Chapter 29: Wings of Justice

After finding a village after a few days of marching towards Mila Tree, the Shepherds decide to enter it seeing that the village is bustling.

"Looks like this village is excited." Reina says.

"Yep!" Asuna nods excitedly.

"Reina!" Meena calls out. "There's fruited candies over here!"

"Really?"

Both the mother and daughter go to the stall where Meena is and buy some of them.

"Here, Éclair." Reina passes a fruited candy to her Pikachu who has sparkles in her eyes before the four tries the candies before letting out a squeal of content.

"This is really good!" Meena exclaims and looks down at Asuna. "What do you think, Asuna."

"Yeah! It's good!"

"They really balance out the sweetness and the sourness in these candies." Reina comments and looks at the stall owner. "Excuse me, can I get more?"

"Sure thing!" The owner replies.

"For the others, I bet." Meena guesses.

"Yeah."

After getting a bag full of the fruited candies, they leave the stall and find Chrom, Lucina, and Frederick together having serious looks.

"Is there something wrong, Chrom?" Reina asks.

"Well, there's a band of rogues ransacking this village without a pause with a leader who is using my name." The prince replies.

"That's despicable!" Meena exclaims.

"Do you know where they are?" Reina asks.

"Frederick said that they are heading north. I was about to gather everyone to go there as well."

North of the village in a forest, a group of rogues have gathered around as the leader, Ruger, looks at the supplies they stole from the village. "Heh heh... Another fine haul. Long live the great Chrom!"

Then a young girl with brown pigtails and wears a knight armor. "Chrom? Sir? Pegasus Knight Cynthia, returned from patrol, sir! ...Whoops!" She trips from her own feet and gets up with a groan. "Right on the face... S-sorry for my clumsiness, sir! I promise not to trip against for at least 24 hours!"

"That'd be a new record... Now out with it, girl! What did you see?"

"A suspicious band of travelers has been making inquiries in town, sir." Cynthia reports.

"Oh?"

"They call their leader Chrom, sir. Suspect they are impostors posing as you! They must be stopped at once!"

"Er, riiight. Posing as...me. But, uh, we don't have the men to battle these impostors right now. Best swallow our pride and exercise the better part of valor for now." Ruger looks perplexed as he was posing the actual exalt.

"Levelheaded and humble as ever, sir! Allow me to draw their attention while you retreat to safety!"

"Yes, yes, of course. A fine plan."

"I won't let you down, sir!" With a salute, Cynthia quickly goes to her pegasus leaving Ruger there with his men.

"... Gads, she's dumb as a brick. ...Still, full marks for enthusiasm."

Meanwhile, the Shepherds rush to where the rogues are located when Éclair looks up with her hears standing tall and looks at her trainer telling Reina something.

"Is there something wrong, Éclair?" Reina asks.

"Pika Pikachu!" Éclair points at the sky.

"The sky?" Reina looks up and sees a pegasus knight before turning to Chrom immediately. Chrom! There's something coming this way!"

"What?!" He says and sees the pegasus knight before him. "And you are...?

"All who would pretend to Chrom's name will answer to me for their deceit! Lay down your arms and surrender, or face judgment at my spear!" Cynthia announces.

"Well, she certainly seems eager. What do you think, Robin?"

"Hmm. It looks that she's being deceived by the fake Chrom." Robin replies.

"But doesn't that mean she's gullible?" Kai bluntly questions.

"Well, if she's being honestly deceived, we may be able to show her the truth." Chrom notes.

"Enough! In the name of my lord Chrom, cast down your sword or draw it!" Cynthia shouts.

Soon the Shepherds get in their positions by Robin's instructions as the rogues come out from hiding before the company fights the enemy off. Seeing the young pegasus knight, Sumia goes up to Cynthia.

"Pardon me, but...I think you may be misinformed. Can we speak a moment?" Sumia asks.

"Don't waste your breath! Your lies ring hollow!" Cynthia exclaims before looking at the ring in Sumia's finger. "Your...ring? ...Ring? Y-your RING! MOTHER!"

"...What?"

"It is you! Oh, Mother, you're alive! I never thought I'd see you again! I... I..." Cythina soon cries aloud.

"Um...are you all right?"

Cynthia abruptly stops after realizing something. "WAIT! But if you're on that side, that means... Ohmigosh. My Chrom is a FAKE! Oh, I am going to KILL him for this! I'm going to plant a flying hoof right in his stupid liar face!"

"Wait! We really should..." Before Sumia can continue, Cynthia immediately flies off to where Ruger is. "Well, at least she's not confused anymore. If only I could say the same for me..."

After sniping a few rogues, Reina spots Cynthia flying off to Ruger as she sees an angered look on her face.

"Looks like that girl finally figured out, but in that direction... Don't tell me!" She quickly follows the pegasus knight quickly leaving Kai and his Pokémon, Blacky to fight off the rogues with Chrom and Luke.

Looking at the battlefield, Ruger frowns at the sight of his men going down even with the mercenary fighting for him are getting injured. "Tch, I knew we should run away when we had a chance..." He says and sees Cynthia coming towards him with an angered look before stopping in front of the leader.

"How dare you lied to me about you being Chrom!" Cythina shouts.

"What do you mean? I'm the ruler of Ylisse, Chrom."

"I spoke to one of the REAL Shepherds and found out that the real Chrom was on that side!"

"You found me out. Well, I'm not dying in a backwater like this. I'll take what's handy and then take off!" Ruger shouts and attacks her before her pegasus flies away to dodge him.

Cynthia then dives down with her lance ready at the rogue leader with a yell but Ruger dodges which gives him a chance to finish her until an arrow hits on his chest where the heart is and falls backward on the ground.

"Wouldn't have had to...live like this...if I'd...been a prince..." He groans his last breath.

Seeing how close her death was, Cynthia turns around to see Reina with her hand behind her with a bow aiming at the dead rogue.

"You don't know how Chrom's feel as a prince." She states at the dead man and turns to the young pegasus knight. "Are you okay?"

"Huh? Oh, yes." Cynthia stutters.

"That's good." Reina smiles. "There are still other rogues to rid. Let's go."

Cynthia looks at her and nods before the two resume fighting with the rest of the Shepherds. After getting rid of the rogues, the Shepherds relax their form as Chrom sheathes his sword. "That's the last of them."

"We can explain the truth to those mercenaries as we tend their wounds. Frankly, I'm shocked that scoundrel had the audacity to impersonate you, milord." Frederick states.

"Not the worst of his crimes, I'm sure." Chrom says.

"It is unacceptable, milord. I have clearly failed in my duties as a knight. I shall draft a series of portraits and see that copies are distributed to all! Never again shall someone mistake the noble visage of my lord Chrom for—"

"Frederick. Let's just go." Chrom cuts his retainer off.

Once the Shepherds return to the village, Chrom along with Frederick explains that the rogue posing as Chrom was the fake as they dealt the other rogues along with them. Soon the villagers all apologize the prince how they were mistaken and throws them a feast later at the night.

Then Cynthia walks to Sumia who is grooming her pegasus and asks, "Do you have a moment, Sumia?"

Turning around Sumia hearing her voice. "Oh, hello. You're the girl from...before. Er…"

"Cynthia! My name is Cynthia!"

"What a darling name."

"Tee hee! I KNOW! I've always loved it. It was a gift from my mother. ...From you."

"What? Me? But I... I've never seen…"

"Oh, but you WILL! Isn't that great?! I came from the FUTURE, Mother! See? Our rings match up and everything! It's 'cause you have it to me! Or you will. I mean, later. Before I come back here, but after I... Gods, this is confusing!"

Being dumbfounded, Sumia looks at the ring that is similar to hers and looks back at Cynthia. "You...you're my daughter...?"

"I sure am! I missed you so, Mother. Come here. Give me a hug—Whoops!" Cynthia abruptly trips but quickly gets up. "Ooh. That one's gonna bruise... Er, don't worry about me. I'm fine!"

"...Well, we're definitely related." Sumia then spots something drop on the ground. "Hold on. You dropped something. ...A spearhead?"

"S-sorry! I'll take that back!" The Young pegasus knight quickly snatches her spearhead back.

"Why are you carrying that around?" Sumia asks.

"Because it hasn't been made yet. You promised me we'd make it together."

"I did?"

"But you broke your promise the day... The day you never came home. How could you leave me, Mother? You were a legend! You were invincible!"

"Wait, are you saying I...died? I'm so sorry, love. I guess I'm not much of a legend after all."

"...You are to me."

"...I may not be invincible, but at least I was blessed with a wonderful child. Had we decided what sort of haft to give the spear? We can pick up the materials in the next town."

"W-we can?"

Sumia smiles. "I made a promise, didn't I?"

Cynthia tries to hold back her tears. "Oh...oh, Mother... I love you!"