Even though I've never finished my first play-through of Awakening, I caved and started up a default m!Robin run on another save file and am currently in the process of getting all my units stronk and supported. I am happy to say that at least three of my ships (Frederick/Miriel, Sully/Kellam, and Robin/Sumia) are absolute dream teams on the field. Maribelle/Donnel still need work because Donnel is currently pathetic, and same thing with Virion/Panne. Come on, men, pull your weight please! Meanwhile, I am aggressively keeping Chrom away from all women who aren't his sister in order to save him up for Olivia, and Frederick and Miriel got married! (While I am a hardcore die-on-this-hill Fremmeryn shipper, Frederick/Miriel is a wonderful alternative and their supports are just adorable!)

(Also, that Dragalia Chrom I mentioned earlier? I had sooooo many summon tickets and wyrmite saved up in case he was a pain to summon, and... the first tenfold I pull, he's the very first one to come home. Yay? At least that was painless! We stan one idiot blueberry prince.)

"I'm not THAT bad, Miss Vio... am I?"

You're a big dork, sweetie, but we love you anyway because of it. It's not a bad thing.

"Oh. Okay, then. Can I play Dra—Dra—Dra-ga-li-a, please?"

Sure, go ahead. Here's my phone, just give it back when you're done.

Don't own, but if I did, I'd make sure Grima got into Dragalia Lost as an Adventurer/Dragon. I mean, they had Chrom, I'm surprised they didn't put Grima in. Again, he could totally be a Mym case!

"Robin, please stop hovering."

"Aww, come on, your dad told me to keep an eye on you!"

"Yes, I get that, but do you have to be so suffocating about it?"

"… Oops. Sorry."

Chrom chuckled at his best friend's antics. "I know you mean well, there's just other ways to do well."

"Oh, well, when you put it like that…"

The two companions walked side by side in the column, enjoying the warmth of their cloaks against the frosty Feroxi weather. Raimi was currently escorting the Shepherds to Arena Ferox, where they would meet with Khan Flavia about the threat. In front of them, Sumia and Olivia chatted on about this or that; behind them, Kellam was engaged in a conversation with Lon'qu. Up ahead, Frederick and Raimi kept a sharp eye out for threats.

"Ahhh, is good to be back in land of countrymen after much time!" Gregor came up behind the two mages and grabbed them in a bear hug. "Frosty air is—how do you say—bracing! Is making Gregor feel alive!"

Robin eyed the merc with a raised eyebrow. "You're from Ferox, aren't you, Gregor."

"Is land of Gregor's birth! Robin is not knowing this?" The redhead placed his hand on his heart. "Gregor is hurt, friend! After being in very many battles, Robin is not knowing Gregor like back of hand?"

Chrom covered his mouth to stifle a snort. Depends on which hand you're talking about, he very deliberately did not say. What he did say was, "To be fair, Gregor, the rest of us have been pretty busy either training, running the halidom, or raising a family. Although, we do apologize for not interacting with you more." He shook his head. "You're our friend, and friends check up on each other more often."

"Gregor is heartened by kind words! But, Gregor is thinking Little Chrom not worry so much. Gregor has been keeping with driving of brigands from villages! Gregor not need raising of family for keeping occupied."

The bluenette blinked, nonplussed. "Okay, then, if you say so. Still, I can't help but feel bit like I neglected you, at least on my end."

"Gregor not think Little Chrom needing forgiveness, but, Gregor giving it so Little Chrom will be feeling better."

"Ahaha, okay, thank you, Gregor."

Needless to say, the young mage felt great relief when the Shepherds reached Arena Ferox. The group was ushered in, and Chrom, Robin, Lissa, and Frederick broke off to meet with the Khan. Flavia greeted them when they entered the throne room and Basilio, who was there as well, ushered a familiar steel-haired man in with a rose-haired woman following him.

"Virion! Flavia says you know about what's going on?" The bluenette tapped his lips. "Is it because you have some standing there?"

The archer chuckled. "But of course, my dear prince! Long have I walked among you as the 'archest of archers,' but in truth, I am more than that! Prepare for my great unmasking—"

"Oh! You're the duke of Rosanne, aren't you?" Robin cut in.

Virion sputtered a bit, caught off-guard. "Robin! You stole my moment! No sense of dramatics! Erm, but how did you figure it out? Was I too obvious?" he wondered.

"Nah, you can thank Raven for tipping me off. Apparently he got intelligence about you while the former duke was ruling during his stay in Valm all those years ago."

"… I see. Uncanny dragon," the duke muttered under his breath.

Meanwhile the woman gave a kind smile to the younger mage. "I see you are already acquainted with milord Duke Albrecht Virion. I am his faithful retainer, Cherche L'Aile." She curtsied. "It is an honor to finally meet you, your Highnesses. We've heard much about you back home."

"The pleasure's ours!" Lissa piped up. "It's good to see Virion has somebody else to watch his back!" She faltered. "Erh, do you mind speaking on his behalf? I think that might speed things along."

"I agree. Very well, then." Cherche outlined the situation with Virion making helpful comments. Apparently someone by the name of Walhart the Conqueror had expanded the tiny nation of Valm into an empire stretching all over the continent of Valm, and Virion had come to get help on behalf of his people. Cherche had stayed behind to keep an eye on the situation until it was no longer safe for her to remain as well. According to the rosette, Walhart had set his sights on Archanea next, and his fleet would arrive in a matter of days.

"We've got to get all of Ferox's ports bolstered in the meantime," Robin mused. "Raven gave me a bunch of info since he won't be coming with us, and he pointed out that the Valmese cavalry is one of the finest in the world."

"So then we get fighters who are used to fighting mounted troops," Basilio mused.

Flavia frowned. "Is Robin gonna be our only tactician this time around? What's your old man doing, Chrom?"

"Babysitting. And doing business in Plegia," the bluenette explained. "If we do need his help, my pact-bond with him is much stronger, so I can contact him and he'll be at our side in a heartbeat. Hopefully."

The blonde didn't look too convinced, but she let it go. The group discussed traveling to Port Ferox to bunker down and beef up the harbor's defenses, and then they retired for the night, ready to get a head start the next morning on their mission. As Chrom lay in bed with Olivia, he couldn't help but wonder just where this new confrontation would take them.

Port Ferox was a bustling harbor town on the west coast of Ferox, known for its fur and lumber exports as well as its thriving business environment. It was also, as the Shepherds found when they arrived, under attack, the large warship flying Valmese colors a dead giveaway. Chrom frowned at the sight of the blustering paladin claiming the continent for Walhart and demanding both the citizens' fealty and the Fire Emblem. Yeah, right, like I'd surrender that to you after my sister entrusted it to me. Though he'd left the powerful shield back at the castle upon his father's request, he still felt some measure of responsibility over the artifact. One of the townspeople had come aboard the ship and, though the bluenette was too far away to hear what was going on, seemed to challenge the paladin, or at least beg for mercy. Then the Valmese man swung his lance and stabbed the Feroxi through the heart! Chrom gasped. "No!"

Robin's face looked grim as he prepared Umbra, and Lissa called out, "These guys aren't gonna listen to reason! Everyone, prepare to engage in combat!"

"Lissa, are you certain?" Frederick asked. "Another war—"

"Will leave us devastated if we don't cut the Valmese off first," the tactician interrupted. "Frederick, it's our duty to protect our people and our allies. Do you really want to see Emmeryn and Peter suffer under the weight of an oppressive reign?"

"… Your words are blunt, but true," the king-consort admitted. "Very well, then, let us deal with these invaders with all haste!"

"Let me come as well!"

A flap of wings overhead revealed Cherche on top of a black wyvern, and Chrom caught the platinum-head grinning out of the corner of his eye. "This might not be my land, but it is my cause, and I wish to fight for it! Besides," she patted the scaly mount, "my dear Minerva is dying for a bite of the action as well!"

Robin smirked. "All right, then, sure thing! Everyone, into your usual pairs! Lon'qu, you're with Cherche this time around!" The myrmidon paled, but acquiesced and got on behind the Rosannean. "Stay sharp, keep each other's back covered, and above all, be careful! These guys are tough, and I'm not gonna have anyone die on me today!"

The Shepherds took off and stormed down the streets. Chrom swung up behind Olivia on her pegasus, Avalon, and the husband-and-wife team took to the skies, blasting spells left and right. The pinkette princess clutched her Thunder tome and sent a chain of lightning through an alley crowded with cavaliers; the bluenette followed up with a concentrated Umbra, knocking the Valmese soldiers flat. Over in the next alley, the mage-healer spotted a very vibrant flash of red. Huh? As he peered closer, the red resolved itself into red hair, tied up in a ponytail, dashing down the cobblestone. "Olivia, over here!"

"Right!"

The princess steered Avalon towards the alley, and Chrom made out one enemy cavalier, two swordsmen, and a mage chasing down an intimately familiar redhead. "Anna?! What are you doing here?!"

"Chrom, is that you?!" The woman ducked a fireball from the mage and kept running. "I could use a little help right about now!"

"Got it! Olivia?"

"Ready!" Together the two unleashed a volley on the four Valmese, leaving the alley smoking and the soldiers down. Anna whirled around and batted another cavalier's axe away, grabbing onto the reigns and taking a stab at her opponent. The man bashed his axe into her side, and she went flying, smacking into a nearby building and falling to the ground in a heap. Olivia nailed the cavalier with another Thunder bolt as Chrom leapt off and ran for the downed redhead. Gathering healing energy into his hands, he placed them on her shoulders and directed it to spread all throughout her body. In a minute or two, she was conscious and uninjured. The woman stared at him, first his hands, then his face, shock melting into awe and recognition.

"Dang, did you get like a power-up or something while I was trekking around doing business?" she murmured. "Because no mage I've ever come across can do that."

The bluenette laughed. "Long story short, two blood pacts and super-wide mana channels."

"That sounds like quite the story. Do you mind sharing the rest when we're done here?"

"Ooh, I don't know, do you want to join the Shepherds first?"

She smirked. "Hmm, depends. How well do they pay?"

"Oh, I was thinking more along the lines of you becoming our one-and-only supplier," the prince wheedled. "I give you a steady job and my story, you fight on our behalf alongside the rest of us. How does that sound?"

"Oh-hoh-hoh! You drive a hard bargain, mister." She put out her hand, and he shook it. "Deal. Is there anybody else here I should recognize?"

He grinned. "Do the names Kell and Tia mean anything still?"

"Chrom, I'm hurt!" Anna put her hand to her chest, a look of fake shock plastered on her face. "How should I forget the companions I supplied back in the day?!"

Chrom laughed. "I take that to mean 'yes, they still do.'" He got up and pulled her up by the hand. "Our tactician, Robin, will know where to implement you best, though he'll probably have you pair up with Frederick, who is on his own at the moment." The bluenette pointed out the brown-haired knight smashing through a contingent over in the town square.

The merchant whistled. "Wow, what a hunk! Is he available?" she asked, eyes glittering.

"Nope, sorry, he's happily married to my sister."

"… Sister?!"

"Like I said, long story."

She narrowed his eyes at him. "This better be a darn good story or you're fired," she remarked, pointing at him before rushing off to join the knight.

Olivia laughed as she lowered Avalon enough for the bluenette to clamber back on. "She sure seems like a character. You positive that was the one you grew up with?"

"She wouldn't have addressed me by name otherwise," he pointed out, twisting around to fire at a nearby lancer, "and besides, she recognized the nicknames Kellam and Cordelia used back when we were all growing up together."

"So… what, is she a Shepherd now?" the pinkette asked, dodging them around a sniper. Chrom took him out with a carefully timed shot.

"Yeah, I hired her to be our supplier."

"Oh, thank gods!" she breathed. "Finally we have quality equipment at our disposal!"

He rolled his eyes. "It wasn't that bad before."

"May I remind you that Frederick keeps going through lances like toothpicks and Miriel keeps hoarding way too many tomes?"

"… Touché."

Up ahead, the boy spotted Robin and Sumia charging at the paladin on the warship. The paladin ducked, but the grandmaster tossed a ball of Thoron underhand and electrocuted the man's mount, sending it toppling over onto the deck. When the paladin made to get up, Sumia skewered him through the throat with a well-aimed throw of her javelin. The Valmese man fell, gurgling his last breath.

Chrom looked out over the town, heart plummeting at the sight of bodies strewn all over the streets, cracks in the walls of many buildings, and little fires burning here and there.

How much worse will it be when the real invasion force arrives?

When Robin suggested going to Plegia for help, Lissa had immediately refused, then relented when the others showed there was no other way out. By now, everyone had set up camp and were cleaning up around the port town. Chrom could only hope that the messenger to the desert country's new king would return swiftly. Hmm, speaking of the new king… I wonder who took Mustafa's place? Last I heard from Father, he'd fallen ill and couldn't continue to rule. Does that mean Aversa is in charge? We never saw her during the battle back at the Border Wastes, so does that mean she escaped?

He closed his eyes, peeling back his mental veil and tapping on his father's. Soon, he felt the dragon respond. "Chrom? Something wrong?"

Oh, um, not exactly wrong, per se, just… well, the Valmese were pretty difficult to repel, and we're going to try catching the invasion force at sea. But we need ships and Plegia has them, and we have to negotiate with the new king.

"Yeah, he suspected as much. We've got a whole armada ready to go, in fact."

Oh. Wow, that was fast.

"I've been preparing for Valm to make their move for a while now. Helps to have a tactical advantage."

I see. Um… Dad, who is the new king of Plegia?

Dad gave a big wince. "You're… you're not going to like who it is, if you were there to stop Emmeryn's assassination. But I kind of had no better choice! Mustafa's out, and Aversa was frankly pathetic and directionless."

Then who...?

The older man sighed, as if preparing himself for the inevitable. "Don't be mad… it's Validar."

…

… What?!

Chrom blinked in shock and no small amount of horror. You got him on the throne—Dad, he tried to kill Emm!

"I know! I know! And trust me, I'd rather not have him in the position, but he's our best bet! Nobody else was stepping up!"

Dad, it's still a bad idea!

"Look, I put restrictions on him, okay? I swear to you, he will not hurt you. Besides, I'll be at the meet-up so he can't do anything foolish.

… Oh. Okay…? In what capacity?

"I took over the Grimleal. I'm their new Hierophant."

… I don't know whether to be impressed or concerned.

"Oh, come on, I've been cleaning it up from the inside! Do you have any idea how much heresy they put forth that I don't agree with? That Grima himself wouldn't agree with? It's insane!"

The bluenette crossed his arms and pinched the bridge of his nose. Dad, I really, really hope for all our sakes that you know what you're doing.

"Trust me. I do. I've got a plan, okay? Nobody's going to die." He paused, then added, "Except for Walhart."

That's fair. Okay. I trust you. Just be careful, okay?

The dragon snorted. "I should be saying that to you, little blueberry."

Heh. Thanks, Dad.

"Oh, and if you absolutely have to go to Valm, please steer clear of a guy by the name of Excellus. He's Grimleal but disgusting, and part of the reason I wanted you to keep your Brand concealed when we were there was so he wouldn't get wind of you. Stay away from him, got it?"

Can't make any promises, but I'll do my best.

"That's good enough for me." The dragon withdrew with a gentle mental pat to the head, and Chrom closed the veil around his mind, alone in his head once more.

"CHRO—"

"Ow! Robin! What in Naga's name—"

"You weren't responding," the tactician explained. "You just kinda sat there zoning out."

"Oh. Oops. I was contacting my dad." Chrom rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. The platinum-haired mage's eyed widened.

"You can do that with your pact-bond?! That's so cool!" He rubbed his hands together. "Think of all the ways you two could be even deadlier on the battlefield!"

Basilio and Flavia shared a look before directing their gazes towards the bluenette. "You can communicate with him using your blood pact?" the brown-skinned man asked. "What exactly did he say?"

"Basically that Plegia is willing to lend us their armada. And that… Validar is the new king."

"What?!" Robin squawked. "But we killed him! He should be dead!"

Chrom furrowed his brow. "Maybe he teleported—"

"No, Chrom. No one could've escaped that blast, you saw what happened! He. Should. Be. Dead. And why him?! He tried to kill your sister!"

"I know, I know! He didn't have any other option!" The bluenette sighed. "I guess it's because he'll be easier to control? I mean, he won't be able to do anything stupid thanks to Dad, so… I guess we have that to be grateful for."

Flavia shook her head. "I've got no idea what your dad's been up to, kiddo, but he's saved our lives before, so I trust him. Just hope he knows what he's doing," she muttered.

"You wouldn't be the first," Chrom murmured.

The castle on Carrion Isle carried a gloomy vibe with the darkened halls lit by only a few sconces, the blood-red carpet laid out on the floor, and the chill desert air seeping in with the occasional draft. Chrom shivered and flipped up the collar on his enchanted coat, relaxing with the warmth the bespelled cloth put out. Next to him, Robin shifted his feet, and in front of them, Frederick stood, his wary eyes darting about. Down the hall sauntered a figure towards them, torchlight glinting off their silvery hair. The woman stopped before them and bowed, and the bluenette recognized her as Aversa.

"Greetings, King Frederick." Her eyes roved over the little group and widened when they landed on the mage-healer. "And Prince Chrom. What a… pleasant surprise." She recovered her composure with a small, fake smile. "Plegia welcomes you here."

"Lady Aversa." Frederick gave her a polite nod. "Are we to presume you serve the new king, Validar?"

"I do indeed."

"I see. And you are, as I understand it, both Grimleal?" There was a note of curiosity in the king-consort's tone. "There are a couple of our Shepherds who practice such a faith—or at least, have practiced," he amended. "As such, I would wish to enter these talks with understanding and fairness."

The advisor grinned. "My, my. How considerate of you. Perhaps my liege will be more susceptible to giving what you need, in that case. Oh, here he is now."

As the Plegian king strode towards them, Chrom made out the man's familiar sharp features and bit his lip. Though the failed assassination had occurred over two years ago, he hadn't forgotten the face of his older sister's would-be murderer. Validar reached them and gave a nod to them. "It is an honor to finally meet with you, sires. I am Validar, the current king-regnant of Plegia."

Frederick's eyes narrowed, but he kept his face smooth. "The pleasure is ours, your Highness. Pray tell, have we met before? I seem to recall your face."

… Wait, had he not alerted Frederick? Oh dear, that was a huge oversight on his part. The bluenette caught his brother-in-law's eye and blinked once. Later. The knight gave no indication that he'd seen the prince's signal, but he did relax a bit. Good, he's gotten the message. Validar apparently didn't remember the assassination, but either his memory was wiped a bit, which seemed more likely, or he was pretending to have forgotten, which, while plausible, was probably less likely. Chrom didn't put it past his father to have meddled with the man's mind; perhaps that was what was keeping him on the dragon's leash.

"… And you must be Prince Robin," the Plegian king addressed the tactician. "The world is in awe of Ylisse's tactician grandmaster!" He leaned forward. "Truly, the wisdom in your eyes is astonishing for one so young!"

Robin waved it off. "You flatter me, sire, I'm just here to make sure these two don't get killed via recklessness or stupidity."

Validar laughed. "Curious, indeed. And am I to assume this is Prince Chrom?" His aquiline gaze locked on to the bluenette, which the youth returned with full force. "Goodness, when we had heard that Ylisse had regained her lost prince, it was a joyous occasion indeed! I apologize for not congratulating you directly, young sire. Although, rumors say you were trained by a Plegian mage and are familiar with our dark arts. Is that so?"

The mage-healer gave him a shy smile. "It is. My foster father raised me to wield dark magic since I was very little."

"Well, now! But that must be incredibly difficult doing so in a land where dark magic is looked down upon."

"Oh, no, not at all!" Chrom gave a sheepish laugh. "Everyone treats me about the same. Your concern is heartening, though, thank you."

The king nodded, a smirk on his lips. "You are welcome, young sire. Now, shall we begin?"

"Plegia is unable to offer any troops at this time," Aversa spoke up, "but we do have eight hundred warships and two hundred transports to provide to you. We would also be honored if you would allow us to fully fund the campaign against Valm."

Robin blinked. "Wow. That… are you sure? It's not going to cause too much strain on the economy if you do?"

Validar shook his head, chuckling. "No, of course not, though your concern is appreciated. I'm afraid our army is still in tatters after the last war, otherwise I would provide troops as well."

"It's all right," the bluenette assuaged. "I'm not too keen on asking your people to fight another war so soon anyway." He glanced at the others. "Is there anything else to add?"

"That is all. I trust our provision will suffice as a sign of our commitment to the war efforts?"

Frederick nodded. "It is indeed, more than enough. We thank you for your generosity, King Validar. Will there be anything else, or should we get on our way? Our forces are waiting for us at Port Ferox."

"Leaving so soon?" Aversa asked. "But there is one more introduction I wanted to make."

"And who might that be, milady?"

"Our new hierophant, the highest rank in the Grimleal and the leader of our order." The dark flier smirked as a third figure came down the hall and joined them. Chrom stared at the sight of the old familiar coat, free of the illusion it had worn for fifteen years, then up into his favorite pair of red eyes, hidden by the shadow cast by the hood. He broke out into a grin.

"Hi, Dad!"

"Dad?!" the Plegians squawked. The older albino pouted and pulled his hood off, revealing his usual messy head of white hair.

"Aww, come on, I had this grand dramatic entrance all figured out! I was gonna come up and be all 'you thought it was someone else, but it was me, Raven!' and you had to go and spoil it."

The bluenette mage laughed. "You did tell me you made hierophant."

"… Fair enough, little blueberry."

Robin chuckled, fighting back howls of laughter at the expressions on the king's and advisor's faces. Validar looked as if he was about to have a stroke, and Aversa appeared as if her mind was attempting and failing to reboot. Dad glanced at them and then turned his face away, but Chrom caught him biting his lip and trying to suppress a huge, smarmy grin. Frederick wore his most innocent "why, whatever do you mean, of course I'm not involved" expression.

"Do… Do you mean to say… that our hierophant… was the one to teach you?" Validar asked in a weak voice.

"Indeed, we are grateful to Raven for protecting and raising our prince during the time of his disappearance," the knight answered. "It was he who mentored Chrom in the ways of magic and taught him everything he knows. He is an ally, and a good friend."

"… I see you are already acquainted with each other," Aversa murmured faintly. "But, um… we were under the impression that his name was Robin, not Raven."

The brown-eyed grandmaster laughed. "Oh, yeah, classic mistake. People get us switched up all the time. Don't worry, you're not the first!"

Validar's left eye twitched, and he gaped like a fish.

"If there is nothing else we need to attend to, we will be on our way. Again, a pleasure meeting you, sire." Frederick bowed, and the two mages followed suit. Dad, the only one in a working state of mind, bowed back.

"Be careful on your way back, the highroads can get a bit nasty this time of year!" the dragon called out to them as they left.

"Sure thing, Dad! See you later!"

Once they got out of the castle, Robin doubled over, cackling like crazy. "Did—hahaha—did you see—haha—th-their faces! Hahahahaha! S-So—hahaha—darned—ha—priceless! Hahaha!"

Chrom let his own giggles spill out. "What were they trying to do anyway, a power play or something? Unsettle us?"

Frederick's lips twitched. "I believe they were attempting to unbalance us by introducing Raven, who as we know is the near-perfect image of Robin, but I do not think they took into account the fact that Raven is already one of us." A small smirk manifested on the king-consort's face. "It appears we turned the tables on them and they came away the ones unbalanced."

"Still—hahaha—'Hi, Dad?'" The older mage cackled again. "Way to go, Chrom, way to go."

The bluenette grinned. "You're welcome. I had to."

"I applaud you." The tactician stood up straight. "Ah, gods, I haven't laughed that hard in a while. Okay, let's get back to camp. The sooner we get out of here, the better."

"Agreed."

"Right behind you."

"Can't sleep. Ugh! Why, brain? Why now?"

"Robin…"

"Huh? Who's there?"

"Heed me, Robin…"

"Maybe you, I don't know, show yourself first? … Aaaaaand nothing. Am I hearing voices? Or… wait, hold on a second… I wonder…"

"Heed my call, Robin!"

"Yeah, that's definitely in my—Hrggh! Ack! Ow! My head!" Pain in his skull. A dark figure in front of him.

"Why do you close your heart to him, Robin?"

"Ne—nngh—Validar?! What are you—?!"

"Have you truly forgotten?"

"You're the o-one—agh! Get out!"

"Heheheh… Such arrogance! You dare take such a tone… with your own father?!"

"Like hell you are! Get! Out! Augh… Raven! Raven, help! Get him out!"

"How dare you—?!" The dark figure disappearing. The pain gone.

"Little blueberry?!"

Chrom gasped awake, lying on his bedroll in a cold sweat. The connection between his father and himself shuttered close, but another one—was that…? Robin? The bluenette ripped off his blanket with trembling fingers and got up, swaying and stumbling out of the tent he shared with Olivia. He dashed into the forest, following the thread of the latent connection, and found his white-haired friend bent over, clutching his head.

"Ro… Robin?"

"Chrom?!" The albino stood up, shaky and pale. "W-What-What are you doing here?! W-Was I shouting?"

"N-No, no, not that." Sucking the cool night air into his lungs, the younger mage gulped. "I-I had a… a nightmare… something about Validar trying to contact you? And he said he was your father or something?"

Robin gazed wide-eyed at him. "You witnessed that?! In your dream?!" His eyebrows went up. "Chrom, the blood pact! That must be how—I figured out that Raven could get him out of my head if I had the blood pact with him. But, wait. Does that mean Validar somehow has one too?"

"It must be like the Exalted family's pact with Naga," Chrom breathed. "If… If he is as he says, and he's your father, perhaps…"

"You think I inherited it through his line," the tactician mused. "But how can we know for certain that he was telling the truth? Although—wait, I remember! He was giving me 'I recognize you' eyes of the creepy variety the night he went to assassinate Emmeryn! Of course! But—ugh!"

"Disown him, then."

Robin gave him a flat look. "Oh, yeah, like that's so easy to do. At least you didn't have your birth father invading your mind!"

Chrom shrugged. "I can teach you how to put up a barrier so he can't use the blood pact to reach you."

"Wait, really?"

The boy nodded, giving his friend a sympathetic smile. "Of course. I'd be happy to help." He clasped the older boy's hands in his own. "Listen, Robin, I know exactly what this feels like. Do you know how shocked and horrified I was when I learned my biological father was the Exalt?" He squeezed his hands. "No matter what, just remember: you are yourself, before anyone or anything else."

"… Right. You're right." Robin gave him a weak smile. "Thank you, Chrom, I needed that."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I am now."

"Chrom!"

The two turned to find Olivia racing towards them. "Risen ambush! They're all around the camp!"

The mages looked at each other and nodded. "Let's go! You lead the way, Livvie!"

As the three made their way back, Chrom's heart pounded in his chest and throat. I thought we posted sentries, how did this happen?! Are they becoming more intelligent?! Did Validar send them after us?! He swallowed down the rising bile. The past two years had ensured he hadn't seen any more Risen in action, but even so, he couldn't be more grateful that he'd had his father teach most of the spells in his spellbook. All they had to do was find the summoner, and the bluenette could cut the undead troops from that mage's grasp. His resolve strengthened. Okay. I can do this. I will do this!

The three reached the camp, and Robin barked out orders to the rest of the Shepherds. As if reading the younger mage's mind (which, considering what had just transpired, he probably was), he directed them to fend off the Risen while Chrom searched for the summoner. Overhead, a murder of crows flew about before descending on the group. A few people squawked and flailed, trying to get the birds out of their space, and Ricken cast a gentle wind at the flock.

"Caw caw! Hey, you guys lost? Or just a lost caws? Hahah!"

"HENRY, YOU STUPID TWAT, GET YOUR SKINNY LITTLE BUTT OVER HERE!" Tharja roared. "And call off your birds! They're making a mess!"

The crows parted to reveal a white-haired boy in Plegian dark mage attire, smiling a close-eyed grin. "What's the matter? Cawstrophobic? Nyahahah!"

"Oh great, we've got a punster on our hands," Robin groaned. "You gonna help us out or get outta the way?"

The boy grinned. "Oh, I'm just here to deliver a message! The ravens say 'Caw caw… c-caw.' Now what are the human words for that again? Traipse? Tripe?" He tapped his cheek, then pointed his finger in the air. "Oh, right! Trapped! They say you're trapped."

"You don't say," Chrom snarked. "Do you know who they came from, or…"

"Well, when a mommy zombie and a daddy zombie—"

"That's not what I asked," the bluenette cut in. "Do you know who summoned them, or are you actually the one who did so?"

The dark mage put his hand on his heart. "Aww, I'm shocked! I just wanna help out your caws! Is that so hard to believe?"

Chrom glanced at Robin, who shrugged, nonplussed. "If you want to help us deal with these guys, pair up with Anna," he nodded to the redhead. "Chrom, everyone, continue with our original plan!" The others nodded and dashed off, the dark mage boy running beside the merchant. Tharja rolled her eyes as she and Gaius raced toward the edge of the camp.

As Chrom and Olivia took to the skies, the bluenette surveyed the battlefield and shuddered. Unlike the Risen they'd dealt with before, these ones seemed much more organized and even a bit coherent. Their summoner was nowhere to be found, so he and the pink-haired dark flier began attacking in quick strikes. Their actions carried them towards the Risen chief, and the two soared over the undead fighter on Avalon, bombarding the zombie with spells. After what felt like hours, the battlefield was finally clear. The two landed on the bridge the chief had been standing, and Chrom dismounted, glancing about.

"I… I think that's the last of them," he said. "Can't be too sure—"

"Look out!"

The boy whipped around as a Risen assassin manifested just behind him and streaked over, right on top of him—!

"Father, no!"

Slice! Thud!

Chrom trembled, bringing his hands down just a bit—he'd thrown them up to cover himself or cast Umbra—and found a familiar blue-haired swordswoman standing over the dissipating body of the corpse. She turned to him and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank the gods you're safe!"

He blinked and pointed at her. "You—I—'father?!'" Suddenly it all made sense, too much sense. Of course! He'd ruled out her being his older sister when he'd found out he was the missing prince, but he was still positive she was from the future, and therefore…!

Her eyes widened, and she balked. "Did I? I…" Then her expression filled with resignation. "… Perhaps we might speak privately?"

He nodded. "Lead the way."

As the sun rose, the two found themselves in the forest near the camp. The woman shook her head. "I don't even know where to begin."

He shrugged. "Take your time, I guess… unless there are still things you can't reveal?"

"Thank you, but… I think I would prefer you know the truth. Here… Look closely, and all will be made clear."

She stepped forward, striding past him, then turned her head to face him, longing clear in her eyes. Her blue eyes. Her clear blue right eye… and her Branded blue left eye. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart leapt. It… it is her! I know it! Only one other person alive has the Brand in the same place!

"Lucina!"

His gaze traveled down to the Falchion sheathed at her hip, and a wave of sorrow overcame him. What on earth could have happened that would force his own daughter to wield the divine blade? What had happened to Owain, who it had been decided would inherit the sword? He met her eyes again. "Luci, whatever happened… you deserved better. I… I'm so sorry."

Tears welled up in the princess's eyes. She gave a sob and sniffle, the tears spilling out onto her cheeks. Chrom felt a pang in his heart, and he reached up, wiping the shimmering trails away. She looked at him and rushed into his arms. "Oh, Father!" He held her as she wept, his own tears dripping down into her hair, cradling her head to his breast. "Father…"

"Shhh, I'm here, Luci, I'm here."

After a minute or two, she disengaged, wiping her streaked face. "…"

"You okay now?"

She nodded. "Yes. Father… I'm sorry. It just all rushed back at once."

"There's no need to be sorry. It's all right to let it out every now and then." He smiled at her.

Lucina fidgeted with her cuff. "Should I call you something else?"

"Huh?! What—no, no, it's fine! You can call me that all you like! You probably need it… and I do like the sound of it, to be honest."

She grinned. "… Father! Heh heh…"

"Chrom? Marth? Is everything all right?" The two turned to find Olivia walking into the clearing, a concerned look on her face. "What's going on?" She must've seen the tear tracks on both their faces, because she frowned. "Why are you two crying? Has something happened?!"

Chrom waved his hands in a placating manner. "It's fine! We're all right. Luci, should we tell her?"

"Of course," the princess replied.

The pinkette scanned the both of them, eyebrow raised. "Luci?" She blinked, then gasped, gaze landing on the bluenette mage. "Is she… you figured out who she is?!"

Lucina nodded. "It's true, Olivia. Please, look closely. Prove it with your own eyes by looking into mine."

Olivia smiled, shaking her head. "I don't have to. You're clearly our daughter—although, you didn't inherit your height from your father!" she teased.

"Hey!" Chrom pouted, and his wife chuckled.

Lucina glanced between them, uncertainty in her eyes. "Your baby is right where you left her, and perfectly safe." Her expression grew firm. "I am her from another time. From a time that is yet to be."

"See?" The mage grinned. "Told you she was from the future."

"Yes, more than ten years hence," the girl clarified. "After history takes a dark and most destructive turn…" Her eyes went glassy for a bit, likely lost in memory. When the husband and wife continued looking at her, she frowned and elaborated, "The Fell Dragon, Grima, is resurrected." She sighed. "His roar is a death knell for man, a scream that silences all hope… Death everywhere…" She shuddered.

Chrom gulped. "That's what happens? We all… we all die?"

"… Yes."

Olivia's expression saddened, and the bluenette prince's shoulders drooped. "I… I had hoped that was not the case… You know, I do believe you." He gestured to her sword. "There's only one Falchion in the world, but surely both the present and future versions of it can exist in the same point in the timestream."

Lucina nodded. "Your blade and mine are one, Father. It was… It was all I had left of you."

Baffled, the mage-healer frowned. "Falchion isn't my blade, though I can wield it. Was the future really so terrible that I needed to take it up?"

The younger (or was it older?) princess opened her mouth in confusion, when a familiar voice called out, "See, Chrom, I told you you needed to practice it!" Lissa entered the clearing with the present Falchion strapped to her hip, grinning. She grabbed her niece in a side hug. "Your daughter knows better than you, apparently."

"Thank you, Aunt Lissa." Lucina looked perplexed, but carried on with her explanation. "Naga, the Divine Dragon, feared mankind would face Grima again. In preparation for that day, she devised a ritual. It allows one to return to the past and alter events already written." She glanced at the ground. "I made the journey together with others, but… we became separated."

Chrom smiled at her. "Don't worry, Luci. We'll find them, okay?"

Olivia grabbed her in a hug as well. "Isn't she just darling, Chrom? Our daughter! Our daughter!"

"Yes, Olivia. Your daughter." Lucina snuggled into her mother's arms a bit. "Thank you… milady."

"What?!" The pinkette pulled back. "No, no, none of this stranger nonsense! Call me Mother! Please?"

"I… thought you might mind."

"Oh, sweetheart, never. You can always call me that, all right?"

The future princess sniffed. "Oh, Mother… Mother… Oh, I've missed you more than you'll ever know…"

Chrom wrapped his arms around the both of them. "It's all right, Lucina. We're both here, now, with you. And we love you, so very, very much."

Arriving back at Port Ferox was like a breath of fresh, cool, wintry air, and Chrom was happy to be out of the desert country once again. He'd introduced Lucina to the Shepherds the day after the Risen ambush, and while most were skeptical of her claim, Robin just laughed and immediately accepted it as truth—of course, he'd been privy to the younger mage's musings on her identity. Frederick had suggested that the future princess try to wield Lissa's Falchion, which ended up convincing everyone else of her story. Henry also came along, and Chrom was surprised to find him and Anna getting on like a house on fire, which was both heartening and concerning all at once. Nonetheless, he was happy to spend time with his daughter and learn more about her. Admittedly, he hadn't learned much yet, only a couple pieces of trivia (she was a noisy sleeper, hated mornings, and loved sparring), but he felt that with time, he would grow closer to her.

"So, Father?" Her voice broke through his thoughts. "I've been wondering this ever since I met you in this timeline, but… why don't you wield Falchion? You said that you can, so why don't you?"

He shrugged as they walked through the streets. "I never learned to be that proficient with a sword, and at the time, Lissa was really the only choice for it." He shuddered, remembering that one day during the war. "The first time I wielded it, I kind of had a delayed freakout. It still bothers me, to be honest. Besides, she does just fine with it, I don't see why I have to pick it up."

"… I don't understand. Why was she the only choice?" The princess frowned. "I know Aunt Emmeryn never wished to wield it, but I didn't think Aunt Lissa was capable of doing so either."

Chrom laughed. "Oh, no, she is, very much so. Didn't she teach you?"

"No, Father. You did."

The boy blinked, shocked. "But… I-I couldn't have! W-What happened to Lissa and Owain that I had to teach you?!"

"Nothing happened." Now she looked confused. "Aunt Lissa never used Falchion in my time."

… Okay, that… that was frankly unthinkable, to be honest. Why would Lissa never wield it?! Who else could have possibly done so?! "D-Did I at least teach you magic? Please tell me I did, or else I'm a complete and utter failure of a father."

"Father, you never even learned magic."

He stopped and stared at her, trying to comprehend what she'd just said. "Never… learned… b-but that's…! That can't be right, magic is my life! How could I have never learned magic in your future?!"

She shook her head. "I don't know. I don't even know how it is possible for you to do so now. What… how is this possible? I know I'm in the right timeline, but… why are you not quite the same?"

"Chrom?"

The prince glanced at Frederick, who was ushering them towards Basilio and Flavia's camp. "Is everything all right? The Khans wish to meet with us immediately."

"Um, okay. We'll be right there. Come on, Luce." He followed his brother-in-law, head spinning from the information he'd learned. The Shepherds broke off, Lissa leading them to their own camp, with Robin joining the three. They headed towards the Khans' tent, where the two leading Feroxi stood speaking to a young blonde man in white and light blue troubadour clothing atop a brown horse and a black-haired youth sitting atop a black pegasus. For some reason, the blonde wore a white mask covering his eyes and left cheek. The ravenette wore a familiar black tactician's coat adorned with purple and gold.

"Are you positive, Jagen?" the West Khan was saying. "I mean, don't get me wrong, we love what you've been doing here, but are you sure you want to help us take on Valm?"

The troubadour nodded. "I am absolutely certain I must, sire. My companion and I feel it necessary to aid you in your efforts, and I believe it is possible to locate the people we are searching for on that continent."

"Besides, if we don't find them there, at least we can say we tried!" the pegasus boy chirped.

Flavia shrugged. "They have a point, oaf."

"Yeah, I'm aware. Oh hey, you guys are back!" Basilio said to the approaching four. "Okay, so here's what I'm gonna do. You two can stick with these guys—they're part of the Shepherds—and Robin here can figure out how to keep you alive and use your skills. Robin, Frederick, Chrom, this is Jagen and his pal Linde." Jagen's lips tightened. "Marth, long time no see! You coming with us?"

"I am," she affirmed, "though I must admit, my name is not Marth. We should explain here, while there is time."

Chrom nodded, snapping out of his daze. "She's right. Frederick?" The knight didn't respond. The bluenette boy glanced at his brother-in-law and found him staring at Jagen, then glanced at Jagen and—to his surprise—noticed a single strand of brown hair amidst the wavy blonde. And the mask was covering his left cheek… He looked back at the brunette, whose mind was clearly coming to the same conclusion he had.

"… Peter?"

"Jagen's" eyes widened, and "Linde" snickered. "Wow, dang, he figured it out right away. Figures, your dad was one of the sharpest in the bunch. And hey, Luci's here! So I guess it's okay to reveal ourselves!"

The blonde took off his mask, and Frederick's eyes zeroed in to the Brand of the Exalt showing on his cheek. "It… It is you," the older man breathed. "Just as Lucina has come from the future…!"

"Father!" The young man, Peter, dismounted and ran towards his father. The knight met him halfway in a tight, fierce hug, and Chrom and Robin grinned at the sight. "Oh, Father… I was so worried, I was afraid we'd gotten lost, but we made it here, a-and you're here, and," he sniffled, "I missed you so much!"

"Peter, it's all right. I'm here, you're safe."

"I-Is Mother back at the capital?"

Frederick chuckled. "Of course she is. You know she has so many duties to take care of."

"… Is that my old tactician's coat?"

Everyone turned to Robin, who stood pointing at "Linde's" coat with a perplexed expression. The boy grinned, and Peter sighed. "Did your illusion come off again?"

"It was on purpose this time," the ravenette shot back. "And to answer your question, yes, it is! Just from my timeline. I didn't steal it."

The platinum-haired mage broke into a wide grin. "Morgan! It is you, buddy! I almost didn't recognize you through the hair dye!"

"Hi, Dad!" Morgan leapt off his mount and ran over to his father, who swept him up in a hug as well. "Man, I've been hoping and waiting for this day for so long! D'you have any idea how long two years is? Too long, in my opinion!"

"You've been here for two years, like Lucina?" Robin disengaged from the hug and frowned. "Where's your sister?"

The boy shrugged, frowning. "Not a clue. We've searched all over, and we haven't found her. She's probably in Valm, like most of our friends." He cocked his head in thought. "I hope she's been here as long as I have, that would be weird not to be twins anymore. Hi, Uncle Chrom!" He waved to the mage-healer, who chuckled and waved back.

Peter left his father's embrace and gave Chrom a hug too. "It is good to see you, Uncle Chrom."

"You too, kiddo! Wow, you look so much like your dad… but also so much like your mom! A perfect blend of the two, I think!"

"Ahem."

The men and princess looked at Basilio, who eyed all of them and pointed to his tent. "I think we'd all like some answers, if you mind."

They glanced at each other and nodded. Frederick went first with Peter, then Robin, an arm around his son's shoulder. Chrom nudged his daughter, who was staring at the whole scene with a mildly horrified kind of bewilderment, and she followed him into the tent.

After several minutes of explanation, the Khans seemed to have the gist of it. "So you all came back to stop Grima from destroying the world?" Flavia summarized. "But you're looking for the rest of your little party. All right, then, can you tell us who else came along?"

Peter clasped his hands in his lap. "I'm afraid that, as I have no idea who has married and had children among the Shepherds yet, I cannot divulge that information."

"Oh. Well, that's easy enough then," Robin muttered. "How many are in your group, exactly?"

"Sixteen!" Morgan piped up.

Lucina looked even more bewildered. "That is not possible. There are only thirteen of us."

The two boys gave her odd looks. "Did some of us not make the journey?" Peter wondered. "But… that makes no sense. All of us were at the ritual." He narrowed his eyes at his cousin. "And whatever happened to Owain that you have taken to carrying around Falchion?"

"What? Nothing happened!" The princess sputtered. "I-I don't understand! You must not be from the right timeline—"

"Luci, that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever," Morgan cut her off. "Naga sent us directly to our timeline's past, nowhere else."

"W-Well, she did the same with us! But clearly, you're not from the right timeline!"

Chrom frowned and spoke up. "Lucina, how is that so? If anything, you seem to be from the wrong timeline—no offense."

"Father!" The girl huffed. "Look, it's quite obvious. Morgan is the wrong gender, as you can see—"

"He is?" Robin regarded her with confusion, glancing from his son to the princess. "Nope, I see nothing wrong here. Just my cute little son who's such a handsome young man~!" He squished a laughing Morgan's cheeks.

"Wait, what?! No, no, Morgan is a girl, Robin!"

The tactician gave her a flat look. "Either you need to get your eyes checked, or something happened down the line that you, little mister, might need to tell me about. Morgan was born a guy."

"She was—I mean, he was—! But—! That makes no sense! Morgan was born a girl! And you!" She pointed to Peter. "You don't even exist in the future!"

Peter looked down at himself, then back at her. "I can confidently assure you, I rather do."

Chrom tapped his finger to his lips. What was missing here that Peter somehow didn't exist in the future that Lucina came from? Wait, hang on a second. She came to stop Emm's assassination. Oh! Oh! That must be it, because in her timeline Emm died! "I think I know why he doesn't exist in your timeline, Lucina—because his mother is dead in that one."

A light of understanding entered his nephew's eyes. "Ah, I see. Yes, I remember that, there was a mysterious swordswoman who warned you that night. I presume you are her?"

"But that also doesn't make sense!" Lucina rebuffed. "If his father is Frederick, as he says, then his mother should be alive—or am I missing something?"

Peter quirked a wry eyebrow at her. "My mother is Exalt Emmeryn, the ruler of Ylisse and your aunt."

"… That makes even less sense." The princess bowed her head. "Aunt Emmeryn… Aunt Emmeryn is dead. In my timeline, she died the night of her assassination, and in this one, she—" She cut herself off, lip quivering. "She fell at her execution and sacrificed herself so that Father would not give Gangrel the Fire Emblem."

The group glanced among each other, giving each other looks. Frederick spoke up. "It is true that we believed her dead, but she was revealed to have survived the ordeal, at least two years ago. How have you not known this?"

"Sh-She survived?!" Lucina gasped, shock playing all over her face. "But—no one could have survived that! At least not without severe brain damage!"

"Oh, no, that's not what happened at all." The king-consort chuckled. "Your father managed to teleport her to safety just in time. We've been married for two years now, and Peter is as of now a year old. The present-time Peter, I mean."

"Teleported—! Married—! How—What—That—You—" The blue-haired swordswoman spluttered, apparently incapable of further coherent speech.

Chrom and Robin glanced at each other in concern. Then the tactician spoke, "I think we've got a problem here."

"The only thing I can think of that would alter the timeline so drastically and yet allow those from both sides of it to enter the past would be if something happened long before then in one timeline but not the other," Peter mused from the doorway to Chrom's room. The Khans had set an inn in the port town aside for the Shepherds to use, and the blonde crown prince would be staying in the same room as his father. Olivia had led a catatonic Lucina up to her room in the hopes that the girl would eventually regain her senses. Robin had already taken up a room for both him and Sumia, so Chrom had offered to share with Morgan. The dark flier lounged on his bed, his coat hanging up on the bedpost, listening to the conversation.

"What do you mean by that, Peter?"

The troubadour cupped his chin in thought. "Perhaps it is possible that we all have not arrived at the same time. As it stands, I arrived after Lucina, and Morgan after me. Is it feasible, then, that one of us could have entered the timeline too far into the past, thereby changing events but allowing all of the future travelers to exist?"

"I mean, that makes sense to me," the ravenette said. "Too bad Laurent isn't here, he could probably figure this out."

"Laurent?" The bluenette latched on to that bit of information. "You mean Libra and Miriel's kid?"

Peter nodded. "Precisely. And he is every bit as intelligent as his mother."

"Huh. Go figure." Chrom sighed, sitting on his own bed. "So now we have to figure out who our rogue traveler is, and what happened to make the timeline diverge. It sounds like you and Lucina will have to compare notes—that is, once she gets better."

"I hope she does! I hate seeing her all freaked out," Morgan piped up. "And that makes me wonder something: why did we get Luci from the original timeline and not ours?"

"Another question we need to consider," the mage-healer pondered. "Maybe something happened with the ritual to send you away from Grima's devastation—"

Peter held up a hand. "Actually… Morgan and I did not come to stop Grima's resurrection."

"W-What?! Why?!"

"'Cause it never happened in our timeline," the younger boy explained. "We're here to stop a completely different threat—although we do think the two are kinda linked."

Chrom frowned. "What kind of threat?"

"The complete and utter annihilation of our world."

The blue-haired boy blinked. "… Is that not what Grima's supposed to bring about?"

The blonde shook his head, gaze sorrowful. "From what I understand, Grima merely meant to wipe out all of humanity. What we have lived through… the very foundation of our planet crumbled. After the war with Valm, we think that someone, though we don't know exactly who, began researching a means of destroying our world as a failsafe against Grima. Twenty years passed, and Grima was never resurrected. Then, one day, our parents got a lead to the person's research and discovered a hidden temple. Their foray into the structure triggered a calamitous earthquake that shook the world to its very core."

Eyes wide, the bluenette gasped. "Oh, no, did—did they make it out okay?"

"… No. They did not."

Morgan clutched at his cloak, bottom lip trembling. Peter cast his eyes down, face filled with pain and sadness. "We only knew because Grandfather, who was with us at the time, sensed it all through his bond with you. He tried to teleport you out, but the temple collapsed before he could." He gave a little sob. "It was him who took us all to safety and created a portal to send us back in time. We… we don't know that he made it. He was consumed with the agony of your death. We think…" He took a shuddery breath. "We think he stayed behind, to join you in death."

Chrom covered his mouth in horror. "No… Father! But—but wait, he's still alive in this timeline!"

The two children's eyes widened in hope. "He is?!"

"Yeah! I just came back from negotiating with Validar, and he was there!"

The boys both breathed sighs of relief. "Oh, thank goodness! I don't know what we would've done—no, it makes sense that he is alive—oh, thank the gods." Peter gave a weak chuckle. "For a moment I nearly forgot myself."

Chrom laughed. "It's all right, Peter. He's safe and alive." Then a thought occurred to him. "Wait, hang on a second. You said you'd heard about a mysterious swordswoman who helped stop Emm's assassination, and you think it was Lucina. Did she, I don't know, reveal herself like Luci did?"

"We don't know what became of her after the assassination, although Grandfather never liked speaking of her." A wry smirk touched the blonde's lips. "He always called her a 'name-thief' because she used the name of his dear old friend Marth and he felt she was unworthy to do so."

"I see." The bluenette nodded. "Well, this is frankly a lot to take in." He yawned. "It's getting late, you two. Let's get to bed, we need to be up early tomorrow so that we can board the ships when they're ready."

"Of course, Uncle Chrom." Peter bowed and left. "Please don't bother him too much, Morgan," he called from the hall.

"No promises!" the younger boy called back.

Shaking his head, the bluenette chuckled. "You two remind me a lot of the relationship your dads have."

Morgan laughed. "Oh, yeah, I can't tell you how many times people have said that." He stood up and gave the prince a hug. "I'm gonna say goodnight to Mom and Dad, and then I'll come back. 'Kay?"

"Go ahead, Morgan." Chrom smiled as he left.

I wonder what the other people from the future are going to be like…?

The albino sat in his chair with his legs crossed and hands folded, staring the black-haired man down. After a moment, he spoke. "What. Were. You. Thinking?!"

"My lord!" Validar prostrated himself. "I had to see if Robin was indeed the one—"

"You hurt him," the red-eyed man hissed. "What did I tell you about hurting the Exalted family?!"

The Grimleal king twitched. "My son is not a member of that wretched bloodline!"

"He is as good as Chrom's brother." Grima smirked. "A rather fitting choice, really. But that begs the question again." He leaned forward. "What were you thinking?!"

"Why do you insist on protecting them?! That boy, who claimed you as his father, is meant to be your destruction!"

The dragon scoffed. "Of course he claimed me as his father. I raised him. What do you think I have been busy with in the fifteen years before he was found to be the prince? Raising a child, as you must know, takes time and great care."

"S-So… so you really did raise him. And taught him dark magic."

"Indeed I did. But you have diverted the conversation." Grima's eyes flared with bright red light. "I gave you an order. You are on incredibly thin ice, Validar. It was only by my intervention that the boy was not seriously hurt. Do you know how easy it is to return you to death?" He held up his hand. "A simple snap, and you would be no more, merely a corpse. And I," here he bared his fangs, "I would devour your pathetic, sniveling little soul. I have not fed on a soul in a long time, but I would not hesitate to eat yours if it meant my son and his friends would be safe."

"I-I see, m-my lord."

"Do you?"

"Y-Yes. I promise I-I will leave th-them alone." Validar shivered, and his mouth twisted with loathing, but he made the promise all the same.

The Fell Dragon nodded, pleased. "Excellent. They will soon be journeying to Valm, and I will keep watch on their progress. Mark my words," he grinned a wicked grin, "they will be victorious."

And that's a wrap! Next up: Ring of Fire! The Ylissean League sets sail for Valm. Lucina is in denial. Chrom adores his nephews. The sea gets set on fire and another child is found.

Feel free to review or feed me concrit! Anything to let me know I'm brightening your guys' day!

"Miss Vio! Look! I got big me! But he has a sword and he plays with fire!"

Nice job, baby Chrom! Out of curiosity, how much wyrmite or how many summoning tickets did you use?

"... Um... all of... them?"

... Okay, then. Aren't you lucky I love you? No more summoning, though, okay? Okay!