all of them for three years, it was bound to happen at some point. Quite frankly, I'm impressed you managed to keep the charade up for as long as you did."
Marth gave Severa surprised look, "You are being surprisingly reasonable about this."
"Well it's not like I can do anything about it. Gawds, you and Owain act like I'm just a bossy brat all the time. Well I'm not. I can be reasonable when I want to be."
"Lo! There are two fine roses with sharp thorns!" A young man's voice declared over the soft breeze.
Severa scowled, "Speaking of the other air-headed twit."
Marth shook her head and mouthed for Severa to behave. Severa rolled her eyes and said nothing in return as they both turned around to face the blonde boy approaching them. A large grin rested over his lips as he sauntered over with all the confidence he could muster.
"Marth!" He smiled wide before throwing his arms over her, "We never had a chance for a proper greeting!"
Marth let out a small laugh as she embraced the boy, "It is good to see you again, Cousin. I wish it was under better circumstances."
Owain patted Marth's back before ending the embrace. He turned to Severa, "And Venator! I wondered where you ran off to?"
Severa grit her teeth, "Call me that again. I dare you."
"Ha! Shallow threats mean nothing to me."
"Shallow threats!?" Severa roared. She rolled up one sleeve, "I'll show you a shallow threat. How about I shove my fist up your-"
"Severa, Owain, please." Marth pinched her nose, "Both of you just stop. Not today. Okay? There is too much going on today."
Owain gave Severa a lackadaisical smile, "I have done nothing to antagonize, but I shall be on my best behavior. My sword hand shall be still for this day."
Severa glanced at Marth, "Please?" She whispered.
"No."
"Just one good punch?" Severa pleaded, "Maybe I'll concuss him enough so that his brain actually becomes normal."
"No, Severa."
"Oh fine! Gawds! Kill my fun why don't you." Severa huffed and glared at Owain, "What do you want, Odin."
"Well, I came firstly to bid greetings to my lovely cousin." Owain beamed, "But also, I came to tell both of you that Sir Robin woke up."
"He what!?" Marth cried.
"Indeed." Owain placed his hands on his hips, "Sir Robin is awake and he-"
Marth shot past Owain, not bothering to let him finish his sentence. Owain blinked.
"Did she just choose to ignore me?"
"We all do it." Severa chuckled, "Although, she did take off towards town pretty quick." She blinked. A dark red blush ran over her cheeks, "You-you don't think her and Robin are-"
"Egads, Venator!" Severa grit her teeth and clenched her fists as Owain spoke, "How could you suggest something so scandalous?"
"Just a thought." Severa hissed through her clenched jaw. She watched Marth rush further into the distance, "Oh gawds!" She raced after Marth, "Luci wait! You can't be Morgan's mom!"
Owain's eyes widened and his pupils turned to pin pricks. His gaze followed both girl's as they charged towards Port Ferox.
"Gross."
Robin thought the worst was over. He finally woke up from whatever spell or illness that took him in Plegia. Finally had the strange visions and terrifying nightmares stop. When his eyes fluttered open and he saw the cold, wooden roof above him, he felt so relieved. He was back in Regna Ferox. Back where it was safe.
Then he saw Chrom, Ben, and Tharja. He saw their downcast faces mixed with relief for him. Heard Chrom's voice. But he barely registered what his friend told him.
Now that he was awake, he wished he never woke up.
This had to be another nightmare. Another fell vision given to him by whatever dark entity decided to attack his mind. He was tempted to pinch himself in order to check if he was actually awake. But the pit in his stomach, the knot lodged in his throat, told Robin he was awake. This was real.
Ricken was dead.
Robin's mouth felt dry. He cleared his throat. Voice coming out in a quiet, hoarse whisper.
"H-how?" He asked as a weight settled on his shoulders. The heaviest weight he ever felt in his life.
Chrom glanced over at Ben. The swordsman sat in a chair near the fireplace. Tharja sat beside him. Doing her best to stay warm. A cold draft seeped into the room from the closed window. The chill combated by the meager fire crackling in the fireplace.
"Risen." Chrom breathed.
Robin paled. One word that sent shock waves through the tactician. Risen attacked his friends. And he was not there to help them. Not there to formulate a strategy so that they would all come out alive and mostly unharmed. His trembling hands curled into fists in his lap. Balling up on top of the heavy fur blankets over his thin body.
"And a Deadlord." Ben breathed as he bowed his head, "Named Grievous."
Robin furrowed his brow, "Deadlord?" He gave Chrom a confused look, "What is a Deadlord?"
"According to Marth, an extremely powerful Risen." Chrom explained. The Prince glanced back at Ben, "And this one is uniquely strong."
"How so?" Robin asked, "What are we up against? Is it dead? Are we still in danger?"
"He is an enemy of mine. One that has been given life somehow." Ben said.
Robin blinked, "Wait… what?" He whipped his gaze over to Chrom, "An old enemy of Ben's? Another? And… and you're not at his throat right now?"
"Ben, opened up a little bit." Chrom breathed, "I think it is best if he explained everything to you himself. Only if you are ready at least."
Before Ben could say anything, the door to the room burst open, startling Chrom and Robin. Marth rushed inside and quickly shut the door behind her.
"I came as soon as I heard." Marth said before looking at Robin, "How are you feeling?"
Robin sighed, "Not good given what has happened."
Sympathy flashed over Marth's face. She glanced at Ben.
"You all told him then?"
Ben nodded, "He knows about Ricken." A long sigh left Ben's lips, "I was just about to explain… everything to Robin."
"And while you do that, Marth and I are going to step outside." Chrom said, "We have something else to discuss."
Robin saw Marth visibly pale. Could feel her nervousness radiate out of her with the force. While he was not very precise at sensing emotions, certainly not as precise as Ben or Dooku, he could feel the fear in Marth. Something else happened while he was unconscious. And no one was telling him about it. Robin frowned. He did not like being in the dark like this.
Chrom went to the door and opened it for Marth.
"After you."
Marth gulped, gave Chrom a sharp nod, then stepped outside.
"Master Kenobi." She breathed, "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." She said, "I'll help in any way I can."
"Just make sure Dooku doesn't come down that hall." Ben said with a small snort. He ran his hands over his tired eyes, "I really don't want to deal with him right now. He has been in my ear ever since last night."
Chrom and Marth both nodded.
"We can do that." Chrom said, "Come on Marth."
Marth sucked in a sharp breath and followed Chrom outside. Leaving Ben, Tharja, and Robin alone.
Robin sank into the pillows behind him.
"Oh gods what is going on?" He ran his hands over his face as exhaustion, grief, and fear hit him all at once, "Everything was going so well and then-"
"What can go wrong, will go wrong." Ben breathed as he rested his elbows on his legs, "We can never forget that rule."
Robin snorted, "This goes beyond any rule. Clearly multiple disasters happened while I was unconscious." He rubbed the back of his neck. Trying to fight off a sudden ache that formed near his shoulders, "So… what now?"
"Now," Ben rose to his feet and walked over to Robin. He carried his seat with him and placed it by Robin's side. Ben sank back into his chair, "Now we figure out what exactly happened to you."
Robin gulped, "What happened to me?" He took a breath, "I don't even know where to begin." He furrowed his brow as he slowly recalled everything that occurred in his mind. His gaze slowly turned to Ben, "I saw Qui Gon."
Ben sat completely still. Across the room, Tharja stopped rubbing her hands for warmth. She glanced over at Robin and Ben, completely stunned.
"He spoke to me." Robin breathed, "Told me not to give into the darkness. Told me to hold all of you close. To keep the bonds I have formed strong." Robin took a breath, "He also warned me to be prepared, because Sidious is coming."
Ben remained silent as Robin spoke. Whether that was out of respect or out of sheer shock, Robin could not tell. The Jedi reached up to his chin and slowly rubbed his fingers through his beard.
"Qui Gon spoke to you? And you physically saw him?" Ben asked.
Robin nodded, "I know what I saw. And that wasn't all." Robin took a deep breath. His heart raced. He needed to calm down. Speak clearly and concisely, "He spoke to me in some strange place. I can hardly describe it. Like a world between worlds. I don't know." Robin frowned as he struggled to think of how to describe the strange world with portals to different places in time and space, "But I saw things there. I saw Sidious's rise to power there. Everything from him being elected Chancellor of some Republic." Ben's eyes widened and his face paled a little bit, "To Dooku talking to you about some terrible mistake and Sidious's control over the Senate? And it was all just-" He ran his hands over his face, "I'm trying to figure it out, give me a moment."
Ben leaned back in his seat, "Take um- take your time."
Robin's mind raced as he tried to put all of the strange pieces together in his head. Qui Gon told him that he already knew what he had to do. That he already knew how to prepare for Sidious's arrival on his world.
His world.
A Republic with a massive Senate he knew nothing about. Dooku warning Ben about Sidious, but Ben refusing to believed his warnings. Ben being called Obi Wan by both Qui Gon and Dooku, even thought that was not Ben's name.
Or was it?
My world.
Robin gave Ben a wide eyed look.
"Obi Wan Kenobi." He breathed.
Ben swallowed hard as he sat still beneath Robin's stunned gaze.
"What are you?" Robin asked, "Where are you from?"
Ben shifted in his seat, "That is what Chrom was talking about when he said that I opened up a little to him." Ben took a deep breath, "He has not asked many questions but… he now knows the same truth I am about to tell you. My name is Obi Wan Kenobi. And I am not from this planet."
Robin fell back in his cot. His head bumped against the wall behind him. But he did not register any pain or ache. His mind continued to reel.
How did he not see it before? How did he not put the pieces together? That meant the Jedi order, a massive order of monks that no one had ever heard of before, were not of this world either. Sidious was some strange being beyond the stars. The same as Ben. The missing piece to the puzzle that was Ben Kenobi had just been revealed to him. And Robin struggled to comprehend it.
"So… how did you get here?" Robin asked, voice barely louder than a whisper.
Ben shrugged, "I don't know. One moment, I was in an escape pod, fleeing an imperial star destroyer. The next… I woke up in a field outside of Southtown."
Robin blinked, "Well um… the parallels there are rather startling."
Ben nodded in agreement.
"Except unlike me, you don't have amnesia." Robin stated as he pushed the furs from his body, finally ready to try and stand up. He could not sit still any longer. Not with everything that had happened racing through his mind.
"But I do have a sudden, strong case of newfound youth."
Robin froze as he swung his legs out of his cot, "Huh?"
"I was nearly forty years old when the Jedi Order was wiped out by Sidious and the Empire." Robin spun in his seat and gave Ben an incredulous look, "Don't ask me to explain," Ben continued, "I have absolutely no idea how I wound up nearly twenty years younger on this planet."
Robin's mouth hung open, "Do you- do you have any idea how insane this all sounds?"
"Why do you think I kept it all to myself." Ben snorted.
Robin bobbed his head, "I can see why." He rose from his seat. And for a second, he felt very unsteady on his feet. He swayed to the side. Tharja lunged from her seat near the fire and caught him before he collapsed to the floor, "Thanks." He muttered to the Dark Mage.
"No problem." Tharja said as she helped Robin regain his balance.
Robin blinked, "Wait, do you know about all of this or-"
"What do you think?" Tharja asked Robin, "I've been inside of Ben's head. I know more than anyone else here."
Tharja helped Robin sit back down on the edge of his cot. She felt Robin shiver. Tharja strode towards a coat rack near the door, grabbed his heavy coat, and tossed it over to the tactician.
"Thank you." Robin said again. He slipped the heavy, purple and gold coat over his shoulders. The warm feeling that flooded his body once that coat touched his skin allowed him to calm down significantly, "So, Ben Kenobi, Jedi Master from a different planet beyond the stars. Galactic fugitive as well." Robin glanced over his shoulder at Ben, "Are you going to tell everyone?"
Ben pursed his lips and folded his hands in his lap, "I'm not sure yet. I think right now, we need to put our full attention on the war with Valm. And also, trying to figure out what attacked your mind."
"Oh… I know the answer to that one." Robin said with a slight growl in his voice, "Validar."
Tharja's eyes widened. Then she closed them and let out a frustrated breath, "Of course. Why the hell did I not think of that!?"
"Because we did not think Validar was capable of using the Force." Ben lowered his gaze at Robin, "And I am still not convinced he can. Are you certain?"
Robin nodded, "I saw him before I blacked out. He was taunting me. And-" Robin froze, "He called me his son."
Tharja gave Robin a stunned look, "He's your father?"
"Now we can't be certain of that." Ben warned both of them, "If Validar really did attack your mind, then he was seeking to do as much damage as possible. An attack on the mind is one of the most devastating things that can happen to a force sensitive. Many falsehoods can be implanted in the mind. Those falsehood can be very powerful if you allow yourself to believe them without any proof."
Robin nodded his head, "I agree. But, I don't know. Why would he lie about something like that?"
Ben shrugged, "It is likely he knows that finding your past is important to you. What better way to throw you off balance than to offer you what you think is a critical piece of your past."
"That is what I would do." Tharja muttered, "Of course, I am nowhere near powerful enough to pull off a spell like that from a large distance." She snorted, "I had no idea Validar was that strong."
"I think he may have had help." Robin continued, "But I'm not very sure. I heard two more voices after he spoke. But I could not place them."
Ben nodded, "Well, regardless of what happened, we need to intensify your training as soon as possible. Your mental defenses need to be strengthened significantly so that something like this does not happen again." Ben uttered a reluctant sigh, "I'll need to enlist Dooku's services for that. If there is anyone capable of the same dark attack, it would be him."
Robin gulped. But he agreed. His mental defenses needed work. He never wanted to be subjected to such an assault ever again. He could still feel the pain in his mind from the terrifying event. But that pain did not compare to the ache in his heart from knowing that he was not there to help his friends when they needed him most.
"Yeah, I'll gladly take whatever help I can get." Robin admitted, "Dooku's included." He paused, "Wait a minute, is Dooku-"
"Dooku is also an alien, yes." Ben said.
Robin threw his hands in the air, "Seriously, how did I not notice any of this? I thought I was supposed to be smart."
"To be fair, Ben and Dooku fooled everyone for three years." Tharja pointed out.
"Everyone but you." Robin countered.
"Only because I literally broke into Ben's mind." Tharja cringed, "With consent of course."
"I believe the first time you did it in that tavern, it was not with my consent." Ben smirked at her.
"Well you were technically my enemy at that point in time, Obi the Skywalker." Tharja retorted with a wry smirk. She strode over to the window and peered out at the choppy harbor.
"When do we start?" Robin asked as he reached for his boots and slipped them onto his feet.
"As soon as possible would be wise." Ben rose from his seat, "I'll fetch Dooku and-"
"It might have to wait." Tharja cut him off.
Both Ben and Robin gave her a puzzled look. Tharja nodded at the harbor outside.
"The fleet has arrived. I'm sure Khan Basilio and Khan Flavia will want to start planning our counterattack immediately."
Robin felt a smile form on his face, "Tactics. Good. Something to take my mind off of everything." He rolled his shoulders as he stood up, "Shall we?"
Robin strode over to the door. His first few steps were a little unsteady. But he managed to muscle his way out of the space and into the corridor. Ben and Tharja followed him. As they walked, Robin's mind continued to wander to the nightmares and visions he had.
He did not tell Ben everything. Mostly because he still could not understand everything that he saw. But he did remember something Validar told him. Something that made his hair stand on end every time it ran through his mind.
"You are my flesh… but of sacred blood."
Some birds chirped in the palace courtyard. A few guards milled near the main entryway. The gate thrown open, which allowed any captains or commanders in the Feroxi or Ylissean military to easily reach Chrom, Basilio, and Flavia. But for now, the rocky space was empty. And Marth said a silent prayer of thanks to Naga.
Still, she decided that both her and Chrom would have more privacy if they spoke on the walls. Near one of the towers. As far away as possible from the barracks the Shepherds were staying.
So she led him to the furthest tower away. Once near the latched door that led inside, Marth sighed and shook her head. She could already feel the weight of Chrom's gaze on her. There was about to be so many questions she had to answer. And she had no idea how to even start answering them. Now that she was in this position, she understood Ben's rationale for remaining silent regarding his own life and past. It all seemed so impossible to explain without sounding insane.
But perhaps I don't need to explain it?
"Well," Chrom glanced around as a cold wind swept in from the nearby harbor. The din of dockworkers frantically prepping for the imminent arrival of the Plegian fleet filled the air, "This seems as good as spot as any for a private talk."
"That's the point." Marth muttered.
Naga, she wished she still hand both her hands. It would make nervously wringing her hands so much easier. Marth swallowed hard.
"I don't even know where to start." She breathed.
Chrom gave her a sympathetic look. He leaned against the wall, eyes staring out at the sea. A few rays of sunlight peeked out from the bleak clouds above them. Letting a few waves shimmer in the daylight.
"The beginning." Chrom replied, "Let's start there."
Marth exhaled. Her breath coming out in a quiet shudder. Gods, she felt so anxious. One of the most explicit rules she put in place for herself and her friends was to avoid a scenario like this. One conversation could endanger everyone.
Then again, everyone was already in danger. Regardless of if she revealed her secrets or not. For Naga's sake, Nah could already be… gone. Unless something happened between Ricken and Nowi already. Which would be inconsistent with how she knew events would take place. But it was likely the youngest member of her friends was long gone. Not even a thought in her mother's mind anymore. Marth felt her stomach lurch at that thought.
She could not protect everyone. Not without help. The Deadlords were growing aggressive. The bolder they became, the more powerful Grima became. That became evident to her last night when one attempted to assassinate Chrom. When one nearly killed her. How could she save the future if she could not protect her friends, herself, or even her own father. She couldn't protect them on her own.
No, no more doubts. Grima grew stronger by the day. She could feel that in her heart. The longer she delayed the truth, the less time they would have to prepare for the fateful day of reckoning.
"Well," Marth nodded, "I suppose I need to tell you who I am first. Or rather, show you."
Chrom gave her a puzzled look. Marth gulped. There had always been two masks. One physical. One that hid her femininity during the early days of her mission. The mask of Marth that only Ben Kenobi ever saw through.
Then there was the mask in the force. The one she had to keep up at all times. Especially around the growing number of force sensitives within the Shepherds. Ben found out about that mask only after she slipped up and revealed her true identity to him. She was still shocked Dooku and Robin had not discovered it yet. And if they had, they did not say anything. Robin was the kind of person to allow someone their personal space and secrets as long as it was not a danger. So him not bringing it up would make sense.
Dooku on the other hand… would have at least confronted her in private. In hindsight, Marth felt a small swell of pride build up in her. He did not know. No one was able to pierce that mask. Thank Naga for that.
But now it was time for that mask to fall away.
Marth exhaled. The Force ebbed around her. The iris in her left eye slowly shifted. The pupil shrank as a faint, white outline emerged from the force.
Chrom furrowed his brow, perplexed at first as Marth remained silent. Then she raised her gaze and stared him in the eye. The wind shifted some of her hair from her face. And inside of her left eye, Chrom saw the Brand of the Exalt.
The wind escaped his lungs. Chrom blinked and reached up to his own eyes. He rubbed at them. Thinking he was hallucinating. He opened his eyes again. Marth's left eye did not change. The brand remained. Only even clearer now than before.
"That's…" Chrom's mind raced. The Brand of the Exalt only existed within the sacred line of the Exalt. The sacred blood blessed by Naga herself. The Ylissean royal family were the only ones with that blood. He bore his mark upon his right shoulder. Proudly displayed it on the battlefield.
He could not mistake that mark. Lissa did not bear one. But he knew she was his sister. Emmeryn had her mark on her forehead. His late father's mark rested on his left shoulder.
Was there a missing branch to the royal line? No, that could not be it. As far as Chrom knew, only one member of the Exalted bloodline possessed the brand inside of their eye.
His heart jumped. Only one of his family held the brand inside of their left eye.
"Lucina?" He said, voice barely louder than a whisper.
She swallowed hard when he spoke her name. Her chin started to tremble. Her chest rose and fell in heavy breaths as she struggled to maintain her composure.
Chrom glanced to her hip, where the Parallel Falchion rested broken in its scabbard. It made sense to him now. Only one Falchion existed. Only one had been forged by Naga. There could only be one. His Falchion was the same shattered blade in Marth's scabbard. Another piece of evidence that screamed a confusing truth to him.
And yet, he did not question it. How could he? He knew in his heart that this brave young woman standing in front of him was his daughter. He did not know how or why she was here. And he did not care.
A tear dripped down her cheek as they both remained silent. Chrom hesitated, then reached out with a gentle hand. His thumb brushed the tears from her cheeks.
"You deserve better from me than one sword and a world of troubles." He let his hand fall back to his side even as more tears brimmed in her eyes, "I'm so sorry."
Her composure broke. With a loud cry, she threw her arms around him. Chrom froze for a moment as she sobbed into his shoulder. Then he wrapped his arms around her. One hand gently rubbed her back as she cried.
In the distance, Chrom heard horns. The warships had arrived. The Khans and Robin would want to start preparations for their counter attack against Valm immediately.
They can wait.
Marth continued to shudder in his embrace. Years of grief, regret, and sorrow rushed out of her with every second. Chrom was content to hold her. To let her cry. He would never turn down a chance to embrace her.
He placed a soft kiss on top of her head.
"You are not alone anymore."
And chapter! The big reveals just keep coming! Robin finally learns that Ben is not from this planet. I kinda wanted him to figure it out on his own, or at least put the pieces together before Ben confirming it. Not sure how I did on that, but oh well. Then we get Lucina finally getting rid of her diguise. That was always one of the best moments in Awakening for me. Definitely one of the most emotional. With nearly all of the secrets unvieled, our heroes can now focus on the threats before them.
And, we got to check in on Yarne and meet a young Princess Leia for the first time! That was a fun scene to write. Although, I wonder… what ghost did Leia see? And was it a ghost, a dream, or something else. Perhaps a vision? Hm?
Anyways, let me know what you all think of this chapter! As always, I hope you all enjoyed! Have a nice day!