Chapter 31: Reina's Secret Truth

With everyone well rested and charged, the Shepherds continue marching forward while Chrom opens the map in his hand showing the continent of Valm. As he looks around their surrounding and compares it to the illustrations, he smiles.

"Good. It seems we're almost there now. Say'ri, is this where you said that the shrine is located?"

They all glance over to the map as the woman nods. "Aye, it should be just over these hills, Prince Chrom."

"Really?!" Lissa exclaims, overjoyed with the news. "Let's go see! Let's go, Chi!"

"Tabune!" Chi runs after her trainer

"This isn't a playground, right?" Kai questions.

Robin chuckles, "Let them have their fun for now. We still have to get to work later and free the Voice."

"But I'm surprised how easily we got here." Meena notes.

"You think that too?" Reina asks with a frown. "We haven't seen any risen or Valmese soldiers on the way here so far. They're probably preparing for something."

Chrom nods. "It may be best for us to be wary of our surroundings then."

"WHOA!"

They all look up and see the princess standing at the top jumping up and down excitedly as her Pokémon is stun at whatever the sight of their destination is. "This is amazing!"

Hearing this, they walk up the hill after the two, the three trainers' eyes widen in shock as Reina gasps, "What a huge tree..."

"Not just huge, but gigantic!" Meena corrects her.

"And the shrine is in that tree?" Kai questions in surprise.

"How are we going to get up there?" Reina wonders.

"I'll explain along the way." Say'ri states. "First, we need to get to the trunk as soon as possible, but I can assure you that everyone will be able to climb up the tree."

The tree where the shrine resides in is gigantic and is incomparable to even the Ylissean castle back in Ylisstol. It has an enormous trunk that can possibly fit an entire village in and have numerous large branches covered in small, lush green leaves. The width of the roots is about the size of an average house or even larger than that as it attaches itself to the earth. It wasn't long before they soon reach under the tree's vast branches that Lissa glances up in awe.

"Whoaaa... I don't think I've ever felt so small…" Lissa admits.

"I can't even see the top of it!" Basilio comments in disbelief at its size.

Frederick nods in agreement. "Most impressive indeed... So, the shrine hides all the way up in its branches?"

"Aye, sir." Say'ri replies. "A great staircase inside the trunk leads up to it. However, the empire has closed off the only route to the steps. Or perhaps, 'roots' to the steps, I should say."

"Roots?" Asuna asks with a confused look.

"Aye. The stairs are located between the roots of the tree. If we're to get to the stairs, we're needed to use the roots as our guide to the steps. However, the Valmese have taken over them and the villages nearby."

"Then, we'll just have to break through." Chrom says with a nod as they soon caught sight of the army led by a bald armored general with a big mustache in the far back. "Robin!"

"I've gotten the plan down, Chrom." Robin replies with a cocky smile. "We're ready."

The battle has begun for a while now as Reina and Éclair take some of their mages with either arrows or electric moves. Meena and Bradly are busy rushing around healing the Shepherds with Maribelle, Lissa, and their Pokémon. It wasn't long before they soon outnumber their enemy as Miriel and her Bakeccha, Jacky are able to finish off their general from afar with the armorbreaker that Robin had Laslow wield during the fight against the science and beard obsessed general. Despite the man being gone now, they decide to continue to follow after Say'ri.

Reina glances over to the swordswoman. "Say'ri, do you know the way up to the shrine?"

"Aye, follow me." The swordswoman answers before looking around in the distance before adding, "And let us be quick about it."

Kai nods. "No doubt that the word about their general's defeat will reach to their emperor."

They hurry after the woman up the large roots till they come across a set of stairs that leads high up into the branches of the tree as Say'ri said they were. The set of stairs are even large enough to allow their Shepherds two wyverns to enter. As they walk up for what seems to be hours, Lissa stops to catch her breath.

"Ugh... How many stairs are there in a case of stairs? Because I'm already sick of this stupid staircase!"

"Not much now." Say'ri replies with a smile and points up ahead. "See there?"

There stands what looks to be a strange rock-like structure as the stairs began to disappear. Seeing this, the Ylissean princess cheers as Lucina looks up nervously. "The Voice truly lives all the way up here?"

As they reach the grassy top of the tree, they are surprised to see that, rather than branches and good, there are stone floors, strange structures around the corners of the grassy plain and a tall structure in the center with large stone doors open to all.

Say'ri rushes over to the front of the tall structure and shouts, "Lady Tiki! Are you here? Prithee answer!"

From the darkness of the interior walks out a woman with green hair tied back into a ponytail with a red ribbon, wore pink collar cloak that reaches down her waist, red dress, a pink sash around her waist, and red knee-length, high heel boots followed with red gloves and gold gauntlets under them. Unlike Nowi with her pointed ears, the woman has strangely spiky shaped tiara with a red jewel and a gold choker around her neck. As she walks out yawning as she does groggily.

Say'ri rushes over to the woman. "Ah, my lady... I'm so relieved to see you're all right."

Lucina walks up to the woman. "So, you are Lady Tiki? She who speaks for the divine dragon?"

Suddenly, the woman freezes in the middle of what was probably her third yawn and looks to the woman with wide eyes as she mutters, "...Marth? Oh, Mar-Mar, is that you?!"

"Mar-Mar?" Reina repeats as she walks behind the future princess.

As Lucina glances over to the manakete with a confused look, the Voice glances over to the female trainer making her eyes grow wider. "And Mei-Mei?! You finally came back!" Without warning, the woman rushes over to the two surprising them as she embraces both Lucina and Reina.

Stun, Lucina nervously replies, "...I'm sorry, but my name is Lucina, milady."

"Yes, and my name is Reina." The trainer adds.

Hearing this, the woman looks up in surprise and immediately jumps back with a frown. "O-oh! I'm sorry about that..."

Once released, Lucina says, "Though I did go by the name Marth for a time. Might we have met?"

However, the woman shakes her head with a sad expression. "...Alas, no. I'm sorry... The two reminds me of some people I knew." The manakete closes her eyes with a sad and nostalgic expression. "But they're both gone now. Lost before and during my endless sleep..."

As the two grimaces in silence understanding her words, the woman opens her eyes and looks up to the Lucina. "You and your father are of the exalted bloodline, are you not?"

"Yes, milady." Chrom replies with a nod.

"Do you yet possess the Fire Emblem?" Tiki questions. "It should have been passed down through your family..."

Chrom's eyes widen in shock. "I... Yes, I have it..."

With that, he raises his arm that wields the golden shield. Seeing this brings a smile to her lips with eyes of relief. "Ah! What relief to know it has not been lost." As she examines the shield closer, she looks to the man with a curious expression. "...But where are the Gemstones? I see only Argent."

Hearing this surprises everyone as Chrom raises his brow. "Gemstones?"

Tiki nods and explains, "Yes, there are five of them- Argent, Sable, Gules, Azura, and Vert. Each holds a portion of Naga's power. When mounted upon the Fire Emblem, they allow one to perform the Awakening."

"The Awakening?" Meena repeats.

Hearing this, Frederick looks up in surprise. "The rite by which the first exalt channeled the divine dragon's power..."

Tiki nods. "The very same. With the Fire Emblem's power, the exalt was able to defeat Grima. But such power was too much for men, and so the Gemstones were scattered." She turns around, then pulls something out a green orb from a small yellow bag hanging from her sash. "I keep Azure here with me."

"Then, what about the others?" Kai asks.

"My kingdom had safeguarded Vert for generations." Say'ri speaks up before she grimaces. "But the gem was recently stolen by Walhart's men."

Hearing this, Lucina turns to the green-haired manakete. "Milady, do you know where the other two Gemstones might be?"

Tiki shakes her head sadly. "The remaining Gemstones, Sable and Gules, are no longer known to me. They may have been taken long ago, at the time of Schism."

"The Schism?" Reina repeats.

"She's referring to when they had to separate the gems," Basilio explains briefly. "Regna Ferox was founded during the Schism. As were all nations in the realm, I believe."

Surprise at this, Lucina asks the Khan, "Wait- does that mean you guys have one of the Gemstones, Basilio?"

Flavia says in disbelief, "Ha! As if anyone would entrust the oaf with such a thing!"

"Actually, it's true- We did keep one: Gules." The West Khan says before turning to the jaw-dropped leading Khan. "...Did I never inform you?"

Flavia grimaces. "You most certainly did not."

Basilio frowns as he places a hand on his bearded chin. "Hmm... Must have slipped my mind. Regardless, yes. The West-Khans once safeguarded Gules. But it was lost long before my lifetime."

Regardless of everyone else's reaction, Tiki frowns but turns to Chrom and stretches out her hand holding the gem. "Here. Take Azure, exalted ones. With it, you possess two of the five Gemstones, Now you must seek out the others and perform the Awakening. Our world must be defended from Grima at all cost!"

Hearing this, Chrom receives the gemstone while he gives the woman a look of uncertainty. "But I'm confused... I thought Grima's power was sealed away."

Tiki nods. "Yes, but ever since, there have been those who would change that. Grima's life force grows even now, and, with it, the long shadows of despair."

Lucina grimaces recalling her memories as everyone nods in understanding. Reina turns to the manakete, "But, when will he return? And where?"

Tiki shakes her head. "I cannot know these things. I can feel his presence... It looms, closer and closer... This task is a heavy burden, but as he of exalted blood, it must fall to you, Chrom."

Chrom nods with a smile. "I understand. Thank you, for all your help."

As Chrom places the gemstone from his hand to one of the sockets of the shields, Robin turns to Tiki. "We owe you a great debt, milady."

Tiki glances over to the tactician before her eyes light up in surprise. "Ah! You... You have it as well..."

"What?" Robin looks up with uncertainty.

"You have power..." The woman speaks. "Like mine."

"I do?"

"I..." Tiki shakes her head as Say'ri gives the woman a concerned look. "Ah... Forgive me... I'm still groggy from my slumber. My words outpace my thoughts still."

"Are you all right, milady?" The swordswoman asks with a frown.

"I am fine..." The manakete replies as she yawns. "Just very tired... I haven't the strength to join you in the fray. Not yet. But I will all the people together, in prayer, for an end to this conflict. Say'ri, I'd like for you to join me as I do this."

"Of course, milady!" The woman says before following the manakete back into the temple.

Later, the group decides to make camp near Milla Tree as they wait for Say'ri and Tiki to come out. Not long after that, Reina walks out of the camp entrance with Éclair on her shoulder.

"Pika..." Éclair calls.

"I know what you're thinking, Éclair but I have to know. After Lady Tiki said that, it's been bothering me about this 'Mei-Mei'." As she said this, Reina leaves the camp and goes to the shrine.

The interior of the shrine is spacious; there are columns along the halls that soon lead into a room where the light shines down on a decorated cushion area where the green-haired woman is lying curled up and fast asleep with orbs and bottles of strange potions lying about her while the swordswoman stands in front of her.

Say'ri turns around and sees Reina with a look of surprise. "Lady Reina, is there something you need?"

"Y-Yes." Reina stutters. "I was hoping to ask Lady Tiki some questions, but it seems that she's asleep."

Say'ri shakes her head. "You don't have to worry. Lady Tiki also wanted to talk to you."

"Eh?"

"Lady Tiki... Lady Tiki..."

As the swordswoman shakes the woman's shoulder a little harsher, Tiki slowly opens her green eyes and slowly gets up rubbing her eyes drowsily. "Mmm... Say'ri...?"

"Yes. Reina has arrived." Say'ri answers.

"Huh...?" Tiki says with a yawn before gasping in shock before she sees the trainer. "Ah, I'm sorry. I tend to always feel rather sleepy and fall asleep in strange places."

"Umm... It's fine. Say'ri mentioned that you wanted to speak with me."

The manakete nods. "Yes, I'd like to speak to you about Mei-Mei, Meira."

"Mei... ra...?" Reina repeats slowly.

"She was a great friend to Marth as a prince and to me a sister-figure. She helped Marth during his journey saving his country, Altea. However one day, she disappeared without a trace. I have feared that she might have gone forever without telling me and Mar-Mar."

"That's why you said that earlier..."

"Yes. You greatly resemble her."

"Maybe it's because of the sister aura? I have a little sister."

Tiki shakes her head. "No, that's not all. Your voice, behavior, and actions... they all remind of Meira. And also..." The Voice looks straight into Reina's eyes. "...all that worried me."

"Worried?"

"Pika?" Éclair tilts her head.

"I heard from Say'ri that you were born with a weak constitution."

"Meena..." Reina facepalms thinking that her sister told Say'ri this.

"And when you were saved from being nearly died from your fever, your body becomes stronger, correct?"

"Umm... That's what my parents told me... Even though I don't know why..."

"Reina. This pains me to say this but your body is still frail."

Both Reina and Éclair are surprised to hear this.

"What do you mean? I traveled around Hoenn Region with my sister without a problem and here I am fighting with the Shepherds." Reina states.

"It's true that up till now you were traveling and fighting along with your comrades. But that's not all, you hold a power that Meira had. It's because of that power, it saved you."

"Power?"

"It's not the same power as mine nor anyone else's in this world. If that power is used for good, that can protect this world. But if it used for evil, it can be used for destruction. Meira chose to use that power to help Marth with his journey and saved me."

Reina looks down to her hands. "Why... do I have this power...?"

"Probably... You're the other Meira."

"Huh...?"

"Did you notice when you enter this world?"

"I..." Reina remembers the time when she first awakened in this world and when she laid eyes with her surroundings, she felt nostalgia. The archer places her hand on her chest. "At that time, I don't know why I felt it but..."

Tiki sincerely smiles at the trainer. "But Reina, don't forget you are yourself in person."

"Me as myself..." Reina whispers to herself and smiles. "Yes!" Then she walks away to the door.