Chapter 25: The Girl From the Future

Just as the ships reach the harbor, the Shepherds jumps down to the shore.

"At last, Valm Harbor." Chrom says as he looks around. "Hmm… It appears well fortified… Prepare the troops. We'll- Huh? What's that?"

Frederick glances in the direction of his charge is looking, "An altercation?" As he says this, a woman with long black hair, in foreign clothing and armor, and wields two swords in her hands rushes out of an ally in the distance holding hands with a little girl wearing a brown cloak and a large bag over her shoulder. "That woman-" The retainer speaks before a group of Valmese soldiers also rush out of the alley behind her, "The Valmese dogs are running her down with the little girl."

Immediately, Chrom turns to them. "Any enemy of theirs is a friend of ours. Come on!"

With that, he, Frederick, and Robin run off to the port town with the other Shepherds behind the three.

She has been running for a long while now street after street, alley after alley. Even after finding a lost child on a lone street, she has been unable to shake off her pursuers. With her small group of resistance taken out by the Valm soldiers immediately after their last attack on another smaller camp, she was the last of their small detached group and, unlike in the past, her pursuers are more persistent in catching her. It wasn't until she got to the harbor, where she met the girl, that she can see more soldiers pursuing after her.

"Look, miss! At the shore!" The girl says pointing at the direction letting the swordswoman to look as she sees another squad of soldiers on the shores of the harbor she was at rushing over to them while taking out some of her enemies.

Squinting her eyes to get a better look, she mutters, "Who is that?" Then she notices a blue-haired warrior taking down enemies one after another alongside with another blue-haired swordswoman. "…The Ylissean League! So they have finally landed!"

"Then over there…" The girl says.

Almost immediately after black-haired swordswoman said this, a voice cries out, "Over 'ere! We have 'er cornered!"

"Confound these wretched imperials!" The woman mumbles angrily under her breath while she lifts her blades again as she begins to flee with the girl.

"Don't let 're get away!"

With the help of their Pokémon partners, the flow of the battle quickly becomes in their favor along with Reina's and Kai's Pokémon. Both of them quickly gotten out Kuro from Reina and from Kai is a Pokémon with a sleek black body with four slender legs and crimson eyes. There are two pairs of pointed teeth visible when its mouth is open, one in the upper jaw and one in the lower. It has long pointed ears and a bushy tail, each with a yellow band around them. Its forehead and legs have yellow rings on them (Blacky – Umbreon). After defeating a few soldiers on the way, Chrom and Luke dealt with the two soldiers who were cornering the swordswoman and the girl.

"Prince Chrom of Ylissean League! You have my gratitude!" The woman exclaims with relief.

At this, The Ylissean prince raises his brow. "You know of our cause?"

"Of course!" The woman says as a matter of fact. "I would speak with you more- but first, perhaps…" She trails off.

"…Ah, yes. Time enough for that once the fighting is finished."

"Umm…" The girl speaks getting the prince's attention.

"We can talk later, little one. Right now, we need to free this port. Understand?"

The girl slowly nods and Chrom smiles at this before he and Luke go back into the battle. She then slowly looks around the battlefield and finds a pair as one of them sniping down an enemy mount soldier with another swinging down another as a Pikachu, Absol, and Blacky protects them. They are the ones who she is looking for after coming into the town as the girl watches them closely.

"That's Reina and Kai…" She mutters.

Eventually, after defeating most of the soldiers, all that is left is the enemy leader of this squad. Both Chrom and Robin reach to him with their partners starting the battle with Robin sending an Elthunder and Drago a Dragon Pulse. Then both Chrom and Luke run towards the leader with Luke distracts the rider by sending a few Psycho Cuts while the Ylissean prince finishes him off.

After the storm of the battle passes, the Shepherds take this chance to rest from before and the voyage as Say'ri speaks to Chrom.

"Mercy, friends! The tales of your strength were no exaggeration… I am called Say'ri, and I fight with the Resistance."

"So there is an organized resistance?" Chrom asks.

"Aye, of sorts. Several groups formed to seek liberty for the states of Valm."

"I thought the emperor had stamped out all dissenters…"

Say'ri nods. "He tries, but we Resistance are a slippery lot. We strike hard and then vanish again into the dark of night. Even now rebels ride to the banner of dynast across the continent. United, we could pose a veritable threat to Walhart. And so, for some time I have struggled to bring us together."

"What's stopping you?" Flavia asks as she and the West-Khan walk over to the small group.

At this, the woman grimaces, "Greed. Jealousy. Sloth. All the old weaknesses of man. The dynasts all would have freedom but on their own terms. Some refuse t take up arms unless their territory is threatened. Other thrive under the Conqueror's heel and will not join unless there is profit in it. Liberty is a fine word, aye, but not always enough to rouse men from foolishness."

"I take it you're looking for a more convincing argument, then?"

"Just so, although my efforts thus far have met with meager success. I fear many distrust me because my brother fights for Walhart."

"Why does he support the empire?" Basilio questions with confusion.

"Would I knew, good sir." Say'ri answers with apparent anger glinting in her eyes. "Yen'fay was a good man once, but he is my brother no more! If we meet on the battlefield, I would cut him down, same as any other imperial. Walhart is said to command a million men now. Perhaps more. Sooner or later, he will stamp out the Resistance entirely, if we do not unite."

"Um, Chrom? Did she just say he has a MILLION soldiers?" Lissa asks anxiously.

"Ha! And what are one million men against the Ylissean dogs of war?!" The swordswoman says, "You stopped a thousand of their ships to get to this continent, did you not? Your daring strategy has awoken and inspired people across all of Valm. Together I know we can yet unite the Resistance and break Walhart's grip!" Say'ri then bows her head. "Help me, Prince Chrom! I beg of you!"

"'Daring strategy' she said." Reina whispers to Robin causing the tactician to blush a little.

The Ylissean retainer turns to his charge as did the others. "Milord?"

"This is no easy thing you ask of me." Chrom says. "I have my own causes: A halidom to save and a future to win." As he said this, he takes a quick side glance to his future daughter before looking back at the woman. "I know a great battle has been foretold but is this it? How to know? Still, I admire your courage… Perhaps your mission is the best way to achieve mine. So yes, Say'ri. I will join your cause with my own."

"If it isn't?" Kai asks.

Without hesitation, the captain answers, "And if I'm wrong, it's my life on the line. …As it should be." Chrom then glances at Say'ri. "Now. What will it take to unite your people?"

"Well, I do have one idea…" The woman says with a nod.

"Chrom." The group turns and sees Robin. "Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but we just arrived on a new continent and fought a battle. I think it would be best if the Shepherds rest for the time being. We also have another problem to take care of as well…"

The Ylissean prince nods. "You're right, Robin. We should try setting up camp for the time being."

"Then come with me. I'll show you all a place to camp just on the outskirts of the town. The Resistance stationed here will take care of this place." Say'ri says.

Chrom nods. "I appreciate your help, Say'ri."

It is late in the afternoon when they finally finished setting up camp. Then they decided that it would be best to have Say'ri temporarily join the Shepherds till she is able to regain control of her kingdom after taking down both Walhart and her brother. Now Say'ri is discussing with Chrom and Robin about her plan uniting the Resistance.

"Since ancient times, many of our people have worshipped Naga." She explains. "More precisely, we worship the divine dragon's oracle, Lady Tiki. Though most know her only as the Voice. The voice is trapped in her temple as Walhart's prisoner. But if she were freed…"

"The Resistance could unite around her. Where is the voice being held?" Robin asks.

"There is a shrine built in the branches of the divine Mila Tree. She is confined there."

"Then we have our plan. Let's got to it!" Chrom exclaims.

Meanwhile, Reina is looking for Kai throughout the camp and finds him practicing his swinging.

"Kai." The said person stops the swing and turns to see Reina standing behind him.

"Reina."

"Looks like you're working hard again today." The female archer states as she walks towards him.

"Yeah." Kai replies. "Did you came here for the Shepherds' training schedule?"

"Mmm… That's not it." Reina replies.

"Huh?"

Reina then hops in closer to Kai and presents something to him. "Here."

Kai takes a look at the item and sees a charm that resembles the water lily on the hilt of his sword. "Reina, this is…"

"I thought that the charm I gave you that time might be getting old, so here's a new one."

"Reina…" Kai looks at her before taking the charm.

"Also, it's a 'thank you' gift for the ring."

Kai looks down at the charm then back at the female trainer and smiles. "Thank you, Reina. I'll treasure it."

"Ah!" The two turn to see the same girl who was with Say'ri back at the town pointing at them. "I found you!" She then runs up to them and jumps into Reina and Kai. "Papa! Mama!"

"…Eh?" Reina says.

"Eh?" Kai follows.

"E–H?!" Reina and Kai shout.

"Papa?!" Kai shouts.

"Mama?!" Reina shouts.

"Yes!" The girl confirms.

Taking a closer look at the girl, she has brown hair that reaching on her mid-back, wears a pink dress that reaches to her knees with black leggings and red sneakers. She carries a large bag on her back.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but me and Reina didn't get married." Kai tells the girl.

"But just now, Mama gave you a new charm just now as a 'thank you' gift for the ring you gave her."

"How do you know that?!"

"Because…" She digs into her shirt and takes out a ring that is tied to a leathered string around her neck but what is more surprising is the mark similar to Sakura's. "This is the right that you gave to Mama, right, Papa?"

Kai takes a look at the ring. "This is definitely the ring that I gave to Sakura. What do you think." When he turns to her, he sees Sakura's face is reddened with spirals as her eyes.

"Mine… and Kai's child… But that means that we actually…!" Soon after she said that smoke coming off from her ears before she faints and collapses.

"Hey, Sakura!" Kai catches her having her head hanging upside down.

"Mama!"

~Later~

Kai brings the fainted Sakura and the girl into a tent where Chrom and Robin are talking plans for their next step, then the male trainer explains what happened to Sakura as she regains her consciousness. Then Chrom asks the girl who she is and why she came to this world and from the future.

"I see." Reina says looking at the girl. "You're name is Asuna and Arceus came to you warning that our lives are in danger?"

"That's right, Mama." Asuna replies.

"'Mama' huh?"

"I'm sorry, I know that you are the past Mama, but…"

"It's fine. You can call me that if it's easier for you."

Asuna looks at Reina and smiles before jumping into her arms.

"Still what is this Arceus that those two are talking about?" Chrom asks.

"Arceus is one of the legendary Pokémon that said that it created a region and possibly our universe." Kai answers.

"Could it be one of the Pokémon that Reina told us before?" Robin asks.

"If she said that, then it's true, but that's what the experts speculate."

Just then Asuna's bag begins to shake causing eyes to look at it.

"Asuna, is there something in your bag?" Reina asks.

"Um… That's, well…"

Suddenly the zipper on the bag undo itself and a small Pokémon pops out. Its body resembles a nebula and has two wisp-like extensions and an ellipse running down its body. Its front and back are black in color. It has yellow eyes and two blue cheeks.

"Nebby! I thought I told you not to come out!" Asuna scolds the Pokémon.

"What kind of Pokémon is that?" Robin questions.

"Reina, Kai, do you two know?" Chrom asks.

"I don't know. I never saw this Pokémon in the Hoenn Region." Reina replies.

"But… I feel like I saw this Pokémon somewhere…" Kai trails off trying to remember where he had seen the small Pokémon.

"Umm…"Asuna speaks as she holds Nebby in her arms. "Nebby is a Pokémon that Solgaleo and Lunala created."

"Solgaleo and Lunala did?" Chrom repeats.

"So is Nebby its name?" Reina asks.

"Uh-uh, Nebby is a nickname. This Pokémon's name is Cosmog." The girl says.

"Gog!" Nebby says.

"AH! I remember now!" Kai shouts surprising Reina, Chrom, and Robin. "Cosmog is the only Pokémon that can evolve into either Solgaleo or Lunala."

"You mean Solgaleo and Lunala were this Pokémon?" Chrom questions and Kai nods.

"It's amazing that this small Pokémon can turn into something magnificent like Solgaleo and Lunala." Robin says as she pets Cosmog.

"Anyways, you two should bring Asuna to your tent and explain Meena about her. You three need all the rest for the march tomorrow." Chrom tells them.

"Alright." Reina replies and turns to Asuna. "Let's go, Asuna. You're going to sleep with us."

"Okay!" Asuna replies cheerfully.