It was evening, Roy's army had set up camp for the night.

Lucina was wandering around camp, looking for the Young Lion. She had finished her training session and wanted to spar with Roy. Eventually, she found him in the mess tent with the others.

"Oh, greetings Lucina." Roy said with a smile.

"Greetings Lord Roy. I was hoping that we could spar a bit. I'm curious about the strength of the leader of Pherae's army."

"What? Y-you want to spar?" Roy was starting to panic. He saw her abilities on the battlefield and he did not want to cross swords with her.

"Yes, Is there a problem?"

"..No. The practice swords should be with Merlinus. B-but perhaps you should get a bite to eat first. Yes that's it. You must be starving!"

Roy gained hope that he could hold out a little while longer when she nodded her head.

Lucina was feeling quite famished herself. 'I just realized I did not eat before coming here.'

As she came to this realization, it was at this point Roy got a good look at her and felt both guilty and shocked. She looked as if she were suffering from malnutrition, she had bags on her eyes, and looked quite alert, like she was expecting someone or something to strike at any moment.

'Oh gods. What the hell has this poor girl gone through!?'

"Is something the matter?"

Roy looked at her eyes with a half confused and half worried expression.

"What? Haven't you been feeling exhausted? Hungry? You look like you went to war with the human race itself!"

Lucina wore a face of utter confusion.

"Why on earth would I start a war on humanity? I want to save humanity!"

"Lucina that was a... Wait, save humanity?"

Realizing what she said, she turned and started to walk away "I have said too much, I must be going."

"Wait, please listen."

Lucina stopped in her tracks, waiting for him to continue.

"I don't know what you have gone through. But I will not question you if it makes you uncomfortable." 'Even if the part about you saving humanity makes me uneasy.' Roy added mentally.

There was silence until Roy continued.

"I at least want you to eat and take better care of yourself. You're one of us now, it is my responsibility to take care of everyone's well being."

Lucina gave a sigh as she turned back around. "I understand. I am not ready to talk about my past just yet. But I appreciate your concern...Thank you."

"No problem. You should get some rest too. We are nearing Araphen. Grab something to eat and head to bed."

"..I suppose that would be for the best. No sparring then?"

"..Sorry..."

"Very well, I will see you tomorrow then Lord Roy."

"Goodnight Lucina, and please, just call me Roy."

Lucina smiled. "Very well. Goodnight Roy."

Roy left the mess tent with a sigh of relief. Relief that he didn't have to spar with Lucina who may or may not kill him or do irreparable damage to his body, and that he had helped the mysterious girl, if only a little.

'Who is she? And what are her goals? Could she be an enemy spy? No, I doubt it. She is in poor condition and had eyes of sorrow that felt genuine.' That at least left Roy something to ponder about as he went to his tent to draft marching plans.

o - o - o - o

The next morning, Lucina groggily woke from her slumber. She had taken Roy's advice and eaten then went straight to bed and she had to admit, she felt quite refreshed. Lucina had eaten quite a bit last night.

'I suppose I was hungrier than I thought.' She had almost forgotten what it felt like to have a full stomach.

She hadn't taken off her armor last night, so she put on her boots and stepped outside.

Lucina stretched her arms upwards and let out a small yawn. It looked to be around midday.

"How could I have slept this late!" She chastised herself.

Deciding she shouldn't dwell on it, she headed to the mess tent thinking it must have been around lunchtime.

When she arrived, She saw Marcus, Roy, and Wolt sitting at a table having a conversation. She managed to hear parts of their conversation from outside. Though she didn't like eavesdropping, she was rather curious.

"So.. no then?" She recognized the voice that belonged to Roy's milk-brother, Wolt.

"For the last damn time, NO!" Lucina heard Roy's shout and jumped slightly.

"Aww, you're no fun."

"Focus. We must prepare to leave for Araphen. We have dawdled here long enough. Marcus, do me a favor and get the others. We leave in a few hours."

"Of course milord."

Realizing that her time eavesdropping was up, she stepped inside before Marcus could catch her standing outside.

"Ah, hello milady. I was just on my way out. Farewell."

After giving a nod to the old knight, she went inside and sat at the table Roy and Wolt were sitting at.

"Oh, hello Lucina. How are you today?" Roy said with a slightly red face.

Tilting her head at the blush, she responded. "Greetings... Roy, are you alright?"

"Yeah, just peachy." He said looking away.

"Oh, good. I thought something was a little off about you."

"Roy was just being sarcastic. So.. he isn't fine. I take it quips aren't your strong suit?" Wolt said.

"No, where I am from there is no need for speaking in such a way." her mood had soured from recalling her world.

Wolt quickly changed the subject back to the matter at hand. "So, You should ask Roy what is bothering him."

"Oh, right! My apologies Roy. So why are you unwell?"

Roy quickly cursed himself under his breath for not taking his leave.

"U-uh, nothing. Just that Wolt is being especially annoying and is REALLY getting on my nerves."

"Heh, and I think I know why what I said annoyed you so much!" Wolt said with a smirk.

"Well, it doesn't take a genius to figure out why!"

Lucina's interest piqued. "I'm a bit curious, what did you say?"

"Gods no! Please Wolt don't say a word." Roy had a grimace and was clearly embarrassed.

"Oh come on, don't be such a baby."

"Wha-baby!? This is my personal life here, and you're saying i'm overreacting?"

"Um, I am rather curious as to what you're speaking of."

Roy gave a groan and Wolt still had a smug smirk.

'Why does this always happen to me with Wolt? Roy pleaded to the heavens for an answer.

"Well, we were just talking about how much better I am with a sword than he i-"

He was interrupted by Roy giving him a smack on the back of his head.

"Ouch! Alright, alright! Anyway, what we were talking about was.. actually we were talking about you."

This made Lucina a little confused. But she waited for him to continue.

"Well, I was trying to get him to admit he likes you just because you look like his crush: Lady Lilina! Not only that, but we were also talking about how he was telling us that he had spoken with you yesterday and managed to get out of a sparring match with you!" Wolt seemed very satisfied when Roy put his head on the table and when Lucina tried her best to stifle a laugh.

"I-is that so!?" Lucina was tearing from the laughter and Roy gave yet another groan.

"...Two things: One, I do not have a crush on Lilina or Lucina. Two, WHY THE HELL DID YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT LAST PART!"

"What's the matter, you afraid?" Wolt said with a widening grin.

"Well Roy, I suppose we will have to spar right now to make up for that." Lucina said, almost forgetting what she asked him last night.

"W-what!? Please no, I would like not being crippled for the rest of my life!" Roy was practically begging not to go. But Lucina was insistent.

"Please Roy? I promise I won't hurt you..hopefully."

While that last part did not reassure him, he looked into her pleading eyes and found he could not argue. He relented with a sigh. "Fine.. lets just get it over with."

"Thank you Roy! I will go get the practice swords! Meet me at the training grounds."

"Yeah, sure, ok."

With newfound excitement she ran off and gave them a small wave.

Wolt looked to Roy "You can thank me later."

'Yeah thanks a lot smartass.' He didn't say that part out loud, he would have his revenge in the future.

"So why did you let me tell her?" Wolt asked.

"Well, its not like I had much of a choice anyways. But I did not expect you to tell her about the sparring match."

"Well what did you think ya big dummy?! Don't worry, I'll cheer for you on the sidelines... as you get your ass handed to you."

Roy simply scoffed and walked out of the tent without another word.

Steeling himself, he walked towards the training grounds...

o - o - o - o - o

A/n: So sorry for the wait. I have a newfound respect for fanfiction writers.

On a sidenote, I know Roy may be kinda OOC but I kind of want to make him more interesting since you know, he is basically a plank of wood in his game.

UNTIL NEXT TIME