Mercer giggled as Cordelia buried her face in his shoulder, gently nibbling on him. "Cordelia! St-stop!"

Cordelia kissed his pectoral and climbed on top of him. "I've thought about you for forty years, baby. I don't want to stop now." Mercer laid his head back down on the pillow and Cordelia climbed up to be at eye level with him. "Mmm, you've picked up some new scars since you came to see me at the house."

"I'm sorry." Mercer said smiling. "Is that why you were touching me so thoroughly."

"That's only one reason." Cordelia and Mercer kissed and Cordelia went back to caressing his chest, her way of "seeing" him. The moment was ruined by a loud pounding at the door.

"HEY! OPEN UP!"

Mercer put his hand on Cordelia's cheek and turned her head to not yell in her ear. "Uh, who is it?!"

"CITY AUTHORITY! Open up or we're coming in!"

Mercer kissed Cordelia again and slowly climbed out from under her. "I'll deal with this." Cordelia sighed and sat up.

"Be careful."

"I'll be fine." Mercer responded as he fumbled for his pants. He made it to the door right before several armed soldiers kicked it open and forced themselves into the room.

"Chrom! By order of the Justicar, I am to take you to see him! We will use force if you resist us!"

Cordelia wandered into the room, covering herself with a bed sheet. "Vasto?"

Vasto glanced over to her. "Ooh, it looks like we interrupted something saucy."

"What are you doing here?"

"Sorry, Cordelia. This is nothing personal."

Mercer thought about fighting back, but the Falchion was across the room and he couldn't bear to think about anything happening to Cordelia. "Who is this Justicar?"

"He's the leader of the settlement."

"I thought Cervantes was the leader."

"The Justicar had been away for several weeks, but he just returned. He wants to see you."

"Alright, alright. I'll come peacefully. Just… just let me get some clothes."

"Yeah… I think we'd all appreciate that."

"I'm coming with him!" Cordelia said defiantly. Vasto shrugged.

"Fine. The Justicar needs to see Chrom, but he didn't say you couldn't come too. Follow me, err… after you get dressed."

"Will you give us some privacy?!"

"I have strict orders to not let you out of my… ah they don't pay me enough for this. You know what?! Finish up for all I care. Just make sure to swing by the citadel at some point."

"Err… thanks?"

"Just be glad they didn't send Pheros after you. Those Valmese generals are a lot less friendly."

In an alley near the city square, Ophelia, Soleil, and Caeldori found ways to pass the time. Soleil and Caeldori had fashioned a net and attached it to the wall of a building, and the two women took turns trying to throw a rubber ball into it. One would try to get it into the net, and the other would try to block it.

"What you got? Huh, Huh?! What you got?" Soleil said as she dribbled the ball between her hands. Soleil looked up at the net, and Caeldori reacted by getting ready to jump and block her shot. Soleil charged forward and bashed Caeldori in the face with the ball. Only after Caeldori had been knocked to the ground did she take her shot, and she raised her arms in the air as the ball went through the net. "Oh! She shoots, she scores! The Pegasus Knight has no air game! Ironic? I think so!"

Caeldori shot Soleil a nasty glare as she held her nose. "No fair! She hit me with the ball! Ref!"

Both Soleil and Caeldori turned to Ophelia, who had been sitting on a bench the whole time. She was fixated on levitating small rocks around her hand. "Hmm. Oh, sorry. I wasn't actually paying attention."

"Come on, Ophelia! You're supposed to be referee!"

"Athletic sports are boring. Why can't you two butt egos over something more intellectually stimulating?"

Soleil laughed as she retrieved the ball and dribbled it between her legs. "Oh you're just mad because I handed you your rear. Step off my court girl, before you get hurt."

"That's not fair! You can't hit me in the face with the ball!"

"Well I don't think it's fair that you get a metal hand!"

"A prosthetic hand is not a boon you hedge-born fizzle!"

Soleil and Caeldori turned at the sound of footsteps to see a man with strange goggles walking towards them. They tensed up at the sight of the man, and they moved to confront him. The man took out a lollipop he had in his mouth and smiled. "Blondie, Shrill, Copy."

"Scary guy." Soleil responded. "What do you want?"

"Do you three know where Cordelia is? I haven't seen her in a few days."

"Err, well…. neither have we. We don't really want to be around her right now."

"What? Why not?"

"She and Mercer have gotten real friendly."

"Yeah she is very sympathetic to him."

"No I mean they're real friendly… wink, wink."

"What?"

Soleil sighed. "They're doing it."

"What do you mean… oh, OH. OH! When did this start?!"

"A few days ago."

"They've been together this whole time?!"

"There's thirty years of tension in there. Even those old geezers can probably go at it a few times before soreness becomes a problem. We don't really want to be around Mercer anyways, and we really don't want to be around him now that he's plowing Caeldori's grandma."

Gaius winced. "Stop talking about it. I don't want to think about that!"

Caeldori looked down. "How do you think I feel?"

"We don't know where Cordelia is. Why don't you check her living quarters and leave us alone." Soleil said bitterly as she dribbled the ball between her hands. She accidentally missed it as she bounced it back and forth, and Gaius caught it.

"Is this rubber?"

"I don't know. Maybe?"

Gaius bounced the ball a few times. "Rubber doesn't even grow on this continent, and it's probably a lot rarer since the Fell Dragon took over. Where did you get this?!"

"We bought if from a store here for 500 gold."

"500 gold for a toy! You can't spend money like that!"

"It's our money. We get some from Tiki whenever she comes to see us."

"And when was the last time she came to see you."

"Well… I guess it has been a while."

"You three should be more responsible."

Ophelia, Soleil, and Caeldori all stared Gaius down. "We didn't ask you." Soleil said as she snatched the ball out of his hands. "Look, thanks for saving us from the Grimleal, but we don't want anything to do with you. Why don't you go join your Shepherd buddies."

"They're gone, Shrill. They've been gone for thirty years."

"Then why are you still hanging around?"

Gaius suppressed his anger and took deep breaths. "I'm sorry for how we met. It was nothing personal. I know I'll probably be out of your lives in a few days, but for now we should be able to depend on each other. Will this help?" Gaius took a bag of coins out of his pocket and handed it to Soleil. Soleil took it and felt the coins, unsure of what to think. "It looks like you don't have a reliable income, so how about I help you for now. Are we good?"

Soleil pocketed the money and looked up at Gaius. "I want a free one."

"A free one?"

"You overpowered us, tied us up, and threatened us. We need to do something to you to be even. I want to punch you in the face."

"What?! You've got to be kidding me!"

"We didn't ask you to come see us. I want a free one!"

Gaius ran his hands through his hair and groaned. "Fine. You can punch me in the stomach." Soleil punched Gaius in the stomach without hesitation. He fell to his knees in pain. "GAAAH! Gah! Ow."

"Ooh, that felt good."

Gaius slowly looked up at Soleil. "Are we… are we good?"

"No. You tied up all three of us, so we each get one. Caeldori?"

Caeldori shrugged and struck Gaius in the stomach. Soleil turned to Ophelia. "Ophelia?"

Ophelia was still fixated on levitating rocks around her hand. "Hmm? Oh, uh take mine for me."

Soleil punched Gaius in the stomach again. He fell on all fours and could only make a high pitched moaning noise for almost a minute. "Gah! GRRRRGH! Mother… agh! Gods-damnit! Aaagh! Are we… are we good?"

Soleil shrugged. "I guess."

Gaius brought himself to his feet, though he still had to clutch his stomach. "I don't think we've properly met. You're Olivia's granddaughter? Inigo's daughter?"

"Yes."

Gaius looked to Caeldori. "And you're Cordelia's granddaughter?" Caeldori nodded, and Gaius turned to Ophelia. "And your Lissa's granddaughter? You have that mark on you and everything?"

Ophelia nodded. "Yeah."

"Severa, Owain, Inigo… huh. When could they have had kids?!"

Soleil glanced around, a saddened expression taking her. "We uh… we never knew our parents. I still have my mother, but I had to leave her to be here."

Gaius turned back to Ophelia and Caeldori. "What about your other parents?"

Caeldori thought about it. "I was only five when I lost my father and mother. Mother said that father was moved by the Grimleal. Now I know better. I've seen first hand where the Grimleal move people to. I still remember him though. He had a soft, kind face, and long dark red hair. He kind of looked like Cordelia actually. I think mother may have had some kind of Oedipal complex."

Gaius shook his head. "Okay moving on. Ophelia?"

Ophelia gave him a pained look. "My mother raised me until I was eleven. One day she sent me to a nearby village to pick up some supplies. When I came back… the survivors told me that the Grimleal had taken half the village. I never saw her again. I've been fighting them ever since."

Gaius was still for some time. Eventually he lifted up his goggles and looked solemnly at the girls. "I'm… I'm sorry. You three are very brave. You three are heroes in your own right. I was so caught up in trying to kill him that day that I didn't think about you. He got innocent people killed… but if I hurt you then I'd be no better. I'm so sorry about how we met."

Soleil gave him a faint smile. "Well… thank you for the money, and thanks again for saving us. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Why did you give us nicknames?"

"I give everyone nicknames. Chrom was Blue. Lissa was Princess because, uh… you know. Olivia was uh… Babe. Yeesh. Never thought I'd have to tell her granddaughter that."

"What was Cordelia's?"

"Uh… did I not give her one?"

The four turned when they noticed several armed Arch Surg soldiers approaching them. The soldiers were armed with long pikes, and they were lead by Pheros. She reared her horse up in front of Gaius and her soldiers formed behind her. "Gaius! Ophelia! Soleil! Caeldori!" She yelled. "Is that correct?"

Soleil slowly reached for her sword. "Err, yes?"

"By order of the Justicar, you are hereby being detained."

Gaius lowered his goggles. "And what does that mean?"

"It means that you are not permitted to leave this settlement. Failure to comply will lead to repercussions."

"I want to talk to this Justicar!"

Pheros nodded. "The Justicar will likely want to talk to you. Follow me."

Mercer and Cordelia, who was once again wearing her blindfold, eventually found Vasto and were escorted through the city, past the city square and Nowi's skeleton, and into a large stone citadel. The building towered over the rest of the city, but it wasn't located anywhere near the city's center as citadels usually were. It seemed to be a recent addition, and in fact most of it still looked like it was under construction. Mercer couldn't see workers actually building anything, but scaffolding surrounded much of the building, and many areas were blocked off. Only the main entryway seemed to be completed, and it was being used as the building's main office space. Vasto took Mercer and Cordelia to the entrance and then proceeded to stand guard in front of it. Mercer looked over to find Ophelia, Soleil, Caeldori, and Gaius already waiting, with Pheros standing over them. Mercer was glad to see them okay, but he couldn't bring himself to make eye contact with any of them. Instead he bowed his head and sheepishly stood behind Cordelia. She noticed, and she took his hand to reassure him.

Eventually Cervantes emerged from the building and walked up to Mercer. He looked him up and down as he straightened his posture. "Well, well. If it isn't the prince. Your friends told me much about you and what you've become, but I don't think we've properly been reintroduced yet."

"Cervantes." Mercer responded apprehensively.

"Don't be so nervous, my boy! We may have been foes once yes, but things have changed. The Fell Dragon is my enemy now. If you don't have six eyes and four wings, then you needn't fear my whiskers."

Mercer couldn't help but stare at Cervantes' beard. It was even longer than it used to be, and it was now stark white. "You… still haven't shaved."

"Ha! Of course not! Once I believed that my beard made me invincible, but alas this was proven false. However I was able to survive when everyone thought me killed. Therefore this beard makes me immortal. It's science, my boyo!"

"That doesn't sound very scientific."

Cervantes glared at Mercer, though his beard covered most of his face and made it difficult to tell his expression. "Oh kiss my crinkled, Valmese arse. Talk to me like that again and I'll beat the right piss out ya you bloody bogan, I swear on me mum."

The door behind Cervantes opened to reveal a tall, heavily armored, older man. The man's plate armor was very thick and consisted of multiple layers of armor, and it was colored dark gray and black with red trimming. The man also had a very pronounced collar that went around his head. The man didn't look any younger than seventy, but he stood up very straight and still looked very intimidating. "HAIL, CIVILIANS!" The man barked in a thundering voice. "THE JUSTICAR WILL SEE YOU NOW!"

Cervantes rubbed his finger in his ear. "Nngh! Not so loud, Farber! I'm standing right here."

Mercer did a double take back to the man. "Wait! Farber?! Are you… are you-"

"YES! We have met before, prince. I was a Valmese general in service to the IMMORTAL EMPEROR of the FIRST VALMESE EMPIRE! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! DEATH TO ALL WHO OPPOSE HIM!" Farber seemed to wince at his own words. "Calm down, calm down. That was the old Farber." He muttered to himself. "Err, sorry about that. The Justicar will see you now, Chrom."

"So you were the Valmese general at Valm Harbor? You survived and joined the Arch Surg?"

"The Grimleal call us that! You will refer to us by our proper name! We are the Archanean Liberation Front! Remember that name, worm, because we are the future of the human condition." Farber snapped. "I did survive our battle, and I joined Pheros and Cervantes' resistance against the Grimleal. I did not waste away as a drunken old man like you! You Shepherds were teenagers playing at war. I did not abandon the war when things turned against me like you did! I continue to fight for the future of humanity!"

Vasto stepped closer to Mercer. "Err, word of advice, Farber is really dedicated to the Justicar and the Arch Surg. Continuing this exchange won't go well for you. Just follow him in."

Mercer nodded. "Sorry. Just take me in."

Farber lead Mercer into the building, and Cervantes and Pheros followed him in. Cordelia also tried to enter, but Vasto blocked her. "Err, I'm sorry darling but you and the others will have to stay outside."

"What?! Well I'm not going anywhere."

"That's fine. You can stay right out here. The Justicar will probably want to see you five as well."

"So what are we going to do until then?" Soleil said as she and the others walked over. Vasto shrugged.

"How about I tell you some jokes?"

Soleil wasn't sure of what to make of that. "You're going to tell us jokes?"

"Sure! I have some good ones! So these three Pegasus Knights are in the woods, looking for bucks. They decide to split up, so one Pegasus Knight stays back while the other two wander further into the woods. Eventually one sees a rustling in a bush, so she throws her spear into it. Turns out her comrade was in the bush, and she falls over unmoving. The Pegasus Knight panics, so she goes back to her other companion."

Cordelia frowned. "I don't like where this is going."

"So she runs up to her and says 'Help! I think I may have accidentally killed our friend! She's not moving!' The other Pegasus Knight is calm. She says 'Okay before you do anything else, make sure she's actually dead.' The first Pegasus Knight runs back to her comrade, stabs her with her lance, and then runs back. Then she says 'Okay, now what?'"

Soleil broke out laughing, and everyone except Cordelia at least chuckled. Cordelia was less than amused. "Oh come on! That's offensive! You're trying to portray Pegasus Knights as dumb bimbos!"

"Well I'm sorry you don't have a sense of humor. There's nothing wrong with that. You're just like my friend. I tried to make him laugh, so I sent him a list of my ten best jokes but… no pun-in-ten-did!"

"Aah!" Soleil laughed. "No pun intended! I get it! This guy… this guy!"

"That's stupid." Cordelia responded. Vasto gave a cheeky grin.

"Well I'm sorry you're blinded to my humor. I just don't think you see what I'm trying to say, but if you'd just visualize my jokes then you'd understand them."

"Aah!" Soleil said as she playfully elbowed Cordelia. "Because you're blind? Get it? Get it? Geddit-geddit-geddit?"

"Ugh."

The building Mercer was taken into only had one room accessible, but it was a very large area. Mercer could see a figure in front of a large statue at the very end of the room, but he couldn't see any details until he was much closer. It was then that Mercer realized the figure was praying, but the statue didn't depict any god or deity. Instead it depicted the great hero of time. The crusader of Naga. The warrior from a doomed future. His own daughter. As Mercer looked down at the figure and recognized his dark blue outfit, he became increasingly horrified at the realization of who it was.

"I will to my lord be true and faithful." The figure chanted. "I will love all that she loved. I will shun all that she shunned. I will allow her to bless me and keep me. To be gracious to me, and shine her countenance upon me. In return I will be her tireless crusader. As she stood in preservation of all humanity, I will stand at the extremity of my exertion, come perdition or eradication, to honor her. I will take her sword. Her mask. Her struggle. I am become the princess of time." The man rose to his feet and turned to face Mercer, revealing a blue wig and a replica of Lucina's butterfly mask on his face. "Nothing beside remains."

Mercer's face twisted in frustration. "How the hell are you alive?!" He snarled.

"Lucina was able to survive in her time even as Risen killed almost everyone else in the world. How could I follow in her legacy if I allowed a handful of Tunnellers to kill me?"

"You're not following in her legacy!"

"I don't want to have this argument with you." Keith turned to Farber and Cervantes. "Leave us."

The two nodded and quietly left. Pheros stepped forward. "Am I needed, Justicar?"

"Our scouts have reported that the Grimleal is sending the 4th army from Regna Ferox to us."

"Are they heading right for us?"

"No, but they are getting close. It's possible they're trying to cut us off. I want you to take the city's entire garrison and ward them off. Civil patrol and Vasto's wyvern riders will be enough to keep order in the city."

"It will be done at once, Justicar." Pheros turned and left. At first Mercer thought he was alone with Keith, though he turned and saw several armed guards by the door he didn't notice earlier. Mercer was trembling with disgust as he turned back to Keith. The image of his slain daughter wasn't any less traumatic weeks later, and Keith's obsession with her was clearly far worse than he thought. He wasn't sure what to make of it, but it certainly didn't endear him to Keith.

"So this is where you were going to take us back in Veslil? This is your organization? This is how you had the resources to take Veslil from the Grimleal?"

"Yes."

"Did you get your mask back from the Tunnellers, or do you have spares."

"I pried it from their cold, dead hands… but I do have spares."

"Why Keith? Why just…" Mercer ran his hands through his hair. "WHY?!"

"She was a hero. She is an inspiration to humanity."

"But that doesn't mean you can do this! You can't dress like her as if… as if you were some kind of ghost! I can't… you're killing me!"

"Would it help if I took off the wig?" Keith removed his wig, but Mercer didn't change his expression.

"And the mask."

"The mask stays."

"Would it be so bad if you took off that mask?"

"It would be very painful."

"You look like a tough guy."

"For you."

Mercer paused. "Wait, what? For you? What do you mean by that? Are you finishing your other sentence? Are you saying it would be painful for me? Are you continuing off what I said? Are you saying you're a tough guy because of me? I'm confused at your wordplay there."

"Just… nevermind." Keith slowly approached Mercer. "I don't want to be enemies, Chrom."

"You kidnapped us! You kept us in a basement! You broke my knee!"

"I'm sorry. That was wrong of me." Keith's voice had a solemn inflection to it, but he otherwise didn't change much. Mercer realized that was as close as he would get to genuine remorse from Keith. "You need to meet my boss. I am justified in taking you to her. She needs to see you."

"Who is this woman? You said she knows me. You said she's seen me before."

"She asked that in her words I not 'Spoil the surprise.'"

"Can you tell me anything about her?"

Keith thought about it. "She was a Pegasus Knight. She once looked up to you."

"A Pegasus Knight?! How?!"

"I-I've said too much. You will be detained here until I receive further instruction from her."

"Will she come here?"

"I don't know, but you will see her. I guarantee it. I am sorry for what happened in Veslil. I won't throw you in a cell here. You are free to use the services this city has to offer, and I'll pay for it. Anything you want. That's also true of your companions."

"R-really?"

"Yes." Keith walked over to a side door. "There is one thing I want to show you before I let you go. Come with me."

Keith lead Mercer out into a courtyard. Standing up on wooden poles were several humanoid figures made from straw and cloth. Keith walked over to a table and took two small pistols from a box. He thrusted one into Mercer's hands. Mercer had no idea how to react to it. He still didn't have a firm grasp on what firearms were, or how they worked, and they terrified him. He didn't like the idea of being able to end a life with nothing more than a pull of a trigger. "W-what?! What is this?!"

"A handheld firearm." Keith said as he pulled back the hammer on his own pistol. "You're going to learn how to use it."

"What?! No!"

"Mercer, these are the future of warfare. Someday firearms will dominate the battlefield. Not everyone can use a sword, or a pike, or a bow, but anyone can use a pistol like this. The elderly, children, the sick, the crippled, the mentally perturbed, all are equally dangerous with a loaded gun in their hand."

Mercer didn't look back to Keith. He just gave his pistol a horrified look and shook his head. "No, no, no. I don't want anything else to do with this!"

"Shut up! It's just a weapon. Surely you were afraid of a sword when you first started training with it?"

"I-I guess."

"This is just a weapon. It's just a tool. You'll get used to it."

"I don't want it, Keith."

"Why not?"

"They're evil!" Mercer threw the pistol on the ground. Keith was visibly angered by it, and he took very deep breaths to prevent himself from snapping at Mercer. "The loud noises! The horrible smoke! Killing a man by just pulling a trigger?! It's not right! It's terrifying!"

"War changes, Mercer. Surely our ancestors were horrified when their enemies first came at them with metal weapons and armor. They had no choice but to adapt. Otherwise they wouldn't have lived to have descendants. Gunpowder weapons are the future. They'll only get more and more advanced. You need to be familiar with them."

"Why do you think that?"

"Common sense. It takes a lifetime to train someone to use a bow, and not everyone is fit enough to use a melee weapon effectively. Anyone can kill anyone else with a gun. Muscle. Fat. Height. Fitness. Experience. None of that saves you from a bullet. Even metal armor can be penetrated by firearms, though pistols can't do that reliably. Someday guns will bring an end to warfare. Someday they'll make guns that can wipe out a hundred men in the blink of an eye. When guns like that exist, wars won't be fought anymore. People will be too scared to wage war anymore."

Mercer looked directly at Keith. "Alternatively, wars will become more destructive than ever."

Keith shrugged. "Well I'm no futurologist, but guns are the future, Chrom. You need to be familiar with them."

"I prefer my sword."

"That's fine. I'm just saying you should have a pistol on you. You're getting old. The human body just wasn't meant to live that long. Nature just wants you to live long enough to fuck, and to see your kids fuck. Nothing else matters. Your body will give out on you one day. Do you want to be there for Ophelia, Soleil, and Caeldori for the rest of your life, or do you want to die on your back with a far younger man or woman standing over you, about to hack you apart? Having a gun could be the difference between life and death."

Mercer didn't have an effective response to that. "If I learn to use this pistol, you'll leave me alone?"

"If that's what you want."

"Fine."

Keith nodded and held out his pistol. "Now when you're aiming a pistol, you get a good look at your target and then bring the gun up to where you're looking. Take time to adjust your aim, but don't take too long or your hand will get tired and the gun will wobble. Steady it with your other hand if you need to, but don't put your other hand too close to the barrel." Keith turned to one of the figures, about five meters away from him, and fired his pistol. Mercer reflexively turned away at the sharp crack, and when he looked back he saw a hole dead center in the figure's forehead. "Now your turn."

"Umm, alright." Mercer picked up his gun and pulled back the hammer as Keith did. He pointed it at another figure, his gun waving wildly in his hand.

"No! You won't hit anything like that!" Mercer panicked and pulled the trigger. A rather undignified noise emanated from him as it went off. Keith shook his head. "Awful."

"I-I can't! The horrible noise! The explosion in my hand! It's horrifying!"

"You'll get used to it."

Mercer tried aiming again, and when he was ready he pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. "Oh right. I forgot to pull back the hammer."

Keith groaned. "No. You forgot to load it."

"Oh. Yeah. I was wondering how that worked."

"Follow me." Keith lead Mercer to the table and pulled out supplies for guns. "Now you'll need to know how to reload a firearm. This pistol is a flintlock pistol, so you need to make sure it has flint in the cock."

"The cock?"

"The hammer. It means the hammer. Also the hammer has to be pulled back to half cock to reload the gun. It won't work otherwise." Keith poured gunpowder from a flask into a measure and then poured it into the barrel of his pistol. "Now ideally you pour gunpowder from a measure. If you pour it right from the flask then you might use too much."

"What is that sand for?"

"It's gunpowder. It creates the explosion that propels the bullet out of the barrel. Now you put the bullet itself into the barrel. Wrap your bullet in thin cloth or paper, and then insert it into the barrel. It should make a nice, tight fit."

"Then how do you force it down the barrel?"

"Your ramrod. The bullet won't fire unless you ram it into the back of the barrel, so you use this to force it in there." Keith used his ramrod to force the bullet down into the barrel. Then he inserted it back into the pistol. "Now you always put the ramrod back before you do anything else. Your gun is worthless without the ramrod. Now you pour a small amount of gunpowder into the pan, the metal part on the side of the gun. Now snap the frizzen over the pan like this." Keith finished loading the pistol and pulled the hammer back. "Now pull the hammer back to full cock. It's ready to fire."

"That seems complicated."

"You'll get used to it."

"I don't understand. You don't even use guns! Why are you so obsessed with them?!"

"I don't use them because Lucina didn't use them, but I still know how to use them." Keith turned and fired on the figure again. Mercer flinched, and when he looked back he saw another hole in the figure's head. "Now you try reloading yours."

Mercer took the flask of gunpowder and poured it into the barrel of his pistol. Keith slapped his hand, seized the gun, and poured it out. "You're using too much! Do you want it to take off your hand when you fire it?! Use the measure!"

"Right."

"And your pistol needs to be at half cock."

"Right." Mercer poured the gunpowder into the measure. He pulled the hammer back to half cock, and then poured the gunpowder into the barrel. He then placed the bullet into the barrel without wrapping it, and Keith didn't react fast enough to stop him.

"You didn't wrap it!"

"Is it broken?"

"It won't fire well."

Mercer dumped out the bullet, though the gunpowder went with it. Mercer took deep breaths to contain his frustration and panic, but Keith was surprisingly patient with him. Mercer poured gunpowder into the barrel again, and then wrapped a bullet in cloth and placed it into the barrel. He then used his ramrod to force it down the barrel before placing it back on the table. Keith slapped his hand again. "No! Put it back in the gun!"

"Why?!"

"A gun is worthless without a ramrod! Always put it back!" Mercer put the ramrod into the gun. He held it up, but Keith took it and finished loading it. "You forgot to pour gunpowder into the pan and snap the frizzen over the pan."

"Right."

Keith pulled back the hammer and handed it to Mercer. "It's ready to fire now." Mercer took the pistol and held it out towards Keith. He darted to the side. "Woah! Watch where you point it!"

"Sorry."

"Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to fire it."

"Right."

Mercer aimed the pistol and fired at a figure. He managed to not turn away as it went off, but it still shook wildly in his hand. He didn't manage to hit the figure at all. Keith nodded. "Well at least you managed to load it."

"I… I don't like this. I just… I don't feel comfortable. These weapons are horrifying."

Keith looked down. "You asked me why I like these weapons so much? Remember what I told you about my past?"

"You were a slave."

"Right. I had nothing. I didn't even have a right to my own body. I was helpless. Can you imagine that? Complete helplessness?"

"No." Mercer said in a soft tone. "I couldn't."

"There was nothing I could do. We like to think ourselves a civilized race, Mercer, but our society is built on strength and violence. The strong dominate the weak. We can pretend that things are better than that, but look around. Look at how the world works. People are oppressed, tortured, brutalized, because people think they can get away with it. Even laws only work if they can be enforced. Guns are the great equalizers. Anyone can matter with a gun. Anyone can defend themselves. Guns will bring an end to the tyranny of strength."

"Won't they just usher in a new kind of tyranny?"

Keith shrugged. "Well then we'd better make sure everyone has one. Come here." Keith went to the end of the table and pulled out another box. He opened it up to reveal a double barreled flintlock pistol. It was plated with blue and silver, and elaborate engravings depicting symbols of the Ylissean monarchy, including the Mark of Naga, covered it. Mercer stared at it as Keith handed it to him.

"What… what is this?"

"Do you remember the assassin who shot you in Veslil? I had his pistols recovered. I personalized them so that I could use them, but I think you should have one. Take it."

Mercer slowly picked up the firearm. It was much heavier than the other pistol, and it brought back unpleasant memories of what happened in Veslil. "Keith I… I don't feel comfortable with this. This is the gun that shot me? The gun that shot Ophelia, and Soleil?"

"You're doing this for them, Chrom. This might save your life. You want to be there for them don't you? You might need this one day."

Mercer sighed. "I guess."

"Come on. Test it out." Mercer walked back to the table and loaded it. Each barrel had to be loaded separately, and Keith snapped at Mercer again when he forgot to put the ramrod back in the pistol, but Mercer otherwise loaded the gun skillfully. He then turned and aimed at a figure. He pulled a trigger, and the left barrel went off. Mercer missed again, and he let his arm fall to his side.

"It's heavy."

"Don't take so long to aim. Also remember that the barrels are off center, and adjust your aim accordingly."

Mercer remembered what Keith told him and looked at the target before raising his pistol towards it. He took a deep breath and fired the second trigger. The bullet struck the very side of the figure. "I-I hit it."

Keith gave a faint smile. "You're doing better." Keith drew what had been Theresa's other pistol, customized just like Mercer's pistol, and unloaded both barrels into another figure. The bullets both hit the figure where the heart would be. "You'll get better."

"Can I go now?"

"Yes, Mercer. You can return to your companions now. Please keep that pistol. You never know when you might need it."

Mercer still wasn't sure how to feel about it, but Keith had made some valid points. There may come a time where his body would let him down. It couldn't hurt to keep it on him. "Alright. Thank you… Keith."

"Remember what I told you. You can't leave this settlement."

Mercer's expression soured. "Right."

Mercer left the building to find Ophelia, Soleil, Caeldori, Gaius, and Cordelia still listening to Vasto. Everyone except Cordelia was fixated on what he was saying. "So then the king says to Marth, 'Thank you for saving our kingdom. Altea is lucky to have such a strong princess.' Marth looks at him and says 'Princess? But I'm a man?' The king looks him up and down and says, 'You could have fooled me.'"

Everyone except Cordelia laughed, and Soleil lightly jabbed her in the stomach with her elbow. "Aah! Get it? Because he had a tiara and a short skirt and was effeminate looking in general?"

"Stop explaining every joke, Soleil! The Hero King was not effeminate."

"He wore a short skirt with no pants underneath." Vasto said.

"He wasn't effeminate!"

"I always wondered why Pegasus Knights wore short skirts. Is it because of him? Does that make you all cross dressers?"

"No!"

"Then he was effeminate."

"Say one more word about the Hero King and you can tell your friends what it's like to have a blind woman kicking your rear!" The group turned as Mercer approached. Mercer didn't know how to explain his pistol, so he tucked it away behind him. Cordelia ran up to him and embraced him. "Mercer! You're okay!"

"Yes, Cordelia. I'm fine."

"I missed you, baby." Mercer stared blankly into space, and Cordelia somehow knew something was bothering him. "What's wrong?"

"I don't like what the world has become. It's changing. So much. I don't like what humanity is becoming." Mercer said in a grim tone. Cordelia looked confused, but she still gave Mercer a reassuring look.

"None of us like what's happening to the world. That's why we're fighting to change it."

"I don't like what I'm becoming, Cordelia. Everyone I have ever loved is gone now."

"I'm not." Mercer smiled and the two embraced. Mercer whispered in Cordelia's ear.

"I miss the people we used to be."

"So do I. So do I. I'm here for you now though. I'll never leave you alone. I promise."

Mercer smiled and held Cordelia tightly. It was a peaceful moment for him, until he glanced up and saw Soleil shooting daggers at him. Ophelia and Caeldori nudged her, trying to get her to look away, but Soleil wouldn't let her feelings be hidden. "Soleil stop staring like that." Ophelia whispered to her. Soleil shook her head and turned to Ophelia.

"No! I know you feel the way I feel! She's abandoned us for that old bastard! We never should have taken him to her!"

Soleil's voice was louder than Ophelia's, but she was still whispering. Cordelia managed to hear her though, and she turned and confronted Soleil. "What did you just say?"

Soleil walked towards her, and everyone else took several steps back. "I'm not taking it back! You're supposed to be helping us, but you turn into a lecherous teenager around him! You've abandoned us!"

"Soleil stop!" Ophelia cried.

"No! She needs to hear this!" Soleil got very close to Cordelia, so that Cordelia would be threatened even without being able to see her. "You've abandoned us. You've abandoned the future! For that old man! We need you! Not him!"

"You've been avoiding me!"

"You think we want to see you with him! He deserves to be left to rot!" Cordelia stepped towards Soleil, to the point where the two women were almost touching. Everyone prepared for the worst, and Soleil trembled with rage and prepared to defend herself. Cordelia lunged at her, but she didn't strike her or yell at her. Instead she just wrapped her arms around Soleil and hugged her as tightly as she had hugged Mercer. Soleil was completely disarmed, and she couldn't bring herself to do anything but breathe heavily. "Cordelia?! What are you doing?!" She finally managed to ask.

"Oh, Soleil." Cordelia stopped hugging Soleil and looked directly at her. "That's not true at all. I'm not just doing this because I care about him. I'm doing it because I love you."

"W-what?"

"You need a leader. Mercer can help you. He can help the world. I know you don't want to be around him now, but you'll feel differently later. He can be there for you. If I can help him, then he can help you."

Soleil looked down. "I HATE HIM! He killed my father!"

"That's not true. You don't hate him. You hate the world for what it's become, and you hate the Grimleal, and you're taking it out on him. It wasn't his fault, and he's sorry for what happened. He does care about you. He'd do anything to make it up to you." When Soleil looked back up at Cordelia, there were tears in her eyes. "Soleil, I know I was hard on you when we were training, and I'm sure I said things that were unfair, but I am proud of you. You girls go out there and fight for a better world. You're a very strong woman, as strong as anyone I've known. I am so proud of you."

Soleil hugged Cordelia back. "R-really?"

"Yes. I want Mercer to feel better because I love him, but also because I want him to help you. You three are like my daughters, and I love you too. I'd never abandon you. Never."

"I… I'm sorry about what I said."

"Don't be. You're entitled to your feelings. It's okay."

Ophelia slowly stepped forward. "Y-you're proud of me too, right?"

Cordelia smiled and hugged Ophelia too. "Of course. I'm sorry I don't know much about magic, Ophelia. I'm sorry I can't help you be a better mage. You have such potential. You'll become a great hero one day. I am so proud of you."

Cordelia smiled at Ophelia and then walked over to her granddaughter. Caeldori tried to stay stoic, though the moment had clearly moved her. "You don't have to tell me anything, grandmother."

"No. I don't. You already know how proud I am of you." Cordelia hugged Caeldori more tightly than anyone. "But you do need to know how much I love you. I'll never forget that day when your mother brought you to me. I've known you since you were a little girl. You're really like my daughter. You're a brilliant soldier, but that's not why I love you. You're family. I will always love you, and I'll always be here for you."

Caeldori's lip was quivering at this point, and her breathing was irregular, but she still tried to keep a straight face. Cordelia could tell that her granddaughter was trying not to show her feelings, and it only made her smile more. "Thank you, grandmother."

"And I am proud of you, baby. When I was a young woman, I worried about what Phila thought of me. I want you to know that you have become far more than I ever imagined you could be. I see within you the future of the Pegasus Knights. I couldn't have asked for a better granddaughter."

Caeldori briefly broke down, and she buried her face in Cordelia's shoulder. "Grandmother." She stuttered. Cordelia looked at her and rocked her back and forth.

"I love you. If your grandfather could see you, he'd be so proud. I'm sure your mother and father would also be proud of you, wherever they are."

Mercer himself was moved by the scene, and he couldn't bring himself to say anything when Cordelia returned to him. "I'll be at our quarters if you need me."

Mercer could only nod, and Cordelia walked back towards their quarters, using her lance as a walking stick. Soleil and Mercer's eyes briefly locked, and they both quickly looked away. Mercer forced himself to walk forwards, and Soleil moaned. "She's uh… she's right." Mercer said in very soft tone. "I would do anything to make it up to you three."

Soleil didn't look him in the eye. "I… I'm sorry, Mercer. I still don't feel comfortable being around you."

"Oh."

Soleil kicked her foot back and forth until the awkwardness became unbearable. "Well uh, I'd better go after Cordelia. Make sure she doesn't walk into a hungry wyvern or something."

"Yeah. I'll… I'll stay here."

Soleil, Caeldori, and Gaius left. Ophelia smiled at Mercer and placed her hand on his shoulder, but she then followed them. Mercer was left alone with Vasto. "So uh, you go by Mercer now?"

"Yeah."

"I'm not sure we've really met. There aren't… there aren't any hard feelings are there?"

"Huh?"

"I know we were enemies thirty years ago, but I want to help now."

"We're fine. I can't say I trust you people, but that's mainly because of Keith."

"The Justicar? Yeah, he is a nutcase. He's the son of the leader of the Arch Surg. That's why he's so high ranking."

"The boss? He's her son?"

"Adopted son."

"Who is she?"

"I don't know much about her. I know she was a Pegasus Knight, but I don't know anything else. We call her Archangel. I don't know her real name."

Mercer turned and looked around at the city. "Vasto."

"Yes?"

"Is there a barber around here?"

Cordelia and the others were hanging around the living quarters the group had been given, finding ways to pass the time. Everyone's head looked up at the sound of the door opening to see Mercer entering the building, and the sight made everyone freeze. Though the man was still recognizable as Mercer, he now looked very different. Gaius was especially surprised. "Blue? You look like you did thirty years ago!"

Cordelia perked her head up. "Hmm? What are you talking about?"

Ophelia turned to her. "Uh, his uh… he uh-"

Mercer smiled. "Don't spoil it, Ophelia." Mercer approached Cordelia as she stood up to greet him. She placed her hands on his chest and smiled.

"Where have you been?" Mercer gently took Cordelia's hands and brought them to his face. Cordelia's own face lit up as she caressed him. "Your… your beard?! It's gone!" Cordelia quickly brought her hands to his hair. "And you cut your hair! You look-"

"Like I used to?"

Cordelia gave him a silly grin. "Like the man I fell in love with."

"I'm done being a broken old man, Cordelia. You deserve better than that."

Mercer took off Cordelia's blindfold. Cordelia initially froze up, but Mercer kissed her nose to reassure her. She smiled again and carefully felt Mercer's face for several seconds. Eventually the two disappeared into the bedroom, giggling the whole time. Gaius and the girls stared blankly at them as they did, wondering if the two even remembered they were there.

"Well, I think that's a sign for us to leave." Gaius said as he rose to his feet. Ophelia quickly followed.

"I think you're right."

"Yeah." Caeldori responded. "I don't need to be here." Soleil didn't say anything. She looked intently at the bedroom door, and Caeldori turned back to her. "Are you… are you thinking about it?!"

"W-what? No! That would be… that would be weird. It's just… do you think the blindness makes it hotter? In a kinky way I can kind of see-" Caeldori grabbed Soleil's ear and pulled on it. "Gah! Alright. I'm going, I'm going."